The weekly Placer herald., 1852-11-13
MARRIEp BY CHANcE.-The Count de

NJ lived in q state OF single and
independent blessedness. He was yet
young, very rich, and was surrounded by
every thing that could give enjoyment to
life-exccpt a wife. He had frequently
thought of becoming a husband, but had
always declared off before the knot was
tied. Once, however, he found himself
very nearly committing the folly of matrl-
mony. A young person, the daughter of
one of his friends, pleased him--her for
tune pleased him, not less, perhaps, than
her person and accomplishments, and
there was other reasons of convenience,
ETC., to justify the union.
The count, who had so frequently made
the first step towards matrimony, but so
frequently drew back, had not yet decided
upon the course he should adopt in this
case-he had promised the friends of the
lady, but had made no outward sign of
performance. His future mother, how
ever, knowing his weakness in this re-
spect, resolved to bring matters to a ter
mination, and therefore demanded of the
Count whether he would not marry her
daughter, and requested an immediate re-
: ply. At this moment his fears and hes-
tation returned with more force than ever,
he trembled for the consequences.
To give up his cherished habits of
bachelorhood, he found was hard-it was
almost impossible to abandon them. In
this emergency, he resolved to appeal to
chance. He wrote two Ietters-in the
one he accepted the hand of the lady, in
the other refused it. He then put them
in hat, and called his servant
"Take one of these letters" said he,
"and carry it to the Chateau de -"
"W hich, sir?"
"Which you please"
The servant chose letter. The Count
burnt the other without opening it.
A distance Of ten leagues separated the
two chateaus. The domestic must be
absent twenty-four hours; twenty-four
hours must elapse before the Count knew
his fate. His situation is anything but
agreeabe-he knows not during twenty
four hours whether he is married man
or a single one whether he has still the
power to dispose of himself, or whether
he is already disposed Of The domestic
returned-he bad carried the letter Of ac-
ceptance, and Nj. de NJ is, even at
this time, the happiest husband in sla.
part of the country.
"PIEs AN' Times. w hats the price
of 'em pies?" inquired new conner over
land from Illinois, as he stepped into
restaurant where a variety of edbles
were temptlngly spread upon the counter,
dellcateIy frosted with white sugar.
"One dollar each," replied the smiling
gentleman in attendance. GA dollar for
Il pie! Thunder and blazes! Why. mis-
ter, they sci 'em whar cone from for three
cents a cut" "But you're in Califor-
mia now, my freind, and ours are Califor-
MIA prices" PPM id eff they ain't. -
Who ever hearn tell Of the Iike?'' and
stalking Indignantly out, the stranger
posted himself upright by the show win
dow, and looked longingly at the colec-
ton OF smaller but no less desirable arti-
ces which it contained. Struck by sud
den idea, he again entered the sal0on.-I
"Come now, you're jokin' ain't you, about
the pies? Say quarter, and Pm in"
''Can't afford it, sir; materials cost twice
the money, to say nothing for the baking.
Wall then, how much for two Of them
consarns?" pointing to a pyramid OF fresh
ly baked douhgnuts. 'Two bits-no more ?
"D-n me if don't live on fat pork for
ever afore l'iI pay it. 'Spose yeu charge
man for coming 'in your shop, don't
your" Saying which the sucker immedi-
ately decamped, to avoid an imaginary tax
much to his own disappointment in not
being able to crafty the old gingerbread
appetite at home prices.-Union
SPIRITUAL RAPPING-A striking instance
on the truthtuness of the science of the |
spiritual telegraph is Civ EN- in recent
number of the Calaveras Chronicle -
That journal relates that Mrs. w, Of
Stanton, Mass applied to a spiritual rap
per on the Goth of June last for Information
touching the precise condition, occupation
and 'slocal habitation" of her absent lord,
who for many long months had been So
journing in California. The individual
of extraordinary optical endowlnents, re-
piled that "Alr w. was at sea, in good
health, working hard and had plenty of
s. L