The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-08-16
2Hiscellameolts.
Il Country WettCling.
BY JOS. E. BADGER, JR.

Reader, have you ever attended q country we'd
ding? Ifnot, come with me this cold, clear Christ
mas night, on which Miss Laura Herbert is to be-
come Mrs. Chester Strong.
Here we are at the gate. This old gravel walk
leads up to the door
The house appears gay and cheerful the win
dows are illuminated and through the nnclosed
shutters we see the great fireplace all aglow
with the heap of blazing hickory logs. But It's
entirely too cold to stand here long, 50 we enter
the house.
Come reader, share mantle Of invisibility
and we will observe the proceedings at our ease.
The portraits OF Colonel Strong and his daugh-
ter hung by the mantelpiece, and several engrav-
ings deck the wall, which is newly papered, aud
real "boughten" carpet covers the floor
There are new hair-cloth chairs, too-a great
curiosity as the natives, who seemingly doubt
their strength, were we to Judge by the cautious
and deliberate manner they seat themselves for
the first time upon them There is Il piano-a
great curiosity. 'Kiah Simpson, who irst heard
it, dwelt at length upon the delicious music, an
now the ''shiny box' was the cynosure Of all
eyes.
The bride eject has fairy-like form; dark
merry eyes, short, clustering curls of jetty sheen ;
tempting lips and dimpled chin; and beautiful
hands and arms.
Stationed in yon corner is Miss Maria Spinster
where she has her cavalier, Mr.. Will Waddle, Sc
curely penned up, seemingly in readiness to in
tercept the unlucky wight should he attempt the
| fight be is evidently meditating.
She is possessed of two small ferret-like eyes, a
| thin, pinched nose, double rows of stiff, wiry
curls, long, bony neck and angular form, a
wide smiling mouth, snuff-besprinked nose and
| chin, and long, parchment-incased hands and
| arms. In fine, she is the picture of a sharp, vim
egary old maid.
There are other persons worth nothing here
Glance just to the right OF the fireplace. At first
glance you would take her to be mere child-a
| school girl-but second would bewilder you.
| In truth she is very nearly out of her teens.-
| Hers is very pleasing face, the more so when
| she speaks. Her ever soft though clear voice
| thrills upon your ear even after she pauses.-
Hear it once in song, then forget it if you can.
| Though gentle, almost dreamily so, there is a
thrilling music in her voice that fills the heart
| and banishes every evil thought tits Ia pleasing
| picture, but we must not linger longer, even
| though the subject be gentle Allie Porter.
| Near the west window is seated Anna Riley
| and Emma Gore.
You might search far without finding prettier
couple than this. Beware, kind friend one look
at Emma's wonderful hair and great, lustrous
| black ewes. one glance in Thorn end defy gnn
ess you ask her for it,
= you think no more of your
.ly desire hers.
+, DdI see The old maid has thawed out at last,
and is addressing long, lank Will Waddle who
plainly wishes he was somewhere far from her
| nimble tongue
~ haia't thanked you yet, Mr.. WILL for your
| attention comm over here. | do blieve I'd q
| friz, if it hadn't bin fer you."
"Ah," groaned WILL in an aside "she hugged
one SO could scarcely breathe"
Don't Miss Laury sing purity? do wonder
eff she raaly did take advantage O. leap year an
| pop the question But don't think it's any
| more'n right eff she did. What's leap year made
| for ef not to give US pure wimmen chance to
| git married, when the men is sech fools Now eff
| wasn't sech young and giddy gal prehaps T.
| pop to some good, sober man who'd take good
care O. wife an family. Some one like you,
Will, few years older'n me-"
"Snakes and Lizards p gasped Will, aside
"Shes goin' to pop, and Is old enough to be my
| great gran mother"
And he began beckoning furtively to one of
his companions for relief, but in vain.
"Yes, Mr.. Will, don't think anybody has
| any right to live single all their lives. That's
not what we're tended for. S'posin' nobody
was to git married for two hundred years, why
whatd become o. us all +? Goodness knows
don't. s'pose you'll git wife some O. those
days, Mr.. Will?"
''Lordy, Miss Marier, whatd want to git
self, 'Its comm now-I knowed it when she
made me come, the old--witch p'
'Lawful sakes Will, how you do talk J.
Whatd your sister Ellen git married for p
Wouldn't it be nice to have some sober, steady
person to sew buttons on your shirts an darn
your socks for you p insinuatingy added the
siren.
"Darn the socks P' muttered Will, brushing
away the drops of cold perspiration that dampen-
ed his forehead.
eyes, so said. Darn your socks cook for
you, and meet you at the door at night with
sweet kiss when you come home all tired and
dirty from work. Oh, wouldn't that be nice
such happiness ~ and she peered into his face
with loving glance that could not be mistaken.
'Realy, Miss Marier, believe must go out
in the hall. I-Iwant to-cough," gasped Will.
Law, Will, cough away, it won't hurt moth
in. What's the matter O. you tonight, any
how ? You act juSt's though you was afeerd I'd
bite you. You wasn't so bashfu the night you
tuck me home from the party Don't you re-
member how you kissed me then, dear Will ?'
and she placed one hand affectionately upon his
coat-seeve.
"Oh, dear !" groaned Wadde, inwardly,
chow wish somebody d come an take her away
I'll bet cookie the old witch'll marry me afore
the nights over Darn her, she did all the kiss
in herself-I didn't" |"
gittin' bis book Don't it make you feel funny -?
trimmed so can scarcely set still Oh haint
it orful But then it's human natur', an all on
US must do the same, oness they want TO live an
die old maids an bachelors. Say, Will, it's leap
year now. Sposin' some nice young gald ak
you to hev her-whatd you say?"
'Oh, lordy l don't know, groaned Waddle,
his eyes looking like two young moons "Miss
Marier, don't-please don't |"
uhot 1a&
you crazy2"
"Don't-dont pop, please don't Don't tell
me how love you, mean," stammered the poor
fellow.
"Bless you, Will, bless you Oh how happy
those precious words make me feel Will dear
Will, my hearts too full-let me rest here, nv
first, my only love p murmured Marier, resting
her lovely head upon Willis manly shirt 'front.'
"What the ole cats is the matter th the wo-
man Did ye bite your tongue?"
"Oh, WILL Pm SO glad I've loved you so
long, and now you say you love me ~
"MeP | didn't DON'T"
"Mr Wadde, what d. you mean ? Now that
Pve avowed my love for you, be you goin' to |
back out Jest try it that's all an I'll see eff
there's any law fer poor lone female critter- |
Jest try it, an see eff don't make you smart for
itp whispered Marier, her long bony fingers
pressing the terrified mans arm.
'Don't-you hurt What d. you mean TO do2'
''You must tell the parson you want to git |
or I'll faint in your arms p
"Dont-oh don't, Miss Marier, an I'll do
anything P'
"Then tell him."
81 can't can't. Let me go want to 90
home ~ moaned the doomed one.
"Tell him, then, or I'll sue you for breach of |
promise l'' whispered Marier threatenngly.
"Mr.-Mr. Rog-" squealed Will, jumping al
most out Of his boots as the long, bird-ike claws
Of the love-lorn damsel pricked his arm then
breaking down in prolonged groan, as all eyes
were turned towards him. astonished at this un-
ooked-for interruption, he sank back into his
seat while great dInna of naraniratinn rnllad |