Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-03-25
HoW he EARNED 4 WIFE.

.And so YOU want 10 marry my daugh
ter. Young inan," said farmer BlIkia>:
removing the pipe from his mouth, and
iookirs at the Young fellow Sharply from
head to toe.
Despite his rather indolent, eieminatc
mir. wllicl was mainly the result OF bis
education, Luke Jordan WAS fine look
isr fellow, and not easily moved tror
his slfpossession but he coIorcd and
grew confused beneath that sharp, scruti-
lixina look.
les, sir. spoke to Miss Mary itsl
evening. and sic--shc referred "e to
you.
Ii.. old nlaa face softencd.
Molly is 4 good girl. 4 cery good
girl, he said, strokins his chin with .
1l.oushttu! air, ''a,li SIC deserves l good
husband. 'Yha; can you do!'
Ill you refer To- ny ability to support
a w;c, can assure you--
Il know that you are a rich man.
Luke Jordan, but take it for granted
that you ask iny girl to marry yo", not
your property. What guarantee can
YOU give me. in case it should dc swept
away.-as it is in thousands OF instances,
that YOU could provide for her :: COM
Portable home You have hands and
brains-do you know how to use them
Again ask, what can you do:I'
This was a style of catechism for which
Lake was quite unprepared, and he stared
biankly at the questioncr without speak
ing.
II believe you managed to get through
collcse-have you any pro!eSsionE &
;'No, sir; thought--"
':Hayc you any trade %
mo, sir; my fathe~ thought that, with
the wealth should inherit, | should not
noed any"
Your father thought like o fool, then.
He'd much better have given you some
honest occupation AMI cut YOU off with q
shiling-it might have been the making
OF YOU As it is, what are you fit for +.
Here you are strong, ablc-bodied man,
twcmty-tour years old, and never earned
dollar in your life! You ought to be
ashamed of yourself"
':And you want to marry my daughter, y
resumed the old man, after few vgor.
oas puils at his pipe. Nov I've given
Molly as good advantages for learnisS..g5 as
any girl in town, and she hasn't thrown
'crn away but if she didn't know how
to york, she'd be no daughter of mine.
II chose, could keep more than one
servant; but don't, no more than
choose that my daughter should be pale.
spiritess creature, full of dyspepsia and
all manner of fne-lady ailments, instead
of the smiling, bright.eyed, rosy-cheekcd
lass she is. | did say that she should
marry 30 lad that had been cursed with
a.rich father; but she's taken foolish
liking to yc, and III tell yc what III do :
80 to work. and prove Yourself to be
man perfect yourself in some occu,
pation-I don't care what. soft be honest /;
then come 10 me, and, if the girl is viii
ling, she is yours"
As the old man said this, he deliberate
is Knocked the ashes out Of his pipe
against one of the pillars of the porch
where ne was sitting, tucked it into his
vest pocket, and went into the house.
Pretty Mary Blifkins was waiting to
see her lover down at the garden gate,
their usual trysting place. The smiling
light faded from her eyes as she noticed
his sober, discounted look.
Father means WELL" she said, as Luke
told her the result of his application.
"And I'm not sure but what he is
about right" she resumed, after thought
full pause, for it seems to me that every
man, be he rich or poor, ought to have
some occupation"
Then, as she noticed her lovers grave
look, she added, softly:
"Never mind; I'll wait for you, Luke"
Lake Jordan suddenly disappeared
from his accustomed haunts, much to the
surprise of his gay associates. But, wher-
ever he went, he carried with him in his
exile these words, and which were like a
tower of strength to his soul, III wait
for you, Luke"
One pleasant, sunshiny morning, late
is October, as farmer Blifkins was prop
ping up the grapevine in his front yard,
that threatened to break down with the
weight of its luxurious burden, neat
locking cart drove up, from which Luke
Jordan alighted with quick, elastic
spring, quite in contrast to his former
easy, leisurely movements.
.Good morning, Mr.. Blifkins. | un,
lerstood that you wanted to buy some
butter tubs. and cider b,.rrcls, think !
aavc some here that will just suit you."
: Whose make are they 2" inquired the
I'D man, as, opening the gate, he paused I
" the wagon.
Mime" replied Lake, with an air Of /.