Weekly Delaware State journal, statesman and blue hen's chicken. (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-18??, 1857-08-28
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Settling q Knnttv Questinn.

not, Aug. IL.
Settling Knotty Question.
One evening In the month Of November. while
Rollins was sitting in his lonely room meditating
on the past aud wondering whittier the tempest
would eventually lead him, he suddenly bounded
from his chair, snapped his fingers, looked out
Of the windows, put more coal on the fire,
pumped himself again into his chair, and then
sollloquised: "It's Of no use," said he, "to
endure this COMPOUNDED perplexity any longer.
One thing is certain, | love them all; and why
should not at once declared Suppose they do
laugh at my quadruped affection, what then I
am sure they must see my sincerity, and con-
clude that ! am man of m immensely large
heart thus to be able to love all four Of them
with this inextngushable ardor Yet as eau
marry but one, the selection must be made by
their casting lots for me, and passing strange it
is, too, that this happy thought should never
have occurred to me until this present hour.
And then, in this delicious lottery, shall be
very sure on my part, to draw a prize, for tho
good reason there are no blanks But will the
ladies enter into this arrangement By my
soul they must My proposed plan will at least
show that am not partial, and there will be no
occasion among them for Jealousy"
Ii was to Miss Harriet Anodyne that Mr.. Rol-
Inns first intimated the tender sentiments she
had inspired, and on the first mention Of it the
young lady blushed oyerpoweringly. But as
Mr. Rollins further declared that the strength
of his affection was equally great for their three
mutual friends, her countenanoe underwent nn
expression OF the most comical curiosity and as
Mt last the proposed scheme was diyulged where
by q selection was to be made, Miss Harriet
laughed until she was we'll nigh choked.
"Ah, Miss Harriet, you may laugh, but de-
wise better plan for me IL you can. You know
very well that If | were to select any one of the
other three and leave you, you would consider
yourself sighted and neglected You see, then,
that it is quite necessary for the happiness Of
all concerned, that should carry my point, aud
as profess to be ahovs board in all my trans
actions, shall state the cnse to your very wor-
thy father, and ask him to superintend the
drawing"
"of course, Mr.. Rollins" replied Miss Har
riet, you eau ask Pas cooperation in any
thing you choose, but the whole procedure
would be so strange and unusual that 80 far a,
| am concerned, must beg
"Now, Miss Harriet, if you please, beg no
thing" interrupted Rollins, =" for rely upon it
shall excuse neither Of you, and when 20,
have seriously considered the subject, you viii
not wish to be excused yourself What sens,
would there be, | ask you, in my going out o
our little circle for a wife ?"
On the day of this interview Mr.. Rollins mad
known his delicate intentions to the other thre
ladies, and at first they were disposed to regar
the matter in jocuar light but on being as
sured by Mr. Rollins that he loved them all wit
i poetic ardor and n never-dying affection, it j
difficult to say whether amazement or mirth wa
, the prominent emotion Of their breasts. Whe
Miss Harriet Anodyne related to her father tn
/ singular communication which had been mad
. to her, the Doctor was thrown into such convu
sions OF laughter that he protests to this da
he gained seven pounds Of flesh on the strengt
, of it.
, In the evening the four loved ones got tt
gether, and compared notes, and whit glo
and iutter Of chatting excitement they were
in, to be sure.
. Miss Atterbury, Miss Auodyne and Mi,
Rachel Pettigrew mdae feint of treating til
{ subject with derision; but Miss Amelia PETIT
grew very canldly confessed that she was a
s tracted by the novelty Of the thing, and IL II
/ others would agree, she would ehsorfuly fall
# with Mr.. Rollins humor.
$ And girls, why should we not.' she il
y quired "one Of us will be sure to get goc
u husband, and we may be equally sure til
= unless we consent to be wooed in this quarter
n manner, some other than our dear selves will
= the winner. Pa says that any person acquaint,
o with Rollins might have known that if he ev
If got married at all it would be done up in ii
i true Rollins style, and for his part he can't 81
# any improperly in our owning the soft in
y peachment, and making ourselves grand b,
r mental lottery at Mr.. Rollins earliest conv
J. nience. Besides, girls, it is rather q pleasai
l. reflection that Mr.. Rollins sights none of u
10 and after the lucky one is married and settle
10 the three remaining in single blessedness vi
| have that blessedness augmented in this la
rophy to our waning charms
J. The ladies went off in fresh ordinations
!, Amelia's playful grafton bur it was plain
l. see that they were beginning to waver; 10 thil
d more seriously of the matter, AMI before the
3. parted 1t was, " Well, after all, no one is
1t know anything about it, but ourselves, and ]
q cousents-and If Ma consents, and in shor
V such is the real tendency among the fair sex 1,
n lotteries and matrimony, that Mr.. Rollins ca
d ried his point.
l. 1t was cold but pleasant evening in the b
d ginning of December, that the four heroines al
F. their love were assembled in the coy back pa
r. lor at DR.. Anodynes. The ladies looked som
n what excited, but the worthy Rollins was
o comfortable and self-possessed as a duck in
n millpond. He seemed to regard the approac
IS ing transaction as in no degree outre, but as
j. gular and business-like, and as Just the On
m method left whereby gentleman with cap
u cious heart could be extricated from a dilemm
Q BE satisfied, ladies, love you all, but my 8
d preme affection will be centered in the hum.
l. prize draw"
l. At this the ladies, in a Autter of amicsb
If confusion, simpered little; but just then h
h tread Of DR., Anodyne was heard, and the
/ hearts went pit-a-pat. The doctor entered al
$, put twenty tickets in box. Each lady had h
& name on five of these, and the doctor said
y should take eleven out singly, shaking the b,
N after each time ticket was drawn, and ii
p lady having the largest number of the resid
e must step up to the Bishops office with NJ
=. Rollins and settle.
At the first drawing of the eleven ticket
Of Miss Rachel Pettigrew and Miss Atterbury h,
IS a majority Of tickets, but also an equal numb
of them, and SO there was necessity for anoth
ii attempt In the second series Of drawinp
as what huttering Of hearts there was when d
he eleven tickets were all taken from the box.
r As the doctor deliberately opened them, ey,
IN Rollins betrayed SEINE emotion, and il was a
o. nounced that choice had been effected, and
to the doctors requesting all the parties to drn
nigh to the table, the scene was worthy h
pencil of Cruikshank. The result was, Of
n lady four tickets; and this lady was Miss Ha
u. riet, the doctors lovely daughter. Mfr. Rolli
n instantly sprang to her side, and.her fair con
a panions. regarding her as the heaven elect
IN bride, bestowed those sweet csresses which mol
hnt Ia E,a a e.. L