Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-01-05
How Mr.. Wells Came TO be Married.

We'll, yes, Hiram is bashful he is worse
than a girl about blushing," said Mrs.
Wells.
"Was he as bashful when he was young?
don't sec how he had courage to get mar
ried"
"Well, III tell you;" and Mrs. Wells
wiped her hands on her big calico apron;
then taking her knitting from the basket,
prepared to talk.
"You see, when was young lived in the
brown cottage down by Smalrs Pond. Hi
rams folks lived on the other side of the
pond, nearly opposite our house. They
were well-to-do people, and as Hiram was
quite nce-looking young man, he was con-
sidered very good catch among the girls.
But he was 50 bashful why, he hadn't spunk
enough to look girl in the face. We had
singing-school every Thursday night, and Hi
ram was a real good singer, but if he saw
any one looking at him, it would drive all
the music out of him. One summer noticed
that he came over to our house pretty often;
and whenever looked at him, was sure to
find him looking at me; but he would blush
clear TO the roots of his hair, and go out of
the house as though he was shot. | liked
Hiram, and soon ! found that he liked me,
although he never breathsd word about it,
in fact, he never spoke to me only when it
was necessary. There was boat on the
pond in those days, and as IL was more
handy TO cross the pond in boat than it
was to walk around it, | was on the water a
good deal, and soon became quite an expert
rover. One day thought would try and
frighten Hiram's bashfulness away. So
put on my hat, and went down TO the shore
and unhitched one of the boats. After row.
ing around for some time saw Hiram come
s..fI 4
furiously, and made great noise with the
oars. until | saw that he was watching me.
When got a little ways from the shore l
tipped the boat first on one side and then
on the other until tipped it too far, and
over | went pretended to be dreadfully
frightened, and as soon as | touched
the water, | commenced screaming at
the top of my voice. Hiram ran to the
shore, took off his coat and boots, and
knew that he was coming out to me.
When he got up to me- ! shut my eyes. l
suppose | looked pale, and it frightened him;
any way, ! heard all wanted TO. | thought
| should have TO laugh He did not act
bashfuh then He took me in his arms, and
swan with me to the shore. When We got
there, | opened my eyes aud looked around,
surprised. You should have seen Hiram's
face it was the color of boiled lobster. lie
stammered out something about going up to
the house and getting dry. went, and his
mother let me have some of her clothes to
wear home. That night Hiram came over to
see father about some hay; and when l
thought it was time for him to go, went
down to the pond where his boat was. When
he came out of the house. | walked off q
little way; but when he got near enough, l
said Really Mr.. Wells, don't know how
to thank you for saving me- this morning
| am afraid | should have drowned, if you
had not seen me- That helped him a good
deal, and before another half hour we were
engaged He has told me a good many
times that | did all the courting but | tell
| him he would never have been married If l
/ hadn't