Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-07-06

vi Eidt OuJ ldtlcI lHNI6u dII tiIC
youth of the country TO a haymaking lrolic.-
Seventeen handsome and industrious young men
assembled. They came moi only 10 make hay,
but also love TO the fair Annette. In three
hours they had filled the fathers barns with the
newly dried grass, and Annette, by her fathers
command, had brought the malt liquor of her
own brewing, which she presented to each en-
amoured swain with her own fair hands.
"Now, my boys" said the old keeper of the
jewel they all coveted, as leaning on their pitch
forks they assembled round the 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 mo-
ney or talents, book learning nor soldier learn
ing-I can do as well by my gal as any man in
thee ouniry. Now you know, or oug ght 10 know,
when was youngster could beat any man
in old Virginia in the way of leaping / go,
my old woman by beating the smarlest man on
the Eastern shore, and have took the oath
and sworn it that no man shall have my daugh-
ter without jumping for her. You understand
ME, boys. There's the green, and here's An
netie," he added, taking his daughter who stood
timidly behind him, by the hand. SNOW, the
one that jumps the furtherest on dead level
shall marry Annette this very night"
This unique address was received by the
young men with applause. And many youth
as he bounded gaiy forward TO the arena of
trial, cast glance Of anticipated victory back
upon the levely object of village chivalry. The
maidens left the looms and quilting frames----
the children their noisy sports-,he slaves their
labor, and the old men their armchairs and long
pipes, TO witness and triumph in the success Of
the victor All prophesied and many wished it
might be young Carroll He was the happiest
and best humored youth in the village, and all
knew that strong 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 qua non of a mans cleverness, this
was no ordinary honor. In contest like the
present. he had, therefore, every advantage over
his fellow athleia.
The arena allotted for this hymenial contest
was level place in front Of the village inn,
and near the centre Of the grass plat, reserved
in the midst of the village denomnated "the
green" The verdure was quite worn off at
this place by previous exercises OF similar
kind, and hard surface OF sand, more betting
for the purpose to which it was TO be used, sup
piled lis place.
The father of this lovely, blushing, and with
al happy prize, Qor she well knew who would
win,) with three other patriarchal villagers,
were the judges appointed TO decide upon the
claims of the several competitors. The last
time Carroll tried his skill in this exercise, he
"cleared," to use the leapers phraseology
twenty-one feet and one inch.
The signal was given, and by lot the young
men stepped into the arena.
edward Grayston, seventeen feet" cried
one of the judges. The youth had done his Ut
most. He was pale, intellectual STUDENT
But what had intellect TO do with such an are
ma? Withou, look at the maiden, he left the
ground.
"Dick Doulden, nineteen feet" Dick, with
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
acres and the homestead
Harry also laughed and declared he only
jumped for the fun OF the thing. Harry was
raule. Drained fellow, but never thought
of marrmony. He loved to walk, and talk,
and laugh and romp with Annette, but sober
marriage never came into his head. He only
jumped for the fun of the thing. He would
not have said so, if he were sue OF winning.
"Charley Simms, fifteen feet and half."---
Huzzah for Charley. Charley'll win" cried
the crowd good humoredIy. Charley Simms
was one of the cleverest fellows in the world.
His mother had advised him TO stay at home,
and told him If he ever won wife, she would
fall in love with his good temper rather than
his legs. Charley, however, made trial of the
lauer's capabilities, and lost. Many refused TO
enter the list altogether. Others made trial,
and only one Of the leapefs yet cleared twenty
feet.
"Now," cried the villagers. "lel's see Henry
Carroll He oush, 10 beat this" and every one
appeared, as they called TO mind the muiual love
OF the last competitor and the sweet Annette,
as if they heartily wished him success.
Henry stepped 10 his post with firm tread.
His eye glanced with confidence around upon
the face of Annette, as if to catch aid from that
spirit and assurance which she met his own,
with proud smile upon his lip he bounded for
ward
"Twenty-one feel and half!' shouted the
multitude, repeating the announcement oil the