OR, THE AVORLD HAS CHANGED. 131 



THE VICTIM. 



r HAD profited by experience; my second effort was adroitly 

 and ably managed — was an eminent and triumphant suc- 

 cess in every particular. I had now reached the more mature 

 age of twenty-six years, and had become more rational in 

 many respects; and while it still gives me pleasure to crow 

 over this victory, I want to tote fair, and right here make the 

 acknowlegment that my victim was captured at the tender 

 and inexperienced age of fifteen, and of course more suscept- 

 ible than one more advanced in maidenhood. This avowment, 

 I am aware, will detract a part of the glory, but I have still 

 enough left to mako me feel comfortable, and, besides, after 

 the lapse of thirty-five brief years, have got the old girl to- 

 boot. 



I had long ago become reconciled to my first disaster, had 

 now and then sparred a little among the girls, but nothing 

 serious had occurred. Now I began to realize the need of a 

 help-mete; wanted a good wife, craved the refining influences 

 of a good woman, to pare away the rougher protuberances of 

 my nature. I caught the idea from the poet Tuj^per, and want 

 him to have the credit of it — to pray for a wife, to pray ior a 

 good wife, just such a wife as the Good Lord knew I needed. 

 I did ])ray in faith, believing, and watched for; and to-be-sure 

 my player was answered in such an especial manner, to my 

 mind, as to leave no doubt that it was in response to my ear- 

 nest supplications. I met with my fate at Anderson, S. C, in 



