The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-05-22
An Army Correspondent.
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.

! who knows the whistle Of Confederate
bullets, and has never trembled at the
music, desires to correspond with some
young lady, with view to matrimony.-
Money no object; strict secresy preserved.
Address, with real name, etc., Frank l..
Dewitt, Camp Jefferson 1st Reg. Knock
Hard Heavy Artillery-Aruy of the Po-
tomac" 93f9 8
Miss Parafna Bean read this advertise
ment over three times, and sighed des-
perately. 1t produced very lively i'm
preston on'her sensitive mind. She be-
lieved in Fate, and although she had
lived forty years without meeting her des-
tiny, she was satisfied that somewhere in
the future it was impatiently waiting for
her. What beautiful sentiment Faith
is! sa
ParaGna looked in her glass when she
put down the newspaper "a handsome
young lady"-so ran the notice, and such,
she hattered herself she might Justly
claim to be. a
Perhaps she was, if the standard of
beauty were not so far from correct. She
had carroty hair-she called it golden; a
milk and water complexion, and eyes to
correspond. A mouth little awry, and
a form long and lank enough to Justify
the appellation of willowy.
She was something Of poetess, too
Had had verses printed in the CornvilIe
Eagle, and had written two obituary noti-
ces of as many estimable aunts.
Parafna had passion for soldiers,
which was perfectly right. All loyal wo-
men should feel just so.
After due deliberation she decided to
answer Mr.. De Wits advertisement.
That letter cost her much thought, and
full quire of paper, but toward midnight
| it was finished.
For the benefit of such Of our readers
as may sometime find themselves in the
interesting situation of our heroine, we
transcribe it:
"My Dear Mr.. Frank L. De Witt:
"DEAK SIR: | hardly dare to- address
you, lest you should deem me deficient in
that noblest attribute of woman -modesty
but l still my futtering, fearful heart,
aud take up my pen. l have read your
feeling notice in the Herald, and believe
that in its beautiful though simple lines,
can trace the working Of "a congenial
spirit. We have never met upon this
sublunary sphere, my dearest Frank.
(what a charming nameD but in visions
of the night methipks | have gazed upon
your countenance. You will forgive me
if l speak too warmly--I am a free, ,gush
ling, unsophisticated child of nature, and
so may say loving and affectionatel A
harsh word would kill mel You will al
ways be very kind and gentle with me,
viii you not, my dearest2 You're coldness
[ could endure. It would be the
ruin of your Para6nal Oh, how much |
would like to write more, but forbear.
l mustawait your reply. That you may
know to what, and to whom. you are to
address your letter, I will describe my
self briefly, though description never
does one justice. I am young-in. the
first flush Of youth-with golden hair
and blue eyes-fair complexion, aud fat
terers call me pretty OF course, / do
not endorse their opinion. I am tall but
| trust not too talffor grace, and beside
this is a seeret-I have great taste
for literature, and have somewhat distin-
guished myself by writing for the press
under the nom de plume of Lillian Will
bon Reply soon; | shall be in despair
until | hear from thee. Thy Parafna
oa tBEAN)
A week afterward the response came.
Frank was charmed with the letter of his
adored Parafna-he worshipped herfal-
ready, he said, and should've an eternity
of anguish until he beheld her. asi q.
| He would. be as confding as shehal
been, and described himself He was
called handsome--was dark complexioned
black eyed, with dark, close cnrliug hair,
white teeth, and expressive features
! Paraina was in ecstacies. She had not
waited SO long for nothing. She could
snap her fingers at the ill-natured people
who had called her an old maid.
So the correspondence progressed and
prospered, and eliminated in an engage
mentpf marriage.
Frank was to be furloughed about
Thanksgiving time, and the wedding
would be celebrated Immediately after.
1 ward. eW shf res ~
Parafna Immediately visited Boston to
purchase the bridal outfit, and for week:
afterward was the envy of all the women
of Cornville. ses vs. 6.a
On the day which Frank had set apart
as the one which was to usher him into
the presence of his beloved, Parafr
walked on air. She was in the seventh
heaven. No cloud of doubt Aoatet
athwart the sky of her bliss. She would
not have exchanged places with the EN-
press of the French, even for Eugcnie
4 privilege of getting inte new dress witt
the accompaniments, every half hour.
i To use her own poetic expression, th,
celestial regions came down and rested oil
/ her shoulders. 80
At last she should be clasped to tn
} bosom of the man Of her love! Sh
should know how it felt to be kissed b,
somebody with moustache, for Fran
had one.9 Sarah Jane Peek, her bosor
4 friend, once rejoioed ina hirsute lover
/ and never wearied Of describing to Para
/ fina how she used to feel when he kisse
4 her, but now Parafna was about to be uni
! ted for life to q being with heart Of fire
and a black moustaehe, and could se
4 Sarah James moiey and expsrience .
:. defiance.