Untitled

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 43, 7 April 1863, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Curious Pjpopjsition. — I was speading the night at an hotel m ifrueport, Illinois. After breakfast I came into the sitting room, where I met a ahatty good-humored traveller, who, like myself, was wailing for the morning train from Galena. We conversed freeiy and pleasantly on several topics until seeing two young ladies m jut and kiss eacli other m the street, the conversation turned on kissing, just about t.ie time the train was approaching. " Come." said he, taking up his carpet-bag, "since we are on so sweet a subject, let us have a practical application. I'll make a proposition to you. I'll agree to kiss the most beautiful lady m the cars from Galena, you being the judge, if you kiss the next, prettiest, 1 being the judge." The proposition staggered me a little, and I could hardly tell whether he was m. earnest or m fun, but as he would be as deep m it as I could possibly be, I agieed, provided he would do the first kissing, though my heart failed somewhat as I saw his black eye fairly sparkle with daring. " Yes,'" said he, " I'll try it first. You take the back cai, and go m from the front end, wliere you can see the faces of the ladie3, and you sumu by the one you think the handsouiesc, aud ill come m from behind and kiss her." I had hardly stepped inside of the car when [ saw at the first glaace one of the liveliest looking women my eye ever fell on. A beautiful blonde, with auburn hair, and a bright .sunny face, full of love aud sweetness, and as radiant and giowing as the morning. Any further search was totally unnecessary. I immediately took my stand m the inside of the car by her side. She was looking out ot'tUe window earnestly, as if expecting some one. The back door of the car opened, and m stepped my hotel ; friend. I pointed my ringer slyly to her, never dreaming that he would dare to carry out his pledge ; and you may imagine ray honor and amazement when he stepped up quickly* behind her, aud, stooping over, kissed her with a relish that "made my mouth water" from end to end. I expected of course a shriek of terror, and ihen a row generally, and a kuoi k down , but astonishment succeeded astonishment when I saw her return the kisses with compound interest. Quick as a flash he turned to me, and said, '• Now, Sir, it is your turn ;" and pointing to a hideously ugly, wrinkled old woman,, who satin the seat behind. "Oh, you must, excuse me ! you must excuse me !" I exclaimed. " I'm sold this time, 1 give. Do tell me who you have been kissing?" "Weil," said he, " since you are a man of so much taste and such quick perception, I'll let you off." And we all burst into a geneial peal of laughter as lie said, " this is my wife. I have beeu waiting here for ner. I knew that was a safe proposition." He told the story to his wife, who looked tenfold sweeter as she heard it. Before we reached Chicago we exohaiged cards, and I discovered that my genial companion was a popular Episcopalian prtsaclicr of Chicago whose name I had frequently heard. Whenever Igo to Chicago 1 alw<ty> go to hear him, and a heartier, more natural, or more eloquent preacher it is hard to find. He was then but a young man; he is now well known as one of the ablest divines of the Episcopalian denomination m the West."— - Hatjjcr's Nero Monthly. A friend was remonstrating with a raja young man on the absurdity of following foppish fashions. "They are really contemptit.le," said he, "and"! am sure all' whose* you must think you ridiculous." " I doa't value the opinion of the world," answenC j the irritated puppy, "I laugh at thoae wW\ think me ridiculous." " Then you muss -bit . the merriest man alive," was the rei ly, „ »