Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-27
A REMARKABLE COURTSHIP.
| H w q Guileless Professor Proposed
and was Accepted in an Hour.

CIOul INC 1HuEtudpOllb heralu.
Prof. Foster was one of the most remark
able men ever knew. Well educated in
the sciences usually taught in college, be
filed with much ability one Of the
chairs of the Faculty of East Tennessee
University of Knoxville. There was moth.
ing remarkable in bis being well educated
iu the ordinary sciences, for in that respec.
he was only the equal of thousands of other
gen lemen of his day. But his distinguish
ed ignorance of the common affairs of life,
considered in connection with his
scientific education-his knowledge of
books, and bis intellectual powers, rem
dered him truly remarkable msn-fur-
Hishing rare subject for the study of hui
man nature in st least one of its multiform
phases. Being advised by some of bis friends
to get married, he inquired: "Why
should 1 get married." 60" said they,
''it is not good for man to be alone.
You ought to have some one upon whom
to concentrate your affections, and who
would reciprocate your love-one whose
kind heart would beat in unison with yours
in heath and sympathize with you In sick
ness, and whose soft hand would cool your
fevered bow as no other human hand
could do" With child-lil1e faith and sim !.
plicity he accepted their advice, and PROM
ised to do so if be could find young lady
willing to have him. They referred him to
a number eff the best young ladies in the
city, any one of whom, they had no do7bt,
would be willing to accept his hand and
make him happy. He was one of the most
kind-hearted of men, as void of guile as Of
cffense, and an entire stranger to the forms
and ceremonies of modern courtsbip. His
ideas were more in accordance with those
of the people of tie early ages of the
world. He couldn't see the necessity
of consuming year or two in "popping
the question" will you have me?
So, he went that very day to the residence
of the nearest young lady who had been
commended, and being welcomed and
seated in the family circle, as be always was
wherever known, he at once made known
the object of his visit by saying in a clear
and distinct voice:
"Well, Miss Sarah, my friends have ad-
vised me to get married, and they recon-
mend you and 8 number of other young Ia
dies to me as suitable PERSONS, and have
now called TO see if you are willing to mar
~ me?"
Had an earthquake violently shaken the
premises, the household could not have been
more astonished. Like a frightened roe,
Sarah started to run, when her mother
caught her, and said:
"Why, child, don't be frightened, the
Professor won't hurt you"
Being again seated, deep blush succeed
ed the psleness which had been caused by
the startling announcement, and she rallied
enough to be able to say TO the Professor
that SIS his proposition was entirely unex-
pected, she must have come time 10 consid-
er the matter. This he granted, but said:
Gas am anxious, in case of your refu-
cal, to see the other young ladies to-day, l
can wait only one hour for yonr answer"
Knowing the worthineSs, sincerity and
simplicity of the Professor, the mstron took
her blushing daughter up stairs for consul
tation, while the father was left to entertain
his proposed soD-il-law as best he could
uuder the novel circumstances. OF course
the discussion of the sudden proposition
between Sarah and her mother was private
and cannot be given in full. The most es.
sentisl points of it, however, were told
sfterward. 1t was readily admitted that
he was entirely worthy of SarGh's hand and
heart.
"But mamma sal Sarah, chow would
it look to other people for me TO have to
give an answer in one short hour-only
sixty minutes-jump st hasty chance
and to think how my young friends would
jeer and laugh at this. Wouldn't they tease
me to death? No, ma, can never face that
music"
"But stop, my child, and listen to me.
There is not a young lady in the city that
would not jump at the offer made you.
Let them laugh. Girls must have some
thing to laugh a., but it won't hurt you.
Tell him yes, cmphatically. If he were a
stranger whose antecedents were un-
known to US, however prepossessing in
person and manners, or profuse in his pro-
LESSONS of love, | would Withhold my con-
sent. But we have long known him, his
moral character is without reproach, he is
amiable, kind hearted, and sincere, q fine
scholar, with an honorable position in the
college, and he makes no false pretences.
You know just what he is. What more DO
you want?"
"But, mamma, 1 don't know that he
loves me, be hasn't even said So"
80, well, daughter, never mind that.
Generally, those who are the loudest in
their professions of love have least of the
pure article. You can teach him by exau-
pie to love you. Il is far better than pre-
cept."
Leaning her head upon her mothers bo-
som, Sarah said, in a submissive tone:
"Well, ma, just as you say--I1l tell him
yes; but, although the hour isn't half out,
we'll not so down until the last minute of
the hour"
At the expiration of the fifty ninth min
ute, they returned to the Professor and
papa, Sarah still blushing, but more calm
than before. Their, with a firmness that
astoBished herself as well as her parents,
she extended her hand to the Professor and
said:
"Yes, si", if papa consents"
He gave his consent without hesitancy,
an ! it was readily agreed by all that the
wedding should take place week from that
time. Then Prof. Foster, with his usual
calmness, conscious of having done his
duty, withdrew to report progress TO his
friends.
Well, in due time the Professor went to
the clerk for his license. The clerk inform
ed him that the law required bono and
security in the sum of S1,250, to be void on
condition that there was no legal objection
to the proposed union of the two persons
named. The Professor very promptly re-
piled: ooh, never mind the bond, Mr..
Clerk; l will ray $1,000 down, and will
hand you the balance in day or two"
After further explanation by the clerk, the
Professor soon complied with the law and
obtained his license.
AT the appointed time the wedding came
of in the best style of the city, and the
company enjoyed the occasion with
the greatest zest. Tha hours flew like
cumming birds. As the clock struck II
the Professor picked up his hat and
started for his boarding house. His prin-
ciPal attendant, surmising his intention,
followed to the front door, and Informed
him that matrimonial etiquette required
him to stay and board and lodge at the
house of bis father-in-law until he and his
wife wished to live by themselves; th,t he
would be furnished with room adjacent
to Sarah's room, in order that, if she hap
pened to get thirsty, he might be Lear to
get her drink of fresh water.
In the morning the bride and groom
were greeted with the smiles of the family,
together with tn )se of some early callers,
and inquiries were made if they bad slept
well. Both responded thai they had never
slept sounder in their lives, be adding, with
his chiidlike simplicity, that he was happy
to say Sarah did not call for
water during the whole night. That las