Year: 1863

That | became bachelor is rendered
unmistakably evident by the foregoing
caption. How became SO yen have yet
to learn, and my object in penuibg this
sketch is nd so much to inform what |
am so unfortunate, (or fortunate, as you
please, as to be, as it is to enlighten you
in regard as to how such came to be the
case, and hoping that it may prove sal
utary lesson to some reckless wight like
myself, will proceed without further
preface or preliminary.


1t was while on visit to an aunt of
niue in the town of c., that be-
came acquainted with Carrie ayburn, a
fine blooming maiden of eighteen sum
mers, with beautiful auburn hair, clear
bright eyes, small nose, and handsome
mouth, we'll studded with peary teeth,
IrivalliDg snow in their whlteness added
to these charms, faultless form and a
graceful carriage rendered her at once a
special object of attraction and admra-
tion ; her amiability and sweetness Of TEN
per made herr warm friends, while her
beauty of face and figure drew her hosts
Of suitors In short, she was, as | was
not long in discovering, the universal ad
mitted belle of the place.


Although | am not to say an extraor-
dinarily. susceptible individual, in the
gen eral acceptation Of the term, YET | will
admit that, ike all the rest of my class, |
have my weak points, and do not profess
to be SO entirely proof against the infu-
ence of female charms as to be incapable
of experiencing at times a curious and
somewhat undefnable sense of palpitation
in the region of the ribs, when in the
company of the fair sex; and as my ac-
quaintance with the charming Carrie re-
solved Itself into intimacy, and this, ere
long, began to ripen into stronger feeling,
| eventually began TO realize that | was
becoming enmeShed in a net of fascina
ton, from which desperate attempt was
necessary to extricate myself, and where
| had formerly sought her society for the
sake of chat wherewith to while away
the time, / now began to look upon her
in the light of an indispensable compan
paniou and at length as the time for my
return home drew near, l became aware
that unless she and | could make com-
promise one way or another, | must bid
farewell to happiness and make up my
mind to pass my future life in misery.
Actuated by these thoughts. and fearful
lest l should be forestaled by some one
or other of her admirers, and having also
the happy consciousness of being looked
upon by her in that light, was calculated
to be anything but discourageueat to my
hopes; in short feeling fully satisfied
that | was by far the most highly favored
of her gallants, | determined that before
[ took my leave Of c. I would know
my doom from her lips; consequently the
evening previous to the day fixed for my
return, called upon her, and met with
the usual cordial reception. | remained
for some time, and after considerable henl-
ing, and hesitation | Derved myself for
the desperate deed l was about to com


NIT. In the most fascinating manner |
asked her to be mine-to share with me
my future trials aud triumphs, reVerses
or successes, prosperity or adversely, joys
or sorrows as the case might be: | told
her | was poor and had yet to gain a
name and position IN the world, but that