NOW OR NEVER.

Evening Star, Issue 3492, 2 May 1874, Page 3

NOW OR NEVER.

(From the Southern Cross.) Maidens in Matrimony are beaten in Hymen’s fields by the widows. One of the latter persuasion managed a neat piece of prompt matrimony a few days ago. bhe was fair and forty ", the swain was nigh three score and consequently thought he had no time to lose. He came post haste from a district where the warm waters entice many visitors, and doubtless warm the feelings of the denizens around. On arriving in Auckland, he applied to a well known settler whom I shall call Mr M. Quoth he, “ I’ve come to get married, and you must find me a wife at once.” “ Well ” was the reply, “ I think I can suit you!” They travelled to an old military village some nine miles distant from Auckland, and entered the house of a widow, whose family, all save one daughter of fourteen, had entered the world on their own account. Mr M. who has a good deal of quiet humor of the kind the Scotch call “ pawky,” after introducing the fervent lover, opened the business by narrating this story “ There was,” said he, “ a well-to-do bachelor farmer, who had living with him for many years a nice buxom housekeeper. One morning he went into the kitchen and said, ‘Maggie, I’ve made up my mind to get married, and to be married to-day.’ ‘ Have vou, sir? said Maggiej ‘well, you won’t have to go very far, for the church is near at hand. And who is the woman, sir ? ‘lt is just yourself, Maggie; so come along.’ ‘ Oh, bub it’s too sudden, sir j I would require a week to think about it.’ ‘ Not an hour, Maggie—it’s now or never ; so say the word, and if you refuse .I’ll go and marry Kate Johnson.’ Quoth Maggie, ‘ Well, sir, since you are so pressing, and to save you from her, I say Now !’ And now it was ; and they went at once and got buckled. That’s the story,” continued Mr M., “ and now, my dear,” said he, addressing the daughter, “ you and I will go out, and admire the beauties of Nature in the garden, and leave this gentleman to settle, business with vour mother.”

Exit Mr M. and the girl. Twenty minutes elapsed and they returned to the house. The precocious daughter, on entering, having Mr M.’s little Story on her mind, exclaimed, “Well, mother, is it now or never]’’ “Now, of course, * said the gleeful swain, answering for the widow; and within twentyfour hours the Registrar in Auckland had bound them together until death. The story is strictly true.