Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-05-31
why didn't your | asked.

ing me nHuSe. Ilo'iu eh0e uou
that all up brown. Nothing mus
do but Joe Sharp must lead Mis-
Kate across fust. He jumped Oh
the log in high glee and took. Kate
hand, and they put off. just a
they got half way across, tarnatio1
big bull frog jumped off into tn
water--you know how tney boiler
'Snakes!' screamed the fool, ant
knocked Kate off up to her wais
in the nasty, black, muddy water.--
And what do you think he done
Why, run backwards and sforeis, I
hollerin' for a pole to help Kate ou
of the water. Kate looked at NE,
and ! couldn't stand it no longer
Curchuck | lit ten feet from the
bank at the first jump,and had Kate
out of thar in no time. And dye
think the scamp didn't come uE
after we'dgot out, and said: 'Ar you
hurt, Miss Kate?''
Ely dander was up. / couldn't
stand it; | cotcheG him by the seat
of bis white britches and his coat
collar and, gin him toss. May
be he didn't go clear under when
be hit the watel. | didn't see him
out. Me and Kate put for the house.
When ne started off, Kate said:
Ben, just let me bold on to your
arm, | kinder feel sorter weak
Great jimmy! l felt so queer
when she took hold. l tried to say
something nice, but my drctted
mouth wouldn't go of, no how. But
l felt as strong as an elephant, and
helped Kate along. Bimby, Kate
said:'
Ben, that Joe Sharp's good for
nothing, sneakin' cowardly nobody;
if be ever puts bis head inside Of
our house again. III souse him with
dish water, sure
4 tried to say something again,
but hang the luck, | couldn't say
nothing, but squeezed Kate's hand
and sighed like cranky bellus.'
We'd got clean out of sight OF
the others. Kate says:
Ben, | feel that you are my pro-
tector, and l believe daddy's right,
when be says you're worth all the
rest of the boys in the neigh bor-
hood
Ben Purtle, says ! this is a
great day for you,' and ! made a
tremendous effort to get my mouth
off again, aud out it popped sure
enough
Kate says I, trembling all over,
Il love you to distraction, and no
mistake. I've loved you long and
hard. My hearts been almost
broken for years, and ! want you to
say right straight up and down,
whether you're going to have me or
not?'
Kate hung down her head and
didn't say nothing. but | felt en-
couraged, for she kinder sighed
Says /, Kate ef you're gwine to
have me say SO, and ef you don t
want to say SO, just squeeze my
hand.
We'll, she squeezed my hand right
off. Lorry how | did feel. ! felt
like stream Of warm water oil
sassafras tea, sweetened with molas
ses, was running through my bones
II just cotched her in my arms
and kissed her, and she never tried
! the first time to get loose
Ben was so oyercome with thl:
narration of eour'ship, that a pause
for breath was necessary.
How long after that said l 'be
fore you were married!
Old Sammy was mighty proud
and so was the old oman, about th'
thing, and we msrIied the next fal
after tbe muscadine scrape.'
DO you think your wife loves yo'
yet? Iasked.
.Why, lordy, yes. She think
IN the purtiest and best feller il
the world. | tell you, sir, its no US
talking; hifalutin airs, and qualit..
dressing, and col0gse, and sue!
things, amt gwine to go down Wit
sensible gals, sure
The man who was ehoked, Will