The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-01-26
MY SPRING CAMPAIGN.
Bf MANY BROWN.


the privilege Of giving her name to the
little ugly mass Of flesh, blood and con,
tortions, and [ was dubbed Betsy Jane
Herrick. have been told l was quite
pretty child, when my face was
straight (and that was like angels visits,
for it wos constantly in a squalling atti-
tude). Indeed, my mother told me she
never would have had the patience to
raise me if she had not thought l would
make something when grown. l have
made something nothing more nor less
than Bloomer! have the misfortune
at present, to be the only surviving child.
The other (there were three of them) be.
ing degree crosser than myself, cried
themselves to death-said to have died
Of fits.
When I arrived at my fftcenth year,
my parents concluded that Betsy Jane
needed some polishing; and as farmer
Jones was about to send his Julia to a
boarding school, it was decided that I
should also have a smattcring of fashion
able school training. was already be-
ginning to see that my cognomen was far
from being poetical, SO gave my name
to the secretary Of tho seminary as "B.
jennie Herrick." That was enough to
ioD i;DI Of Fl my j7i Importance.
Three years were spent in conjugating
the verb to lore, through French, Ger
man and Latin, with other accomplish:
ments of music, drawing and painting.
l never studied much, but my chum said
I always recited At my turn SO at the
close of my school life, | acquitted my
self as very good scholor, though not
at all polished, for if wanted to laugh,
it was loud enough to awaken moderate
sleeper quarter of a mile away.
A year spent in traveling-a season in
looking at the different dresses in Sara.
toga and Nowport-a winter divided be-
tween the club of the Universe" the
"Pure City," and the "City Of Brother
ly Love-" The last year has been spent
at home mostly, surrounded by flock Of
lovers-lovers of Squire Herrick's hos
pitality and lovers of nonsense, com
pounded and gilded with fashion.
A little thing turus the tide in ones
life sometimes. A little thing caused
me to look inside Of my poor miserable
life-as barren of beauty as desert, as
useless and aimless as an idiots, as con.
temptible and deplorable as an Office
seekers. 1t made me sick of myself
My advantages had been liberal, and my
talents were of no mean order And
there had been, Notwithstanding an un-
ceasing round Of beaux and parties, a
terrible expenditure of money, and all to
no purpose. l was disgusted with it.
1t was wearing my life out. Twas grow.
ing nervous, hysterical, had poor appe-
tite, was troubled with that everlasting
complaint of woman's, the headache
How l hated it all
But what should l do? I thought OF
a variety of employments, but it would
need time for the carrying out of such
plans. | wanted something immediate,
for fear my new resolutions might weak.
en-. If had been man I should have
done as our best and noblest have done
gone to the war. did the next thing
Il went to war with myself. My ador.
abe lovers could they endure the trial
TO which their nerves were to DO sub
jected? They were but human, and a
breeze Of sense might blow them away
My first battle was with my parents nex'
morning.
Wve request to make, father and
mothor, and very much desire that yor
may grant it," My face flushed all owe,
at this. l could feel the blood tlngle a
the very finger ends. E
"What is it, Betsy Jane p says father
"Has Will Hastings been making-?
"No. Will Hastings has nothing t.
do with it, nor any body's will but my
own: IT'S just this: I want you to dis
miss our hired girl !; there are only thre
Of US ir the'hmily, and I really think W
need no girl" -a.i
"But," interrupted my mother, I'D
you think your poor old mother wants t.
kill herself!" ...-
"No; I mean that I don't want to xii