Year: 1860




charming girls had ever seen, and was jus
hesitatiDg as to which of them should tal
desperately in love with, when my calculations
were all disturbed by an accident-for so
suppose l must call t-though really seeming
like special Providence. What this was,
shall tell in the best way know how.


ssFor some days after my arrival at the farm
my curiosity had been much excited by the
young ladies upon once schoolfellow OF theil
own, May Stevens by name, who was, accord
ing to their highly -colored account, the mos
perfect thing in the shape of woman, ther
living. l tried to persuade my self that moth
ing in that line could surpass Carrie and Net
tie; but still the reception of this May Ste
vens haunted me, and came like shadow a.
cross my new born passion. / formed, al
last, an imaginary May Stevens and do what
l would, the figure was with me. At last was
worked into an agony Of curiosity, and tremb.
led with some great purpose, which should
bring before me the object of my thoughts
and Of the sisters continual conversa lion. In
what this would have ended it is impossible
for me all this time to say had not heard one
morning, as l entered the breakfast room, the
startling words from Nettie:


"And so she is coming at last. I'm SO
glad !"


'sWhether it was shat the train of my
thoughts was upon that point at the same mo-
ment, or what, cannot say but knew di-
rectly the whole matter. l saw Carrie with an
open letter in her hand, and coupling it with
Nettie's words, knew that the hitherto only
heard of May Stevens was about to become a
reality. l had no need to ask questions. All
the information was proffered. May Stevens
the incompatible May-was to spend month
at Hyatt's, and they were to expect her at any
moment-though, as the letter read ,she might
not be down for week to come. A week =
it was an age, century and was in futter
of excitement. My long standing passion, of
nearly two weeks duration for Nettie and Car
rle, was forgotten in an instant, and my whole
mind was absorbed in making the best figure
possible before this new queen. With this
idea, began to look into my wardrobe. l
had come down with sufficient clothes to an
swer all ordinary purposes, including, of
course, Nettie and Carrie; but the god
dess was certainly worthy of new rig on my
part, and certainly should have it. This reso-
luton was made within fifteen minutes after
hearing the announcement of her intended
coming; and before two hours had gone by,
was whizzing on my way to town, to car.
ry out that resolve. Ny choicest morsels of
wardrobe should lie offered on the shrine OF
May Stevens.


81 had absented myself on the plea of a
sudden memory of business neglected, and
faithfully promised Nettie and Carrie that the
next day should see me down again at Hyatts
to stay out the month that May Stevens, the
wonderful, was about to pass with them.


''The racking>of brain that day, to create
grand ensemble of misunderstanding be-
yond all criticism, that should at the first
glance strike the beholder silent with admira-
tion-was indeed terrible. The labor of wri-
ting Paradise Lost was nothing TO it. 1t was
early in the day when | arrived at my city
rooms, and, for six hours, dressed and re-
dressed compared, selected and selected; and,
at the ehd of that time, | had laid out those
portions of my wearable goods in which had
decided to make my first appearance before
May Stevens. 1t wanted still several hours to
sunset, having got safely through the great OBJ
ject Of my visit, thought it would not be a
bad idea for me to take the last train and re-
turn the same night to Hyatt's instead of
waiting over until morning. No sooner said
than done. l packed my hatiliments, and
away | went. Whizzing and putting over an
nninteresting road is provocative of sleep; SO
l found it when the shades of evening fell, for
to the best of my recollection, was in the
very midst of n dream, in which May Stevens,
attired in book muslin and pale blue satin, sat
on purple cloud and admiringly inquired who
my tailor was! Just as L was about to inform
her, there came a crash, and for moment /
was not entirely certain whether it was the
cloud that had exploded, or myself had torn
some portions OF my apparel that was over
strained. II required but moment to awaken
me to the fact that both presumptions were
wrong. 1t was our train-the 6.26-that had
run off the track, smashing things generally,
and spilling the contents of several baggage
cars along the road, to say nothing of fright
ening half hundred passengers into con-
dition bordering on lunacy. This was pref
ty state Of things, and to make it still worse,
L was exactly eight miles from my destination,
though, as it afterwards proved, not mile
from the next village, where, as | heard it
tavern, supper and beds could be
had. i was disposed to make myself agreea-
Bile, and, accordingly, rendered all the assist
ance in my power to the unprotected females,
for which got my reward on arriving at the
haven of refuge-the promised tavern-by
being informed that such thing as bed for
the night was an impossible idea, and with
some twenty more of the male gender, must
be content with chairs, while the beds were
to the gentler sex. Slightly dis
gusted, swallowed my supper, and looked
out upon the night. 1t was beautiful moon
light, and verging on 20 ten O'Clock. By Jove
| would walk over to Hyatt's. No sooner
said than done. Giving my carpet-bag into
the hands of the landlord, with the most en-
phatic charges for its safety and punctual de-
livery at Hyatt's next morning, at any ex-
pense, set forth. Eight miles is trifie; and
Just as my watch marked the quarter after
midnight, marched up the lane that led to
the house. They were early folks at the farm
early to bed, and early up. walked round
The house trying each door and window for an
entrance but each and every one was fastened.
It was of no consequence; my bedroom win-
low looked out upon the roof of the piazza
would not disturb the house by knocking a
Bit of climbing would do the business, and
should the window be fastened, would tap
md awaken Horace, who was my roommate
Ind bed-fellow. That thing was executed as
soon as thought of, and my hands on the win
low, which yielded, and stood in my own
.oom. By the moonlight which streamed in
saw that the bed was occupied, and by the