Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-08-05
FROM The wEsrERNfoNTINEsr.
SUPPoSIN a CASE;
OR,
The Long and Short Of Rancy COttOm's COurtsllip
BY MAJOR JONES.

in SIGH mans life, when his matrimonial pros
poets becomes perfectly hopeless. and when the
more he wants to change his condition of single
and double blessedness the more he cant do it to
save him. Besides all the embarrassn circumslan-
ces that has conspired all his life to keep his neck
out OF the moose, new one arises in the fact that
the gals all knows he's anxious, and then the very
ones that has been settn their caps for him all
their lives, from him like flock of patridges
from a weasel. The more he sets at 'em, the more
they SHES of, and every woman OF his acquaint-
ance, from fourteen forty five. takin il into their
heads that he wants to marry 'em right off, he amt
allowed TO come within gun shot of the uglyest of
'em.
Ihem's tryin times, and ought to be q waunn to
all young men what don't want to mend their'own
Stockins while they lve and be nuSsed by the char
ity of the community in their last sickness.
| Rancy Cotton was one of the melancoycst ex-
amples Of this deplorable condition ever seed. and
the way his heart was broke at last ought to be re-
corded as example to all future generations of
men, and a reproach to the female forever
Rancy Cotton was extremely bashtul young
man, and from the time he was old enuff to know
one gal from another, he had always had idee
/ that they was behs of more exalted natur. and
though he loved the whole generation of 'cln,
it was more'n he coulddo to look of 'em right
straight in the face let alone aiin to em or tetch
EN- 'cm. He was long way out of his teens,
! chap some twenty years ago, his countenance had
been so long exposed 10 the weather that he had
BEGUN very deapidated in his personal appearance.
Perhaps il was this circumstance that made him
more determined than to marry or perhaps
ii the bright mischievous eyes and rosy cheeks
OF Becky Wigtall, over the Runs, that gin new
impulse to his desperate resolution. Some people
sed that it was the smart chance of property that
Becky had that made him SIGH reglar visiter 10
old Mrs Wigfalls. Whatever it was that actua-
ted him, one thing Is certain, he laid regar siege
to the house. and as he was pretty well to do in
the world, Becky's mother didn't make no objec.
tons, and used 10 give him all the chance she could
10 git ahead in her daughters affections.
! Becky was one of the iareines, widest Gals in
the settlement, and as she hadn't no lack of admir-
ors she hung out a bold flag of Defiance specially
to Rancy Cotton, whO being so monstrouS faint.
hearted, was al perfect nonplus how TO make the
attack notwithstanding he had cumto the desper-
ate resolution 10 court her if il cost him his life.
Reglar every Saturday night ne used to ride over
to old Mrs. Wigfal's and take tea with the tami-
ly; and reglar every time did he takea seat in the
Parlor by the door, and set and set, and SET till all
the family went TO bed, loolin all sorts Of love at
Becky, but without ever openin his mouth on the
subject. Sometimes he said II was gwine TO rain,
OF the weather was very warm cold, and he
generally told the truth about it, Beckey never dis
pnted the pint with him. After settn thar listen
begun to crow, he would git up and take his hat
and 90 to the door, then he would turn round and
look for mnnit, and then DRAWN in his breath,
he would break out with, ''NVell, good evcnn to
you all Miss Becky" loud enuff to wake up the
whole family, though he didn't mean it for no DO
dy hut her.
This sort of courtship didn't mount to much
He was satisfied that it to try TO cap
ture the fortress by SIGH approaches, and he would
have gin the world if he could only plucked III
courage enuff TO throw bombsliel! right into the
very heart OF the citadel but every time he look
ed into Becky's face, he felt sort OF faintyness
cum over him. and he was ready 10 give up the
siege in despair. 1t was desperate case. Some
thing must be done and in the spirit of lororn
hope, he determined TO make assault at all haz
yards.
The next night when he cum he found Becky
and the rest of the gals cardn and knitten. Lit
tie by little he worked his chair up pretty close tc
' Becky, tcrmined to make a bold begnnin when the
r old woman thar to stand by him. but when Inc
found himself within arms length Of Becky. he
was tuck all of sudden with SIGH terrible cloa k
in that he couldn't even tell her it was very
warm evenin TO save his life. Becky was cardir
away. and maxim bats of cotton for quiltin they
was gwinc to have. and oolin as nischicvous IA
, she could be. Bimeby ses Rancy, after cearir
! his throte two or three times
"What's them for, Miss Becky ?" ses he.
u "Them's bats for quilt Sos she.
Fancy like to fell off his cheer but after com
G posin himself little. ses he
It "Then you's gwine TO make quilt, is you ~
> ''Io be sure we is, seq Becky
y Then ther pause and Rancy twisted n
s bout, and breathed SO loud yon could hear him al
' over the room. He would gin his horse for ano
ther question TO AK. Jest then old Mrs. Wigia
y helped him out by akin him if he wouldn't cum t
II tho qutin.
i '''i'o be sure will - ses he, lookn side way
g at Becky, eli she'll let me cum"
!, ooh, certainly; you must cum ses Becky
q BY this time the sweat begun to pour off Rar
10 cy's face III stream, and the young gals run o
to ther room 10 laugh, leavin nobody with him br
ther sister and the old woman.
~ Things had cum TO a stand still aGin, and Ranc
70 was In another dilemmy.--Bimeby a bright ide
10 struck him, and he tuck up bunch Of the coto
/, what Becky had jest carded and unused il all up
\ Char" ses he, 81 split yer bats, Miss Becky
\. Now YOU got 10 make cm over apin."
'Why, Mr.. Cotton, what did you do that for :?
% ses she.
4 ''Jes for funr' ses he ri love to Spite things
nj And then he laughed like he had the highsie
cks, but with his face lookn solemn as a toni
stone all the time.
3 Becky was so full Of laugh si,e couldn't hard
81 set her chair but she caded the bats over ag
W and put 'em on tho chair, and then set 'em oft
his reach. for fear he mought spile 'em agin.-
e) Then she tuck her needles to finish piece of ls
~ what one Of the gals had been kuttin, and old Mr.
of Wgfall went TO her room, Jest to give 'em ia
I'D chance to court.
ne Rancy had made more headway. ne thought,
ed single over than he mad made in the last s.
months; and as he was little over his skeer,
IS determined to fo!er up his advantage. So he je
= pulled his cheer up little closer aud looked
he Becky bit, while her fingers was fyin about HI
A. needles so fast that body couldn't hardly tt
it which hand they belonged to--and ketchin hold