The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-05-30

her, out her OLD dad was 0utU. He
could jest lick anythn' that said boo, in
them diggins, out-swar satan, and was
cross as she bar, with cubs. lie had
a little hankerin' in favor Of the fellers in
town, too, fur they gin him presents OF
powder to hunt with, and he was pre-
cious fond of usin' his shootin, iron.
de,armin'd, anyhow, to ask his darter,
Betsy, 10 be my partner at the Net,le
Bottom Ball.
well, my sister. Marh, made me a
bran new pair of buckskin trowsers TO 90
in, and rile my pictur, eff she didn't pu!
stirrups to 'em to keep 'em down. She
said straps wur the fashion and l should
ware 'em. | jest felt with 'em on as el
| had somethin' pressin' on me down
all my joints wur sot tight together, but
Marth insisted, and | knew could soon
dance EN- off, so gin in, and started of
TO the branch for Betsy Jones.
when | arriv, the old lellar wur siilin'
smokin' arier his supper, and the young
er Jones' wur siitin' round the table Ia.
kin theirs. A whappin' big pan of mash
stood rite in the centre, and large pan
Of milk beside il, with lots Of corn bread
and butter, and Betsy was hcpin' the
youngsters, while old Mrs. Jones so, bv
admirin' the family collection. Old Tom
took hard star a, me, and | kind a
shook, but the straps stood it, and re-
covered myself, and gin him as good as
he sent, bu, wur near the door and rca-
dy TO break if he show'd fight.
'Whal the h--ll are you dom in dis.
gise, says the old mamie swore dread.
iully--'are you comm down here to
steal 2
Il riled up at that. Says I, 'ef wur
comm fur SIGH purpose, you'd be the last
I'd hunt up to steal off on
Your right says he, I'D make hole
to light your innards, eff YOU did And
the old savage chuckled. Imeant because
he had nolhin' worth slealn,' but his dar-
ter, bu, he ,ho't twas cos | was alear'd
on him.
well, purity soon geihcr'd up and
told him what ! cum down fur, and inv-
ted him to cum up and take drink and
see that all went on rite. Betsy was in
an awful way fur fear he wouldn't con-
sent. The old oman here spoke in fa-
vor of the move, and old Tom thought of
the Ticker and gin in to the measure. OF
| hOuucpi Hntsy mn , l,I,io, into ,h, ,o,
Ond story, and one Of the small gals with
her, TO help put on the fxups. | sol
down in cheer, and fell takin' at tie
old oman. While we wur chalin' away
as nice as relations, could hear Betsy
maxim things stand round above. The
floor was only loose boards kivered over
wide joce, and every step made 'em
shake and rattle like small hurricane.
Old Tom smoked away and the young
ones at the table would hold a spoonful
of mush TO thur mouths and look at my
straps, and then look at each other and
Singer, till at last the old man seed 'em.
well, by gun hints,' says he, 'ef you
amt maxim josey-'
Jest at that moment, some,hin' gin
way above, and may | die, eff Betsy,
without any thin on yoar;h on her bu,
one of these Starm cushinS, didn't drop
rite through the floor, and sot herself,
cushin and all cochunk ,flat into the pan
Of mash! | jest tho't fur second, that
heaven and year,h had kissed each other,
and squeezed me between 'em. Betsy
squealed like 'scape pipe,-a spot Of
the mush had spattcred on the old mans
face, and burn. him, and he swore dread
ful. | saa,ched up the pan of milk, and
dashed it over Betsy 10 cool her oG,-ihc
old oman knocked me sprawlin' fur do
in it, and away wen. my straps. The
young ones let out scream, as if the in
farnal pit had broke loose, and I'd jcs,
gin half of my hide TO have bin out of the
old mans reach. He did reach fur me.
but lent him one with my half-lows, on
the smeller, that spread him, and, may
be didn't leave sudden! ] didn't see
the branch, but as soused through it,
heerd Tom Jones swar he'd char me
up eff an inch big Of me was found in
them diggins in the mornin.'
Il didn't know fur a spell whar | was
, runnin', but hearing nu,hin' behind me
Stacked up. and jest considered whether
it was best to go home and git my traps,
, strait, and leave, or 60 sec the ball. Be-
5 in as was manager, | ,ho't Ia 60
J have peer through The window TO sec
ef i, cum up TO my expectations. While
r | was looHin' a. tho boys goin' it, one or
: 'em spied me. and they hauled me in
r stood me aGore the fire, to dry, and al
=, hands got round. insistin' on KNOWN
a what was the matter. ups and tells al
I about it. never herd such latin, hOl
Il 4 = a