Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1850-06-05
THE WILL ACE PRIz'
A TALE OF WASHINGTON.

In one of the loYliest villages of old Vir-
ginia there lived in the year l75-, an old
man, whose daughter was declared, by|
universal'consent, to be the loyiest maiden
in all the country round. The veteran, I'M
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 medals, received for
his victories in gymnastic feats when al
ayoung man. His daughter was now eigh-|
teen, and had been sought ipsmarriage by|
many suitors. One brought wealth h-an-|
other fine erson-another this, and an-|
other that. But they were all refused by|
the old man, who became at last aby-Word|
~f,rb obstinacy among the souug men off
tSepiiHEage and neighborhood.
AT fiengtE the nineteenth birthday of
Appette. hisscharnhing daughter, who was
as amiable and modest as she was beau
tiful, arrived. The morning ofthat day.
her father Invited all the youth fthe coun. 1
try to a hay.making frolic. SeRenteenI
handsome and industrious young mem
assembled. They came not only tol
make hay. but also to make love to fair|
Annette. In three hours they had filled!
the fathers barns with the newly dried|
grass, and their own hearts withlove. An
nette, by her fathers command, hadI
brought the malt liquor of her own brew
ing, which she presented to chenamoredi
swain with her own hands.
"Now, my boys. said the old keeper
of the jewel they all coveted, as leaning)
on their pitchforks they assmbled 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, I don't care anything about
money or talents, book farming nor soldier
: larning-I can do as well By my gal as
any man in the country. BatI want her|
to marry a man of my own grit. Now
you know, or ought to know, when I was!
youngster could beat anything in sall|
Virginny in the way of leaping Igot my
old woman by beating the slnartest mani
on the Eastern Shore, and I took the oath
and swore it, that no man shallmarry my
daughter without jumping forit: You un-
derstand me, boys. There's the green,
and here's Annette, he added, taking bis
daughter, who stood tilnidly behind him,
by the hand. I" Now, the one that jumps
the farthest on dead level shall marry
Annette this very Right."
This unique address was received BY
the young men with applause. And many
a.youth, as he bounded gaily forward to-
thesarena of trial, cast a glance of antici-|
pats3 victory back upon the lovely object
ofvillage chivalry. The maidensleft their
looms and quilting frames, the noisy chill.
dren their noisy sports, the slaves their la
bors, and the old men their arm-chairs
aud long pipes, to witness andsriumph in
the success of the victor. All prophesied
and many wished that it would be young
Carroll. He was the handsomesta and best
llumored youth in the country and all
knew that strong mutual attachment ex-
listed between him and the fair Annette.
Carroll, had won the reputation pf being
the best leaper,' and in a county where
,.such>athletic achievements were The sine
qua non of a mans cleverness, this was no
ordinary honor. Ina contest ake the
present he had therefore every dyantage
over his feHow-atltletG. 4
The arena allotted for this hSnenial
contest vas level space in front of the
village inn, and near the centre Of grass
plat, reserved in the midst Of thsEllage,
dcnominated the g green" The terdure
was quite worn OFF as this place Sba preni:
ous exercises of a similar kind, anda hard
surface of sand, more BETTING sbr the
purpose to which itwas to be useH, sup.
piled its place. -, s.ts1 q
The father of the lovely, bluships and,
Witbal happy prize lfor she well kneWWho
would win, with three other ipatinrchal
villagers were the judges appointed to de-