Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-06-13
From the Home journal.
Ihe Bride shipped - Order.
BY LAURIE TOoD.

BY LAURIE TooD.
/ Ilved in Virginia during the winter Of 1888
At an evening party in Richmond there were
twelve mothers, twelve daughters, and tolera-
bic spr!nkling of fathers, sons, widows and wild
overs present, with Laurie Todd in their midst .
and you may be sure we had some fun. Con-
versing with an ancient lady, she remarked that
her grandfather left Scotland when Young. and
settled in Virginia. lie became a merchant and
a planter, and grew rich. His agentin Glasgow
was Alexander McAlpiHe, to whom he consIgn-
ed two or three cargoes OF tobacco every year,
and received in return cash. hardware, dry goods,
etc. lie had flocks and herds, man-servants and
maid-servants, horses and mules but one thing
he ye, lacked--he had no pretty wife to sing
with him when he came home at night fatigu-
ed with counting money, and satiatcd with world
ly pell, for be had more of that than he could
wish. So, after a while he concluded to take u
wife--as soon as he could catch one.
Bat here was the rub. His time was so occu-
pied with his business that he could not find
time TO look about him for wife, and worse than
all, he was bashful man. When he Saw
maiden OF twenty advancing in his path, he
would cross the street, fearful OF being billed by
a shot from her sparkling eyes. But a remedy
was at hand, however. lie had Cften heard hi,
parents speak much in praise Of the bonny lasses
Of Scotland. \ brigh, idea struck him. When
leaving the Office his clerk was copying q dupli-
cate order for sunlras to be sent as part of the
return cargo, lie thought to himself that he
would order young lassie for wife, as the last
item on the list. The article Was ordered accor-
dinghy.
Al the same time be wrote private letter o 6
instruction to his agent, Mr. McAlpine, giving
a minute description of the article wanted, as 10
the age, height, wealth, etc. In short she must
be bonny Scotch lassie; 10 be sent on tho re-
turn ofhis own ship; her name to be on the man
fest bill Of laling etc. lie promised on arriving
10 have her stored in house of a respectable
widow whom he named, and if agreeable TO the
parties concerned, he would make her his wife
in thirty days after her arrival If not, and She
wished to return, he would pay expenses, loss of
time, ETC
When Mr. McAlpno bad finished reading the
letter of Instructions, he slowly removed bis
spectacles, mutcring 10 himself, The lad (his
CORRESPONDENT, who was thirty years Old is deaf:
he tells me to send him wife, as if she was
barrel o'sat behring's; q,tda tens the fash (trou-
bic) was to get a wife tor myseIf. I'll see what
the guide wife say Ga brightidca)
Next day Mrs. McAlpinc sat in council with
Mrs. \. ana b. Invitations were sent to ten
matrons, whose daughters We're in and out of
teens, to assemble at Mrs. McAlqine's toa-board.
Edch matron was requested to bring with her q
daughter who was not ''o'er young to marry vet.
All being present an hour before tea Mrs Nc
Alpine read the letter, and made an explanation
Tacy then sat down to tea. After ia each lass
gave in her uitMatam, whom It was f00nd that
culy three were willing to accept the offer
These three agreed to draw lots, to decid, the
preference. Mary Robinson drew the longest
straw, and was hailed as the bonny bride.
In ten days thereafter they set sal! for AmoT-
ca. They entered Chesapeake Bay after a voy-
age of twelve weeks, and in two days more they
were in James River. When Mr. Crawford,
our hero, heard of tho arrival of the shin he with
four servants. repaired to the wharf. Mary was
standing on the quarter deck, admiring natures
widest grandeur. She had recovered from her
sea sickness when !oar days out. The health
full hreczes of the broad Atlantic had imprinted
on her pretty face a beautiful freshness. There
she stood, with her cheek tingcd with the roses
of Sharon, and her bonny brow white as the lilly
of the valley. Crawford sprang on deck and
was introduced by the captain. lie looked on
Mary with love ana admiration her soft hand
lay in his he was shot!
They all descended from the ship, and repair
ed to the mansion Of the WI low aforesaid On
the thirticth day of probation, the lovers were
united in the holy bonds of wcdlock. In conclu-
sion, the sprghtty, though venerable widow re-
marked that u happier couple were never linked
together.