Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-23
Cbuitr Iitrrntnrr.
POLLING A RIVAL.

roughly. If Sukey Peabody has taken
shine to that gawky, long-shanked, stam-
merin', shy critter. Gussctt, just cause he's
n city fcler, she aint the gall took her
for, that's sartain. No, its the old folks,
darn their ugly picturs. Old Mrs. Pea
body was alters a dreadful high-falutin crit
ter, full of big notions, and the old man s
soft head is driven about by our cantank-
erous Dorkin hen. But if don't spilc his
fun then my name amt Jonathan. I'm
going down to the city by the railroad next
week, and when come back, wake snakes,
that's all
The above soliloquy may serve to give
the reader some slight idea Of the lay of
the land in the pleasant village where the
speaker resided.
Jonathan Doublikins was young far
mer, we'll to do in the world, and looking
out for a wife, and had been paying his adj
dresses to Miss Susan Peabody, of that ilk,
with fair prospect of success, when city
acquaintance of the Peabodys, one Mr..
Cornelius Gussett, who kept a retail dry
goods shop in Hanover street, Boston, had
suddenly made his appearance in the field,
and commenced the cutting out game
Dlzzled with the prospect of becoming
gentleman's wife, pestered by the importu-
mites Of her mamma, the village beauty
had begun to wavcr, when her old lover
determined on "a last bold stroke to foil his
rival. He went to the city and returned !;
Of his business there he said nothing, not
even to the pumping maiden aunt who kept
house for him. He went not near the
Peabody's, but labored in his cornfelds and
garden, patiently awaiting the result of his
machinations
The next day Mr. Gussctt was sitting
with the old folks and their 'darter,' in the
best room Of the Peabody mansion, chatting
as pleasantly as may be, when the door o.
pened and in rushed furious Irish wo-
man.
is it here ye are, Misther Cornelius p
she exclaimed, addressing the astonishcd
Gussett 'Come out Of that before fetch
yc, ye spalpeen is that what ye promised
me afore the praiste, ye haythen naygur
Cummin' away from me and the childher,
forsakn' your lawful and welded wife, and
runnin' after Yankee girls, ye infdel! =
Woman, there must be some mistake
here sto,nYAsvad Gussptt. taken all aback
by the charge.
Devil bit of mistake, yo sarpint. Oh
warra was it for the like of ye l sacked
Dennis Mccarthy, who loved the very
ground | throd on, and all bekase you prom
ised to make lady av me, ye dirty thafe
of the wurruld? viii ye cum along to the
railroad station, where left little Patrick
because he was too sick wild the smallpox
to come any furdur, or will we wait till
drag ye?
fGo-go-along,' gasped Gussettj 'gc
and I'll follow you
He thought it best to temporize.
Il give ye ten minits, said the viragt
IF We amt there thin, it's my cousin, MI
Thuddy Tulgrudery, will be after ye,
thafov And away went this unbldde
guest
Mr.. Gussctt was yet engaged in stammel
ing out a denial of all knowledge of the V
rago, when the parlor door opened, and
little black.eyed, hatchet-faced woman,
fashy silk gown, and cap with man
ribbons perched on the top of her head, il
vaded the sanctity of the parlor.
is he here?' she cried, in decide
French accent. Then she added, with
scream, 'Ah-mon dieu la VOLTA He
he is. Traitrc, monstre Vat for you ri
away from me? Dis two or tree year.
nevair see you, nevair, and my heart brol
very bad entirely
fWho are youP cried Gussett, his ey
starting out Of his head and shivering fro
head to foot.
He asks who l am o, ladies 0, y
respectable old gentlehomme hear y
vat he ask Who am | Petrifed | q
your wife !
I never saw you before, so help me Go
cried Gussett cuergetically.
'Dlnt you swear said Deacon PeaboC
'Ef you do I'll kick you into Gts, by 6
ly. | won't have no protane nor vuli
language in my house
20, bless you ! respectable old ma
dell him he must come viz me. Dell b
I hev spoke to ze constable-Dell him -
sobs interrupted her utterance.
Its ap33ky bad business said the d
con, chaGng with unwonted ire. 'Guss
YOU re rascal
Take care, Peabody, take care ! s
the unfortunate storekecper.
Il remarked you were a rascal, Guss
You have gone and married two wives,
that ere a fat burglary, if know any tn
about revised statutes
Two yifes ? shrieked the French
man.
Now you clear out of my house, g
way to the railroad station. and clear
into Boston. l won't have nothin' mor
do with you
But, Deacon, hear me-
Il don't want to hear you, ye sarp
cried the Deacon, stopping his ears
hia hands MGryin' two wives, and {
in eourtin' a third! Go long! L
this house!
Even Mrs. Peabody, who was incl
TO put in word for the culprit, was $
ced. Susan turned from him in ho
and in utter despair he fed to the raj
station, hotly pursued by the clamorou.
indignant French woman.
The same afternoon, as Miss Susan
body was walking toward the village
was oyertaken by Mr.. Jonathan Doubli
dressed in his best, and driving his fa'