2
Ijc imc0, Htm Bloomficl JJa.
MR. DAWSON'S " PROPOSAL."
UY F. PELACY.
"T'LL do it t for I never before saw n
X lady who pleased mo so much !
If on further acquaintance I continue my
good opinion of her I will marry her
thut is if she will have tno "
Such was the soliloquy of llnbert Daw
son, who was a wealthy broker in the city
of New York, nnd who was generally
looked upon as a con firmed old bachelor,
m he had arrived at tho mature ago of
forty-eight years, and had never been in
love, or had any inclination to marry.
Not that ho was opposed to matrimony,
but ho had a dread of fortune hunters,
and was fearful if any one did consent
to marry him, it would bo for his money,
as most of his acquaintances knew that
he was rich.
Our readers must not think from this,
however, that Mr. Dawson had no other
good qualities to recommend him, for
though nearly fifty, he looked much
younger, and was what would bo called a
fine-looking man, and was really a man of
strict integrity and a worthy citizen.
The evening previous he had attended
a party where ho had been introduced to
a young lady named Helen Norton, who
was in tho city on a visit to somo of her
friends, and had therefore accompanied
them to the party. During the evening
Mr. Dawson and Miss Norton had been
together quite often, and each fecmed
well pleased with tho other. The conse
quence was that ho had nsked and re
ceived permission to call on her and con
tinue tho acquaintance so agreeably com
menced. II o had been thinking over tho pleas
ant evening he had spent, and well knew
to whom be was indebted for the most of
that pleasure, and had coino to tho con
clusion that Miss Norton was the woman
ho had been waiting for so many years,
f ti order to make sure that if she mar
ried him it would not bo for his money,
ho had just determined to ask tho friend
who had introduced him, to see tho lady
and convey to her tho impression that he
was a clerk iu a broker's ollice, and though
in receipt of a good salary, was entirely
dependent on that for his support.
Having come to 1 1 is conclusion ho
makes the remark with which our story
opens.
In order to carry out his purpose, he at
onco called on his friend, and asked aid,
which was readily promised, and in pur
suancs of tho promise ho was to call
that evening at Mr. Johnson's residence,
where Miss Norton was stopping, and
during the conversation was to bring in
Mr. Dawson's name, and leave tho desired
impression.
Thus far all was satisfactory, and Daw
son waited with considerable impatience
for ho had taken a most decided liking
to tho lady until ho thought it would
do for him to call.
As I have previously said, Mr. Dawvdu
had arrived at tho mature ago of forty
eight years. Now, I have noticed that
when a person gets pretty well along in
years without having tho measles, the at
tack is usually more severe than if it ap-
fieared at an earlier period in lifo, and a
ove attack appears to work much the
same way. Of course I can't tell why
this is so, but that fact accounts for the
impatience of our friend Dawson.
At the time he had concluded that he
could, without exhibiting too much im
patience, make his call, Mr. Dawson
dressed himself with unusual euro, and
proceeded to Mr. Johnson's rcsidonce.
lie passed a eouplo of hours very agree
ably, and was surprised wheu he looked
at the watch to find that he had staid so
long. Tho only drawback to the pleasure
of his visit being the presence of the
other ladies, whoui lie wished were in the
moon or any other far off locality, rather
than in the parlor, where they so persist
ently staid. .
For several weeks .Mr. Dawson was a
frequent visitor at Mr. Johnson's, but for
some reason had never yet been able to
see Miss Norton except iu tho presence of
others, as all the ladies of the house seem
ed to think his visits as much for them as
for the lady for whom they were really in
tended. About this timo Mr. Dawson had been
urged to join a gentleman, living in a
distant part of the city, in an enterprise
which promised a liberal return, provided
the required amount of capital was in
vested. This subject ho had promised
to consider, and having done so, and be
ing sutisficd that it would prove a " pav
ing investment," had decided to notify
his friend of the decision. 1
He accordingly wrote a note to him
reading as follows:
" I have thought seriously over the mat
ter, and have concluded thut we can form
a partnership that will be mutually satta
factory. I should bo glad to bear C ora you
ou the subject, or you can call at my oflioe,
wnero we can quieuy taia over mo matter
Yonrs respectfully,
Hoiikiit Dawson."
