Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-02-28
THE RUNAWAY MATCH;
Or howthe Schoolmaster Married forfuni
By MAJOR JONES, OF p1NEyILLE.

y
By MAJOR JONES, OF pINEvILLE. /
It's about ten years ago sense the IN
cident what I'm gwan to tell took place.
Il caused great sensation in PineviIle
at the time, and had the effect to make
fellers monstrous careful how they run
away with other people daughters with
outtheir consent, ever since.
Mr.. Ebenezer DoDIitle was the bcmln-
ablest man after rich gals that ever was.
He hadn't been keepin' school at Pine
vile morn six months, before be had
found out every gal in the settlement
whose father had MORN twenty niggers,
and he had courted all Of EN- within a
days ride. He was rather old 10 be pop
ular with the gals, and somehow they
didn't like his ways, and the way they
did bluff him off was enough 10 discouf-
age ANYBODY but Yankee schoolmaster,
what wanted to get married and hadn't
many years Of grace left. But it didn't
seem 10 make no sort OF difference TO him.
He was bound 10 have rich wife out Of
'em, and il lie failed in one case it only
made him more peFseverin' in the next.
His motto was never say die I
Betty Darling, as they used to call her,
old MI Darling's daughter, what used to
live on the Runs-was about the torn
downest Of gal in all Georgia. Betty
was rich and handsome and smart, and
had more admirers than she could shake
stick at, but she was such atormenting
little coque!ie, that the boys was afraid
TO court her in downright earnest. When
Mr.. DooIittIe found her out, he went rite
at her like house-a. fire. She was jest
the gal for him, and he was determined
to have her at the risk Of his life
:. Well, he had laid seige to old dr. OAR
ling's house day and night, and when he
couldn't leave his school to 60 and see
her he rit letters 10 her that was enough
to throw any other girl but Betty Darling
into the Mysteries to read 'em. Jest al
i, every body expected, alter encouraging
! him Jest enough to make the feller be-
+ lieve be had the thing did, she kicked
: him fat. But shaw he was perfectly
! used 10 that, he was too much Of a tilos
) oIer to be discouraged by such rebuff
: when the game was worth Pursuin.'
He didn't lose minit's Time, but ies
! brushed up. and went rite at her again
! Every body was perfectly surprised q
J see him gwine back to old Mr.. Darling
: alter the way he had been treated b
! Betty; but they was great deal more sur
!. prlsed, and the boys were terribly alarm
{ ed in about month, at the headway b
! seemed to be making in his suit. Allss
Il once Miss Betty's conduct seemed {
: change towards him, and though her Fl
: ther and mother was terribly opposed |
:, the match, any body could see that sh
/ was beginning TO like the schoolmasts
i very we'll.
: Things went on in this way for awhil,
ill bimeby old Mr.. Darling began to g
- so uneasy about it. that be told Mr.. Do
- little one day, that he mustn't come \
= his house no more and that ii he ketcl
: ed him sending any more love letters ar
= kiss verses to his daughter, by his nj
y gel gals, he'd make one of bis boys gil
!. him an ALFRED cowhidin.
:. But Mr.. DoolittIe didn't care for th
: neither. fie could see Miss Betty VIII,
:. - she came shoppin' in stores in tow
- aad there was MORN one way to git
= letter TO her. What did he care for th
- old Darling. HIS darter was he'd al
s. hart in love with him. and was Jest 4
,r;, gal to run away with him. too, it she "
~ opposed by her parents. And as for I
,sr property, he was certain Of that VIII
,ch once he married the gal.
a. On Saturday, when there was no scho
III Mr.. Doolistle went to old Squire Roge
h;s and told him be must be ready TO mar
lass couple that night. at exactly ten o o'clo,
inc Num- SEES he, you mustn't say We
olS TO nobody. Squire. The license is
no ready and the party wants to be very I
,;te yate
so Squire Rogers was one Of the most
re- commodatin' fellers in the world on s
him occasions. Mr.. Rogers was monstr
him cranky, cross old lady And moth
ia. done the squire so much good as to n
~ Others, il didn't make no odds y
l;c;. they was Besides, Mr.. Doolittle
-,or an injured man and great scholar,
Lar belonged 10 his church.
me- Mr. DoolttIe arranged the whole
o;,s s siness IN first rate Older. Miss b
bsa5 was TO meet him at the end of her +
-, er's lane. disguised in ridin dress
ease rowed for the occasion, when he wa:
ever take her in close one horse balou
haen and ''fiy with her on the wings Of lc
= If as he said he would. to the Squire's Of
lages Wnar aneT were 70 oe unllea IN 3
! her. OF Weolock' before any oooy IN 5ne
d his iage Know any tnlng ABOUT y. ne
ey at lnaas . Allangensn's 2. sng ,s Eoss. nOs sd
nant "H'on NC seu nc h~eo H''ise" io'