Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-07-02
CHOICE LlrERATuRg.
Zeph. Hopkins Experience.

When I was down to New Orleans, a
maxim my eternal tortin' who should turn
up one day, of all creation, but Deacon
Brittles' darter Sal, a critter [ used to be
a kind O sweet on in Varmont-but good
gracious, along side O them are Creole gals
wall, it's no use talkng-comparis
are odorous-as Mrs Malaprop says in the
play OF course wasn't over and above
delighted to see her-didn't jump clean
outer my butes-or tare my dickey, or do
anythin O that sort-but seems how I'd
written the creeter somdA pooty strong let
ters, when was to hum and as verdant as
year old donkey, | put o pooty good face
on the matter, and made bleve was dref-
fe glad to see her. The old deacon is poo
ty well to do, and in case nothin' braaks
why, Sal is pooty nice gal, and, all
things considered, might go further and
fare wuss Eff didn't 60 further and fare
wuss, may be kicked to death by grass
hoppers. But I'm gettin' ahead of my sto-
ry. | Skinned up again to Sal, and took
her out to ride few times-treated her to
ice creams ok settery, once in while. But
what on airth put it into my head to tax e
the critter to ball-'cept it was my ill-luck
i never could discover.
To makea long story short, | took Sal
to rampin' tearin two dollar ball. Fixins
clegant-Amerrikin flags bokays tho
blackest kinder niger 6ddlers-chalked
Aoors-ah settery. But five minnits arter
I'd been thar didn't see no gas-lights, nc
flowers, no chalk, no niggers, no nothin'
except one of the most spendiferous, onac-
countable, bewitchin', facinoratin', female
critters ever sot my eyes onto.
| kitched holt Of floor manager, anC
made him introduce me to her. Gee-wht
eaker what kutchy she made, and bow
ed so low that nearly fell outer my dick
ey onto the floor We danced good reel
and l was SO delighted with the critter
en1nged ber fqg tts ths bHl l ez29ia suu,
She
g don't do nothin' else," said I, as bol,
as brass; and with that I ketched holt @
her. like | seen the other fellers duin' t.
their gals, an if | Gidn't sling her, ther
there's no snow on Killingly Peak. A few
complimentary remarks, scch as g 90 j
boots!' from the bystanders, encouraged
me to do my pootiest, an the way slupo
them cowhides round was pufficly orful-
l say IL with realizing sens of the mora
responsibility of the assershnn. Oncet il
while ketched sight of Sal settin' ur
against the wall, in solitary glory, but i
only made me cut up the harder.
Bime-by I got kinder dizzy, and mex
thing know'd | was settin' on sofy, ane
that ere angel a holtin' solts to my nose
and bendin over me like hen over ;
spawned chicken. didn't see no more
nor think no more of Sal arter that. How
she got hum, or whe n she got hum, didn'
inquire. l waited on my angel to the door
and when she telled me at partin' Nigh
call on her, went hum chuck full of glor,
and happiness, and dreamed all nigh
the strangest kind of dreams about nv BE-
in in the garden of Eden and playin
+" High Low Jack" with General Wash
ington and Mary Queen of Scots.
Next day prehops | didn't call on til,
charmer-wall, reckon [ did, though
| bust right out, and colled her all the an
gels in creation, and told her loved he
better than maple sugar and new cider.
:" Will you do me favor 2" says she.
Anything in reason or agin reason,
said l.
"Well,'' says she. lookin' good enougl
to eat, Il want you to buy me a cowhid
here's bit to pay for it.
Darn the expense" ~ says I, "Pll max
you present of it."
OFF | went, proud of the Commission
and brought her real stinger-cost me
shillin' '-wonderin' who on airth she wan
ted to give lickin' to. 81 hev it." thou oh
|; "some other feller she don't like ha
been persecutin' her, an now she's goir
to gin him the sack an lickin' into tn
bargain
So says |, as l handed her the cowhide
"Miss Evelina Chat was her name).
should like to know the name of the ind
} yidual that ere cowhide is destined
astonish" q
"He's about your size." said she, wit
peculiar smile that | didn't somehow e,