The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-06-03
a Bashful Man.

Senator Sebastian, of Arkansas, was native
of Hickman county, Tennessee On one &C.
casion a member of Congress was lamentlng
his bashfulness and awkwardness. why"
said the Senator from Rackensack, you don't
know what bashfuness Is. Let me tell you a
story, and when get through l will stand the
bob if you don't agree that you never knew
anything about bashfulness and its baneful
effects. was the most bashful boy west OF
the Allghenies. | wouldn't look at a girl,
much less speak to a maiden; but for all that
fell desperately in love with a sweet, beauti-
full neighbor girl, 1t was desirable match
on both sides, and the old folks saw the drift,
and fixed 1t up. | thought | should die just
thinking of it. | was gawky, awkward
country lout, about 10 years old She was an
intelligent, refined, and fairly well educated
girl IN country and at time when the girls
had superior advantages, and were therefore
superior in culture to the boys. | fixed the
day as far as | could have it put off. | lay
awake in a cold persplratlon as the time drew
near, and shivered with agony as | thought of
the terrible ordeal
The dreadful day came. l went through
with the programme somehow in a dazed,
confused, mechanical sort of way like an au-
tomaton BOBBY through supper where he
could eat nothing and through such games as
"pOssum pie" "Sister Phoebe" and all that
sort of thing The guests one by one depart
ed, and my hairs began to stand on end. Be-
You'd the awful curtain of Isis lay the terrible
unknown. My blood grew cold and boiled by
turns. | was in a fever and then an ague, pale
and flushed by turns. I felt like fleeing TO the
woods, spending the night in the barn. leav
ing for the west never to return. l was deeply
devoted to Sallle. | loved her harder than a
mule can kick; but that dreadful ordeal |
| orc hoI
last guest was gone, the bride retired, the fami-
ly gone to bed, and was left alone; horror of
all horrors, alone with the old man. "John,"
said he, you can take that candle; you will
find your room Just over this. Good night |
john and may the Lord have mercy on your
soul, and with misChlevOus twinkle of his |
fine gray eye the old man lett the room. |
mentally said, Amen to his "ifeaven help |
YOU" and, when | heard him close distant |
door, started to my feet and seized the farhing |
dip with nervous grasp. | stood for some
minutes contemplating my terrible fate, and
the inevitable and speedy doom about to over.
whelm me- | knew it could not be avoided,
and yet hesitated to meet my fate like man.
| stood so long that three love-letters had
grown on the wick of the tallOw dip and
was decorating the side of the
brass candle.stick.
happy thought struck me. | hastily
climbed the stairs, marked the position of the
landing and the door of the bridal chamber
would have died before | would have dis
robed in that holy chamber, where awaited me
a trembling and beautiful girl, blushing
maiden clothed upon" with her own beauty
and modesty, and her snowy robe de mutt
would make the usual preparations without,
blow out the light, open the door and friendly
night would shield my shrinking modesty and
5ashfulness and grateful darkness at least mlti-
gate the horror Of the situation. 1t was soon
done. Preparations for retiring we're few and
simple IN their character in Hickman, alto
gether consisting of dIsrobing, and owing to
scarcity Of cloth in those days man was some
where near the Adamic state when he was pre-
pared to WOO sweet sleep. The dreadful hour
had come; was ready, blew out the light,
yrasped the dOor.knoh with deathly grip and
Nrrvons '.'u'c'': ".." urpr,tr' an - would
L over O4.r .I.u.nr..t ,..u Il nasui .. L. -, ..
In sight Ileaped within, and there around
glowing hickory fire, with candles brightly
burning on the mantel and bureau, was the
flushing bride, surrounded by the six lovely
"-L0uiSrWe C0mmerctdl