The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-06-25
A MARRIAGE UNDER DIFF
FICULTIES.

: :
A MARRIAGE UNDER DIFF.
FICULTIES.
Several years ago I spent some
months amid the wilds of the West
and found much to amuse and in-
terest me in the peculiarities Of the
people with whom I came in con,
tact. 1t is section as rich in ad
venture as in natural scenery; and
among the curious incidents that
came under my notice, was the
following:
+ Iahad been for some weeks en-
joying the hospitality of Mr.. Stiles
| "a farmer, physician, justice of the
peace, and follower of many Other
occupations and to succeed in a
new country one must be enough
of yankee to be able to turn his
hand to almost anything.
My host was born and reared in
New England; be had one of those
temperaments that enabled him
readily to assimilate to the western
character and habits. He had
every appearance of a western man
but his education was better than
the average native to that section
of the country. f.
His house stood in the midst OF
the rolling prairie, and though
built Of logs. was larger and more
comfortable than the majority ot
similar domicils. 1t contained one
good-sized room; and another,
smaller, opening out of it. It's
upper portion. was simply lott,
rarely used, except as store room.
But small as were the premises.
they were as neat and clean as the
industrious hands Of the New Eng
land wife-a plump, black-eyed
little woman-could make them.
1t was one day after dinner, and
Mrs. Stiles had tidied the room,
smoothed her hair, and put on a
clean apron, preparatory to Sitting
down to her sewing. = / was seated
by the window, looking out on the
huge billowy sea of grass, which
stirred by the rising wind, waved in
incessant molten SO far as the eye
could reach. Suddenly my eye
was arrested by something resem-
bling head bobbing up and down
amid the long grass.
1t evidently belonged to the hui
man species, but it puzzled me for
some time to determine it's gender.
At last, however, it emerged from
the prairie upon the ploughed
ground, and the problem was solv-
ed. It belonged to woman.
She strobe over the ground with
free movement, entirely unimpe-
ded by short scant petticoat, and
apparently. quite unconscious that
legs were anything to conceal or be
ashamed of. Indeed, few men
could boast of such substantial un-
derstandings. They were encased
in thick boots and leather leggins.
Her petticoat was red. The "sbort
gown worn over it was of some
bright gaudy cotton stuff, "a blue
groundwork besprinkled with great
lunches Of red roses; and was fur
ther ornamented by a huge frill
around the. bottom She had a
red silk bandana tied about her
head, and carried a small package
in her hand, which appeared to be
the object other especial solicitude.
My exclamation called Mrs. Stiles
to the window.
''That's the widow Hepsey Mar
tin," she said. "She lives three or
four miles back on the prairie. If
Pete was with her, I should say she
had come to get married"
There was no time for further ex
planation, for our visitor was at the
door.
She entered without the prelimi-
nary of knocking; and seating her
self in the chair that Mrs. Stiles
placed for her, laid her parcel care
fully upon her knees. She then
cast sharp and anxious glance
around.
"Aint the squar' tew hum p
"No," replied Mrs. Stiles; "he
went to Morris early this morning
with load of lumber, and wont be
back till night
"Woll, if that amt unfortinit !!
when I've cum clean across the per-
rary on purpuss tew see him."
"Perhaps it's something I can
attend to ?" suggested Mrs. L., as
she observed the disappointed tone
and look of her visitor. -e
Ishould ruther think not.
You're right smart woman, Tll
allow; but [ reckon it'll take the
Squar' tew dew the job this time"