The record-union., 1891-11-21


cut up in bits to curl their bangs whin
the boys come commitherin' round"
well, Merry Ann, you forgit our
courtin' days whin loved yer and yer
was not unwillin'."
Its long, tonne back behind" she
said dryly. Now it's more cookin' thin
courtin' Oi'm ask to do"
"Thrue for yer, Merry Ann; but Oh till
yer, ould gurl. niver wan of thin gurls
could hold candle-wick to yer without
apparant difference, aven now"
And in the gladness of his heart Mike
sang In a quavering bass voice:
The first tonne Oh met her l asked her to
marry me.
She said go away. why will yer harry me.
'oalo Ol, II yeeS die an ould maid think of yer
sorrow,
An offer to-day is not good on the morrow.
HI fol de rol diddle rol.
So the love-making progressed, and the
boys We're getting ready to break camp.
Never were DAYS fairer or nights nearer
perfection; the harvest moon beamed
kindly on the happy couples, and the
stars looked on with twinkling apprecia-
ton. The path to and from the gate was
worn, and the gate itself would need re-
hinging for the winter.
Sheila would rush upstairs to see after
her work and would inger an hour to
see VIII Josslyn go by with his gun
Bess would go to the barn to milk, and
hold up the barn door an hour to catch a
glimpse of the smoke from the morning
fires of the camp; Liz would lope her
horse AZ MaZeppa-like speed for miles
and would suddenly check him at the
camp trail till the worthy animal was
nearly knock-kneed, just because Matt
was waving cofIee-pot for her 10 stop
and talk. To misquote little:
Love stirred the camp. the ranch. the gro We,
The very breezes whispered love.
Sims gave the girls eight turkeys to
take to the camp as his parting present.
The boys met them half way and insisted
on taking the turkeys under one arm
and girl on the other till they reached
the camp, when the married four took
theirs with thanks. The boys sat down
to talk over affairs and decided to return
with the girls and ask Mr.. Sims consent
TO an engagement and early marriage.
They were all so earnest when they
started from the camp they forgot 10 leave
their turkeys and returned to the ranch
packing them under their arms. The
birds were tied and made no demonstra-
ton, and the four fellows in camp never
opened their mouths, but enjoyed the
SIGHT immensely.
Old man Sims saw them coming back,
turkeys and ALL
Merry Ann" be groaned, ''they won't
forgive me. They are bringing me tur-
kays back. VIII, if Oi had iver thought
OF thin in the loight OF husbands for
four, Oi would niver have been such q
gas-bag as l WAS"
You was born that way Nike" was
his Wite's unconsoling comment.
VIII and Sheila came up first. Good
evening, MIR. Sims. Fine evening; looks
like rain, don't it?' said viii, nervously.
'NiVer, sir," replied Sims, think out
here it looks like rain, onliss it's cloudy
al around the edge and pouring down in
the middle"
We'll, I won't" said VIII, obligingly,
not knowing now il he was on his head
or his heels, for Sheila had left him, after
loving pressure on his arm that meant
now is the time.
"Mr. Sims,'' said Will, clearing his
throat, that seemed as if drought had
visited it, may I-can will you-that
is, let me have your consent TO marry
your daughters"-he hesitated.
All of 'um?" said Sims.
81 was going TO say, MIR. Sims, your
daughters choice, and-and-
Miss Sheilan'
oh" said Sims in pretended surprise.
"is that the game yer after, bagged them
by moonlight and lamplight. Well, I've
no objections If you can buy bunnits and
gownds and will be man enough to stick
to yer bargain without running to the
enforcement court the wake after"
THANK you, sir = no, sir-I will"
said Will, still confused, but joyful over
his answer. Then he thought he would
help the other boys out. He said: Can
Matt and Jack and Bob be married, too?"
ITO Sheila?" said Sims. Lord, no.
Wan at a toime.'
Il did not mean to Sheila, sir, but the
others
"Well,' replied Sims, ''you same to be
running in couples, and twos, and pairs,
and wan after the other, but Oi'll take
'em in rotation" And he called,
"Sheilar' She came blushing and
smiling.
Take 'em,n said Sims, "and see if YOU
can tach him TO know dove from
calf" and he walked away.
II have dove OF girl anyhow" said
Will, fondly.
Have / dear old calf?n she said.
mischievously, but VIII was too radi-
antly happy to care.
The others came up, and old Sims dis
posed OF each case in an affirmative
All through the interview the boys had
hugged the turkeys. When they re-
turned to camp they were met with a
shout.
At dinner toasts and congratulations
were in order ITO the Octagonoglets.n
said Nolan, land companions in arms"
The turkeys! the turkeys ~ screamed
he recited:
on, bird indigenous to our soil pliocene
OfWhose presence those in love are unaware
Oh, fowl! fowler far more foul than thou
Once in this place did make a bigger row,
But patched the peace he broke by q calf
BY asking the old man for each q daughter.
on, turkey succuient, with sauce in season.
BE warned in time and listen well to reason
For eating you had lost its charm,
When sweet goose hung on the other arm
This camp breaks up, but please remember
The geese and turkey will unite
Late in November.
And with much laughter and poking of
fun the camp broke up and the boys re-
turned to the valley till Thanksgiving.
Invitations were out for the wedding of
Mike Sims four daughters at Thanks
giving; preparations went merrily for
ward; the day came; the old home was
decorated from ratter to sills with flowers.
spruce and scarlet berries. The long ta-
bles IN the dining-room were loaded with
cakes and pies. turkeys and geese, while
yellow-legged chicken were roasted or
roasting. Side tables were groaning un-
der heavy dishes of fruit
The barnyardS were filled with We
hicles and horses of the invited. Rev
erend Conners was walking around the
grounds, waiting to be called in for the
ceremony, at . o'clock, to have the whole
business over by 6.
The hour came. Sheila and Bess in
cream-colored silks, and Liz and Kate in
white silk, were blushingly beautiful.
and the four happy grooms were radiant
III white ties and gloves and new dress
salts. The four single sisters, as brides
maids-two in pink, two in pale blue
were pretty as possible, and the service
went on which joined eight hearts as four,
The happy ones were congratulated, and
the presents were numerous, and after
the inspection dinner was served, at the
close OF which Mike made the following
Sf1aaah. q