The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-06-12

re p:eciouD than wealth Or tenoWns
(BE VILLAGE PRIZE.
ore 4 the lovs!iesl villages of old Vir-
i, there lived, in the year l75--, an odd
kea, ,eman, whsse daughter was declar.
bs universal consent, % te the iovele.:,
Zen in all tho country round. The
ran iu his youth, had been athletic aDd
eular above all his fellows; aud his
Vt. where he always wore them, coaIfi
the adnrnmeni of three medsis, re-
d for his victories isl gymnasiic teats
young man. His daughter was
figh.eea, and had been sough, ia mar.
bv many snitors. Que brough,
|h-another, fine person -another.
hry-ano,her, military taien,s-an.
this, and another that. 81
they were all refused by the old man,
became, ai last, a by-word fnr his OBJ
~ among the young men Of the vii
and neighborhood. At length the
eonth birthday If The fair Annette,
barmiog daughter, who was as amia-
hd nj dest A. she was beautiful, arriv.
The morning Of that day, her father
ed nll the youth Of the country to a
making frolic. Seventeen handsome
industrious young men assembled.
! came not only 10 make hay, but alse
ike love TO the fair Annette. Ia three
they had filled tho fathers barns with
bewiy dried grass. Annette, by her
- command, had brought the mak Of
|wn brewing, which she presented 10
enainored swain with her own iair
:,
Vow my boys" said the old keeper Of
ewel they all coveted. as leaning on
pi,ch-fnrks they all assembled round
oor, in. the cool Of the evening SHOW
|lads, you have nearly all Of you made
Posals for my Annette. Now yon see,
b., care anything about money or tai
!, book larning nor soldier lsrning-I
do as we'll BY my gal as any man in
county. But ! want her to marry a
Of my own grit. Now, you know or
!ht TO know. when | was a younester, ]
Id bea, anything ia oil virgiany 10 the
J o !eaping. ] go..my old woman by
ling the smartest man on the Eastern
pre-, and have vowed ihat no man shall
by my daughter without jumping for il.
understand me, boys. There's the
eu, and here's Anne,,e," he added ta-
X his daughter, who stood timidiy be-
I him, by the hand. "Now the one that
p. the fnrthes, on dead level shall
Erv Annette this very night"
|his unique address was received by the
|ng mon with applause. And many .
|'h as he bounded gaily forward to the
na Of trial, cast glance Of anticipated
lory back npon the lovely object Of vii
: chivalry. The maidens iei, the looms
quilting frames, the children their moi
sports, the slaves ih.ir iabors, and the
mon their arm-chairs and long pipes,
witness and triumph in the success ni
victor. Al prophesied and msnv wish;
That !, would be young Carrol. tie WINS
handsornest and best humored youth
The County. and all knew that s,rony
mutual attachment existed between
and the fair Annette. Carol had
the reputation of being the best leap
and in country where this was the
; QUA NON of msn's cieverness, thi,
no ordinary honor. In a contest like
present, he had, therefore, every nd
iage over his fellow athlete.
The arena allowed for this hymenial con
!, was a level space in front Of tho vii
inn, and near the center Of u grns.
!, reserved in the midst of the village
"mnaed "the green.~ The verdore
quite worn IF :, this place b, eprevi
exercises ofh similar kind. and a hard
lace OF sand, more be6'tingly for The
pose to which il was TO be used, suppl
its pluce. ~ seH 1
ne father Of the lovely, blushing and
nal happy prize, (for she we'll knew wh6
'id win,) with three other patriarchia
agers, we're the judges appointed to de-
upon the claims Of the several compel
p. The last time Carol tried his skill
Sn's exercise, he "cleored, > to use the
Pers Phraseoiogy, twenty-one feet and
inch. 3f
no signal was given, and BY lot the
ng men stepped into the arena.
Edward Gnyson, seventeen feet" cri
'ne Of the judges. The youth had done
utmost. He was q pale, intellectual
lent. But what had intellect to do in
b an arsnaf Without look at the
den hslsft the ground.
Dick Boulden, nineteen feet" Dick
! laugh, turned away and replaced
coat.
Harry Preston, nineteen feet and three
'es." "Well done, Harry Preston,'
tied the spectators; "you have tried
! for the acres and homestead"
larry also la0ghed, and, said he only
Aped for the fun Of the thing Harry
a rattle-brained fellow, but never
lght Of matrimony. lie loved to walk
talk, and ron,p with Annette, but sober