The evening provious to writing this
loiter, m r. Jiawson had again called on
his lady-love, but as usual, had no onnor
tuuity to speak to her alono. He had
beon thinking that he should have to
write to her, and aa he closed up his let
ter intended for Mr. Christie, had actu
ally addressed it to miss Morton, and do
posited it without uoticiug tho mistake,
in the boi (Containing letters for the of
fice. These the office boy bad mailed, so
that Miss Norton actually received a
"proposal" from Mr. Dawson, although
it was unknown to him.
As sho read tho lottcr her faco showed
both surpriso and pi unsure. Surprise at
tho wording of' the letter, while yet sho
was pleased, ns sho could look upon it in
no other light than a proposal for mar
riage, and if tho truth was told, Miss
Norton had a high regard for Mr. Daw
son and had secretly hoped for such a
proposal. A lettor of that kind from any
other source would havo met with a dif
ferent reception; but from him, knowing
that ho was " peculiar," thesingularity of
it was overlooked, and afier a long con
sideration, she sent him this reply :
"Mr. Dawson, Dear Sir Your rather
singular letter is at hand, and iu reply, al
low mo to say, that I havo no objection to
a discussion of tho "partnership" suggest
ed, if you feel disposed to call on mo for
that purpose. Yours respectfully,
IIei.kk Nouton."
Tho receipt of this letter was a great
surpriso to Mr. Dawson, and it was some
timo beforo ho could, in any manner, com
prehend it. J'ut at last, after puzzling
over it for several hours, the contents of
tho letter intended for Mr. Chrystic, flash
ed into his mind, and at nncc he knew
that by some moans Miss Norton had re
ceived that letter. From tho tone of
her note, ho folt sure sho considered it a
" jiropnxal," as, in fact, she could put no
other construction on his letter, and was
also confident that she was prepared to
givo him a favorablo answer. But what
troubled him the most was, that sho must
form a singular opinion of him to think
ho would make a proposal to the woman
ho loved in such terms.
A low hours later found Mr. Dawson
entering tho parlor of Mr. Johnson's res
idence, ami to his great delight no per
son was present but Miss Norton. She
welcomed him in a cordial manner while
ho hastened to explain in regard to the
letter, mid tho partnership intended iu
that caso to be formed. ' But," said ho,
" you can easily seo who was in my
thoughts when I directed tho letter, and
from tho kindly manner in which you an
swered it, I will take tho liberty of pro
posing a partnership which shall end
only with our lives."
That the proposal met her approbation
is rendered certain by the fact that n few
weeks later Robert Dawson, bachelor,
was changed to Hubert Dawson, benecHcb,
There is no doubfl but wfcat this paVt-
nership proved mutually satisfactory, and
that it was a paying investment is readily
proved by quite a number of littlo Daw-
sons.
Elcctrl
in
c Juke.
Some weeks ago, ono of those illegiti
mate sons of science, the vagrant electric
man, opened out with his dial for testing
how niuoh torture his voluntary victims
could stand. To stimulate trade, ho kept
a standing offer to pay 85 to whomever
could stand as much electric fluid as his
machine would furnish. One day a boy
presented himself and annonnccd that he
had come to win that 85. The man
handed him the " handles," and started
tho machine. Tho boy stood it wonder
fully: Tho operator turned the crank
faster,' and asked tho boy how it felt
Tho boy said it did not feel at all. The
man thought that something must be the
matter, and commenced an elaborate
tightening up of the screws, and then
commenced another series of swift revo
lutions, which ought to havo produced
a current sufficient to kill the boy; still
he laughingly assured the fellow that he
did not. experience the slightest sensation
Out of patiouco, tho man domanded to
see his hands aud then the secret was ex
plained. The boy belonged to the tele
graph office, and had picked up one of
tho pieces of insulated wiro now being put
up inside tho olhce, and had passed it up
ono slecvo of his coat, around his shoul
ders', and down the other sleeve, und then
uncovered the ends of the wires in each
handi Thus armed, he had gone to the
electric man : of course, the uncovered
ends of the wire, pressed against tho me
tallio handles, presented a better medium
than the boy's body.and the current simply
passed to them and ulong 'tho insulated
wiro around the boy's body, without
touching him. That " elcotricim" was
very mud, and more so as the crowd drawri
together thought it a good joke, and
tooK tlie boy s part, i I ho. man was so
laughed at that he left town. :
JsaJ-A gentleman playing at cards ut
iiadeu-Jiadun was much annoyed by an
inquisitive stranger, who stood beside him
and pried into his hand. At last ho took
a pinch of snuff aud administered it to
his tormentor, immediately sayiug, ' 1
beg your pardon, but you were so near me
sir, that I mistook your uose for mine." ,
lay It is said that the following words
actually formed the peroratiou of the
counsel's plea for his clieut iu an assault
and battery case in Athens, Alabama :
" Let the humble ass crop the thistle of
the valley ; hot the sagacious gout browse
upon tho mountain's Crow, but, geullu
uicnof the jury, I say John (Juiidlo- is
not guilty."
