The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1869-01-05
MISCELLANY.
SMITHS GOOI LUCK.

| was always lucky fellow, and the
most fortunate thing tbs ever happened
to me was being born Smith.
Listen.
Three years ago, had just been Tilted,
and was out OF money, That doesn
sound lucky, but it was the prelude TO
the best of luck | concluded to go into
the country, down at lymouth, to my
uncle house-partly that the murmurs
of the sea might sooth M inward pertur-
baton, partly to save 4 month board.
| stepped on board the early down
train. 1t was full of silly six O'Clock pas
sengers, mostly men The sun was shin
ing on the water, bat the fog was hug
ging the banks, and elinging to the
hurnshed surface Of tho --le | snnnost
Il pvvv-v0uIr nave made something PRETTY
out of the sight, but only wrapped my
self closer in my overcoat, and looked a
il suIkily After while | got listening
to two men who sat behind me.
A pretty girl with fortune isn't al
ways 30 be had for the asking"
"Oa, but the girl isn't asked, take it
It's all arranged by her aunts. and shell
acquiesce. Shes Shinning pretty, but {
mere cniid--not sXteen-l believe. The,
had another fellow booked for her, bu
he died down in New Orleans of the vel
low fever last fall. -
Ard she's never seen this Smith 2"
No, nor they either. The aunts plot
ted with DR., Dunbar, the guardian, AM
he picked Mr., Smith up for them, openel
= correspondence, and got Rose to write
letter or two. Smith proposes, and i
in love with her letters and her picture
but Of course it's the money-iorty thou
sand if she marries before she is seven
teen"
If the girl amounts to anything, it
a deLcvd shame !"
She does amount to something. Sh,
has the making OF splendid woman i,
Aet; butnobody knows it, or cares The,
are bent only on saving the money TO
her. Ii she forieits it, it goes to som
pet charity other crazy old grandfather S
lie always was an old tyrant, and as &c
centric as the devil"
You know Smith y
"Ouly by sight, but | know chum o
his, Burton, VINO got the story, with
copy Ola letter of the gills. I've see
her many Il time down ON the shore, al
ways with the dragon aunts."
Where's the letter."
Il We got it here in my wallet Nov
you know the right sort of man won
nave his girls letters hawked abou
among his associates. He let Durto
take this copy, and Burton gave it to me
Let me See-thls is It, Listen
DEAR Mr.. SMlTH-My aunts wish IN
TO reply to your kind letter i do no
know what to say l am not accustome
TO writing to gentlemen; but | must tel
you that was sorry to have aunty Soph
'end you that picture of me; 1t does no
| look like me am not near so pretty
llatters me very much. You are 50 hand
some that you will want a beautiful wife
80 ! don't think you ought u be deceived
! don't want to be married but mp aunt
| say ] must, on account OF the money
and perhaps it may turn out right i al
very Lonely here | wou!d like 10 live i
a large city, and aunt Sophy says 20
would do everything to please me.
"llaye you any sisters! Will you
mother like met / always wanted sister
and Il mother of my own. l don't kno
what else to tell you, except that If 20
want NE to. Very truly yours,
Rose RoGERs."
There were comments upon, aud
laughing discussion OF the letter, whic
was certainly very unique. But as "
ratified along there WAS Il bump. a shocl
the cars stood still, and everybody wa
in CONSERVATION.
We are off the track be patient Ii
Tie WHILE said the conductor, pass,n
through.
Buc in consequence Of this little ace
dent, it was two O'Clock before we e
down to Plymouth. AS VIC swarmed OF
upon the platform, l noticed very pa
young man not unlike myself in look
emerge from the foremost car--his eos
sleeve torn out, and violent purpl
bruise Oh his forehead.
If that should DO tho lover Smitl