Frostburg mining journal., 1883-12-22
Major JOnes's COurtship.
THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT THAT WAS TO BE KEPT
FOR LIFETIME.

Crismus is over, and the thing is done did !!
You know told you was gwine to bring Miss
Mary up to the chalk on Crismus. Well, /
done it, slick as whistle, though it come
mighty nigh bein serious bisness. But I'll
tell YOU all about the whole circumstance.
Crismus Eve put on my new suit, and shaved
my face as slick as smoothin iron, and aftsr
tea went over to old Miss Stallinses. As soon
as / went into the parler whar they was all set
tin round the fire, Miss Carline and Miss Kesiah
both laughed right out.
''There there !" ses they, II told you so |
know'd it would be Joseph"
''What's done, Miss Carline?" ses l.
''You come under little sisters chicken bone,
and do believe she know'd you was comm
when she put it over the dore.n
'No didn't didn't no such thing, now,
ses Miss Mary, and her face blushed red all
over.
'toh, you needn't deny it," ses Miss Kesiah,
''you belong to Joseph now, jest as sure as
ther's any charm in chicken bones"
lnow'd that was first rate chance to say
something, but the dear little creeter looked so
sorry and KEEP blushin so, couldn't say nothn
zactly to the pint so tuck chair and reached
up and tuck down the bone and put it in my
pocket.
aWhat are YOU gwine to do with that old
chicken bone now Majer ?" ses Miss Mary.
'T'm gwine to keep it as long as live, ses l,
"'as Crismus present from the handsomest
gall in Georgia"
When | sed that, she blushed worse and
worse.
"Aint you shamed, Majery' ses she.
''Now you ought to give her Crismus gift,
Joseph to keep all her life" sed Miss Carline.
''kh," ses old Miss Stallns, ''when / was a
gall we used to hang up our stockins--"
"Why, mother !" ses all of 'em, 'to say stock
ins right before"
Then felt little streaked too, cause they
was all blushin as hard as they could.
"Highty-tity !" ses the old lady-"what mon
strous 'fnement to be shore I'd like to know
what harm ther is in stockins. People now-a-
days is gittin so mealy-mouthed they can't call
nothin by its right name, ard l don't see as
they's any better than the old time people was.
When was a gall like you, child use to hang
up my stockings and git em full Of presents.
The gals KEEP laughin and blushin.
'Neyer mind, ses Miss Mary, "Majer's got
60 give me Crismus gift-won't you, Majer?"
'0h, yes, ses l, "you know promised you
one."
"But didn't mean that" ses she
'Ive got one for you, what l want you to
keep all your life, but it would take two
bushel bag to hold it," ses /.
"Oh, that's the kind" ses she.
you live !" ses l.
Certainly will, Majer.n
-"Monstrous 'hnement now-a-days-old peo-
pie don't know nothin about perliteness," said
old Miss stallins, jest gwine to sleep with her
nittin in her lap.
'Now you hear that, Miss Carline," ses I.
''She ses she'll keep it all her life."
eyes, will, ses Miss Mary-"but what is
it?"
'Never mind" SEES I, ''you hang up bag big
enough to hold it and you'll find out what it is,
when you see it in the mornin."
Miss Oarline winked at Miss Kesiah, and then
xul,iu 10 bor han both \
looked at me as mschievous as they could.
They 'spicioned something.
tYou'l be shore to give it to me now, if 1
hang up bag, ses Miss Mary.
"And promise to keep it," ses |.
'fWell, will, cause know that you wouldn't
give me nothin that wasn't worth keepin."
They all agreed they would hang up q bag