The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-09-17
A RACE FOR A SWEETHEART.

satlon in thinsy settled NewEngland vii
lase, especially among the young folks, than
the arrival Of fresh and blooming Miss,
who comes to make her abode in the neigh
borhood. When, therefore, Squire John
son, the only lawyer in the place, and very
respectable man, of course, told farmer
Jones one afternoon that his wife's sister,
a smart girl Of eighteen, was coming in a
few days to reside in the family, the news
flew like widire through Pond village, and
was the principal topic of conversation for
a week. Pond village is situated upon the
margin of one of those numerous and
beautiful sheets of water that gem the whole
surface Of New England like the bright stars
in an evening sky, and received its appella-
ton to distinguish it from two or three other
villages in the same town, which could not
boast of similar location.
When farmer Jones came in to his supper
about sunset that afternoon, and took his
seat at the table, the eyes of the whole fam
working about bis lips that always told them
when he had any thing of interest to com
municate. But farmer Jones' secretiveness
was large, and his temperament not the
most active, and he would probably have
rolled the important secret as sweet morsel
under his tongue for a long time, had not
Mrs. Jones, who was rather of an impatient
and prying turn of mind, contrved to draw
it from him.
''Now, Mr.. JONES' said she, as she hand
cl him his cup of tea, "what is it you are
going to say? Do out with it; for you've
chewed something or other over in your
mind ever since you came into the house"
"It's my tobaccer, s'pose," said Mr..
Jones, with another knowing glance Of his
eye.
Snow, father, what's the use !'-said Su-
san; "we all know you've got something or
other you want to say, and why can't you
tell US what 'tis."
ella, who cares what tits ?" said Mrs.
Jones, " if it is worth telling we shouldn't
have to wait for it, dare say.''
Hereupon Mrs. Jones assumed an air Of
the most perfect indifference, as the surest
way of conquering what she was pleased to
call Mr.. jones' obstinacy, which, by the way
was very improper term to apply in the
case, for it was purely the workings Of Sc
cretiveness. without the least particle Of OBJ
stinacy attached to it.
There was pause of two or three minutes
in the conversation, till Mr.. Jones passed
his cup to be filed the second time, when
with couple of preparatory hens, he be-
gan to let out the secret.
owe are to have Il new neishbor here in
few days." said Mr.. Jones, stopping short
when he had uttered this much, and slipping
his tea and filling his mouth with food.
Mrs. Jones, who was perfect in her tao
tics, said not a word, but attended to the
affairs Of the table as though she had not
noticed what had been said. The farmers
secretivcness had at last worked itself out,
und he began again:
esquire Johnson's wife's sister is coming
here in few days, and is going to live with
'cm.'
The news being thus fairly divulged, left
free scope for conversation.
Well, wonder if she is a proud, stuck
up piece" said Mrs. Jones.
. shouldn't think she would be,' said
Susan, for there amt a more sociable wo-
man in the neighborhood than Mrs. Johnson.
SO, if she is at all like her sister, think we
shall like her."
wonder how old she is?' said Stephen,
who was just verging towards the close Of
his twenty-frst year.
The Squire called her eighteen" said
Mr.. Jones, giving sly wink to his wife, as
IT to say, that's about the sht age for Ste
phen.
81 wonder if she is handsome" said Su-
san, who was somewhat vain of her own
looks, and having been sort of reigning
belle in Pond village for some time, she felt
little alarmed at the idea of rival.
81 dare be bound she's hardsome," said
Mrs. Jones, '.if she's sister to Mrs. johnson,
for where'N you find a handsomer woman
than Mrs. John on, 90 the town through"
After supper Stephen went down to Mr..
Robinson's store, and told the news to
young Charles Robinson, and the young fel.
lows who were gathered there for n game at
quoits and n ring at wrestling. And Susan
went directly over to Mr.. Beams and told
Patty, and Patty went round to the widow
Dnvis's and told Sally, and before nine
O'Clock the matter was pretty we'll under
stood in about every house in the village.
At the close of the fourth day, a little be-
fore sunset, a chase was seen to drive up to
Squire Johnson's door. Of course the eyes
of the whole village were turned in that d.
rcction. Sally Davis, who was Just coming
in from milking, set her pail down on the
grass by the side of the road, as soon as the
chaise came in sight, and watched it till it
reached the squire's door, and the gentle
man and lady had got out and gone into the
house. Patty Bean was doing up the iron.
ing that afternoon, and she had ust taken
IL hot iron from the fire as the chaise passed
the door, and she ran with it in her hand
and stood on the door-steps till the whole
ceremony of alighting, greeting, and enter
ing the house was over.
Old Mrs. Bean stood with her head out of
the window, IRON bowed spcctacles resting
upon the top of her forehead, her shriveled
hand placed across her eyebrows, to de-
fend her eyes from the rays Of the setting
sun, and her skinny chin protruding about
three inches in advance of couple Of stubs
Of teeth, which her open mouth exposed
flirly to view.
"Seems to me they are dreadful loving"
said old Mrs. Bean, rs she saw Mrs. john
son descend the step and welcome her sister
with kiss.
"La me, if there isn't the squire kissing
of her tu," said Patty b." Well, declare. |
would wait till got into the house, I'll die
Il wouldn't. looks so lgar to be kiss
ing afore folks, and out Of doors tn;
should think squire johnson would be asham-
cd of himsclf.''
"Wcll, l shouldn't" said young John
Bean, who came up at that moment, and
who had passed the chaise just rs the young
lady alighted from it. 81 shouldn't be
ashamed to kiss such a pretty girl as that,
any how; I'd kiss her wherever could catch
her, if it was in the meetin' house,
"Why, is she handsome, Jack 20 said
Patty. e
eyes, she's gothic prctticss little puck
cred mouth Pve seen these six months.
Her cheeks are red, and her eyes shine like
now buttons"
Well" replied Patty, " if she'll only
tax the shine off Susan Jones when she
goes to meetin' Sunday, shan't care"
While these observations were going on
at oldMr. Beams, Charles Robinson and a
group of young fellows with him, we're
standing in front of Robinson's store lit
tie farther down the road, and watching the
scene that was passing at Squire Johnson's.
They witnessed the whole with becoming
decorum, now and then making remark
upon the fine horse and the handsome chaise,
till they saw the tall Squire bend his head
and give the young lady n kiss, when they