The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-03-10
sinVaiar Mode Of Couriship.

The Rev. Dr. LII, an eminent Scotch
divine, and professor Of theology, was re.
markable for absence Of mind, and indif-
ference to worldly affairs. His mind,
wrapt up in lofty contemplation, could sell
dom sioop to the ordinary business ollie,
and when at any time be did attend TO
secular affairs, be generally went about
them in way unlike any body else, as
the history OF his eourtship will show
lie was greatly beloved by his elders and
congregation; was full Of simplicity and
sincerity, and entirely unacquainted with
the etiquette Of the world. Living the
solitary. eOmfortless life Of a bachelor, his
elders gave him frequent hints that his do
nestle happiness would be much i~ncreas-
ed by his taking to himself a wife, and
pointed out several young ladies' in his
congregation any one Of whom might be
n ft 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 into
matrimonial alliance, at last concluded to
wait upon him and stir him up to the per-
fOrmance of his duty. They urged on
him the advantages of marriage, its hap
piness-spoke of it as a divine institution,
and as affording all the enjoyments of
sease and reason, and, in short, all the
sweets of domestic life. The Doctor APP
proved of all they said, and ~apologized
for his past neglect of duty, on account Of
many passages of scripture he had oflate
been attending to, and promised to look
after it, the first convenient season. The
elders, however, were to be put off no lon
ger, and they insisted on the Doctor at
once making use of means, and requested
from him a promise that, on Monday af-
ternoon, he would straightway visit the
house of a widow lady, a few doors from
him, who had three pretty daughters, and
who were the most respectable in the Doc
tors congregation. TO solve any difficult
passage in the book of Genesis-reconcile
apparent discrepancies, or clear up a knot
ty text would have been an easy and a
.greeable task to the Doctor, compared with
Storming the widows premises. But to
the raising the Doctor must go and with
great gravity and simplicity, gentle read
Ell, you can imagine you see him commen-
cling his work.
After the usual s~alutations were over,
he said to Mrs. WI my session have
of late been advising me to take a wife,
and recommended me to call on you; and
as you have three fine daughters. | would
like to say a word to the eldest, if you
have no objections Miss w. enters, and
the Doctor with his characteristic simplici-
ty said to her, my session have been adj
Nising me to take wife, and recommend
ed me to call upon YOU The young la
dy, who had seen some thirty summers,
was not to be caught so easily; she laugh
ed heartily at the Doctors abruptness;
limited to him that in making a sermon
was it not necessary to say something first
to introduce the subject properly before he
entered fully upon it, and as for her part,
she was determined not to surrender her
liberty at a moments w~arning-the honor
of her sex WAS concerned in her standing
out. This was all II waste OF time to the
Doctor, and he requested to see her sister.
Miss E. W. then entered, and to save
time the Doctor says, My session have
been advising me to take Il wife, and |
had been speaking to your sister who has
jusU gone out at the door, and as she is not
inclined hat way, what would you think
of being Mrs. L--?' ooh! Doctor, |
don't know, il is rather a serioas 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, 'isso 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 tome. Inamoment comes
the honest, lively Miss Mary w. Come
away, my child, it is getting on in the af-
t~ernoon, and | must get home to my stu
dies. | have been speaking to both your
sisters on a little business, and they have
dcclincd-I am & man Of few words, and
without m~isspcnding precious time, what
would you think of being made Mrs. L."
Indeed, / always thought deal of you,
Doctor, and if MY mother does not say a.
gainst it have no objections. The Doc
or left Miss Mary in a few minutes, en-
joining her to fix the day, for any 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', all claiming the Doc
tor. The eldest one said the offer was
first made to her, and she did not posi-
lively refuse. The second declared that
she wished a little time to think upon it;
and the younger insisted that it was com
pIetely settled with her. The mother OF
the young ladies was obliged to call upon
the Doctor himself to settle the dispute
She called, and the reverend Doctor, in his
characteristic manner said, MY dear Mrs.
w, | am very fond of peace in families; it
is all the same thing to me, which of them,
and just settle it among yourselves, and
send me up word The Doctor wal mar
ried to the youngest, and one of his sons
is at this day a respectable clergyman, 'in
the land, on the mountain and the flood.
ST. Louis Bulletin.