Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-10-28
Sam Lawson on Courtin,.

II member | used to lead tho sinein' in
them days, and Miry, she used to sing counter,
so we sot pretty near together in the singer s
seats and | used to think Sunday mornins,
when she'd come to the metin' in her white
dress and her red cheeks and her bonnet al
tipped off with laylock that it was for all the
world just like June sunrise to have her come
into the singers seats. Them was the days
that didn't improve my privileges, boys" ,"
said Sam, sighing deeply. "The1e was time
that et Id spoke there's no KNOWN what
mightnt happened, cause you see, boys, |
was better lookin' in them days than | be now.
Now you mind, boys, when you grow up, ef
you get to waitin' on nice gal, and you're
and put it off, cause, ct you do, you may live
to repent it.
"WaI, you see, from the time that Bill
Elderkin came and took the academy, l could
see plain enough that itwas time for me to
hang up my fiddle. Bill he used to set in the
singers seats, too. and be would have it that
he sung tenor. lie no more sung tenor than
skunk black bird, but he made b'Iieve that
he did, jest to git next to Miry in the singers
seats, and then they used to be writin' back
ward and forward to each other till they tore
out all the leaves of the hymn books, and the
singin'. books besides. Wal. / never thought
the house O the Lord was jest the place to
be courtin' in, and | used to get consid' able
shocked at The way things went on atween EN-.
Why, they'd be writin all sermon. time and
I've seen him lookin' at her all through the
long prayer in way that want right, cousid-
erin they were both professors Of religion.
But then the fact was, old Black Hoss John
was to blame for it, cause be never let'em
have no chance to home. You see old Black
ho in bor
poor. You see bis mother, the old widdah
Ederkin, she was jest about the poorest, peak
cd, st old body over to Sherhurue, ard went
out TO days work, and Bill EIderkn be was
all for books and larnn', and old Black Horse
John he thought it was jest shitIe-sness but
Mily she thought it was q genius and she got
it sot in her mind that he was Il goin to be
President of the United States, or some sch.
"Wal, old Black Hess he want none too
polite to. Miry's beaux in ginIrsl, but when
+ derkiu used to come TO see her he was snar-
lier than saw; he hadn't good word for him
noways and be d rake up the fire tight before
his tc ce and eyes, and rattle about. fastening
UP the windows, snd tramp up to bed and call
down the chamber stairs to Miry to 90 to bed,
and was sort o'aggravatin' every way.
oval, ef folks want to get gal set on hav
in q man, that ars the way 10 go to work.
Nlry had copsid' able stiff will OF her OVID,
and if ste didn't care about Tom Beacon be
fore, she hated him DOW and if she liked Bill
Elderkin before, she was clean gono over to him
now and so she took to goia' to the Wednes-
day evening lecture. and the Friday evening
prayer meetin', and the siugin' school, just as
reg lar as a clock, and so did he ; and alter
ward they always walked home the longest
way. Fathers may jest as well let their gals
be courted in the house, peaceable. cause if
they can't be courted there, they II tiad places
where they can be; it's jest human natur'.-
1t70ntic jfOuthW,