The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-10-10
THE MARRIAGE PORTION.

There lived, about five or six miles
from Easton, Pa, few years since, an
honest farmer named Henderson, who
had two very pretty daughters, Ellen and
Maude. The first was about twenty
three years of age, while the latter was
nineteen. The farmer was q thrifty.
well-to-do man, though by 10 means
rich but the family lived in excellent
style, and the daughters had received
good educations.
Both of these girls were pretty, but
Maude was perhaps the handsomer.
There was no lack of attentive young
gentlemen at the farm, though the
nelghborhood was not very thickly set
tied, But beauty draws us with a
single hair, and the young ladies' were
the center of gay little circle OF friends,
mostly young gentlemen or farmers sons
in the immediate neighborhood, and
some even from Easton.
By-and-by it came about that an earn
est, handsome and sturdy young farmer
fell desperately in love with Maude, and
proposed to her. On her part, she loved
Harry Masters above all the young fell
lows she knew, and told him frankly that
he might speak to her father. In the
meantime she confded the matter to her
mother, a kind hearted, sympathetic
parent, who saw no objection to the
choice of her daughter, but all was left
to the father to decide.
Farmer Henderson WAS avery straight
forward and open-mouthed man. That
is, he said exactly what he meant, no
more or less, and that he uttered freely.
When Harry Masters called him on one
side and tol9 his especial orrand, as to
Maude, the father said Well, Mr.. Mas
ters, Maude is young. I wanted Ellen
to be married first she's Oldest, and l
have got q marriage portion of twelve
hundred dollars to give her; but 1
haven laid by anything yet for Maude. "
81 have got pretty well beforehand,
Mr.. Henderson, for man but twenty
four years old, and we shall be able to
do very well, I have no doubt"
You mean you'll take Maude with
out any marriage portion ?" said the
father.
"Yes, sir, very gladly"
"Well, it's pleasant to hear you say
so, because it shows your honest affec-
ton, Mr.. Masters but L am too proud,
though simple farmer, to let Maudc
marry till 1 can give her a thousand OF
two toward housekeeping"
"It is not worth waiting for, sir, as
long as we don't really need it, and both
are content"
"Then, again, I'd rather Maude
wouldn't marry until her sister is mar
ried, because she's so much older, do
you see, it will actually make her an old
maid. It isn't fair, Mr.. Masters"
"Ellen is very popular with the gen.
tlemen, and will soon be married." said
the other.
"That's just what I have said to my
self, and then I shall begin to pick up q
marriage portion for Maude."
"I trust that is the only objection,
Mr.. Henderson ?" said Harry Masters.
"Why, yes you are promising and
respectable young man, and come of a
good family" said the farmer but
can't let Maude go until have got to-
gether respectable marriage portion to
give with her hand"
perhaps you will think more favora,
bly, about it," said the lover. "Tl
speak with you again.
"All right, Mr.. Masters"
Harry and Maude were very fond Of
each other, and now talked over the mat
ter very seriously. Maude could not
blame her father, and did not like her
self the idea of going to Harry without {
proper portion to contribute towart
their joint partnership in domestic life.
"Never mind, Harry" said the hand
some young girl "Ellen will soon b'
married. have pretty good reason fol
knowing"
"Ah, but then your father says hi
wants time to pick up marriage por
ton for you, and that will take three o
four years, perhaps" ="
"That is a good while, is it not, Har
ry?" said Maude, just blushing little
for fear that it, sounded forward ant
bold.
"It's ages I" said the young fellow
"Think of waiting three years-why W
shall be old folks by that time p
"Not quite SO bad as that" sal
Maude.
"I'm sure my hair will be gray b
hat timel"
Nonsense, Harry Now you ar
ng."
was never more in earnest in m