Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-07-31
A Marriage without Courtship.
ROMANCE WITHOUT FiCrIoN.

ROMANCE WITHOUT FICTIoN'
About three years ago, the Rev. X. s
McClay. Of Concord, Franklin county Pa.
Cate of Gettysburg,) received call from
The Board Of Foreign Missions connected
with the Methodist Episcopal Church te
visit China and preach the Gospel to the
benighted Celes,ials Of The central fowery
lanG. McClay was young, ardent and en-
,husias,ic, and most willingly embraced the
high and holy duty assigned him.
In due time he arrived in China, and was
stationed at Eau Chua, some seven hun-
dred miles in the interior from Hong Kong
There he studied the native language. and
commenced his labor Of love among the
CeIes,ials, with the most flaiiering success
Still there was something wan,ing-a void
in the heart TO be filled-he sighed for that
best soIace to man, either in veal or woe
"A WIFE. How TO get one ! was an in
,ricate question to solve. There were no
American ladies' there from whom he could
make choice, and as for Chinese vile,
the laws Of the land forbade il, neither did
his inclination desire it. What was then
to be done I A fertile imagination can &C.
complish wonders-a firm determination
can surmount difficulties that would ''o'er-
top old Pellion." He wrote 10 the Board
OF Missions on the subject-he wrote in
paihe,ic-we might perhaps say poetic
strains. Of his lonely condition for the want
Of one on whom he could bestow his affec-
tons, and who would be The partner Of his
Joys and sorrows through life, and ended
by asking that the Board send him young
lady who would be willing to become his
wife-agreeable in his directions. which
he sent in form Of blank declaration TO
be filled up by the lady accepting the pro-
position.
This was a novel proposition. but the
Board was of opinion that it was a just one
and proceeded with due diligence to search
for the object desired. and strange to say,
success crowned their effort.
Some Tine previous to the receipt Of
Mr.. McClay's letter. young lady, Miss
Henrietta Sperry, of BrookIin N. Y. made
application to the Board to be sent as a
missionary to China. but was refused on
account Of being unmarried. TO her the
application of Mr.. McClay was shown
she at once filed up the blank application.
and correspondence ensued ending in her
leaving New York in company with a
number Of other missionaries, on the 18th
of March last. in the ship Tartar, for Hong
Kong, where she will be met by Mr.. Nc
Clay. and the nuptial ceremony will be
The lady's personal attractions have
been described to US. by one who had the
pleasure Of seeing her previous to taking
sail on her mission of love. She is des-
cribed as being beautiful and fascinating
in her appearance, and possessed Of that
charm OF loveIiness which should adorn
every female character well cultivated
mind, stored with the richest gifts Of knowl.
edge from the fountain Of education, and q
moral refinement which will bear with it
Ihe jewel Of q bright inheritance beyond
lhe confines Of time.
" She is now on the dark blue sea. where
|" the hollow oak" her home must be for at
least half year. Who so dead to all fee
ling not to admire such heroism! young
and lovely girl. forsaking home. friends.
and all the dearest ties Of earth 10 travel
thousand Of miles over the stormy pillows,
to dwell perhaps for ever among Heather.
for the double purpose Of affording conso.
laton to the servant Of God, and aid in
spreading the light among those who walk
in darkness, is at once moral and sublime
requiring a degree Of devot.
edness and frmness that will compare ia.
vorab:y with the self-denial Of The Spartan
woman Of old. Heaven send propitious
gales to walt the Tartar TO her destination.
Who can doubt but a union formed under
such circumstances must be happy one
Blair County Wing.
Progress Of Southern Factories.
The progress America is making in the
consumption OF cotton. appears to be entirely
overlooked hy The Europeap dealers. From