Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1866-12-06
Looking Under the Bed.


INDUCES, if Indulgence it can be called,
in this peculiar practice I do not object
to it IN the least so long as she does not
enforce the performance upon myself; but
when, IS sometimes the case, she forgets
1t until she has put out the light and en-
sconced herself under the comforter, then
it is hard that I, who am not troubled with
nervous apprehensiveness, should have to
get up in the cold and do it for her I
have often remarked to Mrs. Evergreen,
when | have seen her prying under the
bed, that it was a silly habit, and that the
sooner she gave it up the better To this
gentle admonition my better half invariably
rejoins:
LA, Evergreen what harm does It do?
It's a kind of satisfaction to know that no.
body's under there, ana then don't think
Of such a horrible thing after I'm in bed.
81 think, my dear, you had just as we'll
pursue your investigations further, and
look into the bureau drawers and in the
clothes basketw
Evergreen, she would rejoin, don't
mention the idea, Or [ shall certainly do
so. Come to think Of it, man could We
~ easily get into the -basketw
certainly he could, my dear, quite as
easily as Falstaff You should certainly
include the clothes-basket, and by-the-by,
there's the chimney; why not look up that
as well p
Now, Evergreen, you're laughing at
me But [ can't leave of the habit and
[ never will. It's comfort to me to know
that there's nothing wrong about it, and I
don't see why you should deprive me of
it!'
So under the bed goes the candle, and
no sign Of humanity being discovered, Mrs.
Evergreen is able to repose in peace But,
as already observed, this precautionary act
is sometimes forgotten, and am sometimes
obliged to rise, light the lamp. and report
I've done it rather frequently of late than
is agreeable, and have intinated as much
to Mrs g. She says:
Very well, Evergreen, viii do it my
self"
But this procedure is almost equally as
bad, for she invariably let's the cold in on
me both III getting out and getting in
If it were not for increasing the mental i'd
iosyneracy on the part Of Mrs Evergreen,
by giving her some good reason to appre-
bend danger, should relate to her what
| am about to lay before the reader In
this narration, therefore, [ ask the public
most particularly to bear in mind that Mrs
Evergreen is of sensitive nature, rather
apprehenSive and slightly superstitious,
and that what [ have to say must under no
circumstances be told again. IF for two
and-twenty years Chat is the period of our
welded life, aud happy years have they
been) -if, say, I have for this long Pc
riod refrained from imparting the matter
to the beloved sharer Of my joys and par,
taker Of my sorrows, surely the public
/ (Which, as we know, always does keep
secret) will keep mine.
All young men, [ suppose, have love af-
fairs before they eventually fix their affec-
tons on the one who is to bless their lot
in life. [ know that | had, and [ don't
regret it. Regret it !. far from it, Mrs.
Evergreen is not present, and therefore [
have no hesitation in saying that if I had
my life to live over again, I'd like to 90
through with the same sentimental expe-
rience, particularly if it were to be succee-
ded by again leading to the hymeneal al
tar the present Mrs. Evergreen.
was not bad looking when [ was in my
twenties. [ think ] may go further and
confidently say that "Gus Evergreen was
a decided favorite among the girls of Oak
vile, and [ really believe that | could
have had any of them ''for the asking"
AS I before remarked, Mrs Evergreen is
not present, and [ indulge my thoughts
somewhat more freely than would other
wise be the case. [ don't think that [
cared particularly for any of the Oakville
girls, however, and might have kept my
heart whole to this day if it had not been
for the circumstances which [ am about to
relate
Fred Evans, who had been my chum at
school, came to make me visit at Oak
vile for "a day or two," as he said, when
he name; but he made it a week or two
easily enough after | had taken him about
little among the young ladies" When
that time had expired Fred said he really
must go, as he didn't know what his father
and mother would think of his long alb
sence; but it ended in his relieving their
anxiety by letter and sending for his
trunks. [ know how the matter was per-
fectly we'll, and that Belle Bronson had
1 bewitched him out of his five senses.-
Fred used to put it on to the country air
and the quiet which was beneftting his
health, etc" but it was no use trying to
deceive me, and [ told him so. Then he
owned up frankly, and [ promised to help
him all | could, if he required any help in
the prosecution of his suit. | never tho't
Belle a firt, or that she would willingly
distress any human being but she had a
way of looking into ones eyes as if to cap
tivate them for her mere personal amuse-
ment.
At any rate she had larger share Of
beaux than the other gills, but all their
attentions came to nothing | feared it
might be SO with Fred Evans, and warn
ed him accordingly; but Fred said he'd