Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-12-31
ASHTABULA, O., SATURDAY MORNING DECEMBER 81. 1859

bad no trouble, therefore, in making our
selves agreeable to one another; so much
so, that as the coach approached c..
and the old gentleman learned that | meant
to stop there that night, he asked me to
waive ceremony aud have cup of tea with
him after bad dined at my hotel MY
fair engagement" was not till next day
and, as liked the old gentleman, / ac-
cepted his offer.
After my sherry, l brushed nv hair and
went in search Of my coach companion and
my promised cup of tea had no difficult
ty in finding him out for he was a man of
substance and some Importance in the place
| was shown into the drawing-room. NV
old friend received me heartily, and intro
dnced me TO his wife and FIVE danghters.-
All spinsters, sir said he; young ladies
whom an undiscriminating world seems dis
posed to leave upon my hands,
If we don't sell, papa, said the eldest
who with her sisters seemed to reflect her
fathers fun, 1t is not for want of puffiug,
for all your introductions are advertise
ments.'
At the mention of this last word. | felt
little discomposed, and almost regretted
my engagement for the next day, when that
very night, perhaps, my providential op-
portunity had arrived.
need not trouble my readers With all
our sayings and doings during tea; suffice
it to say that found them very pleasant.
friendly fomily, and was surprised to find
forgot all my shyness and timidity en-.
couraged by their good-tempered ease and
conversation. They did not inquire wheth-
er was married or single, for where there
were five young minated daughters, the
question might seem invdious. |. how
ever, in the freedom of the moment. volun.
teered the information of my bachelorhood;
l thought | had NO sooner communicated
the fact than the girls passed round glance
of arch intelligence from one TO the other.
| cannot tell you how odd | felt at the
moment. My sensations were between plea.
sure and confusion, as a suspicion crossed
my mind, and helped, felt, to color my
cheek. Presently, however, the eldest,
with an assumed Indifference which cost
her an effort asked where | was staying.
AT the - hotel / answered with
some embarrassment.
1t was with difficulty they restrained O
laugh; they bit their lips, and l had no
longer SuSpicion-I was certain. So, af-
ter having some music, when | rose to de.
part i mustered courage, as l bid them
good bye, to say aside to the eldest:
Shall P. p consider this the interview
A blush of conscious guilt, lshould rath-
er say innocence, told me l had sent my
random arrow to the right quarter so /
pressed the matter no further at that mo-
ment but did her hand
| remained in at my hotel next day, un-
til an hour after the appointed time, bnt
no one made their appearance. Then
thought ], brushing my hair and adjusting
my cravat, since the mountain will not
come to Mahomet, Mahomet must 60 to the
mountain; so l walked across to nv old
friends. The young ladies were all in. The
eldest was engaged with some embroidery
at the window. | had therefore an oppor-
tunity, as | leant over the frame, to whis-
per -
5. S. is not punctual'
The crimson in her face and neck was
now so deep, that a skeptic himself would
no longer doubt. Ineed say no more; that
evening in her fathers garden, she confessed
that she and her sisters had conspired to
bring me up to c. on fools errand !
never meaning, of course, to keep the en-
gagement.
Then said I, since you designed to take
me in, you must consent to make me happy!'
And what did she say, papa p asks my
second daughter, who is now looking over
my shoulder as | write.
Why, you little goose, she promised to
be your mama, and she has kept her word.
Ba- We should like to have our demo-