Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-04-20
belong to Joseph now, or thar's no charm
in chicken homes

81 knowed it was q first-rate chance to
say something. But the dear little crittcr
looked SO sorrowful an kept blushin' 80, I
couldn't say nothing zlckly to tho pint, so
| jest reached up aud took down tho
chicken bone and put it it my pocket.
"'Whot are yol a-gwine to do with that
ole chicken boue, Major Jouos2' saws Miss
Mary.
). "'l'm agwiuo to keep it as long as I
live says |, las Christmas present from
the handsomcst girl in Gcorgy'
"Oh, Major says size, 'aiut you
ashamed of ycurself!'
AN then up speaks Miss Kcsiah, aus
says shc:
Joseph, you ought to, give her a
Christmas present to keep oil her life
"'Ah,' says Gle Miss Stallius, when
was gal we used to hang up our stock
ings-'
"' Why, mother says all of 'cm in
breath, TO say stockings before Mr.. Jones!
"'llighty, highly says the olo lady,
what monstrous 'fncmcut. I'd like to
know what harm there is in stockings
People is gittin so purtc nova days they
never calls nothing by its rite name
When was girl used to hang up my
stocking and git lots Of presents.
"The girls kept on aughin'.
"'Ncver mind, says Miss Mary, at last,
MAJORS going to give me- a Christmas gift,
amt you Mnjor?
F" You know promised you one, says
L. I've got it for you now; but it'll take
two bushe bag to hold it..
I" but will you keep it as long as YOU
liver? says |.
81 will says she.
snow, you hear that Miss Cnr'liuc,'
says |. 'Shc says she will keep it as long
os she lives
eyes says Miss Mary, more positive
that will. But what is i,?'
"'Nevcr mind says |, you hang up
bag big enough 10 hold it and you'll find
out when you sec it to morrow morning
"Nliss Car'Iino winkcd at Miss Kcsiah,
and then whispered to her-aud then they
both laughed rite out. They 'spic;oncd
something.
"iou'll be sure to give it to me now if
hang up u bagT says Miss Mary
And you will promise to keep it?'
says I.
''She bIusLad little and studied little,
and they she says:
T" Vel, will, because l know you
wouldn't give me nothing that wasn't worth
keeping.
They all agreed that they would hang
a bag i'll tho back porch to put Miss Mury's
present in, and about 8 o'clock | told 'em
good evening and went home.
81 sot up till midnight, and artcr they
was all gone 70 bed, | crcp' softly in at the
buck and thar, sure enough, was great
big meal bag hausin' to the jicc. 1t was
monstrous onhaudy to git into it, but was
'termlned not to back out. So sot some
chairs on top of bench and got hold of the
rope and let myself gently down into the
bag; but, just as was gitin' in, tho bag
swung roung ayiu the chairs, and down
they came with q terrible racket. How.
somever, nobody did not wake 10 but ole
Miss Stalins' yard dog, and here he come
ripin' an tarin' like rath, aud round and
rouud he went smelling ana barking to find
out what was the matter. sot down in
the bag and didn't breathe louder'n
kitten for fear he'd lind mo out. After
while he stopped his 'ferual barkn'. Tho
wind began to blow powerful cold and the
old bag kept turning round and swinging
SO made nc sea sick. | was afraid 60
move less the rope would break and let me
down, au' thar | set, my teeth rattIin' like
the agcr 1t 'pcarcd to me it wonld never
come daylight, and do believe if | hadn't
loved Miss Mary so powerful | would have
trozc to death, Tor my heart was tho oply
spot that felt warm aud it didn't beat more
nor TWO llcks minute; only whcn | thought
how she'd be 'sprisad in tho uorpin' and
then it went III cantcr. Bimeby tho
cussed old dog como up ON tho porch and
degan smcilin' and whiDin' bout the bag.
Then he began to howl as if he'd trced
coon. Bow! WOW! wown says he, Cit
OUT says l., very low for fear thew would
hear mo Bow! wow! wow!' SAYS he nsin.
.Bcgonc! you 'bominablc fool says [, aad
felt all over in spots, for lowed every
'iiomcut he'd nip me, and what is worse, |
didn't know whore bouts he'd take hold.
llc went on barkin'. Then | tried coax
ing. Come here, Towser,' says |, I'm your
friend Then l wbstlcd sortor soft and
1t done no good Thar he
stood and kept up his eternal whiuin' md
barkin' all night. | couldn't tell when div
was breaking only by tho chiokons Growing,
and was glad to hear 'c,n to be suro, for
10 believe it had had TO stay in that
bag hour longer would died.
Old Mrs Stallns came out first, an as
soon as she saw the big says she:
"'What on earth has Joseph gone and
put in that bag for Mary? III lay it's
ycarlin' or sown live animal, else Towscr
wouldn't bark So
"Sho went in to call the girls, and | sot
mere shlverin' SO couldn't hardly speak
i i, tired to-but | didn't say nothing.
Blmeby they all oamo running out.