The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1851-12-16
LOVE HIS A GARDEN
BY THE SWAMP DOCTOR.

Among the many acGuaintances that my
profession (as physician) enabled me TO
make in the swamps of Louisiana, no one
afforded me more pleasure than Jerry Wil-
son, the hero Of this story. lie was
young man, of staiwart frame and dauat-
less bearing, and his stout heart luaiied on
ly before gGL-vanic battery OF girls eyes.
Adjoining the plantation Of Jery's father
there lived an old Virginan, who had come
into the swamp, to endure its many priva-
tons, in order that he might recruit his TIM
poverished finaaces He was net cne OF
those who culled themselves the T, rs OF
Virginia, but simpIs, unpretending man,
of good hard sense, called Major Smith.
Now the Major had daughter, sweet
blooming girl of seventeen. She loved and
was beloved, aud | soon fonnd that my
young friend Jerry was the iavorite mortal.
He reciprocated the feeling with intensity,
but his cowardice in love Affairs prevented
an avowal ON his part, and the two lovers
thdrefore in delicious state CT uncertainty
and suspense. But jerry was no coward
among men--he could fight bears. hug H.
dians, or strangle a panther with the ut
most pleasure; but there was something
terrbIep the idea Of telIinghi sweetheart
that he loved her and wanted 10 marry her.
Ae dared not do it---it was the onb peril
that he could not bravery face, The poor
girl saw that Jerry loved iler ardentlytand
eagerly she awaited declarat on FROM him.
Matters were in this state wlen be-
came fully acquainted with then---sbe was
wiliing---he was willmg--and yet, if they
kept on in the waythey were pursuing, they
both bid fair TO remain in single blessedness
for long time TO come. Deeply interested
in the welfare of both parties, t.ought
could not manifest my sympathy better than
10y kindly intervening. and producing that
crisis hich knew would accord with the
feelings of both.
A slight attack of the fever OF the ady's
caused me to be sent for and my so,ieltous
attention introduced ne ia yiHtd he een
fdence BY a simple experiment which !
chen tried upon her, was CONVINCED 'iat
all my friend Jerry had to do was 10 ask
and it would be given Holding my iair
patients hand, placed my fingers upon
her pulse, and weiIst pretending to number
II, accidentally, as it were, mentioned Ger
ry's name. The sudden th1ll that perva-
ded the artery assured me that the only
cause of her fever was her love for Terry.
Lifting my eyes TO her face, ] gave an ex-
pressive look, which suffused her beauteous
countenance, as if she was passing into the
second stage of scarlet fever
Gaa;nn tha etato &c aNa;rc T Enaxsy xs,bat
course to pursue. Leaving my fair patient,
| sought after Jerry, whom / found seated
on log, by the edge of the bayou, with a
pole in his hand, pretending TO be angling.
The tense state of his line, and an OCCASION
al quiver of the pole, indicated that fish
was hooked A stranger passing by him
at toat moment, would have come to one Of
three conclusions---that he was deranged,
IN love, or boru fool.
| walked right up to him. and slapped
him on the shoulder before he noticed me
l had soverhl potents to visit that day, and
as time was precious did not wait for the
salutations of the day, but commenced on
my friend jerry In real quarter race style
"Jerrp, {said ~ for sensible man, and
fellow of courage, you are the d---dest
1ooi and coward nnhung. You love girl
the girl loves yon. You know that the old
people are willing, and that the girl is only
waiting for You to pop the question so that
she can say Yes, and yet instead of hav-
ing the thing over with, like white folks, !
here you sit, like a knot on tree. pretend |
ing to be fishing, and hot even aware that
q big catfish is almost breaking your line |
20 shivers. Now, jerk that fish ont, take
the hook out of his mouth, and then put
him babk in the bayou--perhaps his sweet
hesrt was was waiting for hm when he got |
hung. poor fellow, as as you are ie q ike
pfedicament. you shovld ce able to say to
the gal, That mercy to Others shaw, that
mercy show tome Go home, put on a
clean shirt, shave that hair off your face }
and upper lip-for tell you Jerry, sensi-
pie woman never yet accepted man who
mad has face 50 covered with beard, nous
tache and imperial, as to leave nothing but
Me UP o. his nose visible from its wilder
ness q hair Dress yourfelf decently, 90
up 70 old Smiths. wait there till you get
.s .es'eo, .ien ash the girl to take a walk in !
'ne sa,oen with you--gsrdens are h---il !
% place TO make love in--sav YOU waptI
20 look at the flowers. to eat radishes, on 10
puck grapes-aaything for On excuse 10
.ner i''ere--and when you have got herl
1iue' tne ar6or. all alone to herself (here