The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-04-03

ed down with mutton tallow. Mr.. Bogg
kept house in comfortable style with hi
aunt. Miss Mehitable Boggs, and when bu
siness permitted he was fond ofroaming int,
the country with dog and gun. II was vel
known that Mr.. Boggs had been successful
in business, and many ! lorn maiden, season
after season, cast tender glances'at the flow
ers and the bowers which adorned his gar
den, without receiving hint to occupy tn,
Eouse and make herself at home. 1t hat
been resolved in solemn gatherings of tn,
Dorcas association, that Mr.. Boggs's obstin
acy on matrimony was "a shsme," but i
was conceded that, shou' d he ever surrendel
after holding out SO long, he was fairly en-
titled to the honors of war. u
The country store kept by bachelor Boggs
in short, the store Of the place. was amply
filed with customers on fine afternoon
toward the end of February, and he was very
busy in endeavorlng to please them, when 4
small boy came In and placed note in his
hand. Telling Linn to be seated until he
was At leisure. he proceeded, at the first mo.
mcnt he could snatch, to read as follows:
FRIENDSHIPS Bowen, Wednesday p. M.
Miss Elizabeth Perkins hopes this will ind
Mr. H. Boggs in his usual health. | hope
you will not take it amiss, dear sir, II I hope
you are not engaged this evening. I hope,
If it Il not too much to hope, that you will
find it convenient to join small party at
the rBower' this evening. Miss slocomb
and Miss Briggs take tea with me this even
ing, and | hope also for the pleasure of the
company of the young men this evening
who wait upon Miss Slocomb and Miss
Briggs. The lecturer Of the course of lee
lures, lectures this evening. and we should
be happy Of your company to go along and
hear him lect,ne. Miss Perkins informs Mr..
Boggs that tea will be on table at half past
six.
This choice epistie was folded three.cor.
ner.wise, the seal of blue wax bearing the
impression of two rings, interlaced, with a
motto from "Monk" Lewis Bleeding Nun
Raymond, Raymond, I am thine."
Our bachelor at once accepted the invita-
ton and dismissed the boy, remembering At
the same time that the "wollontine." as he
libelled a love letter of the l4th of February,
and in which he had been assured that,
$50 true as the vine went round the stump,
Sotrue you are my sugar lumy,'
was directed to him in hand the fac simile
Of Miss Betsey Perkins.
Friendships Bower was q small white ten
ement, under the shade Of weeping willow,
and its owner, Miss Perkins, had according
TO report seen therein the sunny side of
good many summers Malicious scandal re
ported also that the lady had tongue and
temper of her own, as husband, if she ever
had one, might find out Ifsuch, however,
had ever reached the ears of Mr.. Boggs, it
passed him rs the idle wind, and undismay-
ed, he appeared at the door of Friendships
Bower at quarter past six precisely, gor-
geously attired in blue dress coat and gold
buttons, ruffled shirt, green velvet waist
coat, and new pair Of black pantaloons, 50
tight that he seemed to have grown up with
them. The company we're already present !;
an elderly man with hatchet face, wild hair,
ditto cravat, rusty boots and very short
trousers; whom Miss Perkins introduced
(the man, not the costume) as Uncle letter.
Then there was Miss Mary Catherine Slo-
comb, and Miss Ann Jane Briggs, and the
two young men who waited on Miss Slocomb
and Miss Briggs; Miss Slocombs young
man, Mr.. Blossom, the foreman of the Ex-
celsior Hose company, and Miss Briggs
young man, Mr.. Lilly, author Of an unpub-
lished poem and tour own correspondent
ofthe Little Pumpville weakly. Tea was
served without delay, and properly paired,
the company sat round the table.
From the moment Of Mr.. Boggs' entrance,
. sort Of by play had been enacted between
Mary Catharine and Ann Jane, consisting
of sly glances At the fat shop.keeper, then
glances ct Miss Perkins, glances at the young
men to see if they "took." and then noiseless
little giggles Of two minutes duration.-
Then Mary Catherine plagued Ann Jane to
tell her about valentine which somebody"
who kept store had sent to fair Pump
william on the 14th Of February, and Ann
Jane bothered Mary Catherine to guess who
was meant by that inquiry in the local col.
umn Of the weakly as to the young man
who looked up 30 hard into the choir on
Sundays. Miss Perkins sung in one Of the
choirs, and Mr.. Lilly kept an eye on the bach
elor during service. OF course ar this was
intensely gratifying to Mr.. Hesekiah Boggs,
and calculated to put him into great ease of
manner. Eis8e ,91aA
Tea l bslieve you take. Mr.. Boggs,' said
Miss Perkins. .s..r
After the ladies' said the gallant bachelor.
'Oh dear, what could have been thinking
Off but may As well help you, now l'ye
begun. Sugar | think you have; SWEET
Quite sweet replied Mr.. Boggs, blushing
purple. r
Ann Jane kicked Mary Catherine, and
Mary Catherine nudged Mr.. Blossom, who
winked At Mr.. Lilly, who smiled at Uncle
letter, whom his turn said, 'Whew + where.
upon the two young ladies' went Off behind
pocket handkerchiefs into paroxysms Of
laughter.
WELL said Miss Betsey, reddening with