Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-06-10
M arrying Under Diff 3ulti 30.

son of well-t0-dO fIrmer in the s. ate
OF P. AT the time he is intro
duced 10 the reader he IL in his twenty
eighth year. lie had never been very
far from home, consequently had seen
very little of the world lie was IN in
dustrious, harmless young man. whose
fortune could never be made by his
beauty. lie was very tall, thin, and
remarkably awkward. with small, dull
looking blue eyes of SO pile hue that
they looked as if the color vas faded
out, abundant red hair, norid complex
ion, and large, course features.
However, there is no accounting for
taste, for Jemima Jenkins, the daugh-
ter of an adjoining farmer. declared he
was list the handsumist man she ever
cast eyes upon
Now, James had great admiration
for the young damsel, who in her per-
sonal appearance was as little favored
as himself. She was Il stout, tow-head-
ed girl, with freckled skin, which
looked as if the flies had been sporting
with it. The i'll natured in the neigh
borhood who knew of their courtship
earnestly hoped they might come to
getEer in matrimony, arguing that it
would be pity to spoil good-looking
couple with either.
One bl light, sunny Sabbath afternoon
in midsummer, as Jim was lying upon
tue grass in front of the door of his
fathers house planning tor the future,
one of the first things that occurred to
him was that he should get married.
Dads sot on it, he thought, 'and so
is nam, and ort tn try and please 'em
it's time. / could rent old Jake
Spangler's farm, and the money I've
got inter the bank ill stock it, and
Minnie IS daddy he'll furnish the house
like he did fur Mat Bum, who married
her sister Sally Ann. | think I'll jist
60 over to old Jenkins and ask her
there's nothin' like strikin' while the
irons hot
Suiting the action to the word he
sprang up and started for the house,
and neatly attired himself, putting
some extra touches 10 his toilet before
starting on his important mission. He
looked decidedly gay when he had at
tired himself in his long grey linen
coat, bright ssred waistcoat, straw hat,
with a blue ribbon around IL, short,
very wide, linen pants, and large heavy
shoes. He made fast time as he cross
ed his fathers farm, jumping fences
and bitches until he found himself up
on Squire Jenkins land. As he near.
ed the house he beheld his divinity sit
ting upon grassy mound, beneath
large willow tree, some little distance
from the house.
20! glorious opportunity thought
Jim. Il kin Just settle the matter now,
maxim short work on it,
AS he approached he felt slight
trembling OF the limbs. nervous sem
sation, but he made up his mind that
he was not going to be frightened from
his purpose.
a gal kin only y-say no, to du her
wust, and there's plenty on 'em if she
dus. They are jist as thick as black
berries-I kin git another If she's con-
trary.'.
Summoning up his courage he shout
ed:
Halo, Minnie | be it you =? How
does yer be p
'Fust rate, Jim how be yer ? | am
glad yer come, fur Eye been loOkin' for
YER
'The purity crittur, she's jist bust
in with luv' fur me y soliloquized the
loYer.
is yer dog tied up, Minnie p asked
Jim, ,'fur Pm afeard NV that cuss.' look
ing nervously around. 'Tother night
as Bill Jones an me Was going home
from here, he takes arter us. Bill he's
purity spry, he has sich big feet he kin
git oyer ground very handy, but jist as
he went to jump over the horse-trough, /,
he tripped, and in he goes. He boiler
ed tn me fur help, but, laws l jist
keeps clear out of his way, when the
tarnal critter leaves Bill and makes fur
me, and hangs on tn my coat tail with
sich a grip that when | managed to
shake him off he had the whole NV my
spankin' new coat tail inter his big
Jaws Bill he jist stood and laughed
fit to split hisself. He wus mad cause
he got duckin'.'
'Sakes alive yer might haye bin
kilt said Jemima. I'm coax dad to
shoot him.
'Mima,' said Jim, anxious TO proceed
to business, whilst his face became as
red as beet, Il want tn ask yer some
thin pertikllar. Yer kin either say
yes or no, but NV course I'D sooner it
was yes. Dad wants me tn git married
and so does nam, and I reckon you'd
do jist as we'll as any one else, so l ,,Jist
thought I'd ask yer
Jemima simpered and hung her head
at last she said:
There's Lydia Ann Blinker yer
could git
wont have her-'cause she's lame.