The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-02-12
VOL. H-NO. AZ. WHOLE NJ. 94*
SIP-SNAP.

row SQuAbu vUIlcys #Fs EtE.E
This little talent of pleasing men is some
times given by nature as compensation fol-
the lack of every other accomplishment, OF
the means of procuring any but this was
not the case with Cynthia, who had good
Yankee sense, and a vein Of sprightliness in
her composition, which latter, as take it,
requires several other talents for its sup
port, otherwise it soon degenerates into sill.
iness. whence it sours into vulgar ILL., nature
in the country girl-in the lady of society
into sarcasm.
Cynthia was pretty, in the freshness of
her age. American beauty comes forth like
flower, and is cut down. The loveliness
of girlhood rarely ripcns in the matron.-
And Cynthia was afraid to risk her lowell.
ness, no doubt; for whilst she encouraged
the attentions of many "beaux," who, in the
language of her society, "went to see her"
evening after evening, at the snug farm.
house Of her father, whenever any Of these
swains took the opportunity to press upon
her notice the nature of his case, and urge
the necessity of its speedy cure, she cut the
matter short with him.
Truth must be said, that amongst all her
admirers there was not one who was q
priori-that is, before rec,procation Of
his love took place very desirable match
for her.
The richest was Seth Taggart, who paid
his last visit to her one afternoon, in n
brandnew suit of glossy, fine, black broad
cloth. Pretty Cynthia was alone, and pre-
symptoms Of an approaching assault upon
the Malakof of her affections. She pursed
up her pretty little mouth, and sewed, with
nimble-glancing fingers, on the sleeve Of
one Of the old squire's shirts of unbleached
cotton; and thought to herself what fool
Seth Taggart was, and wondered how he
would get out of the fix in which he found
himself, and how he could dare to think
she had given him encouragement-and
lookcd-very bewitchinS. Poor Seth sat
on the verge of his chair, and gazed through
the window, which was open, into the woods,
but his was a mind like that of Words
worth's Peter
"a primrose. on the rivers brn,
yellow primrose him,
And nothing more.''
lie did not find any inspiration in the
woods, so he began to look into the ashes.
"Aliss Cyn,hia," said he, at length, "did
you ever see u crow ?"
"Yes, Mr.. Seth," said she. folding her
gusset, and looking down ut it dcmurely as
u mouse.
"Black--aiu't it :" said Seth.
"Very."
Then came pause. "Darn it-I wish
she'd help me out" said Seth in bis own
thought. "The little mink knows what
want to cay, and she might help me to say
it,"
What man has not thought this before
now, at courting time-and wished to bor-
row feminine tact, and the larger expert
ence of women, to help him out of the
slough of despond he is beginning to sink
into? What man would not give the world
to know how the last man. who offered him
self to her, got through with it?
"Evcr see an owl - said Seth, at length,
falling back upon his own resources.
"Often, Mr.. Seth," lisped pretty Gym
tha.
"It's got big eyes amt it, now"
every big eyes," said she.
Seth grew angry. Angry with himself.
no doubt /; but anger, like Ph9bus Apollo
at sunset, Glows brightest in reflection. He
thought it ''mcan shame," she wouldn't
"hel . him OUT while she sat there, looking
"sood enough to eat, and laughing at him,
as even his blunt perception told him. whilst
her attention was apparently bestowed upon
the shirt sleeve. He wished it was his shirt
she wHs stitching SO assiduously. He stir.
red up the ashes on the hearth, and almost
made up his mind that "he warn't going to
give her another chance at him :" but Gym
tha dropped her cotton ball, and Seth, not
rising from his chair, streached out his
long, lank arm, and picked it up, lie
touched her hand as she took it back, and
an electric shock thrilled through his veins,
and made him "fecl all over-evcr so," as
ne some time afterwards expressed the SEN
sation to me.
"Miss Cynthia, may be you are fond of
maple candy ?"
"Verv," said she.
"Well, now," said Seth, rising. "the
next time come, III try and bring you
great COB"
But AS ne rode home, behind his old
farm mare, he said to himself, 81 reckon
mint going back to court a gal who secs
fellow in fx, and new er helps him." Aud
sure enough he never did return. Miss
Cynthia lost her richest lover, and many
folks, even to this day, believe she wished
him back again. 1t is the way of woman
to want the thing that can't be had. At
least so men say, If not in practice, in
theory, and Cynthia's mouth watered, dare
say, for many week after, for that COB of
maple candy.
The MoRAL.-Let every man, oh pretty
girl, pay court to you in his own way, and
not in your way, and help him out at that;
being sure, however, that you are in bar
mony with his mode of procedure. Never
disturb ice cream when it is going to freeze;
nor lift the pot as it begins to boil; nor
make a false step and get out Of time, when
your partner is medtating rereFs in the
dcur temps, or the polka. Many declar-
atI On of affection has been frightened off by
some wrong note sung in the treble Of the
duct, which put it out Of harmony.
Cynthia, though so pretty girl, and so
experienced in the art of saying "no" to an
offer of marriage, had yet good deal to
learn in her own craft and, indeed, no ex-
periencc ever primes a woman for the deci-
principle, and not on precedent. 1t is our
W ulSCoNtT3 III tuiS otOEy VI CDln-
Snap" how far pretty Cynthia profted by
the experience she prided herself upon in
the rejection of her lovers.
1t was a mellow autumn morning, and
russell glow had tinged the woods at the
back Of Squire Simpsons homestead. 1t
was Seth Taggart's wedding day. He was
to marry, that evening, Susie Chase-a sml-
ling little rosebud Of wife, to whom he
found plenty to say, as sweet to Susie's ears
AS to her lips his maple candy. Cynthia, as
Que of her best friends, was to be brides.
maid and as she wished to shine that night,
in ull her bravery, and wanted some new
ribbons for her head dress, this want tempted
her abroad, little after noon, when the
harvest-felds were quiet and the yoked oxen
stood relieved from labor, leisurely chewing
the sweet morsel reserved for that soft,
sunny hour of rest, as men of business used
to do the thought Of the last letter written
by the hand they love, till the burden of the
day is laid aside, putting it apart with al
its woman's and half unreasonable fancies,)
pure from the contact of the pile of yellow
letters lying on their desk, offerings upon
the shrine Of Niammon.
Our pretty Cynthia tripped along her path,
scattered cloud of grasshoppers and crick-
cts as she stepped and in her silly little