Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-04-24

THE BARGAIN FOR A WIFE.

A young Norfolk farmer, on beginning lif
with limited capital, found that two thing
were wanting to do justice to large farm whcl
he rented on a long lease-namely, wife b
rule the house at home, and an additional thou
sand pounds to invest upon the land. Like
sagacious man, he conceived that the two nigh
be found combined, and he began TO look abou
for cheerful lass with dowry to the desires
amount Accident threw him one day int
company with the parson Of neighborinl
parish, with whom, as he rode home while re
turning from market, he fell into conversation
Encouraged by the divine, the youth unbur
dened himself of his cares and plans, and men
toned the desire he had for marrying as sooi
as he could find an agreeable lass with mod
crate dowry.
81 tell you what" said the parson, "Pv,
got three daughters, and very nice girls they
are, assure you. Suppose you come and dim
with enext market day--you will meet then
at the table; and if any of them should prov,
to be the inevitable she that you are in search
OF, | shall not be backward to do my part a
far as l can" ~...'.
agreed, said the youth. "I'll come, as
sure as you're alive, if you'll say nothing abou
it to the ladies'" +.
"That shall bea bargain. On Saturday next
then, we shall have you at dinner, at FIVE"
And here their roads diverging, the two gen
tlemen separated.
AT the appointed hour on the following Sat
urday, the young farmer, in handsome trim
descended from his galloway at the parsons
door. Dinner was served few minutes after
and the young ladies, with their mother, graced
the table with their presence. All three fully
justified the encomiums of their father, but the
youngest-a rosy-faced, roguish, cheerful lass,
just escaped from her teens-alone made avivid
impression upon the young farmer. The repast
progressed agreeably, and when ended, the
ladies withdrew, leaving the gentlemen to chat
over the wine. # 81.
swell, said the host, "what do you think
of my girls?" . "
81 think them all charming" said the youth
"but the youngstown call her Nely--really
is most bewitching, and clever, too; and If ]
am to have the honor of being allied to you,
you must give me her."
"That is against all rule" returned the host
"to take the youngest first, but, of course, can
not control your choice. What dowry do you
expectp"
"My capital, said the wooer, ais three thou
sand pounds and want thousand more--and
| must have it." .. -...-
Il will give you thousand with the eldest
girl" .......
"No; the charming Nelly and the thousand,
Or / am off" a
"That cannot be; five hundred with Nelly,
if you like. The others are not half so hand
some and must have fortune, or l shall never
get them off,"
mo; my resolution is fixed, replied the
young gentleman; and shall not alter my
mind"
"Nor I mine," said the parson, "and the
affair is at end but we will be good friends
Notwithstanding" .....
The conversation, which each speaker sup
posed to be strictly private, now fell into an
other channel The ladies returned with tn,
teaurn, and chatted unreservedly with the
farmer. Evening came on, and towards sun
set, the girls having strolled into the garden
the youth rose to take his leave He found his
nag in the stable, and having bid farewell to
his host took his way through the shrubberry
that led to the road. He was about alighting
to open the gate, when the rosy-faced Nelly
darted forward to save him the trouble As
she lifted the latch, she archly looked up into
his face and said:
"Can't you take my fathers money"
ayes, by Jove will, ifyou wish it."
"Then come over 10 the church to morrow
morning, and tell him so after SERVICE" and
she vanished like an elfiu sprite among the
shrubberry.
Musing on the proverb which says, "walls
have ears" the young farmer rode home. He
did not fail-how could heP-of attending al
the church the next morning, and after the
sermon declared to the parson his altered reso
luton. lie married the fair Nelly three months
afterwards; and she brought, in due course o
years, row of goodly sons, than whom there
are few at the present hour wiser in their gen
GRAFTON, or more worthy, or more wealthy, il
the whole of broad England. Chambers Jour
nal