Smyrna times., 1883-12-19
Major Jones' Courtship.
THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT THAT WAS
TO BE KEPT FOR A
LIFETIME.

L
gwine to bring Miss Mary up to the
chalk on Chrismus. Well, l done it,
slick as a whistle, though it come
mighty nigh bein a serious bisness.
But I'll tell you all about the whole
circumstance.
Chrismus Eve put on my new suit,
and shaved my face as slick as a
smOothin iron, and after tea went over
to old Miss Stallinses. As soon as |
went into the parler whar they was all
settin round the fire, Miss Carline and
Miss Kesiah both laughed right out.
There! theren ses they, 81 told
you so! 1 know'd it would be Joseph"
What's done Miss Carline?" SEES I.
"You come under little sisters
chicken bone, and 1 do believe she
knOw'd you was comm when she put
it over the dore."
No [ didn't didn't do no such
thing, now," ses Miss Mary, and her
face FLUSHED red all over.
"Oh, you needn't deny it," ses Miss
kesiah, you belong to Joseph now,
jest as sure as theirs any charm in
chicken bones"
know'd that was first rate chance
to say something, but the dear little
creeter looked so sorry and KEEP blush
IN so, couldn't say nothin zactly to
the pint! SO l tuck chair and reached
up and tuck down the bone and put it
in my pocket.
What are you gwine to do with
that old chicken bone now Maier?" SEES
Miss Mary.
Pm gwine to keep it as long as l
live" ses l, "as a Chrismus present
from the handsomest gall in Georgia"
When sed that, she blushed worse
and worse.
Amt you shamed, Majer?" ses she.
Now you ought to give her Girls
mus gift, Joseph to keep all her life"
sed Miss Carline.
All" ses old Miss Stallns, "when |
was a gall we used to hang up our
stockins-"
Why, mOtherm SEES all of 'em, "to
say stOckins right before"
Then 1 felt a little streaked too.
cause they was all blushin as hard as
they could.
" Highty-tity!" ses the old lady
What monstrous 'fnemont to be
shore! I'd like to know what harm
Their is in stOckins. People nova
days is gittin SO mealy -mouthed they
can't call nothin by its right name,
and | don't see as they's any better
than the old time people was. When |
was gall like you, child, use to hang
up my stockins and git 'em full of
presents"
The gals KEEP laughin and blushin.
Never mind" ses Miss Mary.
Majer's got to give me Crismus gift
won't you, Majer?"
oh, yes" ses l, "you know prom
ised you one."
." But l 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," SEES
Oh, that's the kind" SEES she.
= But will you promise to keep it as
long as you live!" ses 1.
Certainly 1 will, Majer."
=" Monstrous 'fnement NOWADAYS
old people 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 l. "She ses she'll keep it all her
life."
Eyes, I WILL" ses Miss Mary-"but
what is it?"
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 mornin."
Miss Carline winked at Miss Kesiab
and then whispered to her-then they
both laughed and looked at me as mis-
chievous as they could. They 'spicion-
ed something.
You'll be shore to give it to me
now, if hang up a bag" ses Miss
Mary.
And promise to keep it," ses 1.
"Well, 1 will, cause know that you
wouldn't give me nothin that wasn't
worth keepin."
They all agreed they would hang up
bag for me 10 put Miss Mary's Girls
mus present in, on the back porch, and
about ten o'clock 1 told 'em good even
in and went home.
l sot up till midnight, and when
they was all gone to bed went softly
into the back gate, and went up to the
porch, and thar, shore enough, was
great big meal-bag hangin to the jice.
1t was monstrous unhandy to git to it,
but | was determined not to back out.
so sot some chairs ON top of bench
and got hold of the rope and let myself
down into the bag; but jest as was
glttin in, it swung agin the chairs, and
down they went with terrible racket;
but nobody didn't wake up but Miss
Stalllnses old cur dog, and here he
come rippin and tearin through the
yard like 'rath, and round and round
he went tryin to find what was the
matter. l scrooch'd down in the bag
and didn't breath louder nor kitten,
for fear he'd find nae out, and after
while he quit barkin.
The wind began to blow bominable
cold, and the old bag KEEP turnin
round and swingin so it made me sea-
sick as the mischief. was afraid to
move for fear the rope would break and
let me fall, and thar 1 sot with nv
teeth rattlin like 1 had the ager.
1t seemed like it would never come
daylight, and l do believe if didn't
love Miss Mary so powerful / would
froze to death; for my heart was the
only spot that felt warm, and it didn't