The Republican journal., 1874-07-23
Johns Choice,

by the not altogether unheard of name OF
John.
Now John Jansen had been brought up
in very careful and proper manner, and
ii WAS therefore not to be wondered at
thai, rs he grew more mature. thai he was
regarded as 4 very exemplary Young man
by those who knew him Intimately. lie
was sober and industrious in his habits.
cultivated and refined in his tastes, With
disposition TO get along and prosper in the
world. a- his father had done before kun
But the time came when he was one
and twenty This is n remarkable episode
| in the lives OF most yom@ men, when
fully freed from parental restraint by the
construction OF the law, they think they
know 50 much. and subsequently learn
that they know 50 little
Now possibly Peter the peer regarded
this event in his sons lie with as great
concern rs dld John the junior for certain
if is. that shortly thereafter he summoned
the young man lnlo his presence inl iii
| tie private conversation
"Well. John" he said "hov does il
seem to be one and twenty"
! Seem. why can't sec as ii seems amy
different from any other time.
Cant eh? o. we'll Von'll sec uuicl,
enough, guess suppose the next thing
| You'll be thinking OF Will be getting mar
ried
80. hadn't thought Of >nch A thing vet
in earnest
Hadn't. eh ? we'll You'd better be think
ing getting married is about as important
a thing ASH ever happen /" YOU
'Ne~, suppose so
suppose 50? suppose 50? lou'll know
50 bv and by Well, John, you're old
enough to begin TO think seriously about
this matter amt going 30 have You
! running around unsettled and unsteady in
your habits and character. Now, the
quicker you pick You out vile and settle
down, the better. Mind You. my boy. this
| wasting three or four of the best years OF
Your life in sowing Your wild oats. is Il
very foolish principle for young men to
adhere 70. Now, don't propose to have
YOU do anything OF the kind, and il You
avoid ii YOU won't have 4 harvest Of hrlars
and thistles 10 gather in afterwards Now.
Just as soon As You will pick you out a
good. prudent. and industrious little wife,
I've good farm TO give You. and enough
| TO set You np in reasonable style. you un
derstand"
"les, sir.
''But not an acre nor n penny OF mime
shall you possess uutil You haNc complied
with my wishes
But, father
more. make this matter your first business
and when You have performed your part
Of the contract, will attend to mine
But this is rather sudden"
That makes no difference. il you are
>l,av Il
wide enough for both of us, You are big
enough and bright enough 10 earn your
own living if von can do better by Your
out in the world, lor YOU are of age. |
have stated my terms and do not pro-
pose TO alter them
.'But who shall marry?"
"Therc's Israel lves's five daughters
and I'm certain You can have your pick
out of the lot. They've al been well
enough for You, so 90 ahead; and rs soon
as You report fayorably, the farm is
yours
But which one shall take, father"
(Which one shall You take" repeated
Peter Jansen ''it must be q bright man,
surely. that cannot decide at sighl what
woman to pick out of 4 dozen, and q
singular Youth YOU are not to have your
| eyes on one already However. make
| your own choice, and You'll he happis
| live longer, and prosper better in your
| domestic affairs generally.'
| With these concluding remarks. the
fond father turned away. and John was
| left alone 10 his reflections
! Now John Jansen was not 4 verdant
/ NnunO MON bn hnI caan oOnC i1a,.l hlp ot
the world ior Il person of his age and
circumstances, but he was very dt1ident
and bashfnl. 1t was this quality of his
disposition that made him so adverse to
| ladies' society," and had occasioned no
little anxiety to old Peter. WHO had already
! began to fear that John would be Il con-
tirmcd bachelor, hence his desire to kindly
assist Johns matrimonial matters along
| For some moments after his fathers
exit. John sat profoundly thinking; he
believed he did have IN incXpressible sort
OF tenderness ior the Youngest daughter OF
Israel Ives. II not strictly beautiful. she
was at least very sensible girl, and would
make 4 practical honsekeeper. John had
| but little sentiment in his composition;
| his tastes were more matter Of fact. The
more John thought of matrmony, the
more fixed became his determination of
committing himself As soon rs possible.
A night or two subsequent to the con-
ycrsation with his father. it was noticed
that he attired himself with unusual care
before going out, rs he insisted, to attend
the "uebatirg society" His father and
mother regarded each other significantly,
as ii they we'll understood what was up
permost in Johns mind. hut they gave The
Young man no intimation that they
Snspicioned his intentions
Atera last lingering look al the looking
glass John started forth into the darkness,
taking the shortest road possible io the
residence of Israel Ives
lie soon came to the place he intended
visiting A bright light cleaned ont
through the front windows. with Welcom-
ing beams, and he tancied he could see
smiling faces there, yet his heart thumped
SO very singnlarly under his shining satin
vest that it was several minutes before he
could make mp his mind to knock at the
door he walked up and down the road
past the place several times, to calm HIM
self, and to think over the words he pro-
posed sayin" when in the presence of
Miss Ives
Al last he turned in at the gate. and
walking boldly up to the front door, he
made his presence suddenly known 10 the
Ives family. by means Of the friendly
assistance of the heavy brass knockcr
Israel Ives came to the door, with a
1aring candle in his hand; he gave sud
. den little start Of surprise upon rccogniZ-
ing his visitor
"Why! john" he said sis this you ?''
''Is Miss Ives at home?n said John,
nervously, forgetting in his sudden en-
barrassment to designate the particular
Miss Ives he wished to see.
"Certainly, certainly" replied Israel,
smiling mischieyousIy, walk RIGHT into