Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-02-14
HOW SHE DECIDED.
AN ARKANsAw prI.


Old Ben Billings, of Frlar's Cove, is
the wealthiest man in Gum township,
blackberry county, Arkansaw. Aside
from being the fortunate possessor of a
yoke of bay steers, the envy of all the
neighbors, he own neck of creek bot
tom land and a blacksmith shop with
beech anvil-block and sheepskin bel
lows. These advantages over less fortu-
nate acquaintances, naturally made o.
Ben proud, and since the Justice of this
is admitted, the fact that Billings daugh-
ter, Zildus. was somewhat aristocratic.
did not cause more than ordinary aston
ishment. To merely say that Zildus was
handsome, would be robbing her of many
charms; to say that she was beautiful,
would leave the half untold. Many
young men aspired to s'caper nimbly'
In the sanctuary of her affections, but with
that cold and cutting kindness which
love can so cruelty assume, she would
tell them that she hoped to ever be their
friend but that her heart had never been
stirred up with the warm pointed wand
Of love. Billings, who favored not life
OF old maidish ''prudery," did not re-
gard his daughters lofty disdain with
degree of any too much satisfaction. He
had no sons, and he sensibly reflected
that good size chunk of son-in-law
could be made to do "a right smart
chance o. plowin'" in the course of a
season.
'zildus," he said one day, 'suppose
your mother'd been sich gal as youQn
"She never would have married you
the young lady replied.
"Come, none o. your school-house dia-
logue talk. am studyin' your own
good, an l don't want you to toss your
head around me. If your mother had
been like you an throwed away every
offer she had, she would have sunk down
into old maids unhappy grave-'
That's what l say, pap. She wouldn't
have married you"
"Oh, yes, l see. Thought you was
ryin' to pick me up some way. Glad
you understand me. Now, what I want
to stamp on your mind is the importance
of marriage. A gals good looks should
never cause her to treat an offer of mar
rage in careless manner an throw it
away as though the woods was full of
'em, no more than man should throw
away debt of fifty cents, cause other
debts of dollar or SO are likely to come
along in the future Pitiable is the
woman that thinks herself above her sur
roundin's, for in after life, no matter
what road she takes, she'll find many hot
stretches of sand an many a sharp flint
rock. Marriage is the hope O. woman
She may have sense like man-sense
like horse for that matter-but unless
she marries, it will never find full enjoy
ment. Comm down to immediate bust
ness, I want you to get married. There
are plenty of young fellers in this com
munity that would give their ears for
you, and want you to stir yourself
around and see how good choice you
can make in the shortest possible time. /"
Il recognize the logic of what you
say, father, and wish that I could obey
you to the very letter Of your advice.
am not so different from other girls. 1
have no ambitious longings. know that
I am never to be anything but simple
country woman with uncoufh address
and wide mouth for blackberry jam.
Aside from being what you think, unable
o love anybody, Ibelong I to that large
and doubtless contented class of women,
who can love anyone who treats them
well, for after all, the happiest wife is
she whose smiles are aroused from facial
slumber by pan of -four, two teacups
of sugar, lard and . suitable sprinkling
of soda. Jack Meckley and Tom Briley
are now paying me their earnest atten-
tons look with favor upon both Of
them, yet cannot marry but one at q
time. Oh, howl could giggie with either,
as the poet said, il the other dear charmer
were in an adjoining township. They
have pleaded with me to decide, yet
cannot
ssCan't you think o. some test, " asked
the delighted old man, for they were both
known as excellent field hands
Il have pondersd deeply when the
sts-S looked brightly down snd when the
scTsech owl made the dominicke hen
mutter in discomfort, yet my thsnghts
Aavs failed - suggest plan.u
ssThsy axs ven matched, 2 said the old
- .ssnd ths oonfest, no r2a<tsr what it