The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-02-05
JAKE MUGGINS' COURTSHIP.

"Whew, but It's hot!" calculated
Jacob Muggins as he threw down the
turnip hoe and commenced mopping
his face with huge bandana handker-
chief, one sultry day in early autumn.
:" do wish this patch of turnips was
dug, and safely housed in the old gran
ary," he continued, gazing around upon
the immense piles Gt green topped veg
etables, "or else that the weather would
cool down so that a fellow could get
something done in II day. Here I've
been lard at 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
soliloquy Jake resumed his hoe, COM
menced digging vigorously that one
might suppose he stood in dread of be-
ing called q sluggard if he failed to per-
form two days work during one revo-
luton of the diurnal axis.
The truth was, however, he had al
ready accomplished a good days work.
although it was not more tlian 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 a tall, brawny
son of the soil, with hands and feet just
n little too large to be termed classic,
and a handsome, though sunburned
countenance. which could assume q
very comical expression when its mas.
ter willed. To-day he was axrayed 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, he
had never summoned sufficient resolu-
tion to m IKE 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
usbered into the presence of the fair
charmer, his resolution gave way liter
ally, as he afterward expressed il.
"eked out at his fingers ends" 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 poor Jacob,
not because lie 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.
sideration 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 ofstrictly
adhering to this rule of honesty, he had
by diligence and industry accumulated
the sum OF fye 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 OF
the country folks, who looked upon
him rs a capitalist, and of course he was
COIlSlutltu QuiIO SoONh Dy Ille mNtCll-
making mammas of the district
Already he had begun to look around
in search of suitable investment for
his money, and he decided in favor of q
little white cottage situated in the val
ley, over whose low, thatched roof thu
woodbine and morning glories grew il
profusion. This could be had for the five
hundred and the marriage portion which
Jenny would receive from her father
would be sufficient TO purchase small
farm adjoining the cottage, which would
enable them to commence life in quite
comfortable circumstances.
But, as has been before stated, the
great difficulty with Jacob was to con,
quer his untoward bashfulness, which
he termed hereditary, and secure the
wished. Tor promise; in consequence q
which falling he was placed in quite a
quandary.
"Whew, but it's hot!" and again JAKE
threw down his hoe, and Commence
mopping his face with the red handker
chief.
Il would give anything for goot
seol draught from the spring, and