The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-06-24
Selected Story.
SCARED OUT OF A WIFE.
LAIcHABLE STORY.

The narrative which am about to
write, was told me one bleak, cold
night, in country parlor. IL was one
Of those nights in mid-winter when the
wind swept over the land, making
everything tingle with its frosty breath,
that | was seated before a blazing fire,
surrounded by jolly half dozen boys
and an old batchelor, Peter Green
about forty and eight years old.
II was just the night without TO
make those within enjoy a COOL story,
so each of ns had told his favorite
story, save Mr. Green, and as be was
jolly old fellow we looked for jolly
story. We were surprised to hear him
say II have no story that would inter
est You, 10 we had 10 find other enter
tainments for while. when enc of the
boys told ma to ask him how it hap
pened that he never got married. So
| did.
"Well, gentlemen" be began, "it
don't seem right for ine To tell how thai
happened, but aa it is about myself, !
don't care much You see when | was
young We had to walk as lar as five
miles to church and singing school,
which was our chief eajoy ment But
this dou't have anything 10 DO with
my not getting wife, but ust want
ell To show you that We bad SOME
| trouble those days in getting our sport.
John Smith and ] were like brothers,
or like MARY and her little lamb.
Where one went the other was sure TO
90. So we vert TO see two sistera, and
as we were not tho best boys imagin-
able, the old gentl, man took nmbrage
and wouldn't allow us to come near the
house, 80 we would take the girls TO
the end of the lane, and there we
would have to take the final kiss.
We soon got tired of that sort of fun,
and I told John, on our way to sing
ing school one night, that was going
TO Sallie's home, and that was going
into the house too.
He said the old man would run nae
off if did.
| told him. was going TO risk it any
how, let come what would.
He said he would risk it if / wonld
So heme we went with the girls
When we got to the end of the lane
told the girls we proposed going all the
way.
They looked at each other In q way
didn't like too well, but they said the
old folks would be in bed, so they
didn't caro- If we did.
They were a little more surprised
yet when / told them we thought o
going in little while, but as oil was
quiet when we got to the house, we hac
our first court, and / made up my mine
to ask Sallie to be my wife the mex
time / came.
1t was now past the turn of the night
and as we had four miles to walk,
, told John we would have to be going
Sc we stepped out on the porch, bu
. Just as we did so the sky was lit up b.
lightning and one tremendous thunde
peal rolled along the mountain sides
Its echo had not died out in the far oi
yaIes until the rain began to pour fror
. the parnered fullncss of the clouds
We waited for it to stop until we wer
! all sleepy, when the girls said we shoul
: go to bed IN the little room at til
! head of the stains which led out of til
{ kitchen, as they didn't get up early W
: : could be home before the old folks wer
9 astir.
So after bidding the girls swe'
: good night and wishing them pleasa'
!. dreams, and promising them to con
lack on next Sunday night, we stute
r for bed. We didn't have far to 60,
d q the bed stood near the head Ct the stair
y John was soon in bed, but as | alwa..
ls se was a little slow, and full of curiosit
i I was looking around the little room.
Of Of At last / thought / would sit dow
- on chest which was spread over wi
: a. nice white cloth, while / drew off II
! boots. So down | sat, when stars
the east, ] went down into a big e
= = custard pie
sr / thought John would die lau yhir
d. for he said | had smashed that cnsta
all TO thunder, and the p ate r sht
two.