Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-04-18
BEULAH.


| IN a sparselT inhabited part OF Tennessee.
/ He was rather a fat old fellow, condition
doubtless brought about BY his close as-o-
| citation with butter, bacon and axle grease,
! for every other man in the neigLborhoJd
was lean with that lankness 81 character
| istic of the Southern baekwo0dsman.
/ The most striking Of Jaspers character
istics was his love for his daughter Beulah,
d handsome girl whose name had been
taken from az absUrdly romantic, not to
say hamboyant, novel which, years aga,
had found lis way into the neighbofhood.
| Beulal however, was not 80 romantic as
| her fictitious uamesake, unless a certain
vein of violence can be regarded as
romance, for nothing seemed to delight
her 50 much as standing about on hog kill
! ing day, watching the red gush OF an e1-
| piring SOW; and indeed. 1 have been told
that she once filed dog with number six
shot and then laughed gleefully at his
death-inspiring howls.
One day a fellow named jim Buck, a
pretended farmer, an actual slouch aud
lsnkest Of the lank entered Jasper's store
and calling the old man from his thrilling
work of weighing few pounds OF blue
! looking butter which an old negro had
brought 10 exchange ior d cast-iron plow,
| thus addressed him.
"Old man, you've noticed me around
here a good deal lately, haven't youi"
wy, l don't know that 1 have, Jim, %
the old man answered, wiping his greasy
hands on the bosom Of his hickory shirt
The fact is, 1 have been so busy lately
with this here Tushin' life Of commerce
that haven't had time To notice any
thing.
Not even Beulahp jim asked.
'sWhat do you mean7" the old man de-
manded somewhat grufiiy. Whats
Beulah got to do with anything that mout
consarn youf"
Don't Hy OFF the handle, as the boy
said IT, the axe. | wanted to know If you
had noticed me around here much lately,
an you lowed that you had been too busy
to notice anything, am then [ asked if you
had been too busy to notice Beulah, an
that's whar the matter stands now"
AN wanter know why you mention
the girli7
''WalI, jest Wanter know ef you have
noticed the powerful strong affection that
has been CROWN up betwixt us ever sence
the protracted meelin' over at Station
Camp Creek last lalli"
The old man sat down on a keg Of nails
and wovo bis greasy fingers together
Gin, you don't mean to say that you are
III love with BeuIah do your
II not only mean to say it, Jas, but do
say it right ont"
But do she love, Jimi'
''She do
How do you knowP
cause she lows she does
..Wall eff that's the case" said the old
man, II reckon she do, but I'm powerfully
sorry, jim"
ssWhv, Jasf Amt | allus traded with
youl Didn't buy a Laiier side OF bacon
from you last springi
That's all true enough, Jim, but I've
had big hopes for her. | wanted her to
marry somebody that amounted to some
thing"
Don't ! amount TO nothinF
wall hardly, Jim. You're red headed.
hungry looLin, knock kneed, an your
front teeth air out"
Yes, kicked out BY a steer, jim inter
posed.
"That don't make 40 diiunce, jim. Ny
daughter amt called on TO put up with the
cayortin's of steer, an it don't make no
difunce how you lost your teeth. The
pint is that you amt got none"
"Now here, Jas, said jim, placing his
hand on the old mans shoulder, ''ef the
fack that | amt got no teeth is the biggest
objection, Wy, kin have some put in this
fall ef the crop turns out all right"
Craps air mighty uncertain, Jim, spec
tally as it looks like we mout have
drought tlis year. an besides that, | want
ed Beulah to marry lawyer, OF doctor, or
somethin'."
"Too late now, Jas, Tor we've dun made
up our m1ndi, an air goin' to marry
whuther yu' consent or not"
oval" the old man replied, getting up
and again @iping his hands on the bosom
Of his hickory shirt, II reckon you'll halter
take her, but you must rickolleck one
thing, jimmy, an that's this: you've got
jewel"
Il Will, Jas"
"She's too good fur any human bein',
jim"
II know that, Jas"
Jim, she's a plum jewel"
Jim and Beulah were married. 1t was a
great event in the neighborhood, and
many n chicken squawled and many
young pig squealed for old Jasper spread
a great feast Just az the bride aud groom
were about to depart for their home,
Jasper, after embracing his daughter, tnm-
ed 10 Jim and said
Jim, don't you never fail to dc"lleck.
"Ricolleck WHAT Beulah asked.
"Thnt you air jewel, my dear"
Don't he foolish, pap
II amt foolish, honey, fur Of you amt a
plum Jewel thar never vas one tuck outen
the bottom Of the sea. Goodbye, precious,
an don't iurgt to come over an see me
once in awhile, an jim. let me charge you
ag in not to furgit."
Several days aiterwnrd Jim came into
Jasper's store
"W'y, good morn'n', Jimmy, good
A