Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-12-23
I sslftt sturg.
HIS LEAP YEAR.

Its a very pretty parish. sasl the
Rev. Mr.. Racquet. and very pleas
an; people. The elderly Ladies are
steady, consistent workers; the youHg
er, active aud euthuslactic. don't
think, II | bad possessed the privilege
Of selecting for myself, could have
found more -ishiful position.
Mr.. Roslcr1c Racquet was SIX aad
twenty. with straight nose. pleasant
blue eyes. and i general talent for be.
Ing satisfied with everything and every.
body lie MAS located Ia bis FIRST
parish, . picturesque litsle lot OF
houses, oserhanging brisk cataract.
~hich made work for mills a.d fac
tories, aud So far he was ono of those
exceptions IN life, perfectly satisfies!
man.
"Ah," said lis friend, Nr. Allou.
Who Vas 4 mjsanlhrops. Il ne .adies.
eh :"
"for Of course, much of the prosperity
of a country pari.h deT-nds upon It's
female members
YES" observed Mr.. Alton. drYly
"lou Are an unmarried naa ! be.
IIeve"
Il am an unmarried man yes, Ger
talnly.
And this is-L-ap Year"
"Nonsens,." cried the paTsou. brisA
ly.
Il hope you may iind 1t u"nsense. -
said Mr.. Alton. pursiug up his lips !;
but, arm told that there aFe goosl
many single ladies thl, year who arr
t.rlyrn desperate BY the pruspc, Of
splns;rrhood -"
Nonsense again exclaimed Mr.
Racquet. "My dear Alton. this IS =
littls too much OF a burlesque. You
don't seriously believe ia this
ibsurdliy:
Mr. Alton only shook bis head. as
ne rosa and reached for his hat.
all get my book. Racquet, said he
.s he locked lugubriously around the
room, "and 20 out for stroll IN these
pine scented woods. Ny doctor says
sha, pine sap is very healthy for lungs
that are consumpt,yely incIlned."
Very we'll" said the Rev. Mr. Rae
quet, with glance at the scattering
sheets of the half composed sermon
that lay on his desk; aud will join
you after u little"
lie took up his pen, dipped it de-
termiuedly in the inkstand, and went
resolutely 10 writing; but, the words
rang of his iconoclastic friend per-
sistently in his ears
"if there should be any foundation
for Atoms absurd idea?" he pondered,
with his pen suspended above the
partially written sheet. "But of course
there can't be; but lfsuch possibility
did exist-a married man is really a
better member of society than a single
one. never did adhere to the doc.
trlne that c!ergymen should be cell
bates
And all the while Rosa Appleton's
cherry cheeks and yellow hair were
dancing a human will o'-whisp before
the horizon of tn. minds eye.
"She's young," he said to himself,
"And perhaps inclined To be little
giddy, but she's certninly very charm
ing. And, si"ce the Appletons have
failed, and the mother has opened II
u board house, aud Luclla has gone
to teaching, do not think | could do
better than marry"
Rose Appleton, sir, if you please" !"
1t was tlmid little voice that broke
in upon his reflection, and Rose her
self stood before him, coloring like IL
pink carnation, with u basket Of late
peaches in her hands.
"Ive called on business, sir" said
Rose.
The Rev. Roderic moved forward a
chair.
"Pray be seated, Miss Appleton, ;"
said he, not without some confusion
on his part.
"It's about our Lucilla." said she.
'Indeed?" said Mr. Racquit.
I've want to get her well settled in
life,' said Rose. appealngIy.
But | thought she was teaching!,
cried Mr.. Racquet.
"She doesn't like teaching" confess