Litchfield enquirer., 1830-02-18
'Yes, Joe, but what are ye going court inc fnr so rnrlv 2s


 'Never mind, Joe, pluck up courage {: Faint heart never won fair lady,
 'Thank ye for nothing said Joe. q shall be back in an hour. Don't let your horse eat out of the hooper, So off he started for the Colunel's.
 Joe bolted in at the Colonel's door with out knocking. Indeed it is affirmed he never was known to be guilty of making such sUpcrfuous noise in all his life. )- An Mrs. Shute, the top of the morning to yc; where's Hannah 2
 An Joe Bunker is tha. yonl where's Hannah? why she's up stairs spinning.' At this Joe stumped off up stairs without any further idle palavcr.
 Hannah's wheel was humming right merrily when Joe entered. She blushed like blue cat upon seeing him.
 How dye do Hannah,' said Joe, and shambling up towards the window, he slouched himself into marvellously nn- comfortable skewing position on the cor ner of chair.
 We'll now was Joo fairly seated along side of his Dulcinea but how to begin conversation ah there was the difficulty. What was he to say ? Indeed he had nev- CT thought of that. However he looked out at the window and saw flock of sheep; there is nothing like taking hint from the first thing which offers.-
 Are these your fathers sheep, Han nah ?
 Yes, Joe.'
 Joe gave hem and tried to think of something else to say about the sheep, such as how much wool they gave, and whether they were of the Byfeld breed, but he could not make it fadge. Present. y he espied some cows---
 Are these your cowsV
 sYes.'
 How many COWS have you got?'
 Twenty
 Twenty that's tarnation lot of'em.
 Here was another pause in the conver- sation, and Joe felt more awkwardly than ever. As for Hannah she did not feel al- together quite so sheepish. Joe looked out at the window again, but could see mo- thing to talk of. He looked round the room and up to the ceiling, but there was nought save a seed cucumber, three red peppers and a crook-necked. squash.--- They would not st.t. He drummed with his fingers upon the table, and began un- consciously to whistle stave of The Tongs and tho Bones ; this quavered a. way into Yankee Doodle, and finally he found himself humming mixture of Old Hundred and Little Marlborough.
 At last he was struck with an idea, and out it came
 Did you ever see crow?'
 sYes.'
 How black they are! ant they?'
 sYes.'
 Another pause. Joe began to wipe his forehead with his coat sleeve. Presently the apparition of another idea dawned up- on him.
 Did you ever see an owl?'
 'Yes.'
 'What great eyes they've got ha'nt thcy?'
 sYes.'
 Do you love maple sugar, Hannah 2
 sYes.'
 Next time come I'll bring you great gOb.'
 Joe fairly made hn in this remark, fo, he touched upon ss0eet subject, and il completely broke the ice. Remembering the advice of the miller, he plucked up courage and stood bolt up-right; then ma king long-blundering sort of hitch a little nearer, Hannah, says he, loves ye.' Hannah let go her wheel from pure wkwardness, and Joe growing still bolder, made a sudden grapple with both paws and bestowed upon her a smacking buss that made the very windows rattle. How long it lasted, was never known, but HaD- nah's mother not hearing the wheel buzz zing, bawled out below, Hannah what are you doing up there with Joe Bunker ? This interruption gave them rouse like an electric shock. Joe clawcd off in a terrible fright, thinking it was time to cut and run. ( Hannah, says he, I must clear out but I'll come again next Sum day night So saying, he made the best ofhis way of, hardly looking behind him.
 Well Pearson, have you ground my corn g'-.-s Yes, Joe, and your beans too.' -..Beans what dye mean 2 What do I mean why was not one a bag of corn and 'to,her a bag of beans ?'--.' No it wan',.'-s Yes it was though. - Bugs and ,arnation! was it ? then I'm ruined I've made a mistake and took tho wrong bag. I snaceers Father 'il kill me; 'twas all the beans we'd got for seed! what the dickins shall I do :! Oh murder and white. oak cheese!