ttsff" A coquette is said to be a perfect
incarnation of Cupid, because she keeps
her beau in a quiver. . -
A Reminiscence of General Scolt.
ONK evening after our rubber 1 said
to tho (icnoral, " There is ono ques
tion I havo often wished to ask you, but
havo been restrained by the fear that it
might bo improper." Tho General drew
himself up, and said in his emphatic nian-
uor, " bir, you are incupublo ot asking an
improper question." 1 said, " You aro
very kind ; but if my inquiry . is indis
creet I am sure you will allow it to pass
unanswered. " 1 hear you, oir, ho re
plied. " Well, thou, General, did any
thing remarkable happen to you on tho
morning of tho battlu of Chippewa?"
After a brief but inipressivo silence ho
said, " Yes, sir ; something did happen to
me somothing very remarkable. I will
now for tho third time in my life relate
tho story :
" Tho 4th day of July, ISlt, was ono
ofcxtrcmo heat. Ou that day my bri
gade skirmished with a British force com
manded by General Kiall frpin an early
hour iu the morning till late iu the after
noon. We had driven tho enemy down
the river somo twelve miles to Street's
Creek, near Chippewa, where wo encamp
ed for tho night, our army occupying tho
west, wlule that of the enemy was en
camped ou tho east side of the creek.
After our tents had been pitched I observ
ed a tla" borne by a man iu peasant's
dress, approaching my marque. lie
brought a letter from a lady who occupied
a large mansion on the opposite side of the
creek, informing mo that sho was tho
wilb of a member of I'arlimcnt, who was
then at Quebec ; that her children, ser
vants, and a young lady friend wcro ulonc
with her in the house; that Genera! Kiall
had placed a sentinel before her door;
and that she ventured, with great doubt
of tho propriety of tho request, to ask
that 1 would place a sentinel upon the
bridge to protect her against stragglers
from our camp. 1 assured tho messenger
that the lady's request should he complied
with.
Early the next morning tho same mes
senger, bearing a white flag, reappeared
with a note from tho same lady, thanking
mo for tho protection sho had enjoyed,
adding that in acknowledgment of my
civilities, sho begged that I would, with
such members of my staff as 1 choso to
bring with me, accept the hospitalities of
her house at breakfast, which had bceu
prepared with considerable attention, and
was quite ready. Acting upon an impulso
which I havo uevcr been ablo to analyze
or comprehend, I called two of my aids,
Lieutenants Worth and AVatts, aud re
turned with the messenger to the mansion
already indicated Wo met our hostess
at tho door, who ushered us into tho din
ingroom, whero breakfast awaited us, and
where the young lady previously referred
to was already seated by the cofleo urn.
Our hostess, asking to bo excused for a
few minutes, retired, aud tho young lady
immediately served our cofleo.
Before we had brokcu our fast Lieute
ant Watts rose from the table to get his
bandana (that being beforo tho days of
napkins), which ho had left in his cup on
the sido-tublo by the window, glancing
through which he saw Indians approach
ing the house on one sido, and red coats
approaching it on the other, with an evi
dent purpose of surrounding it aud us,
and instantly exclaimed, " General, we
are betruyed !' Springing from the table
aud clearing the house, I saw our daugcr,
aud remembering Lord Chesterfield' had
said, " Whatever it is proper to do, it is
proper to do well," and as wo had to run,
and niy legs wero longer than those of
my companions, I soon outstripped them.
