The Van Buren press., 1870-08-30
MISCELLANY.

SAM LAWSON ON CoURTIN' ~ mem
Der ! used to lead the singin' in them
days, and Miry she used to sing counter
so we sot putty near togetherin the sing.
ers' seat; and | used to think Sunday
mornin's, when she come to meetn' in
her white dress and her red checks and
her bonnet all tipped off with laylock,
that it was for all the world jest like a
June sunrise to have her come into the
singers seats. Them was the days that
| didn't improve my privileges, boys
said Sam, signing deeply. There was
times that eff I'd spoke, there's no
knownin' what mightnt a happened,
cause you see, boys, was better lookin'
in them days than be now. Now you
mind boys, when you grow up, eff you
get to waitin' on nice gal, and you re
most mind to speak to her, don't you
go and put it off, cause ef you do, you'll
live to repent it.
oval, you see from the time that Bill
Elderkin come and took the academy, /
could see plain enough that it was time
for me to hang up my fiddle. Bill he
used to set in the singers seat, too, and
he would have it that he sung tenor He
no more sung tenor than skunk black
bird, but he made b'lieve he did, Jest to
get next to Mry in the singers seats,
and then they used 20 be wrtin' back.
ward and forward to each other till they
tore out all the leaves ofthe hymn books
and the singin' books besides. Wal,
never thought that the house O. the Lord
was the place to be courtin' in, and i used
to get consid'able shocked at the way
things went on atween 'em. Why, they'd
be writin' all sermon-time. and I've
seen him lookin' at her all through the
long prayer in a way that wasn't right,
consderin' they was both professors OF
religion But then the fact was, old
Black Hoss John was to blame for it,
cause he never let 'em have no chance
to home. Ye see old Black Hoss he was
sot ag'in Elderkin cause he was poor.
You see his mother, the old Widdah Ell
derkin, she was jest about the poorest,
peakedest old body over to Sherburne,
and went out to-days' works, and Bill
Elderkin he was all books and larnin'
and old Black Hoss John thought it was
just shiftlessness; but Miry, she thought
he was genius, and got it into her mind
that he was goin' to be president Of the
United States, or some sich.
"Wall, old Black Hoss he want none
too polite to Miry's beau In general, but
when Eiderkin used to come to see her
he was snarlier than q saw: he hadn't q
good word for him nowadays; aud he'd
rake up the fire right befor his face and
eyes, and rattle about fastening up the
windows, and tramp up to bed and call
down the chamber stairs to Miry to go
to bed, and was sort O aggravatln' every
"Wall ef folhs want to get gal set
on havin' a man, that ares the way to 20
to work. Miry had consid able stiff
will Of her own, and ef she didn't care
about Tom Beacon before, she hated him
now; and if she liked Bill Elderkin be-
fore, she was dead gone over to him now
and so she took to goin' to the Wednes-
day evening lecture, and the Friday eve
ming prayer meetin' and the singing
school, Jest as regular as a clock, and SC
did he; and afterwards they always walk
ed home the longest wsy. Fathers ma,
jest AS well let their gals be courted il
the house, peaceable, cause if they cam
be coufted there, they'll find places where
they can be it's just human natur'. 1T
lanhc 1Monthiy.
AN EASTERN TALE,--A certain Rabbi
had two sons, whom both he and his Wifi
tenderly loved.
Duty Obliged the Rabbi TO take ajour.
ney to a distant country; during his ab
sence his two promising boys sickened
and died.
The grief.stricken mother laid them
on. on their bed, drew the curtain, and
waited anxously for her husband
lie came--it was night
"How are my boysP' was his first
question. " Let me see them" 1n4H
"Stay awhile" said his wife 4" am
in great trouble. and want your advice
Some years ago a friend lent me some
Jewels. took great care Of them, and
at last began to prize them as my own
Since your departure my friend has called
for them, but l did not like to part with
them Shall give them up? p
Wife what strange request in this
Give them up, and that instantly, this
very night. Show me the jewels"
She took the Rabbi to their he'd, drew
wide tho curtain, and said, 4" Husband
there are the jewels!' y
The Rabbi bowed his head and wcpt.
-----------> -
-" You takes your leedle poy to tel
front. unit den your hurrsh him out py tel
uock toor. Hash he SWALLOWED dat leedlt