Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1838-04-05
TOM ToWsoNss STORY.

1
Tom Towson was telling me story
the other day about the way he was first
introduced to his present wife, Colonel
Ridgeley's daughter. Now can't tell it
as well as Tom told me, but ] will tell IS,
as we'll as lean, z
! Tom, you see, was poor and had but q
sorry education, but hewas very quickto
learn,. and some said that Tom had the
| clearest head in the, country. Tom lived
! on Poverty Plantation, as he called it,
with old widow ToWson, his mother, and
| the farm, which was small, was all they
| had between them. The fact is, Tom
| was handsome fellow. ia homesDun or /
broadcloth One cloudy afternoon Tom
went down 10 Silver Valley to see old
| Ridgeley about division line onaJoef
Gibson's plat Of Poverty Plantat on. afsS
| A storm came on just as lie drewup
opp posite Col. Ridgeiey's lane gatei
Ridgeley was proud old chap--rieh tof
land report said that his daughter LII
cy was almighty handsome Now 4u-
cyf had been brought up 10 the bsststBleS
and was high lady in the neighborhood.
Some said that size had .,rsspsed several
capital ofIsfsg puI Mats nsslsf Sss here here nSr
there, as Tom you know could not think
Of her.
Well, the storm ragged, and in rider
Tom hooks his horse TO an,apple tfee--
goes up the wide steps, and ends with la
loud knock at the door. Jim Squirrel d.
pened the door, an old negro who carEi-
ed water to Toms father when he TOMS
faiher) Graded in Ridgcley's green
fields.
the Colonel in2' A
Yes, sir. come in,' was the ready rss-
ponse.
Tom was led into large, old fashion,
ed psrlor, where he found~the Colonel
reading. hiswife sewing, and his daughter
writing. The old man nodded without
rising, and told Tom 10 sit down wh|ils
the old lady very reseryedly drew her
chair closer TO the wall. Tom felt "a
little curious. The daughter loo, threw
two or three beautiful glances at HIM, which
made him feel still nesse curious. lie
made so many blunders in telling his blls-
mess, that kind smile began 10 show in
self upon tile faces of all ia the roonI,,
which encouraged Tom, who instantly re-
covered his self-possession and added 10
their mirth by many intentional erTolrs
and oddities,
Colonel said Tow, tits quite out ,sf
the question for US to settle this now.'
.Why so r inquired the Colonel.
ION account Of your daughter sir,R
replied Tom.
My daughter 7 returned lie Colonel,
ast0nished !; pray. what Ass she to do-s
with iil' 4
Why added Tom, she has knocked
me into cooked hat with those black
eyes Of hers
The old lady drew up, although she 9
could moi suppress q smile. while theA
daughter blushed in spite Of her effort 10
laugh contenptuousIy. As for the old
colonel, he was so asionisbed at TOMS
impudence, that Tor while he lost the
use Of his tongue. They all looked at
Tom in silence. and in the mean time
they remarked his fine figure, high fore-
head and intelligent eye, while the ire.
sis,ible goods humor Of his counisnance
entirely disarmed the colonel. who burst
cut with hearty laugh at Lucy. Miss
Lucy cu.led her sweet lip into sort OF \
good humored scorn,i and hastily With
.dfowg =.
The next thing we ace is Tom. ia his 4
home~spuu, seated at the supper table. 4
delghting The colonel with his droll saalss 4 4
ties, complmenting The daughter and fat-I.
iering the old lady. Tie cid lady putt,
plenty Of sugar IL srem's steas and Miss
Lucy was full half hour IN drinking onc1
cup.
Tom took leave shortly after supper.
D--n that fellow 7 cried the old man
as Tom rode out into the lane, and the
tears Of Joy slll stood in his eye. VI
He is quite Handsome quietly re-.
marked the old lady.
Not he,' rejoined Miss Lucy, anda 4
few months after she was Toms wife,