The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-12-20
Qbe Gtnles, Nem .Bloonhelo, 1]a.
The Trials of COurtship.

1.-TWO friends-we'll call them Tom
IL and Dick-went few nights since
to call on a couple of damsels who reside
with their mother in the southern part Of
Erie city The old lady is slightly deaf
and the girls somewhat roguish. The
two gentlemen were graciously received
by the old lady who formed fifth in the
social circle. Ordinary bedtime came
and the gentleman professed to leave,
the maids showing them to the door.
But this was only ruse to get the old
lady to bed. The front door was opened
and shut, and the girls returned to the
dining-room, the two beaus having been
slipped into the front parlor and left
there in the dark. 1t was supposed, of
course, that the sighted deaf old lady
would soon be in the land of Nod, but
she took sudden whim to go and sit in
the parlor for awhile, and taking up a
light, started for that place. Dick and
Tom had been anxious listeners and
watchers, and now saw the old lady ap-
preaching with lamp. As she passed
into the hall, of course their only means
OF escape was cut off. Dick made dive
behind lounge that stood out q few
inches from the wall-the framework was
too low for him to crawl uuder-and
Tom, finding no other place, wedged
himself in on top of Dick. The old lady
set the lamp on the bureau, took up a book
and deliberately seating herself on the
lounge, began to read The feelings of
the two nice young men behind the
lounge may be better imagined than de-
scrlbed. Tom was in dread of imme-
dlate detection, while Dick dreaded
smothering. He was so frightfully cramped
that he was getting reckless as to consc-
quences, and in muffled voice, that
only the old lady's deafness prevented
her from noticing, mumbled to Tom.
" Alck the lounge over, blow the lamp
out, and let's jump through the window"
AS Dick was squirming in way that
BODIED sudden expose for Tom it is
probable that the latter would have taken
his advice to the letter, but for the in
terposition of the quick-witted girls.
At first, expecting the cat was out of
the bagthey had kept back, ready to take
the storm Of reproach they could not
avoid but hearing no noise after the old
lady entered, they went to see what had
become Of the gallants Two pair of
boots and foot or 50 Of pantaloons were
visible from the door, and the girls, ma
king some commonplace remarks to their
mother, went away laughing loudly.
'' Phancy the phelinks" of the chaps be-
hind the lounge. But in few seconds
there came shout from the wood shed,
where the girls were, saying their lamp
had blown out, and asking "mother' to
come with hers. The boys head them
plainly and even smothering Dick stopped
his mutterings and threatening. The
good old lady arose, wiped her specks and
folded them away, ana bidding the girls
not to be frightened, went with the lamp
to their aid. 1t would be superAuous to
say that the lounsing boys didn't lounge
just there l-uch longer. They unlocked
the front door as quietly as they could
and slid out without even bidding the
young ladies good night 1t was well
they did for in less than three minutes
the old lady was seated on the lounge
again perusing her book.