Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-03-02


which he was joined by the rest ofthe company.
"Well, row, I'd like to know what you are
laughing at? l suppose that's city polite
ness ~ said Joshua, turning on Charley.
s'Oh oh 20 groaned Charley, ''you forgot
the rsZors 20
Another burst Of laughter, and Joshua rose,
indi dignant.
| @Well, 1 amt going to stay in here to be
laughed st. There's Hetty Van Orden, just
as pretty as some other folks L know OF, ard
don't give herself half as many airs. She
lives deal higher, tool"
In spite of Mrs. Hopper's expostulatory
SHOW, Joshua, stay moment ~ he departed,
slamming the door violently behind him.
81 don't know what's the matter with Joshua
Tonight" said the good lady, apologetically.
ssI have known him since he was no bigger
thar Johnny here, and never seen him act so
before. He is thought to be very nice young
man.
| But Charley was destined to be astonished
| by further developments in the economy OF
Joshua. On the following morning, as he was
sauntering idly along the pleasant green lane,
whistling softly to himself, and thinking OF
| Grace Hopper and that unlocked cub, as he
mentally termed Joshua, he encountered the
object of his thoughts, to his own intense dis
/ gust and the ev vident embarrassment of that
extraordinary person, who seemed, at hrst,
about to pass him with a sulky nod; but
changing his mind, he halted, stood irrcsolute,
| and finally called out.
| ssHalloa, youi say, mister, look here ~
Charley wheeled suddenly around, so as
to face him.
ssYou see, mster,'' said Joshua, shifting
| from one foot to the other, ssbeing as you are
a stranger, 1 thought I'd just give you
| warming, that you needn't he taken in.'
s.Much obliged, % said Charley.
| $50" continued Joshua. gathering courage,
..if you have any notion after Oracle Hopper,
you might as well know it's no use. Her
father and mine laid their heads together a
bout us when we weren't neither of us 'knee-
high TO grasshopper,' and l calculated
Oracle will be Mrs. Joshua Skeels afore an
other spring comes around
ssBut are you certain of the lady's consent 2,
| asked Charley.
II am certain of her fathers and mine" J"
returned Joshua, sand that's more to the pnr-
pose. Our lands will join nicely together,
and farmer Hopper rever breaks his word.
Here Charley was seized with aviolent de-
sire to collar the interesting Joshua, and treat
him to summary thrashing but he was, by
this time, quite conscious that, awkward and
stupid as his adversary appeared, he was quite
as dangerous contemplate. So Charley
prudently suppressed his wrath, and played
the cool and dignifed
ssInfintely obliged Mr. Heels-ah, hum =
Skeels, | mean. To be sure, the trouble was
quite unnecessary on your part, though, as
the little girl is tolerably good-looking, L
might nave taken Z fancy 10 HlEI WIFI
And he walked off, leaving Joshua greatly
disconnected at the Indifference with which
his communication was received.
Meantime, Charley was raging; Charley
was boiling over; Charley etfervcscent.
That awkward, lounging compound of pig and
bear; that incarnation of mean cunning and
vulgarity, marry that dear little, rOgush.
sparkling, Grace Caliban and Miranda
Beauty and the Beast And, then, the fel-
lows impudence; as if farmer Hopper, to say
nothing OF Grace, wouldn't prefer him, o
| course
He revolted, more than ever, at the idea, as
!. he sat watching her, some hours after busily
: compounding those delicious destroyers oi
digestion, termed pies. How he wished thai
, be was lemon, to be squeezed by those taper
fingers, peach or an apple, to be pared
| (he probably spelled it paired). That delight
, full little creature marry Joshua Skeels, and
make pies for him to eat Neveri
So he ask'd her, one day, to take charge o
: him, his morals and his shirt-buttons tor life
and Grace consented, if father aid mother
were willing.
r Mrs. Hopper, being not only willing, bu
l delighted, Charley, fortified by her approba
tion and that of her daughter, marched off tc
attack the farmer, not however, 1T must ht
confessed, without some degree of trepidaton
The old gentleman heard him attentively
! but with an expression that Charley found j
impossible to dccipher. When he had finished
? sWell, Charley,' he said, ssI am sorry fo
j you. You are clever chap, and I'd like yol
a for son-n-law well enoCgh but, the fact is
promised Oracle, long ago, to Joshua, o.
rather to his father, who is likely, well-to-d'
= man. The young fellow is not exactly what
: could wish for Gracie's sake, but it is likely
i he'll improve after marriage, and l have pass
ed my word, you know.''
: Charley demonstrated, but the father wa
s lneXorable; and, in appearance, our hero sub
e mitted to the DEGREES of fate. But he vowed
e | mighty vow, and registered it privately
: that Grace Hopper should never be Grace
c Skeels, and then commenced cudgeling hi
= brains for means of preventing this so-much
: dreaded catastrophe. Three days he travail
:. ed, and many were the abortiye ideas he bro
l. | forth. On the fourth, came the remedy, lik
e Minerva, springing from his head, armed TO
:, war, in the shape of epistle that he indite'
d and mailed with a chuckle, and then went a
II bout his ordinary occupations with a compla
l. ceucy refreshing to behold, though somewha
s. astonishing to every one except Grace, VIII
was in the secret.
is That young lady informed her father tina
she had received letter, announcing tn
speedy arrival of an old schoolmate of hers
t. one Miss Julia Elliot, who made her appear
ance day or two after, and proved TO D
7, what Charley called ssstunner "a tall, mag
nificently developed woman, with glorou
le flashing eyes, and large, handsome features
3 and such ringing laugh, and smile Una
E. was even sweeter than her laugh, because
l revealed such faultless teeth.
Id In half day, she was at home In the lari
ID house, and on the best of terms Win ever.
thing and every body belonging to 1t, down
Of the very dogs and chickens
ID Joshua, on the first evening OF their acquaii
is tance was rather shy of this city belle, whoi
D. he fancied must be, to use his own eiegaI
rbr,saolopv .stuck ND - but the way in whC