The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1880-08-18
WRESTLING FOR A GAL.

| OCutu tATkdIlsdS uoSC JuSs COiuS- "
light. Dick Anderson had gradu
ated between the plow-handles. l
was said that he could run a furrov
SO straight that it would break
knock-kneed mans legs to walk il
it. This accomplishment was kint
of frontispiece to further volume 0
agricultural success, and more thar
one young lady in the neighborhood
had her eye on the young catch
Dick wasn't bashful, but he 6idn'
seem to be particularly impressed
with the charms scattered around
him like falling drops of water tha
fingers on leafy trees alter rain
But he soon met his fate, youns
lady, Winnie Hogrow. Winnie wa'
a beautiful girl, and could cover al
much corn with hoe or scrape al
much cotton as any man in the neigh
borhood. The couple loved-de
votedly, agriculturally. Hogrow hai
raised his daughter with great
care, and now that she had at
tanned the zenith eff her usefulness, il
grieved him to think Of losing her
One Sunday Dick went over, and
going out to where the old man was
shelling corn to the pigs, said:
"Mr. Hogrow, | suppose"
"I don't suppose anything, SIR"
swell, then, you doubtless know
~
II don't know anything"
"That's all right, then. 1 am 60.
ing to marry your daughter, and by
next complaining time you will
know something. Do you weaken
Mr.. Hogrow ?"
"See here, young feller, / cans
afford to lose my gal. | have had
powerful bad luck this season. The
cut-worms begun on the corn by the
time it came up, aud the bugs pitched
into the cotton and to make things
worse, my best mule and one of my
cows got into a fight and the mule
kicked the COW until both of them
died. So, under the circumstances
I'd rather you'd marry somebody
else"
II don't accept your misfortunes
as excuses. I'm going to marry the
girl"
"I'll tell you what I'll do, Dick
III make this arrangement Well
wrestle, and if you throw me the
gals your'n, If 1 throw you she's
mine. If you marry her against my
will, I shall pleasantly extorminate
you. If you throw me and marry
her, this farm, together with the gal,
is your'n. I'll give three trials, one
to-day. one three weeks from now,
and the other in six weeks"
Dick vas compelled to agree, al
though the old mah was recognized
as the best wrestler in the country.
He had challenged everybody and
had thrown everybody who had ae.
Eepted. After eating dinner, the old
man announced his Willingness to
take the first ballot. Dick was will
ing. The contestants, including the
girl, went into the yard, the girl
took the hats, and the men erappled
each other. The signal was given,
aud Dick went over the old mans
head and plowed a shoit furrow in
the ground. ..-. ......
"Give me my hat" he said to the
girl.
Don't give up" she remarked
handing over his tile. $50 az" ay
and practice" g.,.l7 ...l-4-s-.
Dick left, discouraged, but taking
the girls advice, wrestled with steam
boatmen and farmers until the time
tor the next trial came. At the ap-
pointed time Dick appeared at Hog
rows residence ----------..
"Feel like you can cut your capers
pretty we'll ?" asked the old man.
II think SO. l feel that my cause
is just, and with the aid of kind
Providence l hope to pile you"
providence comes in putty handy
at times" said the old man, pulling
off his coat, "but its hard matter
to buck agin an old stager. Get
outen your jacket. I'll tall the ga
and the farm is your'n. -Four hun
dred acres, and all under fence.
Gal weighs one hundred and fifty
big inducements" The two men
glappled, and again Dick plowed up
the earth.
"Don't give up" said the girl.
"No," said the old man, "for the
land ID under fence, and the ga
weighs one hundred and ftty-cau
handle hoe wonderful !"
Dick went away and pondered
1t was evident that the old man
could throw him every time. TIC
lose the gal was to wreck his life
An idea struck him. He smiled
He left the neighborhood and re-
mained until the time for the third
fall was nearly up. On the appoint
ed day he visited the old man.
Il have agreed to everything" said
Dick, and now / ask d favor. Let
the final trial take place tonight in
the dark. l will meet you here a,
ten o'clock"
"Any way suits me-" replied the
old man. "I'll meet you anywhere
AT ten clock the old man stood
in the yard chuckliug. His combat
ant climbed the fence and ap-
preached. Without exchanging
word the two men grappled. The
struggle was short. The old man
went up in the air, came down, and
struck the ground with a force that
almost took his life. He lay for q
i