The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-07-31

impressions of domestic life. Hence l al
ways represented to myself the highest good
in the world under the image Of "my
wife"
Having duly considered the various forms
of love proposals, I went one fine day to
Greendale, carrying with me, and near to
my heart, a inoss-rose in a garden pot. The
roads were execrable, and was well-ngh
shaken to pieces; but the smile of my beau
trul Rose would, was well assured, re
ward me for all my trouble. In imagiua-
tion heard myself constantly asseveroting
''I love you'll" and heard her as constantly
replying" NJ love you" as regarded our
domestic establishment, had not as yet
thought as much about it as one Of our fa-
vorite bards, who, before he married, pro.
vided himself with cask Of -four, coffee
pot, and frying pan. I thought only oi
"a cottage and heart" l saw around my
cottage multtudes of roses, and within it,
my Rose and myself. AS for everything
else, all would be provided for by my ex-
celeut father.
As soon as arrived at Greendals, found
there two other gentleman quite as much in
love, and quite as much enchanted by the
fascinating young lady, as was. pitied
the unfortunate youths, because they had
infatuated themselves with the hope OF a
happiness which no one, believed, should
aspire to but myself We were all old ac
quaintances; and, as it is not our habit tc
put our light under a bushel, l was deter
mined to give my rivals little hint of my
advantageous prospects.
l raised, therefore, somewhat the val
which had concealed my modest confidence
But then came curious revelations Ny
rivals, animated by my example, lilteC
likewise the vail from their respective pros
poets; and, behold, we all three stood il
precisely the SAME position. Veal sighed
we all hoped; we all had Souvenirs that W,
kissed in secret; and they all were, as i
were, serpents, and bit their own tails.
AT these unexpected revelations we al
exclaimed, "Ahl" aud left Greendale to
gether, each going his own way. My fathe
was a little surprised to see me return 81
soon.
"My dear Constantine, 'said he az though
you intended to stay at Greendale mucl
longer time"
"Yes," replied with a pensive air, TAX
ing at the same moment, large mouthiu
of bread-and- butter; eyes; but altered m.
mind when got there"
With this the conversation ended, and th
charm was broken, orce and forever. Bu
with it was also broken one link out of tn
rosy time of my life. | began to regard al
roses whether real or typifed, with angr,
and suspicious looks, and to speak of th
"illusions of life" and of "giving them up,
&c. l made solemn VOW with myself tha
the next object Of my affections, the mex
choice would make for "my wife," SHOULD
in all respects, be the very reverse of tn
fascinating but traitorous Rose. had beei
deceived, as imagined, by the poetry 0
life; now l would keep to the sober prose.
"Ah in what noble form did my new
ideal present herself to my eyes, as one eve
ming entered the hosptable saloon of Mrs
A., the wife Of the celebrated judge. Abba
her daughter, stood ready to oiiiciate at tn
tea-table; her features, her figure, her man
ners were dignifed and full Of proprity
She looked like personified Truth,in contra
distinction to the antastical, bewitchinl
Rose. instantly fell in love with thi
beautiful image of Minerva, and thought 0
tiny wife,
Abba, however, seemed only to think o
the tea, and looked neither to the left no
the right. When tea was poured into al
the cups she slowly turned her splendi,
head, and l heard at the same moment
bass voice exclaim, "Sundholmp
All, Heavens! was that her voice Wa
it not rather that ofthe Angel Of Judgemen
who, IN the middle of Mrs. AS evenin
party, summoned the sinner sundhoim :
hear his final doom l could have believe
any thing rather than that such a voic
could issue from the beautiful lips of Abba
But, when l beheld Sundholm advance t
the tea-table and receive the tea-cups on hi
tray, saw that the resoundiDg basson-voic
belonged to no other than the sweet lady
, whom had just adored, and whom had
in my heart, already called my wife
[ It required some little time before coul
C reconcile my mind on this point. "sund
| holm p sounded awfully through my cal
- for many long hour, began to reaso
on the subject. II, said I, Nature has bt
y slowed bass-voice on this beautiful youn
{ lady, is it rot noble and excellent for he
o not to try to conceal or embellish ii? Do,
itnot prove her love Of truth her strehgt
e of character,and her greatness of soul? Ho'
easy it would have been for her to CT
n "Sundholmp p in ialsetto; but she would II,
= be false, even in this! Not willing to assun
a disgiise, even for the sake Of winning az
= miration, she summons Sundhclm in Il
i voice which God has given her. Is the
c not something grand in all this? One wi
IS thus calls out "Sundholmp will not deceiy
e an honest fellow with hollow words or pr
l tended feeling, but will play an open gan
e with him, and let him understand the trut
at once.
e was introduced to the handsome ABB
There was no denying that the voice WI
Z, not fine; but when you were accustomed
it, il ceased to be so very disagreeable; b.
IS sides which, her words were so simple an
l candid, and her face so beutful, that b,
II and-by was completely dazzled, My ca
A crept, as it were, into my eyes, and gain
I day after day, on Abia's fuitless profile,
:, was conveyed at once into the realms
y love, and, ravshed by my sense Of sigh
g asked Alba if she would be "my WIFE" 81
IS answered "YEs," with a force Of utteran
Il that nearly frightened me. We were b
n trothed, and the nearer gazed on her fl
IT profile the more was satisfied. This,ho'
S, ever, did not last long.
s. The period Of betrothal is very singul
80 -. r I.IC,.-- "a