Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-01-21
Courting Under Difficulties.

Bob Wilkins was one of the most popu-
lar young men in Canton, Miss, and was
clerk in one of the largest stores in
town. His employers did fine business,
not only in Madison county, but also in
the counties Of Scott and Leake, lying
east of Pearl river Bob was frequently
sent out by his employers to visit their
customers, to get orders, collect bills and
to keep them posted in regard to the
condition of crops on which they made
advances. One of the customers was a
well-to-do, thrifty farmer, and had un-
limited credit with his merchants. This
farmer lived in Scott county, three miles
from the river, on the main road, and
about fifteen miles from Canton. He had
a sweet, interesting daughter of some II
summers, and whenever Bob crossed the
river on one of his business trips he in
variably made it convenient to stop at
''Farmer Moore's" house, where he always
met with hearty welcome, for he was
bright and intelligent, and kept we'll
posted with the current news of the day,
politics, etc. The old man enjoyed
Bob's company on this account es-
pecislly, and then, Bob always carried
with him the latest newspapers and was
sure to leave them with his friend, Mr..
Moore. Then he would not forget Mrs
Moore and the daughter, for he always
had some interesting periodical that was
sure to please them. He was not long in
gaining the good will of the entire
family; but he longed for closer re-
lationship, and, finally, when he proposed
to Miss Sallie, she hung her dear little
head, twisted her pocket handkerchief
and said: "Ask pa"
Bob was rejoiced, and told her that he
would do SO the next time he came, and
begged her in the meantime to feel the
old folks on the subject and ascertain
their views. She agreed to do so, and
when Bob took his departure it was
with the understanding that he was to
return to the Moore homestead the fol-
lowing Saturday night, one week, and
spend the Sabbath with them and attend
church, as big time was expected, it
being quarterly meeting"
The ten days intervening went by
on sluggish wheels, and notwithstand-
ing Bob worked hard in the store every
day, hoping that the time thus employed
would pass more quickly, he thought
the day Of his departure for Scott
county would never arrive. The anxious
ly-looked for Saturday came, however, but
it was an unusually busy one, and it was
quite late in the afternoon be-
fore Bob could get off. While he was
making his toilet he dispatched the por-
ter to the livery stable for the best sad
dle-horse there, and just as the lamps
were being lighted in the stores he
mounted, and went galloping out of town.
He reached the river, twelve miles dis
tant, in about two hours, and then he
rode down the bank to the ferry landing.
To his great disappointment, the ferry
a f1atboat which was propelled by a
wire rope stretched across the river
was not ON his side of the river By
straining his eyes he could see, through
the darkness, that the boat was moored
on the Scott county side, some two hun
dred yards distant. He knew that old
IKE, " the negro ferryman, had a cabin
on that side about quarter of a mile
distant, and that it was frequently the
custom of travellers to hello to him to
come down and put them across. So Bob
commenced calling:
'eUncle Ike oh, Uncle Tke.n But he
got no answer, though he called time and
again, even until his voice was hoarse
and his throat sore.
What was he to do2 He was bound to
see his sweetheart, and there was no use
Of thinking about returning to Canton,
and, then, it was fully five miles back,
through a dismal swamp, to the first
house, and it was doubtful about his get
ting lodgings there. To remain where
he was until morning was death almost
from mosquitoes and sand flies, and those
| pests had already commenced their at
tacks upon him. Finally he thought if
Leander could swim the HelIespont for
his lady love, why could not he swim
Pearl river for the girl he loved2 He was
not long in putting the thought into
practical effect, and procuring stout
cane, the butt end of an old fishing-pole,
he spliced it from the saddle girth to the
pommel of the saddle; the be stripped
his clothes and making them up securely
into bundle tied them to the top of the
pole. Everything being ready he led old
Roam down to the waters brink, and
heading him for the opposite shore struck
him lick and ordered him to ego
along" The horse seemed to divine
what was intended for him to do and
was soon swimming with Bob holding on
to his tall The passage across the river
was successfully made, but the current
being quite swift the two voyages were
carried down below the usual place oI
landing, some one hundred yards ol
more, where the bank was quite precipi.
:ous and covered with reeds, brambles
nd briars.