The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-07-16

Reference was made in the last sketch
to Deacon Tanners daughter Sarah, and
to her asking me to "stand fol" her and
her lover, Tom, with the old folks. After
I had upset the deacon's religious argu-
ments he seemed to feel it his duty to go
out and make a search for a razor-backed
hog which had been missing for three
months, and which had probably been de-
voured weeks ago, while the wife made
ready to give the parlor floor a good
scrubbing with sand, soap and water.
Sarah was told to mind the kettle of I've
which was boiling over a fire to make
soft soap, and as l sat down on the log
beside her she INDUCED in a chuckle and
said:
"You'un dun used pap right up IN
them talks. He'un sees he's got to change.
Ne and mann is right glad of it, fur pap
has dun been powerfully lazy. HIM made
us all believe the Lord didn'texpect he'un
to work. Him jist wanted to spell out
the Bible and talk of the judgment day
while and ma had to go bar'fut. Pap is
dun mad about it, I reckon, but he dasn't
say nuthin'. You'un is too big fur him
in your talk, and when you'un goes away
nam will keep the water hot"
"Well, what is it about, Tom?" l
asked.
"He-he!" she giggled as she twisted
her apron in her hands in great embar-
rassment. 81 like he'un, and him likes
me-"
"But your parents object2"
Pap don't keer, I reckon, but nam
says 1 kin do better" .-~
HS11ra he lOvoc Won 2'
"He-he! Him says so, and I believe
he"
elias he any bad habits? ?"
"Nary."
doesn't he chew, smoke, swear, or
drink moonshine 2"
"He'un chaws plug. He'un smokes a
pipe. He'un swears at his Ok. He'un
drinks moonshine to keep the chills away.
Them's what everybody does. Them's
no bad habits. Them don't hurt nobody"
"Where is he now?"
"He-he! Oh! hu! Him's close"
"Do you mean he's around here some
where p
Yes. He-hel You won't tell?"
"No."
"Then he'un is beyand that brush.
He'un's dazzled of NAM. She'un's besots
him when he comes. Go out and talk to
he'un, but don't skeer him."
l walked out to the brush keap indi-
Gated, and crouched behind it was a young
man of two and twenty, dressed in the
garb of the lowlanders Whereabouts, but
having a spirited look in his face. He
was much embarrassed over the discov-
cry, and / sought to put him at ease by
cts all right, Tom; glad you are here.
I've agreed to stand for you and Sarah,
and if you'll come along we1l have a talk
with the old folks and settle the matter
this evening"
"She'un don't seem to gubble (have a
iking) fur me-" he answered, as he waved
his hand towards the cabin.
well, we'll find out the reason. Come
along. Sarah loves you and is willing to
marry you, and that's the big end of the
bargain"
What if she'un (the mother) dun bub-
bles ?" he inquired, as he stopped short.
What do you mean?"
"Dun gets mad"
"Well, get her pleased again. Come
along"
cob, Tom, he 'un will stand for US I"
she Whispered as we drew near. "You
orter heard him down pap, and I'm sure
he'un kin beat mann to shavings."
Just then the deacon returned from a
vain search after the hog, and his wife
called out that supper was ready. Leav-
ing the lovers together at the soar kettle,
l went forward and said to Mrs. Tanner:
"Sarah's Tom is here, and 1 hope you
will ask him to supper. [ want to talk to
him."
"Tom yerel" she replied, looking very
serious. II dun told him to SHELTER keep
away weeks ago. I never did snuggled
to he'un, but mebbe I'm not. He'un kin
cum along to smack"
1t was pretty embarrassing for Tom,
but he held up gamely. When supper
was over l pulled the deacon out of his
fit of abstraction by handing him a cigar,
gave Mrs. Tanner a clean, new clay pipe
and a paper of tobacco, and when we had
all got settled down for business I said !:
"Now, then, I've agreed to stand for
Sarah and Tom. Deacon, do you object
to this young man for a son-in-law ?"'
kin him support Sarah, and will him
make a good man to her?" he queried
after a long pause.
Tom stoutly declared in the affirmative
in both cases.
"Mrs. Tanner, have you anything
against Tom ?" I asked.
give heard he was abusing too much"
"Tain't so, Mrs. Tanner" replied Tom.
q haven't been fussing with nobody fur
a hull year. I'm friends with ALL"
CAR ye moonshing any?"
"Not a bit"
"Gwine ter stay on yer squat?"
"Sartin shore. It's guv'ment, and no
body won't SHELTER me off"
"Sim Parker dun told me you was a
snapper" GRADER.
Then he'un dun lied to you to git
Sarah hieself."
wall, that's all I've got to say. sary's