The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-06-16
Advertising for a wife, and whut Came

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oft
The Toronto Leader gives the par
ticulars Of a matrimonial romance, i
which Vermont Clergyman was th
main character, the denouement O
which was. however, anything but ro
mantle to him. 1t seems that farm
er in McHenry county, 1llinoi.
named W., had advertised in
Chicago paper for a wife, which wa
replied to by dashing young Law
student of Toronto, ripe for fun un
der the name Of Helen Christopher
A warm correspondence ensued, ,'Hcl
en- initiating the hand and style o
a lady anxious to make a good match
and describing herself rs an orphan
of respectable family connections
and of means, residing in Toronto.
The correspondence was finally bro
ken off by W--'s neglect in paying
his postage, which in Canada amounts
to something, and he married some
one in his own neighborhood. But
the sequel contains the pith of the
story. W--'s father, minister in
Vermont, and a widower, by some
means got hold of "Helen's" letters
to his son, and being struck with her
style, wrote to her with view OF
marrying her himself. He told her
that
81 am minister of the gospel, am
unmarried, buried a nice little wife
years ago, and have no children to
tax the attention of companion.
My family is provided for and off my
hands. l think sometimes OF discon-
tinuing preaching, and of retiring to
private life. My age people judge
to be thirty. five, though / am older.
l am above the middle size of men,
though not large; have perfect health,
and fair position in society. My
completion is dark, with dark eyes
and hair--hair not tinged with gray
in the least. Whnt makes my com
plexion still darker, / wear full beard
and moustache."
And queried:
"NIay / ask my little girl Or may
be allowed to call her SOY if you are
a Christian? Ifyou can sing and play
on the melodeon2 you have good
healths What is your complexion"
Helen promptly replied, and an an
imated correspondence ensued, re-
sultins in the Reverend inviting him
self to visit Toronto to obtain an in
terview with his fair correspondent.
This was rather more than "Helen"
desired, and thinking it imprudent to
bring the old man on FOOLS errand,
some six hundred miles from his
"locar' habitation, sent him O note
over another name, pretending to
have accidentally found one of his
letters, and to be a rival of for the
affections of Helen. and threatening
him with castigation in case he should
make his appearance in this city
Rev. j. w. wrote again to Helen, dis
claiming any wrong intentions, and
asking if his rival should exercise any
control over such q lady. She then
replied that he might come, when he
replied that he would be there on the
9th or 10th of May, when he expect
ed to meet his ''little GIRL" his "dear-
est Helen" He arrived on the day
appointed, aud sent his "little girl"
q note, desiring "his Helen" to
meet him at certain hour at the cor
ner of certain street Hew went, but
saw no one like the photograph "Hel-
en-" had sent him, which was the por
trait of q prominent actress. But the
eyes of large party of "Helen's" ac-
quaintances, who had been let into
the secret, were upon him. He ap-
peared sadly disappointed, being
iidgety in his movements, casting
wistful glances at the passers by as
he promcnaded the streets, whilst his
tormentors, for such they were, could
scarcely contain themselves. They
were at his side at the post office, on
the street, and even talking with him
in the hotel. Not finding his ''littc
Helen," he concluded to leave town,
but "she" determined he should not
go until he had learned lesson
With his party of friends he appeared
at the station, and, stepping up to the
reverend gentleman, as he stood on
the car platform, he held out his hand
shouting, GLOW are you W?
How is Miss 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 trick" Just then the train
started, amid the shouts of the mer-
ry young fellows, for W and Hell
en- Christopher, bearing Off the dis
comfited, foolish old lover, sadder
and wiser man, and who will probably
never get wife by ad sertising.
MIR. Lincoln In Europe,