Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-09-22
GRANDMAsl FIRST BEAU.

Grandma, old Mrs. Lennox says
you were real pretty when you were
young said Lena Lawrence, as she sat
by the side of the still comely old lady.
Much obliged TO Mrs. Lennox,'
said grandma, with a pleasant laugh,
for she was happy, genial old lady.
Il b'heve was considered pretty
good-lookin' some fifty years ago.
And she said you had lots of beaux.
Did you?'
well, had my share. 1 reckon )
and the faint red in her cid check grew
brighter "a many and many before
saw your grandpa. Ny first beau-ob'
dear me, how well rememberv And
grandma burst into hearty laugh that
almost brought the tears TO her eyes.
PLEASE tell us all about it, demand
ed three or four young voices.
We'll. s'pose 1 can i'll Try. There
was a pretty fair boy lived IN the next
farmhouse to ours, bout mile away.
His name was JededlVh. He was bout
II when he first asplred to the honor OF
my company.
'Iwasn't much above l6 myself, jest
out of long aprons, and like girls nova
DAYS, l s'pose, thought lois more about
the beaux than I'd ought to.
'One cold night in January, all tie
family was sittin' in the great kitchen,
pairing apples, when q knock came to
the door. Father got up and opened it,
when in came Jededlah, all bundled up,
with the exception OF his nose, which
was a peaked one. Father invited him
IT. an he soon perched himself on high
a chair, and began unwindlu' his COM
forler. | thought he meyer would stop.
Thcu he set there ten minutes without
speakin' word, till by-and-bye he
burst out with
4 say, Hammer, Elk Waters is goin'
to hev little party TO night, and he
wanted me to ak you.'
'I'd like to CO. says 1, looking side
ways over to mother. for The little beys
was giggllng-' lfmother says so. You
see, boys and girls in them days didn't
20 off without asking.
1t is awful cold,' says mother, amt
It Jcdedah.'
well, not SO very, goin' through the
woods.
Bear secu in them woods said
ather, his blue eyes twinklln'. and not
50 long ago, neither
Let 'em come,' said Jcddy; VIC
called him Jeddy for short. 4 wasn't
born in the back woods to be scared by
a BEAR
WELL said father, quite sooer'hke'
If you do meet one, don't let it run of
with my Hannah
And mind you bring her home fore
'lovon,' said mother. l don't prove
of girls of sixteen staying out all nights
to irolics. Now Hammer, wrap up pro-
per warm. It's desp'rit cold wind
We'll, 1 put on new caliker, with n
black silk apron, worked IN berin' bone,
with pink silk, slicked my hair, and was
downstairs in quick time l never felt
so grand IN my life as did a-hangin' on
Jeddy's arm. 1t makes me laugh 10
think oft, and how l asked him if his
ma was well IN such patronizing way.
OF course there was fences to git over,
and he let me fall at The very fus'
one.'
Dear me how frightened the fellow
was Why he stood there like a spook,
and let me pick myself up, and then
SAID, oyer and over, oh, amt you
hurt: Are you hurt bad? Take OF
my arm closer;' and l snuggled up to
his Jacket again, trying hard not to
limp, for did lame my ankle little.
But when l got to the old farmhouse l
forgot all about it. All the girls and
boys were there for miles about, and
the first thing l heard was
'Oh, Hammers got a beau ! and l
felt kinder provoked, and kinder glad.
Well, We played The Weeyily Wheat,
and
"IIere stands young couple,