Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-09-11
FINDING A HUSBAND.
BY PEGGY MoREuEAD. .

Uncle, may ride Milo?' l said, one
bright June morning. US We sat at the
breakfast table.
hide Milo!'
Yes! It's such a beautiful day.
But he'll throw you!'
Throw me! And l laughed merrily
and increduously. Say yes. uncle dear.
continued, cOaxingly, there's nothing
to fear; and I'm dying for a canter.
You'll die for canter them he re-
torted, with his grim wit, FOR he'll break
your neck. The horse has only been rid
den three times, twice by myself, and
once by Joe.'
But you've often said was better
rider than joe Joe was the stable boy.
That's good uncle, now do And |
threw my arms about his neck and kis-
sed him.
knew. by experience. that. when l
did this. | generally carried the day. My
uncle tried to look stern; but saw he was
relen,ing. lie made last effort, huwev-
er, to deny me.
why not take Dobbin?' he said.
'Dobbiu!' L said. Old, snail paced
DObbin, on such Il morning as this. One
might as we'll ride rocking>horse at
OIce.
We'll, we'll. he sail. If must, l must
You'll tease the life out Of me, If l don't
let you have your way. 1 wish you'd
get husband, you mink. you're going
beyond nay control
'Humph! A husband. Well, since
you say SO. I'll begin to look out for one
to day
He'll soon repent Of his bargain said
my uncle; but his smile belied his words.
Au're as short as pie-clust if You can't
have your way, There seeing l WAS
about to speak, go and get ready, while
1 tell Joe to saddle Milo. You'll set the
house fire if don't send you off,
Milo was soon at the door, a gay, met
tlesome colt, who laid his cars back as |
mounted and give me q vicious look did
not quite like.
Take care.' said my uncle. IT'S not
too late to give it up
1 was piqued.
L never give up anything.' said.
Not even the finding of a husband,
eh?'
No. I'll ride down to the poor-house
and ask old Toby, the octogenarian pnu-
per, to have me; and you'll be forced 20
hire Poll Wilkes to cook your dinners.
And as said this. my eyes twinkIed
mischievously, for uncle was an old bach
elor, who Getested all strange women,
and had special aversion to Poll Wilkes,
q sour old maid of forty seven, because,
years ago. she had plotted to cntrap
him into matrimony. Before he could
reply, gave Milo his head.
John Gilpin, we are told went fast; but
l went faster. 1t was not long before the
colt had it all his own. way. At first
tried to check his speed; but he got the
bit in his mouth; and all could do was
to hold on and trust to firing him out
Trees, fences and houses went by US like
wild pigeons on the wing. AS long as
the road was clear we did we'll enough
but suddenly coming to a blasted oak
that started out, spectrelike, from the
edge of the wood, Milo SHE'D, twisted
half round, and planted his fore feet stub
bOrnly in the ground. did not know
was falling, till felt myself in mud.
hold, which lay at one side of the road
Here was fine end to my boasted
norsemanship! But as the mud was soft,
was not hurt, and the ludicrous specta.
Gle presented soon got the upper hand
OF my vexation. "A fine chance I have
of finding husband, in this condition |
said to myself, recalling my Jest with un>
Gle. IF could see some mud dryad
now, and pass myself off for mud
nymph, l might have a chance And
began to pick myself up.
Shall help you. Miss?' suddenly sale
deep. manly voice.
looked up. and saw young man, the
suppressed merriment of whose blacl
eyes brought the blood to my check, and
made me. for au instant, ashamed and
angry. But on glaucing again at my
dress, could not hel p laughing in spite
ofmyself. stood in the mud, at leas
six inches above the top of my shoes. My
riding skirt was plastered all over. so that
1t was almost impossible to tell Of what it
was made. My hands and arms were
mud to the elbows, for had instructive
ly extended them, as fell, in order 10
protect myself.
The young man, as he spoke, turned
to the neighboring fence. and taking of
the top rail. placed it across the puddle,
then putting his arm around my waist,
he lifted me out. though not without
eaying my shoes behind While he was
1shlng these out, which he began imme>
dlately to do. 1 stole behind the enor-
nous old oak to hide my .blushing face,
and scrape the mud from. my stockings
ana riding skirt. had managed to get
the hrSt little cIeanar ,nt ,bs .1as,1 -. =