Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-06-01
A RaShfnl Nom

senator Sebastian of Arkansas was n
native OF Hickman county, Tenn. On
one occasion member of congress was
lamentng his bashfulness and awkard-
ness. why" said the senator from
hackenSack, ''you don't know what it
Is. Let me tell You a story, and when
get through I,will stand the bob if YOU
don't agree that you never knew any
thing about bashfulness and its baneful
effects. | was the most bashful boy
west of the Alleghenies. wouldn't look
at girl. much less speak to a maiden:
but Tor all that fell desperately in love
with sweet, beautiful neighbor Girl.
1t was a desirable match on both sides,
and the old folks saw the drift, and fixed
it up ! thought should die Just think
inc Of it. was a gawky, awkward
country lout about nineteen wears old.
She was an intelligent, refined and fairly
well educated girl in country and at
time when the girls had superior adyan-
tages, and were therefore superior in
culture TO the boys. | fixed the day as
lar as could have put it off. lay
awake IN Il cold perspiratiOn as the time
drew near, and shivered with agony as
thought Of the terrible ordeal. The
dreadful day came. | went through
with the programme somehow in dazed
confused, mechanical sort of way, like
an automatOn BOBBY through a supper
where | could eat nothing, and through
such games as "possum pie" esister
PhHbe, and all that sort of thing The
guests one by one departed and my hair
began to stand on end. Beyond the
awful curtain Of Isis lay the terrible un-
known. My blood grew cold and boiled
by turns. | was in fever and then an
ague, pale and flushed by turns. felt
fleeing 70 the woods, spending the night
~ ,he barn, leaving for the West never
10 return. was deeply devoted to
Sallle. ! loved her harder IMAM a mule
can kick; but that dreadful ordeal i
cou = not, dared not stand il. Finally
the last guest was gone, the bride re-
tired. the family went to bed. and was
left alOne-hOrrors of horrors. alone
with the Old man. John" said be. |
''t"u can take that candle; yOu viii ind /
Your room just over this. Good night /
John. and may the lord have mercy on
your soul, and with mischieyous |
Twinkle or his line grey eye the old man !
lett HE room. mentally said "Amen," /
10 his " Heaven help YOU and, when |
heard him close a distant door, stag |
gercd to my feet and seized the farthing /
CUP with a nervous grasp. | stood for
some minutes contemplating my terrible |
tate, and the invitable and speedy doom
about to oyerwhelm me. | stood 50
long that three love-letters had grown
on the wick of the tallow dip and a
wlndlng-sheet was decorating the side
OF the brass candlestick. A. happy
thtught struck me, hastily climbed the
stair. marked the position of the landing
and the door of the bridal chamber. | |
would have died before | would have
di>rObed in that bridal chamber, where
awaited me trembling and beautiful
Glrl, bIushlng maiden, "clothed upon
with her own beauty and modestv, and
her snowy robe dc mutt. | would make
the usual preparations without, blow
out the light, open the door aud friendly
night would shield my shrinking mod
esty and bashfulnesS aud grateful dark
ness at least mitigate the horror of the
situation. 1t was soon done Prepare
tons for retiring were few and simple
III their character in Hickman, alto
gethcr consisting Of disrobng, and Ow-
lug to scarcity Of cloth in those days
man was somewhat near the Adamic
state when he was prepared to WOO
sweet sleep. The dreadful hour had
come; | was ready. blew ont the light,
the dOor-kuob with a deathly
gripe and it would be over. One mo-
ment and it WASH t over by al sight.
| leaped within, and there around
glowing hickory fire, with candles
brightly burning on the mantle and
bureau, was the blushing bride sur
rounded by the six lovely bridesmaids.