The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 3, November, 1834Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 3, November, 1834
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
Day after day, go when you would, and peep into that passage, you would
find Tim's new beaver hanging upon the same hook, and these two young
innocents sitting side and side, cheek and joke, feasting on each
others' eyes.
Tim would sometimes talk of the future, and develop his little schemes
for their mutual happiness; but if ever he touched upon that most
delicate of all subjects, the ascertainment of the period when their
two hearts were to be linked indissolubly together, all the delicacy of
the female character would instantly be aroused, and little Molly, in a
playful mood, would sing out "time enough yet, time enough yet."
Matters remained in this unsettled condition, our friend Tim still
enduring the same uncertainty, living in that half delightful, half
vexatious state which totally unfits a man for any occupation, unless
it be "breathing soft music through a mellow pipe." Our friend thought
more than once 'twas time these scenes should be ended: accordingly he
determined to inform his good mother of his happy prospects, as a
prelude to his future movements. Many ineffectual efforts were made,
but it was a delicate business. How to commence these soft narrations
has puzzled more heads than one. He had given the old lady repeated
chances to help him out, by sly hints and inuendoes, but she would
never perceive what he was driving at. The truth was, she had selected
in her own mind a most eligible match for her son, and she could not
believe he was so blind as not to discover its advantages. Money was
the foundation upon which that edifice was to be erected; but Tim, poor
fellow, belonged to an ill-fated family. Not one of his ancestors had
ever married other than a poor girl, from the remotest antiquity, and
he had a sentimental notion of such affairs, that would forever exclude
the idea of his marrying a rich one, whatever other qualifications she
might possess.
At length, Tim succeeded in getting his mother safely cornered, the
door shut and no one else present. Walking backwards and forwards for a
minute or two, he stopped suddenly, as if he was about to commence. The
old lady was knitting away by the fire. Instead of commencing, Tim
walked to a chair as if he was about placing it close along side and
stating the whole case like a man; but turning about, he deliberately
sat the chair in the corner and folded his arms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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