The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-05-26
BAsEEFUL MAN.
The Great Sensation he Pro
duCed in N Bridal CHI Der.

Senator Sebastian, of Arkansas, was
native of Hickman county. Tenn On one
occasion mem Der of Congress was la
menting his bashfulness and awkward
ness. "Why said the Senator from Racken
sack, "you don't know what bashfulness
is. Let me tell you a story, and when
get through | 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 Alleghanies. | wouldn't look Mt
girl much less speak 20 a maiden, bur for
all that fell desperately in love with
sweet. beautiful neighhor girl. Ii was
desirable match on both sides, and the old
folks saw the drift, and fixed il up. |
'houghi | should die just thinking of it.
was agawky, awkward country lout.
about nineteen years old. She was an in
telligeRt, refined and fairly well educated
Girl in couRtrv and ~ time when tho
girls bad superior advantages, and we're
therefore superior in culture TO the boys
| fixed he day as far as ! could have il
put OF. lay awake in n cold Precipitation
as the time drew near, and shivered with
/ agony as | thoHght of he terrible ordeal.
The dreadful day came. l went through
| with the programme somehow in a dazed,
confused, mechanical sort of way, like an
automaton booty through a supper where
I [ could eat nothing, and through such
/ games "a "possum pie 'sister Phoebe, .
and all that sort of thing. The guests one
7 by one departed and nv hair hogan to
I stand on end Beyond the awful curtain
/ of lsis lay the terrible unknown. Ny
blood grew cold aud then an ngue, pale
and flushed by turns I felt like fleeing
10 the woods, spending the night in the
/ barn, leaving for the West never 10 re
turn. | was deeply devoted to SaIlie. |
/ loved her harder than a mule can kick;
| but thai dreadful ordeal could not dar
I ell not stand H. Finally the last guest
was gone TO bed, and l was left alone;
/ horror Of horrors, alone with the old man
John, said he, you can take that can
dle you will ind your room just over this.
Good night, john, aud may the Lord have
mercy on your soul" and with mis-
! chievous twinkle of his fine grey eve
| the old man left the room. I mentally
said amen" to his Heaven help you.
and when | heard him close distant
door, staggered to my fee, and selling the
farthing dip with nervous grasp
stood for some minutes contemplating my
terrible fate, aud the inevitable and spec.
dy doom about 70 overwheIm me. Iknew
I it could not be avoided. and yet hesita-
ted TO meet my fate like a man. tood
so long that three love-ietters had grown
on the wick of the tallow dip and wind
ing-s sheet was decorating the side of the
brass candle-stiok.
A happy thought struck ne. hastily
climbed the stair, marked the position OF
! the landing and the door OF the bridal
chamber. I would have died before
would have disrobed in that holy cham.
Der, where awaited me a trembling and
beautiful girl blushing maiden, '.cIoth-
ed upon with her own beauty and modes
ty, and her snowy robe denuit. | would
make the usual preparations without
blow out the light open the door and
friendly night would shield my shrinking
modesty and bashfuiness and grateful
darkness at least mitigate The horror OF
the situation. 1t was soon done Prep
arations for retiring were few and simple
in their character in Hickman, altogeth
er consisting of disrobing, and owing q
scarcity of cloth in those days man " a.
somewhere near the Adnmic state wher
be was prepared TO WOO sweet sleep Th,
dreadful hour had come; | was ready.
blew out the light, grasped the door knel
with a deathly grip and nervous clutch
one moment and IL would be over. On
moment and it WASH over by a d-n sight
| leaped within, aud there around a glow
ing hickory Ere, with candles bright,
burning en- the mantle and bureau, wa
he blushing bride, surrounded by the ST;
lovely bridesmaids.