Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-02-16
Bashn1f Man.

Senator Sebastian, of Arkansas, was
native Of Hickman county, Texas
On one occasion member of Congress
was lamenting his bashfulness and
awkwardness. "Why," said the Sena-
tor from Rackensack, "y0u don't know
what bashfulness is. Let me tell you a
story, and when get through 1 will
stand the bob you don't agree that
you never knew anything about BASH
fulness and its baneful effects. | was
the most bashful boy west of the Allegh-
anies. wouldn't look at a girl, much
less speak to a maiden, but for all that
1 fell desperately in love with a sweet,
beautiful neighbor girl. 1t was desira-
BILE match on both sides, and the old
folks saw the drift and fixed it up.
thought should die Just thinking of it.
I was a gawky, awkward country lout
about 10 years old. She was an intelli-
gent, refined and fairly well educated
girl in country and at time when
the girls had superior advantages, and
were, therefore, superior in culture to
boys. I fixed the day as far off as 1
could. lay awake in cold perspiration
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 l could eat
nothing, and through such games as
"possum pie" 'sister Phoebe" and all
that sort of thing. The guests one by
one departed and my hair began to
stand on end. Beyond the awful cur
tain Of Isis lay the terrible unknown.
My blood grew cold and boiled by turns.
1 was in fever ard then in 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 return. I was deeply devoted to
Sallie. loved her harder than mule
can kick, but that dreadful ordeal-I
could not, dare not stand it. Finally
the last guest was gone, the bride re-
tired, the family gone to bed, and |
was left alone horror of horrors, alone
with the old man. "John," said he,
"you will find your roomiust over this.
Good night John, and may the Lord
have mercy on your soul,n and with q
mischievous twinkle of his fine gray
eye the old man left the room. /
mentally said "Amen" to his Heaven
help you" and, when I heard him
close distant door, staggered to my
feet and seized the farthing dip with
nervous grasp. | stood for some min
utes contemplating my terrible fate,
and the inevitable and speedy doom
about to overwhelm me. 7 knew that
it could not he avoided. and yet
| II fnt tC rpanat e., ta itIra n r
stood so long that three love-letters had
grown on the wick of the tallow dip
and windingsheet was decorating the
side of the brass candlestick.
A happy thought struck me, I hastily
climbed the stairs, and marked the
position of the landing and the door of
the bridal chamber. 1 would have
died before I would have disrobed in
that holy chamber, where awaited me
a trembling and beautiful GIRL blush
ing maiden, "clothed upon" with ner
beauty and modesty, and her snowy
robe de mutt. / would make the usual
preparations without, blow out the
| light, open the door, and friendly night
would shield my shrinking modesty
and bashfulness, and grateful darkness
at least mitigate the horror of the situa-
tion. 1t was soon done. Preparations
for retiring were few and simple in
their character in Hickman, altogether
consisting Of disrobing; and owing to
the scarcity of cloth in those days, man
was somewhat near the Adamic state
when he was prepared to WOO sweet
sleep. The dreadful hour had come; I
was ready. | blew out the light, grasp
| ed the door knob with a deathly grin
and a nervous clutch; one moment and
it would be over. One moment and it
wasn't over by ad-n sight. Ileaped
within and there around glowing
| hickory fire, with candles burning
brightly on the manteland bureau, was
the blushing bride; surrounded by the
six lovely bridemaids.