The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-07-21
THE SQUIRE'S PROPOSAL.

The SQUlRE PRUfUOAu.
"No, Samantha Jane Peabody, you won't
stir one step to the singin'-school! l amt
goin' to have you gaddin' about the hull
blessed time. You'll stay to hum one
evenin', jest to see how it seems!
"You h'ain't been out a single ever,'n' this
,veek3 Wal, what of it? If you should stay
IN another week, 'twouldn't hurt you none,
I guess.
"No, I h'ain't forgot when I 'ras young,
nuther. ss'Tain't 50 long ago that 1 should
forget it. When was ut your age, I staid
to hum, and made myself useful; didn't
spend the heft of my time spinnin' street.
yarn. as the girls do nowadays. I used
to spin fax an wool, an make butter an
cheese, an wash, an iron, an bake. An
all I did was done as it orter be. But as
fur you, you jest furry round, half doin'
what you purtend TO dew, SOS to be a-kitin'
off some'eres. an Pm goin' tew put stop
tot. I knew how 'twould be when your
gardeen sent you to the 'cademy.
s"What's that? You told Sam Skinner that
you'd 90 to the sinyin' school, an he's comin'
fur ye2 Lot him come here on sich an ar
rant as that, an III tell him suthin' he
won't want to hear agin! I've. had as much
as want of the SINNERS sence your father,
who never had no more Judgment than a
baby, limited the dr..con tew be your gar
deem. He's for ever neddlin' with things
that don't consarn LIN, an 'Lijah, Sans
father, is off the same i'lcce. 1t was 'nough
tew put me out of conceit of him tew see
him sidlin' up tew the Widder Peters las'
Sabbath-day evenin, an his wife not in her
grave six months yit."
"Miss Peters is his wJe's brothers ,oidoir
What's that to dew with it? I like to see
folks show some respect to their deceased
pardners. Your father has been dead eight
years come March, an there amt none Of
of the male sect dared tew hint ut sich a
thing as my takin' anybody in his place.
"You should think 't,uould take considerable
eourages You'd had new father long
afore this if I'd given some folks any
encouragement.
"There's Sam Skinner con,in' cross lots
Yes, an maxim straight bee-line fur the
door. That's what you've slicked yourself
up SO scrumtious fur, with that red ribbon
in your hair, an Sunday go-tew-meetin'
dress on. I've as good mind as ever had
tew eat to make you go an take it off,"
In walked Sam, tall, strapping fellow,
with curly black hair and eyes Of the same
color, with sly, roguish CLEAN in them.
which reminded one of his uncle, the dea-
con.
"Good-arternoon, Mrs. Peabody. How
dye do?"
"I amt any tew well, nor any tew glad
to see you, Mister Sam, to speak politely.
see you over tew the elders t'other night,
an you seemed tew be very merry. Yer
uncle thought he'd got good joke on me,
Dut ue alu 4ulte ~ oii|fo 40 ne ellAuhS
himself"
"Oh, pshaw Mrs. Peabody; there don't
nobody mind what Uncle Ike says. He
will have his joke, you know; it's jest as
nat'ral to him as to breathe; but he don't
bear no malice. Good.arternoon, Miss Sal
mantha, calc'late We'll have nice clear
evenin' fur the singin' school. I called
to say that I'd come fur ye leetle arter
seven"
"You needn't trouble yourself, Mister
Sam,; Samantha amt goin' tew the sing.
in'-school. So if that's all the arrant you
have, you'd better be goin'."
"Twon't be no trouble, not he least
mite, as I'm goin' the same way myself
That amt all my arrant, nuther. Dad
sen. message 60 ye, though l don't s'pose
you are to hear it,"
at yer father sent me message, Sam
Skinner, I'll thank you tew deliver it."
oval, he told Inc to tell ye that he was
comm over to see ye this evenin'. But
don't suppose you'll care to see him, 30 I'll
tell him not tew come"
why, how you de'u run on, Sam! I new.
or see the beat on't-never! Strange you
can't take a joke. OF course I'll be GLAD
tew see yer father. Him an me used to De
great cronies when we was at your age an
there amt no knowin' what might have
happened if Johnathan Peabody hadnt
come along"
ri s'pose the old man thought the coast
would be clear this evenin', eh, Salmanthaf
On his accountI'm really sorry you are to"
busy tew 60: P'raps you'd better consider
ont SPELL"
oval, don't know as there's anything
tew hinder her goin'," said the widow as
her daughter made no reply. t'rhere'n be
nothin' but the supper dishestew wash an
I can dew them. Tell yer father that I'll