The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-04-21
PARADISE LOST.

stripped me on the road to manhood
While was yet absorbed in my boats
fishing, dogs, rabbits, and all the othe
phases peculiar to juvenile life, I nc
ticed that my companions one after an
other were reforming that recklessnes
and carelessness of attire characteristic
of the genuine boy. They develope'
high shirt collars and beaver hats. The,
became very particular as to the fit O
their boots, and held long conference
with the shoemaker. Above all die
their intellects concentrate on the ar
rangement of the hair. They were yer,
regular in their attendance at churci
on Sunday evenings. The cause of al
this lay in the simple fact that the in
evitable gravitation toward the female
sex had commenced.
was disgusted that my companions
should fall away from me and lose in
terest in their accustomed sports. Theil
whole life was changed. Certain hous-
es wherein dwelt girls became wonder
fully attractive. On Sunday evenings
when the service was over they would
rush hastily out of church and crowd
about the doors as the congregation
came forth. Some bolder than the rest
sidled up to the girl and asked, "Can
have the pleasure of seeing you home
this EVENING"" She might bashfully
say "Yes," take the boys arm, and the
two trudged silently along together,
beating their little brains for something
to say to each other, while the remain
| der of the youthful masculine troop,
who longed to be in the same place,
but lacked courage to apply for the sit
uation, followed on behind, noisy, dis
orderly and making observations of a
sarcastic nature concerning the young
| couple.
AT last certain of my contemporaries,
male and female, paired off regularly
every Sunday night and every other
| night when opportunity Offered. 1t
seemed but little time had passed ere
| it came to be whispered about concern
| ing these boys and girls, now young
men and women, that they were en-
gagged.
Engaged! 1t was but little time
| past since they with me were deep in
rabbit and bird traps. l could not ac-
cept it. That men and women-or at
least those who with ME had always
been men and women-that they should
get married was all right and proper.
But these were boys and girls. / could
not realize how they were ever TO be
anything else but boys and girls. did
not like these fast coming changes.
was an old fogy. conservative boy,
and desired always to retain my boy
hood.
At this early age matrimony had not
favorably impressed me. 1 looked on
many courtships. All then seemed
smooth and blissful. 1 looked after
ward on matrimony. 1t appeared faded
by the contrast. Courtship implied
beauty, bright eyes, ruddy cheeks, mar
riage. and soon the same faces became
pale and worn. 1t involved also q
''cluttered up" house. wash-tubs and
soilfaced children, and the suitor had
changed into an Indifferent, slovenly
attired and sometimes surly husband.
The bright, blooming girl took her
place among the wives, and after time
looked to me as if she only endured
cooking, washing and scrubbing exist
ence because it was an inevitable neces-
sity. This is as it seemed to the boy,
although could not then mould these
thoughts into words.
The defections among my set came
thicker and faster. At last, with the
rest was drawn into the vortex. know
not when I flew my last kite or spun
my last top.
I fell in love with two girls simulta-
neously. For long time it was a Sc
cret admiration. 1 adored them from
afar. Bolder boys were seeing them
home every Sunday night. Bofder and
better looking boys than l. That was
the poison in my cup. was homely.
Many had taken particular pains to tell
me so. l could not have been more
than four years of age when one OF my
aunts used to criticise my snub nose,
and recommend me to keep my finger
pressed on it for an hour or two daily,
as she argued that its upward inclina-
ton might thus be repressed. Private
ly, l did follow her advice, but it made
no difference. That nose as to contour
would rot be diverted from its early
bent. Then my hair was inclined to
redness. / was freckled. Many years
after my gallantry was awakened did l
commune with the mirror in the hope
of finding some facial Improvement.
Sometimes thought had, and would
for little time be thereby elevated to
happiness on this delusion, But not
long. Some ruthless comment from
friend or relative always knocked it
tractiveness was the great gulf between
me and femininity. Yet though we be
ugly as Caliban, we must obey destiny.
intense, at school, at church, in the
street, everywhere. l worshipped their
cloaks and bonnets as they hung in the
academy hall entrance. With their
presence the school was full of interest;
without it, it was bare and barren.
The eruption must come to the vol
canO at last. My admiration finally
impelled me to action. Timidity merged
into desperation. One Sunday even
ing. as the two emerged from the church
door, 1 stepped before all other COM
petitors and asked to see the fair couple
home. 1 expected nothing but refusal.
To my surprise, they accepted my offer.
The distance to their homes was short.
/ wish it had been miles.
went to my own home pcrmeated
with bliss. 1t lasted several days. /
never accompanied them from church
again. There were other more fortu-
nate and better looking boys than l. l
used to look on with a resigned sort of
jealousy. l do not think the girls ever
suspected the depth of my admiration
for them.
/ lowered my aspirations. There was
another girl; she was not a belle; she
was not. as to beauty, specially favored;
she was clay; the two first were china.
But she was accessible, and / became
her regular attendant home from
church.
Twas false lover. In truth pre-
ferred several to poor Jenny. Still. l
tried to be content with what was allot-
ted me.
In time, all my admiration concen-
trated itself on one of the golden pair
first referred to. A few years went by.
A certain fortunate and handsome boy
(always hated and envied by me) was
her attendant. Once again met her