The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-07-24
Ny First LoYe.Letter.

Through Hatl.
When / was about fifteen years cid.
l fell violently in love with a widow
who had a little farm. Il large mole on
her chin and nine small children, 1t
was not a case of mild, inotfensive at
lection, but a regular, zygmotic, malig-
nant attack that doubled me right ur
into a hard doublc-knot and threat
ened my existence. She was about
th~irty-nine years old, and her husband
had been killed in the army, and ev-
erybody else spoke well of her and pit
led her, so l spoke well of her and
pitied her, too, and when she told
some of my numerous sisters that l
was II OF the sweetest boys in the
neighborhood, that settled it with me.
| thenceforth looked upon her as my
w darling prospect of a happy tu-
ture beyond the grave.
/ cannot now remember that she ey-
er exhibited any more affection for me
than she showed in her conduct to-
ward my sisters, but she had said that
| was the sweetest boy in the neigh
borhood, and in my feverish state of
mind. l could not help feeling that
there was a wealth of ardent love done
up in that little bundle of words. At
Sunday-school on the following Sab
bath, she looked across toward me
while l was mentally praying for her.
and smiled. In that smile, | saw
wealth, fame. love, honor, and a large
family, but had not acquired suflici-
ent experience to convince me that Il
smile OF such dimensions was too much
for me. 1t warmed me like - base
burner, and when the services had
reached an end. plucked up courage
enough to ask her if | might 60 home
with her. Joy- Joy. Joy! She consented.
looking so smiling and pleasant that
l felt that if we @ to climb two rungs
higher on the ladder of happiness, I
would be able to look right over the
wall into the JOYOUS realm where the
man whose shoes l wished to wear,
was basking in the glorious sunlight
among the angels.
l now remember that she looked at
her children as if she felt pleased to
know that was willing to play with
them when asked her if | mig hit go,
home with her. but | was blind with
love, then, and thought she wasglad to
have me in her own sweet company.
When we reached her humble cottage,
She told me l could 90 out in the or
chard with the other children and
gather all the apples | could eat. How
happy ] was! And when her babies
looked upon me as | shook down the
ripe fruit. how strangely excellent i
felt, as thought OF the blcssel future,
when they would call me papa. and |
would reciprocate by gently taking the
largest mes by the collar and tanning
the everlasting hills with them until
they would humbly bow down their
heads in my presence and yield me good
obedience.
By five o'clock. | was sufficiently re.
covered to go home. When there, my
paroNysms of devotion to, the widow be.
came more violent, and determined to
delay no longer, lest some brave man
| Looked upon myself as a man. l would
have it understood-should capture the
inestimable prize. l got hold of piece
OF paper and Il short pencil, and going
to the barn, where the eyes of a cold
and heartless world would not be
upon me, | wrote the following touch
ing appeal:
OMEGA, Marion Co. III, March 1S-
Dear Missus q don't want to give
her away, as she is now a respectable
old grandmother, so ! will tictate a lit.
tie on the name), Mc(iruder. i want
too marcy NEE when am a Man. i
love you awefully Bad, and you know
1t.
THE Rose is Red the vyolicks blew,
Handy Is sweat and So air vew.if
~shure,s the Moss grows Round the stump,
lew air My Sweetest Shugger lump
am awefull loveingly yewers,