The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-10-21
Grleftc0.
From the Southern Literary Messenger.
UNDER THE STUMP:
OR,
SAMSON KEEPERS COURTSHIP
BY PAUL cREYToN.

ANY shrewd observer of men and man
ners, could have immortalized his nam
in Grassborough, by explaining, clearl,
and satisfactorily, by reason why Mr.
Samson Keeper remained bachelo
at two score.
The facts of the case are as follows
Samson Keeper, Esq, at five and twenty
was looked upon as prize by all the mar
riageable young ladies' in Grassborough
Possessed of good looks, an excellent
farm, agreeable manners, and large
comfortable house, a pair of whiskers
and two pair of oxen, Samson could have
taken his pick among the maidens Of
Grassborough, any one of whom would
have been delighted with his preference.
a kind hearted fellow, too, was Sam-
son Keeper; and 1 have often heard
him described as having distinguishing
fondness for gooseberry pies, nice chill.
dren, fine horses, and ladies in general.
At that delightful age-fve and
twenty-Sampson did actually betray an
inclination to connubal happiness. He
commenced paying his addresses to the
amiable Lucrcta Lane, worthy and
pretty young lady, who, it was said by
everybody-with the exception of a null
titude of rival beauties-would make
him an excellent wife.
Now Samson waited on Lucretia-
" courted her." as Grassborough gossips
termed it for FIVE years and it was we'll
known to Samson's friends that more
than fifty times during that period, he
was on the point of Offering her his hand.
But Samson did not make such an offer
for reasons, which Grassborough would
have been glad to know.
The Lanes lost patience with the
heir of the house of Keeper. Lucretia,
they said, was at his disposal; but they
could see no sense in requiring years to
make up his mind to marriage. They
threw out certain hints, which offended
Samson and distressed his faithful mis-
tress hints designed to hasten the ap-
proach of lazy-paced Hymen, but which
had the effect of chilling shower-bath
on the ardor of Mr.. Keeper. He avoid
ed Lucretia's society for a month. At
the end of that time, convinced of the
impossibility of living without her, he
called on her one Sunday night as in
former days. To his astonishmcnt he
found her occupying the small parlor in
company with Mr.. Brooks, wealthy
widower of thirty FIVE Mr. Brooks and
Lucretia sat in the corner, and Samson,
with his surtout on, sank into seat op-
posite.
"Fiue evening"" said Samson, in an
unsteady voice.
4" Nay" said Lucretia changing color
rapidly and looking at the backlog.
1t was showing and blowing outside
at frigbtful rate
The widower settled his chin in his
neck cloth, with pompous air, and
tried to look unconcerned. Lucretia
coughed and blushed, and moved about
in her chair, as if she had eaten some-
thing which distressed her; while Mr..
Keeper glanced uneasily from his hat to
the door, and played with his thumbs
like any timid young man, who, intend
ing to 60 to champaign supper, should
penetrate the sanctimonious silence of q
Quaker meeting, by mistake.
Hem ! thought I'd call and see how
you 'were," observed Samson, after a
long pause, turning in his chair, and
crossing his legs, with an attempt to ap-
pear at ease.
"Thank you-hope you will-you'll
come again." faltered Lucretia.
And not another word was spoken for
half an hour.
At length Samson, after a series ofI
preliminary hens and anxious glances at
his hat, summoned courage to say.
Guess I'll be going," with a move.
ment towards the door.
What's your hurry ?" asked Luere-
tia in feeble tone.
"Nothing particular-gucss though
I had better be going. Good night."o
Stumblingover a chair in his endeavor
to appear unconcerned, and buttoninp
the right hand lapel of his surtout to
the left-hand tassel of his dress coat
an error which he did not discover until
he had reached the snow-bauks before
his own door-Mr. Keeper took his ],