The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-06-26
Il thought it a love STORY, grand

'hhF6 patience, cniiuI i VIII com
to that poiRt at last. Well. you Sc
our minister was tory, and thougl
he did not say so 10 plain words,
have no doubt he believed in the divin,
right Of kings, at any rae. he had {
good deal to say about 'the powers
that be being ordained by God" and
he always pray Ell for our lawful sover
eign, as he termed King George, ani
that we might be his true and Lawful
subjects. But Stafford was staunef
Republican, and would SIGHT the ole
king any day. conld he have had 6
chance. So there grew up mortal en-
nifty between the old parson and the
young man; and when the former,
with all dignities. viz, powdered wig,
three cornered hat, and silver knee
buckles walked the. streets, Stafford
never bowed but kept along as if he
scorned o5eisanee TO one who would
bend the knee to on earthly king. But
he still continued to go to meeting, and
would sit as patiently through the
long sermons and legal prayers as good
old Deacon Burr himself. The truth
was. this same deacon had one daugh.
ter, and q prettier girl than Polly
Burr never entered a village church,
or | may say graced palace. She
had roguish black eye, and her hair
curl ed haturally-and she vas so neat
and trim in her short bingham gown
and white dimmy petticoat, and at
meeting she looked pretty enough to
make q young mans heart ache.
"She was the belle of the village,
and at cuttings and pearing bees and
dances, she was the life of the compa-
ny. had long had my eye on her as
the choice of my heart, but there were
so many went to see her on Sunday
evenings, it was seldom that could
find chance to speak to her. But I
was industrious and prudent, saving
all that I could earn to have a pleas
ant home to offer. The deacon, too,
favored me, and seeing that / was of
mind, often invited me to his house,
but young Stafford, it seems, all unbe-
known to the deacon, loved her also
but he was such a wild, bold youth,
and moreover, SO at swords point with
the minister, that he never dared to
reveal his feelings save BY sundry little
noticed only by Polly her.
self.
Now it happened that the deacon had
with great labor and care cleared a
patch and planted it with corn, 1t
was growing finely on the rich new
land, and the young ears were already
formed aid promised fine harvest,
but for several successive sundays there
was great destruction in his corn
fields. In vain he made scare-erows
and set traps, and even put one of bis
coats on q pole, q sight that would
Brighten one Of the worst boys in the
village, for be was the tithing man,
that terror Of rogues. But the next
Sunday the mischief was repeated, till
the patience of the old gentleman was
nearly worn out. But he belonged to
a church remarkable for the rigidity of
its tenants md the stFietness of its dis
cipline, to have permitted anyone to
stay at home to watch q cornGeld
would have been considered a grew
Gus offence
Il declare" said the old deacon, one
Sunday after shutdown, 'we shall loose
all our corn unless we catch those Fas-
cally thieves--who knows but they
are Indians 7
As he spoke, he looked at Polly.
She sat in a corner of the great oak
settee, which stood before the fire,
watching the putting steam from the
tea.kettle, and looking somewhat sad
"Why, Polly" said the deacon with
more animation than usual, among
the rest of all my troubles lately, ]
have been bothered by three young
men who want you for wife. Now,
/ have MUD to say. that whoever
will shoot or take prisoner the THE
that steals my corn, shall have you fol
O wife,
Polly looked up in surprise at this
novel mode of disposing of her hand
but the next instant there was g
rogueish twinkle In her black eye, ani
turning to her father, she said gaily
"A bargain, If You please
She very well knew who would b.
the first upon the feld. and who's
courage and perseverance would b.
likely to hold ont longest.
"But viii you keep your promise, fa
ther.n
Il wouldent have it said that dea
con Of a church told lie, so l say 4
now--whoever will shoot or take pris
oner the thief that steals my corn
shall have Polly Burr for bis wife"
This conversation was overheard b,
the hired boy, and soon circulate'
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