Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-07-10
WGR0l5 1TW. .
Tom Hodgkiss and the Widow.

Tom Hodgkiss and the Widow.
You arc not acquainted with Tom Hodg-
kiss, Messrs, Editors? All then [ pity
you from the bottom of my heart-and so
you may no longer continue in this lamcn-
table state of ignorance, pray allow me to
introduce him to you. Our friend is not
of the description known as 'tall and com
n.anding;' far from it; indeed he scarce
so far from being stately and digni6cd"
he would make capital model for novel
lists "little dappcr gentleman" to figure in
love-scenes with pretty bar-maids But
although he is physically small, Mcssrs
Editors, he possesses soul of such magni-
tude that his body had to be peculiarly
constructed to contain it: honest, brave,
generous, unsuspicious, and truthful-no
wonder his legs were made dsproportion-
ately short or else his body could never
have held his principles. added to these
he is obliging, pcrscvcring, and industrious,
aud per consequence, popular and thriving
lIeis "the match for all the young widows,
and the object Of particular attention"
from all mothers with marriugeable daugh-
tcrs on "our streets" And many have
been the plots laid by these man~uvcring
individuals to cntrap him into the moose Of
matrimony, and remarkable narrow the es-
capcs he has made from their evil machin-
atoms against his liberty One of recent
occurrence in my opinion, will do ''to print"
and notwithstanding the astonishmcnt that
doubtless be created in the mind of our
friend on seeing himscIffguring as the hero
of Il tale--for he has often informed us that
his family, and particularly his immediate
progenitors, were sadly deficient in material
Tor leJ-cad-I venture to give it to your
readers
Not many squares from Toms store, on
street, there lives widow lady,
who, until recently, has been one of his
most particular friends" This lady had
met Tom somewhere, and admiring lis
principles, and approving hiscircumstl lnccs,
had coGc 10 the resolution of making him
the husband of her daughter a very pretty
and innoceaC girl of about fifteen. After
making . resolution, Mrs. L. was not the
woman to hesitate in its execution She
mannuvcred to have him attend her daugh-
ter at all the balls and soirees of the season
to which she had access, and managed to
take him to the theatre in their party on
several occasions, and at church on Sunday
our friend was to be found occupying a
place ia her pew as regularly as "one of the
family" And more than this-shc even
opened an account at his store and two or
three times daily, in fine weather, Miss H.
was dispatched to buy some indispensable
nothing, that nobody could select but her
self!
Her plans worked admirably, for about
three months Tom 8 attentions had been
generally remarked and the gossips of his
acquaintance had long settled it among
themselves that he was lin ior it, !" and the
good mother daily expected and was con-
stantly on the qui oioe for proposa.-
This was the posture of affairs, when
Tom called one morning about IL. He
was shown into the parlor, and soon
joined by the young lady After few
moments of small talk, he requested her
10 be so good as to send her mother to
him, as he wished to have few minutes
conversation with her on business We
acknowledge that there was slight trem-
bling of the hands visible as NJ 's l. smooth
ed her hair to obey the summons "She
had been successful notwithstanding the
sorcasms of the widow NJ, and the inuen-
does Of the Misses T., and the opposition
of the whole street she had triumphcd 7"
These, and other thoughts of like pleasing
complexion caused her cheeks to assume an
unusual glow and there was considerable
clation in her step as she entered the room
and affectionatcly greeted her future SON
in-law.
We have intimated that Tom is honest
and straightforward, and so without the
least circuinloeution or embarrassment he
at once approached the delicate matter
= GAS intend, opened our friend, 'eav-
ing for the North, the latter part of this
weck, 1 tllQ,sllt 1 had better have word
and come to an under-
matters"
ousefe perfectly right" replied tho
lady nitisaiways best to settle such things
Is fest as possible. But have you spoken