The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-06-06
a.. Communicated .-
The Apple-Won Bride-An. Algebraic
Story.

And in his heart, Sir Richard sald
"My daughter shall remain maid,
Ere III be beggared if sha We'd"
Ahd thus his cunning scheme he laid.
When suitors for her hand might pray,
A strange condition he imposed;
And grimly smiled at their disnay,
While thus its details he disclosed:
"Bring with you apples in such store
And not an apple more or less
That half, and half:&n-apple more,'
Be given to the porteress.
Then. of the remnant, as before,
Give to the gray-haired Scneschal
Just half, and half an apple. more,
On entering my castles hall.
And when you reach the parlor door,
Give to the tiaid-in-waiting there,
Just half, and hall an apple more
Ofwhat remains, to speak you fair.
In fine, admitted, give to May,
The one sole apple that remains,
And WOO, and if you win her say,
He who does thus, my favor gains.
"But, mark if cut, or more or Ices
Tn number, but one apple be,
I hold your persons in duress;
Your lives are forfeited to me"
Twas ludicrous to see their faces
Puzzled, .dismayed and vexed, or blank
Or writhed with meaningless grimaces,
All from such perilous wooing shraLk.
But where is he, the youthful knight,
Whose chin scarce yet wears manhood
Symbols; .
With mien so frank, and smile so bright,
And limbs so comely, strong and nimble
he left them early in the day, -. :.
And stroiling through Sir Richard
grounds,
By chance he met the lovely May
Takingamong the Flowers her rounds.
AS twas not custom then as now,
When high-bred youth and maiden met
Un-introduced, with silly bow
To pass-constrained by ettiquett-
lie snatchcd the fairest flowers in view,
And whilst his gestures, words and mein
Breathed Knighthood's homage, high and
true,
He rendered them as to queen.
She took them with her rosy fingers,
Blushed. smiled, and stammering thanks
essayed;
How sweet it is, when language fingers
Thus on the lips Of lovely maid |:
The ice was broken; hour by hour
They strolled and chased the butterflies;
Romped, played, or paused to pluck some
flower,
Uniquely fair in form or dyes
Love was not named, but love was born
'.Swaddled in smiles and tender glances,
And crew apace from morn to morn
Fed upon dreams and sweetest fancies.
Until. at last, in either heart
\ power supreme he stood revealed,
Inf;cting wounds whose tender smart,
BY love returned, alone is healed.
All! sires, in vain ye close your doors;
In vain ye bar your castle gates,
ifuaiden smiles and youth adores,
He'll meet her or brave all the fates.
And soon Upon Sir Richards grounds,
A Youthful minstrel strolled and played
And sang of love, and of the wounds
His dart inficts on youth and maid.
Nav heard the voice, and with delight
She hastened out upon the green,
For in it's tones her own young knight
She recognized, though yet unseen:
They met, and ere they parted, he
With smiles Sir Richards terms re-
hearsed;
May heard and mused, and seemed to os u
In deep and earnest thought immersed
Then waking from her revery,
Like lovliest of pythonesses, T..
With beaming smile, and kindling eye;
She thus her wondering knight addresses
"Of apples - - all;
- the porteress,
Seneschal,
- the maid, give in largess;
The rest you know; and now Sir Knight
Adieu until you come again,
To claim my hand, as yours of right;
By solving this enigma vain"
Now, May, in algebra was verscd
And when the terms her sire imposed