The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-08-12
NEW SERIES VIOLA NC 50.
Chickweed's Courtship.

V4A4OAA w VIVA ~ VVS@4 OSA4AHs
81 vow," said Joe ChiCkweed, as he stood
before the par lor mirror, putting the lsst
touch to his we'll oiled hair, "if let this
night psss without finding out just how l
stand with Melinda Martin, then I'm COW.
The critters always acted so pesky skittish
there's been no getting around her. ! like
her and she knows it, and I'm inclined to
think she likes me; but she likes more than
one string to her bow, and ] amt sure but
she'd slip me any minute il she could make
a bettersbargain. Maybe I'm doing her in
justice, and hope am; but she acts some
times 'tarnally like red coquette, and
don't know what to make of her. But to-
night" he added, fitting an immensely high
and on Immensely wide brimmed hat upon
his shining head, "to-night I'll settle the
ter-I'll cross the Rubicon, if | get my
boota full Of water. Melinda amt got a
bad spec, and might do worse anywhere
else" a"
"Do tell, II it's come TO that I" exclaimed
old Mrs. Chickweed, who had entered the
room unnoticed by her son, in time to hear
the last sentence, "well I've all along had
a notion that you was amin in that ere di.
Tection."
Joe turned red from his eye. winkers to
his ankles, and looked very sheepish. He
worked very busiIy, too, for aafew seconds,
with brushing some imaginary dust from d
place between the shoulders OF bis coat,
which he could not reach, but said nothing.
"There amt nothing to be ashamed on,
Joe, continued the loquacious old lady, ap.
parently greatly pleased at making The dis
coyery she had, "and you spoke gospel truth
when you said you might do worse else.
where. Melinda's nice GIRL"
SWELL" said Joe, gaining some courage
from his mothers manner, "I'm glad, you
think so, for I'm bound to make her my wife
iE-n ,,sal ,...,a -, lsiyf
"lf what" asked the old lady. Is
"Well,i everything's favorable."' y aas
"Don'tyCu fear anything's agin it. You
just do your duty, Joe, and MeIinda's yourn.
Remember the farm.'' rs. -ssar asl
"Il's fine farm, no mistuke," said the
young man, earnestly. a' 7"'#1.'@ 10,
"No better farm of its size in the whole
country, than the widder Martins! said
Mrs. Chickweed, in an emphatic tone. y
"No, think not" an.a ~ tgg o."
"And then see how it is stocked; two
| yoke of the best steers in all these parts
besides their two horses saying nothing
about the rest of the critters. And, o
course, they'll all 60 with Melinda when
the widder's dead, and before, too, for you
will 60 right onto the farm as soon as you
, marry, and take charge of everything
"It's a good opening, that's fact,'' said
Joe "but put higher value on Melinda
thsn all the property" ..-.r 5.. s4aa !.
".And we'll you should, though the farm
and fxiD's ain't to be despised." e
"Oh, I.ain't one to despise them" p
Joe laughed and left the room, end soon
after he left the house, and made his way as
.expcditiously as the >gloom would permit
towards the residence of the widow Martin.
"A light was burning in the front room, bu,
the window curtains were closely drawn, So
that he cou ID not geta view intoAthe apart;
mert as he passed along the yard. He
knocked at the door and was admitted by the
widow in person, who, after inquiring be-
nevo!entiy after his health, ushered him into
the parlpre t,as .s7aaa st gio. aj s.
7' 1t was already occupied by two PERSONS
Melinda und Reuben Sparks, the latter q
young man who had recently returned to
Springfield from California, and who wus
looked upon with especial disfavor by the
young farmer. 54'5 *lstSH s.'
Joe was welcomed BY the young lady
not SO cordially as formerly, and by no means
so cordially as Joe thought his due. He
was greeted by Mr.. Sparks in a sort of jo
king, condescencing way, that raised the
ire inwardIy. However. the conversation
|
that followed was apparently agreeable Il
all parties, and the evening wore away til
the widow retired, when Mr.. Sparks intima
ted that il was perhaps time for him to b'
returning, as II, was quite q little walk Il
the village. Melinda at once asse rted tha
it was very early indeed, and he shonld no
think Of leaving so soon whereuponA MI
Sparks was induced to remain while Ion
ger, and Mr.. Chickweed was secretly en-
ragged that Melinda should be so taken VI
with the company Of a young sprig. f
| California became the, topic OF converse
ton, and Reuben Sparks shone brilliantly il
his descriptive accounts Of the country an
what he had done there. s@ % aaiaJ as
"Then you weren't in the 'diggins 7" in
quired Joe, In response to something his ri
val had uttered. ~.ss qy4 s ss
."By no means,". replied Sparks loftily
I"I left digging to those whe were used to il
| hadn't taste that way q r :.
"Oh, then you stopped in town T. Ii
"Certalsiy."a Il gasaaeJs
"Dusiness, Is'pose, first rate there"
"Yes. q Young man Of talent will 500
engage himselfin profitable employment.
Il aThen Ispect you must have done .extr'
J; Ordinary well!"said JOey ina tone intende
to be sarcastic. ., ss8 ~ si4'ssi 's -
u saOh .repeAted the other. laughing in