Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-06-28
MISCELL Al Y.
From tie Family Joatrnt
WHY I am q Bachelor.
BY ONE OF THE SMITH FAMILY.


and vet am bachelor. Why am so have
now to tell.
During nv Young days, had no time to think
of the other sex. | determined l would make
nv fortune first, and see about wife aiter,
wards. worked and strove-accumulatea anu
denied myself the harmless pleasures that cost
money, vet did not get rich as fast as expect
ed, and / had reached forty years OF age before
thought was justified in looking about me Tor
a wife.
When that time came, set about my task
earnestly. | am business man and always GO
to work Systematically. In the first place l
looked all through my acquaintanoes and lrlends'
They were not numerous, and soon found there
were no young ladies amongst them who wouia
suit me.
Then tried the boarding. house scheme, by
which, l mean, I advertised for board-and an
swered all the replies in person. whenever
saw any Young girls in O 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. called
at the house and was ushered into an elegantly
furnished parlor where yopng lady was seated
playing q piano. In spite tof Shakspeare's de-
nunciation of q man who has no music in his
soul. never had any music in mine. l don
know Yankee Doodle from Old Hundred--and
vet, strange to say, the music sounded pretty as
it tickled from her fingers. She did not hear
me enter, so continued to play. listened Tor
some minutes, and then coughed gently. she
turned her head, and with a blush, rose from
her seat. l think had never seen so beautiful
q girl before. She was not more than eighteen
years of age--tall and graceful-her form beau
titully rounded-dark auburn hair hung IN nat
ural ringlets on swanlike neck. In short, the
moment saw her performed the imaglnarylpan
toInine of slapping my trowsers' pocket ana ex,
claimed mentally, "Here's girl for my money.
"Did you want to see my mother" Z" asked tne
/ lovely creature in musical voice.
"Have l the pleasure of speaking to MISS
Olarkson9" 1 asked.
"Yes, sir"
"I have called, madam, in reference to note
I received-I believe from your Misunderstanding
that you wished to take single gentleman
TO board with you."
eyes, sir; will call my mother"
| And the fairy bounded out OF the room.
In muute or two afterward the mother en-
tered the room. If the daughter was pretty, the
widow was decidedly ugly. She was past for
ty, thin, scraggy wore false teeth and false hair
| When looked at her almost felt tempted tc
leave the house-but then gazed at the daught
er, and the next day took up my abode under
the roof of Widow Clarkson.
| | soon felt quite at home, and determined to
make myself as agreeable as possible. was po
lite to the mother, tender to the daughter, and
evidently pleased the old woman, for ate but
L little. Our evenings were very pleasant-s
Young friend of the family used to drop in occa
sionally, and we played whist. The young mar
was cousin of the family-a rather pleasant
Young fellow, and the time passed very agreea-
bly, away.
| In the meantime prosecuted my suit earnest
Ily. have always held it as an axiom, that il
you want to succeed with the young branches o.
a family, you must pay attention to the head
there is nothing like procuring "friend al
COURT This plan / followed. | was very po
| lite to Mrs. Clarkson; waited on her at the ia
bic: escorted her to the theater and opera, and
read to her Cobb's last l got on finely. soon
saw that she was very partial to me. In the
meantime did not neglect my suit with the ob
Iiect of my affections. gazed on her tenderly
II pressed her hand whenever had an opportu
nity, and believed that had made considera-
BILE impression on her young heart.
Things went on this way for more than two
months, when l thought it high time that
should bring matters to crisis.
| -'Ou6 6N6uluS 0htOlSN IuO oieiAb5 TWIN, ohN
found the charming girl alone. The cousin
had not vet come, although he now visited the
house every night. This was too good an op-
portunity to be lost.
"Miss Clarkson," said approaching her, 81
wish to have little conversation with you."
81 think can guess what it is about" said
she smiling archly.
"You encourage me-" l replied, glad to find
that nv attentions had not been thrown away
and auguring the best results of this cordial re-
ception. "You think you know my errand,
then9"
"Yes, indeed; your attentions are too pointed
10 be mistaken"
81 am gratfed to find you so discerning
and took her hand-and now, dear Charlotte,
allow me to call you so, since you have pene-
trated my secret, only want your consent to
make me happy man 7"
'sLet me set your mind at rest, then, sir-I
have no objection whatever"
| was rather surprised that she consented so
readily. think should have taken it better
| if she had been little more coy in the matter.
"You consent then" / exclaimed, ''that I
should he your protector through lite2"
"You are very kind, sir" returned the fair
girl. "as said before, have no objection.
/ thought she was very cold in her language,
but nut it down to maidenly modesty.
"Charlotte, your consent has made me the
happiest of men; when shall the ceremony take
place2"
"Dont you think mamma had better answer
the question: You had better consult her upon
that matter"
"True, my dear child; admire your delicacy
Il run to her on the wings of love. Oh, what
happy man you have made mel"
81 am sure, sir, am very glad it was in my
power to give you pleasure. l do not think you
had any reason to doubt my concurrence in your
wishes"
''There is no reading the human heart you
know thought perhaps the difference in our
ages"
'What do two or three years signify 2" replied
my darling smiling.
"Dear girl how kind of You to say that" |
returned, charmed with her delicacy in consid-
ering twenty-five years only as two or three
years. "But l will go to your mamma at once;
adieu, darling for few minutes"
So saying, / hurried from the room. | sent
up message to Mrs. Carkson, that wished to
see her on important business, and would wait
for her in the dining-room. In about quarter
of an hour she came down stairs, dressed il a
most gorgeous manner, but in spite of her toilet,
could not help remarking that she looked thin
ner and scraggier than ever.
'Mrs. Clarkson ;" / commenced making a