The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-08-15
SMELLING PEAS.
A pAsroRAI-nY Q. p. oRANon.


No, Tom, you may banter as much as You please,
But it's ali the result of the shellin' these peas;
WHY hadn't the slightest idea, do you know,
SO serions "A matter would out of II grow.
tell You what, Tom, do feel kind o scared
dreamed, Il, hoped it, but never once dared
To breathe IL 10 her. And, besides, must say,
Ialways alf-fancied she fancied Jim Wray.
SO 1 felt kind o. stufly and proud, and took care
To be out o. the way when that Teller was there
A danglin' around; for. thinks l, If it's him
That Kate likes best, what's the use lookin grim
At Kitty or jim; for it's all up with me,
Aud ri better Jest LET em alone, do you see?
But you wouldn't have thought it don't think
The snap of a pea-pod for Jim's bushy beard.
Well, here's how it was: was taking some berries
Across her garden to leave at Aunt Mary's,
When Jest a. / come to the old ellum tree,
All alone IN the shade, that June mornin' was she
Shellin' peas, setting there on garden settee.
l swan, she's handsomer'n ever I've seen
Like rose all alone in moss-work o. green.
Well, there wasn't no use so, says |, IN jest inger
And gaze at her here, hid behind syrnga.
But she heard me movin and looked bit fright
ened
SO come and stood near her. fancied she bright
ened
And seemed sort o. pleased. So I hoped she was
well,
And would she allow me to help her to shell?
For she sat with monstrOus big dish full of peas
jest fresh from the vines, which she held ON her
knees.
"May help you, Miss Katyg" says l. GAS you
Mr.. Baxter" says she. "But you're busy
guess
Glancin' down at my berries and then at her dress.
"Not the least. There's no hurry. IL amt very
late,
And I'd rather stay here, and Aunt Mary watt"
So sot down beside her, an 3 nobody seen us,
jest took the dish and held il between us,
And thought TO myself must make an endeavor
To know which she likes jim me, now or never !!
But couldn't say nothn. We sot there ana held
That green pile between us. She shelled ana
shelled,
And pap went the pods; and couldn't help think
OF popping the question. A kind of a sinkin'
Come over my sperrits, till at last got out:
"Mr. Wray's an admirer of yours. I've no doubt
You see him quite often" - Yes, sometimes, but
And what if did?" 40, nothin'," says l.
"some folks say you're going to marry him.
though
S'who says SOP" says she; and she hared up like
When you throw in a match. "weil, folks that
know"
"Taint true sir" says she and she snapped big
pod
Till the peas, right aud left, flew all over the sod.
Then looked in her eyes, but she only looked
With blush that she tried to drive of with a
"Then !,'s somebody else you like BETTER" says /.
"No it amt, though" says she; and thought she
would cry.
Then I tried to say somethin'; it stuck i'll my
throat,
And all my Idees we're upset or afoat
But said knew somebodyd loved her so long,
Though he never had told her, with feeiin's so
strong
He was ready to die at her feet, if she chosed,
If she only could love him! hardly supposed
That she cared for him much, though. And so,
Tom, aud SO:
For thought that saw how the matter would 60.
With my heart all a-Jumpin' with rapture l found
had taken her hand, and my arm was around
Her waist ere knew it, and she with her head
On my shoulder. But no; won't tell what she
said.
The birds sang above us our secret was theirs;
The leaves whispered soft in the wandering airs.
j tell You, the world was "A new world t. me;
can talk OF these things like book now, you see
But the peas? All the peas an the pods We're
mess
Rather bigger than those that we shelled, You may
guess.
It's risky 10 set with girl, shellin' peas
You may tease me now, Tom, As much as you
please.
-Ia|epcadcat.