The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-09-23
ALL ON THE LAST ROUND.
How ma Arknnsas Lover Won His Bride
little Rock Gazette,1

Arkansas have Just como TO light. Dlek
Anderson had just graduated between
the plow-handes. It was said that he
could run furrow so straight that it
would break o knock-kneed mans leg to
walk in it. This accomplishment was q
kind of frontispiece to future volume
of agricultural success, and more than
one young lady in the neighbor hood had
her eye on the young catch. Dick wasn't
hashful, hut he didn't seem to be par
ticaarly impressed with the charms
around him like falling drops
of water that linger on leafy trees after
rain. But he soon met his fate, q young
lady, Winnie Hogrow. Winnie was o
b, autiful girl and could cover as much
corn with hoe, and scrape as much cot
ton as any man in the neighborhood.
The couple loyed--devotedly, agricul-
turally. Hogrow had raised his daugh-
ter with great care, and now that she
had attained her zenith of usefulness, it
grieved him to think OF losing her. On
Sunday Dick wen, over, and going out
where the old man was Smelling corn to
the pigs, said:
"Mr. Hogrow, suppose"
al don't suppose anything, sir"
"Wcll, then, you doubtless know"
81 don't know anything,
That's all right then. l am going
to marry your daughter, and by next
planting you will know something.
Do you weaken, Mr.. Hogrow?'
"See here, young Teller, | can't afford
to lose my gal. | have had powerful
bad luck this season. The cut-worms
began on the corn by the time it came
up, and the bugs pitched into the cotton;
and, to make things worse, my best mule
and one Of my cows got into fight the
other day. The COW hooked the mule
and the mule kicked the COW, until both
of them died. SO, under the circum-
stances, I'd rather you'd marry somebody
else"
81 don't accept your misfort'lnes as
excuses. I'm going to marry the girl. y
"Ill tell you what I'll do, Dick. I'll
make this arrangement Well wrestle,
and if you throw me the girls your'n; il
| throw you she's mine If you marry
her against my will, shall pleasantly
exterminate you. If you throw me and
marry her. this farm, together with the
gal, is your'n. I'll give three trials-one
to-day, ono three weeks from now, and
the other six weeks"
Dick was compelledto agree, although
the old man was recognized as the best
wrestler in the country. He had chal-
lenged everybody, and had thrown every
one who had accepted. After eatingdin-
ncr the old man announced his willing
ness to take the first ballot. Dick was
willing. The contestants, including the
girl, went into the yard, the girl took the
hats and the men grappled each other.
The signal was given and Dick went over
the old mans head and plowed short
furow in the ground.
"Give me my hat, he said to the girl.
Don't give it up" she remarked,
handing over his tile. ''Go away and
practice" Dick left discouraged, but,
taking the girls advice, vrestled with
steamboat men and farriers until the time
for the next train came. At the ap-
pointed time, Dick appeared at Hog
rows residence
"Feel like you can cut your capers
putty well?" asked the old man.
II think so. feel that my cause is
Just, and, with the aid of kind Provi-
dence, I hope to pile you"
Providence comes in putty handy at
times" said the old man, pulling off his
coat, "but it's harder matter to buck
agin an old stalker. Get outen yer jacket.
III [ full, the gal and the farm is your'n.
l,,.Jr,l aud oil unIar fnnNa
Gal weighs one hundred and fifty pounds.
Big inducements. The two men Crap
pied, and again Dick plowed up the
earth.
Don't give up, said the girl.
"No," said the old man, for the land
is under fence, and the gal weighs one
hundred and fifty-can handle hoe
wonderful"
"Dick went away and pondered. It
was evident tnat the old man could throw
him every time. TO lose the girl was to
wreck his life. An idea struck him. He
smiled. He left the neighborhood and
remained until the time for the third fall
was nearly up. On the appointed day
he visited the old nan.
81 have agreed to everything" said
Dick, "and now | ask favor. Hitherto
| have been embarrassed. Let the final
trial take place tonight in the dark. I
will meet you here at 10 o'clock"
"Any way suits me-" replied the old
man; "I'll meet you anywhere.
At 10 o'clock the old man stood in the
yard chuckling His combatant climbed
the fence and approached. Without ex-
changing u word the two men grappled.
The struggle was short. The old man
went up into the air, came down and
struck the ground with force that
almost took his life. He lay for mo-
ment almost unconscious Dick raised
him up and assisted him into the house.
1.-THE gal and the farm is your'n, said
the old man, AMI the young couple EN-
braced each other. The next day they
were married. Shortly after the cere'
mony was over, large negro man ap'
peared at the door, and, attracting Dick
attention, said 81 wants my $40
flung the ole man hard nough to kill
him. Where's my money!" Dick gave
him SO, and, turning around, received
searching look from the old man. III
explain" said the bridegroom. Real
izing thatI couldn't throw you, and a
the same time realizing that my happi
ness depended upon this marriage, | re
sorted to bit OF treachery." Here n
stopped to buckle his arms around hi
wife. "Ifound big negro that l knew
could throw you, and offered him $40
That's why wanted the wrestling to tax
place in the dark. After he had throw
you, rushed forward and raised 20,
mp"
! When Dick had finished, the old ma
looked at him for full five minutes, and re
marked: at was mighty mean trick
but the farm and gal are your'n.. Fou
hundred acres under fence, and inc 81