The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-12
In a Dilemma.

I was teaching school in Pillicoddy one
winter. think have been endowed with
the average allowance of br,ins, but had
with all an unfortunate weakness for fall
ing in love. My Lord Cupid is certainly
capable of wounding in two places viz:
the head as well as the heart-and it is my
opinion that in those days there was flaw,
not to say a crack, in my intellect, all due
to the innumerable arrows which had hit
me at random.
Mary Ann and Martha Puffin were my
favorite pupils TINT winter. Mary Ann's
hair Was spun gold, and she had doves
eyes. Martha, dubbed Patty was
gipsy, aged fifteen, and think it WIS her
saucy black eyes which wrought the mis-
chief.
Bless me, how did stutter over that
girls slate, vibrating between poetry and
Decimal Fractions, and only recovering
myself by running pin under my thumb
nail She, little innocent, looked up in
wonder at my insane explanations; but it
muttered little to her, she having no head
for figures.
Sensible, clear-headed Mary Ann never
mistruSted my inftuaton for her little
sister. She was sorry Patty was SO very
dull, and rated the child for her needless
neSs as one might upbrnid frolicSome
kitten.
had little solid ground for hope. The
only comment had heard of Patty making
upon me was to ask IF MIR. Whippowlll
felt as bad as he looked" But "love Can
hope where reason would despair" and
when one day, she drew on her slate a
ridiculous figure of me tweaking my
nose, as was my wont, I really felt fut-
tered.
'.She finds I might look worGe, or |
could not DO caricatured; besides, she takes
notice of my slight eccentricltles, which is
encouraging" l said.
decided to call at Mr.. Pufin's. It was
desperate undertaking for bashful man,
and dangerous Que, considering my COM
parative alteration of intellect. But I
fastened Free Mason pin into my glossy
slrt-bosom, ran my fingers through my
bushy hair, and remarked to myself,
"Pshaw! what do women care for mascu-
line beauty? For those who regard it,"
giving contemptuous look at the glass,
''it must be confrssrd my rolghly-cut a.
lures and pictorial freckes may not be
captivating. But" continued /, scowjing
defantly, "here's farewell to the girl who
prefers beauty to merritt"
So waving my hand with an imperial
gesture / set out for an evening visit at the
Puflius'. The bell went ting-A-ling, and
my heart pit-a-pat. Which sound was
loudest I don't know, but one of them
brought Mary Ann; and she was so self
possessed that rallied my forces and
walked in the sitting-room as bravely
as ever entered dentists Office in my
life.
There sat Papa and Mamma PUTIN, and
little Patty between them on the rug, hold
ing a vivacious dog named Pickle. The
picture was SO bewitching that my wits
disappeared at once. forgot my own
name, and was only reminded of it by be.
ing introduced with due solemnity to Mr..
Putin.
"Happy to make your acquaintance,
murmured my father-in-law elect, with ar
= upward glance of curiosity. "Whippowill
Whlppowin, added he, reAectivey, %
used to know a fellow of that name-wen
round peddling tin. I sold him my gra!
+ horse, but he never paid me cent An.
, ralation Of yours 7"
This mode of speech was not calculated
to inspire confidence in young man al
r ready suffering from extreme humility
however, was stung by it, to answe
meekly but firmly that, to the best of IN,
, knowledge, none of my family were tin
! peddlers by profession. This natural
suggested the desire TO know what trad
: nv friends did follow if they didn't folio,
$ peddliug? Where they lived2 Ho,
: many there were all told Their stat
of health =? Aud their views of poll
n tics?
= Patty chased Pickle across the floor an
Z made him bark at my boots that was tn
f extent of her hospitality toward me. Mar
Ann sat knitting, and made now and tho