Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-09-27
Miscellaneous.
The Fast-Day Proclamation.

w hat could be more prolix than that ?"
exclaimed Mrs. lee, after reading aloud
Governor Buffers Fast day proclamation.
Is that conundrum, mamma? can
answer IT," cried Kitty Lee, who, with her
bangles and bows and bang looked like an
o'.rgrown butterfly. Governor Butler
mself. taken from all available stand
points, is great deal more prolix." Kit
~ had made one of a party who lunched
whh The General" on board his yacht off
Matthias VINEYARD. one summer, and was
nevr weary relating the experience.)
CIV maternal grandmother once wrote a
Fast Gay proclamation" remarked the elder
ly lad.. rehecti,ely, from her seat at the
head # the table. Butterfly Kitty was a
third e,itlon Of this little grandmother who.
in her tlti, lace cap, dainty muslin kerchef
and bright gold rings reminded one of
fairy goonother as she carefully folded the
morning aper and laid 1t beside her napkin
just bat> Of her porcelain saucer anG cup
upon ~hin the word ''grandmo,her" in
shining go,l letters glowed out from spray
Of sweet-brar.
"A grandmother write Thank sgiving
proclamation" cried Kitty "How did il
happen? pIe.-e do tell US. grandmakin.
Was she the Governors wife ?"
Not hcn,' replied grandmother, with
dignity. but il no reproach upon her
maidenly reservc and delicacy TO say tha,
she wanted 10 be. Her parents opposed the
match. Her suite. although wealthy and
a good man. was ne, thoroughly educated
man. My great grandfather was gentle
man Of remarkable culture, who esteemed
trained and refined menta. endowments far
above wealth or worldly hoaors. The Gov
ernor, long before he attained to any politi-
cal honors. fell in love with my grandmoih-
er. and in the stately fashion Of the penoi
asked h-l parents permission to pay her his
fa, or upon her handsome Young tOwnsman,
who had been her schoolmate, but her faith
er dismissed his suit at once.
My daughters accomplishments fit her
for higher sphere OF life than the position
ia which YOU can place her. replied my
great grandfather pompously. The Young
lover submitted. saying only
livery we'll. shall remain single If al
any time you withdraw YOUR objection. |
shall depend upon YOUR notifying me to that
effect
"The wears flew By, everything prospered
with the suitor. wealth accumulated on his
hands and political honors were crowded up
on him. Meanwhile everything from a f.
nancial point Of view went behindhand with
nv great grandfather. His inherited wealth
dwinded away. He was possessed Of re-
tnement and Literary tastes, hut had no
business tact. His daughter saw his youth
fuI charms depart, but loving her .tal~ art,
handsome, successful old school fellow in
spite Of hi. lack Of classical education. she
remained true TO him. although they never
met excepting to exchange u few formal
words Of greeting. She refused several ad-
vantageous offers of marriage. to her fathers
great discontinue, and her heart remained
loyal 10 the lover, who was constantly storing
hi. elegant residence with books and works
of art and everything calculated to please a
woman of taste.
"My great grandfather was a Wing, and
his would be son-in- law was Democrat.
One day nv great-grandfather came home in
a furry of excitement and announced to his
daughter that her lover had been nominated
by his party for Governor Of the State.
a nomination is equivalent to an election,
in this instance he said, 'and it is shame !.
We want gentleman and scholar for Gov
ernor one able in every way to dispense the
hospItalties and do the honors of the State
whose speeches and proclamations shall go
down to posterity in our archives and do
us credit What will this fellow do when
the time for writing Fast day and Thanks
giving day proclamations arrives? and the
wrathy old gentleman stormed up and down
the room until his scant braided cue stood
IL IL k.ll
AT length after his excitement had some
what subsidized he paused in front Of his
daughter, who was industriously fluting the
ruffles Of one of his shirts flor men wore
ruffies in those days and their daughters
kept the fnery in order) and. laying the
words down impressively by striking the
long delicate forefnger Of his right hand
into the soft palm Of his left hand,
"'Mark my words. my child; this man
who has never withdrawn his suit for your
hand will be the next Governor of this
State. That is a foregone conclusion.
shall watch his course with great interest.
If he brings shame upon himself and upon
the State will publish an article regarding
him in the leading papers of the State SO
sarcastic as to put complete end to his pO-
liticsl career. On the contrary, if he does
himself and his party and the State credit
l will call upon him. and congratulate him,
aud assure him that, in consideration of his
having proved himself to be gentleman of
culture BY the elegant phraseology of his
official documents l have the pleasure Of
withdrawing my objections to him as SON.
in-law.'
my grandmother bowed her head over
her work in submissive silence (for young
ladies didn't answer back in those days) and
her father went chuckling away to his H.
brary and proceeded to further allay his ir-
rita,ion by anticipating events and COM
mencing the article that was. fguratively
speaking. to annihilste his young fellow
townsman. The daughters brain was quite
as active and fertile as the fathers and go
ing to her room she spread u sheet Of fools
cap on the table before her, dipped quill
pen in ink and wrote as one writes who is
inspired.
"Meanwhile the candidate for Governor,
who lived less than half mile away, sat in
his library, quill pen in hand vainly trying
to indte a suitable letter declining the NOM
ination to the high Office that had been prof
fered him.
81 am business man. he said to him.
self Il snl not literary man. never pro-
fessed 10 be. accepted the nomination at
first in a neat little speech enough delivered
on the spur Of the moment. But now IN
the quiet of my study know there are diff
fculties in my path that could never sur