The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-09-12
A BAsHFUL YOUTH.
HOW NANCY BROUGHT HIM 10 THE PROPOSING POINT


tabula, there resided, until recently, a
brown-haired, blue-eyed, fair-complex-
Toned, buxom country maiden, who
would have been happy as the day is
long, but for the fact that Josiah -,
a bashful country lad, the owner of a
large farm and little mustache, the
admiration OF the girls and the envy of
the boys for miles around, had been
persistently counting her at the paternal
mansion for two years, but could never
be brought to propose. Yet Josh want
ed the girl as bad, if not worse, than
the girl wanted him; he was always on
the point of saying something, but new
er yet had it got to his expectant list
ener's ears.
At length. at the end of two years,
Mary Ann got so excited over it that
she could hardly wipe her mothers dish
es, while Josh would stop and lean up
on his hoe in the corn-field, and think
to himself, "Why am such born fool?
| really think she'd have me if ! had
only gumption enough to ask herr
With this he determined TO take her
to ride that very day, and have set
Element once for ALL At first he thought
be would hire livery rig, and go in
style, but the expense deferred him.
"Darned if dads shay and our nag won't
do she needn't have me-" So said Josh,
as he threw down his hoe, put on his
coat, and started to the house TO hitch
up old Nancy" and get his sweetheart.
The chaise, which had done service for
many centuries, was drawn out, and
Josh, arranged III rufiled shirt-front,
scarlet neck-tie, dark-blue vest, and
white linen pants, with swallow.tailed
coat and stovepipe hat, the colored mus.
iache displayed to the best advantage,
stepped in behind the fiery steed, aud
lruve for his dulcinea. t
She seemed coquettish about going
,ut III the hot sun with man she was ,
lot engaged to. even il he had gone !,
With her SO long," but she was pcrsuad. .
ID, AID Josh helped her into the shay"
" lthout word of conversation be-
ween them, the first mile was passed
lary Ann sat IN one corner Of the We
lcic blushing. red as peony. while
osiah was hesitating whether Ia popi
ne question now or 10 wait awhile. 4
econd half mite was passed. aud still
Hence reigncd, broken only OCCASION
lily by the crack of Joslal's whip
gainst "Nancy's' lean sides. They
ow entered forest bordering ON Jt~
ah's domain. and ont of the sunlight
osIah grew boldcr He began to talk
bout his crops. aud another mile was
assed, still he could not muster up suE
Gent courage TO say the word which
ust decide his fate
For two long and weary years the
ssic had also waited and watched for
&c question. and now "Barkis was will
~" yet unable to ask her. Ou,wardlv
lent, but lnwardly frctting and Tuning.
Is queen Of country damsels sat re- ,
living IN hcrmind how she could bring
alters TO a crisis. 4
At length, as the horse stopped for
instant on the brow of the hill to I
oble q bit of grass. she bethought l
rselt OF plan; she begged her lover J
go to farm house not far distant. L
Il bring her a cup of cold water :
en- the sly creature kept watch until i
was half way back to the carriage :
tn the cup, and partially hidden from "
w by grove of trees, when she
zed the whip and punched it into the b
rse's ribs with such force as almost /
cause them to crack. Nancy gave I
spring forward and rushed madIy Y
Sn the hill, Josh hastily dropping his h
OF water and flying In hot pursuit. y
length he reached them after hard
!, the shay lay broken and over. n
ned IN the middle of the road. the II
SO was quietly browsing the grass a
r by, while Mary Ann, her face as I
as marble, and her beautiful white v
IS soiled with dust, lay apparently
'nsible short distance Off Josiah's .
'mpts to raise her were of no avail
i, becoming thoroughly frightened, -
began to cover her cheek with i'm.
stoned kisses, calling upon her to l.
for him. Then, and not till then, "
the beautiful thing deign to open
eyes, when, with tears gushing ~
4. she said "Oh .Joshf II vond only ~