Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-07-09
1nteresting Gale.
THE VILLAGE PRIZE.

In one of the loyeliest villages in old
Virginia, there lived in the year u.s.,
an old man, whose daughter was declar-
ed, by universal consent, to be the love-
liest maiden in all the country around.
The veteran, in his youth, had been ath-
letic and muscular above all his fellows 4;
and his breast, where he always wore
them, could show the adornment of three
medals received for his victories in gym
nastic feats when young man. His
daughter was now eighteen, and had been
sought in marriage by many suitors
One brought wealth, another fne per-
son, another this and another that. But
they were all refused by the old man,
who became at last a by-word for his OBJ
stinacy among the young men of the vii
lagc and neigh5orhood.
AT length the nineteenth birthday Of
Annette, his charming daughter, who
was as amiablc and modest as she was
beautiful, arrived. The morning of that
day, her father invited all the youth of
the country to haymaking frolic. Sew
enteen handsome and industrious young
men assembled. They came not only to
make hay, but also to make love to the
fair Annette. In three hours they had
filled the fathers barns with the newly
dried grass, and their own hearts with
love. Annette, by hcr fathers command,
had brought the malt liquor of her own
brewing, whict she presented to each
enamored swain with her own fair hands.
Now, my boys, said the old keeper Of
the jewel they all coveted, as leaning on
their pitchforks they all assembled around
the door in the cool of the evening now,
my lads, you have nearly all of you made
proposals for my Annette. Now, you see,
| don't care anything about money, or
talents, nor book-lerrning, nor soldier
farming. 1 can do as well by my gal as
any man in the country. But l want her
to marry one of m, own grit. Now, you
know, or ought to know, when | was
youngstcr, could beat any thing in all
Virginny in the way of leaping. got
my old woman by beating the smartest
man on the Eastern Shore, and | have
took the oath and sworn it, that no man
shall marry my daughter without jump
ing for it. You understand me, boys.
There's the green, and here's Annette,
he added, taking his daughter, who stood
timidly behind him, by the hand. "Now,
the one that jumps the farthest on dead
level, shall marry Annette this very
night"
This unique address was received by
the young men with applause; and ma
ny youth of trial cast glance of anti
cipated victory back upon tho lovely OBJ
ject Of village chivalry. The maidens
left their looms and quilting frames, the
children their noisy sports, the slaves
their labors, aud the old men their arm
chairs and long pipes, to witness and tri-
umph in the success Of the victor.
All prophecied, and wished that it
would be young Carroll. lie was the
handsomest and best humored youth in
the country. and all knew that strong
mutual attachment existed between him
and the fair Annette. Carroll had won
the reputation Of being the best leapcr,
and in country where such athletic
achievements were the sine qua non Of a
mans cleyerncss, this was no ordinary
honor.
The arena allotted for this hymenial
contest was level space in front of the
village inn, and near the centre of grass
plat, reserved in the midst of the village,
denominated the green" The verdure
was quite of at this place by previous
exercises of similar kind, and hard
surface Of sand, more BETTING for which
it was to be used, supplied its place.
The father of the lovely, blushing,
and withal happy prize, (for she well
knew who would win, with three other
patriarchal villagers were the judges APP
pointed to decide upon the claims Of the
several competitors The last timo Car
roll tried his skill in this exercise, he
cleared" to use the leapers phraseolo-
gy, twenty-one feet and one inch.
The signal was given, and by lot the
young men stepped into the arena.
=" Edward Grayson, seventeen feet, "
cried Que Of the judges. The youth had
done his utmost. he was pale, intel
lectual student. But what had intellect
to do in such an arena? Without look
at the maiden he left the ground.
" Dick Boulder, nineteen feet I" Dick
Il 4 -. =