The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-06-26
KFJsBAND-GETTHNG.
BY ANNIE ABBY.


In the village of Straggeton resided wiz
ow, named Martha Keenly. who had nv
daughters, Martha, Fanny, Florence, Rose an
Victoria, who all, more or less, resemble
their deceased father, quite handsome bu
weak minded man. The widow, very supt
rior woman, brought up her children wit
great care, upon a slender income, saved fror
The wreck of her late husbands ample fortune
She had a store Of excellent common sense an
sound Judgment, and was gifted with unusua
penetration. But the greatest beauty OF be
character was its fund ofgood nature and ge
NAL humanity, which induced her to allow he
daughters TO enjoy their childhood, without I'LL
ing their heads and hearts with thoughts ant
wishes beyond their years She even permit
ted them to experiment little with the actu
alities of adult life, ere she formally assumed
the authority to direct their fortunes. But
when the oldest, Martha, after failing IN sever
al matrimonial essays. passed from her "teefh
into her twentes, she was, one evening, aftel
her sisters had been purposeIy sent to bed, ar
raigned, with formidable solemnity, at the bal
of maternal Judgment.
Martha said the mother, ''when cir
can manage for herself in this world, l hold
that she ls better left alone. So far as my lin
tied means and opportuniti have allowed,
have given you all the advantages that educa
ton and society can afford; but | am sorry tC
say that you have turned them to little ac-
count If We're still to permit you to have
your own way, do you know what you would
! become 2"
Martha the younger was frightened by the
awful mystery Of this fa;homing of the future
aud dim vision of dungeon and gallows
eomed upon her mind, although the innocent
creature had not the slightest idea what she
had done, calculated to evoke such horror from
the Vastly deep.
DO you know what you will become?o was
the cold inquisitorial iteration.
ooh, No, ma what" .s-..
An old maid I" ..
Martha had screwed up her fortitude, even
10 drowning, hanging, drawing, quartering
&c, but this unexpected shock proved toe
much, and quite knocked her corSage from the
sticking place"
| She burst into tears.
Whether from relief or anguish We cannot
say.
Il SIN sorry TO wouud your feelings" con
tinued the infaxible American mother, ''but
as the Psalmist says, Il must be cruel to BIZ
kind | tell you, Martha, sure as you are
woman, that is the fate you are preparing fol
yourself"
"Well, ma, can't help it. I am sure ]
have done all l could to make myself agreea-
BILE. If the men don't fancy me, can only re
greet their bad taste-I can't mend it..
Mrs Keenly smiled in her wonted pleasant
way, and then broke out, with some bitter
ness -
Martha, men have no taste or if they have
nothing is more certain than that they never
display it in the selection OF their wives. II is
net, therefore, to their taste you must appeal
but to their foibles. Do you wish to get mar
ried Or not ?"
"Well, ma, am sure am very happy here
with you, and l don't care much about it,
only"
| You do. Every woman does it's natural,
It's necessary. My income is slender. and
have your four sisters to provide for. You are
at the head of the list, and may stand there
like Cerberus, to preserve them unto eve;~
lasting old maidenhood. Heaven forbid that
who was married at seventeen, should be the
mother of five miserable old maids -
At this fiightful depreciation, Martha's lively
fancy pictured her blooming self and sisters
transformed into a row OF FIVE sharp-nosed,
| long, thin, sallUw, wrinkled faced, acutey an
| gular antiquated virgins, and she sobbed at the
wretched vision.
"What shall l do, ma? Since Algernon
proved so unworthy, have had no preference
and am willing to be directed entirely by you.
THAT is the conclusion to which | wished
you TO come. What do you say to Mr.. Gold
cluteher?'
1.-THE banker?7
Yes"
"He is oldish, but he stands high and is very
rich
mo, for it would enable me to look down
upon, and snub Algeron."
Gas much as you please; though, for that
matter, | can't see why you don't do as much
now But do not care to pry into your mo-
tives; all l require of you, is implicit obedi'
ence. Mr Goldcutcher has as much saved as
gained his great wealth, and will therefore
marry from motives of economy. His bank Is
perfectly safe, and l am about to sell some Of
my property. | shall invest the proceeds IL
his stock This must, however, seem to be
your doing. You must advise with him i'll the
matter; appear the model OF economical pru
dence and good management. | must drill YOU
well and make you perfect in the part, for The
rich banker is no ordinary catch. Ii you only
obey me to the letter, | shall, however, have M
fear of the result"
Martha proved ductile in her mother !:
hands, and performed her part with automati
cal fidelity being the passive instrument by
which her skillful parent moulded the old bank
er into a rich son-inaw. The old fellow haI
} only beeH prevented from marrying from tea
of having his fortune wasted by his wife, AM
had no sooner acquired full confidence in Mar
thas economy and excellent management thal
he was won. Mrs. Keenly's triumph was no
achieved without difficulty and perseverance
but it was all she expected, and complete.
About year after, Miss Martha Keen be
l came Mrs Goldc utcher, her sister Fanny
t whom she had taught 10 believe that her me
Their 'knew all men and all that was IN them,
. applied TO her patent fer a husband, as ii en-
had such "lvingS in gift
: Have yen any preference?" demanded tn
mamma.
/, "Well, you know used to like Algeron, br