True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-12-01
The Major, exhausted with shame and


modification, is sot into the carriage and
conveyed to The house in W Place
We all gather round him as he reclines
upon The sofa in the parlOr, to congra,u-
late him upon his success, but his eyes
were opened, he was not 10 be cajoled,
he knew he had failed" Who has not
learned things too la,e," The Major said,
"whose life is not disappointment"
Among those most anxious to fatter
him, was youth whom l had all along
looked upon as the author of the Jane
Smith letters, a youth Of parts, Of ready
wit, of eloquence, and of great abilities.
He it was who soothed the Major by al
lusions 10 the audience" One old gen.
tleman and a beautiful girl, evidently his
daughter" he said, chad been most at
tentivc lisiners, and the daughter had fre-
quently called her fathers attention to the
Majors distinguished personal appear
ance."
Upon this the Major rallied, and ask.
ing for particular description of the par.
ties with something of his old manner,
he took his bed candle aud ascended the
stairs.
On the landing leading to my room,
he besought Pry to admi, him for a few
moments, and when seated he opened q
paper, and read to me copy of the letter
which he had sent to Smith, the faith
er of Jane. enclosing tickets for himself
and daughter to the lecture.
HoNoRED SIR :-Knowing your great
and lofty appreciation Of everything really
fine in art, noble in genius, or exquisite
in literature, allow me 10 present you
with tickets 10 lecture 10 be given by
myself at the Il Club rooms
Twice l delivered it to overwhelming
houses in Richmond, Va, and at the re.
quest Of many friends | repeat i. here.
Yours, truly, CASPER CAvENUE.
81 sent that" said the Major, sand |
have no doubt that the old gentleman and
lady in tho third sea. were Mr.. Smith and
his daughter. deemed it best TO make
no allusion 10 Jane, but I know that if
could once ge. an introduction 10 The house
all would 60 WE'LL"
"Oh how I wish could write like
YOU" said Pry 10 the Major, with twin
kle in the corner of his eye, " but I nev-
er was dab at writing you see, and now
I'm sorry I'm such fool"
The Major was delighted, and launch
ed forth in his old style again. He said
" he never read Byron" or at least only
a few lines, for il was so much like lis
own composition thai he resolutely closed
The book, resolving that when his poems
were published, he could if accused of
plagiarism, swear that he had not read q
page of Byorn."
"Have you got any really as good as
Byron" said Pry for I say old fellow,
if you have, you'll get the entree into The
Knickerbocker, and maby'll turn dollar
or two" ..
The Major gave him scornful look,
and evidently thought him dull, but Pry
slapping him on the shoulder, said, "you
hsvego! the sacred FIRE; you're poet
with the real true natural gifl, and now
say good night and burn some oil, if you
like, making verses su Jau1 emitl's eye
brows, but neither /, nor wife Of mine,
hear another word from you this night
so pushing him out he locked The door
upon him, and then with prolonged
chuckle, threw of his clothes. and ad'
dressed himself to sleep.
Pry was good, honest bear; his was
a sumptous nature, and he even had pity
upon the broken down dilapida'ed egoIis
who had just left US, and who looked up
on my really noble husband as ninny
and boor. ..... u....
1 The next morning the Major did no
appear at breakfast, and many were th'
sly jokes and great the open laughter tha
went round at his expense. 1t was dis
covered that only four tickets were sold
and that the room, the lights, the door
keeper, the carriage, tho printing was Il
be paid for. Regularly or IRREGULAR!
. men must live; aud the Major in com
Portable spirits, whether in love or ou,
always had a weight Of debt hangin
about his neck. and dozen or more cred
itors ,ugging at it.
! Ting-a-ling went the door bell, and
letter tor the major was handed in. No
ten minutes passed when quick hurrie