The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-08-02
BOER COURTSHIP.
A Realistic Picture of the Dutch Cupid of
South Africa.

1t appears, says Gallignani, from the
of an African Farm" that an "upsit-
ting" is a necessary preliminary to a,
Boer wedding that is to say. the be-
trothed, or about to be betrothed pair,
are expected to sit up together for
whole night, while the rest of the house,
hold are quietly reposing. Tant' Sam.
nie's Kaffir maid looks out one evening
and sees horseman approaching.
The colored woman, having duly in.
spected him, dashed into the dwelling.
'Here is another one," she cried, "a
widower; see by his hat" ''Good
Lord" said Tant' Sannie, ''it's the sey-\
enth I've had this month; but the men
know where sheep and good looks and
money in the bank are to be found,"h
she added, winking knowingly. How,
does he lookp" nineteen, weak ewes.
white hair, little round nose," said the
maid. ''Then it's he, then it's he.' said
Tant' Sannie, triumphantly; little Pet
Wander Wait, whose wife died last
month--two farms, $4,000 sheep. I've
not seen him, but my sister-in-law told
me about him, and | dreamed about
him last night" Here Piet's black hat
appeared in the doorway. and the Boer
woman drew herself up in dignifed ST.
lence, extended the tips of her fingers,
and motioned solemnly to q chair. The
young man seated himself, sticking his
feet under it as far as they would 90.
and said mildly: II am little Pet VSn-
der Wait, and my father is bio Piet
Wander Wait" Tant' Sannie said SOL
ny,lx
young man, starting up spasmodically,
lean off-saddleP" 'sYes." He siezed
his hat and disappeared with rush
through the door.
81 told you SO! l knew itr' said
Tant' Sannie. ''The dear Lord does not
send dreams for nothing Did 1 not
tell you this morning that | dreamed of
great beast like a sheep. with red
eyes, End that killed itP Was not the
white wool his hair, and the red ewes
his weak eyesP and my killing him
meant marriage. Get supper ready
quickly, and the sleeps inside and roast
er cakes. We shall sit up tonight"
Nevertheless, when all the rest OF
the house had retired, when the long
candle was lighted, when the coffee
Kettle was filled, when she sat in her
elbow chair, with her lover on a chair
close beside her, and when the vigil of
the night was fairly begun she began to
find it wearisome. The young man
looked chilly and said nothing. s7Won't
you put your feet on my stove?n said
Tant' Sannie. 'No, thank you, aunt
said the young man. and they both
iapsed into silence. At last Tant' San
ME, afraid of going to sleep, tapped
cup of strong coffee for herself, and
handed another to her lover This vis-
IDLY revived both. "How long were vou
married, cousinP' Ten months.
aunt" ''lt is very hard when we must
give up our husbands and wiyes to the
Lord said Tant' Sannie. .'She was
such good wife, aunt; I've known her
to break churn stick over a maids
head for only letting dust come on a
milk cloth" Tant' Sannie felt twinge
of jealousy. She had never broken
churn-stick over maids head. II
hope your wife made good end," she
said. y The next morning at dawn,
as EN- passed through Tant' Sannie's
bedroom, she found the Boer woman
pulling off her boots, preparatory to
climbing into bed. "Where is Piet
Wander Waltz" "Just gone" said
Tant' Sannie, land I'm going to marry
him this day four weeks. Tam dead
sleepy" she added; 1.-The stupid thing
doesn't know how to talk love-talk at
all, and she climbed into the four
poster, clothes and all, and drew up;
the quilt to her chin.