Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-07-21
added as the preacher drew up at the

The parson dismounted and, with
the old man, folio wed the lovers into
the house.
sis it possible. said the preacher,
IN response to declaration made by
the old Squire, "that you can not,
even by the most persuasive appeal
to sentiment, settle this extremely
eccentric courtship?'
"Can't do it one way or luther, >
the old man rejoined, and then quick
ly turning to the girl, he added, study,
I've got idee."
''What is it, pap?"
"Wall, it's this: Parson Briddle,
here, has seed a good deal of the
world-wy, you've been way down
in Robinson county, hain't You, par
son?''
eyes, 'the parson answered proud
ly.
"Thar, now." continued the old
man, she has even been way down
in Robinson county, and is, frum the
fack that he has seed a good deal of
the world, fair jedge of the good
pints in man; so now, Judy, air you
willin' to leave it to the parson and
take the one he picks out?'
eyes, | am willin'," the girl an
swered.
'sI'm willin', too" Mark quickly
spoke up, "but I want to tell the par
son right now that eff he decides agin
me I'll whup him till the folks will
think he's been chewed up and spit
up by thrashin' machine
"And as fur me-" said Job, 'I'm
mon delighted with the idee, but jest
let me say that eff he decides agin me
I'll wallop him till you'd have to get
him together with hay rake
"Gentlemen,' the parson remark
ed, 81 shall render no desision. [
am very well satisfied with my posi-
ton in life my circuit is compare
lively smooth and l have a pretty
good horse; my salary is Tagging, but
the sisters have given me ninety-eight
lindsey shirts and calico handker-
chiefs-enough to cover the rock of
ages-so, taking it all into consider
alton, l do not care to be food for
a dyspeptic threshing machine or to
clog the teeth of hay rake
"Ah, Lawd," sighed the old man,
''the end amt no nearer in sight than
It was at fust. Judy, fetch out the
Jug" he added, as the preacher said
in an undertone. ''Now,
boys" he continued, when the jug
1ad been brought, "he'p yo'selves.
The boys being nightly partial to-
ward liquor, began to help themselves.
The old man took few pulls and the
oarson dampened his quicker, but the
boys drank recklessly, and, after a
while, they were generously intoxi-
Gated.
"Job," said Mark, "Pm the best
friend you ever had. You may have
Judy
"Mark," Job responded, "you
init no better friend to me than [
I'M to you, so you take her."
"No, you've got to-
s'Now we can call on the parson to
lecide," the old man delightfully."- ex
claimed.
''That's what we cam" said Mark.
'Parson, you pick out one of US to
light here that Jobs my friend an
hat if you decide agin him I'll larrup
you till you'd run through SITTER"
''Parson, I'm IN favor of you MAX
n decision" Job declared, "and
I'M willin' to leave it to your jedge
nent, but let me tell you right now,
larson, if you decide ag'in Mark I'll
whale you till all that is left of you
would ooze through tow sack
"Gentlemen," said the preacher,
las | just now remarked, / am not
t all displeased with my circuit. |
m attached to my ninety-eight lind
ey shirts and have become smitten
nth my calico handkerchiefs. |
hall make no decision"
Mark and Job began to stretch
themselves on the floor. ''Let them
leep," said the old man. ''Ho me-
e sighed, 81 don't see no way outen
his trouble
81 do the preacher answered,
step outdoors with me-"
When they returned the old man
aid, "Judy, decision has been
lade. You must marry the preach
r. Hold on, now, don't fly off. He'd
O better by you than either one of
ne boys. Why, jest think, he's got
Rico handkerchiefs enough to make
lore bed quilts than you could stuff
ito hired mans appetite, and ev-
~ woman in the community would
ssPetrified with envy" the parson
1ggested.
An expression of delighted resig-
alton shone on the girls face. 81
ill make out the license and do the
Varying myself" said the old man.
Oh, don't be skaered now; I'll fix
lie boys all right"
Mark awoke, and getting up, arous-
1 Job. 6 Squire" said Mark, "we
OF a little too much of your Ticker.
Where did you get it,"
ssThat rppaoher that was here sent |