The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-12
selected story.
From the Exeter News Lst'efI
Jonathan in Search Of a VIII.

nm athletic H5tI re, anu lIOu CouSlilutIuu, ana
Il was said lie could NOW over more acres OF
land, or lay up mole rods of stone wall in a
day, than any lad in those parts.
His father had been dea about three wears
and a hall, aud had left the bu k oil his pror-
erly, consisting OF large dwelling house, a
spacious barn and oulhouses and flourish
Ing lain. 10 his brloved SOL Jonathan. His
youngest ster lived With him, and his molbei
ac ed In the qualify of nous e-keeper.
Ater his fathers eatl: everything went on
smoothly enough Tor time, but at length The
Old lady upwsely med at despotic authority
and eAp'e sscd resolution to regulate house
mold affairs, without regard 10 the convell-
fence or wishes OF Der son. Jonathan bore II
patiently enough for lew mcnths-but one
day atei vio.ent dispute with his maternal
parent, respecting the proprie:y Of killing ana
sailing down u lavoile porker, before ui az, a.
Thanksgiving, jonathan thhusLl'uy "a
clated That Ia wou d live SO no Ionm.., "nu
crue Iy destroyed all the Old iauy uieauo "
dominion, by expressing oe'ei"'N"''@u "
get wife. , -
of The I4th OF November, when Jonathan
Brown proceeded 10 put himself in Deceit
trim; and when the r.cl harvest Of his coin
and upper lip had been galherel-when his
hair was smoothly combed and he was at
tired il his best b. oadcloth coat and uptalk-
aboutables, with silver watch and waistcoar
to ma:ch,-he was as decent looking and per
so"abIe sort OF man as one would see in q
SINNERS day.
As W. sgn.nglv left his native home upon
this most Important expedition, he cummued
with himself: never had much acquaint
ancs With The gals about in these parts, and
don't know as any ct them. will have NE. Ills
but trying arter all. aud if one won't, who
Knows bu another will. There's Squire
Jones daughter Nabhy. She's real fine gal
I'LL tr. her first. They say Deacon Thonp-
sons sou has a sneaking arler her-I don t
believe it. May be she'll think herself too
mu III OF lady Tor me but she looked so
pretty last Suuoay at meeting 10 her new bon
net. that ii suan'l be my 'ault il she doss not
bccms Mrs Brown. but il she's foo enough
to say Nay" there's Nanny Tompkins who
has lately returned. fIom visiting Der ich
un.le in Bos on. she's Used 10 gentt ell so
ciety-is quite lady-beeE educated at
boarding school, and vii, make Inc a fashy
vile. don't believe she's cot a beau yet;
and care say she'll be glad OF such chance.
Then there's Peggy Pepkin, the pre-. Hest cal
IN all Tie town. 10 he sure there's always
some sparks arter heI-aud some folks do tel.
strange stories OF her-bur l don't believe
tbetn. tough dare say can't have her,
And Ii The worst Comes TO the worst, there's
Saiy johnson, sizes great beauty 1t is Il ue.
but she S a good giri, and bas teen well
brought up and will make man capital Mife.
by puso, exclaimed Jonathan, who by this
lime had worked himself into complete
matrimonial passi, n, ''i'l stlke a bal gain
With une CT tLcn, before l enter my own
door: a,ain! AS he expressed this praise
"'"'thv 'ns"''"'"n he leacLcd tue door OF
Squire Jones' house.
49, .~..... .l.- ..nates, Mrs. Jones, her
blooming oauehier Nabb,, and her three
younger daughters, all busiy engaged iu PIE
pairing good things for tea. Ia was SOON
AWAKE that hc had arrived a. an uniLcky mo-
,nent, tor IL was not weIcomeL by Ants. Jone.
With her accustomed cordially. And from
Nabty's appearance, being tucked out 10 all
her sunday dneIy, IL was PLAIN that some i'm
portant person or persons were exp. cted 10
partake with them their evening mea'
However he seated hims eli, and began to Joke
with Natby on her looks:
Il swow now, Nabby, YOU look risht-dowu
handsome. Yol are beauty-lheres no
two Ways about i'll don't br,ieve The Presi
dent ever had such pretty little gil or bis
vie in all his lie."
Although Nsbby eigsled little, she did not
seem particularly fattefed by thes. comp
mentary remarks bat her face beamed with
most bewitch ne smile when the noise of
carriage was Leard, and Simon Thompson, in
U udSniuS SiS uTOVe IL 10 tue yaTJ.
