Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-02-11
SINGULAR MODE OF coURTsHIP.

line lflef. LII. ilI-------s du eminent
Scotch divine, and professor of theology,
was remarkable for his absence of mind 4
and indifference to worldly affairs. His
mind wrapt up i'm lofty contemplations,
could seldom stoop to the ordinary busis
ness of life, and when at any time he did
attend to secular affairs, he generally
went about them ina way unlike anybody
else, as the history of his eourtship will
show. He was greatly beloved by his
elders and congregation !; was full of
Simplicity and sincerity, and entirely un-
acquainted with the etiquette of the
world. Living the solitary comfortless
life of bachelor, his elders gave him
frequent hints that his domestic happi-
ness would be much increased by his ia
king to himself wife, and pointed out
several young ladies in his congregation,
any one of whom might be fit match
or companion for him,
The elders, finding all the hints had no
effect in rousing the doctor to the using
of the means, preliminary to entering in
to matrimonial alliance at last conclu-
ded to wait upon him, and stir him up to
the performance of his duty. They
urged on him the advantages of marriage
its happiness spoke of it as a divine
institution, and as affording all the en-
joyments Of sense and reason, and in
short, all the sweets of domestic life
The doctor approved of all they said, and
apologized for bis past neglect of duty, on
account of many difficult passages of
Scripture he had of late been attending TO,
and promised to look after it, "the first
convenient season" The elders, how
ever, were not to be put off any longer /,
they insisted on the doctor at once ma
king use of the means. and requested
from him promise that, on Monday af-
ternoon, he would straightway visit the
house of widow lady, few doors from
him, who had three pretty daughters, and
who were the most respectable in the
doctors congregation.
To solve any difficult passages in the
book of Genesis-reconcile apparent dis
crepancies, or clear up a knotty text,
task to the doctor, compared with storm
ing the widows premises. But to the
raising of the siege the doctor must go,
and, with great gravity and simplicity,
gentle reader, you can imagine you see
him commencing the work.
After the usual salutations were over,
he said to Mrs. WI, "my session
have of late been advising me to take a
wife, and recommended me to call upon
you and as you have three fine daugh-
ters, would like to say a word TO the
eldest, if you have no objections" Miss
W enters, and the doctor with his
characteristic simplicity said to her, ''my
session have been advising me to take a
wife, and recommended me to call upon
you" The young lady, who had seen
some thirty summers, was not to be
caught so easily; she laughed heartily at
the doctors "bruptness' limited to him
that in making sermon, was it not ne
cessary to say something first to intro
duce the subject properly before he en-
tered fully upon it !; and as for her part,
she was determined not to surrender her
liberty at moments warning" the
honor of her sex was concerned in her
standing OUT This was all waste of
time to the doctor, and he requested to
see her sister.
Miss E. WI then entered, and to
save time the Doctor says, "my session
have been advising me to take wife, and
l had been speaking to your sister who
has just gone out at the door, and as she
is not inclined that way, what would you
think of being Mrs. In ?"
cob, Doctor, l don't know, it's rath-
or serious question. Marriage you
know, binds one for life, and it should
not be rashly entered into-I would not
consent without taking time to deliberate
upon it." "My time" says the Doctor,
"is so much occupied, and as my session
has said so much to me on the business,
that must finish it to-day, if can, so
you had best tell your mother to send in
your youngest sister to speak to me."-
In a moment comes the honest, lively Miss
Mary WI. Come away my child,
it is getting on in the afternoon, and l
must get home to my studies have
been speaking to both your sisters on a
little business, and they have declined-I
am man of few words, and without
misspending precious time, what would
you think of being made Mrs. L-n?"
"Indeed I alwaysI Thought deal of you,
Doctor, and if my mother does not say
against it, have no objections" The
Doctor left Miss Mary in few minutes,
enjoining her to fix the day, for any one
would suit him, but to send him up word
the day before.
The Doctor was scarcely home before
a keen dispute arose in the family among
the three young ladies in claiming the
Doctor, The eldest one said the offer
was first made to her, and she did not
positively refuse. The second declared
that she wished only little time to think
upon it, and the younger insisted that it
was completely settled with her The
mother of the young ladies was in such
difficulty with her daughters, that she
was obliged to call upon the Doctor him
self to settle the dispute. She called, and
II 4