The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-12-10
Bob Grants Courtship.

green Wllnal, ana Wnat was stiil worse, very
baShful when among the ,ladies. One dsr
| gave him lecturing about his stupidity
told him il would never do-that he was rap
lily approaching that period when he woulc
be lookde upon as an old bachelor, and bt
despised BY all the gestler SEX. I saw il
nude a deep impression on him, SO went.
on: '.
"You had better drop those old bachelor
notions, Bob, and get you wife, before it Is
externally and everlastingfy too late ="
Bob b'ushed deeply-looked in all direc.
tons, to see that no third person was in
hearing, and then said:
"To tell you the truth, have been think
ing something about that matter; but who is
there that could get to have metz
"Pshaw you are talking nonsense now"
said /. "There are plenty Of them. il you
would only scrape up courage enough to ask
them. For instance, there's Nell Stinson
how would she suit 2"
''Shed suit TO +. But you don't PIE.
teud TO say ! could get Neil, do you'll"
"Get Nell! Why, yes; certainly Co;
and would pDt be uirad 10 bet hundred
dollars on il. Il you'd only try" said /.
This was new IDEA to BIB, and he Yves
tckItd almost to death with it After think
ing a moment, during which time his face
was Illuminated With one Vi HE broadest
grns, be ventured to ask mc how would
proceed, if | were in his place, end wanted
to get Nell | gnve full flrecti ms. after
which he started home as happy as jiy.
bird, promising to go and bee Nell the very
next Saturday night.
Bob was ns good as his word Saturday
night came, and he went over to old man
Slnson's. Nell was at home, and guess
ing his business, made herself very agrees
able. Bob's courage rais' d fly per cent;
aud So, as soon os the folk had retired, he
commenced his first courtship. To begin,
he found disagreeable task; but when once
the ice was broken, he telt like new erea
'ture. Nell smiled so bewitcingly upon
him, and said SO many charming things
Never before had he known hours to fy so
rapidly, Or moments to be spent SO pleasant
ly. Who cetrld wonder at it! for Nell would
ltun her pretty head down upon his shoulder
when he joKed with her about her bsaux, or
about getting tnarried. Oh, what dear
| No In Gh
How he almost cursed himself for having
passed SO much of his life in ignorance Of
such bliss. Before Bob had scarcely time to
think, and long before he had come to the
point, the old clock struck twelve, and Nell
reminded him it was time to retire.
"But, Nell, Ihuye not told you all wiSh."
said he. .....,...
"You can come again next Saturday
night" she replied with mist fascinating
smile.
This was capital. Permission to come
again He agreed to retire. Nell told him
where he could sleep; aud then, as is the
custom in some of the Western States bro't
a pot of warm water, that he might wash his
feet. The pot was an old fashioned one
big at the bottom and little at the top--so
very little at the top, that Bob viewed it with
some misgivings, lest it should refuse to ad.
nit his feet. Not feeling willing to catl
, these latter named articles, he hauled off his
shoes, and with one desperate thrust, lodged
both feet at the bottom of the vessel. Capi.
4 tai luck, thought he, os he, sat bathing them
Nell sat near by, waiting for him to gel
through, that she might remove the pot
At length the clock struck one. Bob did
not seem to notice it, but sat with both feet
in the pot, apparently in a brown study.
'Tt is one O'Clock" said Nell, by way Of Q
hint.
ayes, ma'am." said Bob, but still kept on
with his buthing nSsaa .saa.r
Two, and then three. were sounded from
the old bell, still Mr.. g ant paid no atten.
j ton to it, but maintained his position IN ST.
lenee. apparea'ly resolved to bathe his feet
all night. Melt's patience finally wore out,
and she srid, arising from her chair:
"Mr.. Grant, you can retire when you
choose. am going to bed"
"Hold on !" said Bob, "hold on minute.
What's the price of this here .potp'
"What do you meant" she asked, vastly
aston ished. h.s-..
"Imean, by thunder I'm goin' to break
this pot; and I'D like to know the. price o
:. it," a-'-
) "Father father ~ screamed Nell, "come
] here, quick Mr.. Grants gone mad -
Quick quick !" os.l s. faaasa y
In an instant, the old man was with them
, nerved and prepared fos a desperate strug'
, gle. How sadly disappointed !! Instead Of
+ nnding Mr.. Grant a raving maniac, Us he sx'
7 pecteds he found him sitting very quietly
, with both feet fast in the pot The warm
water had caused them to swell, SO as to be
come inmoyabls. By the united efforts o.
o the three, he was at length extricated1 bnt nc
: words could induce him to remain till morn
: ling. He started for home forthwith.
oil Bob Grant is now an old man as well al
D myself, and hot more than three weeks ago
Q he told me that thisswas his fret and lac
j, conrtship. He never could scare up courag,