The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-08-30
From the CzarI:SrjHc Tobacco Plant
Extraordinary Marriage.

our readers Will remember that some
time since we stated it was very usual fol
ladies to institute suits for breach of mar
rlage promise, but that no instance O.
such suit, in which the gentleman wa;
the plaintiff, had fallen within the range
of our observation or reading. The fol-
lowing facts may lead to such denounce-
ment
Squire John Bradsher, of Person coun.
ty, n. G. had been a widower for only q
few months After the loss of his part
ner, he felt sadly oppressed with the un-
Wonted loneliness of his situation, aud ma.
turally fell into the habit of visiting Miss
Frankly Lea, of the neighborhood, by way
of dispelling his gloom, 1t is not in hu-
man nature for two persons of opposite
sexes, with warm impulses and throbbing
hearts, to associate constantly and init
mately, without becoming strongly at
tached, one to the other. The thought
of marriage, at first, perhaps, entered the
brain of neither. But Miss Frankly, as is
the saying, had the quills. Twelve thou
sand was her dowry. This, with other
attractions, (for mind you, she was only
81 y operated like magic upon the ardent
nature Of the Squire, who, though in his
SEVENTEEN year, was rejuvenised by the
inspiration of Miss Franky's smile. He
proposed-she accepted. The morning
of Saturday, the 18th July, just passed,
at 8 o'clock, was fixed upon for the mar
riage. The Squire procured his license,
paid an extra price for it, in view Of the
expected accession to his wealth, employ
ed parson, rugged himself off in a suit
of black, and made every other imagina-
bic preliminary arrangement for the cere-
mony which was to consumate his bliss.
The daughters of Mr., Samuel Johnson,
another widower of the neighborhood,
were invited to the wedding. johnson
was only 57-Niss Franky's age exactly.
They had been children together and
while they were both young they had
loved. He was not satisfied that she and
the Squire should marry. On Friday
evening, the day before the expected we'd
ding, seeing a neighbor passing his house,
be hailed him. The neighbor found
johnson very much excited and disturb
ed. Johnson stated to him that he could
not bear the thought Of Miss Frankly S
marrying Squire Bradsher, and that he
wanted him to 60 to Miss Frankly at once
and say to her for him that if she pre-
ferred marrying him to Squire Bradsher,
she could do so. The neighbor insisted
on his writing her letter to this effect,
offering to deliver it. "No," says he, "I
am entirely too nervous to hold pen
You must 60 and deliver the message"
Finally he consented and repaired to Miss
Franky's residence, charged with this
message of love. Miss Frankly, in reply,
authorized him to say to Mr.. Johnson,
that if he would get ready to marry her
at sunrise the next morning, she would
marry him.
1t was then late in the afternoon. Hav-
ing no time to spare, he put off under
whip and spur to Roxborough, the county
seat, for bis license, and at the same mo-
ment started off a servant to Leasburg,
for a parson. The servant took care not
to inform the minister what it was his
master wanted with him, but only said
that his services we're imperatiyely re-
quired at sunrise the next morning.
Mr.. Johnson, the minister, who had
been engaged to officiate, and the friend
who had borne the messages Of love be-
tween Miss Frankly and the bridegroom,
were at their post at the appointed hour.
The marriage rites were performed, and
Miss Frankly Lea became Mrs. Frankly
job nson.
An hour afterward Squire Bradsher
and his retinue were to come. Accord
ly the bride hastily addressed note to
to the Squire, informing him that she was
no longer Miss Frankly Lea but Mrs
Frankly johnson, and that he need not
trouble himself any further about her.
The astonishcd yet incredulous Squire
could not believe the note authentic, but
regarded it as hoax attempted to be
practiced upon him by some of the wild
young men of the neighborhood. To set
tie the matter he hastened over to seee his
inamorata. Arrived in her presence he
presented the note to her and inquired il
she wrote it. She replied in the afirma-
tive Incensed at her faithlessness, he
INDUCED (who that is mortal would not!J
in bitter complaints of her ill-treatment
(Johnson meantime in the next room, re-
clining on a sofa, costly smoking his pipe
and listening with more of merrlment al
the imprecations heaped upon his bride
Indeed having foiled his competitor, while
in the very act of pluc king the fruit foT
which he so much yearned, he could vel
afford to endure the pain of few bitter
reproaches.
After free ebullition Of his Indignation
the Squire retired, resolved, as our infor.
mant tells us, upon resort to the law tc
staunch his heart wounds, and heal as faI
as possible, his bruised and lacerated at
fections.
Having derived these facts from uu
doubted authority, they may be regarded
as true to the letter
Old Howqua, the rich China merchant
not being able to find a burying place tC
suit him, saved the bodies of his deceased