."Heisho! sighed jonathan i soc how the
cat jumps. II had only teeu a. week or two
sooner, there might have been some chance.
However won't quit the house Till I've pop
ped the question-it Go I'll be darned aud
ii get the bas, 'twont kill me-"
Simon Thompson was received bv the Ia
dies III their klndest manner, but poor JOna-
than was treated with killing coldness, which
made him feel rather QUEER. but he bravey
resolved 10 bring the matter to issue; and ac-
cordngly when Nabby lett The Dom 10 attend
to some household duties, Jobuathan rose,
and much to the surprise OF ALL and to tile
great ANNOYANCE OF Simop, followed her to
another apartment.
"Nabby," said jonathan. tive been think
Ing about taking u wife. Mothers got SO tar
ration cross that can't live so no longer
and there - no gal 10 al these paris that
like half as well as do you, aud if you'll
have me, don't stand shily shally about it,
bu, say so at orce-aad don't believe thai
you'll ever have cause to repent IT."
Nabby blushed to the eyes. "AIr. Brown
she stauuie! ed, after Liti9g her thumb nails
Tor few moments, 81 am much obliged 10
you Ior cur good op'niop-but fear that it
Is out OF my power TO contribute 10 your hap
pIness. hope you will find partner more
deserving taan poor Nabby JOINS. At any
rate, you can't marry me, Tor l-an-alleady
engoytd"
"Nheush" whistled Jonathan. "But there.
now, thought so. You are goin' to marry
that loune dandy in tother room. Well, l
don't believe he'll make you half so good a
husband a, shoud-but II you like him bet
ter, III say no more about Ii. I've dreadful
Nabby."
wei" said Jonathan, as be trudg.d slow
~ along TIE road which led to the veperable
mansion OF General Toinpkins, "the game is
up!-hut who would believe that such cute
aud Sick gal as NALby Jones would throw
herself away upon that sneakiue puppy, ST.
mon Thompson! Never mind, there's as
good fish in the sea as ever was caught; ard
Ills hald if can't toll one to my net" AS he
made tubs consolns reflection, he found him.
self standing on the door step OF Gen. Temp
kins' house.
Jonathan cast rather a suspicious glance
upon the we'll polished brass.knocker, which
had been aHixed to the Generals door since
Nancys return from Boston; 'That's as
much as TO say,' quoh he to himsci, that
no one should enter here withou. knocking"
He lifted the kuocker and gave thun.er-
Ing rap. A little gill came to the door.
us your sister Nancy a: home ?"
u don't know Tor certain but I'll run and
see." '"' "-A
stranger thought Jonathan, that she
Should not know whether her sisters at home
or uot"'
Nancy" screamed the little girl, on cpen-
ing the pat Tor door, in key So loud thai Jon.
altman heard every word. "Mr. Jonathan
Brown is at the door, and asks Tor you. shall
tell him You are at hcme?,'
suppose you must let the booty in" an
twere1 The accomplished yorug Iady,"l won.
der what his business is with me"
he is dressed up in bis Sunday clothes,
and peri APPS has cone sparkina!'
"Booby?' muttered Jonathan to himself.
"But il ] ever get Mad ,me under my thumb
III make h;r change her iuue guess"
Our hero entered the room. The accom-
plished young lady laid down the last new
novel, aud received him in the most approved
fash on .bie style. "Too much iornaity by
halt" thought Jon Than. but Lever mind,
sae's talna:on pretty
Our "oooby" was Ut 1rst little abashed:
but as be was playing Il desperate game, ne
screwed his courage up tOthe sticking poiEt,
and eonversed with as much ease aud ee.
Gance as could be expected. Nancy With
True female adro tness TUNED the CO: versa
tlon INTO Channel which she thought would
exnioit Der wonderful accomplishment, 10
the best advantage. She talked .onr and
learnedy Of poetry and music. but con,d
scarcely concea her contempt when her love
lorn swain honestly declared that h. iayo1ite
tunes were Wells and Ola Hundred. and that
the only poem he had ever read IN bis life
was fourth Of July Grafton!
At length Hannah lett tie room. and iona.
than. with degree OF trepida;ion which NAV
easily be conceived, broke the ice: Nancy.
'spose you can guess what come here for
Tbu 4 l,o ~ ~,