As wo made our escape wo wero fired at,
but got across tho bridge iu safety.
" I felt so much shume and mortifica
tion at having so nearly fallen iuto a trap,
that I could scarcely fix my miud upou
the duties which now demanded my un
divided attention.- I knew that I .had
committed a great indiscretion iu accept
ing that singular invitation, and that if
any disaster resulted from it I richly de
served to lose both my commission and
character. 1 constantly found my solf
wondering whether tho ludy really intend
ed to betray us,or whether we hud peen uo
cidentally observed.' The question would
recur even amidst tho excitement of battlu.
Fortunately uty prepuce aud services iu
the field were nut required until Geucruls
Toiler and lliplcy had been euguged at
intervals for, several hours; so that when
my brigade, with Towson's artillery, were
ordered to cros Street's Creek my nerves
and coiitidcuce hud become uicusurubly
quieted and restored. 1 need uot describe
the buttle of Chippewu. Thut belougs to
and is a part of the history of our country.
It is authcicut to say thut ut the close of
the day we were musters of the position,
and thut our anus were in no wuy dis
credited. The British army had fallen
back, leaving their wounded in our pos
session. -
The iiium-ioii which I had visited in
the morning wus the largest house near,
and to thut the wounded officers iu both
armies were carried ' tor surgieal treat
ment. As soou as I could leave the field
I went over to look after my wounded.
I found tho Kuglish officers lyiug on the
first-floor, and our owu ou the floor above.
I saw, in the lower room the young ludy
whom I bad met in tho morning at the
breudfusl-luble, her white drossall sprink
led with blood , She 'bad been attending
to the British wounded. Oo the second
floor, ju6t os I was turning into tho room
whore our officers were, I met my hostess.
"Ono glance at her was quito sufficient
to answer the question which I had boon
asking myself all day. Sho had intend
ed to betray me, and nothing but the ac
cident of my aid rising for his handker
chief saved us from capture.
" Years afterward, in reflecting upon
this incident, I was led to doubt whether
I had not misconstrued her startled man
ner as I suddenly encountered her- That
unexpected meeting would havo occasion
ed embarrassment in cither contingency;
and it is so difficult to believe a lady of
cultivation and refinement capabloof such
an act, that I am now, nearly half a cen
tury after tho event, disposed to givo my
hostess the benefit of that doubt.
" And now, Sir," added the General,
" this is tho third time in my lifo I have
told this story. I do not remember to
havo been spoken to before ou the subject
for many years." IIo looked at mo, and
seemed to bo considering with himself a
few moments, and then said: " Remem
bering your intimacy with General Worth,
I need not inquiro how you camo to a
knowledge of our secret."
"Well, General," I replied, " 1 have
kept tho secret faithfully for more than
forty years, always hoping to obtain your
own version of what struck mo as a most
remarkable incident in your military life."
One of Sheridan's Jukes.
" Sheridan was fond of practical jokes,
one of which he played off upon tho Duke
of Devonshire. Sheridan was in tho
habit of frequenting Dolly's chop-house,
whero ho generally called for deviled
shin-bone of beef. Ono day, coming in
rather later than usual, he was told that
tho only shin-bone in tho larder was being
cooked for bis grace tho Duke of Devon
shire. Sheridan, who knew tho duke's
person, though not acquainted with him.
took a seat within ear-shot of him and
began a conversation with a friend in a
loud tone of voice. ' I always imagin
ed," said ho, that Dolly's chop-house
was one of the neatest establishments in
London, but I made a discovery this
morning which has convinced me that I
was mistaken. J ho Duko listened to
him very attentively. " As I was passing
tho kitchen window," continued Sheridan,
" I observed a turnspit boy greedily gnaw
ing a shin-bone of beef Presently one
of tho cooks ran up to him, and giving
him a blow on tho neck, compelled him
to drop his prizo. " You dirty littlo
rascal," said tho cook, " couldn't you find
nothing else to oat? Here l'vo got to
cook this bouo for the Duko of Devon
shire." Soon after tho conclusion of this
tale, a waiter entered tho room, and ad
vanced to his grace, with a covered dish.
