The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-09-26
THE MIDNIGHT ELoPEMENT


and the people who resided therein were
rather old fashioned and peculiar in their
taste and dispositions. The old mans
name was Aminadab Hollycob, the old
woman's name was Matilda Eliza Holly
cob and the young mans name was
Thomas jefferson Hollycob. With
Thomas Jefferson Hollycob, however.
we have nothing to do, Our story re-
lates particularly to Mary Joan Holly
cob.
Near the residence of the Hollycobs
was the residence of another family
They were poor, but honest and hard
working people. The names Of these
honest and hard working people were
Jane Scratchabout, (who was a widow
John Alexander Scratchabout her son,
a I'd Fanny Amanda Scratchabout Our
story relates particularly to John Alex
andcr Scratchabout He is the hero Of
our story. The Scratchabouts were
poor, as we have before taken occasion
to say, and were therefore very obnox-
ious to old Hollycob, who believed that
because he had piles of money ne was
an aristocratic nabob and could do as he
pleased.
and found himself very sadly mistaken.
John Alexander Scratchabout loved
Mary Joan Hollycob and Mary Joan
Hollycob loved John Alexander Scratch
about back again.
They would have got themselves tied
into q matrimonial knot if it hadn't bden
for one single thing. That single thing
was the persistent opposition of Amina-
dab Hollycob, Matilda Eliza Hollycob
and Thomas Jefferson Hollycob.
Aminadab Hollycob declared that
rather than have his daughter we'd . low
lived, under crusted. good for-rothing
cooper he would shoot her down lived
like ''dorg'' and pitch tho clods Of the
valley upon her lifeless form, and never
shed a tear.
Hard hearted cid Hollycob!
The lovers loved away in silence q
spell and then they got tired of that way
of loving. They determined to get
married even though all the Holiycobs in
the universe should object.
We might say, parenthetically, that
there were a great many Hollycobs in
the universe. There was a large family
of them in Troy Hollow, a large fam
lily Of them out in Bumpkinville and a
large family of them in Parterlington
Square, and besides these large families,
there were several small families scat
tered around throughout the said uni
verse.
Had the lovers seen all the Hollycobs
arrayed in one grand Hollycob army
they would instantly have given up the
idea Of ''fighting it out on that line
They would have concluded to ''suffer
and be strong as the moments dragged
along As the pOit might have said if
he had wanted to.
AS it was, however, the lovers saw
only old Mr. Hollycob, old Mrs. Holly
cob and Thomas Jefferson Hollycob to
contend with and they opinioned that if
they should make one grand strategic
movement they could rout the entire
Hollycob army, 'horse, foot and dra-
goons." and come off with flying colors.
Brave boys were they!"
The lover met one starless night at
the trysting place-an old elm tree on
Hollycob's farm.
We will give ear while the lovers
speak.
My darling Mary Joan, you are late
tonight. What detained you my pine
apple p
why, you see, John Alexander, the
dog kept up continued howlin' and
was afeared to come out. but I've come
now, my peach tree, and we'll have bull
ly time"
Yes, that we WILL" said John Alex
ander and with that he clasped the fair
maiden to his palpitating bosom.
Says : ohm Alexander, shave you got
kiss for me to night my honey comb?'
and Mary Joan answered 81 have that"'
LIE. us have it them" said John AL
exander, "and let be kersaoalloyper Z"
agreed again. said Mary Joan, and
the kiss commenced.
Said kiss was three minutes long.
Truly it was EersDollOyper.
After the kiss was over and after the
lover-like clasp had somewhat subsidized,
John Alexander said in business like
way.
my strawberry, what say you now
to the elopement?'
Mary Joan replied: sDear John AL
exander, have at last consented to
slide. I'll live no longer as have been
living. I'll leave the parental roof-I'Il