Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-01-29
Gelerteo 4flistrllonn.
LOVES REFORM.

The other morning was disturbe at
the unseemly hour of nine, by the an.
nouucement that Frank Laxby had called.
and was desirous of seeing me.
was rather surprised at this informa
tion, and was considering whether it was
more probable that my friend had stop.
ped out four hours later or had risen three
hours earlier than was his wont, when the
door opened, and in he walked, with an
expression of calm bentgnity in his coup.
tenance, which left no doubt of his having
had his requisite amount of sleep. Be.
sides this, he had flower in his button.
hole, instead of cigar in his mouth
which latter would of course have been
the case had he been tpeating the sober
hour of nine a. m. in an unbecoming
manner, and as if it were merely late
hour of the night.
Has anything serious happened ?" said
l, as soon as | had offered Frank q seat,
"or have you turned somnambulist, and
walked down here in your sleep?"
NO" ne replied, quite in his usual tone
and manner; "but knew you were only
coming to town last night, and l wanted
particularly to see you as soon as possible
afterwards. Besides, had another very
good reason for getting up before twelve
this morning"
"What was that?" inquired.
1T is rather a long story" he an
swered; "but if you will order breakfast
L will repeat it to you"
II accept the bribe," exclaimed, ring.
ing the bell
Three months ago, then," commenced
Frank, "my father made me, what con-
sidered at the time, very unreasonable
proposition. He suggested that l should
get married"
Here the servant entered with the
breakfast things, and even he could not
help smiling at the absurdty of such a
suggestion to such man.
The notice appeared to me-" contin-
ued Frank, "as it now appears to you. to
be an absurd one, and limited as much to
my respected parent. Instead of agree
ing, however, to what l said, he did that
which had no right to expect from so
near relative-he asked me what reasons
could show for supporting my objec-
tions."
He might as we'll have asked YOU
your reasons for drinking too much paie
ale" l remarked.
81 drink very little of it now," he said,
and, without needing my ill.suppressed
astonishment, he pulled out his watch
Chat watch from which he used to be so
often parted y and observed, that IS he
had but little time to spare, he should feel
obliged by my not interrupting him too
often III his narrative. Having obtained
my implied acquiescence on this point, he
continued as follows
q" | was unwilling TO undertake a regu-
lar attack on the holy state in the presence
of my own father. /, however, endeav-
Ored 10 explain to him that wished, for
some time at least, to pursue the life of
very independent gentleman, and that
matrimony had no part in the programme
of that career.
MY father calculating on an, avarice
which do not possess, Informed me that
the lady he should suggest possessed I'M
told wealth, though, by-thesbye, l distinct
ly remember his telling me of it on pre-
vious occasion. l explained to him that
my contempt for riches was considerable;
to which he replied, that he hoped I did
not, at all events, entertain similar feel
ing towards the paternal opinion.
Or course | was too dutiful to answer
my parent in spirit of candor, and my
flial behavior on this point led to a request
that | would allow myself to be introduced
to the lady to whom he wished to nav the
compliment of offering me as husband.
1t appeared that she possessed beauty to a
considerable extent, and, although the belle
herself had never seen me, it was not sup
posed tor an instant, either by my father
or myself, that size could have the least OBJ
lection.
"I delayed giving a final answer; be-
cause being anxious to obtain money be.
yond my usual allowance, l thought re.
spect and ciyility would best become me.
At last there was no help, and l was
obliged to decline being led, like perfect
sheep, to the altar upon which my father
limited that should take speedy depart
ure from his residence, and not trouble my
self about calling again until was pre-
pared for the alarming sacrifice; adding,
in tone evidently meant to be insulting,
that he shouldn't wonder if my feelings
were already engaged"
And were they?" l inquired.
They were in part" continued Frank
but not to the extent which the old boy
imagined. About fortnight previous to
the conversation which L have repeated,
having neard great deal about the ad-
Vantages OF early rising, / determined to
try II, anxious, as | always neye been, to
experience every sensation sanctioned bv
morality and custom. Well, | tried Il I
got up at half-past eight, walked TO Ken.
sington Gardens, and soon met with tba
advantage in the shape Of young lady
who Wes not only exceedingly pretty
which l. the case with many Englisb
women, but moreover exceedingly well
dressed, which is the case with very few
of them. .r
"The Goddess of Early Rising was
sitting on one of the benches, reading a
book. She continued reading while was
passing, which / thought unkind per
hsrs, however, it was only to show her
eyelashes. Il would have been more than
rude-it would have been absurd-for me
TO have addressed her, as she was attended
by an evil spirit, whom should have
supposed to be her companion, were it
not that she appeared to be treated with !
consideration and kindness. G
liked early rising so much the fIst
Time, that | tried il a second, third, and
fourth, and met with the advantage in
the shape Of the goddess on each occa-
sion; AT al events, / had not frightened
her rom the particular ground over which
she appeared to preside; and knew that
she had noticed my presence there, from
certain indications which passed between
herself aud the evil spirit on my .ap.
=" On the fifth morning the GOODIES, en-
tered the gardens alone, and i instantlv
began thinking of the best form of r,Taver
to otier mp to her when perceived that
instead OF pausing at the accustomed sest'
she continued To walk for some distance
! knew that she must have expected me
there az the usual time and therefore that