Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-08-12
GEN. TOM THUMBS COURT.
SHIP AND MARRIAGE.

SHIP AND MARRIAGE.
The General called on me Mon
day, however, bringing a very nice
letter which he had written to
Lavinia's mother. He had conclud-
ed to send this letter by his trusty
friend, Mr.. George A. Wells, instead
OF going himself, and he had just
seen Mr.. Wells, who had consented
to go to marlborough with the
letter the following day, and to urge
the Generals suit, if it should be
necessary.
The General went to New York
on Wednesday, and was there to
await Mr.. Wells arrival. On
Wednesday morning The General
and Lavinia walked into my office,
and, after closing the door, the
little General said:
s.Mr. Barnum, / want somebody
to tell the Commodore that Lavinia
and are engaged, for am afraid
there will be a row when he hears
of it."
do it yourself, General" re-
piled. ll
"Oh," said the General, almost
shuddering, 81 would not dare to
do it, he might knock me down.
II will do it," said Lavinia; and
it was at once arranged that
should call the Commodore and
Lavinia into my office, and either
she or myself would tell him. The
General, of coarse, "vamosed."
When the Commodore joined us,
and the door was closed, I said
Commodore, do you know what
this little witch has been doing? ?"
''No, l DON'T" he answered.
"Well, she has been cutting up
one of the greatest pranks you ever
heard off, replied. "She almost
deserves to be shut up for daring to
do it. Can't you guess what she
has done p
He mused a moment, and ther
looking at me, said, in low voice
and with serious looking face
Engaged p
"Yes," said I, absolutely en-.
gagged to be married to Gen. Tom
Thumb. Did you ever hear of such
thing?"
"Is that so, Lavinia p asked the
Commodore, looking her earnestly
in the face.
THAT is so," said Lavinia "an6
Mr.. Wells has gone to obtain my
mothers consent
The Commodore turned pale, an6
choked a little, as if he was trying
to swollow something Then turn
ing on his heel, he said, in broker
voice:
81 hope you may be happy
AS he passed out of the door
tear rolled down his cheek.
"That is pretty hard,' I said tx
Lavinia.
II am very sorry" she replied
'but I could not help it. ]'ha
diamond ring, which you bade m
present in my name, has caused al
this trouble"
Half an hour after this inciden
the Commodore came to my office
and said:
MIR. Barnum, do you think i
would be right for Miss Warren t,
marry Charley Stratton if her moth
er should object ?''
I saw that the little fellow ha,
still a slight hope to hang on, AM
1said:
mo, indeed, it would not b
right"
''Well, she says she shall MARI
him any way; that she gives he
mother the chance to consent, br
ifshe objects she will have her ow
way and marry him." said the Con
modore.
''On the contrary" replied, g
will not permit it. She is engage
to go to Europe for me, and wi
not release her if her mother dot
not fnllv consent to her marryin
Tom Thumb"
The Commodore's eyes glistene
with pleasure DIS he replied -
"Between you and me, Mr.. Ba
nnm. I don't believe she will gi,
her consent''
But the next day dissipated h
hopes. Mr.. Wells returned, sayir
that Lavinia's mother at first o
jected, for she feared it was co
trivance to get them married Fl
the promotion of some pecunia
advantage; but, upon reading tt
letter from the General, and OF
still more urgent from Lavinia, al
also upon hearing from Mr.. We
that, in case of their marriage,
should cancel all claims I had upt
lLavinia's services, she consented.
After the Commodore had hea
the news, ] said to him: