The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-04-17
LOVE In THE BACK WOODS
OR
Jenny waddie's First Courtship.

Jenny WeoQle'S 11fSt Coufteolp.
"Talking Of sprees, boys, puts me in
mind of my younger days. I should
rather guess I was rather ia for 'em some
myself, them times"
This was said by an old man, whom We
shall introduce as Mr.. James Wsddle.
Everybody knows him excepting the read
erD and his penc6ant for spinning yarns.
| It is the evening of militia training
day. There liza goodly number after the
company is dismissed from duty, who are
lounging around the aforesaid old Jim,
to whom be has already began the prel-
Jude, and ONLY awaits somebody to urge
him to- 60 Ion. There is enough to do
this. He then inquired what they would
haye-one of his huntin' or his courtin'
sprees7 The boys unanimously demanded
the latter. Then after requesting that
mono OF them should laugh. till he got
through, with few predatory hens, and
on assuming comical grave face, q wish
I could repeat his language,) he com.
menced-
When was boy. you know daddy
moved frem Virginia to Kentucky. I'd
been born and fetched up on the frontier,
and Kentucky was paradise for me to
hunt bears in.
But forgot; you want q courtin' story
Wei. although was always cuttin' up
deviitry among the boys, yet somehow l
was little shy and skeery among the
gals. I liked the critters prodigiously, but
the only way could manage to show it,
was by eastin' sleeps eyes in abundance
at 'em We had meetin's and frolics.
sometimes. While the preacher was
preachin' tsnderheartedness, brotherly
kindness and love, was thinking of moth
ing else used TO sit where could look
the gals in the face and gaze at some pur-
ty one till she blushed as red as a pepper
pod. Then I felt so queer about the
gizzard, and wisht an earthquake would
come and throw me on her lap. was in
love, but couldn't tell who loved most.
| There was Peggy Masonhammer, a
mighty fine gal even in her tow linen
frock, her face was as full as chinapig's
and red as turkey. gobbler's; and thar
was Sally Perkins, with her striped home
made cotton frock beside her hair and
eyes we're a. black as ink; and there was
dimplea. .cheek, blue-eyed Lou Saith, who
always toted her shoes on her head till
she got in sight Of the neetin'.
.Well, of these couldn't tell which
liked best-sometimes one and sometimes
another, bat alluz the last one looked
at But when Squire Crupton come tt
our diggings, his two gals took the shin'
off all the rest on 'em-'specia!ly the ont
, called Betsy. I shan't attempt to de
scribe her-but when tell you she hat
calico frock with yaller flower as biz
as your hand--brass ear bobs, beside
half dozen strans of beads as large a
the end Of your little finger, yoa ma
think she was charmer-I did anyhow
}, OF all the magnum bonum character
I'd ever seed. she was the magnum be
numestl And SO all the young fellers sal
too.
When I fust seed her, it was at Des
con Smok's meetin' fastened my eye
on her till hers met mine-she locke
steedfastly, then smiled and blushed, an
looked down. Lordl but there was
I nutterin' equal to that of q saw mill 'twes
nay two jacket pockets! l felt was
goner. From thar hour was toe big f
my breeches, and of Sundays borrowe
ye dads breeches he'd been married in efol
the revolutionary war, and come off {
: the knees-but he was tall, and warn
and they come below mine two or thr
inches Agin the next meetin' VI
prepared TO cut big stiff. Sal for tn
,s. purpose starched and ironed nay new Fl
shirt. as slick as q sheet of new tin. T.
shirt had the finest kind Of fax linen
the bosom and cellar, but the invisit
part was of coarse tow, with hem th
would cable steamboat.
i Now, while Sal was smoothin' t
wrinkles near the aforesaid hem, with
iron just from the FIRE, down stairs tut
bled one of the darned brsts, knoeki,
the breath out of it. It was Saturd
might, and she was the only one up. s
ran to it of course, but before it come
the iron had decidedly made its mark
that is, burnt two holes In the extremi
of the linen. Next mornin' put it
as it was--then dads true blues, then
FIRST pair of shoes I ever had.
was just seventeen that Sunday m'
MIN. and in my Sunday riggin felt mys
q man, and was resolved, if Betsy Crum
ton was ut meetin', to show it.
Well. she was thar, and axed her
her company--and got it. Walkin'
her side, I felt as light as nothln' har
touched the earth I walked on. Blu
shsn't tell the fine things I thought q
said to her on the way, and more after
got home.
o yes, do. said several voices.
No, you'll have enough without
: are to get the cream of the story yet.
She kept me- up quite late, say
o'clock, and in spite Of the novelty
being the frst9 I got sleepy. Now
Squire had just come to them parts.