The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-01-11
rellamenms.
MAJOR JONES'S COURTSHIP.
The Christmas Present that was TO b
Kept for a Lifetime.

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 a whistle, though il
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 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 there" ses they, 81 told you so ]
kncw'd it would be Joseph"
What's done, Miss Carlinep" ses
"You come under little sisters chicken
bone and do believe she knowed you was
comm when she put it over the dore."
mo didn't, didn't no such thing, now,' "
SEES Miss Mary and her face blushed red all
over.
"Oh, you needt deny it" SEES Miss Kesiab
"you belong to Joseph now, jest as sure as
theirs any charm in chicken bones"
know'd that was a first rate chance ia
say something, but the dear little crecter
looked so sorry and KEEP blushin so, couldn't
say nothin zactly to the pint! so tuck a
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, Majer ?" SEES Miss Mary.
I'm gwine to keep it as long as / live,
SEES |, las Crismus present from the hand
soonest gal in Georgia"
When ! sed that, che blushed worse and
worse.
"Ain't you shamed, Majerp" ses She
"Now you ought to give her Crismus
gift, Joseph, to keep all her life" sed Miss
| Carline.
"Ah," SEES old Miss Stallins, "when was
a gal we used to hang up our stockins-"
why, mother" SEES all of 'em, "to say
stockins right before"
Then felt little streaked too, cause they
was all blushin as hard as they could.
"Highty-tity" ses the old lady-"whai
monstrus' '0nement to be shorel I'd like to
know what harm ther is in stockins. People
nowadays is gettin 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 gal like
you, child, used to hang up my stockin:
and git 'em full OF presents"
| The gals KEEP laughin and blushin.
"Never mind" SEES Miss Mary, "Majer's go
to give me a Crismus gift-won't you, Ma
jer"
"Oh, yes" SEES l, "you know i promised
you one"
"But didn't mean that" SEES she.
| 1--WE got one for you, what want you Il
keep all your life, but it would take two
bushel bag to hold it." SEES I.
"Oh, that's the kind" ses She
But will you promise to keep it as lont
as yc~ livew ses l.
"Ce Dainly will, Majer."
| NMnnatrua '6nananf nnu 6ovo nj,
people don't know nothin about perliteness,
said old Miss Stallins, jest gwine TO sleeI
with her mittin in her lap
! Now you hear that, Miss Carline," SEES
"She SEES she'll keep 1t all her life"
yes, will" SEES Miss Mary "but wha
is itY"
"Never mind" ses l, "you hang up bas
big enough TO hold it and you'll find oul
| what it is when you see it in the mornin"
Miss Carline winked at Miss Kesiah, ant
then whispered to her-then they boil
laughed and looked at me as rnischievous al
they could. They 'spicioned something.
you'll be shore to give it TO me now, il
hang up bag" SEES Miss Mary
"And promise to keep it," ses /.
"Well, / will, cause l know that yo,
wouldn't give me nothin that wasn't wortl
keepin"
L my ui uBiCSu thCJ WOulu uuuB up u Dhk
for me to put Miss Marys Crismus presen
in, on the back porch, and about ten o'clocl
told 'em good evenin and went home.
! sot up till midnight, and when they wa
all gone to bed went softly into the bacl
gate, and went up to the porch, and thar
shore enough, was great big meal-bag hang
in to the jice. 1t was monstrous unhandy t,
git to it. but was termined not to back out
So sot some chairs on top Of bench ant
got hold ofthe rope and let myself down int,
the bag but jest as was gittin in, it swun,
agin the chairs, and down they went with
terrible racket; but nobody didn't wake VI
but Miss Stallinses old cur dog, and here h
come rippin and tearin through the yart
like rath, and round and round he went tryil
to find what was the matter. / scrooch',
down in the bag and didn't breathe oude
nor a kitten, for fear he'd find me out, an,
after while he quit barkin.
The wind began to blow bominabe Geld
and the old bag KEEP turnin round and swing
in so it made me sea-sick as the mischief.
was afraid to move for fear the rope woul,
break and let me fall, and there sot with m,
teeth rattlin like had the ager. It seemed
like it would never come daylight, ard d.
believe if didn't love Miss Mary SO power
iful / would froze to death; for my heart wa