Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-06-07

as a she bar, with cubs. He had lit
tie hankerin' in favor of the lelers in
town, too, fur they gin him presents of
powder TO hunt with, and he was pre-
cious fond Of usin' his shootin' iron. |
detarmin'd. anyhow, TO ask his darter,
Betsy. to be my partner at the Nettle
Bottom Ball.
swell, my sister, Marth, made me
a bran new pair of buckskin trousers
TO go in, and rilc my pictur, eff she
didn't put stirrups TO 'em to keep 'em
down. She said straps wur the fash
ion and should ware EN-. | jest felt
with 'em on as ell had somethin' pres
sim on me down-all my joints wur
sot tight together, but Marth insisted,
and l knew | could soon dance 'em oil,
so gin in, and started oil to the branch
for Betsy Jones.
"When | arriv, the old teller wur
sittin' smokin' arter his supper, and the
younger Jones' wur sittin' round the
table takin' theirs. A whappin' big
pan Of mash stood rite in the center,
and large pan of milk beside it, with
lots Of corn bread and butter, and Bet
sy was helpih' the youngsters, while
old Mrs. Jones sot by admirin' the
family collection. Old Tom took a
hard star at me, and ] kind shook,
hut the straps s,oodit, and recover
ed myself, and gin him as good as he
sent, but wur near the door and rca-
dy to break ifhe showed fight.
"What the h-ll are you dom in
disgise,' says the old mamie swore
drcadfully-arc you comm down here
to steal?'
a rilcd up at that. Says |, 'ef |
wur comm for sich purpose, you'd be
the last I'd hunt up to steal off on
"'You'r right says he I'D make a
hole TO light your inards, efyou did,
And the old savage chuckled. Imeant
because he had nothin' worth stealin',
but his dartcr, but he tho't twas cos ]
was afear'd on him.
"Wcll, purity soon l geIhcr'd up
and told him what cum down fur, and
invited him TO cum up and takes drink
and see that all went on rite. Betsy
was in an awful way fur fear he
wouldn't consent. the old 'oman here
spoke in favor of the move, and old
Tom thought Of the Ticker and gin in
to the measure. OFF bounced Betsy
Up ladder into the second story, and
one Of The small gals with her, to help
put on the fxups. ! sot down in a
cheer, and fell talkin' at the old o.
man. While VIC wur chattin' away
as nice as relations, could hear Bet
sy maxim things stand round above.
The floor was only loose boards kivcr-
cd over with ioicc, and every step
made 'cm shake and rattle like "A small
hurricane. Old Tom smoked away
ard the young ones at the table would
hold a spoonful Of mush to thur months
and look at my straps, and then look
at each other and singer, till at last
the old man seed 'cm.
'Wcll, by gun fiints, says he, 'ci
you amt maxim a josey-'
"Jest at that moment, somethin' gin
way above, and may ! die, cf Betsy,
without any thin on ycarth on her but
one Of these Starn cushions, didn't
drop rite through the floor, and sot
hcrcelf, cushion and all cochunk fat
into the pan Of muSh! | jest tho't
fur second, that heaven and yearth
had kissed each other, and squeezed
me between 'em. Betsy squeaed like
'scape pipe.-a spot Of the mush had
spattcred on the old mans face, and
burnt him, and he swore dreadful. |
snatchcd up The pan Of milk, and dash
ed it over Betsy TO cool her of,-tbe
old 'oman knocked me sprawlin'. fur
doin' it, and away went my straps
The Young ones let out scream, as il
the infarnal pit bad broke loose, and
I'd jest gin half my hide to have bin
out ofthe old mans rea h. He did
reach fur me, but lent him one with
my hali-!ows, on the smeller, that spread
him, and, may be didn't leave sud
den! | didn't see the branch, but as
| soused through it, | heerd Tom Jones
swar he'd 'chaw me uD ef an inch big
of me was found in them diggins in the
mornin'.
81 didn't know fur spell whar !
was runnin', but hearing nuthin' be-
hind me Stacked up. and Jest cons;d-
cred whether it was best to 90 home
and OF my strans. strait. and leave, or