The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-11-03

He never gave much account Of
himself. He said that he'd got tired
of farming and he could find some
thing to doin tho city, and was EN-
ployed in abig wholesale house down
on Broad street. So be lived on with
us for number Of months, bearing
all the tricks and jokes patiently,
drinking caster oil in his glass Of
milk, salt in his coffee, eating soap
in his pie, and suppose a thousand
things that neverknew Of and grew
more and more devoted to Miss Birch
the more she snubbed him, until one
Eday she came into my room, and I
knew she had something to say by
her looks. So / let her talk on, and
finally she says:
"Mrs. Compton, | do believe I'll
have to marry that fellow to get rid
of him.
SWELL. says /, "that's sensible
way, for it's sure one. Just marry
him, and he'll trouble you little
enough after that, Ill warrant
But, bless you, how she few upl
"Mrs. Compton, says she, II didn't
4sxpect obe insulted BY you. You.
Ekno#ds wellas 1 that Barnabas is
above the common run. He's SO
faithful and true. Why, he asked
me to marry him four times last
week, and five times this, and last
night he sent up the lovingest note
along with quart Of oysters and a
pair Of shoes, and now if you think
he is going to neglect me like other
men you're very much mistaken"
and then she bounced out of the room
and wouldn't come back for a week.
And | learned, my dear, not to take
u woman at her word.
One night, a few months later, in
came Barnabas, bristles up, and fam
ing necktie, and he seemed to have
something to say. He wiggled and
squirmed in his chair, cleared his
throat, stared at the pictures and the
ceiling, upset vase of flowers on
the table (by the way, be was the
most destructive creature l ever saw,
always spilling, tearing, breaking
things, laundering over delicate
chairs, and putting his foot through
screenS and this evening he did
more damage than usual. When the
hours had passed until after II, and
still he sat. told him never sat
up very late. l guessed l should
have to ask him to leave. But he
only fgeted the more, and at last I
thought he was choking, his face got
fairly purple.
"Mrs. Compton," he says, "the BIZ
BILE says, We know, and l thought be-
ing as how ye was once there YER
SELF that maybe it wouldn't be too
much to ask yer to be SO kind us to
step down. It's at the brown church
of a Tuesday morning, ye know, and
if you'll be there bout Z o'clock we'll
be much oh pleased" and with that
he bolted through the door and was
gone.
OF course it got out through the
house, and Monday night presents
from the boarders began to arrive
Such loads and loads of things. l
went up and there stood Barnabus
and his bride in the midst unpack.
ing. There were brooms, scrub
brushes, curry combs, bed bug pois-
on, mouse traps, boot jacks, soap
enough for a century, a canned cat,
a rolling pin and poker tied together
with ribbons and labeled, Sire arms
dangerous" a barrel of beans, hair
oil and goodness knows what else.
Miss Birch was offended, but Barn.
abas said-"Never mind, Mama,
them things is all useful articles, and
will come mighty handy in our
shanty. And, Miss Compton, if you
will kindly say to the boarders that
we have got a shanty down on a
cross roads quite a step from here,
and well be happy to see 'em thar
tomorrow night, I'll be obliged to ye.
I'll send up wagon to take 'em
: down SEEM they've been SO hand
some."