The Feliciana Democrat., 1857-12-12
From Porter's Spirit of the Times.
BOB GRANTS COURTSHlP.

Reader have you ever travelled by steam
boat on any Of our Western rivers? If so, you
have had the great opportunity, to pick up
items !" or in other words, to hear stories, or
to be present at the spinning Of hard yarns,
if it suit you better, in the known world. Eve
rybody must tell story, and then everybody
else must tell one to match and 50 1t goes
from morning till night, and from night till
morning, unless the boat should happen to sink,
or the boiler burst No accident that is not
great enough to stop the machinery, can stop
the "spinning' machines.
Not long since, was taking trip on one
of our rivers, when, as might well be expected.
I was treated to large number OF ''racy'
anecdotes, in most of which the narrators
themselves held the most conspicuous position
In the number, was one about Bob Grant and
his Courtship, which afforded no little merrl-
ment. Believing it would amuse some OF you
who read Portcr's Spirit Of the Times, have
resolved to give it just as received it as near
as possible
"Your story reminds me Of one Bob Grant,
whom | once knew, and ! may say with whom
I was very intimate" said the old gentleman
to whom am indebted for the "yarn." Bob
was a queer fellow, and rather green withal,
and what was still worse, very bashful when
among the ladies. One day, | gave him a
lecturing about his stupidity-told him it would
never do-that he was rapidly approaching
that period when he would be looked upon as
old bachelor, and be despiscd by all the gen
tier sex. / saw it made deep impression on
him. SO | went on
"You had better drop those old bachelor
notions, Bob, and get you wife, before it is
a. o.tinnr1,, fnn LOTT ~
"Bob blushed deepy--looked in all drcc.
tions, to see that no third person was in hear
ing and then said:
"'ro tell you the truth, Arch, / have been
thinking something about that matter;but who
is there that could get to have me?'
"Pshaw You are talking nonsense now,'
said l. There are plenty of them, if You
would only scrape up courage enough to ask
them For instance, there's Nell Stinson-
how would she suit?
"Shed suit to Il, Arch. But you don't
pretend to say could get Nell; do your
"Get Nell Why, yes; certainly ] do;
and would not be afraid to bet hundred
dollars on it, if you'd only try said |.
"This was new idea to Bob, and he was
tickled almost TO death with it. After think
ing moment, during which time his face was
Illuminated with one of his broadest grins, he
vcntured to ask me how | would proceed, if
were in his place, and wanted to get Nell. |
gave him full directions, after which he started
home as happy as jaybird, promising to go
and see Nell the very next Saturday night.
"Bob was as good as his word. Saturday
night came, and he went over to old man Stin-
sons. Nell was at home, and guessing his
business, made herself very agreeable. Bob's
courage raised fifty per cent; and so, as soon
as the folks had retired, he commenced his
first courtship. To begin, he found disa-
greeable task; but when once the ice was bro
ken, he felt like new creature Nell smiled
SO bewitchngly upon him, and said so many
charming things, Never before had he known
hours to fly so rapidly, or moments to be spent
so pleasantly. Who could wonder at it? for
Nell would lean her pretty head down on his
shoulder when he jokcd her about her beaux,
or about getting married. Oh, what dear
creature he soon began to think she was! How
ne almost cursed himself for having passed SO
much of his life in ignorance of such bliss.
"Beiore Bob had scarcely time to think, and