St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-04-07
stlisteIlanp.
HISS INGLIs AND THE MINISTER.

Kissing is universally regarded as
one Of the delightful Accomplishments
of conrting. but in the instance we
are about to relate as it was commu-
nicatrd to us, the first kiss given at
random and in the dark was more de-
Cidcd in its effects than hundreds fire.
qucntly are when there is light upon
the subject.
There lived not many years ago a
respectable and talented clergyman
in one of the towns in an Eastern
State. He had been settled some
time, and had got pretty well along
in years, when he became conscious
that in reference to worldly matters
there yet remained one thing nccdful
to give him that weight of character
which it was desirable he should pos
sess, and also to enhance, if not to
perfect, his earthly fclicity--namely,
u hclp-mcct. Immediately on the re-
ccption Of this idea, he began anxious
~ to look about, bat having neglected
the important matter 50 long, as might
have been expected, he had imbibed
many OF those strange an unaccounta-
able notions so peculiar to the single
blcsscdness of either sex after they
have attained certain age and
these operated to his disadvantage in
such wise that he found it extremely
difficult to select one at whose side he
thought he could, without any "tear-
full forbodings," stand before the altar
of Hymen.
Now, it became known to the dam
sells about the ncighborhood, that Mr..
Goodman was thus Circumstanccd,
and many there were who would tain
have relieved his mbarrassment.-
Some Joined his church, and many
more were seen to blush like the the
first rose Of summer, if, in the progress
Of his dispcnsations from the pulpit,
he should drop his eyes towards the
pew in which they were seated
though, of course, they dared not
acknowledge, even to themselves, any
thing in particular, because of the
great doubt relative to the rics rersa of
the case.
But, to make short story shorter ::
Travelling into town one evening
about dusk, Parson Goodman had &C.
casion to call at the mansion of an
esteemed parishoncr, who, among
other possessions, had two or three as
fine daughters as ever graccd the
county. He had scarcely knocked at
the door, when it was hastily opened
by one Of those blooming maidcns,
who, as quick as thought, threw her
arms around his neck, and before he
had time to say ooh, don't !" brought
her warm, delicate lips to his check,
and gave him as sweet "A kiss as heart
OF swain ever desired. In utter as
constituent, the worthy divine was en-
deavuring to stammcr out something,
when the damsel exclaimed, "Oh !
mercy mercy, Mr.. Goodman is this
you? Why, | Thought as much as
could be it was my brother Henry !"
"Pshaw, pshaw," thought the cclibatc,
"you didn't think any such thing"
But taking her hand, he said in for
giving tone, there is no harm done.
Don't give yourself any uneasiness---
though yOn ought to be little more
careful" After this gentle rcproof,
he was ushercd into the parlor by the
maiden, who, as she came to the light,
could not conceal the deep blush that
glowcd on her cheek and the boquet
that was pinned on her bosom-for all
this happened in summer time-shook
like flower garden in an earthquake.
And when he rose to depart, it some
how fell to her lot to wait upon him
to the door, and it may be added, that
in the entry they held discourse to-
Ecthcr for some minutes--On what |
subject we know not, neither does it
matter.
AS the warm hearted pastor pursu-
ed his way homcward, he argued with |
himself somewhat in this wise: "lf
Miss Ingis knew it TO be me who
knocked at the do0r-and | verify be-
licvc she did, else how should she
know ne in the dark before spoke
what does it all mean? And is it |
probable that her brother would knock
before entering? She must be drs-
perately in -- Pshaw psIaw But
suppose she did think me to be her
brother? Why, if she loves a brother
at that rate, how much more would
She love a husband -
We have only to add--it was not
long after this that Mr.. Goodman had
occasion to summon brother in the
ministry to the performance of one of
the most solemn as well as pleasing
duties attached to the sacred Office,
and the lovely Miss lnglis above
snOken of thereupOn became Mrs |