The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-05-18

rode round few turns. We talked
about the spellin' match, and l was
sorry could not come N, because
wanted to see her school whip that
other deestrict. and knew it would. l
tell We, my sap yoke was nothin' On my
shoulders that afternoon. We fetched
up round here at the shanty, and l
sugared off bit that had intended TO
make into cakes for her; and she ate
it, looloin' her pretty self sweetern n
the sugar.
THAT top spoon, up there, is Che
very one she used, / will guarantee.
l said, as pointed to a whitfield shin
gle, hung up high on the side of the
shanty, with bit Of yellow worsted
travelled out of his Upper tied around
its shank, and underneath it was
scrawled in charcoal: "F.lst day, 1885,"
The big fellow would nave blushed,
but that the bronze face painted by the
March winds, made his honest, hearty
features incapable of deeper hues.
''Well, I~could not get over to the
spellin' match, as it was such GOOD san
weather, after she went back, and
sugar was twenty-five cents a pound
that season, kept thinllin' | would go
about breakin' up time; but if I didn't
forget myself for business. | s'pose /
amt the first man that has let his wish
to save some pesl1y properly get be-
tween him and his lady love. kept
thinking l. would get the syrup down
so as l could leave it long enough to
run over just about the time they got
through which was about midnight. "
Il suppose that other follow, South
worth, was there with his colt and
sleigh to take your Dulcinea home" !
put in.
You hit it exactly! And 1 was a
fool too. l s'posed actually that she
would rather walk home with me than
to drive home with him. That's the
worker and he was a lazy fellow Twin
on his old father, and lettin' him work
his sugar orchard all that season,
thought she would see through things.
Hadn't girl ought to consider such
things as that?'
YES, but girls like attention, you
know. You can not win fair lady
without putting yourself out some," l
replied.
You are right. But, howsome-
ever, | got over just us they were
breaking up. and | was all in my work.
ing clothes, too, and had on my long
wooden frocI1, for it was rather frosty,
and my pant legs were tucked in my
boots. thought she would consider
that, and not be ashamed of me-
But ayoung man must pay his lady
love some little compliment by slick
ing up when he goes to sec her"
"Now, you be STILL" he said, biting
his lip. ''Of course l got to the school
house just as Joe Southworth drove up.
His colt was dancin' and standin'
straight on his hind legs, and he looked
mighty pretty. The boys were just
putin OtlG ilNt lluIIdIliH lOE VIC uitu
got the victory. just strobe up by
Southworth, scowlin' at him as I went
by, and walked right up to Miss Brown
just as she came out of the sehool-house
door, o. wasn't she pretty, all flushed
with the trouncin' she'd give Knobb's
Hall. Good evening, Miss Brown,
shall | walk home with you? said l.
She bcamed on me as she always
beams on every body to this day, and
then she says: Why Elisha, Mr.. South
worth has invited me to ride home
with him. said not another word,
but just tumbled back over the snow,
and threw my leg over that rail fence,
and just legged it towards this ere
sugar camp. / heard SouthwQrth's
bells jingling down the highway and l
went on my lonely journey. | was
mighty mad. | sat down here on this
very seat, / had not been in the camp
more than three minutes when heard
the VOW of catamount. l just wished
the creeter would eat me. | felt so
pesky mean, and | knew l would
sour on stomach of cata-
mount. Well, as the yow-yow con-
tinued, I took the rife out of the
stock up there and put off out through
the woods determined to shoot myself
or the animal. And, POUNDS! if did
not see down there at the turn of the
road Southworth's sleigh all smashed
to smithereens! And the next minute
l saw the catamount right up there
agin a hemlock tree all crouching
down! But where was the grip My
blood got cold. Now, a fellow used to
getting up stories could make this into
a long story, but will only tell you it
in word. Well, that moment l heard
pretty voice cry. 'Elishah, Elishah.
quickr 1t was my lady. who was sittin'
on pile of buffalo robes all crouched
down in terror. Whether the beast
would have touched the angel or not.
don't know. Well, just fired at that
beast and he dropped in heap in no
time"
80, l see," said I. THAT is the skin
you have got in your best room down
to the farmhouse"
"YOu are right he replied.