Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1852-03-09
CURIOUS MODE OF GETTING A WIFE.

ave The way 10 fortune and prefermen,.-
! Fhe following sketch illustrates ,his fact.
A sailor roughly garbed, was saun,etine
through the sIree,s Of New Orleans. then IN
rather damp condition. from recent rain
and the rise Of The ,ides Turning the cor.
her of much lrequen,ed and marrow alley,
he observed a young lady Standing in per+
plexiIy, apparently measuring the depth Of
the muddy water between her and the oppo.
site side walk, with no very satisfied coua.,
lenance.
The sailor paused, for he was great ad.
mirer of beauty, and certainly the face ,ha,
Peeped ou, from under The liule chip hat,
and The auburn curIs hanging glossy and
unconfned over her muslin dress, might
tempt curious, or an admiring glance.
PerPIexed, The lady pun forth one Ii,ule loot,
when the gallant sailor, with characieris site
impulsiveness, exclaimed, "Tha, pretty foot
lady, should not be soiled with the filth Of
this lane; wal. for moment only, and
will make you a path"
So springing pas, her into csrpentePs
shop opposite, he barguined for q plank
board that stood in the doorway, and com.
ing back 10 The smiling girl who was jus,
coqueiish enough 10 accep. the services of
The handsome young sailor. he bridged tho
narrow black stream, and she ripped across
with merry shank you," and roguish
smile, making her eyes nE dazzling as they
could be.
Alas our young sailbr was perfectly
charmed. What else would make him
catch up and shoulder the plank, and follow
the iltle witch through The streets 10 her
homo. she twice performing the ceremony
Of walking The plank" and each time
thanking him with one Of her eloquen,
smiles. Presently our hero saw the young
lady trip up the marble steps Of palace OF
house, and disappear within lis rosewood
entrance; for full minute he stood looking
al The door, and then with wonderfully
big sigh turned away. disposed Of his draw.
bridge, and wended his path back 10 his
ship.
The next day he was as,onished with an
order Of promotion from, The captain. Poor
Jack was spcechless with amazsmens be
had not dreamed Of being. exalted to the
dignity Of second mates Office on board
one of the most splendid ships that sailed
out Of The por Of New Orleans. ,EIe knew
he was competent, for instead of spending
his money for smusements. visiting ,heaiers
and bowling. alleys. on his return from sea,
he purchased books and had become quite
student; but he expected years to intervene
before his ambitious hopes would be real.
lied.
His superior officers seemed 10 look upon
him with considerable leniency, and gave
him many fair opportunity 10 gather mar.
alme knowledge; and in year, The hand.
some, genllemanly young mate had acqui.'
red unusual favor in the eyes Of the ponly
commander, Captain Hume, who had FIRST
taken The smart lule black.eyed fellow
with his neat ,arpauliu, and tidy bundle. az
his cabin boy.
One night The young man with all the 9th.
er officers. was invited TO an entertainment
at the captains house. He went, and TO-
his astonishment, mounted the identical
steps, that, Two years before, the hesbrighiesI'
vision he had ever seen, passed over; Wis.
ion he had never forgone Thump, lhump'
went his brave heart, as he was ushered
into The great parlor; and like a sedge- ham!
mer i, bea. again when Captain Hume
brought forward his blue.eyed daughIer,'
and with pleasan, smile, said, ,"The young
lady once indebted 10 your poii,ensss for
safe and dry walk home" His eyes were
all a.blaze, and his brown cheeks flushed
holly, as The noble captain saun,ercd away,
leaving fair Grace Hume athis side. And
in all that assembly was no, SO handsome q
couple as the gallant suilor and the ''p,euy
Iadie."
Ilwas only one year from thai lime that
The second MAZE lrod the quarter deck, Sec
ond only in command, and part owner with
The captain, not only in his vessel, bus in
The affections Of bis daughter, gentle Grace
Hume, who had always cherished respect
to say nothing Of love for the bright eyed
sailor
His homely, bu' earnes. act of politeness'
toward his child had pleased the captain
and though The youth knew il not, was the
cause Of his first promotion. So that now
the old man has retired from business, Hen.
ry Wells is Captain Wells, and Grace Hume
is, according 10 polite parlance, "Mrs. Cap.
luin Wels." In TACT, our honest sailor is
one of the riches, men IN the Crescent City,
and he owes perhaps tho greater par, Of his
prosperity 10 his lac. and poli,enssS in cross-
ing the s.ree..--O!ive Branch.
------------
During The las, three years The wives OF
nine men have been brought ,oihe Mass
schnsa,is S,aia L.nnatic HusDital. nj War