Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-09-30
Joe Ch:ckweed's Courtship.

~ vow," said Joe Ohickweed, as h'
stood before the parlor mirror, putting
the last touch to his we'll oiled hair, 81
I let this night pass without finding ou
Just how l stand with Melinda Martin
then I'm COW. The critter has always
acted so pcsky skittish that there's ne
gettin' round her. like her, and she
knows it, and I'm inclined to think she
likes me. But she likes more than one
string to her bow, and I amt sure but
she'd ship me any minute if she thought
she could make q better bargain.
Maybe I'm doin' her an injustice, and !
hope 1 am, but she acts sometimes
'tarnally like real coquette, and Idon't
know what to make of her. But, to-
night" he added, fitting an immensely
wide brimmed hat upon his shining
head, "to-night I'll settle the matter
I'll cross the Rubicon, if I get my
boots full of water. Melinda amt bad
spec, and might do worse most any
where else."
"Do tell me if it come to that |" ex-
claimed old Mrs. Chickweed, who had
entered the room unnoticed by her son
in time to hear the last sentence; swell,
I've long had notion that you was
aiming in that direction"
Joe turned red from his eye winkers
to his ankles, and Looked very sheepish.
He worked very busily, too, for few
seconds, with brushing some imaginary
dust from place between the shoulders
of his coat, which he couldn't reach, but
he said nothing.
"'There amt nothing to be shamed
on, Joe" continued the loquacious old
lady, apparently pleased at making tho
discovery she had, "and you spoke the
gospel truth when you said you might
do worse elsewhere. Melinda's nice
GAL"
"Well," said Joe, gaining courage
from his mothers manner, "I'm glad
you think so, for I'm bound to make her
my wife IT,
eff what7" asked the old lady.
"Well, if anything's agin it,
"You just do your duty, Joe, and
Melinda is yourn. Remember the
FARM"
"It is fine farm, no mistake - said
Joe, earnestly.
"No better farm of its size in the
whole country than the Widder Mar
tins" said Mrs. Chickweed, in an en-
phatic tone.
"No, I think not"
"And then see how it is stocked two
yoke of the best steers in these parts,
besides her two horses, say nothing of
the rest of the critters. And, of course,
they'll all go with Melinda when the
widder's dead, and before, too, for you
will go rit ht on the farm as soon as you
get mar led, and take charge OF every
thug"
Its a good opinion, that's fact"
said Joe "but I put higher value on
Melinda than all the property"
"And we'll you should, though the
farm and tixins amt to be despised."
"Oh, I amt one to despise 'em."
Joe laughed and left the room, and
soon after he left the house, and made
his way, as expeditiously as tho gloom
of the evening would permit, toward
the residence of the Widow Martin. A
light was burning in the front room, but
the window curtains were closely drawn
so that he could not get view into the
apartments as he passed along the yard.
He knocked at the door, and was ad-
mitted by the widow in person, who,
after inquiring benevolently after his
health, ushered him into the parlor.
It was already occupied by two per-
sons-Melinda and Reuben Sparks, the
latter a young man who had recently
to Springville from California,
who was looked upon with special dis
favor by the young farmer.
Joe was welcomed by the young lady,
but not as cordially as formerly, and by
no means 80 cordially as Joe thought
his due. He was greeted by Mr.. Sparks
in sort of joking, condescending way,
that raised his ire inwardly. However,
the conversation that followed was ap-
parently agreeable to all parties, and
the evening wore away till the widow
retired, when Mr.. Sparks iutimated that
perhaps it was time for him to be re-
tiring, as it was quite little walk to the
village. Melinda at once asserted that
it was very early indeed, and he should
not think OF leaving SO soon whereupon
Mr.. Sparks was induced to stop while |
longer, and Mr.. Chickweed was secretly
enraged that Melinda should be so taken
up with the young sprig.
CalIOrnla became the topic OF cOnver-
sation, and Reuben Sparks shone bril-
liantly in his descriptive accounts of the
country and what he had done while
there.
"Then you weren't in the diggin's 2"
inquired Joe, in response to something
his rival had uttered.
"By no means," replied Sparks,
loftily. 81 left the digging to those
who were used to it; had no taste in
that direction"
"Oh, then you stopped in town i"
Certainly"
"Business. I s'pose, first-rate there2"
Yes; a young man of talent will soon
engage himself in profitable employ
ment."
Then I s'pect you must have done
extraordinarily we'll, In tone that he |