White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-06-25

"well, we'll, let him take DObbin and go, but
not stay long,"
But" said ice, on hearing this, " won't &C
without can go grand, and won't have old
Dobbin." So of goes the old woman once more
with this intelligence.
"Well, them" said old Bunker, abe may 60
grand. and let him take old Bob"
"Bat won't ride upon old Bob" said Joe,
" III have Possett."
"Then take Possett," said his father, " and
make haste back"
Hereupon Joe began to bustle about with all
speed, and bedizen himself out in his Sundays
best. He was a strapping, bOny. long-sided fell
low. 1t would do you good to see him dressed
in the fashion of that day astride of his nag.
Joe had just bestowed heavy kick upon the
ribs of his Rosinante at setting out for the Co.
lsnel's, when old Bunker bawIed after him, "hal-
loo, Joe! stop there, come bacH again. You
are going by Parsons mill, and you shall take
q couple of bags Of corn, to be ground while
you go to the Colonel's, and bring it back with
you when you come away; so you can kill two
dogs with one stone"
Joe was inclined to demur to this plan Of mix
ing business, but hating to waste time arguing
with his father, he assented, and stumbling of
to the barn, brought out his two bags and bes-
towed them snugly en- erOupe. Thus fairly ac-
coutred, he trotted off to the mill.
"PearsOn, can ye grind my grist while go
to Colonel Shute's."
ayes, Joe, but what are You going counting
for, 50 early1"
"oh, who the dickens told your
"Never mind, Joe, pluck up courage; faint
heart never won fair lady"
"Thank ye for nothing" said Joe. 81 shall
be back in an hour. Don't let your horse eat
out of the hopper" So of he started for the
Colonel's."
Joe bolted in at the Colonel's door without
knocking. Indeed it is affirmed he was never
known to be guilty of making such superfuous
noise in all his life.
"Ah, Mrs. Shute, the top of the morning to
ye; where's Hannah?''
An Joe Bunker, is that you7" where's Han
nah7 why she's up stairs spinning"
At this Joe stamped of up stairs without any
further idle palaver.
Hannah's wheel was humming right merrily
when Joe entered, and she blushed like blue cat
upon seeing him.
SHOW dye do, Hannah7'' said Joe, and sham.
bling up toward the window, he slouched him
self into marvellously uncomfortable skewing
position on the corner of chair.
Well! now was Joe fairly seated alongside Of
his Dulcinea; but how to begin conversations
ali, there was the difficulty. What was be to
say7 indeed he had never thought Of that. How
ever, he looked out at the window and saw
large flock of sheep; there is nothing like Ia
king hint from the first thing that effers.
"Are these your fathers sheep, Hannahl"
ayes, Joe"
Joe gave hem and tried to think of ssme-
thing else to say about the sheep; such as how
much wool they gave, and whether they were of
the By6eld breed, buthe could not make it fadge.
Presently he espied some COWS:
"Are these your cows7"
eyes"
"How many COWS have you got1"
"Twenty."
"Twenty! that's tarnation lot Of EN-"
Here was another pause in the conversation,
and Joe felt more awkwardly than ever. As for
Hannah she did not feel altogether quite as
sheepish- Joe looked out of tie window again.
but could see nothing to talk Of. He looked
round the room and up to the ceiling, but there
was nought save a seed cucumber, three red pep
pers and crook-necked squash. They would
not suit He drummed with his finger upon the
table, and began uncOnsciously to whistle a stave
of " The Tongs and the Bones;" this quavered
away into Yankee Doodle, and finally he found
himself humming mixture of the Old Hundred
and Little Marlborough, At last he was struck
with an idea, and out it came
"Did you ever see crow1"
"Yes"
"How black hey are, amt they7"
Eyes"
Another pause. Joe began to wipe his fore
head with his coat sleeve. Presently the appa-
rition Of another idea dawned upon him.
"Did you ever see an Owlf''
"Yes"
"what great eyes they've got, hain't they1''
"Yes"
"Do you love maple sugar, Hannah"
"Yes."
"Nsxt time come, I'll bring you great
gob."
Joe fairly made hit in this remark, for he
touched upon a sweet subject and it completely
broke the ice. Remembering the advice OF the
miller, he plucked up courage and stood bolt
upright; then making side-lOng laundering sOrt
of hitch little nearer, " Hannah" says he
al loves ye."
Hannah let 60 her wheel from pure awkward
ness, and Joe growing still holder, made a sud
den grapple with both paws and bestowed upOr
her smacking buss that made the very windows
rattle. How long it lasted never was known
but Hannah's mother not hearing the wheel bur
ring, bawled out below, =" Hannah, what are yoC
doing up there with Joe BunkerP This inter
rnutiOn gave them a rouse like an electric shock
Joe claxed Of in a terrible fright, thinking j
was time to cut and run. Hannah" SAID ne