1856.1 Kate Osborne. 239 



Four wcets thereafter, on the day when Dick Quirk's contract for 

 four month's work expired, a wedding feast was spread in Farmer 

 Osborne's handsome mansion. Henry Clinton and Kate Osborne were 

 united in the bonds of holy wedlock. And when the evening hours had 

 come, when the merry-making was over, when the last guest had departed, 

 Kate, as a beautiful bride, with her arm in her lordly-looking husband's, 

 came and stood before her father, as he sat in his parlor easy-chair, and 

 said, " i'ather, will you forgive us ? " 



«' Forgive you ? For what ? " asked her father. 



" Why, you know, father, that you positively prohibited my marriage 

 with Henry Clinton ; and now, I come to confess to you, that this, my 

 husband," and Kate glanced fondly and proudly upon him as she spoke, 

 •' is the same Henry Clinton. Father, will you forgive us? " 



Farmer Osborne never swore — never used profane language — never — 

 but jumping up, he exclaimed, " Zangs and blitzen ! Do you mean to 

 say, that you have been bamboozling me all this time, to get my daush- 

 ter — to take her away, and leave me alone on earth. Oh, Kate, Kate ! " 

 and the old man's chin quivered, as he uttered these sorrowful words. 

 The manly heart of Clinton was touched, and he hastened to reply : 



" No, not i) take her away, my dear Colonel ; but to remain with her, 

 and aid her in the duties that, henceforth, she and I owe to you." 



'• Do you mean to be understood, that you are to sacrifice your profes- 

 sion, to follow the pursuit of farming, here with me?" and a smile of 

 hope came peeping out from the old man's sorrow-stricken face. 



"Such is, indeed, my purpose," said Clinton ; "but call it not a sac- 

 rifice, to change my profession, and resort to that which no less a man 

 than George Washington called the most manly and dignified of all 

 human pursuits." 



" There, now, father, instead of losing a daughter, you have gained 

 you a son! Now, father, won't you forgive us?" pleaded Kate, amid 

 smiles and tears. 



" Forgive you ! Yes, my daughter, and pronounce my blessing on you 

 both ! " said the Colonel, taking each by the hand, while a big, bright, 

 joyous tear stood glistening in his eye. Brushing this aside, and filling 

 its place with a smile, he said — 



" What an old fool I've been, to be sure, to think that my brave and 

 sensible Kate couldn't choose her own husband ! Let's see—' Mr. Henry 

 Clinton — Mrs. Kate Clinton '—yes, that's all right ! Xo need to peti- 

 tion the legislature to change that name ! Now, good night, my chil- 

 dren ! G-od bless you both ! It's all right I " 



