Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1857-04-30
Curious Mode Of Getting a Wife

pave the way to fortune and prefermehc. Line
following sketch illustrates this fact:
A sailor roughly CARRIED, was saunterng
! through the streets of New Orleans, then in a
rather damp condition from the recent rain
and the rise Of the tide. Turning the corner
Of a much freqpented alley, he observed a
young lady standing in perplexty, apparently
measuring the opposite sidewalk, with no very
| satisfied countenance.
The sailor paused, for he was q great ad-
miref of beauty, aud certainly the fair face
that peeped out from antier the Ii tile chip hat
and the auburn cJrls hanging glossy and IN
confined over her muslin dress, might tempt q
curious or adniring glance. Perplexed the
lady pnt forth one little foot, when the gal
liant sailor with characteristic impulsyeDe6s
exclaimed
'That pretty foot, lady, should not be s0iled
with the filth of this lane wait for moment
only, and will make you a path"
So sprinsng past her into carpenters shop
opposite, he barg#ined for plank board that
stood III the doorway, and coming back to tie
smiling gill who was just coquettish enough to
accept the services Of the handsome vouny
sailor lie bridged the narrow black stream,
and she tripped across with a merry thank
you" and a roguish smile, making her eyes as
dazzling as they could be-
Alas . our young sailor was perfectly ntsr-
med. What else would make him catch up
the plank, and follow the little witch through
the streets, to her home. She twice perform
ed the ceremony Of g walking the plank" and
each time thanking him with one Of her elo-
quent Smiles. Presently our hero saw the
young lady trip up tie marble steps Of pal
ace OF house, and disappear within the rose
wood entrance fer u full moment lie stood
looking at the door, and then with q worder-
fuI big sigh turned away, disposed Of his draw
bridge aud wended his way back TO the Ship
The next day he was astonsled with an Or
der Of promotion from the captain. Poor lack
was speecLleSs with amazement he had not
dreamed Of being exalted to the dignity of
second mates Office on board the most snen-
did ship that sailed out of the polC Of New
Orleans. He knew he was competent. for i'll
stead Of spending money for amnsements, visit
theatres and bowling alleys, Oh his return home
he purchased books aud became quite stu
dent but he expected years to intervene be-
fore his hopes would be realized.
His superior officers seemed to look upon
him with considerable leniency, and gave him
fair opportunity to gather maritime knowl-
edge and in year the handsome, gentle
manly young mate had acquired unusual favor
in the eyes of the portly commander, Captain
Hume who had first taken the smart little
black eyed fellow, with his neat tarpaum and
his tidy bundle, as cabin boy.
One night the young man, with all the eff
GERS, was invited to an entertainment at the
Captains house. lie went, aud to his astonish-
ment mounted the very steps where two years
before he beheld the brightest vision he had
ever seen; a vision he had never forgotten.
Thump, tEump went his brave hcart as he was
ushered into the great parlor, and like sledge
hammer, it beat again, when Captain Hume in-
troduccd his blue-eyed daughter with a pleas
ant smile, as g the young lady once indebted to
his polteness, for safe and dry walk home"
His eyes were all in blaze, and his brown
checks flushed hot!y, as tile noble Captain
sau"tcred cway, leaving fair Grace Hume by
his side. And in all that assembly was not so
so handsome couple, as the gallant sailor
and the pretty lade."
1t was only year from that time that the
second mate trod the quarter deck, second on
ly In command, and part owner, not only in
his vessel but in the affections of his daughter.
gentle Grace Hume, who had always cherish
ed respect to say nothing of love for the bright
eyed sailor.
His homely, but earnest act of poiteness
towards+lis child had pleased the Captain,
and, though the youth knew it not, was the
cause of his first promotion. So that now the
old man has retired from business, Harry
Wells is now Captain Wells, and Grace Hume
is acs ording to polite parlance, Mrs. Wells.
In fact orr honest sailor is one of the richest
men in the Crescent City. and he owes, per-
haps, the greater part of his prosperity to his
tact and politeness in crossing that street.