The Placer herald., 1873-03-22
n UMBER :I.

more domestic mood, he thinks of fireside
happiness and quiet bliss, declining from he.
epic poetry of loveliness, to the household
wife, who might be disposed to bring him
his slippers, and to darn the hole in his ell
bow. When in the tragic vein, he fancies
brunette; and when the sunshine is on his
soul, blue eyes are at a premium should
woman possess the lighness of a syph, or
should her charms be of the more solid arch
iteciure? Ought her countenance to beam in
smiles, or will habitual pensivencss be the
more interesting? Is sparkling brilliancy to
be preferred to gentle sweetness?
"lf there wasn't so many of them, I
shouldn't be so bothered" said Pecg; "or
| f they all looked alike, man couldn't help
himself. But yesterday ! wanted this one
to-day, want that one; and tomorrow
I'll want tothcr one; and how can | tell, if
| should get this, or that, or t'other, that it
wouldn't soon be somebody else that really
wanted That's the difficulty. 1t always
happens so with me. When the lady's most
courted, and thinks | ought to speak out,
then begin to be skeered, for fear I've
made mistake, and have been thinking l
loved her, when didn't. May be it's not
the right one-may by she won't suit-may
be might do better-may be | had not let-
ter venture at ALL wish there wasn't 30
many may about everything, especially
in such affairs. I've got at least a dozen
unfinished courtsh'ps on hand already"
But all this hapI ened long time ago;
and Peleg has gradually lost sight of his
fancy for making an ad li,ion to his house.
hold. Not that he has concluded, even vet,
to remain a bachelor. He would be alarm
ed at the bare mention of such an idea lie
could not consent to be shelved in that deci-
sive manner. But he has subsidized from
active "lo' king around in pursuit of his OBJ
jet, into that calm, irresponsible submissive
ness, characteristic of the somewhat elderly
bachelor, which waits until she may chance
TO present herself spontaneously, and "come
along" of her own accord "Some day
some day" says Pelcg. "it will happen some
day or other. What's the use of being in a
hurry ?"
Pceg w. Ponder's great Object is now
ambit on. His personal affairs are some
what embarrassed by his lack of enterprise;
and he bankers greatly for an Office. But
which side 10 join? Ay, there's the rub!
whom shall Peleg shout?
Behold him, az he puzzles over the returns
of the Safe elections, laboring in vain to aat-
isfv his mind as to the result in the Presiden-
tia, contest Supplied by Gsures-perplexed
hy contradictory Observation-Disclosures by
the hnrrah; what can Peeg do?
"Who's going to win? That's all want
to know" exclaims the vexed Peleg; II
don't want to waste my time blowing out
for the wrong person, and never get thank.
What's the use of that? There's Simkins,
says !, Smkins. says |, which is the party
that can't be beat? And Simkins turns up
his nose and tells me every fool knows that
its his side-so hurrah for Simkins's side
as hard as | can. But then comes Tmkins
-1imkinss side il toher side from Sim
kns's side, and Tmkins offers to bet me
three levies that his side is the side that can't
be beat. IIurral says |, for Iimkinss
side!-and then can't tell which side.
"As for the newspapers, that's worse still.
They not only crow all round, but they c
pher it out 80 clear that both sides must win,
i there's any truth in a ciphering book which
there isn't about election tilres. What's to
be done I've tried going to all the meet
iugs-Ive hurrahed for ybody-Ive
been in all the professions, and sit "A little
while every evening in all sorts of head-quar-
tiers. I've got one kind of documents in one
pocket, and t'other k nd of documents in
t'othcr pocket; and as go home at night, |
sing one sort Of soug as loud as can bawl
one half of The way, and try another sort of
song the rest of the way, just to split the
difference and show my impariality-if
only had two votes-a couple of 'em--how
nice it would be.
''But the best thing that can be done now,
guess, as my character is established both
ways, is to turn in quietly till the row is all
over. Nobody will miss me when they are
so busy; and afterward, when we know all
about it, just look for Peleg w. Ponder as
he comes down the street. shaking people by
the hand, nnd saying, how we have used
them up. | can't say so now or would
for am not perfectly sure yet whichis them.
Time enough when the election is over.
1t will thus be seen that Mr.. Ponder is a
remarkable person. Peter Schenihl loss
his shadow, and became memorably unhap-
py in consequence; but what was his IAis ora
'une when compared with that Of the nan
who has no side =? What are shadows if
weighed against sides And leleg ls almost
afraid that he will never be able to ges side,
so unlucky as he has Jeon heretotore. He
begins to dread that both sides may be de-
feated; and then, let ns ask, what is to be-
come Of him Mus! he stand aside ?-GAdr-
coal Sketches.
PEORIA nlmster, While thawins out n
frozen wasp he other day, to see Is tho heat
would restscAate IL, was astonIshed to- find