Weekly Calaveras chronicle. (Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County, Cal.) 18??-1874, 1867-12-14


quainted with young ladies who have
seen their twenty, third birthday much
easier than with those little less ma
tured | think, as general thing,
they are more tanned, and that, as they
approach the scar and yellow stage of
existence, their affections become more
gushy, extending tendrils in every d.
rectioE in search of something to lean
upon, Irvine around, and beautify gen
orally. The similarity of our tastes and
Opinions, too, was something remarka-
Bile, considering the disparity of age
between us-though she occasionally
ventilated some peculiar ideas about the
natural affinity of souls magnetic at
traction, &c, that could not quite see
then.
| l had a friend, Smithers by name,
who, like myself, was frequent visitor
of Miss Araminta, but with far differ
ent motive. l was simply trying to
overcome an unreasonable, ridiculous
timidity, while he, as he one day in
formed me in a sudden burst of conf
dence, chad no other ambition on earth,
at present, than to make that peerless
woman his own Having not the
slightest objection to the proposed
change of proprietorship in Araminta,
| became deeply interested in his sue
cess, and proffiered no end of advice of
the first water as to the means to be
employed in gaining her affections
prominent among which, | remember,
was the use of confectionery, in the viz
tues of which [ was, and am still, a
firm believer, and which he used to
load himself with, like a pack horse,
whenever he paid her visit; but, al
though he confessed that, under the
soothing influence of gum drops, her
manner toward him had perceptibly
softened, and though he had fancied
upon several occasions, in presenting
her with package of burnt almonds,
that she looked at him with more than
friendship in her glance, he could not
screw his courage to the sticking point,
and end at once the suspense which
was wasting away his flesh even faster
than it did his dimes.
Matters were in this position when,
one night, as [ was walking home,
thinking over his troubles and blessing
the lucky stars that had as yet preserv-
ed me from such misfortune, | nearly
ran over Smithers himself, leaning
against an awning post with folded arms
and gazing upon the residence Of his
adored in much the same style as the
Lost Man, standing upon his solitary
mountain peak, might have watched old
Noah fastening down the scuttle of the
Ark. "IIallo, Smithers ~ said l, "you
look as serious as cue of Woolman
green turtles. What's the row, old
boy ~ "Not word, Jack. I'm the
most miserable wretch in the world.
Come, have some oysters-tell you all. -
The oysters seemd to soothe him, and
| concluded that his wildness, after all,
was only the effect of an empty stomach,
and was feeling greatly relieved in
mind, when he suddenly commenced,
in broken sentences-pausing between
each to put away an oyster and gain
strength to proceed-to inform me that
he had called on Miss Young that even
ing to present her with some fgpaste
and declare his passion She had re-
ceived him with great kindness, and
accepted his fg-paste with delight. He
had told her of his determination to 90
west and settle, at which she looked
greatly concerned; and then, when the
way was thoroughly paved for an avow-
al, he had utterly broken down-in his
agitation had knocked over the poker,
then his own chair, and, in a frantic
attempt to throw himself gracefully on
his knees, had burst off couple of sus-
pender buttons, with a noise like the
discharge of musket-had got his
knees on a-carpet tack, and finished
by rushing frantically from the house,
without word, taking, in his excite
ment, the old mans hat (and a venera'
BILE old tile it was) instead of his own,
and was standing in state of thorough
decentralization, trying to decide what
form of suicide was best suited to his
case, when | had opportunely made my
appearance, to rescue him from an un-
timely grave by lending my aid to
scheme which he was assured would
result in making two people happy for
life.
In consideration of this awful re-
sponsibility SO suddenly thrown upon
my hands, could only express my per-
feet willingness to do anything in my
power to bring about such desirable
result-the more so, that | felt conf
dent Araminta only wanted the oppor-
tunity to throw herself on his breast
and modestly refer him to "mamma,"
which | have reason for believing is
about the proper thing under the cir
cumstances His plan simply was that
should call on Miss Young the next
morning, gently fathom, if possible, the
depth of her affection, and, if the result
was satisfactory, give an explanation of
his rather singular behavior, set forth
his prospects IN glowing terms, and
bring him her answer. In moment
OF weakness l consented, and his spirits
rose at once to fever heat.
You'll do it, my boy" he said,
wringing my hand. "Your admirable
self-possession will carry you through,
and L shall be your friend for life.''
Here was pretty go. 1, who trem-
BILE at the SIGHT of a netticnat actnallv