The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-11-28
VILLAGE PRIZE.


old man whose daughter was declared, by
universal consent, to be the loveiest maid
en- in all that country. The veteran IN MS
youth had been athletic and muscular
above all his fellows, and his breast, where
he always wore then, could show Inc
adornment of three medals received for
his victories in gymnastic feats when a
young man His daughter was now To-
and had been sought in marriage by many
suitors. One brought wealth, another "
fine person, another this and another that.
But they we're all refused by the old man.
who became at last byword for his OBJ
stinacy among the young men OF the WI
lage and neighborhood.
At length the nineteenth birthday oil
Annette, his charming daughter, who was
az amiable and modest as she was beauu-
full. arrived. The morning of that day
her father invited all the youth OF the
country to haymaking frOlic. Seventeen
handsome and industrious Young men as
sembled. They came moi only TO make
| bay, but also to make love to the fair An
nette. In three hours they had filled the
fathers barns with the newly dried grass
and their own hearts with love. Annette
hv her fathers command, had brought the
malt liquor of her own brewing, which she
presented TO her enamOred swain with her
own fair hands.
"Now, nv boys" said the old keeper OF
the level they all courted, as leaning on
their pitchforks they assembled round the
door in the cool of the evening-"Now, my
lads. YOU have nearly all of you made pro-
posals for my Annette. Now, you see'
don't care anything about money or talent
book learning nor soldier learning can
do as we'll by my gal as any man IN the
country; but want her to marry man
of her own grit. Now, you know, or
ought to know, when was a youngster /
could beat anything in all Virginia in the
very pleasing way of leaping. | got my
old woman by beating the smartest man
IN the Eastern Shore, and have took the
oath and swore it that no man shall marry
my own daughter without jumping Tor II
You understand, boys. There's the green
and here's Annette he added, taking
his daughter, who stood timidly behind
him. by the hand. Now, the one that
iumps the farthest on dead level shall
marry Annette this very night"
This unique address was received by the
Young men with applause. And many
youth as he bounded gaily forward to the
arena of trial cast a glarce of anticipated
victory back upon the lovely object OF The
village chivslry. The maidens LETT then
looms and quilting frames, the children
their noisy sports, the slaves their Iabors
and the old men their arm chairs and lont
pipes to witness and triumph in the success
of the victor All prophesied and man!
wished it would be young Carroll. He wa
the handsomest and most humOred you'll
in the company, and all knew that thu
strongest mutual attachment existed be
tween him and Annette. Carroll hat
won the reputation of being the "bes
leaper," and in county where such ath
letic achievements were the sine qua MOI
/ Il 10
nv honor. In contest like the presen
he had, therefore, every advantage owe
his fellow athletes.
, The arena allotted for this hymenial con
test was level space in front of the vii
lage inn and near the center OF gras
plat reserved in the midst of the villag,
I, denominated the green" The verdur
was quite worn off at this place by PREV
Gus exercises of a similar kind, and har
surface of sand, more fitting Tor the pur
B nose TO which it was 10 lie used, supple
its place.
The father of the lovely, blushing All
withal happy prize (for she well knew VIII
Z would VIM, with three other patrarchs
b villagers, were the Judges appointed |
. decide upon the claims vi the several com
petiiors. The last time Carroll tried hi
skill in this exercise he cleared TO us
the leaper's phraseology, 20 feet and
inch
The signal was given, and by lot tn
Young men stepped into the arena.
Edward GraysOn, IL feet" cried one q
the Judges. The youth had done his ut
5 most He was a pale, intellectual stu
= dent. But what had intellect to do j
3 such an arenaf Without look at til
0 maiden he left the ground.
J "Diek Boulden, IS feet" Dick, with
6 laugh TUNED away and replaced his coat.
> Harry Preston, 10 feet ; inches"
"well done, Harry Preston" shoute
/ the spectators. "you have tried hard fo
the acres and homestead"
Harry also laughed, and swore he Onl
; jumped for the fun of the thing. Harr
5 vas a rattle-brained fellow, but he neye
: thought of matrimony. He loved to wal
) and talk, and laugh aud romp with Al
Z nette, but sober marriage never came int
= his head. He only jumped for the fun {
the thing. He would not have said so
: he was sure OF winning. :.
Charley Smms, fifteen feet and half
: "Hurrah for Charleyl Charley'll win!
! cried the crowd good humoredly. Charlie
Simms was one of the cleverest fellows
!. the world. His mother had advised hi
% to stay at home and told him il be eve
y won wife she would fall in love with b
= good temper rather than his legs. Charlie
4 however, made the trial, aud only of II
4 latter's capabilities and lost. Many n
fused to enter the list altogether. Othe
made the tria', and only one of the leape
n had cleared twenty feet.
!. "Now," cried The villagers, "let's 81
" uanru Narrnll He onnhi 10 hnnf ihia