The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-07-08
"PinafOre" in Real Life.

This happened in Windsor At leas
part of it happened there and part In Lee
! mington. In an ncient play called Pima
fore Josephine had some trouble in max
ing up her mind whether she would MARI
the admiral Of the sailor. In this modern
drama about TO be related the sailor coulo
not make up his mind whether he woulo
marry Josephine or Hebe. Ralph RackstraW
of Windsor sails the'river blue and his sau.
cy tug'sa beauty-as tugs go. Josephine
and Hebe are sisters and the family lived at
Leamlngtsn. on the shores of Lake Erie
Ralph Rackstraw was Josephine's lover
Josephine was fine, stately girl, and Hebe
was her sprightly, handsome little sister
AS the latter began standing with reluctant
feet where the brook and river meet Ralph
commenced to think that she was even fairer
than her elder sister. And little Hebe Was
or Sir Joseph Porter s opnlen that Ralph
was fine fellow and first rate seaman,
| and although life tug does not offer
such opportunities for exalted positions as
man ofwar does, yet Ralph's situation
was good one, and he was yonng man
any young girl might be proud to attach a
tow line to-at least, SO thought Hebe to
herself The family moved from Leaning
ton to Windsor, where they now reside.
Josephine stayed at bennington with
relative. Ralph would be some days in Wind
sOr and other days at bennington, and when
he was at the latter village he thought that
Josephine was the fairest fower,'' ETC.,
ETC.. and while across the'river he imagined
the same Of Hebe. In order to set his vac
Hating mind at rest. he proposed to both
Of them. Both of them accepted him, and
strange to say, his mind was still not ex-
actly at ease. At last he engaged the SER
vices of weli-kpewn Windsor preacher
and he set the day. When he was at Lea
mington he told Josephine that if she came
to Windsor then by stage he would marry |
her, and he sprang on his trusty tug and |
headed her nor-nor west half west for Wind. |
sor singing
'Oh, bitter is my cup
How ever could [ do it :
I've mixed this business up,
Ile bet cent I'll rue it,
Now, Hebe, said the mother, ''go and
get things ready for Ralph and josephine.
II will. said the obedient little Hebe
with emphasis.
In quarter of an hour she was at the /
wharf gazing down the river, When the
gallant tug sailed up the stream with all
her canvas spread-that is to say, of course
with volumes of smoke rolling from her
funnel, the vacillating Ralph saw Hebe
waiting for him. When he nerveouslv step-
ped ashore, Hebe grasping him by the arm.
said
my pain and my distress
l lind 1t is not easy to express
My amazement and my surprise.
You may see by the expression of my
eyes
Say, are you going to marry me or are
you not -
II am" he fa'tered.
well, let US go and get married, then
They went and got married The Minis
er did not know but this was the girl that
MS services were required for. I
"Where's Hebe?'' asked Josephine after '
he had put off her wraps and had told all 5
ne thrilling incidents of stage Journey :
rom Leamrgton to Windsor a
'On, here she comes with Ralph. !" said t
ne OF the family, and sure enough here she G
anne.
"Oh. Ralph, cried Josephine, prepar, Il
1g to precipitate herself into his arms.
Stop! said the energetic Hebe. sthat |
MI Rackstraw, my husband. | am Mrs. g
ackstraw, at your service and she cour- f,
esied Il
Your hus-your-" gasped Josephine. il
she sank to the floor. The head of the o
mlly stepped forward and exclaimed et
1grly: T
: In uttering reprobation m
70 any British tar, re
try to speak in moderation, &c
But you have gone too far. OF
M very sorry to disparage in
An honest formost lad, in
But to seek the hands of two daugb is
tiers in marriage W!
hy-hang tits more than a person "