Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-07-28
rellameous Ratter.
From Hcadley's Adirondack, or Life in the WoodsJ
SINGULAR COURTsHIP.


'sThe other day took heavy boot to a
shoemaker, or MEMBER, to be repaired oeiorG
set forth on new expedition, oi wnonn
was told capital anecdoie, An hhglsn
emigrant had settled down IN remote Pa't
of the forest, where he cleared li'lie space
about him and built log hut. lie hau Deen
there but wear or two, when one day as he
was absent in the woods with his eldest
daughter, his hut took fire and burned down.
His wife was sick, but she managed TO crawl
ont. taking the straw bed on which she lay
with her. AT evening the husband returned
10 find his house in ruins. Ii was winter
night, and the snow lay deep on the ground.
Calling aloud, he heard a faint voice reply,
and going in the direction from which 1t came
found his wife stretched on the bed in the
snow. Getting together few boards left
from the conhagration, he made shelter
over her. That night she was safely deliver
ed OF child which survived and Is now llv-
ing. But under the exposure and excitement
together, the husband took violent cold,
which having fastened on his lungs, and being
resisted by no medical treatment whatever,
terminated in the consumption. He however
reared another hut, and during the summer
a young settler came in and purchased a tract
near by him. His being the only family
within a long distance, this back woodsman
often passed the evening in their society. IL
was not long before he discovered that his
neighbor could not long survive, for the most
ignorant in the region knew all the symptoms
of pulmonary disease which carries oil three
fourths of those who die. Accompanying this
conclusion came naturally the reflection, what
would become of the wife, and as she was
good-looking and industrious he thought he
could not do better than 10 marry her himself
Acting under this consideration he mentioned
the matter TO her, remarking that her husband
could not live long, and asking il she would
marry him after he was dead!
She replied that she had no objections at
all if cher husband was willing !" He said
he had no doubt on that point and he would
speak TO him about it. He did SO, and the
husband unhesitatingly gave his consent, ad-
ding that he was glad she would be so well
provided for after his death. So when WIN
ter approached the young settlerwould come
and 'court' the prospective widow, while
the dying husband lay and coughed on the
bed in the corner.
Now there was not much sentiment in
this, granted, but there was vast deal of
philosophy. 1t was rather cool on her part
10 be sure but vastly sensible on his. What
could his wife and children do all alone there
in the woods, without a protector! The
toughest part of the proceeding, and that which
no doubt tested the backwoodman's philosophy
the severest, was the courtship, To lie gasp
ing for breath in one part of the room, and see
the young, athletic and healthy backwoods-
man and his wife sitting together by the fire,
and know that after few more painful weeks
he would occupy that place permanently, and
yet bear it patiently, required good deal OF
stamina. Especially must the reflection that
they were both probably very anxious to have
him take his departure, have been rather a
bitter pill TO swallow go into all these lit.
lie particulars you know 10 show the charac.
ter of my hero 10 the best Interchangeable
heroine speaks for herself. These two inter.
esting personages were my shoemaker and
his wife"