Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-12-11
NORTHERN TRIBUNE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER II. 1884.
A Very Bashful man.

Senator Sebastian, Of Arkansas, was
native of Hickman county, Tennessee.
On one occasion member of Congress
was lamenting his bashfulness and awk-
wardness. "Why," said the senator
from Rackensack, "you don't know what
bashfnlness is. Let me tell you story
and when get through l will stand the
bob If you don't agree that you never
knew anything about bashfulness and
it's baneful effects. l was the most bash
full boy east of the Allsghanies. 1
wouldn't look at girl, much less speak
to a maiden; but for all that fell des-
perately in love with sweet beautiful
neighbOr girl. 1t was desirable
match on both sides, and the old folks
saw the drift and fixed it up. Thought
l should die just thinking of it. | was
gawky awkward country lOut, about
nineteen years old. She was an intelli-
gent, refined and fairly we'll educated
girl in country and at that time when
the girls had superior advantages, and
were therefore superior in culture to
boys. l fixed the day as far as I could
have it put off. l lay awake in a cold
PRECIPITATION as the time drew near, and
shivered with agony as thought of the
terrible ordeal,
"The dreadful day came. 1 went
through with the programme somehow
in dazed, confused, mechanical sort of
way, like an autOmatOn BOBBY, through
supper where could eat nothing, and
through such games as 'pOssum pie,
Sister PheObe,' 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
unknown. My blood grew Geld and
boiled by turns. was in fever and
then an ague, pale and flushed by turns
felt like fleeing to the woods, spending
the night in the barn, leaving for the
west never to retHrn. was deeply de-
voted to Sallie. lOyed her harder than
a mule could kick; bat that dreadful Or
deal could not, dared not stand it,.
Finally the last guest was gone, the
bride retired, the family went to bed.
and l was left alone; horror of horrors
with the old man. john said he you
can take that candle; you will find your
| room just over this. Good night and
may the lord have mercy on your SOUL
and with mischievOus twinkle in his
fine gray eye tho old man left the room.
l mentally said Amen to his Heaven
help yOu,' and when heard him close a
distant door, staggered to my feet and
siezsd the farthing dip with nervous
grasp. l stood for some minutes con-
| templatiRg my fate, and the inevitable
and speedy doom about to Overwhelm
me. knew it could rot be avoided and
yet hesitated to meet my fate like a
man. stood 80 long that three love
letters had grown on the wick of the tai
low dip and winding sheet was decOra-
ting the side OF the brass candlestIck.
ga happy thought struck me. hast
lily climbed the stairs, marked the pO-
sitiOn of the landing and the door of the
bridal chamber, would have died be.
fore l would have disrObed in that holy
chamber, where awaited me trembling
and beautiful girl, blushing maiden
clothed upon with her own beauty and
mOdesty and her snowy robe de mutt.
would make the usual preparations with
out, blow out the light, open the door
and friendly night would shield my
shrinking mOdesty and bashfulness and
grateful darkness mitigate the hOr
rOr of the situation. 1t was soon done
Preparations for retiring were few and
simple in their character In Hickman
altogether consisting of disrObing, ans
owing to scarcity of cloth i'm those days
man was somewhere near the Adamit
state when he was prepared to wOt
sweet sleep. The dreadful hour hat
GENE, l was ready. l blew out tn,
light, grasped the door knob with dead
ly grip aud nervous clutch; one moment
and it would be over. One moment an(
it was over sure enough. laaped with
in. and there around glowing hickory
fire, with candles brightly burning or
mattel and bureau, was the blushins
bride, surrounded by her six Lowell,
bridesmaids. KenOw-Louisuills Com
nnercidl.