Year: 1866


miles from this city, lives Airs Overplus Hemp
dale, very worthy and wealthy lady, made a
widow by the careless shooting of some Federal
soldier who dropped the worthy Overplus
| Hempdale while he was manlully striving for
! his rights in company with old Pap Price.
Mrs Hempdae has a daughter Laura, a fair
young girl OF some nineteen summers, and pos
sessed of warm susceptible but true heart and
who, much to heI aristoeratic. mothers disgust,
lately conceived violent passion for young
house carpenter ia this city, famliarly known
as Jack Plaine. Now Jack is gay, dashing
young fellow, working like steam engine when
be does work, and sprceiog equally as hearty
when he is 'on it, very likely to catch the fancy
OF a warm-hearled, blooming young girl like
Laura, but not calculated to suit the old lady's
idea of a busband.> So Jack, after the first
visit was peremptorly forbid the house.


The aspect of our domestic relation did NOT
meet with approval Of either of the two young
folks, and a rebellion, to be prosecuted coverly,
was agreed upon instanter. Sundry candestine
meetings had been arranged at "a friends
house in this city which seemed to work pretty
well, but at last the old lady got wind Of the
matter, aud utterly forbid Miss Laura from le.v-
ing the house.


A month or two slipped by, and the fond
mother supposing the foolish attachment had
off, relaxed her vigilance, or seemed to,
yet all the while keeping pretty sharp eye on
Laura. After a while she detected certain
movements and proceedings that led her to sus-
pect that Laura was in communication with
Jack, and she resolved to resort to a ruse of
some kind to ascertain what shape things
taking; before she had quite determined what
manner Of proceeding to adopt, she was in
formed by neighbor that Jack and Laura had
arranged plan of e'opement Her mind was
quickly made up She announced to Laura the
next morning that she was going to Belvlle on
visit, to be gone three days, and that she must
be good girl and not tear the house down while
she was gone.


That night Jack knew of it, and as he read
the nice little note that bade him come over
early and stay until mother comes back, and
what sn6endid time We will have he smiled,
knocked the ashes off from his cigar, and re-
solved Of course be would.


Jack went over but there is 20 earthly use
in attempting to describe the delestabIe
things he enjoyed; it was sugar season on that
plantation, sure. Just before dusk, while Jack
was running over full of the glory of the occa-
sion, in rushes Miss Laura's black waiting wo
nfan with


Lor bress my brak soul, chin, eff yere aint
ole missus rite at the gate. Sure.'


My God! Dinah,, what shall we do with
jack


Pop EN- in dat ar closet, dar, Miss Laura!
and Jack was popped into the closet in twink
ling.


In walked the old lady, and after sharply
scrutinizing the disconcerted and blushing
countenance of Laura, felt sure that Jack had
oeen there.


Come mere, Laura. Now you can't deceive
me. That abominable Plaine has been here,
and you AID he have fixed up a runaway match,
to come off tonight Oh, you little thing, you,
after your bringing up, to treat me So But
you'll find your mother is fool You'll find
she's too sharp, for you, my lady. Sooner than
you should marry that miserable Jack Paine
I'd see you laid in your grave. He's not going
to squander my money, assure you


The old lady rose, and going to clothes
press returned with several comforters and a.
pillow, and walking up to the closet where Jack
was concealed, threw them with firt, and
turning to the trembling Laura, said:


sNow march in here, miss; step along! I'll
see that you don't get nowhere's near that low
flung mechanic this night y


Laura whimpered and protested that she
didn't want to, declaring that her mother would
be sorry for this some time


but WITHOUT paying any attention to ner pro-
testations, her mother gave her push, shut the
door; locked ~ and triumphaptIy put the key
in her pocket, and in due time went to bed
Pretty early in the morning the old lady rose,
and without waiting to dress, fshed the key out
of her pocket, and opening the closet door to
bid Laura come forth, gazed wildly for one in
slant, and then uttered piercing scream Re-
covering very speedily, she started away from
the door and called family, "LauEa, Laura, dear!
60 into the kitchen and see about the breakfast"
Then presently-Jack, say Jack"


Jack came forth with very 'sonin- law look
ing air, and answered, well madam, what is
it?


Jack, do you know anything about a farm!


Not to speak of, marnr


You read and write and cypher, Isup-
poser


Nothing to brag Of marmv


well at any rate, Jack, l think that after
breakfast you and Laura may as well go down
to the city and get married, for I'm tired of
watching you, that's fact


Be- A newspaper correspondent, describing
the costume of belle 1T a recent ball, says
"The Miss b, with that -epugnance to ostenta-
Har