Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-04-19
barney Oxman and the EVIL One.
ny SAMUEL srrcK.

BY SAMUEL SLICE.
There lived an old woman, some years
ago, at Musquash Creek, in South Carolina.
that had large fortin', and an only darter.
She was widder,a nniser, and Bunker.
She was very good, and very cross, as many
righteous folks are, and had loose tongue
and a tight puss cf her own. All the men
that looked at her darter she thought had
an eye to her money, and she warn't far out
O. the way mother, for it seems as If beauty
and money was too much to 60 together in
a general way. Rich gals and handsome
gals are seldom. good for nothin' else but
their cash or tlieir looks. Pears ndpeaches
amt often found. on the same tree, Iiteli
You. She lived all alone Almost, with no.
body but her darter and her in the house,
and some old niger slaves, in hut near
at hand; and she seed no company she
could help. The only place they went to,
in gineral way, was meetin', and Jeru-
sha never missed that, for it was the only
chance she had sometimes to get out alone.
Barney Oxman had most beautiful
voice, and always went there too, to sing
along with the gals, and Barney, hearin' Of
the fortin' of Miss Rushy, made up to her
as fierce as possible, and sung SO sweet,
and talked so sweet, and kissed SO sweet,
that he soon stood number one with tile
heiress. But then he didn't often get a
chance to walk home with her, and when
he did, she darsn't let him come in for fear
Of the old woman: but Barney warn't to be
put of that way long. " hen a gal is one
pasture, and lover in another, it's high
fence they can't get over, that's a fact. &
3 Il tell you what, sails Barney, .ssit up
alone in the keepin' room, Rusty dear, arr
ter old mother has gone to bed, put out the
light, and I'll slide down on The rope from
the trap-door on the roof. Tell her you
are exercised in your mind, and want to
! mediate alone, as thewords you have heard
/, this day have reached your heart" tiS !
Jerusha was frightened to death Almost,
but what won't woman do when a lover
is in the way. So that very night she told
the old woman che was exercised in her
mind, and would wraslle with the spirit.
! do, sdear,' sails her mother, sand you
! won't think Of the vanities Of dress, and
, idle company, no more. You see / have
given them all up since made profession,
and never 50 much as speak Of them now,
I no. nor even think of en-" ~.
Well, the house was fat-Eoofed house
and had q trap door IN the ceilin' over the
I keepin' room, and there was acrane on the
roof, with. a rope to i, to pull things up t.
I spread out to dry there. AS soon as the
fiights were an out, and Barney thoughtth
lola woman iwas asleep, heicrawls up 81
THE house, "opens Abe trap, door and let.
himself down By the rope, and he and Je,
frusha sat down into the hearth in the chin.
1 ney corner, >courtin', Or = they cali it il
Ifthem diggins, sssnifiin' ashes" When day
Hight began 10 show, Re went up the rop.
hand over hand, hauled it.up after him
closed to the trap door, and made himssl
scarce.
sWeIlssl5 this weut,oa - slick . coult
,,bbe for awhile, bat the Old waman sod thu
her danghser looked PAL. and - e 81.
llhadnt had deep enough, and there was u
LeeffinT 81 Her up IN the mornin; and whe.
Eshe did, che ~ yswnins and g4pin,, AM
20 dull she hadn't word - say.ss 81 q