The Placer herald., 1859-06-18
From the Family Journal.
Why I am a Bachelor.
BY ONE OF THE SMITH FAMILY.

hopelessly in love-and yet am bachelor.
Why am so, have now to tell
During my younger days, had no time
to think of the other SEX | determined
would make my fortune first, and see about
wife afterwards. worked and strove-
accumulated, and denied myself the most
harmless pleasures that cost money, yet did
not get rich as fast as expected, and had
reached forty years of age before thought
was justified in looking about me for wife,
When that time came, Iset about my task
earnestly. | am business man and always
60 to work Systematically. In the first place
| looked all through my acquaintance and
friends They were not numerous, and |
soon found there were no young ladies
amongst them who would suit me-
Then tried the boarding house scheme,
by which | mean, l advertised for board
and answered all the replies in person.
Whenever saw any young girls in house,
there took board-but none of them would
suit me. At last received an answer to
my advertisement from widow lady with
one daughter. l called at the house and was
ushered into an elegantly furnished parlor
where young lady was seated playing the
piano. In spite of Shakspeare's denuncia
tion of man who has no music in his soul,
| never had any music in mine. don't
know Yankee Doodle from Old Hundred
and yet, strange to say, the music sounded
quite pretty as it tricklcd from her fingers.
She did not hear me enter, so continued to
play listened for some minutes; and then
coughed gently. She turned her head, and
with blush, rose from her seat. think |
had never seen SO beautiful a girl before
She was not more than eighteen years Of
age-tall and graccful-her form beautifully
rounded-dark auburn hair which hung in
natural ringlets on swan-like neck. In
short, the moment saw her performed
the imaginary pantomime of slapping my
trowsers pocket, and exclaimed gently
Heres a girl for my money"
"Did you want to sec my mother?' asked
the lovely creature in a musical voice.
Have the pleasure of speaking to Miss
Clarkson?" | asked.
"Yes, sir"
81 have called, madam, in reference to a
note | received-l believe from your mother
stating that you wished to take single
gentleman to board with YOU"
"Yes, sir; will call my mother"
And the fairy bounded out of the room.
In minute or two afterwards, the mother
entered the room. If the daughter was
pretty, the widow was decidedly ugly. She
was past forty, thin, scraggy, wore false
teeth, and false hair. When looked at her
almost felt tempted to leave the house-but
then gazed at the daughter and determined
to remain. The preliminaries were soon ar
ranged, and the next day took up my abode
under the roof of Widow Clarkson.
l soon felt quite at home, and determined
to make myself as agreeable as possible. |
was polite to the mother, tender to the
daughter, and evidently pleased the old
woman, for l ate but little. Our evenings
were very pleasant-a young friend of the
family used to drop in occasionally, and we
played whist. The young man was cousin
to the family-a rather pleasant young fel
low, and the time passed very agreeably
away.
In the meantime l prosecuted my suit
earnestly. have always held it as an axiom,
that if you want to succeed with the young
branches Of the family, you must pay atten
tion to the head-there is nothing like pro-
curing "friend at court" This plan fol-
lowed. | was very polite to Mrs. Clarkson;
| escorted her to the theatre and opera, and
read to her Cobb's last. got on finely. |
soon saw that she was very partial to me.
In the meantime did not neglect my suit
with the object of my affections. | gazed
on her tenderly; pressed her hand when
ever had an opportunity, and believed that
| had made considerable impression on her
young heart.
Things went on this way for more than
two months, when | thought it high time
that should bring matters to crisis
One evening entered the sitting room,
and found the charming girl alone. The
cousin had not vet come, although he now
visited the house every night. This was too
good an opportunity 20 be lost.
'Miss CIarkson,' said |, approaching her,
| wish to have little conversation with
you"
II think | can guess what it is about"
said she, smiling archly.
"You encourage me-" replied, glad to
find that my attentions had not been thrown
away, and auguring the best results OF this
cordial reception. "You think you know my
errand then"
"Yes, indeed; your attentions are too
pointed to be mistaken"
81 am gratfed to find you so discerning
-" and took her hand-"and now, dear
Charlotte, allow me to call you, since you
have penetrated my secret | only want your
consent to make me happy man."
"Let me set your mind at rest then, sir
have no objection whatever
was rather surprised that she consented
so readily. think I should have taken it
better il she had been little moro coy in
the matter.