Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-04-18
MIRANDA JAMES EL0PEMENT.
BY ARTHUR L. MEssERvE,

BY ARTHUR L. MEssERvE.
"Here am l, Miranda Jane Grabem
forty-two this blessed day day, and never
had an offer in my life. Mercy, / hope
that Sally Ann didn't hear me, for I'vC
always told her that I've had offers a.
thick as black flies in old Deacon Shaw,
swamp in planting time. Sally Ann is
dreadful inquisitive for a maid Of all
work, and has the habit of listening al
key-holes whenever she takes i. in her
head to do SO, which is very offensive,
and have to be very careful what I say,
even when Pm alone. Yes, here I am,
at this ripe age, without ever having had
an offer, and with no prospect of one in
the future. Grabem, indeed! There
nothing in the name, for I've been trying
to grab somebody this thirty years and
amt made ont yet, and there amt one
chance in thousand that / ever SHALL
But there is one thing about it, if l can't
get Harry Hall, my niece Mary Lowell
shan't, that's fiat. But won't despair,
for as long as there is life there is hope,
as the saying goes"
The above soliloquy was uttered by
Miss Miranda Jane Grabem as she sat in
the privacy of her own chamber, one. af.
ternoon, and it has given the reader an
insight into her private affairs, SO that
we need not repeat them here; but will
simply say that the lady in question re.
sided in small country village, and had
property valued at about a thousand dol
lars. She inhabited trim little cottage,
and an orphan niece and Sally Ann form
ed her entire family.
Mary Lowell was Just turned twenty,
and was as fair little damsel as the viii
lage could boast. OF course she had a
large number of admirers, but whenever
they paid her visit they were always
sure of the presence of her maiden aunt
and those that she did not drive from the
house outright, were at last forced tc
leave by the attention she herself paid 'c
them. But at last it seemed that Mary
had got one that her aunt could no
frighten away so easy, in the person o.
Harry Hall, and we see by her soliloquy
it was in regard to him.
Miss Miranda Jane rose from her chair
and stood before the glass to arrange hel
hair, previous to descending to the sitting
room to join her niece, and just as she had
got it arranged to her satisfaction, some
one raped at the door.
"Is that you, Sally Ann?"
eyes, marm."
"What do you want?"
GA letter for you, marm."
"a letter!' and Miranda Jane sprane
to the door and opened it, and took the
proilered missive.
"Hou may so down now, Sally Ann
"Ies, marm," and the obedient do
mestic obeyed by going as far as the toI
of the stairs. and there removing he
shoes, returned on tip-toe and applied he
ear to the key-hole.
Miranda Jane sank into her chair sht
had occupied a few moments previous
and after listening for time to make surf
that her maid had gone down, as she haC
been ordered, she drew from secret re
ceptacle what none to her knowledg
knew she possessed, pair of spectacles
and after properly adjusting them, sh
gazed 1t the superscription.
GA mans handwriting as Pm living
sinner" she calculated after a close scru
tiny.
"Then it sartin is, for ! know that
sinner you be" muttered the maid at til,
key-hole.
80, how my heart beats! What
hutter I'm in. Jest like as not it is al
offer of marriage from some unknown
lover, and after all, Miranda Jane Grab
EN- will not be cut on my tombstone. b.
still heart, while open this precious mis-
sive."
you'll never have tombstone if tina
amt on it, I'll bet quarter" agar
muttered Sally Ann. But let's Sc
what the old critter thinks of her letter.
Miss. Miranda Jane opened the letter
The contents were as follows:
GREEN CORNER, April l, 1850.
M dear Miranda Jane:-For a long time
have loved you to distraction, and feel that il
cannot call you all my own that shall not surviy
long. have never had an opportunity to expre'
my feelings, for whenever have been to see 70
that artiul little niece of yours would never leay
MS for a moment alone. If you love me- consel
TO meet me tonight, at 3 O'Clock, by the gro'
rock in Bill Browns pasture, and from thence "
will fly to Duckville, and Squire Parker will SOC
make US one. Do not object to this proceedur
dear Miranda Jane, for il will be far more romal
tic than getting married in the stale, common wa
Ifyou should fail to be present you will break Il
heart of your true lover, HARRY"
srphanE fo,tnna n,u n lane bova "a orl