Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-12-26

and down they went with a 'errlple
racket; but nobody didn't wake up out
Miss Stallin's old cur dog, aud here be
come 1ppin aud term through the yard
like rath, and round and round he went
lr,ln to 6nd what was the matter. /
scrooch'd down in the bag aud didn't
breathe loudCr nor kitten, Tor lear he'd
fibd me out. and after while he quit
barkin.
The wind began to blow bominablo
cold aud the old bag KEEP turnin round
and swiugiu so it made me sea-'lck as
the mischief. l was afraid to move Tor
fear the rope would break AMI let me
fall. and thar set with my teeth rat
tin like 1 had the ager. II seemed like
it would never come daylight, and do
believe il | didn't love Miss Mary so
now eriul l would froze to death, Tor
NV heart was the only spot that ieil
warm. and 1t didn't beat more'n Two
ticks mint, only when L thought no"
she would be surprised in The mornln'
and then it went IN a canter. BlemoJ
the old dog come upon tue porch and
begun 10 smell about the bag, and
then lie barked like be thought he'd
freed something. Bow! WOW! WOW!
ses be. Then he'd smell agn, and
rry to git up 10 the bag. Git OUT! ses
I. very low. for fear the gals mough'
hear me. Bow WOW! ses he. BE
cone YOU bomuable fool, ses L, aud L
felt all ovvr in spots, for spected
eyery minute he'd nip me, and ~ha'
made it worse, l didn't know whar
abouts bed take hold. Bow! WOW!
Thon tried coaxin-'Come here, good
fellow ses l, and whistled a little 10
him but it wasn't no use. Thar ne
,tood and KEEP up his everlastln whlnin
and barkln, all night. l couldn't tell
when daylight was breakin, only oy the
ch;ckius CROWN, and was monstrous
Glad TO hear 'em, for if l bad 10 stay
thar one hour more, l don't believe ia
cot out of that bag alive.
Old Miss Slallins come out frat, and
as soon as she seed The bag, ses she :
what on Searth has Joseph went
and put in that bag for Mary? I'll lay
i,. q yearln or some live animal, or
Bruin wouldn't bark at 1t so.'
She went in to call the gals, and l
sot thar. shiyerin all over so couldn't
hardly speak if 1 tried to-but didn't
s.y notliu. Biemby thew all come
running cut on tue porch.
NV goodness what IS ii = ses Miss
Mary. .,
'Oa, it's aliye = scs Miss Kesiah' !
seed it move
Call Cato, aud make him cut Tie
rome, ses Miss Carlne, and let's see
what il is. Come here, Cato and gil
this bag down.
Don't hurt it for the world SCI
Miss Mary.
Calo united the rope that was round
,be lice. and lei the the bag down easy
IN tb,lloor. and | tumbled out all COW
cred with corn meal from head 10
loot.
Goodness gracious! ses Miss Mary
III it amt the Majer himself!
Yes ses l. 'and you know yo'
promised to keep my Cnsmus pre'en'
as long as YOU lived.
The gals laughed themselves al~os
to death. aud went to brushln Oh th'
meal az fast as thsy could, sayin tney
WAS gwine to hang that bag up every
Crismus till they got husbands too'
Miss Mary-hess her bright eyes-sne
blushed as beautiful as moroln glory
and sod she'd stick 10 her word. She
was right out Of bed and her hair WASH
komed. and her dress wasn't hx'd a
all. but the way she looked pretty wal
real distractiu. l do believe II was
troze s,.f QUE look at her sweet lace
ne she stood thar lookin down to the
floor with her roguish eyes, and he
BRIGHT curls fallin all over her SNOWY
neck. would have fotched me too'
tell you what. it was worth hansin i
meal bag from one Crismus 10 anolu
or TO feel as happy as l have eve
since.
went home after We had lie laug
out, and sot by the fire till got thawo
In the forenoon all the Stalllnses com
over 10 cur house aud we had one
the creates, Crismus dinners that eve
was seed IN Georgia. and l don't p'
H,ye a happier company ever sot dow
70 the same table. Old Miss Slalllu
and n other settled the match, aud taiS
ed over every thing that ever happened
IN their families, and laughed at I'd
and Mary, aud cried about ther dea
; husbands, cause they wasn't ahYe
see their childrcn married.
, Irs all sottled now, 'cept we ban
sot the wediin d,y. I'd like to hay
it all over a. ouce. but young gals o.
WAYS like to lie engaged while 20
know, 80 | spose must wait a mon'
or 20. Mar, { lie SAYS | mustn't ca
her Miss Mary now has been goo
deal of trouble aud bUtheration TO me
but If you could see her you "ouldn
think | ought to grudge a little s'ieri
20 git sIch sweet little wife.
Your fri nd, till death,
Jos. JONES.
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