Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-03-13
NUMBER FIFTEEN.

I always begin at the beginning when
l write story. Some authors like to
comm nee in the middle and work at
both ends; but that isn't my way, or
rather it wouldn't be my way if l was
in the habit of writing stories. which,
thank heaven, | am not. get my liv-
ing in a respectable way, by the sweat
of my brow, not writing lies for news
papers Consequently, L have but one
story to write, aud that is my own.
My name is Rnderick McStivers, and
I'm native of the good cid town of
Falmouth; I'm 40 years old if I'm a
day, and, if 7 do say it, as good looking
fer my age as any man you ever set
eyes on. Twenty years ago [ was fully
as handsome as | am now. and at that
time was engaged to the charming
Mary Black, the belle of falmouth.
That was the beginning of all my woe.
that engagement. | was poor then I
own the largest boot manufactory in
falmouth today and the Lord only
knew when l should be able to marry
Mary. But she said she didn't care
she could wait two or three centuries
just as well as not, if I'd only be true to
her meantime
Sooner shall the blue ocean melt 10 air,
sooner snail eartn resolve 1tS6l1 TO sea,
Tan 1 resign thine image. oh. my fair!
Or think of anything excepting thee.
That's just what l said. You wouldn't
think to look at me now that / could
say anything quite so soft as the above
would you, eh? Bless you! / had
more poetry in my head twenty years
ago than you could shake stick at.
Many are poets who have never penned
Their inspirations, and perchance the best.
That's what's the trouble with, me.
IF / hadn't confined myself to leather,
I should have played the deuce with
.the nine" " Well, you understand
from the above that Mary and were
ell right. l swore that I'd be true, and
she dittoed; but bless you, my dear sir,
the sweet girl had a father, and he was
not so young as we were by several
years.
Those were days when my heart was
volcanic, but the old gentleman's pal
pitator was as hard and cold as cast
iron grindstone. The paternal Black
did not believe much in love, you see.
He had married for money, and, in
his opinion, that, was the only thing
worth marrying for; .apd So, instead of
throwing his only child away on mis-
erable vagabond like myself, he very
unceremoDiously showed me the door
one evening, and the very next day
brought lover of his own choosing
home to Mary. The lovers name was
Bunsby, and he rolled in gold, meta
phorically speaking; owned a fine
house in New York, and had horses,
carriages and servants too numerous
to melton Oh, why should I linger
over this period of my existence? Pm
sure don't know why, and hang me
if do.
You can guess the rest. Mary was
dazzled with her new lovers wealth.
She forgot poor Roderick McStivers,
and married Thomas Bunsby, Esq and
II, alas, was not invited to the wed
ding! Anything more heartless than
the above can scarcely be imagined. 1
suppose might have "gone into mourn,
ing" They told NE | couldn't be a
nun on account of my sex
"Oh, what shall I do ?' I asked in q
voice that sounded horribly strange,
notwithstanding that it was my own.
defy you to tell me what did do. In
the light of my twenty years. expert
ence, I am convinced that did the best
thing L could under the circumstances.
l married my boarding mistress She
was 35 and | was 20 years of age; she
was
maid unmatched in manners as in face
Skilled in arts and crowned with ev'ry grace.
And, though / never learned to love
her extravasantly, must confess that
she could make the best dumplings that
/ ever ate. In course of time became
father. A daughter was born to us,
and we called her Julia, after my grand
mother, who was the most beautiful
woman in the country, to judge from
the portrait now before me My daugh-
ter looks much as her grandmother did
at her age. We'll, as said, daughter
was born to us and son was born to
Bunsby, and they called him Tom. WE
heard of the last mentioned event up
here in Falmouth but for years and
years never saw either Mary or her
son, Notwithstanding they used to visit
her father quite often while the old gen
tleman lived. But at last Mr.. Black
was gathered to his fathers, and about
the same time my wife was gathered to
her mothers, and I was left alone with
my little Julia / was rich then-the
| most wealthy man in Falmouth, and
had built fine house, the seme that
have lived in ever since, with my little