Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-07-09

spirit.
Thus harmonious and elevated were
the views of those two noble beings,
so united that the memoir of one is
incomplete without that of the other.
Tom Thumbs Courtship.
The General met us at the depot In
Bridgeport on Saturday morning,
and diove us to my house i'm his own
carriage-his coachman being tidily
dressed, with broad velvet ribbon
and silver buckle placed upon his
hat, expressly for the occasion. La
vinia was duly informed that this was
the Generals "turn out" and after
resting half an hour at Lindencraft.
he took her out to ride. He stopped
a few moments at his mothers house,
where she saw the apartments which
his father had built expressly for him,
and filled with the most gorgeous
furniture-all corresponding to hio
own diminutive size. Then he took
her to East Bridgeport, and undoubt-
edly took occasion to point out in
great detail all the houses which he
owned, for he depended much upon
having his wealth make an impress
sion upon her. They returned, and
the General stayed tolunch. Iasked
Lavinia how she liked her ride. She
replied;
at was very pleasant; but" she
added, sit seems as If you and Tom
Thumb own about all of Bridge
portw
The General took his leave and re-
turned at five o'clock to dinner, with
his mother. Mrs. Stratton remained
until seven o'clock. She expressed
herself charmed with Lavinia War
rem, but not suspicion passed her
mind that little Charlie was endev-
oring to give her this accomplished
young lady as a law.
The General had privately asked me
to invite him to stay all night, for,
said he, "if l get chance, l intend
to pop the question before the Com
modore arrives" So told his moth.
er thought the General had better
stop with Us over night, as the Com
modore would be up i'm the late train,
adding that 1t would be more pleas
ant for the little folks to be together.
She assented, and the General was
happy.
After tea Lavinia and the General
sat down to play backgammon. AS
nine o'clock approached, remarked
it was about time to retire, but some
body would have to sit up until near
ly eleven o'clock i'm order to let the
Commodore in. The General re-
piled:
81 will sit up with pleasure-if
Miss Warren will remain also"
Lavinia carelessly replied that she
was accustomed to late hours, and she
would wait and see the Commodore.
A little supper was placed upon the
table for the Commodore, and the
family retired.
Now, it happened that a couple Of
mischievous young ladies were visit
ing at my house, one of whom was
to sleep with Lavinia. They were
suspicious that the General was go.
ing to propose to Lavinia that even.
ing, and in spirit of ungovernable
curiosity they determined, notwith.
standing its manifest improperly, te
witness the operation, If they could
possibly manage to do so on the sly
OF course this was inexcusable, the
more so as SO few of my readers, had
they been placed under the same
temptation, would have been guilty
of such an impropriety! Perhaps
should hesitate to use the testimony
of such witnesses, or even to trust it,
But few weeks after they told the
little couple the whole story, were
forgiven, and all had a hearty laugh
over it.
IL so happened that the door Of the
sitting room, In which the General
and Lavinia were left at the back
CANNON board, opened into the hal
just at the side of the stairs, and these
young misses, turning out the lights
i'm the hall, seated themselves upor
the stairs I'm the dark, where they
had full view of the cosy little
couple, and within easy ear-shot 0
all that was said.
The house was still. The Genera
soon acknowledged himself vanquish
cd at backgammon, and gave 1t up
After sitting few moments he evi
IDENTIFY thought it was best to put
clincher on the financial part Of hi
abilities: so he drew from his pocke
a policy of insurance, and handed /
to Lavinia, he asked her III she knew
what it was.
Examining 1t she replied, "It is al
insurance policy. see you kee
your property insured"
"But the beauty of it is, ii Is no
my property" replied the General
"and yet i get the benefit of il Il
case of fire. You will see." he con
tinued, unfolding the policy, this
the property Of Mr.. Williams, bu
here, you will observe. IL reads los
If any, payable to Charles s. Strattor
rs his interest may appear The fat
is, ] loaned Mr.. Williams three thou
sand dollars, took a mortgage OIL III
house aud made him insure it for m
benefit. In this way, you porcciv,
/ get my interest, and he has to pa
the taxes"
i That is very wise way, l shoul