Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-07-04
CLEARFIELD, Pa WEDNESDAY, JULY L. 1860

I This last apparition woke me, and 1 lay fever
ishly tossing till morning. When morning
came, l rose, but unrefreshed. The day was
long and weary, and enjoyed most miserably.
Evening came at last, and with it the necessity
of preparing for the party. Who that has
ever got ready for party does not remember
the petty annoyances attendant on the opera
ton How the refractory shirt will not be
bnttoned, and the razor will cut your chin
Your shoestfings get into hard knot, and
your rebellious scalp-lock will not submit even
to a most copious fabrication with fragrant
Maccassar. All this suffered and more !; and
Frank cOmplacently sat there laughing at me.
ssWilkns," said he, after had gone through
the trying ordeal of outward publication, and
donned a clean under garment, "Wilkins, have
you polished those CATERS 20
"Thunder! NoP'
So had to divest myself of the clean gar
| ment, and go at it. As sat silently rubbing
the calf-skins, the thought struck me that per-
haps could not get them on. The distress
ing idea had not entered my brain before, and
now it came upon me with terrific force. l
have said that Frank was about as tall as my
self but as he probably had more aristocratic
blood in him than have, he wore shoes two
numbers smaller than mine. Though those
before me were too large for him, for me they
were ssa leetle too small by plaguey sight.''
But l had gone too far to be bafled by this
fact; and SO after great deal of exertion,
much perspitation, and perhaps few male
dctions, succeeded in ericasing my extrem-
tiles in the shoes. performed my abutions
a second time, and proceeded with my toilet.
"Wilkins,' said Frank, ssMiss Georgia is
rather sentimental, isn't she s''
ssRather.''
"Somewhat given to sawakehing the slum-
bering echoes in the cayerns of memory 7'''
"Somewhat." 1 was too much engaged
with my cravat to make any very extended re-
marks.
"Well, Wilkins, when she talks to you a.
bout the sholow- hearted world,' don't spoil
the metaphor by description of the aGrfcies
and pentricies.''
s'There's my hat on the floor take IT,
"No, thank you; you need 1t tonight
| By this time was dressed and leaving the
| house l started on foot for the FitZwster man.
| sion, as it was but few squares distant. l
had not gone far when discovered that the
shoes were rather tight but trudged boldly
on, and by the time reached the house, my
feet were in an anesthetic state, and was
comparatively comfortable.
pass over my entrance the nervous mat1-
ipulatiOn of my cravat in the cloak room,
while endeavored to persuade myself that 1
was perfectly self possessed my salutation of
the host and hostess, and my chat with Miss
6 Georgia, in which the charming moonlight
evenings and Mrs. Harlan's last novel were
! the predominant topics, with few remarks
one allusion to the shollow-hearted world
Georgia was called away by some person to
be presented to Colonel and Mrs. Somebody,
and espying Miss Amelia across the room,
| made my way to her side. With her forgot
all the tribulations of the day, and was fast
losing consciousness in the intoxication of
love, when was called back to this world in
a very uncomfortable manner.
ssSir," said the editor of the =, with Pick
wickian emphasis and dignity, 'sI set my foot
do,cn upon such principles 20
The remark was made to Major =, one of
the prominent street-corner politicians, and
in reference to some OF the Majors principles;
but the foot-the eighteen inches, rather-was
| set down upon my unoffending member, which
| 1 had gracefully thrown before me in taking
my favorite attitude. Oh it was excrutia-
ting That ruthless tread sent thrill through
every flament of my nervous system, and at
the same time awoke me from my elysian
dream. A howl was upon my lips, but cho-
ked it down with cough and a subdued groan,
and wiping the perspiration from my brow, at
tempted to renew the conversation with Ame-
liza. But the charm was broken. l made
few disjointed, spasmodic remarks, wiped
more perspiration from my brow, and was a
bout to plead sudden indisposition and retire,
when gentleman approached and handed me
| letter, saying had dropped it as drew my
| handkerchief from my pocket. As he was
| handing it to me, Amelia snatched it. trem
bled in MY beg pardon-in Franks shoes,
| lest it might be one OF my numerous duns,
| which were just then falling thick and fast up
on me. begged her not to read it; tried to
seize it; and failing in this, resorted to STRAIT
| egic measures with equally poor success. My
| anxiety only increased her curiosity, of course
and opening it she began to read :-ssDear
Frank, your sweet, charming, lovely, and
| highly priced letter came -.'' The truth
| flashed upon me in an instant. 1t was one of
1 taffarS vh hp off his oOat
| pocket, having used the envelope to light his
pipe with. / became more anxious than ever,
and entreated her to give it to me and permit
/ me to explain. For visions of a broken en-
| gagement, rings and other tokens returned,
| blighted hopes, and blasted reputation, passed
quickly through my brain. had the letter;
my name was Frank, and it was indisputably
a love letter. Fem ale logic needed no more
| definite propositions. Calming myself as we'll
as could, asked Amelia to come with me
out upon the piazza, and would explain all.
| We went out, and l was rapidly giving her the
details, telling her that it was my chum's let
| ter from his cousin up in Vermont, and that
hoped she would not read it, as he would be
| very angry il the contents were KNOWN
"But how did you get it He would not
| let you have such letter.''
"Here was dilemma must either tell
her falsehood, or acknowledge that am
/ wearing borrowed garments. My pride revolts
| from the latter horn, as would hera at the
| thought of coatless lover. If adopted the
other alternative, 1 sacrifice my sense of right;
and besides had not time to concoct res
pectable lie. But pride prevailed, and did
/ not mention the coat. / do not know what
| did tell her; it must have been an incoherent
jargon, for remember that she looked at me
with curious, inquiring eyes, as though she
had suspicious concerning either my veracity
| or my sanity. She seemed satisfied, however,
and gave me the letter. The rooms were