The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-04-03
Joel Biiidig's Proposal.

The evening of which l write, Joel
Billdig had attired himself in his best
duds, and set out for the residence of
Widow Smith. The widow had one son
and daughter, and their names were
Henry and Sally. Twenty-Five summers
had passed over the head of Sally, whilst
fourteen only had passed over the curly
head of Henry. Henry was a sharp boy,
he knew a thing or two.
It might be we'll enough to say that
Joel was going to the Widow Smiths
that evening, with the avowed intention
of doing little job of courting. He
had been there before, and he knew how
things stood. He could see that his
visits were favorably received, and he
believed Sally smiled upon him. The
widow looked upon it as an eligible match,
and why shouldn't she? Hadn't Joel
twenty-acre lot and two steers and
briudle cow? Yes. And did he ever
drink or smoke, or chew, or swear, or
mind anybcdys business but his own !?
Emphatically, no. Then why wouldn't
it be an eligible match? Of course it
was an eligible match, and everybody
thought so.
Sally would have been better pleased
'tis true, if Joel had been little more
''fxey," as she styled it. She didn't
see any use in fellow with his trowscr-
looms inside of his boots, his vest unbut-
toned, and his hair uncombed. But
that's the way with all the girls. You
never see them altogether satisfied. Ifa
fellow is all right one way, why he lacks
in something else, and so the dear Great
ures are never satisfied. 1t was just so
with Sally Smith She knew that Joel
Billdig was good, and honest, and indus
trious, and owned a twenty-acre lot, but
she must End fault with him in some
way; and so she found fault with his un-
combed hair, and his open vest, and
pantaloons inside of his boots.
We said that Joel Billdig was going
to the Widow Smiths for the purpose of
doing a little bit of courting-we, said
this, and we'll stick to it. Joel was
rather bashful youth. and he had to
screw his courage up for whole week
before he could induce himself to visit
Sally; but after he had got in and eat
awhile and after the pie and cider had
been passed around, he began to feel bet
ter and more at home, he began to talk,
and after he. had talked awhile, the widow
and her son withdrew and left Sally and
Joel alone.
Sally and Joel were left alone in the
best room. Joel talked still better when
che widow and her SON withdrew, and in
=. short time he asked Sally to be his
wife. and he did it after this fashion:
aSally," said he, marm's abeout gin
cont. and she thinks I had orter git a
wife to dew things. She thinks she has
acted wheel-horse long enuff. Meow,
Sally, what would you think tew comm
over tcw our house and keepin things in
order2 rally don't think you could
do better.
Then Sally Aared bit. Says she:
81 amt goin' fortil marry no man jest
tew dew his work for him. l s'pose
you'd neyerss he'd me il you hadn't thort
I'd be enuff sight better worker than
Polly Jones, or Patience Perkins, or Sal
ay Simpson, or some Of them other gals
you've been a goin' with. Guess l amt
no fool 7 can work enuff to hum with
out goin' over tew your house tew be
bossed around by you and your marm.
Then Joel explained that he loved her
and did not ask her to marry him just