The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-03-05
i vor Of his startling proposition that
/ she should become bride on the NOR

1 yor Of his startling proposition that
she should become bride on the NOR
row!
James, said she laughing, but eyi-
IDENTIFY somewhat fustered, sthis is the
most ridiculous thing l ever heard.
You surely can't be serious. Besides
am altogether too young to be mar
ried.'
1T you really think so,' said James,
with a SLY look, sthere is no more to
be said about it,
u have not thought Of it, added
Harriet. 'Indeed, | am not sure that
am willing tomarrv you at all. What
will the world say?' az
/ 1 neither know nor care replied
James. i suppose the old married
folks will say we acted wiseIy-the
young women will censure your taste
in the choice Of a husband-and the
young men will one and all envy me
my happiness
| What will your parents say? 81
They will be surprised-but you
know they will not object. They will
be glad to cement in this way, the
friendship between the families"
/. But you are going to sea so soon!
SAID Harriet in plaintive voice.
| shall be back the quicker-and
while am away, ! shall feel happy in,
the thought that | have wife who
takes q deep interest in the fortunes
OF the poor weather-beaten mariner.
But even if the idea of being mar
Irled tomorrow was not altogether alb
surd--l am not prepared have no
bridal garments.
That's no excuse said James. IT'S
nonsense for young ladies to employ
hosts of mllliners and mantua-makers
for weeks, or perhaps months, before
they can get married. 1t looks as if
clothes were only necessary for a
wife. You have youth beauty and
intelligence. and the most costly cos
tune could not add to your charms.
But there is. not time to be pub
lished, added the yielding Harriet.
Never mind, said the persevering
lover am well acquainted with Col.
Sanford the town Clerk, and he will
do me a favor. at pinch. Come,
Harriet, cease these trifling objections
they are unworthy of you. My
father already loves you as daughter
and hehas set his heart on having
somebody married tomorrow. He
/ knows nothing Of our engagement;
}, but know if our wedding can be ar
ranged to take place to morrow, he
) will be excessively pleased, and your
! parents you are aware, will not throw
! any obstacles in the way. All this
: parade and ceremony about being
! married is an absurdity. When the
parties have chosen wisely, and are
!, truly attached to each other-the
!, sooner they are united by Hymen's
chain the better.
The persevering sailor carried his
point. Harriet's circumstances be-
came weaker and weaker.-Her love
and her good nature pleaded power
: fully in his favor-and before the
: youthful couple parted on Christmas
{; eve, James had wrung from her I;
\ slow consent to become his bride il
the church on the following day.
Great was the surprize and iov o
t old Mr. Campbell on learning at thu
t, breakfast table the following morning
e that wedding was to he celebrated
} in the family, and that James and Har
riet were the parties. James was al
It ways smart lad, soliloquized the Of,
gentleman, but | should not hav,
d thought he could have brought itabou
!, he is worth a dozen Zenas Black
woods. Harriet, however, was al
e ways a sensible girl.
All was hustle, pleasure and con
o fusion among the families of tn
Campbells and the WiIliamses on tina
4, day. Invitations in abundance wer
u sent round and such a sensation a
IS was created among the inhabitants
4 when it was known that marriag
re- was to take place on Christmas da
in between James Campbell and Harrie
e Williams, who had never been equa
d. ed since the 'sGreat Earthquake j
RI 1875. By many amiable unmarrie
IS ladies, the bride was soundIy ratet
t, as forward mink, sadly wanting
+, del!cacy-the bridegroom's taste W;
U, called IN question by the young belle
d and his impudence in thus, .aImo:
ar without an effort, winning and wea
xt ing the fairest fowerin the vilag
'e was loudly censured by the youn
os men. 5,...F...s +. f.ia.rg "a '...s
ed But James and Harriet havin
50 made up their minds to be happ,
IT little needed what was said of the
IN conduct by the idle, the censoriou
IS or the envious. They were married
Sc And their parents and their uncle
te their aunts and their cousins. decla
to ed that a finer couple never plighte
- their cooi,,r.l Co;+L bnc III al