GETTING HER FATHERS'S CONSENT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 183, 18 April 1878, Page 3

GETTING HER FATHERS'S CONSENT.

A merchant tailor having accumulated a competency in his trade, determined to throw aside his shears and spend tho remainder of his life upon a farm. He purchased several hundred acres of land, and there was a "fishing ground" on the estate. Mr C, exmerchant, was delighted with his new occupation, and he devoted his best efforts with untiring zeal to farming. Being hard of hearing, he often made ludicrous blunders, which excited the mirthfulness of his friends and customers. His graceful and beautiful daughter was at boarding-school at the time her father kept the farm. She had a lover and promised to marry him, provided he could gain the consent of her parent to the matrimonial alliance.

The young man travelled south as far as the iron horse would take him in that direction. On the morning after his arrival, while strolling about the village, he met a plain old gentleman, dressed in homespun, and inquired of him if there were any conveyances to hire. "Principally pike and mullet," said he. " You misunderstood me. I merely— " From a shilling to eighteen pence a pound." " Do yon intend to insult me ?" " I will Jet you have a large quantity for a shilling." " I have a good notion to give you a caning for your impertinence." " Well if you do not choose to give it. I know who will." " I should like to know if there are any more such fools as you in this place." " We shall make another haul in the morning before daylight." At this instant a gentleman made his appearance, and the stranger stated his grievance to him. He said:— " I have been asking this old man a few civil questions, and he has given me the most impertinent answers." "Oh, he is deaf!" exclaimed the third party. " Deaf as a post! But he is a fine old gentleman. He deals in fish, and so do I. He may think lam endeavouring to undersell him. Favor me by writing your question on a scrap of paper." The young man commenced writing when the old farmer fisherman interrupted him with the remark : — " I will not take a note of hand. Cash on the nail or no trade," "He was preparing a note," said the last comer. " Call me a '• brute, do you ?" exclaimed Mr. C. "Then take that." And suiting the action.to the word, he dealt him a blow straight from the shoulder, which.prostrated him. By this time the note was finished, when the old gentleman found out his mistake.—The stranger discovered that he had been picking a quarrel with his prospective father in law 1

Mr C. made an apology, and invited both parties to dine. The front door of his house commanded a view ot the meadow in which a cow was feeding, and while Mr C. was looking in that direction, the young lover commenced: "I am acquainted with your daughter." " She is a fine beast," remarked the old gentleman, looking at the cow. " Your daughter !" screamed the young man. " I have the honor to be well acquainted with her." " She is a noble -animal," was the response.

" Confound the old cow I" said the young man in a whisper. " I wish she was out of sight." "I'm speaking about yonr amiable and accomplished daughter." "She is very kind, indeed—never breaks down the fences, never kicks over the pail, never stays away Tike the other brutes that I have."

"You don't understand me, sir. I was speaking of your daughter at board-ing-school."

" No, I never put a board on her face; she never does: any mischief at all." ' j " Your daughter ?" shouted the young man.

" Did you saj I ought to ?" "No sir. I was speaking of your daughter, the young lady away from home." " 0, yes, I have plenty of room, but I think she is too old to keep much longer. To tell you the truth, I have a mind to shut her up in the stable and feed her on chop stuff a few weeks." " Great heavens!" remarked the young man to himself; " what shall I do ? This deafness will be the death of me! I will try once more, and if this effort fails, I will resort to paper and pencil again." " I should like to say a word or two to you respecting your daughter." " I will let the butcher have her by-and-by, if he will give me my price." said the old man with emphasis. As a last resort, the young man used his pencil and paper, snowed his letter of introduction, handsomely endorsed by men whose opinion was good on the delicate question on the tapis. After a little cross-questioning and a little hesitation, the old gentleman gave his consent; and when the parties were married, he declared it was the best haul he had made in his life.