Smyrna times., 1872-01-10
Popping the Question.

'I'l do it," quoth Mr. Tompkins, with
very decided flourish OF his red-and-yellow
bandanna. And Mr.. Tompkins folded his
arms across his portly breast, and paced the
garden walk with the air Of fat Napoleon.
lie had made up his mind-he had decided |
the question upon which he had been ponder
ing for the last two hours. Yes, he would do
it. Upon the whole, Mr.. Tompkins would pop
the question! To be sure, he was forty, fat
aud bald; but everybody that knew him said
there was not more amable man in German
town. Besides, he did not think himself so
very i'll looking man and even Mamie Day
could not be entirely Oblivlous to the fact that
he was something Of catch. Fifty thousand
dollars was considerable wealth in German
town, and Mr.. Tompkns possessed that amount
of worldly goods
lie was a widower. His first wife had been
Betsy Trimmer, and he had married her for
her "smartncSs - and it was proof of his
fondness for variety that he had now set his
heart upon pretty Mamie Day, the doctors
daughter, who was only eighteen, and any
thing but "capable" Indeed, Mrs. Jones,
the hOuSekeeper, to whom Mr.. TOmpkins had
applied for her opinion of Mamie, said she
was fy-away firt-of thing, and jest about
as stiddy as white kitten -
But everybody knew that Mrs Jones was
an i'll natured critic who would see no good in
anybody.
Mamie would sober down after awhile, and
her girlish fiightiness just pleased Mr.. Tomp
kins. And she was so bewitchingly pretty
her hair was like gold in the sun; her eyes
were like two yioets, and would drive any
man out of his senses. Mr.. Tompkins knew
that, for they had driven him out of his many
4 time. If she accepted him-and Of course
she wOuld-how all the young fellows would
envy him
That last consideration decided him-that
and u glimpse Just :hen of Mamie herself,
crossing the pasture next her garden, and car
rying a little tin pail, which betokened that she
was going " strawberrying." Positively she
had never looked so charming as she looked at
that moment in her pink calico dress and white
apron, and the broad brimmed fiat, with rib
bons that just matched her eyes. Yes, Mr..
Iompkins would do it
lie felt very assured and triumphant in adj
) vance when he stood on DIR. Days front door
step that evening, asking the 'help' if Miss
: Nancy was in?"
Miss Nancy? Yes; she's in the settin'
: room. Walk right in there. Mr. Tompkins
and Almiry looked exceeding significant as SHE
opened the settn -room' door. Almiry wa,
=. sharp girl, and Mr.. Tompkins presumed sh'
. guessed his errand.
n There was 10 light in the "settin' room,
and only the white tabecover and crimson
? lounge showed distinctly through the gloom
: A female figure in pink dress and white apro
r arose at the entrance from a seat by the win
It dow, and Tompkins hurredly exclaimed, feel
e ing little furried in spite of himself
l. Don't bring light, Miss Day, don't
'r want to say something to you, and the tw
y light"
n Mr.. Tompkins took seat beside the lady
J. who finished his sentence for him by whisper
Sc ing "Oh !"
rs Now was the tug of war. Mr. Tompkins di
is not find his task as easy as he had anticipated
&c but having been through the ordeal once b
it fore, he was not to be daunted by trihes. :
lr he possessed himself of the lady's hand-ha
n ing some trouble to find it in the deepeniu
al gloom-and cleared his throat preparatory
en- commencing
re Hem Miss Day-my dear Mamie !"
us He stopped short, and the fair one giggle
n Mr.. Tompkins considered that encouraging
of and recollecting the manner in which he hi
ay proposed to Betsy Trimmer, he addressed her
the precise language of which he made use
90 that former occasion.
", MY dearest Mamie have long sought
is opportunity like the present. L have lo
res wished to declare my love to you. 10 win t
re. pure treasure of your virgin heart has long be
TX the dream of my manhood. Say, my love
by dearest-must hope in vain? Will you n
no make me happy Will you be my wife 2
its Mr. Tompkins had learned the above spec
lgs from a novel-expresSly for the former Oct
ng sion referred to, and he considered it higl
see able OratOrica effort.
he The lady trembled and giggled and appear
of overwhelmed by maiden confusion; and
ng, elated MIR. TOmpkins stole his arm about
old waist and whispered:
md Yes then-if you will be so perslste
nst Hiram"
t Mr. Tompkins started up as if torpedo b
eir exploded beneath his chair 1t was the unm
ard taxable voice of Miss Nancy Day-Nanni
,ity Old-maid aunt
IT a Good Lord have been and gone and p
| of posed to the old maid !" was the thought Il
the dartcd through Mr.. TOmpkins brain.
any grasped his hat, and muttenng somethi
n it about business to attend to, made rush
IN s the nearest door. 1t was clOthes-press
eak Dear me, Hiram-hOw hustered you be
mi gggled Miss Nancy. I've always suppo
in the woman was the one to be upsOt u
and But Mr.. Tompkins had succeeded in tnd
,ple the right door, and was gone. Rushing dc
cial the walk, he ran plump into a tall, moustacl
young fellow, who stood by the front gate "
nci- an arm around Mamie Day slender waist
wn. Just the most familiar manner imaginable.
do "I'll be hanged-it it isn't Tom Willis
lde exploded Mr. Tompkins.
lese "'The same J. laughed the young m
fling Pray what do you mean by coming dc
END upon a fellow in that style, Mr.. Tompkinsf
and An idea had struck Mr.. Tomkins. OF COZ
lies, Tom Willis woudn't have his arm around n
,nth nie's waist unless it had right there. So
the concluded to apologize and go home.
n of "Af,er all, y he reflected, as he turned
one steps in that direction, Mamie Day Is
you little thing, and mightn't have been ma
aud with her. And Mr.. Tompklns
lose another perhaps have not done $
ps- bad thing, on the whole. There ism,
,wn smarter woman in the country than Miss n
Yam cy Day. She's great deal more suitable
lce? me than little Nannie-ol course she is
that And so Mr.. Tompkins has a wife, after
Keep He thinks she is even more capable I
4, as his t1rst vile and all his relatlons say
u up "Hram has had the best OF luck with
yfar- wives" But Mr.. Tompkins has never
lere- his wife that he proposed to her by mista
tions "Johnny what do you expect to do f
ce in living when you get to be manH' '" we