Year: 1864

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himself that possibly these two great aids
to his happiness and prosperity might be
found, and yet without attempting to put
/ his matrimonial and financial ideas into
practice, he allowed them to haunt him
continually,


With this upon his mind, our farmer
started upon horseback journey to a
distant part of the country, and upon his
return made an acquaintance upon the
road in the person of an old gentleman
who was jogging the same way. The
companions diped together at a wayside
inn, and frateTnized pleasantly, during
which the young man opened his heart
to the elder, telling him all his plans and
aspirations, when the old gentleman ad-
dressed the younger:


I rather like you, my friend, and your
honest way of telling your story, and if
you will come and see me, I shall be glad.
I have three daughters, all as good girls
as ever lived. Now perhaps one of them
may be the very one you are looking for;
if so, I will do my best towards making
the balance of the matter agreeable. Ride
over and see me tomorrow, take dinner,
and stay the afternoon - which will
give you fair chance to see them and
Judge.


The young man instantly agreed to the
proposal making only a condition that
the young ladies should not be informed
of the nature of his errand. This was
agreed to, and they separated.


The next day, at the time appointed,
the young man dismounted at the door of
the house Of his new made friend, and
was heartily welcomed. The hour before
dinner was consumed in looking over the
farm, the young man IN admiring its
keeping, and the old one in approving Of
the sensible and practical remarks of the
younger, when the meal was announced,
and the three young ladies and their
mother were introduced. They were all.
as the old gentleman had said, fno girls,
but the youngest, rosy heeked; blue
eyed and laughing-faced, charmed the
young farmer especially. The dinner
over, they once more walked out for
chat.


Well, how do you like my daughtefs?'
was the cid gentleman's first interroga-
ton.


They are all nice girls, very nice, said
the young man thoughtfuliy.


'Andwhich Of them do you ike besj?'
was the next question.


'Theyoungest, Kate; she is charming;
and if 1 am to be your son-in-l4w you
must give me Kate


This VIII never do to take the young
est and by all odds the prottiest, said
the old gentleman, seriously.


I must have her or none, was the re-
spOnse, spoken decidedly.


How much money did you say you
wanted2


Five thousand dollars viii putny farm
in excellent order, and make it worth
twenty thousand tomorrow. Imust have
five thousand dollars


'I'lI give you the sum with either Of
the other girls, said the, old man, posi-
lively, but I viii give but three thous-
and with Kate.


Then I may as well go to my home.
Five thousand I must haye-I have set
my mind upon it.


And I have just as strongly determ-
ined to do only what I have said, was
the old mans reply; so I suppose the
matter is at an end, However, we will
be good friends, and you must sometimes
run over and see me


This ended the conference and they
parted. The young man mounted his
horse and rode down toward the road,
but just as he was about opening the
gate, STOPPING from his saddle, the laugh
ing-faced Kate sprang through the shrub
berry to save him the trouble.


Cant you accept my fathers terms?'


Yes, by George, I viii, if you say so,
was the instantaneous response.


Then come over to-morrow morning
before ten o'clock and tell him So and
the girl vanished like fairy among the
leaves.


The young man rode slowly home, but
he was on hand next morning, according
to bidding, and married the fair Kate in
two months after.


As a specimen of the absurd, we can
not do better than cite a case that oc-
CURED within our own jurisdiction, in a
country village Of Massachusetts. There
was a certain Zachariah PEBBLES, a stout
industrious, sober and bashfrl farm hand
resident Of that locality. Zack was
celebrated not for what he did say, but
for what he did not; his silence being a
matter of marvel through all that chat.
tering neighborhood. zack, with all hi.
taciturnity, was not proof against the
shafts of love, and one day was smitter
with the wholesome charms of the only