Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1850-06-05
THE VILLAGE PRIZE,
/. TALE OF WASHINGTON.

In one of the lovliest villages of old Vir-
ginia there lived in the year IT'S, an old
man, whose daughter was declared, by
universal consent, to be the lovliest maiden
in all the country round The veteran, in
his youth, had been athletic, and muscular
above all his fellows; and his breast, where
he always wore them, could show the
adornmcnt of three medals, received for
his victories in gymnastic feats when a
Ssyoung man. His daughter was now eigh-
teen, and had been sought in marriage by
many suitors. One brought wealth-an-
other fine person-another this, and an
other that But they were all refused by
the old man, who became at last by y-word
ipr his obstinacy among the young men of
Ike village and neighborhood.
At length the nineteenth birthday Of
Annette, hischarnhing daughter, who was
as amiable and modest as she was beau
tiful, arrived. The morning of that day,
her father invited all the youth of the coun.
Try to hay.making frolic. Seventeen
handsome and industrious young men
assembled. They came not only to
make hay. hut 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 with love. An
nettc, by her fathers command, had
brought the malt liquor of her own brew
ing, which she presented to each enamored
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, | 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 man Of my own grit. Now,
You know, or ought to know, when was
youngster could beat anything in sall
Virginny in the way of leaping got my
old woman by beating the slnartest man
on the Eastern Shore, and | took the oath
and swore it, that no man shall lymarry my
daughter without jumping forit. You un-
derstand me, boys. There's the green,
and here's Annette" he added, taking his
daughter, who stood timidly behind him,
by the hand "Now, the one that Jumps
the farthest on dead level shall marry
Annette this very night"
This unique address was received by
the young men with applause. And many
ayouth, as he bounded gaily forward to
the arena of trial, cast a glance of antici-
PHtca victory back upon the lovely object
oGvillage chivalry. The maidens left 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 andstriumph in
the success of the victor. All prophesied
and many wished that it would be young
Carroll. He was the handsomest and best
humored youth in the country; and all
knew that strong mutual attachment ex.
listed between him and the fair Annette
Carroll had won the reputation Of being
the best leaper,' and in a county where
such athletic achievements were the sine
qua non of mans cleverncss, this was nc
ordinary honor. In a contest ike the
present he had therefore every advantage
over his fellow-athlete.
The arena allotted for this hmenial
contest was a level space in front of the
village inn, and near tho centre ofb grass
plat, reserved in the midst of theEillare
dcnominated the green" The terdure
was quite worn of as this place bS previ.
GUS exercises of a similar kind, anda hard
surface of sand, more BETTING fpr the
purpose to which it was to be usea, sup,
piled its place.
The father of the lovely, blushins, and
withal happy prize lfor she well knew who
would win,) with three other pattiarchal
villagers were the judges appointed to de