ROMANCE IN A WORKHOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9401, 6 January 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

ROMANCE IN A WORKHOUSE.

One day recently a stalwart farm labourer, aboub 40 years of age, called at the Yeovil Workhouse and requested to speak to the master. His request (says the Exeter Gazette) was granted, and he, with much shyness, told the master that he was in a difficulty, for he was in a constant place of work with a cottage and garden, bub as his wife was dead, and he had no children, he had no one to keep home for him. He then asked if the master could recommend him a decent woman as housekeeper with a view to marriage. The master told him that there were several females in the house who would probably be only too pleased to become his housekeeper, and, after he had satisfied himself as to the man's bona-Jides, introduced him to a single woman, the mother .of a boy 10 years of age, and a baby 11 weeks old, bub who had the virtue of being cleanly and domesticated, and, withal, comely in appearance. The master told the woman the object of the man's visit, and left them in the hall together to discuss terms. Half an hour afterwards he returned to find that during the interval wonderful progress had been made in the direction of sealing a bargain, for the man declared that Lucy (the Christian name of the woman) was everything his heart could wish for, and he addressed her most affectionately, as if he had known her for years—an affection which Lucy heartily reciprocated. The master pointed out to the man the responsibility he wished to undertake, bub George (or " Jarge," as the woman called him) said he was anxious to take the woman and the family, and implored the master to draw up an agreement to the effect that he would marry her as soon as the necessary formalities could be gone through, which was done. The man having signed it, the couple bid each other an affectionate goodbye, and George promised to fetch Lucy and her family and a few "sticks" of furniture she had on the following Monday. True to his promise he arrived at the workhouse on the morning of the day named, with his employer's horse and farm waggon (having previously written Lucy a gushing love-letter), and drove triumphantly away with his intended ; wife and ner- children, saying that he was going to give her all the money ,he earned every , week, and that ho was sure she would make him a comfortable borne* • < . , ~ •' v , 1