Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-01-27
The village Prize


the country round. The veteran, in his youth.
had been athletic and muscular above all his
fellows: and his breast, where he always wore
them, could show the adornment of three me-
idass, received for his victories in gy1nnastic
feats when young man. His daughter was
now eighteen, and had been sought in mar
rage by many suitors. One brought wealth
I---ahother line person---another this, and ano-
ther that. But thew were all refused by the
OLD man, who became last a by-word for his
Iobstlnacy among the young men of the village
and neighborhood.
AT lenigh the nineteenth birthday Of Annette,
MS 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
Itrolick. Seventeen handsome and industrious
young men assembled. They came not only
to make hay, but also to make love 10 the fair
Annette. In three hours they had filled the
fathers barn with the newly dried grass, and
their own hearts with love. Annette, by her
fathers command, had brought the malt liquor
of her own brewing, which she presented to
each enamored swain with her own fair hands
Now, my boys said the old keeper of the
jewel they all coveted, as leaning on their
pitchlorks they assembled round the door in
the cool Of the evening, Now my lads. you
have nearly all of you made proposals for my
Annetta. Now, you see, ! don't care any
thing about money or talents, book farming nor
soldier learning--l can do as well by my 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 anything in all Virginia in the
way O. leaping. | got my old woman by beat
ling the smartest man on the Eastern Shore,
and have took the oath and sworn it, that no
man shall marry my daughter without jumping
| forit. You understand me, boys. There's the
green, and here's Annette,' he added, taking
his daughter, who stood timidly behind him.
| by the hand. Now the one that jumps the
tnrtherest on a dead level shall marry An
nette this very night
| This unique address was received by the
young men with applause. And many youth,
as he bounded gaily forward to the arena of
upon the lovely object of the village chvalry
The maidens left their looms and quilting
frames, the children their noisy sports, the
slaves their labors, and the old men their arm
chairs and long pipes to witness and triumph
in the success OF the victor. All prophesied
and many wished that il would be young Car
roll He was the haudsomest and best humor-
ed youth in the country, and all knew that a
strong mutual attachment existed between him
and the fair Annette Carroll had won the
reputation Of being the best leaper,' and in a
country where such athletic achievements were
the sine quo non Of mans c.everness, this
was no ordinary honor. In contest like the
present he had, therefore, every advantage
over his fellows athAtG.
The arena allotted to this hymenal contest
was level space in front of the village inn.
and near the centre Of grass plat, reserved
in the midst Of the village, denomina.cd the
green The verdure was quite worn off at
this place by previous exercises of similar
kind, and a hard surface Of sand, more bcfit-
tlngly for the purpose to which it was to be
used, supplied its place.
Tie father Of the lovely, bushing, and with
al happy prize, for she well knew who would
win,) with three other pa,riarchal villagers
were the judges appointed to decide upon the
claims Of the several competitors. The las,
time Carroll tried his skill in this exercise, he
cleared to use the leaper's phrascology---
ltwenty-ope feet and one iuch.
The signal was given, and by lot the young
men stepped into the arena.
Edward Grayson, seventeen feet cried
one Of the judges. The youth had done his
utmost. He was pale, intellectual student.
But what had intellect TO do in such an arena!
Witout look at the maiden he lcitthe ground.
sDck Bouldin, nineteen feet Dick with a
laugh turned away, and replaced his coat.
Harry Preston, nineteen feet and three in.
ches. ---'Well done Harry Preston,' shouted
the spectators, 'you have tried hard for the 4.
ores and homestead.
Harry also laughed, and sworc he only jump.
Il r II r. IL. IL.
tIe-brained fellow, but never thought Of ma
trimony. He loved to walk and talk, and
laugh and romp will, Annette. but sober mar
rage never came into his head. He only
Jumped for the fun of the thing. He woald
not have said so, if he was sure Of winning.
Charley Simms, fifteen feet and half
Hurah for Charley! Charley'l win" cried
, the crowd, good humorcdly. Charley Simms
, was the cleverest fellow in the world. His
; mother had advised him TO stay at home, and
told him he ever won wife, she would fall
in love with his good temper, rather than his
legs. Charley, however, made the trial OF
the latter's capabilities and lost. Many refu-
sed to enter the lists altogether. Others made
the trial, and only one Of the leapers had yct
cleared twenty feet.
Now cried the villagers, 'let's see Henry
Carroll. He ought to beat ths;' and every
one appeared; as they called to mind the nu-
tual love of the last competitor and the SWEEP
Annette, as if they heartily wished his sue
Idess.
4 Henry stepped to bis post with firm tread.
His eye glanced with confidence around upon
the villagers and rested, before he bounded
forward, upon the face Of Annette, as II 70
catch therefrom that spirit and assurance which
tho occasion called for. Returning the en-
lcouraging glance with which she met his own.
with proud smile upon his lip, he bounded
d forward.
4 Twenty-one feet and half shouted the
multitude, repeating the announcement OF one
of the Judges. twenty-one feet and half.-..