The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-01-05
MISCELLANEOUS,

q - 49, ~ 'S'.Ssii'Sftf i'..t@S 's~H -
Virginia, there lived, IN The year i75--~, ar
old man, whose daughter was declared, by
universal consent.to be the loveliest maiden
in all the country around The veteran, in
his YOUTH had been athletic and muscular
above all his fellows and his breast, where
he always wore them, could show the adorn-
ment of three medals, received for his vic
tories in gymnastic feats when young man.
His daughter was now eighteen, and had
been sought in marriage by many suitors.
One brought wealth-another fine person
another this another that. Pu. they We're
all refused by the old man, who became at
last bye-word for his obstinacy among the
young men of the village and neighbor-
hood.
At length the nineteenth birthday of
Annette, his charming daughter, who was as
amiable and modest rs she was beautiful, ar
rived. The morning of that day, the father
invited all the youth of the country to u
hay making frolic. Seventeen handsome
and industrious young men assembled They
came uot.only to make hay but also to make
love to fair Annette.
In three hours they had filled the fathers
barn with the newly dried grass, and their
own hearts with love. Annette, by her
fathers command, had brought the malt
liquor of her own ,brewing, which she pre-
sented to each enamored swain with her own
fair hands
Snow, my boys" said the o,d keeper Of
the jewel they all coveted, as leaning on
their pitchiorks, they all assembled round
the door in the cool of the evening, "now,
my lads, you have nearly all of you made
proposals for my Annette. Now, you see, |
don't care anything about money or talcn:S,
book larning or soldier farming. | can do
as well by my gal as any man in The country.
But | want hertoi marry Il man of my own
grit, Now, you KNOW. or ought to know,
when | was a y0ungstcr, ! could beat
anything in all Virginia in the way
Of leaping, / got my old woman 10y
beating the suIarte,t man GA the eastern
shore, and have took the oath, and swure
it, that no man shall marry my daughter
without jumping for her. You Understand
me- boys. That's the green, and here's An
nette," he added, taking his daughter, who
stood timidly behind him, by the hand. Now
the one that iumm the iarthest on Il dead
level, shall marry Annette this very night"
This unique address was received by the
young men with applause And many a
youth of uial casta glance of anticipated
victory back upon the lovely object of viii
lage chivalry. The maidens left their looms
and quilting frames, the children their noisy
sports, the slaves their labors, and the old
men their arm chairs and pipes, to witness
aud triumph in the success of the victor. All
prophesed and whispered that it would be
young Carroll. He was the handsomest and
best humored youth in the country and all
knew that a strong mutual attachment eX
istei between him and the fair Annette Car
roll had won the reputation of being the
"best leaper - and in country where sucl
| athletic achievements were the sine qua no,
of mans cleverness, this was no ordinar!
honor,
The arena allotted for this hymenial con
test was level space in front of the villag
| inn, and near the center of grass plat, re
served in the midst of the village denominat
ed the "green," The verdure was quit
worn off at this place by previous eS" : 6
of a sim il.r kind aud hard surf -