Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-03-08
A School Girls Essay.

HOW 1T WON FOR HER HUSBAND.
Among the graduates of the High School
at Biddeford, Maine, in 1873, was young
lady of nineteen, who read an essay on
eAfter Graduation, What ?'' in which she
gave utterance. to the following commend
able sentiment.
''The lords of creation have been com
pared to sturdy oaks, and we the vines
that cling to and Irvine around them; but
this metaphor, if ever pertinent, to use a
slang phrase, has long since played out.
We have all heard of the $4,000 oakleSs
vines in Massachusetts, to say nothing OF
the uncounted thousands in Maine, and
there are too many oaks that can scarcely
support themselves, to say nothing OF their
supporting anything else. L much
prefer;s life of activity and honest eXertlon,
and l believe that the world owes me
living if eau earn it, and l. expect 1t on
no other condition.
This essay was published entire IN the
local pape1s Of the town aud attracted con-
siderable attention, the extract we have
given above being copied into many of
the leading journals of the larger cities.
One of these papers iell into the hands OF a
gentleman who was returning from New
York to his home in Youngstown, in this
state. and he was so struck with the SEN
timent avowed, that re cut out the extract
and placed it in his pOcketbook. lie was
then married man In 1876, his wife
| having died, he enclosed the slip to a
friend in Biddeford, asking him if it was
written, as had been asserted, by a girl
graduate of the high school there, and, if
so. if the lady was married or single, &c.
| In due time he received an answer giving
| him the lady's name, the fact that she was
| still heart-whole and fancy-free, and other
particulars relating to her family that were
| of most agreeable character. The
Youngstown man at once opened cor
| respondence with the lady, which as it
| progrt ssed, drew them nearer and nearer
| iu spirit until at last an engagement OF
| marriage was entered into between them.
About two weeks ago the Youngstown
| gentleman packed his carpet sack full OF
new clothes kiss d his three little children
adieu, shook hands with his friends and
| took the train for the East, arriving in due
| time at the home of his literary inamora-
| ia. He was warmly welcomed by the hos
pitable Yankees, and after a few days he
| was instrumental in having his intended
| father and mother-in-laW send us the fol
| lowing invitation:
''Mr and Mrs. John W. Eden request
you presence at the marriage OF their
daughter, Eldena, to Andrew J. Packard
| Wednesday morning, February u, 1878,
! at 10 o'clock, at the residence of her grand
| father. Hon. John Milliken Buxton, Saco.
| Maine"
| Mr.. Packard is a native Of Warren, o..
but he has lived for years in Youngstown,
where he is prominently engaged in the
iron business. He is one of the best Dem
ocratS on the Western Reserve, aud fol
years has been member of the DemOcra
tic State Central Communicative wish
fim and his bonnie bride all the Joy that
| even they could ask.
| In view Of Miss Eldena's success We
should not be surprised if the favorite
themes for graduating essays at Vassal
and other female colleges henceforth will
be" 1.-THE 1Es hetics of Cooking ''Ten
Dollars Week. Enough land to spare) fol
Two," &c.-[ Cincinnati Enquirer.