Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-03-20
MY ELIZA.

NV Eliz,,n Godmother Richards called
her. She was very nightmare. ! am
sorry to say that news of her demise
would have given me intense JOY. But
that was my Golmother Richards fault,
for but for her should never have cast
- thought upon Eliza or ary other girI.
Nv Eiza was nothing new TO me.
When was in roclis this model little
girl, year my junior, was spoken o.
ecstaticallv whenever Godmother X ch'
ards came to the city. She was her
other goichild, model of grace and
oeautv aud obedience. Il shall bring
her up for Billy" Godmother Richards
would say. "They shall be little man
and wife. Don't you want to send II kiss
to your Eliza. Biily--a nice sweet one?
At four used u send it. At eight al.
Lowell il to be taken. At ten | Ind IN
NV codnlothers ample Sk.r's and wept
and refused my lips. WhercuPon cod
mother Richards would say:
well, we'll there's not too much mod.
esty in this agc. don't mind a little
of it," and ai, onward give me something
good to ct from her pocket and t".Imc
that Eliza sent it with ror I've.
+, wa. harl 10 bear then. h"t nothing
10 the par-,ru ION It brcama at sixteen
yeas ns rg.. Then was obliged to
hea~ va.' uiacns my Eliza could play
upon me rruu-hoH Hdch French she
Gould -rr how ,nc had put on long
Jras-. ---apw much hnnd-omcr -h" was
tu..n anybody my godmother knew, and
in short, how it was the hope of the old
lady's heart TO bring va together some
day and make a match OF 1t. Ey the
dislike | hal to quarrel,ng with tho
fairy godmother who could convert rpy
pumpkin OF a hope into coach ri =
horses with wave Of her pen, could II
make me exhibit any show Of c1mp
cency when Eliza was sp ken Of
scowelel in silence and reiu- Il &C. pra.
and hal the satisfaction of hearing NJ
godmother, who, being q little dei
thought all the world 80, inform II
mother, in a stage-a-ide. that actual
the dear boy was head and cars in loI
with Eliza already, as she was with hid
dear girl.
"Dear girl, | used To muttcr, whe
safely out of hearing dear, indeed a
fected little puss wish she had die
before she was christencd--E ila, too.
al hideous names
This sort Of thing went on until vs.,
twenty-five, growing even worse wit
time, and fast approaching cllmax
We were to be introduced to each ofheiH
before long; meeting was on the tapis
We were ordered To be mutually strick
en- with love at first sight-to do court
ing in the shortest possible space Of
time, and to live there after with God
mother Richards, who confessed to hay.
ing divided her property between ne
with view to our ultimate union. Ac.
cording 10 her account of affairs. the
young laly would throw no obstacle in
my way. "but felt a. though she knew
me already"
Forward little wretch, :" | said 10 my.
self. "She is perfectly disgusting. No
pow on earth shall ever make ~ &C.
1uainted." Perhaps my brother Tom
who introduced "My Ellis" into his con.
yersatiou in the most trying manner,
and who drew picture upon our bed.
room wall of our imaginary meeting,
wherein she fell into my arms in highly
dram ,tio style, the whole figure, Tom
being no artist, having square heads and
luck feet, excited my wrath against the
Young lady to pitch to which it could
scarcely have arisen otherwise, and dc.
termined me more decidedly in my res.
olution.
was shaving in the early morning
when som one at my door cried, Don't
mind me, and in came Godmother
Richards, with her black silk cloak and
big green umbrella, with her cap in a
paper and little basket on her arm.
prepare yourself for aioyf'Il surprise,
my dear Billy" she cried. "She has
consented at last to meet you. I am go
ing to have you both, with your parents,
at my house for week Wednesday is
the day, and IL you can't manage to
make her say yes" in that time, why
you're not worth OF your gydmother."
Then the old lady sat down upon
chair and famed herself
The surprise had made me g4sh my
chin furiousiy, and turned upon her
with anything but an amiable counte.
nance.
~ hope she has not been annoyed on