Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-04-01
Sntertstiug Gale.
TIE GIFT ENTERPRISE;
pRawING A WIFE IN A LOTER1
BY CARL CANTER'

Nv name is Nathaniel Bugbee. Per
hans YOU have seen me, at some time,
standing behind the counter OF my employ
,ers. Messrs. Haberdasher d Co., who for
five wears past have been selling their goods
Mt an alarming sacrifice! as the columns
of the daily papers and large placard IN
front of the store have constantly made
Known TO an interested public. AS the
uninitiated might find it difficult matter
10 understand how such way OF doing
business could be profitable to firm, will
;u.t whisper in confidence that the alarm
;nc sacrifice alluded to is always on the
part of their customers.
This. however, has no direct bearing up
ON INV story. Let me only say, in addition,
while upon this point, that my salary, al
though large enough for my own mainte-
nance. precIuded all thoughts Of matrimo-
nv in the present expensive style of living.
Therefore it may easily be inferred that
must either resign myself not to marry at
all or find some one who to heart super
adds fortune.
The reader understands my position sui
fcieutlv to understand the feelings with
which I read an advertisement of the
following purport in the papers some time
since.
The advertisement in question set forth
the advantages of certain gift enterprise
in a ,eighboring city, enumerating bril-
liant list of prizes, closing with-what DO
Won think ?-No less than the hand OF a
Young lady, together with twenty thousand
dolIars2 The conditions were that if upon
acquaintance, either the young lady or the
wining party should see fit to decline the
matrimonial alliance intended, the reject
ing party should forfeit all claim TO the twen-
" thousand dollars which should go to the
rejected.
Is The price of tickets in this tempting lot
terv was only two dollars; Boston agents.
Messrs. Shave & Co., State street. Hay-
ing fully made up my mind to invest,
called there on my way from dinner.
"Have you any tickets left?" Inquired,
with some anxiety.
"a few" was the prompt reply, "Will
you have one|
"Yes, believe So" :,
accordingly passed two dollar bill
to the clerk, and received ticket marked
1859.
aRather a high figure I remarked
carelessly.
ayes" said the clerk, ssthe tickets are go
inc off like hot cakes. They are in great
demand among young men," he said smil,
inc. aSome take as many as fifteen OIL
twenty to make their chance surer."
1 was about, upon this. hint, to follow
their example, and purchase few more
when Luckily reflected that boarding bill
due the next day would take up all my re-
manning available funds, and prudently de-
ned myself
q Dear reader, did you ever have ticket
In lottery or gift enterprises $50, You
can understand my state of mind for the
month which must intervene before the de-
elaration of the prizes. / was continually
specializing upon my chances of success,
and what I should do if, on being declared
the lucky winner of the prize, l should lind
the lady whom had won intolerable ugly
and unprepossessing. In such case would
the sum of twenty thousand dollars be suf-
ficient to sugar the bila could not tell,
but wisely concluded to wait until the al
ternative was really presented. In the
meantime / was particularly observant Of
the pretty faces whom the placard-An
Alarming Sacrifice drew to our store
amused myself by picking out particular
young ladies, and representing to myself
the possibility that some Of them might b
the lady who was to bring her intended
twenty thousand dollars.
Without dwelling upon this | will only
say that l saw several that should have
been perfectly willing to marry at q les
high figure. l am aware that some of my
romantic young lady readers will shake
their heads at this admission and brand me
smercsnnry fellow, with heart not large
enough to Be worth having. But, my dea,
young ladies' you must remember that, as
at that time ! had DO particular interest in