Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-06-03
The Rnrg,iin for = vic.

ing life with a limited capital, foun,
that two things were wanting to do jus
tice to a large farm which he rented OF
q long lease-namely, a wife to rule tn
house at home, and an additional thou
sand pounds to invest upon the land
Like a sagacious man, he conceived tina
the two might be found combined, ant
began to look about for a cheerful las
with a dowry to the desired amount
Accident threw him one day into com
pany with the parson of a neighborinE
parrish, with whom, as he rode hom'
while returning from market, he fell in
to conversation. Encouraged by the
divine, the youth unburdened himsel
of his cares and plans, and mentioned
the desire had for marrying as oon as
he could find an agreeable lass with a
moderate dowrJ.
81 tell you what" said the parson,'
I've got three daughters, and very Ii I
girls they are, 1 assure you. Suppose
you come and dine with me mex mar
ket day-you will meet them at the ia
BILE; and if any of them should prove to
be the inevitable she that you are in
search of, 1 shall not be backward to do
my part as far as l can"
agreed" said the youth, III come,
as sure as you're alive, if you'll say
nothing about it to the ladies'"
"That shall be the bargain. On Sat
urday next, then, we shall have you at
dinner, at five"
And there the roads diverging, the
two gentlemen separated.
At the appointed hour on the follow
,-. S2,Ir. a. F,,, ~
handsome trim, descended from his gale
sway at the parsons door. Dinner was
served a few minutes after. and the
young ladies. with their mother, grac-
ed the table with their presence. All
three fully justified the ecomiums of
their father, but the youngest-a rosy
faced roguish, cheerful lass, just escap-
ed from her teens-alone made a vivid
impression upon the young farmer
The repast progressed ~agreeably, and,
when ended, the ladies withdrew, leav-
ing the gentlemen to chat over their
wine.
Well, said the host, "what do you
think of my girls?'
Il think them all charming" said the
youth; but the youngest-you call Mel
ly-really is most bewitching, and clev-
CIR, too; and if [ am to have the honor of
being allied to you, you u give me
her" .
"TEat is against all rule" returned
the host, "to take the youngest first but
of course, L cannot control your choice
what dowry do you expect"
My capital, said the wooer, "is three
thousand pounds, and L want a thou
sand mOre-and 1 must hae it"
II will give you a thousand with the
eldest girl"
mo the charming Nelly and the
thousand, or 1 am off"
THAT cannot be, five hundred with
if you like. the others are not
half as handsome, and must have a for
tune, or I shall never get them off"
"No; my resolution is fixed" replied
the young gentleman; land L shall not
alter my mind"
"Nor L mine" said the parson, "and
the affair was at an end; but we will be
good friends Notwithstanding"
The conversation, which each speaker
supposed to be strictly private, now fell
into another channel. The ladies retur-
ned with the t~ea-urn, and chatted unre-
SSENculJ Will JAS Il luCLs HNSulhS
on, and towards sunset, the girls
s~trollen into the garden, the
youth rose to take his leave. He found
his nag in the stable, and having bid
to his host, took his way
the ~shrubbery that led to the
road. He was about alishting to open
the gate, when the rosy-faced Nelly dart
ed forward to save him the trouble
AS she lifted the latch, she archly look
ed up into his face and said.
Cant you take my fathers money!"
ayes, by Jove, 1 will, if you wish it,
"Then come over to church tomorrow
morning, and tell him so after SERVICE"
and she vanished like an elfn spirit
among the shrubbery.
Musing on the proverb, which says,
''walls have ears, the young farmer rode
home. He did not fail-how could
he?-of attending at church the next
morning and after the declared
to the parson his altered resolution
married the fair Nelly three months
afterwards; and she brought in due
of years, a row of goodly sons,
than whom there are not at the present
hour wiser in their generation, or more
or more wealthy, in the whole
of broad England.-C Chambers Journal.
rEV,a THnouuIfv EDOpfrr