Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-03-10
KISSED BY MISTAKE.

will you be at nome to- might, Hettie
and the speaker, a tall, muscular, we'll look
ing gay young farmer, redeemed to the roots oi
h. hair, as though he had committed some
very wicked act, instead of asking simple
question.
He was bashful extremely so, was JOSH
sh Hawley, at least in the presence of young
ladies', most of all in the presence of the girl
be loved. No young farmer in all the coun-
try possessed better kept farm, or talked
With more confidence among the compeers
Of stock and on kindred subjects. But the
glimpse of some pretty face or foot, coming
in his direction affected him like fash of
lightning. On such occasions he never
knew what to do with his hands and eyes,
and always felt like screwing himself in a
proach Hester Thomas on the subject of
preference for her, probably remains to this
day as much mystery to himself as it is to
others
But the young lady had quite an amount
o. tact and cleveruess slowed away some
where in her pretty little head, albeit it was
st on the dimpled. inexperienced shoulders
ofseventeen. Josiah was worth, in a worldly
way, much more than any of her suitors,
good looking and intelligent enough to sat
isty any but an over fastidious person; un-
eIceptionable in short, barring his exces
Ave baShfulness, which was a fruitful source
OF merrimeut among the young people in
their little circle And so when Josiah in
his awkward bIundering way, began to ex-
hiblt his preference for her in various little
ways, such as waiting on her to and from
the singing school, constituting himself her
escort when she rode on horseback to the
solitary church in the woods, and singing
her out at quilting parties.
hetty took it all in the easiest, pleasan-
test manner possible. The gi:ls laughed, and
the young men cracked sly jokes at the ex-
pense Of her timid suitor; but Hetty stood
up Tor him independently him
out OF shyness never noticed any unfortu-
nate o.under--and very likely helped him
along considerably when his feeling reached
'he eliminating point, one moonlight au-
idnn evening, as they were walking home
together from prayer meeting. That was a
week ago. Hetty had said, Yes" and
mad agreed to bring father and mother
around on the subject
JOSIAH had not been to the house since
probably feeling very much like dog ven
turing upon the premises of person whose
sheeptold he had just plundered. Asyet nei
'ner had the courage to speak to the reign
!ag powers on the subject and Hetty, feel
Ing as if she wanted to put the ordeal of
d easily as possible, at any rate to have on
more confidential talk with him on the sub
Iect. said:
Mother is going to Aunt Ruth's to
apend the evening, and wants me to go.
Dat guess | won't. I've been working on
-a'hers shirts all day. besides doing the
Ia'ry work, and | am as tired as can be.
80 guess they will have to go without me.
DO not come until eight clock. shall bt
putting things to rights then, and will lei
YOU In.
vi course Josiah was not too obtuse to un
.e'ssand that, and forgot his bashfulness 81
'Af as to petition for a good bye kiss, which
peFemptorily refused of course.
No, L shan't Do take yourself off
9 ,n'nk | didn't see you fidgettIng aroun'
oA'ah Jones, at Deacon Badgers last eve
mug I've not sorgotten that, sir !"
Now Hetty-
nut the appeal was broken of by tanta
-N'ns little laugh, and as he sprang for
ward to take pleasant revenge on his tor
m7atoress, she slipped away and ran up the
path to the house, where he saw her way,