Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-05-29

! Of meal instea6ibfS a nrart aa rsnaI lI ~ ~
That dsy,l iust az Nancy Grant had finished
her dinner, one of the seminary girls came in
and handed letter that she had lust obtained
from the postofice for her. With the utmost
gravity, the maiden suggested that perhaps II
was an offer Of marriage, and then Left the
spinster's cottage. lrs
"La sakes, who can 1t be from7" murmured
the spinster, aB abe drew from the lowest depths
Of her capaclous pocket pair of spectacles,
which she only sported when alone. "A mans
handwriting, l declare" and all of a lremble,
she opened the letter and read as follows:
GIrsyrLtr, April lat, 1850.
MYprAR NEttiE-I have long loved Won. above houses
and lands, ana allI posssss but feared you dida
turn my love. think We had better be married right
A. he san,nr ~ osn IL A. n,ne n,,oo ~ e1cSangs
our vows Your true lover, - -. ~ HDT'1
PETER BUTT0NWooD
"Au offer, aa sure as am born, and from
Peter iButtouwood, too! And he has loved me
ALI this time, perhaps for years. What q pity
ried ten years ago. But better late than never,
Miss Nabby Battonwood! He called me Nellie;
how romantic he is! Well, we'll, shan't be
an old maid, and that is great comfort. Dear
Peter, I'll be there as sure as rivers don't run
ND hill. See II dont!' I
AT just quarter of nine, Peter Buttonwood,
dressed In his Sunday TO- meeting clothes,
emerged from his residence, and bent his steps
towari the leaning OAK, which, by the way,
was located 10 the COW pasture at the foot OF a
steep bill. milo
"What a happy man am l." mused Peter to
himself az he piodded on. "Nellie will make
capital wife, to say pothing Of the FIVE thous-
and dollars, which added to two thousand that
I've got 10 the bank, will make seven thousand! !!
Eureks!" and our hero went through divers
feats Of gymnastics, that were perhaps more
practical than elegant; but ss he neared the
place OF meeting be sobered down somewhat.
Meanwhile, beneath the tree Nabby Grant
| was waiting for his coming. she would have
been afraid to come that distance alone, had
not the moon shone bright, and the thoughts
that the days OF her msidenhood were number
cd. Once, just at her arrival at the tree, she
was etarted BY something that aounded like
giggle up among the branches, and she was sure
that she saw something white in the same direc
tion; but as she had LETT her epectacles at home,
she could not determine, and as she heard no
more sounds, she dismissed IL from her MIND
Punctual as deacon Of dinner, feter reach
ed the tree. The moon at that moment hid
her face behind cloud, as II the man shat 10
tabled TO reside there, was TOO modest to wit
ness the meeting OF the happy twain. Feter
saw only female form dressed In white, and
he ruahed forward and ellaped her in bis ardent
embrace. NJ Taa
| "My dear Nellie!"
"My dear Peter" f..,-
| 9"Will you have me deArest2" for Peter was
bonnd TO make sure OF his prize, remembering.
we suppose, the old adage of "Many a shp
'tWixt the cup and the lip" {. 0!3 j
eyes, Peter" softly said the apinsseF.
| The enraptured lover sealed the bargain With
a kiss, and he was just on the point Of making
Iit doubIy sure, when the moon burst suddenly
| from behind the cloud, and discovered to his
horriRed gaze the sharp face Of the happy spin
ster. .d,--a-..'-.
"What means this, Miss GSant7" at last
CALCULATED the astonished Peter.
"Eow can you ask, Peter dear7" said the spin
ster coming forward to his side. ..g - ~
"April Fool!" came seemingly from above
their heads. r....- r Vat fiorq III -a7g
They both started as II they had been found
guilty Of a theft, but the 5moonh hdissppeare
again and thew could discover nothing, SO th ey
concluded they must have been mistaken ii''-
Chow happy we shall he when we are mar.
ried, shan't We, Peterq' eaid tho afectionate
L UfEl