Year: 1874




eccentric New England farmer, the
owner in fee simple of many broad
and fertile acres of available land,
and the proud parent of promising,
son now near grown, " ho in his infan
cy had been designated by the not
altogether unheard of name of
John.


Now John Janson had been
brought up in very careful and
proper manner, and it was there
fore not to be wondered al that as be
grew more mature, that be was re-
garded as very exemplary young
man bv those who knew him init
mately. He was sober and industri-
Gus. in his habits, cultivated and re-
fined in his tastes. with disposition
to get along and prosper in the
world as his father had done before
him.


But the time came when he was
one and twenty. This is remark
able episode in the lives of most young
men, when fully freed from paren-
tai restraint by the construction of
the law, they think they know so
much and subsequently learn that
they know so little


Now possibly, Peter, the peer,
this event in his sons life
with as great concern as did John
the junior, for certain it is, that short
ly thereafter he summoned the young
man into his presence for little pri-
vate conversation.


"Well, John" he said, chow does
it seem to be one and twenty


Seem! why | can't see as it seems
anv different from any other time"


Cant eh? o, well you'll see quick
enough, | guess. suppose the next
thing you'll be thinking of will be of
getting married"


20, | hadn't thought of such a
thing yet in earnest"


Hadn't, eh? well, you'd better
he thinking; getting married is about
as important thing ash ever hap
pen to YOU"


yes, ] suppose so"


Suppose SO? suppose soy you II
know so by and by. Well, John
you're old enough to bcgiE to think
seriously about this matter / amt
going to have you running around
unsettled and unsteady in your habits
and character. Now, the quicker
you pick yourself out wife and
settle down the better. Mind You,
my boy, this wasting three or four
of the best years of your life in sowing
your wild oats, is very foolish prin-
ciple for young men to adhere to.
Now, | didn't suppose to have you
do anything Of the kind, and if you
avoid it YOU won't have harvest of
briar thistles to gather in after
wards. Now, just as soon as you
will pick yourself out a good, prudent
and industrious little wife, I've
good farm to give you, and enou gh
to set you up in rearouable style you
understand


"Yes, sir"


"But not an acre or yenny of
mine shall you possess until you have
complied with my wishes


But father"


II mean what ] say, exactly, and
no more; make this matter your
first business and when you have
performed your part of the contract
| will attend to mine.


"But this is rather sudden


That makes no difference; if you
are not satisfied with my terms, the
world is wide enough for both of US.
and you are big enough and bright |
enough to earn your own living; ifI
you can do better by yourself than
can do by you, why start right out
in the world, for you are of age. |
have stated my terms, and | do not
propose to alter them"


"But who shall marry?"


There's Israel Ives five daughters
and I'm certain you can have your
pick out of the lot. They've all been
well brought up, and any of them is
good enough for you, so go ahead;
and as soon as you report favorably
the farm is yours"


'But which one shall take, faith
er?''


(Which shall you take" repeated
Peter Jansen; 1t must be a bright
man, surely that cannot decide at
sight what woman to pick out of a
dozen, and singular youth you are
not to have your eye on one already.
However, make your own choice, and
you'll be happier live longer and
prosper better in your domestic affairs
generally"


With these concluding remarks the
fond father turned away, and John
was left alone to his reflections.


Now John Janson was not a YER
dant young man; he had seen consid-
cradle of the world for a person of
his age and circumstances, but he
vas very diflident and bashful. 1t
was this quality OF his disposition
that made him adverse TO ladies'
society, and had occasioned no little
anxiety to old Peter, who had already