The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-11-20
krGOING AZ coURTING
Concluded from our last.

CONCLUDED from our last.
But to OR asdry. The evening pass
cd away ia chat, eating apples, and
drinking Mr.K KeeIor's new cider, until the
1our OF nin5 O'clock, when the old people
moved by the desire Of sleep, Or a lurking
suspicion that Barnabas bad come court
ing. thought<proper to sdjourn--not sine
die, or without day, bat until day--giving
Patty strict charge to see to the fire.
Now was the trying time for the cour-
age Of Barnabas Butterfield. He had
not yet popped the question to Patty,
whether she would stay with him. And
whatever hopes of success he had before
entertained, he felt amazing difident now
that the important moment had come
The reader perhaps may wonder that he
did not seize the opportunity of speaking
TO the .poipt when first he met her alone
with the milk. !, Now the truth il, though
he had been thinking ofthe matter for sew
eral weeks, he was as it were taken al Of
sudden when the critical period came,
and he could not in moment resolve up
. on the thing. Ofcourse the golden OPP
portunity was past, besides he wished to
make the most ofhis sleeps eyes before
the worst came to the worst. But now
that the old folks had gone, and he felt
that il was expected Of him to show him
self man, his heart went pitapat so thai
its thunplngs could plainly bo heard at a
rods distance; and Patty wickedly asked
him ifhe did not hear partridge drum
ming.
AT this question his heart beat more vio-
lently than ever, while he answered, /"
thought I'hssrd something-but ! didn't
know as parsridges ever drummed in the
night " ~ ~ .s3
Perhaps / was mistakened, !" said Pat
ty; may be twas only depth watch"
A death watch!' exclaimed the su-
perstitious) lover, "do you keep death
watches here ~ ~ ve G'~ lttFf /
sSometimes--but now think of it,
wonder what time of night it ls"
Barnabas took this as a hint to disclose
the purpose Of his visit. Now, thought
he, is the time. But while his judgment
Said advance, his palpitating heart held
him back. He nevertheless made des-
perate effort, and moved his chair half a
foot nearer that Of Patty Keeler. She,
by pure accident as it 10 supposed, ,moved3
hers sloot nearsrChis. This seemed enai
coursgihs, and the lover repeated, still
hitching half foot at time,~ and casting
sheep'ss eyes in the intervales. They
were now within good whispering distance, 4
when Patty broke out, &C It's very {
strangew II
WHAT'S very stranger" demanded {
Barnabas. hsef
"Why, that dad and maam should 90 !
to bed and leave us all alohe." -
81 think it is rather curious, but'--. =
What he was going to say, it is imposs-
BILE now to tell, for Patty interrupted the
important speech, ifthere were any, at
The very tip OF his tongue, by asking him ilI
he was not afraid to go home alone.
Under any othor. circumstances and
from any other person, he would have
been angry at such question. But as it
was, he essayed to answer: 4ggs
No-yes-that is--perhaps-not q
bit--may be though-no-O O no-yes-or
rather should say-but some how or 9th
er l have an ideer that-if so be you've
no objections 4gF
"Certainly not" said the vsxatious i
girl, "you can sleep with the boys just as
well as not; there's only Bill, and Pete, a
and Sam, in the bed" r, .
eyes, but Pdauite as lives set up," n
said Barnabas, beginning to recover from q
his embarrassment =" say, Patty, I'd q
quite as lieves set up if'you've. no object q
IONS"
81 hav'nt none," replied Patty, eli y
you choose to set up" /"
Barnabas taking this for consent to
sit up with him, drew his chair close to a
hers at one motion, and began to pour1
forth his acknowledgements in the most
rapturous strains, when she checked his
ardor by requesting him to see that the
fire did not fall down, and telling him that 4
if he felt hungry before morning, he would
find the remains of a roast goose and a "
pumpkin pie, in the cupboard. Having v
said this she wished him good night, and a
was about tripping of, when Barnabas
staring with wonder, cried out, IL
" But amt you going to stay with me,
Paftv -,