The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-07-20
A BASHFUL MAN.
The Great Sensation He Pro-
duced in a Bridal Chamber.
lLouIsMlIe CommerciaIN


Senator Sebastian, of Arkansas, was
a native of Hickman county, Tennessee.
on one occasion member of Congress
was lamenting his bashfulness and
awkwardness. why" said the Sena-
tor from Rackensack, you don't know
what bashfulness is. Let me tell YOU a
story, and when l get through 1 will
stand the bob if you don't agree that
you never knew anything about bash
fulness and its baneful effects. / was
the most bashful boy west of the Allie
ghenies. wouldn't look at a girl, much
less speak to a maiden; but for all that /
fell desperately in love with a sweet,
beautiful neighbOr girl. 1t was desiT-
able match on both sides, and the old
folks saw the drift, and fixed it up.
was a gawky, awkward country lOut,
about nineteen years of age. She was
an intelligent, refined and fairly edu-
Gated girl in country at time when
the girls had superior advantages, and
were therefore superior in culture to the
boys. l fixed the day as far as l could
have it put off, l lay awake in cold
perspiratiOn as the time drew near, and
shiyered 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
though such games as 'pOssum pie" "
SISTER Phoebe" and all that sort of
thing. The guests one by one departed,
and my hair began to stand on end. Be-
yond the terrible curtain of Isis lay the
terrible unknown. My blood grew cold
and boiled by turns. | was in fever
and then an ague, pale and flushed by
turns. 1 felt like fleeing to the woods
and spending the night in the barn,
leaving for the west never to return.
was deeply devoted to Sallie. | loved
her harder than a mule can kick; but
that dreadful ordeal, l could not, dared
not stand it. Finally the last guest was
gone, the bride retired, the family gone
to bed, and was left alOne-hOrTOr of
hOrrOrs-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 a mis-
chieVOus twinkle of his fine gray eye
the old man left the room. | mentally
said "Amen" to his Heaven help you"
and, when l heard him close a distant
door, staggered to my feet and seized
the farthing dip with a nervous clutch.
| stood for some minutes contemplating
my terrible fate, and the inevitable and
speedy doom about to Overwhelm me. |
knew it could not be avoided, and yet
hesitated to meet my fate like a man.
stood so long that three love letters had
grown on the wick of the tallOw dip, and
winding sheet was decorating the
side of the brass candlestick.
A happy thought struck me. Hastily
climbed the stair, marked the position
of the landing and the door of the bridal
chamber. 1 would have died before
would have disTObed 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. l
would make the usual preparations with
out, blow out the lamp, open the door,
and friendly night would shield my
shrinking mOdesty and bashfulness,
and grateful darkness at least mitigate
the horror of the situation. 1t was soon
done. Preparations for retiring were
few and simple in their character in
Hickman, altogether consisting of dis
TObing, and owing to scarcity of cloth,
in those days man was somewhere near
the Adamic state when he was prepared
to WOO sweet sleep. The dreadful hour
had come; was ready. l blew out the
light, gTasped the door knob with a
deathly grip and nervous clutch; one
moment and it would be over. One mo-
ment and it wasn't over by d-n 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.