Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-20
JOHNS CHOICE.

Peter Jansen was a wealthy and &C.
centric New England Earmer, the owner
In fee simple of many broad and fertile
acres of available land, and the proud
parent of promising son, now near
grown, who in his infancy had been
designated by the not altogether I'M
heard of name of John.
Now, John Jansen had been brought
up in very careful and propermanner,
and it was therefore not to be wondered
at that as he grew more mature, he was
regarded as very exemplary young
man by those who knew him intimately.
He was sober and Industrious in his
habits, cultivated and refined in his
tastes, with disposition to get along
and prosper in the world, as his father
had done before him. ss#
But the time came VIII en- he was one
and twenty. This is a remarkable cpl
sode in the lives of most young men,
when fully freed from parental restraint
10y the construction of the law, they
think they know so much, and subse-
,quently learn that they really know so
little
Now, possibly, Peter regarded this
event in his sons life with as great con-
Germ as did John, for certain it is, that
shortly thereafter he summoned the
young man into his presence for private
conversation.
"Well, John,'' he said, chow does. it
SoaDo tO he twantv-OOa 2''
Seem why [ can't see as it
seems any different from any other
time"
"Can't eh Orwell, you'll see quick
enough, [ guess. [ suppose the next
thing you'll be thinking of will be get
ting married"
ooh, I 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'l ever happen
to you"
Eyes, I suppose so.''
@'Suppose so? suppose so? you'll
know so by and by. Well, John, you
are old enough to begin to think seri-
ously about this matter. I amt going
TO have you running around unsettled
and unsteady in your habits and char
acter. Now, the quicker you pick out
a wife 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 very foolish princi-
pie for young to adhere to. Now,
[ don't propose to have you do anything
of the kind, and if you avoid it you
won't have harvest of briars and
thistles to gather in afterward. Now,
iust as soon as you will pick yourself
out a good, prudent and industrious
little wife, I've a good farm to give you,
and enough to set you up in reasonable
style
= Yes, SIR
but not an acre or penny of mine
shall you possess until you have COM
piled with my wishes
But, father
q mean what I say, exactly, and no
more ; make this matter your first
business, and when you have per-
formed your part of the contract, [ will
attend to mine"
''But this is rather sudden"
s'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
10 earn your own living; If you can do
better by yourself than I can do by you,
why, start right out in the world, for
you are of age. have stated my
terms, and do notpropose to alter them. %
"But who shall I marry?"
ssThere's Israel Ives five daughters,
and I'm certain you can have your pick
out of the lot. They've all been well
brought up, and any one of them is
good enough for you, so go ahead, and
as soon as you report favorably the
farm is yours.
"But which one shall take, father?''
(Which one shall you take?' repeat
ed Peter Jansen; Thrust be a bright
man, surely, that cannot decide at sight
what woman to pick out of dozen, and a
singular youth you are not to haveyou
eve on one already. However, make
YOUR own choice, and you'll be happier,
live longer, and prosper better IN your
domestic affairs generally"
With these concluding remarks the
fond father turned away, and John was
left alone to his reflections.