Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-12-17
How PEBBLES asked the Old Man.

"
the old mans permission, So, as PEBBLES said.
that arrangements might be made for hopping
the conjugal tYig.
PEBBLES said he'd rather pop the interro-a.
tory to all of old Nierriweather's daughters.
and his sisters, and his female cousin. and his
aunt Hannah IN the country, aud the whole
of his female relations, than ask old NIerri
weather. But it had to be done, aud so he
sat down and studied out n speech which he
was going to disgorge to old Merriwcather the
very first chance nc got to shy it at him. So
PEBBLES dropped in on him Que SUNDAY eve
ming, when all the family had meandered
round to class meeting, aud found him doing
a sum In bocr measure. trying to calculate
the exact number OF quarts his interior could
hold without blowing the head off OF him.
How are you, Hecb?" said old Merri-
weather, as PEBBLES walked in as white as n
chunk OF chalk, and trembling as if he had
swallowed a condensed earthquake PEBBLES
was afraid to answer, because he wasn't sure
about that speech. He knew he had to keep
hislgrip GA it while he had itthore, or i,would
slip away from him quicker than an oiled eel
through an auger hole. Sc he blurtcd right
out: " Mr.. Merriweathcr, sir, perhaps it may
not be unknown to you, sir, that during an
extended period of some five years | have
been busily engaged in the prosecution of q
commercial enterprise"
a Is that so and keepiu' it secret all the
time, while thought you was tendin' store
Well, by George, you're one Of 'em, now,
amt you 7"
PEBBLES had to begin all over again to get
the run of it.
Mr. Mcrriweather, sir, perhaps it may
not be unknown to you that during an extend.
ed period of some five years have been en-
IT1f ho 6
terPriso with determination to procure a
sufficient maintenance"
I" Sit down, Peeb, and help yourself to
beer. Don't stand there holding your hat
like blind beggar with the paralysis
What's the matter with you anyway l
never see you behave yourself so in all my
born days"
PEBBLES was knocked out of time again, and
had to wander back and take fresh start
g Mr.. MerTiweathcr, sir, it may not be un-
known to you that during an extended period
OF some five years l have been engaged in
the prosecution of 4 commercial enterprise
with the determination to procure 4 sufficient
maintenancC-"
. '' \ which ance ," asked old Mcrriwcathcr.
but PEBBLES held on to the last word hike it
was his only chance. and went on:
In the hope that some day might enter
wedIock, and bestOw my earthly possessions
upon one whom could call my own. have
been lonely man, sir, and have felt that it
is not good for man to be alone therefore"
Neither is it PEBBLES, and I'm all fred
glad you dropped in. How's the old man ?'
Mr.. MCrTiweather, sir" said PEBBLES, in
despairing confusion, raising his voice to a
yell, "it may not be unknown to you that
during an extended period Of lonely man |
have been engaged to enter wcdlock, and
bestow all my commercial enterprise upon one
whom L could procure to be u determination
TO be good for sufficient possessions-no,
mean-that is-that-Mr Mcrriweather, sir,
it may not be unknown"
q And then again it may. Look here,
PEBBLES, you'd better lay down and take some.
thing warm, you amt well"
PEBBLES, sweating like four year old colt,
went in again:
" Mr.. Merriweather, sir, it may not be
lonely for you to prosecute he whom you can
call a friend for commercial maintenance.
but -but-oh, dang it-Mr. Merriweather,
sir-it-"
ooh PEBBLES, you talk as wild as iackass.
never see more first class idiot in the whole
course of my life. What's tho matter with
you anyhow Y'.
- Mr. Merriweather, sir" said Pecbics in
an agony ofbewilderment, q it may not be un-
known that you prosecuted lonely man who
Is not good for n commercial period Of we'd
lock felt for some five years-but-"
See here, Mr.. PEBBLES, you're drunk, aud
if you can't behave better than that. you'd
better leave. If you don't, I'll chuck you
out, or I'm Dutchman."
" Mr.. Mcrriweathcr, sir" said PEBBLES,
frantic with despair, q it may not be unknown
to you that my earthly possessions are en-
gagged to enter wcdlock Eve years with suffi-
cieutly lonely man, who is not good for
commercial maintenance"
- The bloody deuce he isn't Now You
just git up and git, old hoss, or I'll knock
what little brains out of you you've got left"
With that old Merriweather took PEBBLES
by the shirt collar and the part Of his pants
that wears out first if he sits down much, and
shot him into the street, as if he had lust run
against locomotive going at forty miles an
hour. Before old Merriweather had chance
to shut the front door, PEBBLES collected his
legs and one thing and another that we're "
ing around on the pavement, and arranged
himself IN vertical position and yelled out
" Mr.. Merriweather, sir, 1t may not be un-
known to you" which made the old man so
Wretched mad that he went out and set bull
terrier on PEBBLES before he had a chance to
Iiit "a brogau, and there was a scientific dog
night, with odds in favor Of the dog, until they
got to the fence, and even then PEBBLES would
have carried bull terrier home, griped ike
clamp TO his leg, if it hadn't been that the
meat was too tender, and the dog, feeling
certain that something or other must eyeutU
ally give way, held on until he got his chop
Oft Of PEBBLES calf and Peebies went home
halt pound lighter, while Merriwea,her as
serts to this day that they had to draw all
the dogs teeth to get the flesh ont of his
mouth :. for he had an awful hold for such
small ANIMAL