The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-05
TIT TOR TAT.

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Twas going one morning iron Southampton 10
\ London hai Jhc carriage to myself as far as
l\ingstoni lcic little man got in who at once
attracted my attention by the peculirity Of his
dress, appearance, aud manner. He was in even
ting diess-cycrylh about him, from the silk
faccd dress cootto the pa.ent-leather boots being
PbrannCw. A fact Of which he was far from being
unconscious; each Of his garments, in turn,
iattracIed his noicc and approving smile.
The only thing about him that violated even
ling etiquette was bis nocbtie-a blue one nogli-
kyently arranged q Ia Byron under rolling collar.
II From this ] ougured that he was q poet. for
Eutn-du"n co.lM5 were by no means so common
Eten as now the fashion Prescribing terrific gils
(Which, in sbor'-neckcd men, endangered the
Taiety OF their WbiskCrs and cars. My surmisC
1waS Confirmed by his long hair, It's natural ten
Hdency to cur being Combated by the copOus
tcXhi6iton OF grease, and probably by asslduOus
brushing.
J His face, however, was somewhat against my
Theory Instead Of being thin and pale with ewes
I'm hne tlcu1r rolling it was round dumping
Hike, and rosy his itllC eyes deeply set in tunnels
40t fat which, rs he chuckled from time to time
were half closed by his rising cheeks and pre-
scented to view mere Slit; his nose short turned
f1p, end garni'hCd at the tip with six or seven
curly hairs his mouth expansive, and his teeth
,Eery good: fortunately, as he showed them all
III
fnOt quite come down.
4 He was well made, what there was Of him he
Hyas not much above five feet high, rather dis
kbOsed TO cmbOUU0iUt.
4 In his button hole he wore a magnificent white
Eamelia, which, regret TO say, saw, admired
WOYetcd, and determined to possess, by fair means
N possible, if nor, by foul.
II This flower too attracted much Of his atten-
Efoni nc bestowed heIUent gauces upon II, NUT
fering what conceived to De poetry, inspired by
4he purity and delicacy OF the flower.
q / was considering how might best commence
II conversation which would acquire me the good
EfaCes of this gentleman, and ultimately make
tne the pOssessOr Of the Camelia, when he saved
4ie the trouble Of breaking The ice by saying: -
"Candidly, sir, what do you think of nay
\ replied that had not the advantage Of know
Ing him, Circumstance which l regretted the
NnOre, rs his work showed him to be q man of no
cOmmOn ability. added that he was fortunate
IA having a client whsse figure and air would set
6f garments. even though fabricated with less
EOnsunmate skill.
l He tried to look modestly unconscious, and
4ad -
"Ard who, sir, may this client be with the
Ristingue figure and air As you say you do not
know my tailor, might almost fancy your fat'
Nerirg observations were addressed to me hut my
Higule, though not dCiOrmed, is small, that is to
Day, rather below than above the average size;
Hud rs for my air, though l tlatter myself that
Bosse6s some Of that Je Sais gUOi which distin-
yuishes men like you and me from the common
Hhe very glowing eulOgium which you have be-
HtOwCd upon them No, sir, really; no. indeed,
Vir, really" and he chuCkled, binked his eyes,
knd cast glances on his round little limbs of more
khan paiernal iondness. l perceived that he was
Not inaccessible TO fattery, aad did not despair of
obtaining the camelia by fair means.
a 81 should apologize, said l, "for so personal
kemark; it slipped from me unconsciously; but
You must have heard it frequently from the lips
fnd seen it in the eyes of the gentler sex. YOu
Te not nsensible TO their witcberies see that in
&Our eye; nay, that camela in your button-hole
vroyes you to be the happy bondman Of some
"How did you find that out You must know
Nomething about me; you might have guessed
h9t was in loves but how did you find out the
8olor of her eyes p"
! "Well, did not positively thought It likely,
host in accordance with the eternal fitness Of
fbings, that you, who have blue eyes, Should DO
Nnslayed by black ones. Was right Z"
Pc right, but the fact is, l have never seen the
Iady's eyes"
! "Never seen her eyes All, see a mystic
@lous courtship, truly poetic, yelled lady, gentle
voice, white hand one raven lock lust peepng
rom its concealment fairy FORM taper ankles
Iittle tiddlyiddly feet"
"Sir," said he, grasplng my hand, awe are kin
Hred spirits-you have felt the divine aflatus-
&ou have struck the wild harp, and burst into the
Hnspiring melody of song. We are poets, sir, bro
&her poetb. Were il not breach of the confidence
Nhe has reposed in me, would tell you the his
HOry Of our loves. our hopes, and our sorrows"
"You forget that so long rs you conceal the
Fady's name there can be no breach of confidence.
Rhe Is an unknown quantity let X represent
81 "Not X; 1 shall have TO repeat hername often
the course of my narratives she would then
lecome double, treble, or even quadruple X, and
Ehe Is not stout"
"CweI, then, let Y represent herr it is a slender
/, Md graceful letter"
e Il "Good, let Y, for the moment, represent, un.
. &Orthily, the name of my adored Charmer. / am
9 a poet, Sir, as you have already perceived, and
4 n R0t altogether unknown to the public; in the
XPoets Corner Of the Trottingbury ueycltyy eregi
ahunlenttn ere PerenaiUI You may have seen
\ Iole Of my contributions TO that journal signed
NPetai VIII just repeat you my 'Ode to the
VdOrning.'"
"Pray, don't take the trouble; I know the
oem by heart, and recited il only last week to
H- at the Athen3um Club. Just now am
burning with impatience to hear your story"
"fou nave read nay poem, then; l had scarcely
Wentured TO hope that the weak breathings of my
muse had penetrated so far as London
% "Why, my dear Sir, there are six copies of the
b %T0ttington Mercury on the table of the AthenUum
ub, and II is dithcultto get hold of one Of them
u fet no one reads any part Of 1t but the Poets
II 'iNot Trottington Trottingbury. Well, IN 20
IN with my story. One evening / had lust
lnished my limitations OF Anecreon,' and taken
e Nhem 70 the office Of the Trottingbury Mercury.
q The last feeble flicker Of twilight was about to
z five way 10 the solemn darkness of night There
I, As holy stiffness, calm quiet about the hour
hat seemed TO soften the heart to prepare II for
. Gentle impressions. In front of the office of the
trotting0nry Mercury is garden. There
loses should vic with geraniums, the graceful
n fOodDine should twine round the trellis-Worll,
Is lna the Stately lily should be there in the
fioe OF her virgin purity; but regret to say
l.. Is planted with potatoes. In this garden there
TWO gates. 1 was going down the path
y. ieh si.9s, ieaHs 10 one Of them, and repeat
never read the works Of other peopie. ii
Xestroys originality Of thought1 As IySg Soins
0Wp this path, l CHANGED ~ look towards the