Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-07-23
From the New York Mercury
4 DAY II PETTICOATS.
By A MODEST MAN.

COulIu liluh Vi sHCu q Lulu9
But you must. Ny happiness de-
pends on it. Here, put on the thingum-
bobs, and the what's his name
And my friend, Bob Styles, held up
before my hesitant gaze suit of femin-
inc apparel.
His idea was, that should personate
his lady-love for one dag, to prevent any
body from suspecting the truth-namely,
that she had joined him in a runaway
marriage party-until it should be too
late for interference; that is, until the
minister should have tied the knot be-
tween them, that nothing but a special
grant Of the legislature could unite.
This scheme was not actually as ab-
surd as it appears at first sight. Maggie
Zee was tall, queenly woman, with an
Almost masculine air; and, at that time I
bad very slight form-almost effemin-
ate, so that, in fact, there was really but
liitle difference in that point. Then I
had light hair, tolerably long, and a fresh
eomplexion. Part my hair in the mid
die, and put a bonnet on my head, and
few persons would have suspected but
What I was really one Of the softer sex.
These accessories gave me quite a decid-
ed resemblance to Maggie Lee, especial
Iy when, as in this case, the disguise was
her own.
Then the day chosen for the runaway
match was an auspicious one. Maggie's
father was 20 drive her TO D., a small
village near where she lived, and there
she was to join a saiiing-party down D
river, to the grove three miles below,
from which the party was to return in
the evening, IN carriages.
Our plot was, that should be in wait
ing at The village, and should 20 on the
boat with the saiIing-party, while Mag
gle, after leaving Ter father, should slip
off with Bob Styles. across the country.
Still. I am very modest man, and the
idea of Personating a woman, and being
treated as enc by both sexes, shocked
ne. / had an intense reverence for wo
men, which hal even stood the expert
ence Of being i1ted three times, ant
When Bob Styles held up a quantity O
raiment which had enfolded the person
81 no less lovely girl than Maggie Lee
Ifelt my flesh actually creep, and a colo
child ran down my back, at the though
Of desecrating such angel-cerements b
gctting into them myself.
But Bob Styles was, and is, the bes
friend I ever had. He has saved M
life once, nursed me when sick amongs
strangers, in New Orleans, got ne out 0
deb, and out Of scrapes forty times, an,
ont Of the Tembs twice. These hint
will show the reader that my effeminac,
of appearance was not a true index 0
my character. 1t was not, but no mat
ter what did, or where 1 went, tore
things struck to me--my respect 70
women-my girIish face-and my mo
desty.
Well, as l was saying, Bob Style
having done everything for me, I coul
not refuse him; so I went to work. wit
WHY face, to get myself up as tn
theatrical people say, preparatory t
commencipg the comedy.
For the benefit Of those who ha7
never undergone similar experiences,
viii say that lady's costume is extraol
dinarily unlike a gentleman's. I genel
ally dress myself in fifteen minutes b,
as ! live, it took me two hours to Q,
into that confouuded rig. There wei
al scrts Of things with open-work {
lace, CT whatever they call it, on Ii
edges, and all kinds of unexpecte
strings, and hooks-and-eyes, and button
he use of which puzzled Bob Stylt
(who assisted me as my firing maid) I
much as they did me.
81 last, however, I got dressed, ar
presented myself before Maggie lie
biushing a good deal, I believe, feeHr
very much pinched about the waist, al
With on uncomfortable consciousness tn
ny-my-shirt-sleeves were either tt
shOrt, or wanting altogether.
1t did me good to hear Maggie laug
shea she saw me, although it didn't r
heve my embarrassment much. 81
picked things in here. and pinched thin
pP there, and smoOthed out folds, al
pu!Ied me around woman-fashion, unt
Fhen : looked at myself in the glass,
eimost fancied that I was naturally
girl and that had been incarcerated
'he l@1,aioons only through mistal
n taa par. Of ny parents.
IDla came the dressing Of my be