Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-07-26
M 7 s C e L l. A N z.
THE VILLAGE PRIZE.

Virginia, there lived, in the year l75
an Old man whose daughter was decla
red by universal consent, TO be the Low
Hest maiden IN all the country round
The veteran in his youth, had beef
athletic and Muscular above all his fcl
lows; and his breast, where he Away
wore them, could show the adornment
ofthree medals; received for his vic
tories in gymnastic feats when young
man. His daughter was now eighteen
and had been sought in marriage BY
many suitors. One brought wealth.
another fine person-another this,
and another that. But they were all
refused by the old man, who became at
last a by-word for his obstnacy among
the young men of the village and
neighborhood.
At length the nineteenth birth day of
Annette, his charming daughter, who
was as amiable and modest as she was
beautiful, arrived. The morning of
that day, her father invited all the
youth of the country to hay making
frolc. Seventeen handsome and in-
dustrious young men assembled. They
came not only TO make hay, but also
10 make love to the fair Annette. In
three hours they had filled the fathers
barn with newly dried grass, and their
own hearts with love. Annette, by the
fathers command, had brought the
malt liquor of her own brewing, which
she presented TO each enamored swain
with her own hands.
"Now my boys" said the keeper
of the jewel they all coveted, as lean
ing on their pitchforks they all assem-
bled around his door in the cool Of the
evening: +" Now, my lads, you have
nearly all of you made proposals for
my Annette. Now, you see, don't
care anything about money or talents,
book farming nor soldier larning-I can
do as well by gal as any man in the
country. But want her to marry
man OF my own grit. Now, you know
or ought to know, when was young
ster could beat any man in all Vir-
ginny in the way of leaping. | got my
old woman by beating the smartest
man on the Eastern Shore, and | took
the oath and swore it, that no man
should marry my daughter without
jumping for her. You understand ma
boys. There's the green, and here's
Annette" he added, taking his daugh-
ter who stood timidly behind him, by
the hand. "Now, the one that jumps
the farthest on a dead level, shall mar
ry Annette this very night"
This unique address was received
by the young men with applause. And
many a youth, as he bounded forward
to the arena of trial, cast glance of
anticipated victory back upon the love-
" object of village chivalry. The mai
dens left their looms and quilting frames
the children their noisy sports, the
slaves their labor, and the old men their
arm chairs and long pipes, to witness
the triumphin the success of the victor.
All prophesied, and many wished, that
it might be young Carroll. He was
the handsomest and best humored youth
in the country, and all knew that a
strong mutual attachment existed be-
tween him and the fair Annette. Car
roll, had won the reputation of being
the best leaper," and in a country
where such athletic achievements were
the sane qua non of man, cleverness,
this was no ordinary honor. In con-
test like the present, he therefore had
every advantage over his fellow athle-
tic.
The arena allotted for this hymene-
al contest, was a level space 10 front
of the village inn, and near the centre
of grass plat, in the midst ofthe VII
lage, denominated the "green." The
verdure was quite worn off at this place
by previous exercises of a similar kind,
and hard surface of sand more beht.
tingly for the purpose for which it was
TO be used, supplied its place.
The father of the lovely, blushing,
and withal happy prize-for she well
knew who would win-with their 9TH
er patriarchal villagers, were the jud.
ges appointed to decide upon the claims
of the several competitors. The las
time Carroll tried his skill, he cleared,
TO use the leaper's phraseology, TWEEN
ty-one feet and one inch.
The signal was given, and by 10
the young men stepped into the arena
Edward Grayson, seventeen ieei'
cried one of the judges. The youti
had done his utmost. He was pal
intellectual student. But what had IN
tellect to do in such an arena With
out a look at the fair maiden he lei
the ground.
"Dick Boulen nineteen feet" Die
with laugh turned away, and repla
ced his coat.
Harry Preston nineteen feet tire
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