The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-12-29
MY FIRST MYSTERY.
From All the Year Round.

From All the ! ear Round.
| am going to relate an occurrence
which some people will think very in
significant. In the even tenor of my
homely life, however, it WAS what was
termed an event" 1t turned out for
the best, as many bitter things do in
this life of struggle. | relate my expe-
rience, therefore, by the earnest advice
Of my friend the vicar, for the benefit of
all whom it may concern.
| lived on the borders Of Epping For
est, in a small house, which looked like
a tall, square tower OF brick it was
old, and covered over at one side, and
part of another, with ivy. There was Il
pretty little flower garden, with the fin
est stock of gilli.flowers in that part of
world in front, and holly-hocls of vari-
Gus colors, and roses nodded over the
wooden paling. A very good fruit gar
den, though the tree were a little old,
containing apples nd pears, together
with gooseberries and raspberries, and
other "small fruits" were in the rear.
| was always staid, quiet fellow, who
liked home, and punctual, comforta-
BILE life, but being bachelor / began,
at the early age Of nineand-thirty, to
feel little lonely. and my income.
being nearly five hundred year, and
my house and appurtenances being
quite enough for a moderate family,
very secretly, and with much prccau-
ton, began to look out for a wife.
| don't think any one suspected me
of matrimonial tendencies, with so
much circumspection did | conduct
matters.
| believed people supposed me to be
rather older than | actually was. My
hair was little thin at top; some peo-
pie said | was bald; perhaps ! was. Ny
face is not short and dumpy. | don't
think there is anything vulgar about it.
1t is long and thin. not Sinking, i'm
pudent countenance, but very grave and
perhaps little shy. | was thin, and
held myself strictly upright, and never
practised that loose way of throwing my
limbs about that some men affect.
called young ladies miss, and their
mammas madam, and treated both
equally with the ceremonious respect
that flatters their self-esteem, without
for moment violating that profound
sense of decorum which is ever upper
most in the mind of young lady of
delicate feelings and refined educa-
ton.
had no doubt that | should be for
tunate enough in consequence of the
marked superiority, in the points |
have indicated, of my manners land
with ladies manner is everything. APP
peaIance very little) over those of the
young men VINO were then to be met
with say | had no doubt that |
should he fortunate enough to please
whatever young lady out Of the eleven
with whom had the honor to be ac-
quainted | should ultimately select for
the partner of my life aud the regulator
Of my household. ! chose Miss Martha
Pendles. She was tall and silent, had
commanding black eyes, and was full of
prudence. / knew | had only to
speak. | did. She looked surprised.
Her magnificent black eyes were fixed
steadily upon me for nearly half min
ute, while she meditated, and she ac-
copied me.
She was, | may say, much admired.
She was majestically handsome. | felt
that was sortunate. had secured the
most devoted and economical of
women.
She came home. | assured her of nv
undying affection, and talked Of Gull
nary and household affairs. | asked
her among other things, how much
wine-it was a subject | was sensitive
upon-she thought would quite suffice
her every week. She told me she never
drank wine, beer or any other exciting
fluid and at dinner, luncheon and sup
per her glass always stood empty. except
when there was water in it, | loved
her more and more every day.
found her advice was most valuable.
She recommended me strongly, for in
stance, to cultivate her cousin, Captain
Thunder. He was tall, loud, and had
black whiskers. Ills name was Thomas
Frisk Thunder, and his air was festive
and military.
He was in delicate health though he
looked robust. He was threatened with
consumption; but his color was horid,
and his appetite excellent. But con-
sumption is treacherous complaint,
and its advances, | am told, insidous
and disguised.
He bad twenty thousand pounds in
three per cent. government stock, and
had quarreled with all his relations ex.
cept ourselves.
quite agreed with my wife. Here
kindness and prudence pointed in the
same direction. We were very attentive
to him. He almost lived at Poplar Iol-
lew-that was the name of our house.
We bore great deal from him. He
had that loose way of flinging his limbs
about, which | spoke of, and which
Martha detested as much as /, and he