River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-04-16
THE HuMoRs OF COURT SHIP.
Quaint and Curious Ways of Popping the
Question.

Humor, Eli Perkins maintains, is
description. 1t is photograph of actual
life 1t is truer than history because
it gives not only the facts but dialects,
too The humorist gave this sweet
photograph of New England court
ship to illustrate humor:
Seven long years ago, said Eli. Jonas
Harris began to keep company" with
Hannah Bell, and yet in all that time
he had not mustered courage to propose
a certain important question. His house
was lonely and waiting; hers was lonely
enough to be vacated, and still Jonas
could not bring himself to speak the de-
cisive words. Many a time he walked
up to the door with the courage of
lion only TO find himself very mouse
when she appeared. lie had never
failed in dropping in to cheer her lone
illness on Christmas evening, and this
year he presented himself as usual.
The hearth was swept, the FIRE burned
brightly and Miss Hannah was adorned
with smiles and red bow. Converse.
ton went serenely on for an hour or so,
and then, when they both sat pairing
red apples with great contentment,
Jonas began to call upon his recollec-
tions.
Its a good many years, amt il,
Hannah, since you and | sat here to-
gether?"
Eyes, good many"
II wonder if | shall be settin' here
this time another year?"
MAY be | shan't be at home. Per-
haps ! shall go out to spend the evening
myself, said Miss Hannah. briskly.
This was blow indeed, and Jonas
felt it.
"Where?" he gasped.
'Oh, don't know" she returned be-
ginning to quarter her apple. II might
be out to tea-over to your house, for
instance"
but there wouldn't be any body over
there to get supper for you
MAY be could get it myself"
80 you could. SO you could! cried
Jonas. his eyes beginning to sparkle
"But there would be nobody to- cook the
pies and cakes beforehand"
May be could cook EN-"
At that moment Jonas plate fell be-
tween his knees to the earth and broke
in two, but neither of them noticed it,
Hannah" cried he, with pent-up en-
phasis of seven long years, could you
bring yourself to think of gettin mar
ried?"
A slow smile curved her lips; surely
she had been given abundant time for
consideration.
MAY be could" she returned. de-
murely, and Jonas has admired himself
to this day for leading up to the subject
so cleverly.
Then the humorist gave this popping
the question from his book: "Wit and
Humor of the Age" to illustrate the
witty way of handling the same subject
One picture is true and the other imag-
mary.
Her eyes shone a beautiful joyous
light, when Augustus leaned forward
and said:
Julia, have something confidential
to tell You"
what is it, Augustus?" she asked, in
a low. silvery voice-a kind of German
silvery voice.
"Well, Julia, to be frank with you, |
think that under some circumstances l
might love you. Now, do you love me?"
Eyes, Augustus, | do love you-you
know / do" and then she flung her ala
baster arms around his neck.
II am very glad, Julia" ne said, ''for
/ like to be loved"
"Well, Augustus"
But Augustus never said another
word. Fashionable fellows never say
more than that nowadays.
Alas, they were never married.
Moral-Girls, never tell fellow that
you love him till he has asked you to be
his wife--Chicago journal.