The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-10-25
Courting in Nebraska--Effect
Of a Scarcity Of Women.

of US were duck hunting the other
day on the Missouri bottoms.-
Night overlook us before we wero
aware Of it, and we were obliged
to seek lodging at the first dwell
ing we could find. It was a small
one-story structure Of three rooms,
and occupied by a family of six
father, mother, daughter, and three
sons. The sons were all unmar-
ried, and from the calls that wore
made afterwards, We judge tho
daughter was unmarried also. We
hadn't been in the house fve min
utes when some kind Of o vehicle
drove up and Two young men
were ushered into the parlor -
Straightway tn e mother and
daughter held a whispered consul
tation which closed with an invi-
tation to the sitting room for sup
per. It was evident the young
men callers had been to tea, as
they staid in the parlor with
"sweet sixteen"
Scarcely had We taken our seats
at the table when a howl from
the dogs outdoors announced all
other conner. I1e seemed to avoid
the front door, and knocked at
that where our party was just sit
ting to supper. The mother rose
to answer the summons, when We
were surprised ty the daughter
opening the parlor door and rush
ing forward with, "Don't git up,
mother! It's one of my fellows |
Come in, Jim ; how do you do ?"
And Jim entered in response to
the CHEEKY salutation. He made
himself as comfortable as possible
till we had finished supper, when
another whispered consultation
proved that the ''parlor is full as
it ort to be-" whispered by Miss,
in response to some mothcrly sug-
gestion. The old gentleman solved
the question by inviting US into
the kitchen to smoke. 1twas evi-
Dent that Jim didn't smoke, for he
remained in the sitting-room. We
should have doubtless enjoyed q
quiet cigar, had not the old lady
opened The back door, and shouted
at the top Of her voice, "Come
round here to the back door"
1t was another young man, and
we fancied he looked as if he had
come in rather late. Two young
men within the parior, one in tho
sittin groom and one in the kitch-
en-. What should be done? The
courting business was getting hot |!
There was another talk between
mother and daughter. 1t was evil
dent their devices had been ex-
hausted. The old gentleman was
called into the corner. lie settled
the question by a whisper:
'.I'll be id if I'll move again
until the settin'-room is full"
Into the sitting-room went num-
Der four and we smoked. 1t was
full ten minutes before the next
disturbers came and they entered
the kitchen with the air Of old &C,
quaintances. We looked anxious.
ly at the host. Taking his pipe
from his mouth a single sentence
relieved US:
"Them's the widowers. Stick II
And we "stuck" and smoked on.
For the next half hour the girl
must have been kept busy. The
widowers had certainly third of
her time. 1t was g o'clock. We
wished to 60 TO bed, and the only
bed we had discovered was in the
parlor. The old gentleman di-
vined our wishes, and said:
"I'm sorry, gentlemen! But
this is one OF the regular courtin'
nights! Them two fellers in the
parlor never leaves afore midnight.
and the widowers allus stay all
night. And that amt the worst
of it. Dan'll be here at 10 o'clock.
l and the boys always sleep in the
haystack Friday nights. Yer vel,
come to thatl"
The parlor, sitting-room and
kitchen full, we retreated to the
haystack. In response TO qucs
tion on the point the old gentlo.
man said that
"Friday nights it's purity bad
but Sundays it's wuss. Last Sun.
day night there was ten on 'em,
and the girl is gettin' more and
moro pertikiler. The more she
gets the more she wants!"
On tho hay stack, with q stiff
breeze driving away the musqni-
toes, we heard Dan drive mp. One
of the last remarks Of the old man
before We fell asleep, was, Yes,
gentlemen, courtin's hot in Ne
brasky !" And we believed him.
Nebraska Correspondence Syracuse
Standard.
4 friend should be one in " hose
understanding and virtue wo Gun
equally con6dc, and whose cpin'
ion we can value ut once for liz
business and sincerity.
T. = 4 - n