Spirit of the age., 1861-06-26
G&e55eltef 2}ter1e#r<.
THE DOCTORS FIRST PROPOSAL.
BY mARIoS.

Als
BY MARION.
Few men were ever so universally loved
and Jcspocted as Dr. George Fortescuc. lie
was KIND, obliging and possessed in an emil
-neBt degree those admirable etraits-humanitv
and beneyolcnce. Yet still. with ali lis mai.
ural endowments-richly cultivated mini
and heart overlooking with kindness--be
was, strange to say, always unhappy anu iii
at ease. =
IL was his great misfortune to be extreme.
Iy Rkward, aud being fully conscious of
th's deiece, his embarrassment was conse-
quenily heightened whcnin compeny. He
iVit heenty MS want et sell osScssioa, and
eiuued nmselt as m9ch as possible, always
llucying himself ia every ones way. In such
conjecture, so Self accusing to himself and
detrimental to others the good Doctor was
previously mistaken No one thouoht If
his awkwardness. If they smiled. t was
because they felt themselves in the society
OF one oi Natures true noblemen His very
presence seemed to shed lustre around tho
laniiy circle. Ills prepossessng countenance
was always animated by the genial smile of
bcncVoIence, and the high pale brow. the
dark luminous eye, with its ever beaninc
glance, was the true index to the great and
uenelicent heart within. At the bedside of
the dt Ing lie was ever hailed as some blessed
messenger, bearing tidings from fairer
purer world. The iaint pressure of the cam.
NY hand, the last murmured bencdiction
trembling on fast failing lips-perhaps some.
time rose up before him like beacon star
70 cheer his lonely pathway He was tho
last of his family, and like Logan felt that
not drop OF his blood run in living veins,'
lie had dim remembrance Of his father
IN III q
indelibly ON his infant mind. II was NIGHT
and they lifted him from his little crib. that
he might look for the last time upon the pal.
lid face Of his dying father.
Ihat countenance, on which death had set
hs sIgnet, those glazed eyes--that voice so
changed-he never afterwards forgot. From
that time lis mother bad been his guiding
star. No other beng on earth was so lovely
aud good in his estimation. She was the
light Of his childhood--the guide and coun--
seller Of his youth, and the tender friend and
companion Of his manhood. But alas, what
arc tics TO the insatate archer, Death He
eometh on invisible wings he glidcs- with
noseIess footsteps into the habitations of the
rich and gay. No condition, age or sex are
exempt from Lis chilly breath, but fall like
sheaves before the scythe Of great reaper,
Heofge ForteScue had seen his mother die |
~ JN.'S E"NS AAlAlSSll Utmost WHOLLY to ]
gssl1l sela1ia iI mfll thus y retiring and
bani,h the painful memories which ever
seemed to remind him Of bis lonely condition.
The idea of marrying never once enter ed his
mind. But to the good people OF the neigh
borhood, it was matter OF much speculation
and curiosity, that one so amiable and pop
ular should ever have reached the mature
are of thirty-fye without ever seeming TO
A.. n. -, Pit tbu trtth va no
was certain that no woman Of common rea-
son would marry such a great blunderng
fellow as he was; beside, hc had no idea,
even if so inclined, his courage would ever
let him reach proposition point He was
the owner Of a snug, well improved farm, and
six clever, obedieot negroes. Two Of these
negroes, Alsc and Ike, were house servants,
and obeyed every look and word Of the Doc
tor's most implicitly. Everything went on
like clock work. Alsc was cook and house
keeper, and, to do her justice, was most
expert and skiill manager. The rooms were
Kept in perfect order and the tea-table, about
yald squarc,s was always ready with its
whit biscuit and fragrant tea when the Doe
tor appcaied Nor was Ike behind in his
cndtUyors TO please. lie was hCsller, gar
,cner and Eoot-ilacl. lie spent nearly half
his time polishing his masters boots and rub
bing the shining coat Of Big Back" the
Doctors horse. The farm hands also knew
their duty, aud always managed to have the
barn foil TO overdowing when winter came
around. With all Of these attentions, anc
PROMPT anticipation Of his wishes, no Won
der the Doctor had not troubled himself abou
marrying. But If he was lukewarm hmsel
ON that most important subject, there wer
others in his own immediate neighooIhoo'
who were not.
On u hl just opposite his cottage, lived
widow lady, Mrs Simpkins, and her daugt
ter. Miss AIamiuta was just three yeaI
Younger than the Doctor, though she alway
maintained that it was seven. at any rat
IA far back as Inc could remember, she ha
bcen Miss Araminta, and he rcmcmberedt t
about going TO school with her twenty-h'
wears before and having fight about the
smelling books. Miss Araminta had new
thought of any thing else but to marry Il
Doctor, and he thought OF everything e'
but that. True, she thought him rather tard
but then he would get over that, and
she waited patiently on. II the Doct
chanced to be sick, the most delicious jelii
and f,uiis would come from her hand, a
the first flowers Of her garden were alwa
arranged in q most exquisite boquet, elab
rately tied in true lovers knot, with SIX
blue ribbon, and sent with Miss ArAmint;
compliments' She was very scntimen
and romantic, and was always repeating !
lie snatches OF poetry from Byron, Bun
and 'lhat sweet Tom Moore her favor
poet. She also considered herself great
etess, aud had whole quires Of tcolscap scr
bled over, end Thyming beautifully, W
sove and dove and morning and hwnl
&c If the Doctor cAanced to pass by
widows cottage, she was always in the |
tico, sometimes reclining gracefully II
huge stuffed chair, her yellow ringlets tlt
inc around her shoulders, and her eyes ii
dreamily upon the heavens, or seated u
the steps attired in The most Juvenile OF
tunes All this maroeuycring, however,
poWerless TO move the obdurate heart OF
Doctor. Big Back would tot slowly
and. &c, with his usual smile would
Good evening, Miss AraIninta, and pas
while tho outraged spinster would gaze
him and lnurmur, Cold as the rocks on
meas hoary brow
one evening when tho Doctor rea
home alter visiting several patients III
neishborhood, he found Alse and Ike, 5
ing at the gate, their conntenances evu
that something very agreeable adhapp
Alse advanced with an air Of triumph
paced small scented envelope in his
Thinking il Of course some OF Miss A
ta's loyesick notes, nc was putting i
his pocket, when Ase begged him tc
look inside that Paper Il proved 70