Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-07-02
MISCELL A N Y.
THE VILLAGE PRIZE.

In one of the prettiest villages OF old Vlr,
ginia, there lived in the year no, an ola
man, whose daughter was declared, by uni
yersal consent, to be the loveliest maiden IN
all the country around. The veteran, IN his
youth, had been athletic and muscular above
all his fellows; and his breast, where ne al
ways wore them, could show the adorn-
ment of three medals, received for his VIC
tories in gymnastic feats when young man,
His daughter was now eighteen and had
been singled out by many suitors. One hao
wealth. another fine person, another this,
and another that. But they were all re1us-
ed by the old man, who became at last BY
word for his obstinacy, or eccentrlcity among
the young men of the village and neighbor-
hood.
AT length the nineteenth birthday OF An
nette, his charming daughter, who was as
amiable and modest as she was beautiful,
arrived The morning of that day her faith
er invited all the youth of the country to a
hay-making frolic. Seventeen handsome
and industrious young men assembled
They came not only to make hay, but also
to make love to the fair Annette. In three
hours they had filled the fathers barns with
the newly dried grass, and their own hearts
with love. Annette, by her fathers com
mand, had brought the malt liquor OF her
own brewing, which she presented to each
enamored swain with her own far hands.
"Now, my boys" said the old keeper OF
the Jewel they all coveted, as, leaning on
their pitchforEs. they assembled round the
door in the cool of the evening, "now my
lads, you have nearly all of you made pro-
posals for my Annette. Now, you see, l
don't care anything about money or talents,
book farming or soldier larning. | can DO
as well by my girl as any man in the
country; but want her to marry man OF
my own grit. Now, you all know, or ought
to know, when was youngster, | could
beat any one IN all Virginia in the way of
leaping. | got my old woman by beating
the smartest man on the eastern shore, and
| have taken an oath and sworn it, that no
man shall marry my daughter without Jump
the Green, and here's Annette he added,
taking his daughter, who stood timidly be-
hind 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 a
youth, as he bounded gaily forward to the
arena of trial, cast glance OF anticipated
victory back on the lovely object OF village
chivairy. The maidens left their looms and
quilting frames, the children their noisy
sports, the slaves their labor, and the old
men their arm chairs and long pipes, to wit
ness and triumph in the success O the VIC
tor. All prophesied, and many wished that
+ miobt be Young Carol. He was the
bandsomest and best humored youth in the
country, and all knew that stfong mutual
attachment existed between hun and the
fair Annette. Carroll had won the reputa-
tion of being the best leaper, and IN coun-
trv where such athletic achieveients were
tbe sine ann non of mans clevirness, this
was no ordinary honor. In cqquest like
the present he had, therefore, every advan-
tage over his fellows.
The arena allotted for this hypenia! con-
test, was level spot in front othe village
inn denominated the "green. The ver-
r dure was quite worn olfat this plce by pre-
vious exercises of similar kind, Ind hard
surface Of sand, more befttlng te purpose
for which it was to be used, spilled its
place.
The father of the lovely, bluaing, and
: withal happy prize (for she well new who
would win) with three other patrif ifchal vii
=, layers, were the judges appoint edo decide
upon the claims of the several copetitors.