True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-08-18
q. Rl.AEIyGIAN, Editor and Proprietor.

twas splnnin' round jest like top. Sc
she put on her considerin' cap, and tho't
and tho't, for she didn't like to have the
cat abused, or be abused herself.
"Jest at this juncture, as old Deacon
Drew used to say, she had chance to give
puss away, where she knowed she'd be
well treated; and, what was full as for.
innate, by some means or olher-she didn'
tell me how-see got the stuffed cat I've
been tellin' you about.
"Well,' says l. Ills strange be never
found out the trick you sarved him.
"LaP says she, when he's in sich q
bluster, he don't know single artcm
what he's about, more'n pigeon that'l
shot in the head
"Jest as she said this, who should come
in but Fanny Blight, gal-so Lois told
me arterwards-Josh took quite fancy
to. He want to blame. mother, for she
was right-down purity gal; there was
no sich thing as disputin' that pint. She
want bit proud and starched up, if she
was handsome-was free and sociable as
could be; and, while Lois was gitlin' sup.
per. we chaIled away, as if we'd al'ays
been acquainted with each other.
"When everything was about ready
Lois went and took the 'scape.valve, a.
she called it, and, arter she'd put it on
cricket that had a cushion to it, sot it il
sick perspicorous place that pairsou, or
enterin' the room, couldn't very we'll helE
seein' it. She winked at me, and SAYS
she. There's no KNOWN whether twill
be needed or not; but then, you know
It's best, as the sayin' is, to be on the sure
side Of the hedge
"Fanny Bright looked kind O. surprised
but asked no questions.
"Twa'n't long arler this afore we heert
Josh comm. He opened the door O
the room where we were all of sudding
and it swung back SO fur as to hide me
and somehow Fanny, who sot some way.
off, was purity much out Of sight, behind
one Of the understandings, SO that he
didn't obsarve that anybody was there -
Well, the first we knew, the stuffed cat
stool, and all was landed aginst t'othel
eide Of the room. But tha, want the
worst Of it. You see that, while Lois
was putin some Of the other things ir
place, SO as to make room for ION the
table. she sot the dish Of squinch sass or
to leltle, three-legged light.stand, which
onforinately,w was righ. in the range of the
'scape.valve. Well, Of course, when i
hit ag'inst the light-stand, il tipped it over
but where do you s'pose, Lizzy, the dish
Of persarves landed 7"
"On the floor, did't they!"
"No; right into Fanny Brights lap ;
and what was strange, itlsnded right side
up, SO as not to splash her gownd sca'ct
mite. On'y a few lettle spatters went
on to il. Well, It didn't pear to disturb
her an artom. She took the dish into hel
hand, and rz up jest as calm as clock,
and sober as deacon, and then made 1
low curchey. I'm greatly obleeged to ye,
Mr.. Dawberry,' says she, I'm amazin'
fond Of persarves, and this kind is my fa'
vorite; but I'm afearsd you've gin me
more'n my sheer
Il rally wish you could'ave seed Josh
when he first diskivered Fanny Bright
was there, and found ou. that the dish Of
squinch sass had slid off ofthe light.stand
into her lap. He was the shamedest.
lookin' critter that ever was. If he'd
been ketcht stealin' sheep. he couldn'
have looked more so. Old Tray, when
he gifts scoldin' and skulks away into
some sly corner, can't hold a candle tc
him. He turned red as blaze of fire, and
arter while, stammered out: I'm sure,
Miss Fanny, I'd no thought-,hal is I'd
not the leastest notion in the world, Miss
Bright--no kind Of idee that you were
here
"Oh r says she, jest as cool as cow
cumber, and lookin' as meek as lamb,
twas all q mistake, then! You didn't
mean 10 give me the persarvesi'
"Sartainly twas, says he. Not tha,
| shouldn't be williu' to give you whole
cart-load, as to that. But there's no need
Of my tellin' you SO. You know, and
have known, ever sence last election time,
that, accordin' to my idee Of womankind,
there isn't single female pairson among
the fair sec! that's Inore'n equal to you
"I don't mean To call in question your
generosity. Mr.. Dawbery, says she,
though i must refuse 10 accept il for, il
you should use as little ceremony in
presentin' me with cart-load of squinch
sass, or any other sass, as you did in
givin' me this dishful, ! mightn't come of
as we'll as / have now s
"DidntI tell you twas q mistake y
says he. 4 don't think you ought to Law
IL up ag'inst me- 4
"Oh, sha'nt!' says she.
mThen,' says he, j sya'n't despair Of
seein' you seltin' atihe head Of this table,
as mistress Of The house. afore long
Whats ap'iDt that may beconsidered
futher- doubtful, says she, especially ii
you continer to wear spring sole boots.
"Spring-sole bootsi' Gays he. 'Ihev-
eT wore a,pair in my life. What made
You think | wore 'em y
:'"Why, when I iobsarved that one Of