The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-10-03

f
Mrs. Jonas Brown. hcld an important
conference.
DO you remember THAI note for six
hundred dollars gave for stock last
spring asked Jonas.
I Yes, replied his wife.
We'll, iis coming due ID about month
and how under the sun we're going to
pay Il. don't know
( Mortgage the farm
( We've done that until Il can't 90 mort
gagged any more. I'm clean discouraged
aud tberc's sally wanting piano.
Where the money is coming from Is more
than know We're on the verge Of
bankruptcy.
wish sally wonld marry John Smith
gracious knows they're together enough
10 take notion that way.
I Yes; but don't see how that would
help US any.
You don't, eh2 Well, do. Aint his
folks richf and wouldn't they set him
up handsomely Then we could stand
some chances Of getting help through
sally.
That's good plan, was Jonas conolu-
sion after profound meditation, but the
difficulty is, that the Smiths are not on
good terms with US, and would be likely
to oppose the match.
Then the best plan is to set the young
folks mp to All elopement.
SO 1t chanced that the Browns and
Smiths planned to dispose of their chill
dren to their own pecuniary advantage.
The next step in each case was to mould
the young ones TO the proper shape.
John Smith was handsome, brawny,
country follow, with plenty of good sense
aud an ocean of love for Sally Brown,
When his parents proposed his marrying
her, he informed them that he would
do SO, but he feared her parents would
object. Then has father slyly suggested
an elopement, and offered to aid him in
carrying out such an exploit. John said
heIwould think about it.
Sally Brownlwas a rustic maiden with
much redness of cheeks, and rejoicing in
the possession Of the lasting comeliness
which is derived from bright smile,
weet temper, and pair of clear, earnest
eyes, made none the less expressive by
the near neighborhood of a saucY little
retrousse nose. Her wavy brown hair
had not ripple out Of place, and her
plump little figure was encased in well
fitting dress, which was neatness itself
When her parents spoke to her about
John, she blushed bloomingly, and after
close QUESTIONING, admitted that she
would be tiekled to death to marry him.
She further stated that they were run
ming over with love for each other; that
they had long settled the question of ulti-
mate union, but that they feared paren-
tai objection.
! Now III tell you what, Sally, said Mrs.
Brown, you know pa and ] dote on you
and would do anything to make you hap
py.
We would do anything to make you
happy, echoed Mr.. Brown.
And if you were to hint to John the
idea ef an elopement, we wouldn't lift
our fingers to prevent It,
No, repeated Mr.. Brown, we wouldn't
lift our fingers to prevent it.
In thus instructing their children, the
Smiths and Browns displayed very little
knowledge of human mature. They
should have known that John and Sally
would, upon the first occasion possible,
unbosom themselves, for how could true
overs keep secret? And they didn't.
At the next meeting each told the other
all be or she had been told by parental
lips but neither could conceive the OBJ
ject of the old folks However, they
were not overdisposed to question the
matter. They were too glad that the
consummation so devoutly wished seem
ed so near at hand to question how il
had been brought about Conscious that
their progenitors were mp to some kind
oftrickery, they resolved to at once avail
themselves Of the opportunity to elope
before any change in the aspect of affairs
should occur. Having thus concluded,
they proceeded to lead their parents as
tray.
I've been talking to John, said Sally
demurely, to Mr.. and Mrs. Brown, and
we have concluded to elope; it's all set.
tied, and we're ready just as soon as il
can be arranged.
saw Sally last night, said John TO Mr..
and Mrs. Smith, and she agreed TO elope
with me; SO think the thing bad better
be hurried right along.
One week from this time all the prelim'
inares had been arranged. Sally had
been supplied with bran new dress and
all other fxings, and John had been Civ
en- enough money to buy suit Of we'd
! ding toggery. The respective parents
, were laughing in their respective sleeves
at their own cunning. The Browns
were overoyed at outwitting the Smiths
/ the Smiths were happy at fooling the
: Browns, aud both chucked over speedy
: relief from financial embarrassment.
I The eyentfu night came, and John
hitehed up one Of bis fathers horses and
1 drove over towards Sally's donielle
D When within dozen rods OF the hous,
i he gave signal wbistle, and Sally cam,