The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1845-12-16
il NJ b LAC X
of 9fargraas.

Jim Black was one of those persons
usually designated '4hard customers" and
in his case the term aptly applied. A
careless devil that could whip his weight
in wild cats, and care no more for a tustle
with bear than fsticufi with one of
his neighbors, for Jim was ''cOck of the
walk" on the head waters of Bcargrass.
Although he had the good will of most of
his .neighbors, yet none of the folks in
s'them diggins" felt inclined to nearer re-
iationship with him. OF this fact he
seemed pretty well satisfied, for he never
attempted any Irritation with any of the
fair ones of Beargrass. 1t happened when
Jim had reached his 28th year, a new
family arrived, in which were "two of
the tallest gals YOU ever did see," as Jim
described them. One of them, Nancy,
took his eye "tarnation strong," and he
concluded TO ''sit right up to her." Jim
had heard that it always took two to make
a bargain; but the possibility of a third
person coming into contact never for a
moment entered his mind. Things pro-
gressed smoothly, we may say rapidly,
Att a SilOAt lllliGs NIlSIi -NotllNN lOOh
it into his head he ought to have some
thing 10 say in the matter. This bother
ed Jim amazingly, and came near bro
ken bone or two for the old gentleman;
but finally, Jim was ordered from the pre-
misses; with the request that he would for
ever after keep as far as possible from
that plantation. This was sad 90 for
Jim; but, IN the earnestness of a stout
heart, he determined neYer to give il up
so, and he SET his wits TO work to. out-ge-
neral the old man. The gal was on his
side, and why shouldn't she! "The track
of the real genuine lover always was
crooked as the Poet did d'nt express il but
as Jim did. Jim laid his plans and wal
ted for an opportunity to carry them into
effect. Ii was not long before he obtain
ed a sight of the fair one, who readily en-
tered into his plot; and as the family were
to vacate the cabin on the following Sun
day and be gone the whole dav, it was
proposed that Jim should spend the day
with Nancy. that they might mature their
plan for putting the blind upon the old
folks.
Sunday came and according TO agree
ment the family left home to visit neigh
Dor and Jim left home to visit Nancy
The day passed off as days will under
like circumstances, until near sun-down.
1t occurred to Nancy that there could be
no impropriety in just stepping to the
door to see if the old folks were coming.
"Oh, crackee, Jim, here they come; hide
yourself or the old man will HIDE me-
Here, jump into this barrel, quick -
formation II said Jim, as he soused him
self into the barrel. "By golly, Nance,
there's soap in this ere barrel, and it
smarts like creation" "Wcl it does,
hoss, but you must do it, they are right
here, so keep still.'
Nancy had hardly time to cover over
the barrel before the old folks entered the
door. All were soon seated about the
room and commenced talking about the
way they had passed the day, and when
1t came to Nancy's turn to speak she
said
"Well, I'd done very well, s'pose,
If it hadn't been for that ugly Bear that
was trying to take the pigs off,"
"What pigs ?" asked the old man.
"Why the pigs out t'other side of the
corn6eld."
No sooner were the words out of her
mouth than the old folks, and young ones
too, except Nancy and Jim, were off to
see after the pigs
81 say, Nance, it's a mighty hot place