The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-01-11

the only spot that felt warm, and it didn't
beat more'n two ticks mint, only when |
thought how she would be surprised in the
mornin' and then it went in canter. Bimeby
/ the old dog come up on the porch and begun
to smell about the bag, and then he barked
| like he thought he'd freed something. "Bow
| wow! wowW ses he. Then he'd smell agin,
ard try to git up to the bag. "Git out" SEES
], very low, for fear the gals mought hear
me. "Bow WOW p ses he. "Be gone, you
bominable fool" SEES l, and felt all over in
spots, for spected every minute he'd nip
| me, and what made it worse, / didn't know
whar abouts he'd take hold. "Bow WOW
Ewow" Then tried coaxin-"Come here,
good fellow" SEES /, and whistled little to
him, but it wasn't no use. Thar he stood
and KEEP up his everlastn whinin and barkin,
all night. l couldn't tell when daylight was
breakin, only by the chickens CROWN and l
was monstrous glad to hear 'em, for if | had
to stay thar one hour more, / don't believe
Ia ever got out of that bag alive.
Old Miss Stallins come out fust, and as
soon as she seed the bag, SEES she:
what upon yeath has Joseph went and
put in that bag for Mary? I'll lay it's IL
yearlin or some live animal, or Brun
wouldn't bark at it So"
She went IN to call the gals, and sot thar,
shiverln all over so Icouldnt hardly speak if
| tried to-but didn't say nothin. Bimeby
they all come running out on the porch.
my goodness! what is it ?" ses Miss Mary.
"Oh, it's alive p ses Miss Kesiah, II seed it
move"
"Call Cato, and make him cut the rope"
ses Miss Carline, land let's see what It is.
Come here, Cato, and git this bag down"
Don't hurt il for the world" SEES Miss
Mary.
Cato united the rope that was round the
joice, and let the bag down easy on the floor,
and tumbled out all covered with corn meal,
from head to foot
Goodness gracious p SEES Miss Mary, eff it
amt the Majer himself!'
"Yes,' ses /, "and you know you promised
to keepmy Crismus present as long as you
lived"
The gals laughed themselves almost to
death and went to brushin off the meal as
fast as they could, sayin they was gwine to
hang that bag up every Crismus till they
got husbands, too. Miss Mary-bless her
bright eyes-she blushed as beautiful as q
mornin glory, and sed she'd stick to her
word. She was right out of bed, and her
hair wasn't komed, and her dress wasn't fix'd
at all, but the way she looked pretty was real
distractin. do believe if was froze stiff,
one look at her sweet face, as she stood thar
lookin down to the floor with her roguish
eyes, and her bright curls fallen all over her
snowy neck, would have fetched me too.
tell you what, it was worth hanging in a
meal bag from one Crismus to another to
feel us happy as have ever sense.
went home after we had the laugh out,
and sot by the fire till got tbawed. In the
forenoon all the Stallinses come over to our
house and we had one of the greatest Girls
mus dinners that ever was seed in Georgia,
and don't believe happier company ever
sot down 10 the same table. Old Mise Stall
Inns and mother settled the match and talked
over every thing that had ever happened in
their families, and laughed at me and Mary,
and cried about their dead hus lands, cause
they wasn't alive to see their children mar
ried.
It's all settled now, 'cept we haint sot the
weddin day. I'd like to have it all over at
once, but young gals always like to be en-
gagged while, you know, so IspOse must
wait a month or so. Mary (she says mustn't
call her Miss Mary now has been good
deal of trouble and botheration to me; but if
you could see her you wouldn't think
ought to grudge little sufferin to git SIGH
sweet little wife.
Your friend, till death,
JOS JONES.