The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1875-05-27
Jon,s enoryE

trio New Eagland farmer. The owner ia
Gee simple % many broad and fertile acres
Of available land. and the proud parent
. ofa very promising son, now near grown,
vla in De. infancy hai been designated
I by the rot a.t3gctlly unhtzri Of name
Of John.
Now John Jansen hsd been brought
\ up IN very careful aud proper manner,
aud IL was therefore not 20 be wondered
At that, s. he grew more mature, be was
' regarded a. = very exemplary young man
by those who knew him intimately. lie
was sober aud industrious 10 bis habits,
cultivated aud refined ia his tastes, with
a disposition TO get along and prosper in
the world, as his father had done before
I him.
! Bat the time came when be was Que
aud twenty. This ID a remarkable ePis-
ode Ia the lives Of most young men,
when, fully freed from parental restraint
/ BIZ the construction Of the law, they think
they know so much, aud subsequently
learn that they know 30 little.
Now possibly Peter the pere regarded
this event in his sons life with as great
concern as did John the junior, for eer-
tain It is that shortly thereafter he sum
moned the young man into bis presence
for q little private conversation.
"Well, John" he said show does it
seem to DO one aud twentyF
seem why can't see as il seems any
different from any other time"
Cant eh2 Q, well you'll see quick
enough, guess. | suppose the next
you'll be thinking of will be getting mar
ried :" ...
80, hadn't thought Of such thing
yet In earnest"
Hadn't oh well yod'd better be think
ing; getting married is about as import
ant thing ASH ever happen to you"
"Yes, suppose So"
Suppose SO? suppose so? you'll know
so by and by. Well John, you are old
enough to begin TO think seriously about
this matter. | sin't going to have you
running around unsettled and unsteady
in your habits and character. Now, the
quicker you pick out 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 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 harvest
Of briars and thistles to gather in after
wards. Now, just as soon as you will
pick out good, prudent, and industrious
wife, I've good farm to give you, and
enough to set you up in reasonable
style, you understandp
eyes, Sir"
"But not an acre nor penny OF mine
shall you posses until you have complied
with my wishes"
"But, father"
II mean what say, exactly, and nc
more make this matter your business
and when you have performed your par
of the contract, will attend to mine"
"But that is rather sudden"
"That makes no difference, if you arr
not satisfied with my terms, the world is
wide enough for both Of us, and you are
big enough and bright enough to carr
your own living; if you can do better by
yourself than can do for you, why, star
right out in the world for you are Of age
have stated my terms, and do not pro
pose to alter them"
"But who shall marry"
"There's Israel Ives five daughters and
I'm certain you could have your pick Out
of the lot. They've all been well brough
up, and any one Of them is good enough
for you, SO 90 ahead; and as soon as yor
report fayorably, the farm is yours"
"But which shall take, fatherw
J (Which shall you take" repeated Pete
Jansen; ''it must be bright man, surely
who cannot decide at sight what womal
to pick out Of dozen, and a singula
youth you are not to have your eyes Of
A one already. However, make your owl
choice aud you'll be happier, live longer
q and prosper better in your domestic al
- fairs generally
With these concluding remarks, th
fond father turned away, and John wa
n left alone to his reflections.
Now John Jansen was not q verdan
young man; be had seen considerable Q
the world for a person Of his age and cir
cumstances, but he was very difiident ant
bsshfull. II was this quality of bis dispc
sition that made him averse TO ladiel
society, aud had occasioned no little anH
iety to old Peter, who had already bega
t. to fear that John would be confrme,
bachelor, hence bis desire to kindly asIii
u Johns matrimonial relations along.
For some moments after his father
. exit, John sat profoundly thinking; be be
lieyed he did have an inexpressible sor
- Of tenderness for the youngest daughte
Of Israel Ives, If not strictly beautiful
she was at least very sensible girl, an
wonld make 8 practical housekeepe
John mad but little sentiment in his con
lpositioa: his tastes were more matter c
ls fact. The mere John thought OF matr
mony, the more fixed became his deter
, uiination Of committing himself as SOC
- as possible.
A night or tive subsequent TO the COZ
versAtion with his father, il was notice
that be attired himself with unusual cal
before going out, as he insisted, TO sttes