The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-02-11
JAKE MUGGlNS' COURTSHIP.

Whew, but it's hotrr calculated
Jacob Muggins as he threw down the
tnrnip hoe and commenced mopping
his face with Il huge bandana handker.
chief. one sultry day in early autumn.
! do wish luis patch of turnips was
dug am safely housed in the old gran
AIRY, lac continued. gazing around upon
the Immense piles green topped veg
etables. or else that the weather would
cool down so that n fellow could ret
somP hing done in day. Here I've
been ard al Work all day, and am not
half through with my job yet; and
what's more, it will take me till plumb
noon tomorrow to finish if / keep on
this way" And with this muttered
s1liloquy Jake resumed his hoe, COM
menced digging vigorously that one
might suppose he stood in dread of be.
ing called sluggard if he failed to per-
form two days work during one revo-
luton of the diunal axis.
The truth was, however, he had al
ready accomplished good DAVIS work.
although it was not more than three
O'Clock in the afternoon, and the
shadows OF the trees in the grove hard
by had not yet taken that long. peculiar
slant which marks the declination of
the sun to the western horizon.
Jacob Muggins was tall, brawny
son of the soil, with hands and feet lust
n little too large to be termed classic.
and a handsome, though sunburned
countenance. which could assume a
very comical expression when its mas.
ter willed. To-day he was arrayed in
coarse homespun garb of pale, richly
colored blue, with rough cowhide
shoes and broad palm-leaf hat. around
the crown of which was tied bright
green ribbon-tied there by two fairy
hands that Jake would have given
worlds to call his own.
How Jacob ever came to fall in love
with Jenny Weatherby, the wealthy
squire's pretty daughter, Jacob did not
know. But the thing had been done,
and although Jenny had done nothing
to discourage his shy approaches, ne
had never summoned sufficient resolu-
tion to nuke proposal for her hand.
On several occasions he had, as he
thought, scraped up his courage to the
sticking point, but, each time, upon being
ushered into the presence of the fair
charmer, his resolution gave way liter
ally, as he afterWard expressed H.,
''eked out at his fingers ends,p so that
he could only stammer few common
place remarks concerning the weather
and crops.
Worse than all, certain dashing
young cousin of the Weatherby's had
been down from the city the past few
weeks, and had been making himself
quite plentiful about the squire's, walk
ing, rowing and fishing with Jenny
almost every day, while he was COM
PEELED TO be at work in the field. This
was gall and wormWOOd to Door Jacob.
not because he minded the work, but,
inasmuch as his rival was of clever ad-
dress and polished manner, he stood in
great danger of being displaced in the
affection of Jenny, by the fascinating
allurements of the city fop, and in con
sideratlon of this impending calamity,
Jacob determined to press his suit upon
the very first opportunity.
Financially, Jake was quite prepared
to enter into a state of matrimony.
His motto had always been, "work
and win, and, in consequence of strictly
adhering to this rule of honesty, he had
by diligence and industry accumulated
the sum of five hundred dollars, earned
by teaching the village school winters
and working on the farm summers.
The possession of this sum very
naturally elevated him in the opinion oi
the country folks, who looked upon
AAHA 80 N"PlldllSJ, anu Ol COuIbt llb Wde
considered quite catch by the match
making mammas of the district.
Already he had begun to look around
IN search of a suitable investment fol
his money, and he decided in favor of
little white cottage situated in the val
ley, over whose low, thatched roof tn,
Woodbine and morning glOries grew il
profasion. This could be had for the fv,