The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-06-13
HOW BILL AND MARY "METCHED
THE PINT.''
An Arkansas Courtship.

Would you have pen picture of
Boomer beau? Bill Stegall was I'M
doubtedly one of the leading beaux in
the Upper War Eagle. "He were
mighty fine young man, fur fack y
1t is a sunny Sunday morning in the
spring-time. Down in the valley are
the squat" dingy cabins, which con-
stitute the domestic establishment of the
wealthy old Boomer, Ben Stegall. The
apple trees are in full blossom; the
wild mountain roses bloom in beauty
along the rock run, and some of them
around and over the cabin door; the
birds sing among the orchard trees. 1t
is still, peaceful morning. The bleat-
ing of sheep, the lowing Of cattle, the
cackle of barn-yard fowls, the gobbling
turkeys, proudly strutting about; the
granting pigs, the playful lambs; the
frolicsome calves all sounds and
sights are calculated to soothe
the perturbed spirit and lure
the thought toward the elysias of love,
there to inGulg0 in dreams of bliss.
Away to the westward some of the
loftiest peaks OF the Boston Mountains
rear their mist-wreathed brows, CLEAN
ing in the pale purple hues painted by
the cloudless sunbeams, and crowned
by halo of golden light. Nearer are
rugged slopes and rocky sleeps, made
somber by a dense growth of red cedar,
and crowned at top by gloomy groves
of the signing pine. These were aspects
OF nature calculated to fill the soul of
Bill Stegall with undefnable longings
to have a void place in his heart filled
by the actual presence of the ''purty
Mary Jane Johnson. at ware mighty
purity day Tor courtin', Bill, I" remarked
his honored sire, as Bill prepared to
mount hia carefully curried black steeo.
Il say, Bill, it is all foolishness to
keep gwine TO Uncle Jaky Johnson's.
The gal only wants you to come to the
pint. She's awaitin' an willin'. You
60 and pop the words rite out, that's
the way.
''Its all right, is it, daddy Case I
knowed you'd talk with the ole man.
don't like to veltur too much.''
"You jest sail in Bill. It's all right.
fur fack. The gals already an a
waitin'."
Bill was gorgeous this particular Sun
day morning. He had his new suit of
coarse, shining, shoddy cashmere; his
mustache, which was usually white as
flax was this morning as black as
stick of lanlp-black pomatum could
make it. His long, faxen curls were
shining and matted by the abundance
of the lard which he had employed in
dressing his capital adornment. His
shirt front was unusually stiff and
white; his paper collar was immaculate;
his cow-skin boots had been freshly
creased; in his vest pocket was huge
railway time keeper" worth dollar,
to which a great brass chain was at
tached. But the glory of this Boomer
Adonis was the flaming red scarf which
depended from his throat and was dis
posed hack to his shoulders; and the
great, broad brimmed hat regular
s0mbrero- around which was broad
silver band, and the edges of the wide
brim were adorned by silver braiding.
This was the beau of the Upper War
Eagle, as he rode forth on that Sunday
morning. nerving himself fer the great
ordeal Tor which he had been at least
TWO WnOle years preparing.
1t may be worth while to describe the
manner and character of the courtship
of a spoony pair of young Boomers. OF
course the young folks get acquainted
in some way. Ii the Boomer lass stakes
a shine" to Boomer lad, she is very
certain to invent plan to let him know
it. If the lad be the smitten party he
makes q call always under false pre-
fences: he is hunting ''yearlin' !, 2 look
ing after little seed corn of t'yore sort, 2
wants to ''borry saw chisel, draw
ing knife, or some other tool--any ex-
cuse to feast his eyes on the charms of
what he claims as his s.Dewlarky. y
They meet and sgaze at each other, but
seldom speak more than few words.
"More holder grown" as time rolls
by, the Boomer beau quietly attempts
to '.ride with her" from church, the
frolic, or some other place of assem-
blage. If his advances are we'll received
he attends her home. If it be in the
summer time, and she is particularly
''sweet on him, she will very likely in
vite him to look at the s.garding," and
they discuss t'beans, peas, ingeens, col
lards, beats, sparroW-grass' aspara
gus]. Then they 60 back into the '.big
house., that is the living and sleeping
room. The old folks make it conven-
lent to find occupation in the kitchen,
and the juvenile towheads have gone to
scamper under the trees, down by the
''cxik. Bill and Mary Jane have the