The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-11-05

despair, and paid no attention as to
whether he dropped one or twenty kerr
nels in a hill, he at length had to own
himself out-planted, beaten, vanquished.
He did it in these words:
'This tarnal new hoe hangs out tew
much"
Robert Sharp could not only out-plant
Peter but he could, and did, out-hoe,
out-mow and out.chop him.
One would naturally suppose that the
farmer would have been greatly pleased
with so able an assistant. He was not,
however. He disliked the young man
because he had taken from him his
prominence as II worker.
1t was known for miles around that
Peter Cummins had at last found man
who was his superior at all kinds of hus-
bandry.
The old tiller of the soil grew to hate
his vanquisher.
The young mans presence was a con-
slant reminder to Peter of the many de-
feats he had suffered at his hands.
And so he began to cast about for an
excuse, good or bad, for discharging
him.
He found one sooner than he expected.
One moonlight evening in August
Peter paid his nearest neighbor visit,
and coming home through his back lane
at about o o'clock came spat upon cou-
pie seated on log beneath the wide
spreading branches of chestnut tree.
The young mans arm encircled the
maiden's slim waist, her head rested on
his broad shoulder, and their hands
were clasped.
As they were deeply absorbed in TAX
ing an astronomical observation the
presence of n third party was for a mo-
ment unobserved.
Then Martha, lowering her eyes from
the man in the moon to the man ON the
earth, saw and recognized her sire. Rob
ert Sharp saw him at nearly the same
instant.
Martha" roared the irate husband
man as though his daughter was mile
away, you mog your boots few the
house this minute. Come, meow, git.
As fur ycw turning to the hired man)
yew come with me an I'll pay yew eff,
an then, yew tarnal cuss, git off'n my
farm. Ye're nuthin' but pesly, no.
account tramp, anyway. If / sarved ye
right I'd give ye lift with my boot"
Peter started toward the young man
as though he really intended to bring
into action his noted No. 10.
Why didn't he do so?
Perhaps he saw glitter in Roberts
dark eye, and an ominous clinching of
his sunburned hand that convinced him
that discretion was the better part of
valor"
Robert Sharp went to the farm house,
received his wages, and thrusting his
few belongings into his old carpet bag
left the Cummins homestead, as Peter
thought, forever.
Before taking his departure he asked
to see Martha for moment, but the re-
quest was greeted witha stentorian '.Nol''
Susan, however, babe him cordial
farewell, and slyly slipped into his hand
a tightly rolled piece Of paper.
The next day after dismissing his
hired man Peter went to Piketown, and
falling in with some old cronies did moi
leave the village till nearly 10 o'clock al
night.
When within about mile of his home
he met a rapidly driven wagon in which
were seated man and woman.
Although the woman was heavily
yelled and the man pulled his hat well
down over his eyes the old farmer al
once recognized his younger daughter
and his former hired man.
"Whoa!' roared Peter. swinging his
horse across the road, thus stopping the
further progress of the evidently clipping
couple.
"Whoal Wot does this mean, you
tarnal tramp? Git out nv tibet wagon al
onct, Martha. an come with me. Dye
hear? Come, meow, mog yer boots"
AS the young lady made no move pre-
paratory TO obeying the order, but on
the contrary chung Historically to her
, companion, Peter, in order to enforce
his command. leaped from his wagon
, and approached the other vehicle
No sooner had he done so than Robert
Sharp, freeing himself from Martha
= jumped to the ground, seized the hus
bandman by the collar of his snuff col
ored coat, pulled him forward, pushed
, him backward, and, tripping him will
!, lightninglike rapidity, threw him will
: such force as to make the ground fairl,
shake.
= Having done this he backed Peter
y horse into The roadgil- ditch, clamberet
4 into his wagon and drove rapidly away.
t Although Peter was so dazed by hi
fall that he saw ten thousand stars, h
9 notwithstanding managed to get to hi
feet before the runaways had complete
v ly disappeared from view.
v "Whoal whoal' he roared in voic
that would put to shame any fog hori
0 ever invented.
q "Whoa! Whoal Come backi Com
< back, Martha, an git married tew hum
! Wait till week frum tew-night, an III
git ye up weddin' that'll beat anything
! ever seen within ten miles NV Piketown.
/, Martha and Robert, being less than
{ mile away, heard Peters words, ant
I after moments consultation the OK
hired man turned his horse about AM
drove to the scene of the late imprompt,
a wrestling match.
q "Bob," shouted Peter holding hi
q hand out toward the young man, "yeN
kin hev tho gal in welcome Dye hear
i In welcome. Ye're worthy nv her. An
8 man that outplants, outhoes and Out
h mows old Pete Cummins, an tew ca
v all slams him on his back the way yeN
hev, Is worthy NV the best gal With
q ten mile NV Pilsetown."
a The week following the above relate
d incident Robert Sharp and Martha Cum
!. minis were married.
4 The wedding festivities were of hig
order and on very elaborate scale.
@ The supper went beyond anything i
the culinary line that had been know
v in that vicinity within the memory c
n ''the oldest inhabitants.
!" The Piketown full string band was /
e attendance, and Peter, respondent in
d white shirt with very high collar,
a long tailed black coat, blue jean trousei
a and newly tallowed boots, danced
Oh do