Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-05-31
A Story About A Kiss.

A Story About A Kiss.
We have frequently noticed that the staidesi
| old maids have the most liberal notions of kiss
| ing. Frederika Bremen, with simplicity and
geniality eminently Christian, has ever gentle
word for the impulsive lover, if his heart il
honest. We find this little story in her las
book: ,ia 24le
Certainly you have observed how strangely
sometimes, the clouds at morning or evening
group themselves around the sun, and are Lighted
up by it, and you have thought sometimes: II
this should be represented in painting people
would say, it is unnatural, it is untrue So even
in human life. We often find events looking
when related or described in books, unnatural
and yet they are perfectly true in reality to na-
ture. If any one should tell that, once, first
kiss was given by modest young lady, pub
licly, and in public square, to young man she
saw for the first time, certainly all, young ladies
and old ladies, and young gentlemen and old
gentlemen, would with one voice cry out, 1T is
not true, tits impossible Well, entreat your
attention to the following little story, for whose
truth and reality will be Responsible.
"ln the university of Upsala, in Sweden lived
young student-a lonely youth, with great
love for studies, but without means for pursuing
them. he was poor, and without connections.
| Still he studied, living in great poverty, but
keeping cheerful heart; and trying not to look
at the future which looked so grimly at him. -
His good humor and good qualities made him be.
loved by his young comrades. Once he was
standing with some of them in the great square
of Upsala, prating away an hour ofleisure, when
che attention of the young men became arrested
by q very young and elegant lady, who at the
side of an elderly one, walked slowly over the
place. 1t was the daughter of the Governor of
Upland, living in the city, and the lady with her
was her governess. She was generally known
for her beauty and for her goodness and gentle
ness of character; and was looked upon with
great admiration by the students. AS the young
men now stood silently gazing at her, as
as she passed on like graceful vision, one of
them exclaimed --'Well, it would be worth
something to have kiss from such mouth p
The poor young student, the hero of our story.
who was looking intently On that pure and an
gelic face, exclaimed, as if by inspiration, well,
think 1 could have it, 'Whstp cried his
friends in chorus, are you crazy2 Do you
know her" etc. Not at all he answered but
think she would kiss me, just now, ifI asked
her, what in this place, before all our eyesf
In this place, before your eyes, Freely e
Freely well, if she will give you kiss in
that manner, will give you thousand dollars !
exclaimed one of the party. And l J And j
cried three or four others, for it SO happened
that several rich young men were in the group,
and the bets ran high on 80 improbable an event,
and the challenge was made and received in less
time than we take to relate it. 't
s'Our hero-my authority tells US not whether
he was handsome or plain-I have my peculiar
reasons for believing that he was rather plain,
but sngularly good looking-our hero imnedi-
ately walked to meet the young lady: He
bowed to her and said, My lady Qninfroleen);
my fortune is in your hand She looked at him
in astonishment, butarrested her steps. Hepro.
ceeded to state his name and condition, his aspi-
ratons, and related truly and simply what had
Just passed between him and his companions
The youny lady listened attentively, and wheu lie
had ceased to speak, she said blushing but with
great sweetness: IF by so little thing so much
can be effected, it would be foolish in me to re-
fuse your request and she kissed the young man
publicly in the open square.
Next day the young student was sent for by
the Governor. He wanted to see the young man
who dared to ask kiss of his daughter in that
way, and whom she had consented to kiss So
He received him with severe and scrutinizing
brow, but after an hours conversation was SO
pleased with him, that he offerd him to dine at
his table during his studies at Upsala.
sour young student now pursued his studies
in manner which soon made him regarded as
the most promising scholar at the university
Three years were not passed after the day of the
first kiss, when the young man was allowed to
give second one to the loving daughter of the
Governor as to his intended bride.
"He became, later, one of the greatest scholars
in Sweden, as much respected for his learning as
for his character. His works will endure forever
among the works of science, and from bis happy
union sprung family well known in Sweden in
the present day, and whose wealth of fortune
and high position in society, are regarded as
small things, compared with the wealh Of good
ness and love-"