Weekly Council Bluffs bugle. (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1857-1860, 1859-04-20
Rob GEant,s Caurtship.

Bob Grant was 4 queer fellow, aud "a
ither green withal, and what was still worse
very baahful when amoag ths ladies'. One
dag, I gave him leeturipg about his stu
pidity-told him It. would never do--that
be vas rapidly approaching that period
when he would be lsoked upon as an old
bachelor, and he desplsed by all the gent.
lsF sex. saw it made q deep impression
on him, so / went ont
You had better drop these old baehsl-
or notions, Bob, and get you a wife be-
IeTs it Is 'stsraally and esarlastthgly too
late =
Bob bIushsd deepIy--lookRd in ell direc-
tioRs, to see that no third person was In
hearing, aud then he said:
To ten you the truth, have been
| thinking something about that matter /;
bat who Ia there that could get to have
| me?'
'rshaw you are talking nonsense now
said /. There are plenty Of them, II you
would only Bcraps up eouragB enough to
| ask them. For instance, there's Nell StIn-
SofD-how would she s4t?''
SHE'D suit to a T. But you don't pre-
| tend to say could get Melli do your
Get Nell Why yes; certainly ! doi
and would not be afraid to bet hun
dred dollars on it, II yOa'd only try said
| l.
This wasa new idea to Bob, aRd he tick
eIeI almost to death with Il. A&sr think
ing 4 moment, during which time his face
was Illuminated wi'h one Of his hroadsst
grihs, he Yentured to ask ne how would
proceed. IL were in his place, ana wanted
70 get Nell, / gave him full difActloRs.
after which he started home as haspy as
jaybiTdr promiaihg TO 60 aud see Nell The
very next Saturday night.
Bob was as EoOdas his word. Saturday
night came, and he went over 70 The OLD
man Stiuson's Mellwas at home and CUES
sing his business, made herself very agree
able. Bob's courage rose fifty per cent;
and so, as soon as the folks had retired, be
commenced his hrst courtship. To begin,
be found a digs gTeahle task; but when once
the ice was broken, he felt like new crea-
ture. Nell smiled 30 bswitehingly upon
him, and said 30 many charming things
N@gsr before had he known hours TO fy 40
raj lily. or moments to be spent so pleas
antIy. Who could wonder at Il ? for Nell
Womb lean her pretty bead down on his
shoulders when he joked her about her beaux
or abo It getting married. Oh, what dear
creature he btgan to think abe was How
he aIsnest cIrsgd himself for having pas
sed 50 much Of his life in ignorance Of
sHch bliss. Before Bob had scarcely time
10 think, and long before he had come 10
the point, the old clock struck twelve,
and Nell rsnivded him il was time to re-
! tire.
'But Nell. Ihaye not told you all I wiah,' ;
said he.
You can come again next Saturday
night she replied, with 4 most fasclna
| ting smile.
This was capital. Permission to come
! again He greed to retire Nell told
| him where he could sleep; and then, as Is
( the custom in some Of the Western States,
| brought pot Of warm water that be might
wash his feet. The pot was an old fash
ioncd oRe--big at the bottom and little al
the top--so very little at the top, that Bob
viewed 1t with some misgivings, lest il sh' ID
refuse to admit his feet. Not feeling viii
ling 10 call MelFs atteHtioa to the eRor-
nous siZe Of thcss latter named articles, he
hauled of his shoes, aud With enc dCsper-
ate thrust. lodged both feet at the bottom
Of the vessel. Capital luck, thought he
as he set bathing them, Nell Bat near by,
waiting for him to get through, that she
might remgge the poH. Atleugth tbs clock
struck one Bob did not seem 10 notice it,
bul sat with both feet in the pot, apparent
ly in a bToga study.
1T is one o'cl0dk,' said Nell, BY way Oi
hint.
Yes, man. said Bob, but still kept OF
with his bath ing.
Two, and three. were sounded from tht
old bell, still Mr. Grant paid no attention
to it, but maintained his position in silence
apparently resolved to bathc his feet al
night. Melrs patience wore out. and sht
said. arising from her chair3
Mr.. Grant, you can retire when yoy
choose. / am going to bed,'
Hold on p said Bob, hold on a minute
what's the price Of this here pot2'
what do You mean p she asked vastt!
. asloaished.
al mean, By thunder Pm goiu' to breal
this pot, aud I'D like 10 kaow the price o
it,
Father fatherP screamed Mall, com
here, quick Mr. Grants gone mad Quick
quick p
In an instant, the old man was with then
nervsd ana prepared for q desperate stFug
: gle, How sadly disappointed Instead 0
GnttiBg Mr.. Grant Tsging maEiae, as b
, had expected, he found him sitting yer
quietly, with both rser Tastfn the por. IN
waftB, water had caused them to swell, .
. az 10 become imm0yabls. By the unite
giF7rts 81 the thEee, he was at length sG
, tricated, but no words could induce him
u remain till morning, He started for hom
= forthwith.
a Bob Grant Ia DOW an old man, a. well q
myself, and rot more than three weeks ag'
be told me that this was his frat and iai
' eourtship. He never could scare up cou
p rage snsough to 60 back.