The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-04-30
From oyter's Spirit Of the 7imes.
MR.. SMITH AND THE WIDOW.
By TOM JONES, ESQ.

The writer Of this sketch and his partiu-
lar friend, Mr.. William Smith. once went
ir the steamboat Isabella, down the beauti-
ful river on which the far-famed city of
Brookvle is situated. Among the lady
passengers, of whom number were on
board, one soon dazzlcd the. eyes Of Mr..
Smith with the brilliancy of her beauty.
She WAS tall and slender, was blessed with
<" pair of sparkling black eyes, long, thick,
smooth, glossy hair, and rosy complexion
altogether, she was about as pretty
lady rs ever fel under the observation of
Tom Jones, Esq. And this is saying a
great denl, rs Mr.. Jones flatters himself
that lie is quite connoisseur of pretty NO.
men. There is nothing in nature that he
likes so much to gaze upon. "Ycs, Others"
us he, inspired by the beauty Of the scene
that lay before him, observed to Mr.. Smith,
as they were smoking and talking on the
deck; "yes, others may delight in noun
tain scenery, or dwell with cnrapturcd eye
upon lowland view of green fields and
fiowery meadows; but envy them not,
so long as I can gaze into the bright eyes
/ ~! mark the sweet smile that plays over
Nhe lips Of some lovely woman" "Tom,"
pill Mr.. Smith, I" let's 60 and take drink"
-, The lady who had attracted TO herself
the eye Of Mr.. Smith, was dressed in
mourning, and had with her q little boy-a
bright-eyed, cury-headed little fellow. She
WAS evidently widow. and did not appear
altogether unwilling to he consoled for the
loss of her former husband. The more
Mr.. Smith looked at her, rs she converscd
with other ladies, or pra::!cd with her !:::Ic
Soy, or walked in a graceful manner up
and down the ladies' saloon, the more he
was pleased, the more he was charmed, tie
more he was cap,ivated.
lie went to the clerks office, looked at
the register, and saw written therein the
words Mrs. Grey and son." "He then
asked the captain, who chanced to be a
friend Of his, if lie was acquainted will,
g. that beautiful widow" "What widow Z"
asked the captain. "Mrs. Grey" was the
reply. "Oh, yes;" said the captain, with
smile, "she is niece of mine. Come
along" he added, "and I'll introduce You
to her." "Thank you; n thousand thanks;
2 butwait moment" said Mr. Smith, hurry.
ing off in distracted manner to the bar
ber's shop.
This fnnctionay lie employed about an
hour in brushing his clothes and smooth
ing his hair, and giving captivating curl
to his moustache, and thereby caused an
elderly gentleman, who was waiting to be
shaved. to commit sundry sins, by mutter-
ing divers oaths and wicked ejaculations.--
Some old gentlemen have very little pa.
ticnce. At lengtl, Mr.. Smith was satisfied
with his personal appearance, though why
he should have been so was complete
enigma to Tom Jones, Esq. lie left the
BARRIERS shop. The old gentlemen gave
a sigh of relief, and unless Mr.. Jones is
very much mistaken, muttercd something
about an arrant coxcomb.
Mr.. Smit soon found the captain, and
according to promise, was introduced to the
fair widow. If he was delighted at seeing
her at distance, his feelings, when he
sat cIose by her side, and marked tile va
r'ous shades of expression that played owe,
her animated countenance, and heard tho
sweet tones of her voice, could only be de.
scrbed by genuine lover. As Mr.. Thoma,
Jones does not belong to that unfortunate
class of beings, lie will not attempt to de
scribe them.
AS to what conversation took place be
tween the couple, Mr.. Jones remains in stat,
of ignorance. For Mr.. Smith, when at las
he left Mrs. Grey, remained for some tim
silent, lost, as It were, in meditation. In
Decd, SO much was he wrapped up in hi
day-dreams, that he had to he asked ser
ond time if he would take something t
drink-an unprecedented occurrence.-At
ter indulging, Aowever, in two or thrc
toddies, lie became moro communicative.
"Fom,n said, he, abruptly breaking tn
silence, Z" she's beauty personlfed." Nj
Jones whistled. "she is the loveliest be
ing l ever saw" continued Mr.. Smith,
=" You have already, to my knowledge,
said Mr. Jones, "made that same remar
with resgaEl TO four oihet Iadies." To tli
observation Mr.. Smith disdained to max
any reply:
The captain Of the boat here came ur
and after some commonplace conversation
intimidated that he had heard a. certai
fair lady say that Mr.. Smith was the mo,
handsome and agreeable young man sl
had met with in long, long time. I
dsy: that Mr.. Smith was delighted, woul
gte but a,faint idea of that young man
&ass1:.. IL