The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-08-13

Anacreon or Horace to her. If wom-
en- only understood the philosophy of
the flowers as we'll as they do the poe
try"
"Thank God they don't, Danielw
sighed I, devoutly.
"Never mind-in that case I could
entrance her for hours talking about
the grounds Of difference between
Linn@us and Jussieu. Women like
the star business, they say-and 1
could tell her where all the constella-
tlons are; but, sure as I tried to get
OFT any sentiment about them, I'd
break down and make myself ridicu-
lous. But what earthly chance would
the greatest philosopher that ever
lived have with the woman he loved,
if he depended for her favor on his
ability to analyze her bouquet or tell
her when she might look out for the
next occultation of Orion? I can't
do any thing that makes man even
tolerable to a woman
II hope you don't mean that moth
ing but bread-and-butter talk is toler-
| able to woman ?"
"No: but it's necessary to some ex-
tent-at any rate the ability is-in
order to succeed in society; and it's
in society men first meet and strike
women. And oh, Uncle Teddy, I'm
such fish out Of water in society,"
such a dreadful aoundering fish !!
When l see her dancing gracefully as
a swan swlms, and feel that fellows,
like little Jack Mankyn, who don't
know twice two is four, can dance to
her perfect admiration; when I see
that she likes ease of manners and
all sorts Of men without an idea in
their heads have that while I turn
all colors when speak to her, and
am clumsy, abrupt, abstracted, and
bad at repartee-Uncle Teddy! some
times (though it seems so ungrateful
to father and mother who have spent
such pains for me)-sometimes, do
you know, it seems to me as if I'd ex-
change all I've ever learned for the
power to make good appearance be-
fore her."
"Daniel, my boy, you make it too
much a matter of reflection. A wom-
an is not to be taken by laying plans.
If you love the lady (whose name I
don't ask you, because I know you'll
tell me as soon as you think it best),
you must seek her companionship un-
til you're well enough acquainted for
her to have her regard you as some
thing different from the men whom
she meets merely in society, and judge
your qualities by another stand
ard than that she applies to
them. If she's a sensible girl (and
God forbid you should marry he1
otherwiseD, she knows that people
can't always be dancing, or holding
fans, or running after orange-ice. If
she's girl capable of approaching
your best points (and woe toyouif you
marry a girl who can'tD, she'll find
them out upon closer intimacy, and,
once found, they'll a hundred times
outweigh all brilliant advantages kept
in the showcase Of fellows who have
1pthing on the shelves. When this
comes about you will pop the question
unconsciously, and, to adapt Milton,
she'll drop into your lap gathered
not harshly plucked.'
Il know that's sensible, Uncle Ted
dy, and I'll try. Let me tell you the
sacredest Of secrets: regularly every
day Of my life I send her little
poem fastened round the prettiest bou-
quet | can get at Haupt's.'
| "Does she know who sends them 2"
"She can't have any idea. The
German boy that takes them knows
not word Of English except her
name and address. You'll forgive me,
uncle, for not mentioning her name
yet? You see she may despise or
hate me some day when she knows
who it is that has paid her these at
tentions; and then I'd like to be able
to feel that at least I've never hurt
her by any absurd connection with
myself"
"Forgive you? Nonsense! The
feeling does your heart infinite credit,
though a little counsel with your head
would show you that your only ab-
surdity is selfdepreciation."
Daniel bid me goodnight. AS
put out my cigar and went to bed, my
mind reverted to the dauntless little
Hotspur who had spent the afternoon
with me and reversed his mothers
wish, thinking
"Oh, if Daniel were only more like
Billy"
| 1t was always Billy's habit to come
and sit with me while I smoked my
after-breakfast cigar, but the next
morning did not see him enter my
room till St. Georges hands pointed
to quarter of nine.
"Well, Billy Boy Blue, come blow
your horn; what haystack have you
been under till this time of day. We
sha'n't have a minute to look over
our spelling together, and 1 know a
boy who's going in for promotion
next week. Have you had your