Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-03-07
PoElcAl. P
wHAP, THE CLOCK SAYS.
mlscEtLANEous,
SQUIRE SPREGKLE's CONSENT.

"jxl Avs enj''nip,s % do hush J" said Aunt
- Peggy, looking uP mildly from her
knitting .'leastways fnd somsthin' sensible
t, talk about J" - -.
But Ben Hunter was not the man to be
easily stopped in story be had set his mind
on telling, and his good DANES general pre-,
test, only seemed to whet the curiosity of the
merry group who had met to snsnd their
Christmas eve with the worthy old couple
Go on, Uncle Ben" came from every
side aud Y nele Ben, you may be sure,
waited for no second invitation.
b. was thus his story rau:
'When Peggy there was Peggy White.
and turned OF, eighteen; want her, match for
good looks 'ithin, a range o twenty mile. You
needn't trown an shake your head, Peggy;
you'd liked to hear it we'll enough then.
Peggy was loft an orphan while very
young, but an uncle, as he had some props
erty an, no children, tuck her home and
brung her up, an when he died left her all
he had"
at warn't that, let me saw, a. made me
take notion, to Peggy. I've just told YOU
how han some she was; but, even ift had
been her money 1 was after, I'd precious
little chance OF ever gittin' it, for BY her un.
ele's will, if she married 'ithout the consent
o Josh way Spreokle, herguardees, she lost
all; and there was about as much chance O.
Josh SpreckIe couseutin' to her marryiu' mo
as there was Of his doin' any other good ma
tur'd thing"
.i ''Peggy'n me talked the thing over an
como to IN uuderstandin' that ss soon as I'd
scrape together enough for a start, we'd hitch
teams for better or wrss, 'ithout akin MIR.
oPrecklss leave, and let the noRsygo where
it meut.
nna Iay Ill
borln' settlement. The country was new an
wild then, an my way laid through the woods,
As the, weather was hot. an my walk was to
be long one, l didu't kscr to carry more
weight than was necessary, an 80 left nv
rife at home
"Artcr trudSin' spell got inte deem
thickes. an pooty soon heard loud hollerin'
as of somebody calm for help
81 made for the SQUAD, an' sfore long come
to the edge ofn deep eulch with a steep wall
o'-rock on both sides, an''a fGsin' strosm
dashin along at Che bottom. -
On to.her side. up ia the crotch OF a
tree, sot n man shoutin' murder, 5 loud a.
he could screcch an on tho ground below
a'b1g bear, squattin' on his launches, was
1ookin' up an Iickin' his lips mighty wishful
like.
"Hsllo = rays J, whats the matter ?"
THE man turned his head, an lon be-
hold who should it be but Josh way Spreckle!
Good mornin', Squire" says l. JOSH
why. you see, d bsen lately 'lected Ju,tioo
O the Peace, an liked beis' called by his
new title -'- -a |.-
Good mornin' Bepj,min," says no. Il
ana eror so much glad to see you.' An for
the fust time in his life he looked as if he
really WAS. 1 as r'HF- s a-r
GENou saar, 20 L.
Squire" says l.
Il am" says be. 4 went ont huntin' this
mornn' an all of suddeut that devourin'
monster you see tho1e come rushin' at me
full split out of tho bushes. ups an blazes
away, but havin' no time for stiddy aim.
made clean miss, an the savage oriiter
come tearin' on Madden ,nfore. OF course
| had to run fo't, an arter a sharp race bare.
~ succeeded in scrambling up this trce'
81 must confess | felt considerably much
like renainin' pootral. Eowever, says l, at
last: 5-..
What kin do for you, Squire You
see I've got no gun
There's young tree over thorc," saws
he, "lsauin' over the gulch from your side.
You kin climb up into it, an let Yourself
drap over here. My guns but little ways
back yonder, an kin throw ycu my pow
der horn and bullet pouch, an you kin load
up an shoot the bear with no trouble at oil
"An' what'II the bear be doin' all the
while ?"says 1. Hes !ookiu' at me from
the tail of his eye this min nit, an I'm afeard
II | drop over there it'll be plump into his
jaws. There's only one thing to do says
L, an that's to go an fetch my rife and
shoot the varment from over here .-
81 guess that's so,' says he 'but dom. be
gone long. The dssp'rit brute has made two
or three attempts to shin up hero all ready.
an there's no knowing how soon he may sue
esed
There's one thing I'd like to mention
atoro goin', Squire, says I. 'Tve had it on
my mind for some time
Whats that?" says he.
our ward, Peggy White"
We'll ?" says he, coekin' up one ear
Il want your consent TO her'n me gittin
married, says I, speakin' sonar out.
''He Civ look at men then one at the
bear. It was more'n minrit afore he spoke
L seed there was powerful iu'ard struggle
goin' on. Everybody knowed Josh'wsy
SPreckle'd sos his, heart on marrying Peggy
to nephew of his SO as to keep her money
in the family and I've no. doubt he was de-
hatin'. jest tken.fwhethtr TO tell me 10 90 IN
Old Scratch, tskin' his chances or trim ont
the bears PATIENCE or to buy my help with
fair ronises. Now Josh way was a prudea,
man an a strict believer in the doctrine oi
seH-pre,ervation. So't last be says:
"Mr. Hunter, I've long had my eye on
| you suitable match for Peggy" 80
nd more'n vunst hearn Josh'way
| Spreekle pronounced by good judges 10 be
the ablest liar in the Territory but thai
whopper fairly tuck away my breath"
Then I've got your consent" says
hardly DARN to believe my ears.
You hev," says he ''''" -
% "Au' no takin' back ?" saysIT J =