The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-09-27
Playing FOrfeits.

The fust time 1 ever see Elisha Ferris
thought he was jest the ugliest man Id eve
laid eyes on. Ann Jenkins, who was along
with me when we met him, says she, "Lor
Hannah Elizabeth, s'pose that's the young
fellow Phoebe Snelling's engaged ter r."
Phnbe'd bin away ter Bostlng to visit he
aunt, and he'd landed big catch, as every
body in Gailford thought.
skurse If Phoebe Snelling's going ter merry
that one Why he's as homely as hedge
fence L wonder he amt afeard of his owl
shadderi :"
Well, if girls will merry" said Ann
they must take sich husbands as are 60
ing And 1 s'pose Ann felt the obligation
binding, for she merried a widderer with
ten children that same year.
"Lor," said |, "I wouldn't merry that
man if there want another on earth :"
Don't deny before you're asked said
she. And then we turned onr heads ter
make sure he went inter the Snelling's, and
10 and behold he was Jest pulling the
knocker at Deacon ThurlOw's, and a-look.
ing after US. 1 felt cheap enough, to be
caught staring after strange young fellow
-AN ~ nv oOouly CiIHcI'
He's got good fgger of his own," said
Ann, in whose eyes+ young man allus he'd
some redeeming traits.
He looks like skim milk" said |. al
should think he might be the ghost of some
body else. I'm surprised at Phoebe Smell
ing, with all her advantagesl" And jest
then we come upon Deacon Thurlow him
self a-turning of the corner.
Mercy, deacon, how you made me jumpp ?
said Ann. 81 hednt no thought of meeting
any body"
spose you was that immersed in gossip
you didn't hear me a-coming," says he.
Oh, no." says Ann, who never spared no
body; I'VE don't believe in immersion
No, We was only a-speaking of Phoebe
Snelllng's young man, who was jest went in
ter your house"
Inter my house. Phoebe Smelling,
young man There's some mistake.
never see him. guess you've took Elisha
Ferris-him that's bought the Blount farm
for tother. Ha ha! Maybe it was your
young man, or Hannah Elizabeth 's-least
ways it want Phebe's."
Heaven forbid cried |, "unless should
chance ter to lose my eye-sight fust."
Ha ha laughed the deacon. elisha
amt got no beauty ter spare, but he makes
it up in faculty"
1t want long after this when the deacon
what did he.do but bring Mr.. Ferris in tel
talk with our Jack about the crops and
stock.
Il knew you'd be pleased ter see hin
agln'" said the deacon, slyly, ter me. "'
thing of beauty is joy forever, the poet
tells US and he picked you out in meetin
among all the grls, and asked who you was
! hated him worse than ever after that
and when he got through a-talking with
Jack, and come and set down on the settee
where | was busy patching Jacks overalls
wished ter goodness one of US he'd the
coat OF invisibility I'd read about in the
fairy-books and wouldn't make no sort o.
conversation with him, but jest said ives y
and no. And when he asked if | took
any interest in farming. | told him tbert
want nothing more hateful ter me and
81 s'pose you're familiar with my place, ;
says he.
"Oh yes says I. "You must feel the
wind from the four corners of the earth. the
situations so exposed. The Blounts wa:
VI lliuutULlt, ana d-SneeI
ing and shivering over the fires"
And then he laughed good naturedly, anc
said, " You seem ter forget that summel
pays US call once year, and pays up fol
all old winters tricks !" and he went on te
tell how much pleasure he expected il
watching the spring open, and the leaves un
folding, and the faint breath of bloom deep
ening day by day, till we find the blossom
on the bough and the full blade in the ear
=" You oughter hev bin preacher" said |
=" would be-" said he, " if there was
chance Of my converting you." And whel
the deacon said it was about time fur moth
er ter be looking fur him home, and neve
bid anybody good by with better relish
Whenever we come out of meetin', ther
was Ferris a-standing in the porch, starin,
with all his eyes; and onst he asked te
walk home with me in broad daylight! an
jest told him [ was going ter make a cal
BY the way, though it want my habit to b
calling on the Sabbath-day; but, you sec
it's good bit of ground from the meetin
house ter the farm, and hedn't no mind +
be wasting my time and breath in his SCI
vice that far
he he'd house-warming. too, a little lat
er, and invited young and old, rich and pool
and me aud Jack among em and nothn
ter do but | must 60. Jack said ther
want no sense in setting myself up an
putting on airs because a fellow want q
putty as wax doll, when he was as goo
as gold, and the best match for miles around
and | might thank my stars il sich on
looked at me. And so l went; and wor