Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-02-06
Rittrature.
Married by Destiny:
4 LEAP YEAR. srORl, ny F, n. eAen.
CHAPTER 1.
OR. CHARLEY WALLACE'S MAR
RAGE AND COURTSHIP.

Reader, am going to tell you the story
Of Charley Wailaoe's marriage and court
ship. | say marriage and courtship because
like to have every thing come along in
proper order; so as Charley's marriage came
first and his courtship afterward, II is highly
proper to tell the story just as the circum-
stances took place. am not only going to
tell the story, but l am going TO tell it in
Charley's own words. | have several rea-
sons for this. In the first place, will tell
it in Charley's own words, because every one
that knows Charley is aware Of the fact that
if ever man was bright enough TO tell his
own story, and make it interesting that man
is Charley Wallace. Then again Charley
had the benefit Of college education, which
did not have. Therefore, in letting him
tell his own story, Charley can give it in
more graceful language and elegant diction,
than a plain, unscholared countryman like
myself Then, again, Charley was there,
right on the spot where his marriage and
courtship happened, AM having been an eye
and ear witness to the whole affair, he must
be better qualified to tell just how it all oe-
Cured, and give it the proper touches OF ro-
nance to make it readable. Furthermore,
it is highly probable that he knew the two
principal parties iu the affair well enough to
he able to tell Just what their feelings were
at that particular time which tries mems
souls and women's hearts, at least, in all
those uufrequent cases where women chance
to have that very desirable and tender arti-
Gle about them. So having got through with
this long preface aud preamble, proceed to
produce Charley Wallace's production con-
corning his marriage and courtship.
But stop, must write still another pref
ace before Charley can go on with his story.
have not yet told you who Charley wal
lace is, and it don't pay to write story
without hero, Then, again, you don't Know
where Charley was born, nor how many aunts,
uncles and cousins he possesses. Neither DO
YOU know whether he is well off in the world
or without a copper. Money makes the
mare 60" is the old provorb, and as money
is the deity of this generation you would
have nothing in this story to worship if you
did not know the hero and heroine were rich
or destined to be SO before the story closes.
So will tell you all about it. And now hav-
ing closed this second preface, proceed to
write the third.
Charley Wallace was born in New Hamp-
shire, up in the region Of the White Mount.
aims. To be sure that is breezy place
but it is undoubtedly healthy, for Charley
grew up on fine farm to be strong, robust
boy, remarkably good looking. He had au
only sister, Rachel Wallace. Rachel Wal
lace was very beautiful, Intelligent girl
the belle Of all those regions. When Char
ley was about fifteen years OF age, party
of gentlemen from Boston, visiting the White
Mountains, was surprised one day by a
mountain thunder storm from which they
took shelter in farmer Wallaces farm house
Among the party was fine appearing young
man by the name of Cyrus Merrill. lie
saw Rachel, and Rachel undoubtedly saw
him. The result was that he was seized
with an irresistible impulse to travel that
way frequently and taste farmer Wallace
good cider and delicious apples, and, further
more, be could feast his eyes on RacheP'
beautiful face into the bargain. "Money makes
the mare 60" AS Gyms Merrill proved
to be rich merchant in Boston, farmer
Wallace soon consented to her being trans
formed into Mrs. Cyrus Merrill, and she wa'
quickly transferred to Boston and transplant
ed into Cyrus Merrills household. There
snail leave utT. IluNlnR SOuOiuNNN Nhi
third preface, | strike at once into thu
fourth.
Charley Wallace was stout robust boy
There is where l left him, and where l tax
him up again. He was then seventeen. S
farmer Wallace sent him to college, Dart
mouth, believe but no matter where. II
went through and graduated with credit t,
himself and family. He was then twenty
one. And when he came home from college
If YOU could have found better lookin
Young man or one that possessed more quie
shrewdness and drollery in his nature tina
he, why. then, you would have been fortunate
lie didnot say very much. He was quiet an
without ostentation, but whenever he di
tax he did it with viyacity and sprightl
ress that made it all the more charming
Everybody liked him. Nobody could bel
I doing so. His voice was so sweet and h
tone so low and pleasant, and his erigin'
thoughts and quaint expressions were so ell
tertainiug that his society was everywhel
sought after He had n wonderful EXPIRE
sion and play of features which, added
his other rare qualities made his converts
ton fascinating beyond description. In tn
respect he had no equal
Such was Charley Wallace when he lie
college, and went home to spend mont
When the month was ended, he went to DO
ton to enter the arena of business life. +
was without money, bat he had his hand
lie had previously engaged himself in q
capacity of book keeper in his brother-i
laws store And there we shall leave Cha
ley Wallace, penniless book keeper. IN q
rus Merrill's fashionable store. SO here en-
the fourth preface. Now for the fifth.
Charley Wallace and | had been sehoc
mates among the mountains. We hi
studied together. We had climbed Il
mountains and hunted and ished togethC
Together we had been to parties and spelliI
schools and gone home with the girls, n
together but we might just as well ha'
done so, as we always told each other all o.
Airtations and foOleries with the girls. Tit
we never failed to attend all the apple pa
ing and husking bees, where destiny dro
us to romp with and kiss the rosy cheek
damsels fully as much as mountain decoru
would allow, and, perhaps, sometimes eV
more. Then, again, we would climb d
hills, whenever berry time came round ca
year. Was it not rare sport when hi
dozen couples of us boys and girls sudden
fell to painting each others faces with Z
ripe berries, catching each other and rubbi
whole handfuls Of ripe berries on each othe
necks and faces until we looked like wande
ing tribes of Indians and Africans A
then sugaring came every year, and we
vited all the girls and had grand sugar.
of, and actually reveled ia that sweetest
all things, except the sweet girl that ca
one of US was sure to select and daub
face with the sticky sugar, getting our o.