Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-06-19
How 1t Came About.

THERE was fine old General once, who,
having spent most of his time in the field
OF Mars, knew very little about the camp
of Cupid. He was one of those rough and
honest spirits often met with in his gallant
profession, innocent as an infant of almost
everything save high integrity and indom-
table bravery. He was nearly fifty years
old, and his tolls were over, when master
Dan made him acquainted with widow
Wadman, in whose eyes he began to detect
something which made him feel uneasy.
Here was the result of leisure.
At length, however, the blunt honesty
OF his disposition rose uppermost among
his conflicting plans, and his course was
chosen.
Atschool he had once studied Othello's
Defense" to recite at an exhibition, but
made failure; he recollected there was
something in this defense to recite very
near what he wanted to say. He got the
book Immediately, found the passage,
clapped on his hat with a determined air,
and posted off to the widow Wadman's
with Shakespeare under his arm.
Madam" said General Uncle Toby,
openingthe book at the marked place, with
the solemnity of a special pleader at the
bar, Madam
Rude am in my speech
And little blessed with the set phrases of peace
For since these arms Of mine had seven years
Till now some nine months wasted, they have
used
Their dearest action in the tented field;
And little of this great world can speak,
More thar. pertains to feats of broil and battle
And therefore,"
Here the General closed his book, wiped
his forehead, looked up at the ceiling, and
said, with spasmodic gasp:
II want to get married! p
The widow laughed for ten minutes, by
the watch, before she could utter syllable,
and then she said, with precious tears of
good humor rolling down her good-natured
cheeks:
"And who is it you want to marry, Gen.
erals"
"You!" said Uncle Toby, fourishing his
sword-arm in the air, assuming military
attitude OF defiance, as if he expected an
assault from the widow Immediately.
VIII you kill me if [ marry your" said
the widow, with merry twinkle in her
eye.
No, madam" replied Uncle Toby, in a
most serious and deprecating tone, as if to
assure her that such an idea had never en-
tered his head.
"Well, then l guess I'll marry you," said
the widow .--
Thank you, ma'am," said Uncle Toby !;
but one thing am bound to tell you'll
wear wig"
The widow started, remained silent a
moment, and then went into longer,
louder and merrier laugh than she had in
obliged In before, at the end of which she
drew her seat nearer the General, gravely
laid her hand on his head, gently lifted his
wig off and placed it on the table,
General Uncle Toby had never known
fear in hot battle, but he now felt de-
clded inclination to run away. The widow
laughed again as though she would never
stop, and the General was about to put
his hat upon his denuded head and bolt,
when the facetious lady placed her hand
upon his arm and detained him. She then
raised her hand to her own head with a
rapid maneuvre, and with her fingers
pulled up her whole head Of fine glossy
hair, and placing it upon the table by the
side of the Generals remained seated with
iudicrous gravity in front of her accepted
lover, quite bald!
AS may be expected, Uncle Toby now
laughed long with the widow, and they
grew so merry over the affair that the maid
servant peeped through the key-hole at
the noise, and saw the old couple dancing
a jig and bobbing their bald pates at each
other Like pair of Chinese mandarians.
So the two very shortly laid their heads
together upon the pillows of matrimony.