Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-02-27
MtstellanGons.
THE STORY OF AN
YOUNG PERSON

1t seemed very long journey that poor
parliamentary passengers were taking, in
this early November weather, all the way
from London to Liverpool. The stoppages
were frequent enough, but of such short
duration, that we had scarcely time to get
ourselves warmed at the crowded crate be-
fore the ineSorable bell rang for us to start
again, and off We went with shrek into
the binding fog. 1t was positively too dark
to read with any comfort, even if one was
so Indifferent to the biting air as to lend
one of his hands to hold the book tip, we
put both of them in our pockets instead, or
moro usually sat upon them, to keep them
warm. 1t was only when the guard came
from time to look at our tickets, and trod up
on our feet, that we began to feel we had
them, so dead they were with cold.
"Sir," observed comical-looking tailor
to this official, 'your seats are too narrow to
be sat upon after my cross-legged fashion,
so please be careful; for although my toes
are frozen they will not bear."
This produced a laugh, and then arose
little talk, principally about how miserable
we were, and then, as poor people use, we
began to tell what our business was upon
at Liverpool; whereupon it seemed that
half the carriageful at least were emigrants.
Each had his say; and every tale, however
roughly told, had more or less of interest,
because it was real and human, so that we
quite forgot our WEAKNESS and cold for a lit
tie time. Then since this had answered so
well, the sprightly tailor proposed that one
of the party should tell us regular story,
of his own life if he chose, but not only of
his present circumstances, but of what had
led to them-which was an idea we all re-
ceived quite rapturously expecting the tail
or himself to begin. But he said no; we
must draw lots for that. So producing some
long slips of measuring paper he wrote a
word on one, and shook them all together
in hat, and sent it round. There was
great deal of gggling among the ladies, and
a great deal of secret trepidation among the
men, but for long time nobody pulled out
the fatal lot; at last burst Of laughter
from those about one of the corner seats an
bounced that the victim had been selected,
and that from among the ladies'
She was certainly the plainest of female
passengers. Her nose turned up, and her
mouth had scarcely any turn at all; her
hair was red, and so were the rims of her
eyes; and her eyes themselves were far from
being good ones; but there was certain
piquancy and sprightliness about her, too, as
though she had been French lady's maid
rather than an English one. She looked as
if she couldputher hand and her well-round-
ed arm to anything, aud had been very good
tempered and obliging throughout the jour
ney. 1t was understood-it had been ex-
pressed, indeed, already rather triumphant
ly by the young lady herself-that she was
an engaged young person going out to Aus
tralia to be married; that there was some
body waiting on the other hemisphere, with
outstretched hands, yeaming to receive her
as his bride. She would be capital wife
for settler, without doubt, although per-
haps in England we should have called her
rather settler for wife. She seemed to
know very well indeed, what we were all
likely to think about this matter; but she
didn't care.
If had been better looking--she began
her story with this-I might never have got
a husband, or least not the money to marry
him upon, which is the same thing. The
unsuitableness Of my face to what | may
be allowed to call very tolerable figure,
has been literally the means Of bestowing
happiness, as hope, upon Joseph, and Of
putting four hundred pounds into my own
pocket And this was how it all came
about: my late mistress, who was very kind
20 me, and had intended, poor thing
she told me so-7to leave mo comfortably
provided for, took me over with her seven