Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-04-12
IT WAS SETTLED WITH BETTY.
TWO HOGS, SIX GEESE AND A
PEACOCK FOR A LACERATED
HEART.

PEAtOCh FOX a LAURA III
HEART.
After explaining that his son
John was threatened with - breach
of promise suit and that the Girl IN
the case lived only half a mile away
and was willing to be talked 10, the
old man asked M to 20 oyer with
him and witness his efforts To effect
a settlement. We found he girl at
home, also her father aud mother.
They were all Smelling corn IN the
kitchen, and Betty, as the glrl was
named, looked anything but brok
en.hearted. She was % years old,
weighed l65 pounds, and was IN
clined to be sentimental. After
greetings and a general introduce
ton my friend, whose name was
jeremiah White, led of with;
snow, then, thar haiD't no use in
chasing rabbits all over the woods
to find one in a trap. Betty, YOU
and John hev busted up"
"Yaas, but it hain't my fault"
she replied.
$40, indeed" added the mother.
ale busted Of his own Accord
"Reckon lie did," put in Betty's
father, as he laid down "a half
shelled ear to light his pipe.
"When folks is courtin' they Of
ten bust up observed Jerry, as
he got comfortably seated. "They
git Jealous. They git sick of each
other. They git out ofsoIts. Mebbe
one has a bad breath"
"Yaas, Jerry, Pm follerin' ye,'
said Betty's father.
"And when they bust mp the
best way is to be sensible. John
don't want no row with Betty, aud
Betty don't want no row with
john"
"No more DON'T" murmured
the fair one.
"John isn't fifteen for you, Bet.
He's all for nevis and whiskey,
and tobacco, and fighting; and You
is all for poetry, and stars, and
clouds, and flowers You is too
high souled for John"
"Shuck my hide if that hain't
So" exclaimed Betty's father, as
he whacked the edge Of the tnb
with big ear Of corn.
Betty simpered aud giggled, and
the mother looked pleased.
"Tha's why you busted" softly
explained my friend. "IIAd to
come. Couldn't help it. When one
~ too good for 'tother a bust al.
ways comes. Say, Betty, couldn't
sleep last night for thinking of that
verse you wrote fer my old woman
when she was sick last year. III
bet repeated it over a thousand
times"
"Oh, Ia. Mr.. White - gigg'cd
Betty.
"Yaas, it rnn in my head till |
couldn't sleep. | kept saying:
"Old Mrs White is very sick,
And mebbe sLo will die;
Although to save her from the grave
The doctor he Will try"
"Ah, Betty, if could write slch
poetry as that wouldn't be slo>h-
ing around here a great while, and
you can jigger to that. y
"IIonest Injdn :" she asked, hold
ing an ear Of corn in either hand.
"Dead sure. And now, Betty,
being as lou war too good Tor John
and being as you've busted MP, I'm
gong to send You over them t"G
black hogs and six geese IS pres
emit"
Tsl feg her wounded feelings p
asked Betty's father.
"Kinder that way aud kinder be-
cause she's so good"
"Bets cried n heap, and she's
lost lots of time" put IN the mother,
"and you'd better throw in that
ar peacock
"Durned if | don't, Hammer Hes
the incest bird in the country, and
peddler offered me so for him,
but chuck my hide if don't throw
him in y
"Then won't sue said Betty.
"No, she won't" added the father,
"Then it's all settled befo' this
gent, who is the witness" contin-
ued Mr.. White, "l'm glad ont. It's
the proper way. When folks love
aud bust mp, as they sometimes will
thar's a proper way to settle dam.
ages. We've settled, and I'll send
the stuff right over, and Bet will
be free to make up to that feller
who is selling tanning mills up at
the corners, and who'll be down
| Ill ,,-o,. % ,rorrotr = Y Sam