The Van Buren press., 1877-12-25
The Marriage Portion.

| ~
There lived, about five or six miles
from Easton, Pa, a 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 thrifty, well
to-do man, though, by no means, rich !;
but the family lived In excellent style, and
the daughters Ind received good oduca
tions.
Both Of these girls were pretty, but
Mauds was, perhaps, thu handsomer.
There Was no lack OF attentive young
gentlemen at the farm. though tbs neigh-
borhood was NOT very thickly settled.
But !" beauty draws US with single
hair" and the young ladies were the cen
ire Of gay little circle OF friends, most
ly young gentlemen or farmers sons In
the immediate ncighborhood, aud some
even from Easton.
By-and-by it came about that ON 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 TEL
lows she knew, and told him frankly that
he might speak to her father. In the
meantime she confided the matter TO her
mother, kind-hearted and sympy thetic
parent. who saw no objection to the
choice OF the daughter, but oil was LOFT
to the father to decide.
Farmer Henderson was = very 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 told his special errand. 20 TO
Maude. the father said: Well, Mr.. Mas
tiers, Maade Is young. wanted Ellen to
be married first; she 10 Oldest, and have
got marriage portion of twelve hun
dred dollars to give her; but l haven't
laid by anything yet for Mauds,"
"Ihave got pretty we'll beforehand. Mr.
| Henderson, for man only twenty
years old, and we shall be able to do very
we'll, have no doubt"
"You mean you'll take Maude without
any marriage.portion 2" said the fstlcr
les, sir, very gladly"
"Well, it is pleasant to hear yeu say
so, because it shows your honest atfec-
ton, Mr.. Masters; but l am too proud.
though simple farmer, to let Maude
marry till ! can give her thousand or
two for housekeeping"
"It Is not worth waiting for, sir, %
long as we don't really need It, and both
are content
"Then, again. I'd rather Mauds would
not marry until her sister Is married, be-
cause she is so much older. you see, II
will actually make her On old maid. II
isn't fair, Mr.. Masters"
Ellen is very popular With the gen.
tlcmen, and will soon be married." said
the other.
"That's just what have said to my
self, and then shall commence to pick
marriage. portion for Maude"
II trust that is the only objection, Mr..
Henderson ?" said Henry Masters.
why, yes; you are promising and
respectable young man, aud come OF q
good family" said the farmer! +" but l
can't let Maude go, until l have got to-
gether respectable marriage portion to
give with her hand"
perhaps you will think more favora-
bly, about it," said the lover. " I'll speak
with you again"
GAN right, Mr.. Masters"
Harry and Maude were very fond Of
each other. and now talked over the mat
ter very seriously. Mauds could not
blame her father. and did not like, hei sell,
tho idea Of going to Harry without
proper portion to contribute toward their
joint partnership in domestic life.
"Never mind, Harry" said the hand.
some young girl; +" Ellen will soon be
married. l have pretty good reason for
knowing"
"Ah. but then your father says he
wants time to pick up marriage portion
for you, aud that will take three or -four
years, perhaps"
THAT is a good while, is 1t not, Har.
ry 2" said Maude, just blushing little,
tor fear that it sounded forward and bold.
"It's ages!" said the young fellow
Think of waiting three years-why, we
shall be old folks by that time"
mot quite SO bad as that" said Maude.
I'm sure my hair will be gray. BY
that time!"
Nonsense, Harry! Now you are 10
king"
~ was never more in earnest in my
life," said he, Us he stole kiss from her
pretty lips, and ran away, 20 as not to
hear her chide him for his boldness.
"Maude,' said her father, coming into
the house from the barn, wish you
would ride the sorrell mare into Easton,
and get this hundred dollar bill changed
at the bank. The workmen have fiot
done with the roofing of the barn; and
want to pay them off, tonight"
avery well, father. Let John put the
side saddle on, and l will te ready in five
The sorrel mare was brought up to the
door, and Maude was soon on her way at
a easy hand-gallop toward Easton. She
had an excellent scat aud was good |
horsewoman. As she knew this well, she
would not have objected to have Harry
see her just now but he had gone few
moments before in an opposite direction.
When Maude got to Easton, she rode di.
rectly to tho bank, but was unfortunate
enough to find that 1t was already closed.
After few moments thought she rcsolv
ed to try and get the note changed at the
grocer's, or in some OF the other stores,