North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-05-12

NJ JOHN MORTIMER.

erty, with no other learning than what he
had acquired at charity school but my
mother being dead, and an only child, he
determined to give me that advantage
which he fancied would have made him
happY-a learned education. ! was there
fore ddnt 70 the grammar school of C,
and from thence TO Cambridge, with q
view of qualifying me for holy orders.
Here. having but q small allowance from
my father, and being naturally of timid
and bashful disposition, had no opportu-
nity ofvrubbing of that naked awkward.
ness which was destined to cause me so
much. misery.
In my person am tall and thin, with q
fair complexion and light aaxen hair, but
ofSdeh eztremea susceptibility of shame
thato on the smallest subject of confusion
my blood all rushes into my cheeks; and 1
appear perfect "full- blown rose.' The
consciousness of this failing made me
avoid society, and l became enamored of a
college. life. / had determined on living
ssthe university, and taking pupils, when
two unexpected events greatly altered the
posture Of my affairs; namely, my fathers
death and the arrival of an uncle from the
EaG ladies.
This uncle had seldom heard my faith
. er mention and it was generally believed
thst hevas long since dead, when be arriv-
e6in England only week too late to close
his brothers eyes. / confess (what be-
lieve has been often experienced by those
whose education has been better than that
of their parents)that my fathers ignorance
and vulgar manners had often made me
blush to think was his son and at his
death was not inconsolable for the loss of
that which was not unfrequently asham-
ed to own. My uncle, too, was but little
affected, for he had been separated from
his brother more than thirty years, and in
that time he had acquired fortune Of thir.
ty thousand pounds; and upon this he built
his hopes Of never-ending happiness. But
while he was planning schemes of great
ness and delight, whether the change Of
climate affected him, or what other cause,
know not, he was snatched from all his
dreams Of joy by short illness Of which
hetlied, leaving me heir to alIhis proper
ty.. Thus was |, at the age Of twenty five.
possessed Of an ample fortune, and well
stocked with Latin, Greek, and mathemat-
les. But these advantages were more
than counterbalanced by my awkward
habits, and by my total ignorance of the
nsaGes Of refined society.
now purchased fine estate in fash
ionable district, and my company was
much courted by those Of my neighbors
who possessed manageable daughters.
From these gentlemen l received family
calls, and the most pressing invitations
and though | wished to accept their prof
fered friendship, ! repeatedly excused my
self under the pretense of not being quite
: settled; for the truth is that when have
Sailed out, either on horseback or on foot,
with full intention of returning their seve-
raj visits, my heart has failed me as l ap-
preached their gates, and l have frequent>
ly returned homeward resolving to try
again tomorrow.
However, ] at length determined to con-
quer my timidity, and accepted an invi-
tation to dine on certain day with one
whose open, easy manner left me no room
to doubt q cordial welcome. Sir Thomas
Bsrton, who resided about two miles dis
tant, is d baronet, with an estate Of about
two thousand year, joining to that pur-
chased. lie had two sons and five daugh-
ters, all grown up, and living with their
mother and maiden sister Of Sir Thomas,
at Burton Hall, dependent On their father.
Conscious Of my unpublished gait, | had
been for some time past taking private les
sons from professor who teaches "grown
gentlemen to Dance" and although at
frst found wondrous difficulty in the art
he taught, my knowledge of mathematics
was of prodigious use in teaching me the
equilibrium OF my body, and the due ad>
justmsnt of tho centre Of gravity in the
five positions.
Having now acquired the art Of walking
without tottering, and learned to make a
bow, boldly ventured to accept the baro-
nets kind invitation to family dinner,
not doubling but that my new acquire
ments would enable me to see the ladies
with tolerable intrepidity.
As approached the house, the dinner
bell alarmed my fears lest had spoiled
the dinner by want Of puncta'ity. I'm
pressed with this idea, blushed the deep
est crimson as my name was repeatedly
announced by the servants who ushered
me into the library, scarcely knowing
what or whom ! saw. At my entrance l
summoned all my fortitude, and made my
new-learned bow to Lady Burton; but un-
fortunately bringing back my left foot to
the third position, I trod on the gouty toe
of poor Sir Thomas. who had 70 lowed
close ut my heels to be the nomenclator of
the family. The confusion this occasioned
me is hardly to be conceived, since none
but hashful men can judge of my distress
and Of that description the number, be-
lieve, 10 very small indeed. The baronet's
politeness BY degrees dissipated my con-
Germ; and the cheerfuiness of her LADY,
ship, Joined to the familiar chat of the
young ladies and their brothers, insensi-
hlx Lad ma fn throw nff INV rasoruA and