The Benton weekly record., 1882-05-11
An Incident From "Major Jones'
Courtship."

so! knoW'd it would be Joseph.''
"What's done, Miss Carline?" ses |.
You come under little sisters chicken
bone, and [ do believe she know'd YOU
was coming when she put it over the
dore."
"No didn't didn't no such thing
now," ses Miss Mary, and her face blushed
red all over.
ION, you needn't deny it," says Miss
kesiah; ''you belong to Joseph now, jest
as sure as there's any charm in chicken
| bOnes."
L knoW'd that was q first rate chance to
say something, but the dear little creeter
looked SO sorry and kept blushin' so,
couldn't say nothin' zackly to the pint;
SO TUX chair and reached up and tux
down the bone and put it in my pocket.
"What are you gwine to do with that
old chicken bone now, Majer?' says Miss
Mary.
I'm gWine to Keep it as long as live,"
says |, ''as Crismus present from the
handsomest gal in Georgia.
When sed thai she blushed worse and
worse.
''Ant you shamed, Majer,'' ses she.
"NoW you ought to give her a Crismus
gift, Joseph, to keep all her life,' sed Car
line.
"Ah,' ses old Miss Stallins, "when |
was gal we used to hang up our stock
ins-''
''Why mother!" ses all of 'em, 'Eto say
stockins right before
Then [ felt little streaked, too, 'cause
they was all blushin as hard as ever they
could.
''Highty-tity," ses the old lady; 'swhat
monstrous 'fnement to be Shore I'd like
to know what harm there is in stockins.
People nowadays is gittin SO mealy-mouth-
ed they can't call nothin' by its rite name,
aud don't see as they are any better than
the old time people was. When I was
gal like you, child, | use to hang up my
stoekins and git 'em full Of presents
The gals KEEP laughin' and blushin'.
"Never mind" ses Miss Mary, ''3fa-
jer's got to give me Crismus gift--won't
you, Maier?'
con, yes ses l." "you know prom
ised you one.'
'But didn't mean that" ses she.
"I've got one for you, what want you
to keep all your life; but it would take
two-bushel bag to hold it," ses I.
''Oh, that's the kind, ses she.
''But will you promise to keep it as long
as you live?'' says I.
Certainly will, Majer."
'Monstrous 'fnement nowadays-old
people don't know nothin' about perlite-
ness,'' said old Miss Stallins, ies gwine TO
sleep with her nittin in her lap.
Now, you hear that, Miss Carlne," !"
ses |. SsShe ses that she'll keep it all her
life.''
eyes, [ WILL" ses Miss Mary-esbut
what is 20
''Never mind" ses I; "you hang up
bag big enough to hold it, and you'll find
out what it is when you see it in the morn
ing"
Miss Carline Winked at Miss Kesiah,
and then whispered to her--then they
both laughed and looked at me as mischiev
Gus rs they could. They 'spicioned some
thing.
you'll be shore to give it to me, now,
if hang up a bag?" ses Miss Mary.
'And promise to keep it?'' ses I.
"Well, will; cause know that you
wouldn't give me nothin' that wasn't
worth keepin'."
They all agreed they would hang up
oag for NE to put Miss Mary's Crismus
present in, on the back porch, and about
en- o'clock / told 'em good evenin' and
vent home.
sot up till midnight, and when they
vas all gone to bed, | went softly into
he back gate, and went, up to the porch,
md thar, shore enough, was q great big
neal bag hangin to the jice. It was
unhandy to get into it, but [ l
vas termined not to back out. So [ sot
ONE chairs on top Of a bench, and got hold
f the rope and let myself down into the 9
,ag; but just as | was gettin in, it swung I
gin the chairs, and down they went with q
terrible racket; but nobody didn't wake
10 but Miss Stallinses old cur dog, and
ere he come rippin and tearin through Q
he yard like rath, and round and round he c
vent tryin to find what was the matter. 8
scrooched down in the bag, and didn't 9
reathe louder nor a kittin for fear he'd
nd me out, and after while he quit Q
arlsn. The wind begun to blow bonn 9
nable cold, and the old bag KEEP turin ;
ound and swingin so it made me sea-sick c
S the mischief. | Twas afraid to move for 0
ear the rope would break and let me fall,
i'd thar | sot with my teeth rattlin like
id ager. It seemed like it would never +
ONE daylight, and | do believe il didn't q
I'VE Mis- Mary so powerful / would froze :
} death; for my heart was the only spot !
1at felt warm, and it didn't beat more'n 4
No licks a minute; only when thought T
oW she would be surprised IN the morn e
/. and then it went ii 4 canter. Bimeby !
ae cussed old deg come mp on the porch, \
nd began to smell about the bag, and