2 SIMON FLATS COURTSHIP. 



MX UK iii\s luller Uuui himself, that it opened his heart to tlie sensi- 

 bilities of love, and made such an impression upon her feelings, that 

 her affections were set on fire immediately by the electricity of poor 

 Shnon's peepers. # 



Weeks and months passed away, and found these lovers enjoyiug 

 their houi*s of bliss in perfect tranquillity, with but one exception, 

 namely, that from his poj)ularity among the children of the ])lace, he 

 was often shouted after, which rather affected his pride; and many 

 are the times that he has bid his fair one 



" Lead on, lead on, 

 While these youngsters have gone" 



And then would he make an attack upon the miniature troops, and 

 make them scamper in all directions. 



But these comforts were not of long continuance. His betrothed, 

 from some circumstance or other, removed to a distance of twelve 

 miles. Some say it was to escape the brawlings of schoolboys ; 

 others, that it was for the benefit of her health, it being her native 

 place : she went, however, and left a mighty impression upon poor 

 snip's feelings : he felt deserted and alone, whilst all around looked 

 happy ; and as the gloom of melancholy settled upon him, he wept, 

 because the only individual who admired him had " left him alone 

 in his glory." 



In the present stage of the story, Simon often meditated, and 

 wished to biing his thoughts to an anchor, in order to decide upon 

 what course to adopt. To give her up was the wreck of his feelings; 

 to walk twelve miles was a penance of no joke ; and in connection 

 with the latter were many things which seemed to bear against him — 

 the ^ta'e of the weather, snowing and blowing — the roughness 

 of the road — and again, the anticipation of what kind of a 

 reception he would have, as he had heard that her friends had issued 

 a proclamation that no lovers would be admitted ; nevertheless he 

 determined to go. The day fixed was the approaching Saturday ; 

 the hour, immediately he had made his draw ; and the conveyance, 

 his own patent shanks. In the interim, Simon did as all others do — 

 lived upon hope, and, like a child expecting Sunday, counting how 

 many times he had to go to bed, and how often to get up ; until at 

 length the long looked for day arrived, clothed in a dark and dreaiy 



