Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-05-23
JONATHAN AHEAD :
OR, LOVE AND STRATAGEM


tThe critter loves me know she loves
me = said Jonathan Dobikins, as he sat on
the cornfeld fence, meditating the course
of true love, that was running-just as Mr..
Shakespeare said it did rather roughly. :
If Suke Peabody has taken shine to that
gawky, long-shanked, stammcrin' shy crit
ter, Gussett, just because he's city feller,
she amt the gal took her for, that's sartin
No, it's the old folks, darn their ugly pic
turs. Old Mrs. Peabody was alters hifa-
lutin critter, full of stuck up notions. And
the old mans regular soft head, driv-
en- by his wife, just as our old one-eyed
rooster is driven about by our cantankerous
fve.toed Dorkin' hen. But if [ don't spile
his fun, 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 sol;lo9uy may serve 70 give
the reader some slight idea of the lay of
the land in the pleasant rustic village
where the speaker resided.
Mr.. Jonathan Dobikins was young
farmer, we'll to do in the world, and look
ing out for wife, and had been paying his
addresses to Miss Susan Peabody, the only
child of Deacon Elderberry Peabody of that
ilk, with fair prospect of success. when a
: city acquaintance of Mr.. Peabody 's-one
Cornelius Gussett, who kept dry goods
shop on Hanover street, Boston-suddenly
made his appearance in the field, and began
5 the cutting out game. Dazzlcd with the
nfh oyofc 70
y and pestered with the importantly of hel
C aspiring mamma, the village beauty began
s to waver, when her old lover determined
d on a last and bold stroke to foil his rival
II He went to the city and returned of hi
business there he said nothing-not ever
/ to a pumping aid maiden aunt who KEEP
|, house for him. He went not near Pea
], body's, but labored in his cornfeld, await
', ing the results of his Vaccinations.
1t The next day Mr.. Gusset was seateC
10 with the old folks and their daughter, il
IS the best room Of Mr.. Peabodys mansion
y chatting pleasantly as possible, when tn
. door opened, and in rushed a very dirt
ie Irish woman,
y lis it there ye are, Mr.. Cornelius Gus
sett Come out of that before | fetch "
IS yo spalpeen Is that what ye promise
me before the praste, ye hathen, ye nagel
be Running away from me and the childer-
a forsakin yer lawful welded wife, and runil
to after the Yankee gals, ye infdel !
as Woman, there must be some mistak
l here,' stammered Gusset, taken all abac
2r- by this charge.
he 'Divil bit of mistake, ye sarpint Ol
'as wirra, wirra, was it for the likes of ye
ed sacked my little Dennis Mccarthy, WI
OF loved the very ground l trod on, and a
to bekase ye promised to make lady of m
,d- ye black, dirty thafe of the world w
he ye come on to the railroad station where
ie' left little Patrick, bekase he was too sit
'he with the small pox, to come any furthe
, | or will ye wait till drag YEP
led 'Go-gO along, go and I'll follow yol
TIL gasped Gussett He thought it best
gin temporise.'
nd, Il give you ten minutes, said the virag
loi- If ye amt there, it's me cousin, Mr.. Tha
lth dy Mulgrudery, will be after ye, ye that;
Tor And away went the unbidden guest.
lve Mr. Gussett was then engaged in sta
mering out denial Of all knowledge Of
and virago, when the parlor door again open
pom and little black-eyed, hatchet-faced womr
'sed in Aashy silk gown, and cap of ma
tile ribbons perched on the top of her hei
zen, invaded the sanctity Of the parlor.
lrl, lis ae here {? she cried in very dcciC
nose French accent. Then she added will
girl scream, Ah, mon Dieu viola Zere
is Traitre, monster Vat for you r
love away from me Dis two tree years neN
here see you-nevair, and my heart broke V
long bad entirely
lats who are you?' cried Gussett, his e
nm starting out Of his head, and shivering Fl
,reat head to foot.
At He asks me who | am. oh. y3s.GE yG3S.GE
respectable old gseRRttiieSomme, YOU i
what heasks. Who am I-perfde! |
near your wifep
nov, L never see you fore, SO help me B
ine, cried Gussett, energetically.