Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-09-07
A Dutch Lover.

A young gentleman in Amsterdam had
been, year or two ago, paying his ad-
dresses, without success, to young lady.
The father of the maiden was altogether
obdurate, apd could not be induced to
favor the suit but the swain had observed
certain symptoms which led him to believe
that his attentions were not wholly unac-
ceptable to the lady. When the festival
of the St. Nicholas (December 5th) ap-
preached, some waggish friends proposed
plan of offering his hand and heart, the
drollery Of which might possibly soften
the unwilling father, and assure the lady
of the entire devotion of his person.
On the eve Of St. Nicholas long and
rather narrow box, with some holes in the
lid, was conveyed to the house of Mynheel
-, addressed to Jufvrouw, with the
swain 8 compliments, in addition to which,
without the latter's knowledge, the face
tious friends had painted, in large letters,
Zen dixie vrijer "A fat lover. The
box arrived at the usual tve-o' clock din
ner hour; and the daughter, seeing the
box in the hall, and, reading the address,
wished at once to open it. But her father,
who perhaps sme!t a rat, and knew better
than his daughter the possible homors of
the day, said:
"No: let us have dinner first, and
meanwhile have the box brought into the
dining ROOM"
With some trouble the box was removed
there by the maids.
Dinner dragged its slow length along,
was artfully protracted, and the opening
of the box kept in abeyance until it was
almost time to go to bed.
Then the hammer was missing, the
driven ony1l6 ho f011nd on6 of
last the opening of the wonderful box put
off until next morning.
"Goede nacht, slap good" All de-
parted, save Mynheer -, the father.
With bed-candle in hand, he went to the
box, listened carefully for a moment or
two, and then, giving the box slight kick,
proceeded to moralize aloud:
"What fool that little donkey of fel'
low is to suppose will ever let him have
my daughter! l wonder what he has sent
her? What can these little holes be for ?
All! here is one of mevrouw's knitting
needles; let us poke one in and see if we
can make out"
"For Gods sake, don't!" said stif1ed
voice from the box, "or you will poke my
eye out"
BLESS me, who's this9 What can it
be ?"
Il am Mynhscr r" said the voice.
For Heavens sake, let me OUT can't
stand it much longer"
"Will you promise never to speak to
my daughter again, if | do?"
"No, I won't-I'll die first"
Every well, then; good might"
"Don't be so inhuman; shall be dead
in another hour"
"Will YOU promise p
"No," said the voice in the box, more
family, "never"
"We1l, you are brave little soul; I'll
let you out"
Sly father took out screw-driver and
hammer from his OVID pocket, where the y
had i,een lost, and let out the poor lovers
very crampsd but plump and comely per
son.
"Now, am free man." said the latter,
in somewhat weak voice land no Won
der), 81 give my free promise, as you have
saved my life, not to speak to your daugh-
ter again without your permission"
"We]l," rcjoined the father, kicking the
box, If you have not done for her more
than most sweethearts would, you have
certainly got into less.''
Small wit on one side, and diplomatic
altitude on the other, made them so we'll
pleased that they shook hands, and parted
such good friends that p soon after
overcame Mynecr -'s repugnance to
the match, and, before the next st. Nick
olas now the lady, too.-Applet0n's Jour.
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