The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-02-23
IMPORTING A WIFE.

Grant Thorburn communicates 10 the
Waterbury Comm American the follow
ing incidents; .."r
"In ls47 / jourreyed from New York
overland TO Columbia, the capital Of South
Carolina, making en- route through North
Carolina and Virginia. spent two sum-
mers and three winters among those bar.
barians, but never heard the sound of the
lash. On certain day was invited 10 a
tea party in Richmond, Va.-lhere were
present about Twenty couple OF young men
and maidens, old men and matrons, with
a small sprinkling Of bachelors, who had
doubled their Teens, who from appearance
belonged 10 the upper tens. Supper being
ended we commenced conversing in groups
| was much amused and edited by the con.
versalion Of an intelligent lady who had
seen eighty winters. She remarked that in
her girlish days il was customary for cap.
tains ofsvessels 10 bring as part Of their
cargo large company OF men and women,
who were styled Redemp,ionists, who were
sold on their arrival by the captain for men
servants and maid.servanis, TO wait on the
wives and children Of the painters or mer-
chanis. They wutr ohon suiu 10 serve twu
or three years 10 pay for their passage. The
old lady remarked that she had heard her
parents tell, that in The early times OF the
settlement, II sometimes happened that
bachelors and widowers would select n
boDny Scotch or Welsh lady, buy their
time. and long before The years Of proba.
tion expired, they took them for better and
for worse. for bed and for board, thus form.
ing life coparinership, which closed The
concern.
"The old lady related with all the
spIighlly humor Of lass in her teens) the
following amusing incident. I'LL.
"Says she, my grandfather came from
Scotland when in his tweniy.first year. He
settled in Virginia, and became a merchant
and planter, and grew rich. HIS agent in
Glasgow was Alexander McAlpin, 10 whom
he consigned two or three cargoes Of tobac.
co every year, and received in return cash,
dry goods, hardware, SO. He had focks
and herds, men servants and maid.servanis,
hogs, mules, and donkeys. Blu, one thing
he yet lacked; he had no pretty little young
wife 10 sing 10 him, and beguile the time
with her pratlling, lively Yankee tongue,
when he came home at night fa,igued with
counting money, and saiialed with worldly
pelf-for he had more Of that than heart
could wish. So, after while, he conclud.
ed.io take wife as soon as no could calch
one but there was the rub; his time was
SO occupied with his business that he had
no time 10 court; and worse than all, he
was bashinl man. When threading ih.
streets OF Richmond, il he saw sprighily
maiden OF eighteen advancing in his path,
he would cross the street, and pass away on
the other side, fearful Of being killed by a
sho, from her sparkling eyes. He had often
heard his parents speak much in praise OF
the bonny lassies trha played amang The
heather on the hill tops in Scotland, and
bright idea now struck him. When he
was leaving the Office one day, his clerk
was copying duplicate order for sundries
TO be sent rs part OF the return cargo
Thinks he TO himself'l'll order young
lassIe for a wife as the last item on the lisl.
The article was ordered accordingly. Al
the same time he wroic a private letter 10
his agent, Mr.. McAlpin, giving a minute
OF the article wanted, rs 10 age,
height, health, &c.; in summing up he
added. she mus, be bonny Scotch lnssie,
10 be- sen, by the return OF his own ship,
her name on the manifest, bill Of lading, &c.
On her arrival he promised 10 have her
stored in the house OF respectable widow,
whom he named, IL agreeable 10 The parties
concerned, he would make her his wife in
,hir,y days after her arrival. II not, and
she wished TO return, he would pay'h her ex-
penses, loss OF time, &c.
"When Sandy McAlpin had finished
reading the letter Of instructions, he slowly
removed the speciacles from his nose, and
leaning back in his large old.iasnioncd well
stuffed arm-chair, and fixing his eyes on the
ceiling in his Office, ho commenced mu.ier-
ing TO himself rs follows: The lad This
correspondent, then in his ihir,ie,h year, is
daft or crazy-he tells me TO send him a
wife. rs IL she was barrel o. sat hsrrings
Good kens the fash (troutle) I was at 10
get wife for mysep-but I'll $50 what
guide wife says. "a bright idea. .g
"Naxt day Mrs. McAlpin sat in counsel
with Mrs. A. and B. Invitations were sent
10 Ten ma,rons. whose daughters were in
and out OF their teens. TO assemble at tho
iea-board Of Mrs. McAlpin on the day fol-
lowing. Each. marion was requested 10
bring with her daughter who was not Der
Young 10 marry yet. All being present an
hour before tea, Mr.. McAlpin read the let
fer, and the pecessary explanations. They
then sat down 10 tea /; supper being ended,