/, BY DIR. MONTGOMERY BIRD.
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I know not what extraordinary con-
junction Of the stars took place on the lst
Friday Of June, 183-, nor how my own
planet in particular, came TO perform SO
many antics, in on out of its proper sphere.
Before that day had never had an adven-
ture in my life; the current Of my exls-
tence had flowed as evenly and qnietiy as
the stream Of a mill pond; and no wit or
skill ofauthor craft could have spun out
my biography beyond the compass OF
single paragraph. Twas born, and lived
for twenty-five vears--that IS all: lived
in village, too, and my name was Gas Il
still ISL James ]. Smith. There was no-
thing further in my history worthy Of be-
ing mentioned except thai, attwenty-fiYe at
years old, ending myself unenCnmbered
BY any near relatives. and possessed OF a
moderate estate, sufficient for all my rea-
sonable wants, (and | had no unreasona-
bic Ones / began to weary Of my rather
dull and lonely existence, and cast about
for means of relief. / was balancing be
tween two great projects. one Of travel,
the other Of fmatrimony; (both, indeed, ~ a
very general way, for was not IN love
with anybody, or any particular plaee;)
when letter from my old college mate
and correspondent, Henry Brown, ot YIr-
ginia, determined me in the favor Of the
former. He was just forming Z family
party for trip to Niagara; which party
he invited me to join at Philadelphla,
where he expected 10 arrive at an early
day; and he promised to bring along with
him very charming unmarried cousin q
MS, who might perhaps, he said, assist me
in trying the other project, as soon as
got tired Of travelling, provided only that
had the spirit, land It required great
spirit, TO WOO and win her; all Of which
lrsgarded as a friendly pleasantly on the
part Of my old chum


went accordingly to Philadelphia, and
at Harry's suggestion, took lodgings az
fashionable boarjiarIyh 2Rse, at which he
u = -. =