Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-01-22
COLUMBUS:
wednesday Morning, Jan. 10, 1859.
Under the Stump.
OR, SAMPSON KEEPEp>s ooURTsHIP.

ANY shrewd observer Of men and manners could
have immortalized his name in Grassborough, by
explaining clearly and satisfactorily, the reason
why Mr.. Sampson Keeper remained bachelor at
two score
The facts of the case are as follows Sampson
Keeper, Esq, at fve-a nd-twenty, was looked up
on as prize by all the manageable young ladies
in Grassborough. Possessed of good looks and
an excellent farm, agreeable manners, and large,
comfortable house, pair Of whiskers, and two
pair OF oxen, Sampson could have "taken his pck''
among the maidens Of Grassborough, any of whom
would have been delighted with his Preference
He was kind hearted fellow, too-was Sampson
Keeper; and have often heard him described as
having distinguished fondness for gooseberry
pies, nice children, fine horses and ladies in gen
eral.
THAT delightful age five and twenty! Samp-
son did actually betray an inclination for connubla
happiness. He commenced paying his addresses
to the amiable Miss Lucretia Lane, a worthy and
pretty young lady, who, it was said by everybody
with the exception of multitude of rival beau
ties, would make him an excellent wife.
Now Sampson waited on Lucretia, ''courted
her," as Grassborough gossips termed it, for five
years; and it was well known to Sampson 5 friends,
that more than fifty times during that PERIOD he
the point OF offering her his hand. But
Sampson did not make her such offer, for rea-
sons 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
disposalI but they could see no sense in requiring
years to make up his mind TO marriage. They
threw out certain hints, which offended Sampson
and distressed his faithful mistress; hints designed
to hasten the approach of lazy-paced Hymen, but
which were chilling shower bath on the ardor OF
Mr.. Keeper. He avoided LucretiaS society for a
month At the end Of that time, convinced OF
e E,r,, Al Co n
on her one Sunday night, as in former days. To
his astonishment be found her occupying the small
paror in company with Mr.. Brooks, a wealthy
widower of thirty 1--WE. Mr. Brooks and Lucretia
sat together in the chimney corner, and Sampson
with his sur.out on, sank into the seat opposite.
Fine evening" said Sampson, in an unsteady
voice.
"Nay," said Lucreta, changing color rapidly
and looking at the backlog.
The widower settled his chin in his neck
with pompous air, and tried to look uncOncerned
Lucretia coughed and blushed and moved about il
her chair IT'S if she had eaten something which
distressed her, while Mr.. Keeper glanced uneasi
ly from his hat to the door, and played with hi
thumbs like any timid young man, who, intending
to go to a Champagne supper, should penetrate TIT
silence of a Quaker meeting by mistake.
Hem! Thought I'd just look in and see how
you were,' observed Sampson after a long pause
an attempt to appear at ease.
THANK you-hope you wi-you'll come again?'
faltered Lucretia.
And not another word was spoken for half al
hour
At length Sampson, after series of prelimina
ry "hems," and anxious chances at his hat, sum
moned courage to say
"Guess III be going'-
"What's your hurry" asked Lucretia in
feeble tone
Nothing particular-guess though I'd bette
be going;
Good night
Good night, if you must 60"
Stumbling over a chair in his endeavors to az
pear unconcerned, and buttoning the right han
lapel of his surtout to the left hand tassel of h
dress-coat-an error which he did not discover ur
til he reached the snow-bank Of his own door,
Mr. Keeper took his departure, leaving Lucret
with the widower.
No sooner had our hero gone, than Miss Lane
who had kept gradually hitchng her chair ava
from the widower, made an errand to the fire a
excuse for hitching it back again.
"Nice young man, Mr.. Keeper" observed tt
widower, glancing at Lucreta, over his dcke.
and laying his arm on the back of her chair.
May" said Lucretia, STOPPING to place stic
on the andirons
Mr.. Brooks perceived that the glow of the fl
made her face look red.
FUSED to be pretty neighborly 1 understand
"Ye-yes, quite"
Lucretia was crimson.
Nothing but friend, suppose ?"
"Oh no, no u
"Hem and if l should-that is, if any o.
else should wish to marry you, he wouldn't be
the way ?"
The widower's arm slipped from the back of h
chair, and fell somehow by accident, around b
waist; and the widower being an absent-mlnd
person, neglected to put it back again.
'And would anything else be In the way
DEAR"
That's according how the fire did glow
Lucreta's face according to who the person is
The clasp of the arm around her waist tIghtent
'Ah heml and tiff it was me y
"You ha there's no danger of that, guess
said Lucretia, trying to ''laugh it of.
Another movement of the arm, and Lucreti
head lay on the widower's shoulder.
"But am in great earnest" exclaimed d
Brooks
"Oh didn't suppose--if that's the case
Stammered Lucretia, pretending to struggle lit
This afforded the widower an excuse for clai
ing her waist still closer. He laid his whisk
against her wet cheek, to the imminent peril
sampson Keepers happiness, and the smoothn
OF his own Sunday dickey Then you might be