Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-03-26
EARNING A WIFE.

"And so you want to marry my
daughter, young man. said farmer
Blifkins, removing his pipe from his
mouth, and looking at the young fel-
low from head to toe.
Despite his rather indolent, effem-
mate air, which was mainly the re
suit Of his education, Luke Jordon
was fihe looking fellow. and not
easily moved from his self-possession;
but he colored and looked confused
beneath that sharp, scrutinizing look.
"Yes, sir, spoke to Miss Mary
last evening, and she-she referred
me to you"
The old mans face softened.
"Molly is good girl, very good
girl he said stroking his chin with
a thoughtful air, "and she deserves a
good husband What can you do?"
The young man looked rather
blank at his abrupt inquiry.
'If yon refer to my ability to sup
n"Ett a Mlfe, | can assure you"
Luke Jordon, but 1 are a rich man,
ted that you ask my girl to marry
you, not your property. What guar
antee can you give me in case it
should be swept away-as it ls in
thousands of instances-that you
could provide for her comfortable
home? You have hands and brains;
do you know how to use them2-
Again l ask, what can you doe''
This was style of catechlsm for
which Luke was quite unprepared,
and he stared blankly at the question
without speaking.
81 believe you managed to get
through college; have you any pro-
fessioD?" -le' flE1 aH
"No, sir; thought-"
"Have you any trader
''No, sir, my father thought that
with the wealth l should inherit, I
would not need any,"
Your father thought like fool,
then. He'd much better have given
you some honest occupation, and cut
you off with a shilling-it might
have been the making of you. AS
it is, what are you fit for? Here
you are, strong able bodied man,
twenty-four years old, and never
earned a dollar in your life! You
ought to be ashamed of yourself"
"And you want to marry my
daughter" resumed the old man of
ter few vigorous puffs at his pipe.
Now I've given Molly as good ad
vantages for learning as any girl in
the town, and she hasn't thrown
them away; but if she didn't know
how to work, she'd be no daughter
of mine. If l chose, / could keep
more than one servant; bnt don't,
no more II an l choose that my daugh
ter lie ul'l be pale, spiritless crea-
lure, iull of dyspepsia and all man
ner ot fine lady ailments, instead of
the smiling, bright, rosy checked lass
that she is. / did not say that she
should marry no lad that had been
cursed by rich father; but I'll tell
ye what I'll do. Go to work and
prove yourself man; perfect your
self in some occupation-I don't care
what, so it be honest; and then come
to me and if the girl is willing, she
is yours" s..'
AS the old man said this he DELHI
erately knocked the ashes out of his
pipe against one Of the pillars of the
porch where he 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, dis
comftted look.
"Father means well." she said, as
Luke told her the result of his ap-
plication. Sand / am net sure but
what he is aboutright," she resumed,
after thoughtful pause, s'for it seems
to me that every man, be he rich
or poor, ought to have some occupa-
I tion."
! Then, as she noticed her lovers
| grave look, she added softly:
/ "Never mind, I'll wait for you,
Luke"
/ Luke Jordon suddenly disappeared
from his accustomed haunts, much to
the surprise of his gay associates.
But wherever he went, he carried
with him in his exile these words