St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-05-28
4opular 8omants.
From the waukegau Gazette.
NAT. TARB0X;
A Novel Cure for Faithlessness.
B Y r F + S l Z .

Nat. TAEBox, or as he delighted in
styling himself, Nathaniel Perseve-
rance Tarbox, Esq was decidedly
a queer genius--in fact, he was deci.
dediy an original. Tnon one subject.
however, he might have been called
morally insane; and that was in re-
gard to love. / really believe he con-
sdered it his peculiar right to pop
the question" to all the pretty girls
who Glanced to visit his neighborhood,
for he followed in the footsteps of his
father" became farmer, aad never
travelled farther than five miles from
the old.fashioned domicil in which he
was born. At the time the following
events took place, he was engaged to
no less than three young ladies, and
his offer had been rejected by at least
twice that number.
Mr.. Richmond Thayer, . wealthy
southerner, had purchased few acres
of choice land from Nat, and built a
splendid mansion upon it, intending to
make it his summer residence. Now
Nat seemed very curious to ascertain
whether Mr.. Thayer had much Of q
family, but not daring to question the
Yentleman himself about it, and as he
could not gain any information from
his townsmen on this subject, he was
unable to satiate his inquisitiveness
until the following summer, when the
worthy southerner and family quietly
took possession of their Northern
home.
The old gentleman was millionaire,
and withal an extra specimen of the
jolly good-natured, hospitable citizens
of slave-ridden Georgia (; lover OF
fun, he was in no wise careful at whose
expense he might enjoy it. In his
early days he had espoused Emma
Calvin, beautiful and well educated
young lady, who was "born and
brought up" in the aristocratic, tho
dingy, and-I might say--nasty look
ing city of Charleston, South Caro-
lima.
Thayer loved his wife dcvotedly
she had given to him but one child-a
daughter, and unto her he gave 6
fathers love. She was the pride ot
his life, and he never thwarted hel
in any of her wishes. Nellie was {
sweet girl and fully appreciated The
confidence her father rcposed in her.
Nat was the first of the towns
people to discover that Thayer had ;
most beautiful daughter, and set Iii
ingenuity at work to invent som,
way in which he might gain an intro
duction. With all his faults he under
stood human nature we'll; he deter
+ mined to gain an entrance to tn
daughters affections by pretending t
: sympathize with her mother, who wa
at that time recovering from a sever
attack of brain fever. Shoulderins
his rife and calling his dog he set on
on "Wild Duck chase" After hay
ing secured an unwished-for cold bat
and three fat canvas-backs, he march
ed boldly up the steps leading to tn
front door of the mansion, and Ell
auired for Mrs. Thayer, which lady b,
ing then in the full enjoyment Of he
usual morning nap. the call was al
|, swered by Miss Nellie herself.
|, need hardly be said that Nat was we
satisfied with this turn Of affairs, an
introducing himself, he presented h
ducks, and having been invited
"call again." hastened home to Co
S sole himself with the idea of havin
r made " favorable impression" on h
= first visit.
"Call again?" certainly he woul
Q and he did SO, but not, however, un
I Nellie had accidentally discovered b
s former attachment for May Somerb
one Of the village girls, 70 whom y