Year: 1870

young gentleman Of prcpossessing ap.
/ pearance and agreeable manners, who
not many months ago became smii,en
by the charms Of a blooming daugh.
tcrof a near ncighbor, a well to do iar.
mcr and after several weeks Of unre.
mitling attention succeeded In touch.
ing responsive cord in tho suscepti.
bic heart Of the fair damsel. aud gain.
cd her blushing consent TO become his
wife. So far so good And had il
not been for an unfortunate incident
that


"Rudely snapped the cord 10 twain
That bound their hearts together"


the same might be said Of them that
has been said of thousands Of other
foolish boys and girls, namely, they
met, courted, and were married. But
an adverse fate had otherwise order.
ed, and our hero was destined only
100 soos to have his cup of bliss
changed into the bitterness of gall and
wormwood. As soon as their engage
ment had received the sanction of the
old folks, preparations were made on
an extensive scale to have the nuptial
ceremonies and the festivities attend.
ant thereupou conducted in a STYLE in
keeping with their elevated positions
IN society. Time passed on apace
with the happy pair, and the eventful
morn that was TO witness the happy
consummation Of their tondest hopes
drew nigh, when, alas the unfortu-
nate incident occurred that put an end
60 their pleasant dreams and delight
~ '.'.stSits..sf0u-. 0nO uovu On
ly a few days before the auspicious
hour, our young friend concluded that
he would enjoy refreshing bath in a
creek that ran within a short distance
of bis home. Acting upon the thought,
he weDded his way to where large
magnolia stood near the bank of the
pelucid stream, and divesting himself
Of his clothing, was soon disporting
in the limpid waters. Suddenly
sound broke upon his ear Hark,
twas the ripple, not of the water, but
of a silvery laugh and peering eau
tiously above the bank, what was his
horror TO see his fair inamorata, &c
companied by a female friend, not
more than one hundred yards distant,
and slowly approaching the spot
where he stood lin all his loveliness
revealed" Here was a predicament
indeed If he remained where he
was the ladies would be sure TO see
him, and if he sought safety in fight
il was equally impossible for him 10
escape detection. What should he
do? Ah, happy thought there was a
tree, and if he could only manage to
climb that unobserved he might Sc
crete himself among the branches, and
the thick moss and leaves


"With friendly guise


Would hide his form from prying eyes"


No sooner said than done, and be-
ing careful to keep the body of the
tree between himself and the girls,
our young friend, in less time than it
takes to write it, was snugly slowed
away in the top of the tree, and wait
ing very impaliently for the young
ladies TO 90 by. Unfortunately, how
ever, in the hurry and excitement of
the moment, be forgot his clothes,
which, lying on the bank, attracted
the attention of the girls, and, with
the provcrbinl curiosity Of their sex,
they must come nearer TO see if they
could not unravel the seeming mys-
terry Approaching the foot of the
tree they soon discovered what the
mysterious bundle was, and became
lost IN conjecture as TO how mans
clothing, without the man. should
happen to be IN that sequestered spot.
They gave free play 10 their imagina-
tions and their tongues, and not few
were the jokes and laughs in which
they INDUCED while submitting the
garments TO a critical examination -
Matters, however, did not look 80 fun
ny to our "man up the tree" and
fearful OF being discovered. he resolv-
ed to change bis base and secure a
better position In doing this be in
advcrtcntly threw his whole weight
on q dead llmh, and m the twlnkling
of an eye he came down with thun.
doring crash and lay sprawling on his
back right between the startled girls.
There were two piercing shriells, n
smothered oath, aud hastily picking
himself up, the poor follow fed with
all possible speed in one direction,
while the young ladies were equally
as nimble in getting away from so
dreadful a sight in another Return
ing after the coast was clear our hero
resumed his clothing, and straight
way went to his home, where, shortly
after, a note was handed him from bis
tiancc, declaring their engagement to
be at end. If any OF our readers are
spelling for fight, they can easily
be accommodated by asking that
young gentleman to 60 baihing,-Er