Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-02-02
NETTLE BOTTOM BALL.

H..
Z. "Well, it are a fact, boys, said Jim Skies,
'sthat promised to tell you how come to get out
in these Platte diggings, and speculate you
mount as well hayeit at onst, kase it's been roub-
lin my conscience amazin to keep it kivered up.
The afar raised jessy in Nettle Bottom, and old
Tom Jones' yell, when he swar'd he'd chew me
up, gives my meat slight sprinklin of anger
whenever think of it.
ssYou see thar war small town called Equality,
in Mzzury, that some spectators started near
Nettle Bottom, cos there was a spontaneous salt
lick in the diggings and no sooner did they git
goin, and built some stores and groceries thar,
than they wagoned from St. Louis and other down
stream villages parcle Of fellers to attend their
shop, that looked nice al'ays if they goin
to rneetin courtin froc, and salt their pic
tures,' they wur eternally pokin up their noses
at us boys of the Bottom
'Well, they got up ball in the village, jest to
introduce themselves to the gals round the neigh
borhood and invited few on us to make con-
trary picture to themselves, and so shine us out of
sight by comparison. AFTER that ball thar warn:t
anything talked of among the gals but what nice
fellers the clerks in Equality were and how nice
and slick they wore their hats and shiney boots,
and the way they stirrup'd down their trowsers.-
If one ofus Bottom boys went to see the gals, all
! the talk was about the slick looking boys from
Equality.
$50 we boys got our danders up, and we fixed
day for general meetin pom the subject. We met
in the Bottom, at Jake's and I'm of the opinion
that war some congregated wrath there-whewi
warn't theys
"Thunder and scissors says Mike Jolt, 'slet's
60 down and lick the town, right on sght!''
"No,'' hollered Dick Butts, 'slet's ketch these
slick badgers coming out of meetn. and tare the
hide and feathers off of 'em.''
ssWhy, darn 'em what dye think, boys,'' burst
ed in old Jake, 81 swar if they amt arnt gals
to wear back cushions, only this morning caught
my darter Sally Ann putin on one and tyin it
round her, She thought Twas a sleep, bot seed
her. and made the Jade repudiate it, and no mis-
take--quicker.. =
':The boys took drink the occasion and
Equality town was slumberin for short time
over a contagious yearthquake. AT last one of
the boys proposed before attacked the town,
that we should git up ball in the Bottom, and
jstsoutshne the town chaps all to death, afore we
swallowed 'em. Itwas hard to gin into this propo-
sition, but the boys cum to it at last, and every
Teller started the afar agoin.'' -
"Ihad beena long time hankering arter old Tom
Jones' darter, on the branch below the Bottom,
and she was a,oritter good for weak eyes-rnay be
she hadn't pairsof her own; well if they wafn't
brace of moving light houses wouldn't say it.
There wos no calculating the extent of handsonn-
ness Of the family that gal could bring around her
with a fellow like me to look after 'em. Talk
about gracefulness! did you ever see maple sap
lin moving with a sound wind! Itwarn't crook
ed stick,to be compared with her. Her dad was
awful-he cod jist lick anything that said boo in
them diggins, out swar Saturn, and was as cross
as she bar what had cubs. Hehad little han
KERN in favor of the fellers in town. too for they
gin him presents, of powder to hunt with and he
was precious fond of using his shooting iron.
was determint, anyhow, to ak his darter Betsey to
be my partner at the Nettle Bottom Ball.
s.Well, our Marth made me bran new pair of
buck-skin trowsers TO frolick in, and she put stir
rups on 'em to keep 'em down. She said straps
was the fashion, and should wear 'em. jist
felt with them on eff had somethin pressin on
me down, all my jints tight together, but
Marth insisted, and knew would dance 'em off,
SO gin in, and started off to the branch for Betsy
Jones.
s.Well, when arrv, the old feller was sittin
smokin artersupper, and the younger Joneses wur
sttin round the table takin theirs. A whappin
big pan of mush stood right in the centre and
large pan of milk beside it, with lots of corn bread
and butter. and Betsey was helpin the youngsters,
while old Mrs. Jones set by admirin the colec-
tionsaOld Tom took hard star at me and kind
shook but the straps Stood and recovered myself,
and gin him as good as he SENT but near door,
and ready to break if he showed fight
"What the hi are you doing in disguised"
says the old mamie swore dreadfully-Ssare you
commn down here to steal!'' - s5
81 riled up at that. Says l, eff were cummin
for sech purpose, you'd be the last man I'd hunt
up to steal off on.''
"Your rite, says he, "Id make hole to light
your innards, eff you did.
eAnd the old savage chuckled. ment because
he had nothing worth stealth but his darter; but
he thought it was cos was afeard on him.
"Well, purity soon gathered up and told him
i what cum down fur, and invited him to cum and
take drink, and see that all went on rite.
& "The old 'omen here spoke in favor of the tnoye
I and old Tom thought Of liquor and gin into the
measure. OfFbounded Betsey up a ladder into the
second story, and oil the little gals with her.
4 help her to put on her fixins. 1 sot down in a.