Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-02-06
JAKE MUGGINs' COURTSHIP.

w new, 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 Of green topped veg
etables, cor else that the weather would
cool down so that fellow could get
something done in day. Here I've
been hard at work all day, and am not
half through with my Job vet; and
what's more, it will take me till plumb
noon tomorrow to finish if / keen 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 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 good days 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 Just
a little too large to be termed classic,
and a handsome, though sunburned
countenance, which could assume a
very comical expression when it's mas
ter willed. To-day he was arrayed in
a 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 nuke proposal for her hand.
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 a 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 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.
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 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 O.
the country folks, who looked upor
him as a capitalist, and of course he wa,
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
profusion. This could be had for the fiv,
hundred and the marriage portion whicl
Jenny would receive from her father
would be sufficient to purchase a small
farm adjoining the cottage, which woult
enable them TO commence life in quit
comfortable circumstances.
But, as has been before stated, tn
great difficulty with Jacob was to con
quer his untoward bashfulness, whicl
lie termed hereditary, and secure th
wished-fo promise; in consequence q
which failing he was placed in quite
quandary.
Whew, but it's hotw and again J ak
threw down his hoe, and commence
mopping his face with the red handkei
chief.
"I would give anything for goo
cool draught from the spring, and