" Your bono, sir!" "Tako it away," roar
ed tho duke, with a face of great disgust,
" 1 can't touch a morsel of it." " Stay,
waiter!" said Sheridan, humbly; bring it
to me. If his grace can't cut . it, I can.
Fetch mo a bottle of claret I don't wish
a better luncheon."
Marrying In Fun.
Or a recent eveninir. ns a social party
was gathered on Ida Hill, a young lady
and gentleman who were betrothed,
thought for the amusement ol the cotu
psny, they would go through the mar
riage ceremony in fun a sort of rehear
sal. A gentleman present agreed to take
the part of tho minister, and did so in
fine style. Immediately at the conclusion
of tho mock murriago a young ludy nudg
ed her partner, who was sitting beside
her, and said, " Let ns bo married iu
fun." " All right," replied tho gont, aud
up they stood.. One of the gentlomen
happened to be a Justice, und it struck
him that ho could make a butter job of it
tliau the young man who had just person
ated the minister. He accordingly offer
ed to marry the couple " iu fun." They
acceded, aud lie performed tho entire
ceremony, concluding by declaring the
couple ' man aud wife. Tho thought
that the marriage had been legally per
formed, flashed upon tho minds of tho
eouplo, and tho Justico very cooly ex
plained the mutter, and said thut ho was
ready for a fee. Upon tho circumstances
nothing could bo dono but to yield to
circumstances, and the newly married
couple being willing, they adopted tho
tinulity of the tun, and invited all bunds
round to a" reception." May they never
have occasion to repent.: :
How to get a , Dinner.
AGKXTLHMAX. who had traveled
about pretty extensively was great
ly perplexed to understand how it was
that other persons wero waited upon
promptly and well served at the hotels,
while ho was almost entirely ignored, and
could scarcely obtain a square meal, com
plain to and swear at tho' waiters as ho
might. At hist his eyes were ojiened to
the dodge of feeing tho waiters liberally,
and being of ingenious turn id' miud, ho
determined to Improve on the plan.
The next hotel he dined at, be took
his seat very pompously at the table, and
took out a well filled pocket-book, extract
ed therefrom a ten dollar bill, which he
laid on tho whito cloth beside his plate,
and placed his goblet upon it. In an in
stant almost ho was surrounded by wait
ers, who seemed to vie with each other in
attention. Every wish was anticipated,
and all the delicacies of the kitchen und
pantry wero placed beforo him in tempt
ing array.
Having fared as sumptuously as a prince
to the envy of many of tho guests
ho took up tho greenback, and beckoning
to tho nearest waiter, was immediately
besieged by a half a dozen or so. Hold
ing tho bill in one hand, ho poiuted to
it with tho other, and inquired of the
crowd :
" Do you seo that bill ?"
" Oh, yes, sir," thoy all excluimod in
chornus.
"Then tako a good look at it." ho re
plied, " for you will never sco it again."
Saying which ho departed from the room,
leaving tho waiters aghast.
BANKING HOUSE
OK
Jay Cooko & Co.,
If' AND 114 SOUTH TI1IHD STREET,
Philadelphia,
UKAI.UItS IV ALT,
GOVERNMENT SECURITI ES.
CI I 5-liOs Wsiiit !
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A LIBERAI, DIFFERENCE ALLOWED.
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INTEREST ALLOWED ON DEPOSITS.
rT COLECTIONS made j STOCKS bought
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83ST" S I'ECI A I, business accommodations re
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1V .samples mailed tree. A.J.Fuu.AM.N.V.Gm
A GREAT OFFER.
HORACE WATERS,
Xo. -1S1 ISroadwny, New York
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FLORIDA.
rriie Hnly oi .Viiierloji.
IT IS nnt excelled In Cmvatk by any of th
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:t t 1AIJIC now, IV. Y.
NEW YOKK AND FLORIDA COLONY. I
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