The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-05
..sPRING CHICKENS"
NCincinpati Commercial. I

gesture Of his thumb backward toward tn
pair that was SO inimitable and SO expressly
It set his companions in roar Then ne sa
80 perfectly quiet and uumoved, gazing at tn
man beside him, who in an ecstacy OF laugh
ter had thrown his legs out, his head back an
his arms up, that it served, when that ind
vidual had recovered himself little, to sen
him of anew.
1t was on the carl, The coach we were i
was full but not crowded, aud among tn
passengers were couple evidently just maj
ried. She was about eighteen or twenty, an
he might have been twenty-five. She wa
young and pretty, had on the inevitable Law
ender colored dress, which rural brides s.
much affect, and the pink ribbons on her ha
matched the freshness and color Of her cheek
Married but few hours previous, she die
not realize the change in or the novelty O
her condition, while the novelty of the scenes
through which she was passing interested
amused and excited her. Obviously the city
and its surroundings were new to her, and o.
We approached it she gave vent to her sur
prise and pleasure with all the naturalness q
q child, and was continually pointing out OBJ
jects and asking questions
Benedict was good-looking specimen OF
the genus homo, tall and well built. He wore
white waistcoat. bright green tle' ana law
ender colored cotton gloves, and sat bolt up
right, his hands before him, with the FINGERS
clasped, the ceascless twirlins of his thumbs,
and the redness Of his face betraying lis In
ward agitation He was painfully conscious
that he had entered into the holy and blessed
state, and had an intuition that all about him
were conscious Of it also.
She was scarcely still moment. Her head,
hands and tongue were continually going, and
her voice had that chirpy tone which is the
very twitter Of content. Her remarks could
h., loo 81 al tl,,,r ,,i., INIT, cd
straight ut the door, answered her III mono
syllables, and in very low tone-evidently
would have been better pleased had she been
more quiet. Her delight gratitied but con-
fused hiQ.
She turned to him and proposed to have the
window opened. IL would not, he said in a
deprecating tone. He desired to be quiet
his consciousness was SO intense that he had
not the courage to draw observation on him
self by moving forward and throwing UP the
sash.
A moment after, as she for an instant leaned
pensively on her elbow looking out, he gave
her side glance unclasped his fingers, ana
his hand found hers ; one could see color
come into her cheek as she turned toward him.
The conductor opened the door, and Benedict
fumbled in his pocket for his ticket.
"Spring chickens, the man went on to say,
sitting sidewpys, so he could watch the couple,
his little blue eyes twinkling among the
wrinkles gathered about them. :" 1t you had
ever caught one you know how shy ana tender
and sweet it is how it viii tutter when you
hold it, and make you flutter, too. Sometimes
it will struggle and peck /; it don't like to lose
its liberty. But you deal kindly with it, and
stroke its feathers, ana feed it with corn aud
ii viii soon come at your call. Mayhap it viii
nestle and pant but that kind is always ready
10 fly off like y bird as soon rs you loosen
your hold. 1t is very different, with q solemn
shake of the head, %. nom catching u hen.
I've tried it, and know"
Here his companions INDUCED in another
laugh. There was something irresistbly
droll in the expression of the old mans face
end the poise OF his figure rs he sat there
straight as an arrow.
one seat over RE conduct conductor came along
and leaned with one hand on each seat
"Spring chickens" said the old man again,
In meditatve tone, as though musing and
soliloquizing.
Something was said did not hear. The
conductor chuckied. 81 know them at
glance, he remarked, never looking toward
the two passengers. "Ihat class are gene
rally so spcony want to put them off the
train. never VAS fooled but once, anu that
was by a Quaker couple. She was as dainty II
little duck rs ever you saw. There was not /.
bit OF foolishness about them. You would
have thought they had been married half d |
dozen years, and did; but" lie added With |
professional pride IN reading faces and D ople,
81 do not think they would have deceived |
me had they not had his little iive-yeaI old |
along
cit is singular, he went on to say, "what
Nh interest every passenger has in n newly
married young couple. The moment it is
whispered there is one aboard heads are
turned to gaze at them rs though they were a
phenomena, and not an everyday fact 1t
takes Il good deal OF vim for two so circum-
stanced, who have not as yet quite accepted .
The situation, to be natural under it,
1t is human nature, said the farmer. "Do
you suppose that fellow" his thumb went ,,
back over his shoulder again, would Be as
and administered is chat if he was
going into his first battle ? He looks ike one (
Who could take care Of himself anywhere" {
''lt's like joining the Masons -only worse t
You would hardly believe it if | were to tell c
'ou how l shivered and shook and had to boil |
ter myself up the night Wen. to be Initiated {
did not know who WAS coming, you see, but t
When 1t was over, and my Curiosity was salts t
led, watched Others. curious TO sec the eff /
ect on them, and that is just the feeling we 7
lave toward those spring chickens We :
nvy them their youth, and are curious con
erning the life before them" Il
The conductor laughed, removed his hands. I
lr' his body up and continued on his way n
trough the cars. The men went on talking. Il
nut IN different strain, and soon we reached G
he depot G.
The passengers were too much engaged G
nth themselves now to look after the couple G.
Tho had so interested them. remained the Il
list in the cars, Us had some packages, and
$ went out they were but step before me. IT
e drew her arm through his and marched on :,
p the street. Once free from the train. and !.
avfng her to himself, there was neither hest :"
ltion nor confusion in his manner, only
ride, as that of one who had acquired new
nd coveted possession. >,
The next day / met them on the street. L
hey seemed to have changed characters !,
ne was sliept, there was more depth in her u
yes, and she clung to his arm. seemingly o
Dashed amid the tumult and strife of lite te
it'll which she had never before mingled. He II
as confident and protecting, appeared to have Il
ltirely recovered from the terrible self-cou-
iousness of the day before, and was assert CO
~ himself talking and dra win ~ bor a%.,,,.;,,, RI