Bundling; Its Origin, Progress and Decline in America by Henry Reed Stiles
page 61 of 89 (68%)
page 61 of 89 (68%)
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well looking that if I went so far back in the country I should be
very much admired and flattered, and have as many lovers as I could wish for. I find it all true. The people here are remarkably kind and attentive to me; they seem to think that I must be something more than common because I have always lived so near Portland. "'But I must tell you that since I have been here I have had a beau. You must know that the young men, _in particular_, are very attentive to me. Well, among these is _one_ who is considered the finest young man in the place, and well he may be--he owns a good farm, which has a large barn upon it, and a neat two story house, all finished. These are the fruits of his own industry; besides he is remarkably good looking, is very large but well-proportioned, and has a good share of what I call real manly beauty. Soon after my arrival here I was introduced to this man--no, not _introduced_ neither, for they never think of such a thing here. They all know me of course, because I am a _stranger_. Some days, three, four, or half a dozen, call to see me, whom I never before saw or heard of; they come and speak to me as if I were an old acquaintance, and I converse with them as freely as if I had always known them from childhood. In this kind of a way I got acquainted with my beau, that _was_; he was very attentive to me from our first meeting. If we happened to be going anywhere in company he was sure to offer me his arm--no, I am wrong again, he never offered me his arm in his life. If you go to walk with a young man here, instead of offering you his arm as the young men do up our way, he either takes your hand in his, or passes one arm around your waist; and this he does with such a provoking, careless honesty, that you cannot for your life be offended with him. Well, I had walked with my Jonathan several times in this kind of style. I confess there was something in him I could |
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