Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-04
BY n. P. DARLING.

periodicals, an account - supposed to be
true-of the manner in which they were
first submerged in the element called love.
How the objects Of their passions did not
feel any reciprocal twinges in the region of
their heart-strings; how they-the gentle
men-tore their hair and raved, all to no
purpose; and how, at last, they settled down
into a very comfortable old "bach," fully
confirmed in the sage opinion that woman
was not to be looked upon except by GER
tain favored portions of mankind.
Well, dear reader, wasn't used in any
such unkind manner by the charming widow
Brown. ] courted and married her; and
after having sailed five years in the ocean
of matrimony, can't say that have any
fault to find with the DEAR sweet creature
called woman.
was thirty-fve when the idea first pop
ped into my head of getting married. Ihad
Just come home from church, where had
met Miss Lucy Brown, charming girl of
seventeen, and | had to confess to myself,
what had never done before, that was in
love. Nothing bad, though, Just q little
touched round the edges
The widow Brown and her daughter had
but lately come to our town, so had hardly
seen them. | knew that they had rented
the little red house at the foot Of Gooseberry
Hill, and that was about all knew of them
1t was with very quiet kind Of Joy that
l surveyed the little red house that Sabbath
evening, from the summit Of Gooseberr
Hill, and fancied myself sitting in front
the widows door, with sweet Lucy by m
side, and little sprig Of humanity dangling
upon my knee, lsping "papa,' in such
never-before-heard-Of cunning way, looking
Just like its mother, and bearing its fathers
sweet disposition.
Perhaps l was rather fast-but, when I
make up my mind to do any thing, 1 am
not long in setting about il; and. as was
in love with Miss Lucy, I farcied that she
must have slightly tender feeling for me.
! began to write poetry by the ream;
swore to love her forever, all on paper:l
called her my angel in my sleep, and in
dreams saw LeT Clothed II feathers. as those
ethereal beings are represented BY our very
knowing artists. Though | was desperately
smitten with Miss Lucy, had sense enough
10 know that | might write poetry until
Gooseberry Hill grew to a mountain, but, if
nothing more was done, l should probably
remain in the state of single blessedness the
remainder of my days.
So, on Sunday night prinked up, covered
q few grey hairs that had Just began to ap-
pear, and, viewing myself in the mirror for
some time, at last came TO the conclusion
that l didn't look to be over twenty-five;
and, taking my gold-headed cane that had
been brought over in the May Flower, or
some other ship by my grandfather, who
used to be reckoned "some,' l started for
the little red house, that is situated, as 1
said before, at the foot of Gooseberry Hill.
Lucy and her mother received me very
kindly and, before 1 was hardly aware of
it, was enjoying such pleasant chat with
the latter, that had quite forgotten the OBJ
ject of my visit.
Widows are such lovable creatures. that
it is positively of no use for susceptible
man to resist them. Lucy was lovely to
look upon, but the widow was lovely every
way.
You will confess that black eyes are mur-
derous weapons, when used by any woman,
especially widow; and Mrs. Brown used
hers with such good effect, that had to ac-
knowledge, upon my return home, that, so
soon, was more in love with the mother
than daughter.
After having once broken the ice, my
visits to the little red house became quite
frequent. The widow was very fond of
reading and as 1 had very good collec-
tion of books, would carry one over of an
evening; and, as Mrs. Brown and her daugh-
ter sat at their work, as | had nothing bet
ter TO do, read to them.
Lucy seemed to be very little interested
in the readings, but Mrs. Brown would often
look up from her work and smile her ap-
proval Of some passage that struck her
fancy, and | always read better when l
knew she was looking at me.
Mrs. Brown liked what did, read what
/ recommended, (it may be that this is a
way that widows have while Lucy op-
posed me in every thing. My taste was
her aversion; besides, she was altogether
too wild 10 make good wife for man of
my years. At least l thought so; and, after
smoking a pipe of tobacco to clear my
understanding, l sat down and thought the
matter all over, and at last came to the con-
clusion that had best propose to the widow. |
Making proposals of marriage, whatever
some may think, was extremely terrifying
to me. | never had attempted to reach wo-
man, and felt very much in the dark, in re-
gard to the answer might receive from the
object of my alteration.
1t was cool evening, in the Autumn,
that l sat beside the widow, in the little
back parlor, while a cheerful FIRE blazed
upon the hearth, and lit up the widows
face with double extra glow. The book
that l had been reading from was laid
aside, and Lucy having gone to spend the
evening, l thought that the time had come.
10 keep up my courage, said to -mys self;
"Give me the widow, or give me DEATH" and
to those inspiring words broke the silence.
"Nirs. Brown" said /, "Ive been tkink-
ing" here broke down and had to make
a fresh start. "Widow, am getting along
in years, and-and-I begin TO 1eel that
thai break down number two.
"That you want a wife" said the widow.
looking up and smiling.
Exactly, Mrs. Brown; and want to ask
you if you would"
"Yes, ! will, replied the widow, kindly
helping me out of my embarrassment.
l turned and pressed kiss upon those
lovely lips, and thought that already had
obtained peep into Heaven. We laughed
at the labor had made in popping the ques-
tion; and, as Lucy came in just then, l took
my hat, feeling the happiest l ever had in
my life, and retired
A month after this we were married in
the little brick church, where l had first
seen the young lady that afterward fell
in love with, and whom now call daugh-
er.
Complete happiness is very scarce ar
ticle; but l think that we have as large
share of it in the little red house, at the
foot of Gooseberry Hill, as you will find
any where, and l shall close by saying to
all bachelors: "Go thou and do likewise"