CHAPTER XLIX. "Amor vincit omnia" "Love laughs at locksmiths!" OUR present chapter treats of love and matrimony. Doubtless it has occurred to the reader, that John Glenville is yet a bachelor and ought to be looking out for a wife. Now, although John was never overhead and ears in love, he yet was always falling into it-knee deep at least; but as yet, he had never found anybody for helpmeet, though several were disposed to be help-mates. My friend had, indeed, often gone "a gallin" among our log-cabin beauties; and sometimes received answers so serious to his sportive questions as to make his backing out very difficult and ungraceful. For instance, he once accompanied Peggy home from a night meeting; and on reaching the cabin she paused a moment by the wood pile, when John playfully said : "Well, Peggy, I've a notion to go in and court awhile, what do you say to it?" Well-maybe you mought and maybe you moughtn't—” "Hey?!" "Perhaps somebody else is gallin down here ?" "Prehaps thar is, and prehaps thar isn't." "Awh! come Peggy do tell me." Here Peggy looked down in some perplexity, as balancing uncertainties, and after kicking up a large heap of chips with the toe of her shoe, she seemed to have arrived at the conclusion-" a bird in the hand," &c.—and, therefore modestly answered :— “Well! John-I'm a kinder sorter courted like, and a kinder sorter not like,-but I'm more a kinder sorter not, nor a kinder sorter--and I allow you'd better step in and see daddy; tain't late--although mammy's in bed." Of course, John got out as awkwardly as we end his ad venture. But once Glenville was caught more effectually and much more to his surprise; and yet, he backed out with some ingenuity. The lady, however, had ultimately her revenge. He was on a visit of business in an adjoining state, when he was invited by the celebrated Mr. Brown to spend a few days at his house. Here he became naturally interested in Miss Brown, the daughter-a young lady of some beauty, of much good nature, of good talents, and mistress of many useful acquirements beside several ornamen. tal branches. In an unguarded moment, John sportively popped the question, or rather popped at the question, by wondering how Miss B. would like to live in a cabin with such a Hoosier as himself; to which Paddy's hint, Miss B. too seriously intimated that Mr. G. had better consult her father on such points. Now, genero s reader, Glenville was by no means ready to forsake father and mother at that time; and the cabin alluded to, was so open and unchincked, that poverty could easily enough have crept in all around, and love gone flying out through an hundred crevices in addition to the doors and window. In plain English, the fellow was too poor to ask any woman to share his poverty; unless she belonged to the Range, was used "to chinkin and daubin, and to makin huntin shirts and lether brich's" hence after musing on the affair the whole night, he seized an opportunity the next morning of renewing with Miss B. the colloquy of the previous afternoon. In this he painted in true colours, the cheerlessness of his rude cabin and his half hunter's life, and the privations and sufferings to which such a man's wife would necessarily be subjected; and then, with some ingenuity, (certainly with some boldness,) he wished to know if such a man ought to ask any kind parent, in affluent circumstances, to send away an amiable and beloved daughter. To his relief, Miss B., with a slight betrayal of surprise, -(John said " mortification,")-agreed with him; but after this his situation was so awkward, that he left Mr. Brown's mansion that very day. Here, therefore, is another procf that some things can be done as well as others; and while this affair is not quite so odd as that of Deerslayer and Judith, yet it shows the difference between truth and fiction. Well, the present winter, Glenville being often on visits to Woodville, and circumstances existing to alter cases, we frequently rallied the bachelor on his courtships; and more than once, in full assembly, voted that he must and should forthwith go and find a wife. To all this, he opposed the stale replies, that he was too old now-could find nobody to suit him-and that such as would suit would not have him,-till at last he consented, if I could find the proper person, and persuade her to have him, he would marry. Accordingly, one night after such a discussion, Glenville and myself sat alone by the fire, when the following talk went on in continuation of the subject: "But, Glenville, are you really serious?" "Yes, Carlton, I am really serious." "Still, you would not marry if you did not love?" "Well-I'm not quite so sure there. At all events, I shall easily love any girl you will choose-especially if you choose Miss Brown.” “Come, John, be candid-did you ever truly love her?” "More, perhaps, than I ever loved any one before, or ever shall again.' "And why did you back out so foolishly?" "For the very reasons I have a thousand times told you. I was too poor-my home too utterly dreary to take such a girl to—and if I had ever dreamed my jesting manner would have been mistaken, I should have been far enough from trifling with her " "Suppose she had seemed willing next morning?" "I would have consulted her father, unquestionablybut for the daughter's sake, I should have regretted his consent." 66 Well, Glenville, what do you say to Miss Smythe ?— I think she feels tender towards you." "She would do:—and with a little practice I should love her as well as most men love their wives. But Carlton, the Squire has been cutting round there the last six months, and 99 "No odds-suppose you try?" "Willingly, if I thought there was any chance; but, in the first place, maybe she's engaged-next, maybe she might not want me and so I do not like to lose my time and run risk, and "Tut! tut!-you need not waste any time; for I'll write a love-letter for you; and as to the other objection, I'll bet a coon skin you're too modest, and the girl, if disengaged, will have you." "Carlton!—will you write such a letter? If you will, I'll deliver it." 66 “Done!—and I'll write you as many more as you like." Suppose, then, you do another for Miss Brown? and so I shall have two snaps." Agreed-when shall I do them?" Any time between this and next Saturday. I shall be in Woodville then, you know-so 'tis settled,-come, I'm tired, let's go to bed." The two letters were duly concocted, the first one to be delivered to Miss Smythe,* the other, in case of the first failing, was to be sent to Miss Brown; but if Miss S. was disengaged and smiled propitious, John was, to all intents and purposes, a married man; and Miss Brown was to have no opportunity of revenge. The letter for Miss Smythe was as follows: "Miss E. A. SMYTHE, "A knowledge of your character, derived from mutual friends, from the opinion of all your acquaintances, and also from a somewhat intimate personal acquaintance, induces me to believe that such a lady would fill the vacancy in my domestic establishment most perfectly and delightfully :although I am not vain enough to suppose Miss Smythe will necessarily feel herself flattered by such a preference on the part of the writer. As, however, Miss S. on better acquaintance, might become interested in him—more so at least than he fears she is at present-he very respectfully, yet most earnestly, craves permission to pay his addresses in person. 66 Very truly, your humble servant, "JOHN GLENVILLE." The letter to Miss Brown, or rather for her, as it was addressed to the father, was this : "My dear sir, "In a playful conversation on a subject so common when unmarried persons meet, your daughter, Miss Brown, in a * She was distantly related to the Smiths in the city, and the r kins. folks the Smythes. |