Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-06-09
A BASHFUL MAN.
The Great Sensation He Caused in a
Bridal Chamber.

Senator Sebastian, of Arkansas, was
native of Hickman county, Ten
nessee. On one occasion a member
of congress was lamenting his bash
fitness and awkwardness. "Why,"
said the senator from Rackansack,
"you don't know what bashfulness
is. Let me tell you story and when
get through / will stand the bob if
you don't agree that you never knew
anything about bashfulness and its
baneful effects. 1 was the most
bashful boy west of the Alleghanie5 !;
/ wouldn't look at a girl, much less
speak to a maiden, but for all that I
fell desperately in love with sweet,
beautiful neighbor girl. 1t was a
desirable match on both sides, and
the old folks saw the drift and fixed
it up. / thought / would die just
thinking of it. / was a gawky,
awkward country lout about nine
teen years old. she was an intelli-
gent, refined and fairly well educated
girl for the country, and at a time
when the girls had superior advan-
tages, and therefore superior in
culture to the boys, l fixed the day
as far as / could have it put off; lay
awake in cold perspiration as the
time drew near, and shivered with
agony at the terrible ordeal.
The dreadful day came; | went
through with the programme some
how in a dazed, confused mechanical
sort of a way, like an automaton
BOBBY through such games as "pos-
sum 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 curtain
of Isis lay the terrible unknown. My
blood grew cold and boiled by turns.
j was in fever and then ague, pale
and flushed by turns. / felt like
fleeing to the woods and spending the
night in the barn, leaving for the
west never to return. | was deeply
devoted to Sallic. | loved hel
harder than mule can kick; but
that dreadful ordeal. i could not
dare not stand it. Finally the last
guest had gone to bed and | was lef
alone-horror of horrors-alone with
the old man.
"John," said he, "you can take
that candle; you will find your room
Just over this. Good night John ant
may the Lord have mercy on you
SOUL" and with a mischievOus twin
kle of his gray eye the old man lief
the room. l mentally said "Amen'
to his Heaven help YOU" and Whel
| heard him close a distant door,
staggered to my feet and seized tn
farthing dip with nervous clutch.
stood for some minutes contempla
ting my terrible fate and the in
evitable and speedy doom about t
overwhelm me. / knew it could no
be avoided and yet l hesitated t
meet my fate like a man. stood s
long that three love letters had grow
on the wick of the tallow dip, and
winding sheet was decorating tn
side of the candlestick.
A happy thought struck me,
hastily climbed the stairs, marked tn
position of the landing and the bride
chamber. l would have died before
would have disrobed in that hol
chamber where awaited me tremt
ling and beautiful girl, a blushin
maiden clothed upon with her ow
modesty and snowy robes d
mutt. l would make the usual pref
arations without; blow out tn
light, open the door and friendl
night would shield shrinking moo
esty and grateful darkness at lea
mitigate the horror of the situation
1t was done.
Preparations for retiring were fe
and simple in their character
Hickman, altogether consisting
disrobing, and owing to the scarcit
of cloth in those days man was ne'
the Adamic state when he was pr
pared to WOO gentle sleep. III
dreadful hour had come, was read
blew out the light, grasped theknC
with deathly grip, and a nervo
clutch one moment, and it WASH
over by a d--n sight. l leap'
within and there around a CLOWN
hickory fire with candles bright
burning was the blushing bride ST.
rounded by six lovely bridesmaid
--S----