Year: 1874

Peter Jansen was a wealthy and eccen-
trio New England farmer. The owner
in fee simple of many broad and fertile
acres of available land, and the proud
parent of very promising son, now
near grown, who in his infancy had
been designated by the not altogether
unheard of name of John.


Now John Jansen had been brought
up IN very careful and proper manner,
and it was therefore not to be wondered
at that, as he grew more mature, that
he was regarded as very exemplary
young man by those who knew him in
timately. He was sober and industri-
Gus in his habits, cultivated and refined
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 a remarkable cpl
sode in the lives of most young men,
when fully freed from parental restraint
by the construction of the law, they
think they know so much, and subse-
quently learn that they know so little.


Now possibly Peter the peer regarded
this event in his sons life with as great
concern as did John the junior, for GER
tain it is, that shortly thereafter he
summoned the young man into his
presence for little private converse
tion.


"Well, JOHN. he said, chow does
it seem to be one and twenty p"


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


"Can't, ehP O, we'll you'll see quick
enough, I guess. I suppose the next
thing you'll be thinking of will be
getting married"


80, hadn't thought of such thing
yet in earnest"


"Hadn't, Ell? we'll, you'd better be
thinking; getting married is about as
important thing ash ever happen to
you"


Eyes, suppose so."
"Suppose SO ? suppose so? you'll
know so by and by. Well, John, you're
old enough to begin to think seriously
about this matter. I amt going to
have you running around unsettled and
unsteady in your habits and character.
Now, the quicker you pick you out a
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 princi-
pie for young men to adhere to. Now,
I don't propose to have you do anything
of the kind, and if you avoid it you
won't have q harvest of briars and this
ties to gather in afterwards. Now, Just
as soon as you will pick you out good,
prudent, and Industrious little wife,
I've good farm to give you, and
enough to set you up in reasonable
style, you understand p


"Yes, sir"


"But not an acre nor penny of mine
shall you possess until you have COM
piled with my wishes"
"But, father"


81 mean what say, exactly, and no
more; make this matter your frstl busi-
ness, and when you have performed
your part of the contract, I 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,
you are big enough and bright enough
to earn your own living if 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's five daughters,
and I'm certain you can have youi
pick out of the lot. They've all beer
well brought up, and any one of then
is good enough for you, SO go ahead
and as soon as you report favorably, the
farm is yours"


"But which one shall take, father2'


Which one shall you take" repeat
ed Peter Jansen " it must be brigh
man, surely, that cannot decide al
sight what woman to pick out of doz
en-, and singular youth you are not tt
have your eyes on one already. How
ever, make your own choice, and you'll
be happier, live longer, and prospel
better in your domestic affairs gener
ally"


With these concluding remarks, thu
fond father turned away, and John wal
S left alone to his reflections.


Now John Jansen was not verdan
young man +; he had seen considerable
of the world for q person of his age ant
circumstances, but he was very diff1den
and bashful. It was this quality of hi
disposition that made him so advers
to ladies' society, and had occasionet
no little anxiety to old Peter, who haC
already began to fear that John woulC
be confirmed bachelor, hence his de
sire to kindly assist Johns matrimonial
matters along.


For some moments after his father