Georgetown weekly news., 1855-03-22

after awhile, he concluded to take wife as
soon as he could catch one; but there was
the rub; his time was so occupied with his
business that he had no time to court, and.
worse than all, he was bashful man. When
threading the streets of Richmond, if he saw
sprightly maiden of eighteen advancing
In his path, he would cross the street and
pass away on the other side, fearful of being
killed by shot from her sparkling eyes,
He had often heard his parents speak much
In praise of the bonnv lassies wha PLAYED
amanS the heather on the hill tops in Scot
land, and bright idea now struck him.
When he was leaving the Office one day, his
clerk was copying a duplicate order for sun
dries to be sent as part Of the return cargo.
Thinks he to himself, I'll order young las
sic for wife, as the last item on the list
The article was ordered accordingly. At
the same time he wrote private letter Of
instructions to his agent Mr.. McAlpin,
giving a minute description of the article
wanted as to age, height, health, &C.: in
summing up, he added, she must be a bon
ME Scotch lassie, to be sent by the return
of his own ship, her name on the manifest,
bill Of lading, &c. On her arrival he prom
ised to have her stored in the house of a
respectable widow. whom he named, and il
agreeable to the parties concerned, he would
make her his wife in thirty days after her
arrival. If not, and she wished to return,
he would pay both her expenses and loss OF
time, &c.
"When Shandy McAlpin had finished
reading the letter Of instructions, he slowly
removed the spectacles from his nose, and
leaning back in his huge, old fashioned,
wellStuffed arm chair, and fixing his eyes
on the ceiling in his Office, he commenced
muttering to himself as follows The lad,
(his correspondent, then in his thirtieth
year, is DAFT or crazy-he tells me to send
him wife, as if she was barrel O. sat
herrings-Good kens the fash (trouble) |
was at to get wife for my5el'-but I'll
see what the guide wife says. "a bright
idea.)
Next day Mrs. McAlpn sat in counsel
with Mrs. a. Il B. Invitations were sent
to ten matrons, whose daughters were in
and out OF their teens, to assemble at the
tea-board of Mrs. McAlpin on the day fol-
lowing. Each matron was requested to
bring with her daughter who was not DER
young to marry yet. All being present an
hour before tea. Mr.. McAlpin read the let
ter, and made the necessary explanations.
They then sat down to tea; supper being
ended, each lass gave in her ultimatum:
t lree only were willing to embark On the
voyage OF matrimonial discovery the three
agreed to draw cuts. Mary Robinson drew
the longest straw, and was hailed the bon
ME bride
IN ten days thereafter, they were breast
ing the waves Of the Atlantic Ocean; they
entered the Chesapeake Bay after passage
OF twelve weeks, which, at the period was
termed a good passage. In two DAYS more
they were ascending the shores of the James
River, when Mr., Crawford, (the hero of our
tale heard the ship had arrived. He man.
ned his own boat with four stout men-ser-
wants, and started to meet the ship. Mary
Was standing on the quarterback. admiriny
natures widest grandeur; she had recover
eel from the sea-sickneSs when four davs out;
the healthful breezes of the Atlantic had
imprinted on her pretty face a beautiful
freshness; there she stood, her cheeks tinged
with the roses Of Sharon, and her bonnv
brow as white as the lily Of tie valley
Crawford sprang on deck, and was intro
duced by the captain. He looked on Mary
with love and admiration: her soft hand Law
IN his; he was shot, Crawford, the captain,
and Mary descended from the ship, and re-
paired to the house of the widow aforesaid
On the thirtieth day Of probation, the low
ers were united in the holy bonds of wed
lock. The old lady remarked she often
heard her mother say a happier couple new
er lived. John Anderson my Joe John,
was their motto and their song"