Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-09-09
A Precocious Chap.

John Smith-you've heard of him
is very bashful; is too bashful in truth.
He was born and raised in the coun-
try His father gave him good ed
ucation, and allows him plenty Of
money. But John. with all other at
tainments, new .ould accustom him
self to the SOC of females, not be-
cause be didn't like the girls, but be-
cause bis shy nature would not permit
him to associate with the fair sex. II
once happened, not very long ago
either, that Johns father had some
very important business in the city
He also had some very particular af-
fairs to attend to at home which de-
manded his personal attention, and not
possessing the power of ubiquity, he
delegated his son John to transact that
in the city.
John, being thus commissioned, i'm
mediately proceeded to the residence
of his fathers old friend, whom he
found to be very nice old gentleman,
with a beautiful daughter and gold
spectacles.
John was ushered into the parlor Ia
new thing for him, and motioned to
a seat-no! sofa, (another new
thing. But We must use his own
language
81 took my seat and made observa-
tions. Every thing was fine! Fine
carpets, fine sofas, fine tables, fine
books, fine pianos, fine everything, and
especially fine young lady who was
dressed in fine silk, fine satin, and who
had fine curls, and fine appearance
generally.
CATER chatting with the old gentle
man few minutes, he took down his
hat, told me to make myself at home
for an hour or two, and left-left me
alone with his daughter and a small
mischievous boy, the young lady's
brother. / didn't relish the situation
at all. The idea of my keeping city
belle engaged in conversation for two
hours-perdition! Silence reigned in
the parlor for a short time, you may
bet. amused myself as much as pos.
sible with the boy-that is, loaned
him my knife and watched him cut
holes in the carpet with one and spoi
the other. l don't know what l would
have done had it not been for that boy
he was so good to attract ones atten'
ton, you know. 1t is true that he
asked some very startling questions
occasionally, such as this, for in.
stance
"'Are you goin' to court sister Emf
ly% But such things must be
expected under such circumstances.
"Miss Emily, thinking, no doubt
that to be good hostess she mus
keep her guests engaged in converse.
ton, asked me how liked country
life, etc. She said that, st must be q
beautiful sight to see the laborers, botf
male and female, romping on the new
movn hay on New Years day; thai
she always did think she would like te
spend a Christmas in the country, &
nut-gathering with the village lads and
lasses; that It had always been a mys
terry to her how they got the eggs of
the trees without breaking them, etc.
I'm return, if / thought to keep W
my part of the conversation, it wai
necessary for me to quote poetry and
the like, which I did. Among othel
quotations, unfortunately repeated
those well-known lines of Shakes
peare: l.
"There il . divinity that shapes our ends
Rough hew them as we will" ~
eat this juncture, the boy, who hat
perched himself upon my knee, looked
| into my face and said, Divinity shapee
the end of your nose mighty Gurus.
I'm certain / wished somebody would
spank the young rascal. We talked o
hills, mountains, wales, cataracts-l
believed SAID waterfalls, when the boy
spoke mp and said,-.Why, sister,
| got a trunk full of 'em up stairs-p,
says they are made out of boss hair.
"It began to be very apparent to MT
that ! must be very guarded in what
said, lest said boy might slip in his re
marks at uncalled for places; in fact
/ turned my conversation to him.
told him he ought to go home with me
and see what nice chickens we had il
the country. Unluekily I mentioned a
yoke of calves which my little brothers
owned. The calpes ruined all. The
little fellow looked up, and said, ~
Sisters got dozen Of 'em, bui
she don't wear 'em only when she goes
. up town o. windy days ssgs
!" Leave the room, you unmannered
little wretchp exclaimed Emily; leave
immediately efss
"'I know what you want me te
leave for replied he; you can't foo
me-you want TO set in that mans lap,
and Kiss him, like you did Bill Sim
mons the other day can't fool me
I'll jes' tell you. Gimme some candy
| lihe he did; then I'll 90. You think be