Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-02-26
SPROUTS LEAP-YEAR.
BY 7. Il. JONES.

Mr.. Sproul finished his dinner, and
turning his plate bottom side up sat fol
some time in profound meditation. There
was nothing unusual in the fact that Mr.
Sproul washed his dinner dishes in that
way, i. e., by turning them bottom side
upward, for that was habit that other
miners beside that worthy sometimes fol-
lowed through the week, and when Sun.
day arrived they would, Qike old Aunt
Dnah), have a clarin'-up time", when
the accumulated dishes of the week would
form a limited acquaintance with soar
and water. But it was something unus-
ual for Mr.. Sproul TO be guilty of medit-
alton on any subject, his head being much
better calculated to receive impressions
from pick handle than from profound
thought. Nevertheless the facts are just
as we have stated.
What could have occurred to awaken
this unusual action on the part of Mr.
| Sproul, none but myself, his bosom chum
and Fidus Achates could have guessed
Let me tell the truth at once and reliev,
my mind. After forty years Of singl,
blessedness, Mr.. Sproul had met the fat,
common to masculine humanity and wa.
deep in love. The ''little blind god" q
believe that is the expression in vogue
among romancers,) had sent shaft at
random, and it had lodged in my friend
Sproul under the fifth rib, and there it
remained. The object which had inspr-
ed him with this feeling was widow,
the daughter of Colonel Spruggins, Of
Greaser Bend, late arrival by x-tlain
from "tho States" Sproul had never
read the Pickwick Papers if he had he
would doubtless have remembered the
advice of the elder Mr.. Weller, to "be-
ware of vidders," and this story might
not have been written.
To resume the thread of this narrative,
Mr.. Sproul having finished his cogta-
tions, arose from the table, and with two
or three sighs proportional to his size,
began drawing on his gum boots prepar-
atory to the afternoons labor. 1t was
not an uncommon thing for my friend
to give vent to his feelings in sighs, for
this was about the fifth time that the ar
rival of calico at The Bend" had arous-
cd the slumbering passions of his manly
heart. In short, he was what is known
rs a marrying man." by which | do
not wish to be understood as meaning OF o
who was too much married, but rather
as one ready at all times to enter that
most desirable state. AS his previous af-
fairs of the heart had not been of an en-
couragng character, however promising
at first, it is but natural that ho should
have some misgivings as to the result in
the present case.
Mr., Sproai drew on one gum boot and
fell into another train Of thought, which
was rudely interrupted by knock at his
door. This being opened, admitted no
less parsonage than the redoubtable
Colonel himself.
"Evenin', Sproul jist goin' to work I?
Well, | won't stop yer but mint. A
right smart of rain we had last night.
Mr.. Sproul admitted that the rain had
been pretty fair one.
"Well, yes but that's to be expected
at this time of the year." continued the
Colonel, drawing three-legged stool to
the fire. "Winter's the season for rain
and for jolifyin' in this country. That's
what brought me over to-day. I've got
an invite for you and you can't guess
what it's to-"
My friend admitted that he was not
Yankee enough for that.
81 knowed yer couldn't" cried the
Colonel, triumphantly. "I's Leap
Year party. The gals invite the fel lers
and take 'em thar, and pay the bills and
wait on 'em ginerally. Liza says they
alters have 'em in Missoury, and it's one
of her notions, gittin' on it up. She jist
sent me over to AK if she could have the
honor Of waitin' on you tonight, if you
wasn't already goin' with some one else"
To say that Mr.. Sprou was in the
seventh heaven of delight would be no
exaggeration. That he should be the
choice of his SOULS delight from among
all the single men Of Greaser Bend au-
cured well for the future of his hopes
The gum boot was jerked off in jiffy, as
he told the Colonel to tell "Liza" that
he would indeed be most happy.
Then it's all right. You'd better
come over to the house and:take tea with
us, too. III be back in no time and wei
go right along"
The Colonel here resumed his hat anC
went down to the bar where he had an
old claim, TO see if any heather China
men we're rocking there, while Sproul
made hasty preparations for the coming
supper and dance. The Colonel found
the Cinnamon at work as he expected,
and after shying few rocks at them,
compromised the matter by taking ten
dollars and agreeing to let them work the
balance Of the week. Having thus made
wages he returned, and finding that
Sproul had got to looking his prettiest
they together then hed to the Colonel's
domcile.
Mr.. Sproul afterwards assured me that
he had never, never passed happier af-
ternoon than that of that glorious 29th OF
February. 1t drew to a close only too
soon, and when the Colone's ample board
was spread for supper and he, with the
rest, gathered around it, he could not
help contrasting it with the solitary mess
of pork and beans which formed his usual
meal, and resolved that such a state OF
affairs should continue no longer than be
could help.
! "Ah," said the Colonel, when he had