Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-06-05
Selected 9yisteIlaup,
A Friendly Game of Blind Mans Buff.


Peter Jansen was wealthy and &C.
centric New England farmer, the owner
in fee simple of many broad and fertile
acres Of available land, and the proud pa
rent Of promising son, now near grown,
who in his infancy had been designated
by the not altogether unheard name of
John.
Now John Jansen had been brought
up in very careful and proper manner,
and it was therefore not to be wondered
at that as he grew moro mature, that he
was regarded as very exemplary young
man by those who knew him intimately.
He was sober and industrious in his ha-
bits, cultivated and refined in his tastes,
with disposition to get along and pros
per in the world, as his father had done
before him.
But the time came when he was one
and twenty. This is remarkable cpl
sode in the lives of most young men,
fully free from parental restraint by the
construction of the law, they think they
know so much, and subsequently, learn
that they know SO little
Now, possibly, Peter regarded this
eventin his sons life with as great con-
Germ as did John the junior, for certain
it is, that shortly thereafter he summon
ed the young man into his presence for a
little private conversation.
"Well, john" he said, chow does it
seem to be one and twenty z"
"Seeml why / can't see as it seems
any different from any other time"
Cant, eh ! o, well, you'll see quick
enough, guess. suppose the next
thing you'll be thinking of will be get
ting married"
80, ] hadn't thought of such a thing
yet, in earnest"
"Hadn't, Ell? well, you'd better be
thinking; getting married is about as
important thing as will ever happen to
you"
Eyes, | suppose so"
Suppose 50 suppose so you'll know
so by and by. Well, John, you are old
enough to begin to think seriously about
this matter / amt going to have you
running around unsettled and unsteady
in your habits and character Now the
quicker you pick yourself out wife and
settle down, the better. Mind you, my
boy, this wasting Aree or four years Of
your life in sowing your wild oats, is a
very foolish principle for young men to
adhere to. Now, don't propose to have
you do anything of the kind, and if you
avoid it you won't have a harvest of bri-
ars and thistles TO gather in afterwards.
Now, just as soon as you will pick your
self out good, prudent aud Industrious
little wife, I've good farm to give you,
and enough to set you up in reasonable
style. you understand 2"
eyes, sir"
"But not an acre or penny of mine
shall you possess until you have compli-
ed with my wishes"
"But, father"
II mean what | say, exactly, and no
more; make this matter your first bust
ness, and when you have performed your
part Of the contract, l will attend to
mine"
"But this is rather sudden
"That makes no difference !; if you are
not satisfied with my terms, The world is
wide enough for both of us, you are big
enough and bright enough to earn your
own living; if you can do better BY your
self than can do by you, why, start
right out in the world, for you are of
age. have stated my terms, and | do
not propose to alter them"
'But who shall | marry? ?"
"There's Israel Ives five daughters,
and Pm certain you can have your pick
out Of the lot. They've all been well
brought up, and anyone of them is good
enough for you, so GO ahead; and as soon
as you report favorably the farm is yours
"But which shall take, father n
(Which one you take 7" repeat
cd Peter Janse must DO bright
man, surely, IL 3ot decide at sight
what woman tc ~ Of dozen, and
a singular youi not to have
your eye on However,
make your ow u'll be hap
pier, live lop tier in
your domest
With the