Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-11-29
From harper's Magazine.
MARRYING UNDER DIFFICULTIES,
A VIRGINIA STORY

. From Earper's Magazine.
S MARRYING UNDER DIFFICULTIES,
A VIRGINIA STORY.
Nathan Jones, It small farmer IN our VI
~cinity, had a daughter, as pretty and buxom
lass as ever thumped buttormilk in churn;
and whether you saw her carrying eggs to
market Oil fy-bitten mare or helping to
stir applo-butter at frolic, or making a
long reach at aquilting, CT sitting demurely
in the log Westinghouse on Sunday--in
short, wherever you saw her, she looked as
pretty, if not prettier, than she eEer did
before.
Notwithstanding her attractions, it Will
scarcely be credited that Sally had reached
the mature age Of eighteen without an ayow-
ed sutton. Admirers, nay lovers. sha hal
by the score and many a signing bachelor
would willingly have given his riding-horsc,
or even his share in Dads farm, for her,
There was indeed, no lack Of will tLe DIFF
Guilty was in mastering up courage TO make
! the proposal. Mankind seemed, for once to
be impressed with proper sense Of It's own
unworthinesa. Now, far be it from any one
to infer from this tkat Sally was prudiah or
unappr0achable On the contrary, she was
as good humored, as comedy, and disposed to
be loving as she vas loveable Poor Sally,
| it is a great misfortune for girl TO be too
handsome almost as great as TO be ugly.
There she was, soeiable and warm-heartod as
a pigeon, amiable as a turtle-doxe, looking
soft encouragement as plain as 4a...s,en mod
esty permitted her, to her bashful company
Of admirers who dawdle about her, twid-
ding their thumbs biting the bark off their
riding switches, and playing number Of
other sheepish tricks. but never saying q
word to the purpose.
" Either he fears his fate too much,
Or his desert is small,
bho dares not put it to the touch,
And win or lose it all.
Sally was entering on her nineteenth year
when she was one day heard to observe that
men were the moarost. sloNest, cowardliest,
or aarioat creatures in short good fer Moth
ing but to lay unde. 2 apple tree with their
mouths open, and wait until the apples drop
ped in them.
This observation was circulated from
mouth to mouth, and ike the riddle CT tie
Sphynx, was deeply penaered by Sally's To-
yers. II any Of them had wit enough to
solve rs meaning certainly 40 one had
pluck enough to prove the answer.
Net of this poor spirited crowd was Sum
Bates, a Stalwart YOUTH, who stood, in win
ter, six feet~tYo inches iii his stockings. Gin
summer he did not wear auy.1 Sam was
not handsome in the ordinary sense of the
term, he was treel;led, had a biz mouth. and
carrotty hair, His feet---but no matter, he
usually wore Ne, fourteen mud half boots,
because they fitted hin better tI4an sc5ens or
Fights. Sam was a wagon-raaker by pro-
tession, owned shop, and several hundred
acres of unimproyed land, which secured to
him the reputation Of independence For
the rest he was registering blade good
rider, crack shot with a rife AM an ac-
comphshed fiddler. Eold 10 the confines Of
imprudence he was fav0rite IF the fair
with a heart as big as his foot, and a Est Ike
a sodge hammer. he was the acknowledged
cock of the walk, and the preax cavalier OF
the pine hill country.
Mr.. Bates mel sally Jones for the FIRST
time at quilting and in sixty seconds af-
ter sight he had determined TO court her
lie sat beside her as sh9 stitched, and even
had the audacity to squeeze her hand under
the quilt. Truth is mighty and must be
told. Although Sally did resent the impcr-
Thence with stick of her needle. she was
not half so indignant as she ought to have
been. I dare not say she was pleased, but
perhaps ] shoald net be far from the treth
if | did. 1t is uadeniabie that thc more
modest and gentle wonan is, the more the
othef sex love them. Sally bushed every
time her eyes met those Of her aew beau,
apd tlat was as often as she looked up As
for Sam, the longer he gazed the deeper he
sunk in the mire Of love, and by the end Of
the evening his heart and his confidence
were both completely overwhelmed As he
undertook to see Sail home, he felt numb
ness in his joints that was entirely new to
Kim, and when he tried 20 make known his
sentiments rs he had previously intended,
he found that his heart was so swellod up
that it closed his throat, and lie couldn't ut
ter a word.
what sneak vas" groaned sam. as
he tssfned that night on his sleepless pillow
whats come over me that | can't speak
my mind to a pretty girl without a choak-
in oh bit she is too pretty live on dis
airth. Well, an going to church With
her tomorrow and if | don't fx matters
afore | get back, then fix me"
L is probable that Sam Bates Lad never
hearkened to the story Of B.aselas, Prince
of Abyssinia, OF he would have bean less
credulous while thus listening &c the whis-
pors of fancy, and less ready 20 take It for
granted that the deficiency Of to-day would
be supplied by tomorrow. The morrow
came, and in due time Mr. Bates, trieked
off in a bran new twelve dollar spit Of jews
clothes, was on the way to the meeting be-
side The beautiful Sally His horse, hodeek-
ed With e new fair leather bride, AID new
saddle with brass stirrups, looked as gay as
his master. As they rode up to the door,
Sam could not forhear casting a triumphant
glance at the crowd of Sally's adorers, that
stood around filled with modification and
envy at his successful audacitg- &aliy's face
was roseate with pleasure and bashfuhess.
''Stop minute now, Miss Sally I'll just
get down and lift you oil. =
Sam essayed to dismoN,t, but in SO doiae
found that both feet were horelessly fast il
the stirrups. Ills face swe}led and REDEEM
ed like a turkey gobblor's layain he twis-