Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-03-22

their eyes wide open, too. Sich n
dance as led himl just think on IL,
Annie-one night, when he asked to
see me hum from singin' school, | toP
him yes, if he would walk behind jest
where did; it had been a-rainin' and
was dreadful muddy. Hum | went,
wallxin' through the middle of every
puddle an the deepest .mud-holcs |
could find, an he arter me, ready to
follow me anywheres.
awe was a-talkin' of bein' married
in the fall the day warn't set; but |
was a-spinnin' and weavin' an bleach
i'm my piller-burs and sheets. Eve got
'em laid away yit. There was anuther
feller used ter hang round me in them
days; he's dead and gone now, but it
made Joe dreadful provoked to have
me notice him, because he warn very
stiddy, and, besides, Joe wanted me all
to himself. Sometimes, to plague him,
| used to laugh and talk with him,
though never thought he could hor a
candle to Joe. One night we went to
an apple bee at Peru village. We all
went in chaises, because it was a-rain-
in. All the way Joe was a-tryin' ter
make me promise not to have nothin'
to say ter Frank Brodman that night;
but | was like some other gals, silly and
giddy, and reg'lar spitfire inter the
barg'in. So fired up, and sez 1: Joe
Edwards, l amt bound yit, and I'll talk
to jest who l please
Every well, Ann he sez, talkin'
slow like, Jest as you please, but my
wife sha'n't make so free with Brod-
man. Better wait till you git your
wife, l spit out, and jumped out of the
shay, and run inter the house cen
Almost afore he could draw up. All
the evening l was dreadful cool to him,
and smilin' to Brodman; and the cooler
Joe looked and the sterner he sot his
mouth, the more laughed and carried
on. He didn't come a-nigh me only
once, and then to ask was / ready to go
hum. said yes, keerless like; but l
meant to make it all up goin' hum.
When the wagins come to the door, |
started on ahead, and jumped into a
shay standin' there. Joe had drove a
black hoss, so was sure it was his'n;
but pretty soon | heerd wagin drive
off as if the ole boy and all was arter
it. Somebody come and jumped into
my wagin; and who should it be but
Frank Brodman? guess | was pretty
still all the way hum. was scarf
most to death, but KEEP a-sayin' to my
self | would tell Joe how | had made
mistake, as | had tole Brodman as soon
as he sot foot in the shay.
81 had forgot how proud Joe was.
He never come a-nigh the house agin,
though | sot and watched and waited
and listened nights together, thinkin' |
heerd his step in the wind, and was all
of trimble every time the door-latch
ratified, till father would rake up the
fire and send MS all to" bed. | oughter
have gone right up to him the very
next time | see him at meetin' and said:
Joe, made u mistake and he was
good-enough hearted to make it all up;
but no, let him pass, tryin' to look
keerless like, and by spring heerd he
was keepin' company with Sara Hitch
cock, at Peru. Well, they was merried
the next summer. | dunno how happy
they be, though.
Il didn't have much time to think
of my troubles. People worked in them
days. What with churnin' an quiltin'
an weavin', an doin' up the fall an
spring sewin', besides the housework,
there warnt much time to cry; but
somehow never found nobody to take
Joe's place, and | dropped out of the
frolics and dances. Arter my sisters
was all merried, folks begun to call me
an ole maid. might have got merried,
to good providers, too, but they warn't
Joe. So you see what I've come to
Jest livin' round from pillar to post,
a-tendin' other folks children, when !
might "a had sons and daughters of my
own. Dear, dear! gals is dreadful fool
ish. If they would only larn by other
folks troubles! But they don't, and
they won't as long as the Lord keeps
one on them on the footstOol. Annie,
be you asleep?"
"No, indeed auntie. | have heard
every word. guess every one almost
has days they wish they could live over"
Likely; but go to sleep. You'll be
white rs skim milk in the mornin'."
Miss Antiss put out the light, got into
bed, and, lying motionless, breathing
hard and regularly, soon was not sur.
prised to hear low sobbing and feel
the shaking of the bed by the effort
Annie made to suppress her tears.
81 guess l can see through mill,
stone ef there's a hole in it, said Aunt
Ann to herself. "Now eff | can only
ketch that air Harry Jacksonr
"How is your hay, jacob" Miss
Antiss inquired, as her nephew was
slowing her bundles away under the
chaise seat the next morning.
"Only middlin. | must go up tc
Jackson's and find out something more
about that new grass-seed when have
time. To-day mother and me are 90
ing down to the Ferry. Come again
Aunt Ann, soon. This amt nothing
but a call"
Sitting very erect, holding the rein'
high and wide apart, while keeping {
sharp eye on the old horse, Miss Ants:
logged homeward. Presently she saw
coming down the road toward her, {
broad-shouldered, handsome young
man, riding his black horse very care
lessly, for the reins lay loose on hi
neck, and the rider was apparently il
a brown-study. A sudden impulse
Jennie, always ready for that request
| SJOOu Sllll. one was Ill IOT IL now, SIT
thought, as the young man raised hi
hat and checked his horse.
"Good-day, Henry. How's you
motherPn
'Very well, Miss Antiss. She wa
wondering the other day why you hav
not been to see us in so long
"Tve been away''-brietly. "Be yov
pressed for time?n ?n-suddenly.
"No, not at all. Can be of an,
service?h
81 dunno about service, but wis
you would ride on to Ford's to see him
He's dreadful worried bout his hay
and was a-comin' over to see you 'bou
that new-fangled grass seed, but l dom
believe he'll git round to it to-day.
would ease his mind wonderful"
81 will go, Miss Antiss s'--looking
little graver than before. Good
! morning. and he rode on.
t "There, Ann Antiss, do you suppos
the Lord will ever forgive you that lie
| Jacobs most to the Ferry by this time