The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1858-10-30
0S-S~o STORY.
JOE CHlCKWEED's COyRTsuIp /:
AND HOW HE WAS CIT orr

Il VOW said Joe Chickweed ,,,o
stood before the parlor mirror nut,;rr
,he last touch to his well oiled hair ..;f
1 lr' this night pass without fndi,r ont
Just how stand with Melinda Mar,;r
then am COW. The critter has a,xars
acted SO pesky skittish that there's ~
getting round her l like her and she
Knows 1t, and I'm inclined to think She
likes me; but she likes more than ona
string to her bow, and | amt sure she'd
ship me any minute if she could make =
better bargain. Maybe I'm doing her an
injustice, and / hope am, but she acts
sometimes tarually like real coouette
and don't know what to make of her
But to night" he added, Citing m i'm
menscly wide brimmcd hat upon his
shining head, "to-night I'll settle the
matter-Fll cross the Rubicon. If | oct
my boots full of water Melinda ain, ,
bad spec, and l might do worse most any,
where else
",o tell If its come to that '" exclaimed
old Mrs. Cickweed. who had entered
the room uLnoticcd ~ her son. in time
to hear his last sentence; ''wen, I've long
had notion that you was amin in that
direction"
Joe turned red from his cye-winkcrs
to his 'nk'es, and looked very shcepish.
lie worked very busily, too, for few
seconds with brushing some imaginary
dust from place between the shoulders
OF his coat, which he couldn't reach, but
/ said nothing.
There amt nothing to be ashamed
on, Joe continued tho loquacious old
lady, apparently greatly pleased at the
discovery she had made, land you spoke
gospel truth when you said YOU might
do worse elsewhere Melinda's a nice
Gal &"
"Wcn," said Joe. gaining some cour.
age from his mothers manner "rm glad
you think so, for | m bound to make her
my wife. if
''lf what" asked the old lazy.
"Well, if she's not anything again
it"
"You just do your duty and Malinda's
yourn Remember the farp'
at is fine farm, no mistake - said
Joo, earnestly.
NO better farm for its size in the
whole country, than the widler Martins"
said Mrs Chickweed, in an emphatic
tone.
mo. thir not"
And then see hew it is stocked, two
yoke of the best steers in all these parts,
besides her two horses, saying nothing Of
the rest Of the critters. And, Of course
they'll all go with Malinda when the
widdcr's dead and before, too, for you
will 20 right on the farm as soon a. yon
are married, and take charge of every
thing"
"It's good opinion. that's fact, -
said Joe; ''bus put higher value on
Melinda than all the propertv,"
"And well YOU should, though the
farm and fxins amt to be dcsp'sed.' .
.Oh, ain, one to despise EN-. .
Joe laughed and left the room. and
soon after he left the house. and made
his way as expedi,iously rs the gloom of
the evening would permit. towards the
residence Of widow Martin. \ light
was burning in the front room. but the
window curtains were closely drawn, so
that he could not get view into the
apartment ms he passed along the ward
He Knocked at the door and was admitted
by the widow in person. who. after IN
ouiring benevolently after his health,
usbercd him into the parlor.
Tt was already occupied by two per
sons-Nelinda. and Mr.. Reuben Sparks,
the latter young man who had recently
returned from Californa, and who was
looked upon with especial dsfavor b tue
young farmer.
Joe was welcomed BY the young lady,
but not so cordially a. formerly, md by
M means "a cordially As Joe thought
hi. due. lie was greeted By Mr. sparks
in a sort Of Joking condescendine way
,b,, raised his ire inwardIy. However
the conversation that followed was ap-
n,ren,lv agreeable to all parties and the
evening wore away till the widow retired
~hen Mr.. Sparks intimated tha. perhaps
!, was time for him to be retiring. as 1t
wa. quito a little walk to the village.
Melinda at once asserted that 1t was very
e,r,v indeed, and he should not think oi
Ie.y;,o an soen whercupon Mr.. sparks
wa. induced to stay awhile longer and
n, Ch;ekveed was secretly enraeed to
think tha, Melinda should be so taken VI
with the young spr'g
California became the topic OF con
ver.ation, and Reuben Sparks shon,
brilliantly in his descriptive accounts o.
the country, aud what he haa o0ae
there. .y
;nouired Joe. in response to something
. his rival had uttered
"By no means" replied Sparks lo,'
;,v II left the digging to those w"h' "
were used to it; | had no taste ina
soh. then you stopped in town.
Certainly"
aBnsiness, I'.pose. frs. rate there,
Oh, yes. A young man o. 'aIsn ~
, viii very soon engage himseh III ''"
profitable employment -.
; "Then / spect you must h'Ve o'"
ex,r,ordipary WE'LL" said Joe, IN ton
;ntsnded TO be sarcastic.
ooh" replied the other laughing u
me.n;Dg way, and winkiug with on
eve .. the young lady, who appeared .
enjoy it ereeedingly-"as forth Tor ina; =. mat
|, .sr / can, complain by no means.
"Then Why didn't you s'ay io"ser,-
YOU weren'. gone but ashort time 70 -
yh,,ia have STAYED year or two NOR
!. .ad made yourself independent.
!, aPerhaps am independent arr, a,rs'a. -
= saw perhaps or course | can : y