Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-04-16

She was plaguy close, too, as to. he
golngs and comings; and if she hap
pened any time by accident, to let dro,
the least word, that showed me wher,
TO lind her next time, she was SO ma,
with herself that size was ready 10 bit,
her tongue OIL.
tine day She was going to her aunr
Molly 70 spend the evening, and sh,
went oil the way round to Doctor Ding
ley's, TO tell Mrs. Dingley not to tel
me-" For' says she, 81 don't wan
him lodging about after me ever,
where" Well, Mrs. Dingley, she pro
missed to keep dark, but she told tho
Doctor, and what does the Doctor do
but comes strait over and tells me-
!" Gone all stark alone, says he, " buI
it's none of my business"
This is the day that | have marked
with a piece of chalk. Hardly was
daylight down, before | was snug in
my skulking nest, in aunt Molly's barn.
II was on the hay n9ow, where there
was knot hole TO look through and
sec all that went in or out of the house.
! had scheme in my head that Hannah
little dreamt of; aud when got her
under my arm aud walking down the
lane, thinks |, I'll set the stone roll.
ing any how, and let it stop where it
will.
So | set in talking about this and
that and 'tother thing, and happened
(by mere chance yc know TO. mention
our old halter shop, that stands at the
corner, that my father used to work
in, when he was alive. And says |,
:" speaking of the old shop, it always
puts me in mind of yoU, Hannah"
"Of me? John" says She" whyq"
80, it's just the thing for store"
says /.
I" Well
"Sweep out the dirt, and old hat pa
rings and truck"
g Well"
+" Take the sign and rub out halter
and put in the word merchant and
that willspell John Beedle merchant
"WolI, John
"Thcn get rum, and molasscs, and
salt fish, and ribbons and cahcoos--',
60" says she cit was my new cal
leo gownd you was thinking ol--is'nt
it prettyl"
go" says I, otis sweet pretty
says ], "But the upshot OF
the matter is, Hannah-l have finally
concluded TO get married, sad settle
myselfdown merchant for lie"
Al this Hannah hung down her head
and gave smoker. Sand how does
all that put you in mind me, John2, -
says she.
:. Guess"
"lwont guess, nor touch TO, so there
never--r'
What said and what she said next,
is all lost for I'll be shot il | can re-
member. 1t is all buz, buz, in my
head like dream. The first thing i
knew, we were right agin Cap. Pea
body's barn, walking as close together
as we could, with comfort, and our
arms crossed round each other others
waist. Hannah's tongue had thawed
out and was running like brook
in freshet, and all one steady stream
of honsy. vow, was ready to jump
out of my skin.
1t was a mile and half good, from
aunt Molly's to Capt. Peabody's and
| thought we had been about minute
on the road. So says |, "IIannah,
let's 60 set down under the great apple
tree, and have a little chat just TO ta-
per off the evening"" We now sat
down, and began to talk sensible
We settled all the predicaments Of the
nuptial ceremony, and then talked over
the store, till we thought we saw our
selves behind the counter; weighing
and measuring and dclsering and deal
ing out, & she at the desk, pen in hand,
figuring up accounts. {" And mind
John" says she, ''l'm not going to
trust every body at the corner, tell
ye." But just as we were beginning
to get sociablc, as | thought, Hannah
looks up, and says she, what's that
are great red streak in the sky, away
down there beyond Saccarapl" !
rather guess" says "that it is q fire
in the woods" "Fire IN the woods
TsU ba cLinnad &c !, is'nt dav LIGHT n
coming. Quick, John, help me into
the window, before father is stirring,
or here'li be pretty how dye do"
The next job was to tell the news te
Captain Peabody. Hannah had set.
tied it that she should speak 70 her mo.
ther, and said She could manage Der,
well enough, and it was my bushes:
to ask her father. This was a tlina