Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-22
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING. JANUARY %. 1852
t'OMMrNiCtTED.

III WTltt YOU dnothef ttl'l. i''' ""N"
encouraged to do 50 by seeing the one sent
YOU, few weeks ago. i'll the paper. You
may think what you please about IT, hut
most people like to see their thoughts printed.
You wouldn't have so many correspondents.
but for that. And am Il little surprised
that your Mushtown correspondent, who
sent YOU first-rate letter the other day,
should propose to YOU TO send him stamps to
pay his postage, and to speak of him occa-
sionally as your distinguished correspondent
from Mushtown. You might well afford to
compliment him. but a. to sending the
stamps, would mt do it.
Encouragement is great thing. Don't
YOU find it so in your publishing business :?
l can we'll conceive how the addition of II
hundred or two good subscribers, at the be-
ginning of new year, will help to polish an
editorial, and give interest to your selections.
1t whets the edge wit. and makes one indus
trious 1t has taken many fellow success
fully through difficulties and, on the other
hand. for the want of it, many one has
been hoored as fat rs a pancake. was
talking after this fashion the other day to
nv old neighbOr, Mr.. Joseph Spotts-uncle
Joe we call him-a kind-hearted old man as
ever lived. but hasn't much of what the
preachers call 'this worlds goods just
the sort of man to have kind heart In
most cases, men who have rich purses have
poor hearts. was remarking to him that
the lack of encouragement. often really de-
served, had kept many man down. and 81"
weakened his spirit, that he rarely had cner-
w enough for second effort at any thing
You are right, said he, and | am living
proof of it. When was a young man, liH-
ing on the other side of the mountains got
it into my head that the way to get rich was
to marry fortune But | was puzzled to
get a chance to make an effort in that way.
for the rich girls were in one Circle and |
in another; and these circles in society, YOU
know, don't mingle like the circles made on
the mill pond by throwing in stone. Well
it was my business to attend to threshing
machine. and get out wheat for farmers
around. That word machine, is the most
abominable word in English.) | managed
one fall to get to thresh crop for rich old
gentleman-with about fifty thouSand-with
only one child-a daughter, named Sally
She was pretty, too, and that's not common
with rich girls. you know. We soon struck
up an acquaintance. She treated me very
kindly-talked to me every dav about the
wheat, and the weather. and all that; and
would send me peaches out to the stack yard
The fact is, got to think had made an inn
preston on her. When finished the wheat
and was about to leave. called her out Oh
the p0rch-sortcr beckoned to her. 1t was
lust about sun down. and says |, Miss Sally
I am about to leave, but want to ask you If
i may come back TO see YOU! Nary hme: go;
said she. and away she went. She didn't
encourage me the least in the world. and
here am. Now. if that girl had encour-
aged me as / wanted her to. what different
man might have been. loftcn think of it,
Said |, uncle 10. what do You mean by say
ing the word machine is abominable? well,
IN tell YOU about that--it is Christmas times
any how-and never have told it to any
BODY ON this side the mountains. That word
drove me over here. You see after my tal-
lure to get that fortune | didn't go much
among ladies-as the politicians say, re-
tired. But one day Jim Spikes. I'VE were
raised together pretty much) come riding up
to the house, and asked me to take ride
with him. Says |, what's up now? Come,
catch old Snap, said he, and go with me
down to Capt. Sprinkles-Miss Nancy has
got home from school, and she plays the
Piano eharminsly | hemcd and hawed-
but went with him. Now says |, jim, as
we rode along, don't feel much like going
among ladies' don't know them. That
don't matter, talk up TO 'em-that's the way
to get along with girls; and if You think you
can't talk stylish enough, talk nonsense
most of them like that best any how, said he.
And after the preliminaries arc over, You
ask Miss Nancy to play Tor Us. Tins hap
pened about the time these consumed little
whistles come about, the children called llar-
monicas, and that thing was i'll my head all
the time. Well, | got along very well when
jim introduced me, and after talking about
the weather and the roads, &C.. says l, Miss
Nancy let us have the pleasure Of hearing,
tune on your hmmonica. saw the OUTSIDE
of her face turning n little red, as she looked
at me, saying at the same time. thank you
sir, it's not q harmonica. ITS piano. Jim
nut in q word or two TO smoothe o'er my
blupder, and she struck up old Hosin the
Bow. just Ut tnls tliie soIiic HhuicS al" 81
tlemen were coming in ut the gate, and
while Miss Nancy went out to meet them,
saws |. jim, what's to be done about my cal
ling that thing harmonica? Why, SAID ne;
Won must apologize, Of course. Well, III
try it. and if fail to do it up right, Ill never
90 where there are ladies again. soon be,
gan to hear harmonica whispered about. and
a deal of running out and laughing. just
as l thought had good speech made up
for my apology, l saw Jim look at b,S
watch. He proposed we should ride. II
ever q fellow was in crisis ! was now.
got my hat, and walked up to Miss Nancy
Saws /. good bye Miss Nancy. | hope you
won't think hard of me for calling your m";
chine harmonica. From that day to tins l
never could bear to hear the word machine.
Without my knowing it. while I've been
writing ont these things. my wife hnS Dozen ~,
looking over my shoulder reading it me 1t
FIRST knew of it was the exclamation" ell.
If l were to pretend to write any thing II
should have more dignity about it than that.
90 read Solomon. old lady, and YOU Ill learn
'there is a time for all things
' 50 OLD FOGY.
Back Woods. January Il, 1859.