Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-01-01
The Marriage Portion.

/ There lived, about five or six miles
! from Easton, Pennsylvania, few
years since, an honest farmer named
Henderson, who had two very pretty
daughters, Ellen and Maude. The
first was about thirty years of age,
while the latter was but nineteen.
The farmer was a thrifty, well-to-do
man, though by no means rich; the
family lived in excellent style, and
the daughters had received good ed
ucation.
Both of these girls were pretty,
but Maude' was perhaps the hand
somer. There was no lack of atten-
tive young men at the farm, though
the neighborhood was not very thick
| ly settled. But 'sbeauty draws us
with single hair and the young
ladies were the center of a gay little
circle of friends.
By and by it came about that an
earnest, 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 fellows 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 with
the father to decide.
Henderson was a very straightfor-
ward and open-mouthed man. That
is, he said exactly what he meant, no
more or less, and that he uttered
freely. When Henry Masters called
him one side and told his especial er-
rand as to Maude, the father said /:
"Well, Mr.. Masters, Maude is
young. | want Ellen to be married
first; she's the oldest, and | have a
marriage portion of 81 200 to give
her; but haven't laid by anything
yet for Maude.''
Il have got pretty well before
hand, Mr.. Henderson, for a man but
twenty-four years old, and we shall
be able to do very we'll, l have no
doubt
s'You mean you'd take Maude
without any marriage portion?". said
the father
eyes sir, very gladly
"Well, it's pleasant to hear you
say so, because it shows your honest
affection, Mr.. Masters but l am too
proud to let Maude marry until l can
give her thousand or two towards
| housekeeping
''It is not worth waiting for, sir,
as long as we really don't need it and
both are content.
"Then, again, I'd rather Maude
wouldn't marry until her sister is
married because she's so much older,
so you see it will actually make her
an old maid. 1t isn't fair, Mr.. Mas
ters."
''Ellen is very popular with the
gentlemen and will soon be married, .
said the other.
"That's just what | have said to
myself, and then l shall begin to
pick up a marriage portion fol
Maude."
Il trust that is your only objec'
ton, Mr.. Henderson ?" said Harry
Masters.
'Why, yes, you are a promising
and respectable young man and come
of good family - said the farmer
"but l can't let Maude go until
have got together respectable mar
riage portion to give with her hand
perhaps you will think more fay
orable about it, said the lover. s.
will speak with you again.
''All right, Mr.. Masters
Harry and Maude were very fond o
each other and talked the matter owe
very seriously. Maude could no
blame her father and did not hersel
like the idea of going to Harry with
out proper portion to contribute to
wards their joint partnership in do
mestic life.
"Never mind, Harry said tn
handsome young girl :; 'Ellen will
soon be married. | have prett
good reason for knowing.
"Ah, but then your father says h
wants time to pick up marriag
portion for you, and that will tax
| three or four years, perhaps"
"That is good while, is it not
Harry?' said Maude, just blushin
a little, for fear it sounded forwar
and bold.
''It's ages p said the young fellow
2 ''Think of waiting three years
we shall be old folks by that time !''
5 ''Mot quite as bad as that, sal
: Maude.
;. "I'm sure my hair will be gray b
that time p'
q Nonsense, Harry! Now you al
s joking"
!" 81 never was more in earnest
5 my life,' said he, as he stole a kis
from her pretty lips, and ran ava,
so as not to hear her chide him fl
. his boldness.
n ssMaude," said her father, comm
: into the house from the barn, :
e wish you would ride the sorrel ma
e into Easton and get this hundre,