This week's ho-quo includes the original illustration, which fails utterly to match what Horatio describes. Drunkablog will do better.
She is a spinster of 27, he an opportunistic lad of 22.
"'Wont [sic] you marry me?' She exclaimed; clasping her hands.
"'You—you must excuse me," said Tom edging off from her with alarm depicted upon his face.
"'Then how can I become the queen of Timbuctoo?' demanded the lady in a tone of anguish.
"'The queen of Timbuctoo!" repeated Tom in a ludicrous state of bewilderment.
"'Yes, you're the king of Timbuctoo, first consul to the emperor of Siam. Do you think I would have agreed to marry you otherwise?'
"'Where's my hat?" demanded Tom.
"'Then you're not willing to marry her?" asked the uncle.
"'Marry her! I'd rather marry a Cherokee squaw!'"
(via the Horatio Alger Digital Serials Project at Northern Illinois University, which, like Drunkablog, really needs to get a life.)
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