Year: 1869

Many of our readers will undoubtedly re-
member Jacob Strawn, who lived In Jack
sonville, about twenty-five or thirty years
ago. Jacob died one of the very wealth
lest men in the State of which he had been
a resident. He was hog and cattle deal
er, and had been known to have in his
possession as many as $4,000 head of each
at one time Well Jacob lived to be thir-
ty years of age, and up to that time never
had occasion to unite himself to one of
Ewes fair daughters. He was practical
sort of man, and never dreamed that such
thing as marriage was possible while a
person was possessed of even moderate
means However, at that age he was rich,
and one day the conviction very naturally
forced itself on his mind that he should
procure some one of the opposite sex to en-
Joy his riches with him.


Thirty years ago, in the section of coun-
try in which Mr.. Strawn lived, girls were
not so plentiful as they are at present. In
fact. it may be said they were " like angels
visits, few and far between" But those
who did reside near unto Jacksonville,
we're as beautiful as the longest day in
summer is lengthy. Now be it known,
Jacob was not patrician. Democracy
was with him sacred principle, and not
withstanding the circumstances that he
was immensely wealthy, and that the grea-
ter number of families residing near him
were poor, so far as his feelings went or
even his actions, never did he make a
manifestation of egotism or self pride.


Outside of jacksonville, a couple of
miles perhaps, there lived quite respect
able family. This family employed ser
want girl. The maturity which the lapse
of eighteen years produces, was apparent
in her face and form. Like the great ma
jority of country girls, she looked as if she
was gazing upon roses, and those roses
were rejecting their beauty in her cheeks.


Graceful and neat in the extreme, and
possessing a very fair share of intelligence,
this servant girl was match for whomso-
ever might take her upon himself. Jacob
saw this flower and determined to possess
it.. To transplant it in his own house, to
have it to comfort and cheer, was the
grand object to which he directed his
thoughts. He loved without ever having
spoken to the idol of his day thoughts and
dreams. Romance was something of
which Jacob had probably never heard,
and so making love with him was like
buying a steer-a mere matter of business.
One day he rode up to the residence of
the fair maid. alighted from his horse and
knocked with the butt end of his whip.
The lady of the house answered his sum-
mons and Immediately upon her making
her appearance Jacob asked for the servant
girl.


The servant girl came. Said Jacob i:
" want a wife, and 1 have picked you
out as the most proper person for that po-
sition that can possibly find. I've never
spoken to you before, but that makes no
difference. Ill give you one week to con-
sider."


The girl blushed and was dumb-founded.
Jacob mounted his horse and rode away
The girl inquired into Mr.. Strawn's char
acter and standing and was advised by
those with whom she lived to accept the
offer of his hand Punctually, week
after, Jacob rode up to the door knocked
again with his whip and asked


Is it no or yes?"


Blushingly and while tears traced each
other down her rosy cheeks, the girl an