Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-14
EVENING STAR.
SALLY JONES.

Nathan Jones, a small farmer in our vicini.
ty, had daughter, as pretty and buxom a
lass as ever thumped butter-milk in a churn
and whether you saw her carrying eggs to
market on the flea bitten mare, or helping "a
stir apple-butter ct q boiling frolic, or making
a long reach at quilting, or sitting demurely
| in the log meeting house on a Sunday-in
Short wherever you saw her, she alway:
looked as pretty, if not prettier, than she bad
| ever done before.
Notwithstanding her attractions, it will
| scarcely be credited that Sally had reached
the mature age Of eighteen without an avswed
suitor. Admirers, nay, lovers, she had by
| the score; and whenever liquor was conve-
nient, many a sober youth got drunk because
Of her, and many sighing bachelor would
willingly have given his riding horse, or even
| his share in d ads farm, for her.
There was, indeed, no lack of will on their
part the difficulty was in mastering up cour,
age to make the proposal Mankind seemed
for once to be impressed with q proper sense
Of their own unworthiness.
Now, far be it from any one to infer from
this that Sally was prudish or unapproacha-
| BILE On the contrary, she was as good hs-
mored, as comely, and disposed to be as low
ing as she was loveable.
Poor Sally! it is great misfortune for Il
girl to be too handsome; almost az great a
to be too ugly.
There she was, as sOciabls and warm heart
ed as pigeon, amiable as a turtle-dove,
looking soft encouragement, as plainly a.
m alden modestly permitted, to her bashfu.
| company Of admirers, who dawdled abou-
her, twiddling their thumbs, biting the bark
of their riding switches, and playing a num-
Der of other sheepish tricks, but never saying
! a word TO the purpose.
Sally was entering on her nineteenth year
when she was one day heard TO observe that
men were the meanest, slowest, cOwardliest,
or 'nariest creatures; in short, good for no
thing but to lay under an apple tree with
their mouths Oped, and wait until the apples
drop into them.
This observation was circulated from mouth
to mouth, and, like the riddle of the sphinx,
was deeply pondered by Ssllys lovers. If
any of them had wit enough to solve it mean
ing, certainly no one had pluck enough to
prove the answer
Not of this poor crowd was Sam Bates, a
stalwart youth, who stood, in winter, six feet
two inches in his stockings; lin summer be
didn't wear any,
Sam was not handsome, in the ordinary
sense Of the term He was freckled, had a
big mouth, and carroty hair. His feet-but
no matter-he usually bought number four
teen and a half boots, because they fitted him
better than sevens or eights.
Sam was a wagon maker by profession,
owned hourishing shop and several hundred
acres of unimproved land, which secured TO
him the reputation of independence For the
rest he was registering blade, good rider, a
crack shot with the rifle, and an accomplish
ed fiddler. Bold to the confines Of impudepce,
he was favoiite Of the fair; with a heart as
big a. his foot, and fist like sledge hammer.
he was acknowledged the cock of the walk, and
yreux ehsvalter Of the pinehill country.
Mr.. Bates met Sally Jones for the first time
at quilting, and in sixty seconds after sight
he had determined TO court her He sat be-
side nsr as she stitched, and even had the au-
dacity to squeeze her hand under the quilt
Truth is mighty and must be told
Although Sally did resen. the impertinence
by a stick with her needle, she was not half
so indignant as she ought to have been
dare not say she was pleased, but perhaps L
should not be far from the truth if did Il
is undeni able that the more gentle and modest
a woman is, the more she admires courage and
boldness in the other sex.
Sally blushed every time her eyes met those
Of her new beau, and that was as often as she
looked up.
As for Sam, the longer he gazed the deeper
he sunk in the mire of love, and by the end
Of the evening his heart and his confidence
were both completely overwhelmed.
As he undertook to see Sally home, he felt
q numbness in his joints that was entirely new
to him, and when he tried to make known
his sentiments as he had previously deter
mined, he found his heart was SO swelled up
that it closed his throat and he couldn't utter
a werd.
"wtat a darnsd, cu,sed sneak L vas."
groaned Sam, az he turned that night on his
sleepless pillow. whats come over me.
that L can't speak my mind to pretty girl
without chokin? o, Lord but .he is too
pretty for this earth. Well, I'm a goin' to
church with her tomorrow and if l don't
fix matters afore 1 60 back, then drat me-"
1t is probable that Sam Bates had never
hesrkened to the story of ''Rasselas, Prince
of Abyssinnia," or be would have been less
credulous while thus listening to the whispers
of fancy, and less ready to take it for granted
that the deficiency of the day would be sup-
piled by the morrow.
Tomorrow came, and in due time Mr. Bates
tricked off III a bran new twenty dollar suit of
Jews Clothes was on his way to meeting be-
side the beautiful Sally. His horse, be-
dscked with fair new leather bride, and
new saddle with brass stirrups, looked as gay
as his master.
As they rode up to the meeting house door,
Sam could not forbear casting triumphant
glance at the crowd of Sally's adorers that
stood round filed with modification aud envy
at his successful audacity.
Sally face was roseate with pleasure and
bashfulness.
{" Stop minute, now, Miss Sally I'll jist
git down and lift ye off :"
Sam essayed to disnount but in so doing
found that both feet were hopelessly fast in
the stirrups. His face swelled and Redeemed
like turkey gobbler's. In vain he twisted
and kicked the crowd was expectsnt; Sally
was waiting.
''Gosh dang the steerup,n exclaimed Sam,
endeavoring to break the straps with his des-
perate kicks.
At this unwonted exclamation Sally looked
up and saw her beau's predicament.
The bystanders began to snicker. Sally
was grieved and indignant Bouncing out of
her saddle 10 a twinkling, she handed her en-
trapped escort stone.
"Here, Sammy, chunk your foot out with
this 90
Oh, Sally Jones into what an error did
your kind heart betray you to offer this un-
timely oivility in the presence Of the assem-
bled county admirers, rivals, and all.
Sam took the stone and struck frantic
blow at the pertinacious stirrup, but missing
his aim it fell with crushing force upon saft
corn that had come from his wearing tight