Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-04
JAKE MUGGINS' COURTSHIP.

"Whew, but It's hotm calculated
Jacob MugRins as he threw down the
turnip hoe and commenced mopping
his face with huge bandana handker-
chief, one sultry day in early autumn.
g. 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, or else that the weather would
cool down so that fellow could ge,
something done in a day. Here I've
been bard 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 l 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 sluggard if he failed to per-
form two days work during one revo-
luton of the diuinal 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 n tall, brawny
son of the soil, with hands and feet Just
= little too large to be termed classic,
and a handsome, though sunburned
eountenance. which could assume n
very comical expression when its mas.
ter willed. To-day he was arrayed in
coarse homespun garb of pale, richly
eolored 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
20 discourage his shy approaches, he
had never summoned sufficient resolu-
tion to make n 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
eharmer, his resolution gave way liter
ally, as he afterward expressed l.,
" eked out at his fingers ends" so that
he could only stammer few common
place remarks concerning the weather
and crops.
Worse than all, n 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
Delled 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
he very first opportunity.
financially, Jake wa' quite prepared
TO enter into a state of matrimony.
His motto had always been, work
and win" and. in consequence OF strictly
adheriDg 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 oI
The country folks, who looked upon
him as a capitalist, and of course he was
considered quite catch by the match.
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 a
little white cottage situated in the val.
ley. over whose low, thatched roof the
woodbine and morning glories grew In
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
iarm adjoining the cottage, which would
enable them to commence life IN quite
comfortable circumstances.
But, as has been before stated, tn,
great difficulty with Jacob was to con.
guer his untoward bashfulness, which
he termed hereditary, and secure tli,
wished.for promise; In consequence o
which failing he was placed in quite 4
quandary.
"Whew, but it's hotr' and again Jak,