The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-09-07

who knew not me, ana more than all,
who did not care, when was accostcd
by funny little red=fa6ea man, who
took his chair and seated himself by
my side sans ccremonie, and began
Immediately to entertain me after this
wise /,
" III tell you what it is," said he,
never courted but one gal in my
life, except my wife, and I'll tell you
how it was; | began to think was a.
bout old enough TOTO have somebody
take care of me: my mother was fee
bic, and my sister was married, though
| had two that were not. | don't lnow
why. l believe they had applications
enough, but somehow they didn't suit;
and [ asked my mother what she
thought about Sally Jane, the daugh
ter OF one Of our iiear neighbors.
ga right smart girl she was, Sally
Jane, and one of the best dispositioned
girls | ever knew. | used to see her
most every day, and kept waiting to
ask her to keep compdny,' but could
never got it out 50 went down to
see my brother one day about lot of
land that lay next to Sally James faith
er's-only her father was dead, you
know, and the land was all hers now
and Just told him how it was, and
how felt right here, (laying his hand
on his heert) and asked him what l
should do. lie said better not 90
to see her. till l had asked her il l
might and advised me to pluck up
courage and speak right away.
So, the next morning, 1 got up
very early, and went over, determined
to have it out. You hnoo-juSt to
,olisper something IN her ear"
Here the little man stopped to take
breath and | was almost convulsed
with laughter at his queer ways and
strange ccmmunicativehess with one
to whom he had never spoken before.
But very willing to hear the sequel of
such a story, now begged him to
proceed, and he said, -" Oh yes, l was
going to tell you. Very early in the
morning | started off, and found Sally
Jane in the cucumber yard. Her
brother Robert had been trying to
have me buy a horse of him, but l
didn't want the horse, you see, because
though he was good horse enough
every other way, they said whenever
he was tied to post or fence, or what
not, he would nibblc and nibblc at cv-
crything he could reach, and do more
mischief than you could tell. SO l
wouldn't buy the horse, and Robert
was kind o out Of sorts but didn't
mind him, l was thinking so much a.
bout Sally Jane so l walked right in
to the cucumber yard, and followed
round among the vines, till at last, just
as she was going into the house, went
close up and said, 'Wlll you keep
company tonight 2 and she said right
off, She didn't choose And |
scampcrcd off like a good fellow.
" Now, | never knew whether It
was because | wasn't dandy aud spruce
enough, or whether it was about the
horse, or, perhaps, she was thinking
was after the land which mine joined
but ! wasn't | never thought of it.
But ] went right ana sold mine, when
if | had only waited | might have got
six hundred dollars more. for it was
rich meadow land-down in Conneti-
cut, you know; twas right on the riv
er."
BY this time my immodcrate laugh
ter had attracted an audience, and my
little corner and its scene became the
object Of much curiosity.
The little man was the greatest en-
Iigma | had ever found but thought
at least would try to solve it, SO
begged him to give us the history Of
his successful courteship; to which he
consented, and Immediately resumed
by saying, "Oh yes the next time
was more careful. Eliza Ann wa'
one of our neighbors, and they used t.
buy milk of us and for a whole year
[ used to yearn most every day to car
ry the milk but l didn' say anything
nor do anything, either. For | tel
, you what think it is abominable, il
is aGominabie. And | always say t
all young men-it is mean, and one o
the wickedest things in natur', for I
ieller to kinder O. keep a girl along
keeping company and pretend to likt
her. and then leave her: cause, yol
see, if be had kept away, somebody bet
, ter might have gone and married her
and give her happy home and he
perhaps, has made her miserable 70
life"
Now, l really began to like the lit
tie man and to contrast his noble soul
in so rough and queer a caskct, wit
, some Of those polished, butterfly, soul
lest and heartIess popipjays by whom
) he was surrounded. wish they coul,
! have heard his earnest words, and seel
his earnest gestures, as he defined hi
ideas Of honor. | interrupted him, t
I speak word Of commendation, an
, then begged him to proceed.
! I" Well, was never guilty of disaI
pointing a woman. But by and by
Eliza Ann moved up to lI--------, G
bout Is miles, and | tho't after
while, | would 20 to sec her, for