The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-10-15

and only resident master, had completely
captivated the hearts of the rest, especially
that of Miss Laura Roach.
But the young lady had another adorer,
hough she didn't know it.
He had seen her one Sunday when the
school was out for its constitutional,
and his heart was gone instantly.
He was seventeen and susceptible, and
though only clerk at Messrs. Coddysill
g. Co.'s, City, and bearing the unromantic
name of John Jones, he had an aspiring
soul.
He hoped one day to fill the world with
the thunder of his renown.
For Jones, as before intimated, was
poet.
From his earliest years he had poured
forth his soul in lyric strains whenever he
could find rhymes, which isn't always an
easy matter.
He affected the Byronic style, wore a
rundown collar, curled his hair, habitual-
ly rolled his eyes in fine frenzy, and assum-
moreover, he named himself after his favor
ite bard, and dropping the unpoetic word
"John," dubbed himself Byron Jones, OF,
in full, Byron Tennyson Shakespeare
Jones'
How to acquaint Laura with his affec-
ton ?-that was the question.
To climb the walls of Minerva College
was like storming fortress, and to send a
love-letter was equally difficult, for proba-
bly, Miss Starchley made point of over
hauling all the young ladies' correspon-
dence.
Meanwhile, Miss Laura attended to her
lessons like good girl as she was, blissful-
ly unconscious of Jones' alteration.
Her private opinion was, that Mr.. Owen
Wilford was decidedly handsome and
gentlemanly young man, and worthy to be
bachelor of hearts as well as arts.
Jones knew not as yet that he had so for
midable a rival or the tortures of h is heart
would have been much increased.
Our poet made desperate resolve. He
to Miss Laura Roach (he soon found out
her name) in rhyme, and expressing in the
most fiery words the passion that consum-
ed him.
So he sat down in his "study,' !. G., at
tic, welding formidable quill.
He pondered and worked about an hour
and half, and nibbled his pen down to the
stump. At last this great poetic effusion
burst upon the light of day.
"To LAURA THE DIVINE.
"Thine eyes are like the lime-light's flash,
Thy tresses shine like golden cash
Thy cheeks are like two Eastern roses,
And how diyinely formed thy nose is
The portals of thy beauteous mouth
Like cherries from the sunny south;
Thy teeth outgleam the richest pearls;
In short, Of all Miss Starchley's girls,
Thou only hast enslaved the bard
Who herewith doth enclose his card.
BYRON TENNYsoN SHAKESPEARE JONES'"
He addressed this "To Miss Laura
Roach" which name, however, suggested
a more poetical one.
"Laura Roach That looks something
like Lalla Roollh.' By Jove capital
idea will always address her by the
name Of Tom Moore's heroine, whom she
resembles"
He then added
"P. SIN writing Laura, mlstook;
I'll call thee only Lalla Rookh l''
"If that don't melt her heart, nothing
will, he said, as he folded it up.
On arriving at the school at dusk, he was
lucky enough to find "Bob," the boy.in
buttons, just coming out on an errand.
"Bob" was a regular imp oef, mischif
and he looked like it.
He eyed wonderingly the romantic youth
who thus Addressed him
"Juvenile, convey this missiye privately
to my adored Lalla Ro--I mean, Miss
Laura Roach, and. thou shalt be recon-
pensed."
81 dunno what you mean, sir" said
Bob.
9 Well, then, want you to give this let
ter to Miss Roach, without the schoolmis-
tress seeing It. If you do it all right, and
get me an answer back, III give you a shil-
ling"
"All serene, sir; but l must have the
bob down on the nail, said Buttons, cum
ningly. fnt.
That won't do Sixpence now, and
the rest when you bring me the answer.
But mind, keep close, and take care Miss
starchley knows nothing Of it, or IN never
forgive you"