Samanthy's Elopement.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 669, 2 September 1876, Page 2 (Supplement)

Samanthy's Elopement.

' Yes, ' said the old lady as she wiped her eyes and proceeded to tell the symbathizmg neighbors about the elopement of her daughter, ' Yes,' Mrs. Blobbs, you might as well say it ar' a dreadfull stroke. I ain't had such another shock since that last spell o1o 1 rheuniatiz. To think that dartea of mine would do such a disgraceful thing after all the care an' affection me an' her father lavished on her from her infancy up. I couldn't hear up under the affliction nohow. ' ' Did you not suspicion that they were contemplating such a move ? ' asked the neighbor. •No we never suspie ioned nary contemplation. After I'd runned the conceited upstart off the premises with the mop I didn't think he'd have the insur, ance to speak to Samanthy agin. An she seemed to apppar so consigned that I never respected her of having auy uuderhanded contentions. But all the time— so I've heerd Bonce— they used to meet clandefitinly, when I thought Samanthy was at ineetm, an decoct their plan to run off an' elope. Well Samanthy has made her bed and she'll have to lie on it. I wash my hands of the ongratetul girl from this time forthwith. 1 Did you make any effort to intercept them ? ' ' JNo; you see, we didn t know it, |or elce we'd a intercepted 'em within an inch of their lives. ' ' I mean did you try to have them stopped when you found they were gone ?' 'Yeß, indeed. Father telescoped to five or six towns, an' gave their

prescription— cost him lots o £»oiiey, too ; but he said he wouldn't m^d spendin' the price pf_a_cow to ge^ back. But we never heerd uothin' from them, and I told father to let 'em alone and they'd come home after a while with five or six children behind 'em." But I teUyoujMi-s, Blobbs, they shan't set a foot? in this houae except over the deapl .body- of ' my defunct corpse. Yoa> -jaufe -tdmemtow that.'

In a collection of ancient tracts and mauscripts, by Mr Charles Clark, we find the following very pious love-letter, which was addreased by. Mr. T. BourMn, of Kingston, to a lady of Maiden in the year IGI4. -Aa-it-i*-*- remarkable specimen of the then fashionable mode of inditing such compositions, we give it entire : 'To the most choice Gentlewoman, and ornament of her sex, Mrs Elizabeth Goode, daughter of Mr. Scbastion Goode, Esquire, at Maiden. 1 Mrs. Elizabeth,— l have long been an earnest suitor to your honour and deserta, that I might be admitted an humble suitor to yonr sweete selfe : now after many strivings and wrestlings, I have almost prevailed. My next suit is, that your dearest selfe would comply with your dearest parents' desires and miner: they are most ready to part with a great part of their estate for your sake, and I most williage to place all my joyes and delights in you alone. Now it is, orwillsodainly be, in your sole power to dash and frustrate, "or crown all my indeavours : hereby you will make me a most happy man, and your selfe ( I hope) a no lesse happy spouse. Well, sweete Mrs. Elizabeth, be not afraide to venture on me : as you have a most tender father and a most indulgent mother, so lett me, that I think Providence kept for'you , furnish you with a very, very loviugo husbaud. Could you reade' my most inmost thoughts, you would soon answere love with love I here promise you, and will make good this promise againe (when that happy daye comes) on holy ground that I will love and honour you. Knowe, this is my virgin request, my first request in earnest that ever came from my lippes or pen ; my eyes have scene many younge gallants and virgins, but Mrs Elizabeth is the delight of my eyes. Others of your sexe have beene acceptable, and some precious in my eyes ; but you, and you only have beene, and still are, the pearle in my eves. Amongst all the works of God, I delight most in beholdinge (the sun exceptcd) an amiable countenance; and such is yours, or none in these parts of England. Tour face is a mappe of beauties, your gentle breast a cabinett of vertues, and your whole selfe a cluster of all the choicest delicacies ; but, in plaine .English, not your pleasinge aspecte, nor -well-fea-tured person, nor admired excellencies, nor weighty portion, fastened my affections on you, but yom love (of this I have beene long porswaded) to a man (myself I mean) so undeserving it. As for myselfe, I am thought worthy of a good wife, though unworthy of you. These pretty toyes, called husbands, are such rare commodities in this age, that I can woe and winne wives by the dozens. I know not any gentlewoman in these parts, but would kisse a letter from my hands, reade|it with joye, and then lay it up nert her havt as a treasnr ; but T will' not trye their courtesies except I find you discourteous. r . My last request is this 1 , take a, turne ■ in private, then reade this lette ragaine, and imagine the f>enman at your elbow-. l*ext, laye your hand upon your hart, and resolve to Bay Amen to mj desires. If so, I shall accept your portion with the left hand, but your lovely person with the right. Portions I can have enough to my minde in other places, but not a wife to my minde in any place of the wide wjrld. but. at Maiden. 1 hope, therefore, no piace shall furnish you with a husband but Hingstone, where lives in hope your most hearty friend and servant,'. Tl OMAS BotfftMAN. From my Chamber, Dec. 2, 1G44J.