The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-06-14
Advertising for a Wife.

Advertising for Wife.
The Toronto Leader gives the particulars OF
matrimonial romance in which Vermont
nreacher was the main character, the denoue-
ment Of which was, however, anything but 70
mantle to him. 1t seems that q farmer IN Nc
Henry county, Illinois, named W, had ad-
vertised in a Chicago paper for wife, which
was replied to by dashing law student OF 10
ronto. ripe for fun, under the name OF Helen
Christopher A warm correspondence ensued,
'Helenn, initiating the hand and style OF a lady
anxious to make good match, and describing
herself as an orphan of respectable family con-
nections. and of means, residing IN Toronto.
The correspondence was finally broken OIL by
VS. neglect in paying his postage, which
in Canada amounts to something, and he mar
ried some one in his own neighboFhood. But
the sequel contains the pith of the story. W
IS father, minister in Vermont, and Wild
over, got hold of "Helen's" letters to his son;
end being struck with her style wrote to her
with a view of marrying her himself. tie told
her that
81 am minister of the gospel, am unmar-
ried. buried a nice little wife years ago, and
have no children to tax the attention of com
panion. Nv family is provided for and of my
hands | think sometimes of discontinung
preaching, and of retiring to private lite. Ny
are, people Judge to be thirty-6ve, though am
older. / am above the middle size OF men,
though not large; have perfect health, and
fair position in society. My complexion is dark
with dark ewes and hair; hair not tinged with
gray in the least What makes my complexion
still darker, / wear a full beard and moustache"
And queried:
''May / ask my little girl Gf l may be allowed
to call her SOY if you are christian? II you
can sing and play on the melodeon? II you
have good health? What is your complexion"
Helen promptly replied, and an animated cor
respondence ensued, resulting in the reverend
inviting himself to visit Toronto to obtain an IN
terview with his fair correspondent. This was
rather more than Helen desired, and thinking 1t
imprudent to bring the old man on fools err
rand, some six hundred miles from his local"
habitaton, sent him a note over another name,
pretending to have accidently found one Of his
letters, and to be rival of his for the affections
of Helen, and threatening him with castigatlon
in case he should make his appearance III this
city
Rev. J. W wrote again to Helen, disclaiming
any wrong intentions, and asking if his rival
should exercise any control over such lady.
She then replied that he might come, when be
responded that he would be there on the 9th or
10th of May when he expected to meet bis
"little girl" his dearest Helen" He arrived
on the day appointed and sent his "little girl"
a note, desiring her to meet him at a certain
hour at the corner of certain street. He went
but saw no one like the photograph Helen" had
sent him, which was the portrait of prominent
actress But the eyes ola large party of ''Helens"
acuuaintances, who had been let into the secret,
we're upon him. He appeared sadly disappoint-
ed, being fdgety in his movements, casting
wistful glances at the passers by as he promen-
AIDED the streets, whilst his tormentors, for such
they were, could scarcely contain themselves.
They were at his side at the post-ofice, on the
street, and even talking with him in the hotel.
Not finding bis "ittIe Helen, he concluded
to leave town, but "she" determined he should
not go until he had learned lesson. With bis
party of friends he appeared at the station, and
stepping upto the reverend gentleman, as hestood
on the car platform, he held out his hand shout
ing, ''How are you W? How is Helen
Christopher" Mr.. J. w. became pale with
rage, stamped his foot on the planks, and with
uplifted hands exclaimed, "You vile rascal,
how dare you play me such a trick?"
Just then the train started, amid the shouts
of the merry young fellows for W and
Helen Christopher, bearing off the discomftted,
foolish old lover, sadder and wiser man, and
who will probably never get wife by adyer
Using.