The record-union., 1891-09-12
BACKWOODS BELLIES.
They Still Have Glorious Times in
Lake County.

After q Silence of Many Months sc.
Co Writes Breezy and Cosby
Beaus and Bellies of Lakeport and
Some Other Places.
"Two months is a long timer" So it
seems, Jack. But, when you unloaded
the full wealth of your affection on me,
Jack, if / don't disremember, you asked
me for warehouse receipt for life. And
here | have only been away two short
months-just two balmy summer months,
Jack. On my return | find the watch
and ring that wore fourth-handed now
belongs to the plump blonde at the Lake
view. Oh, Jack, Jack, how could you so
soon forget me? Have you painted me
to your latest love as you painted your
earlier loves to me. Pa says he ''allus
thought you was an ochre anyways" but
/ reckon he meant ogre, for pa only at
tended school winters in Missouri, be-
Jack, it's just too awfully mean of you.
My love was red hot, now nay jealousy
is green, green-yellowy green. P'raps
you might mix the colors and discover a
new tint-it would be handy in your
profession" But must bury my own
sorrows, ma says, and forget you. plI
try to, goodness knows; but how can
forget Jack. His manly figure, filling his
clothes so awfully full; his dear little
| mustache of a few hairs, but many hueS
as dyes are (or did you paint it. Jack?)
his light suit, his English cane and pio-
neer silk hat. Oh! Pm afraid I can't forget
Jack. But she shall never know | regret
him. I'll send her Jacks letters, that's
what I'll do!
Vacations are all over now, and most of
our elite have returned from the fruit
canneries where we hied Il prefer that
| spelling to hide, don't your at the COM
ing OF the sultry days. Pa and ma went
with me on my summer outing. Really
you know peaches do stain ones fingers
so, and tomato slicing is so prolific of
cuts. That's what Frank said-prolific;
and Frank only goes to the cannery tor
the fun, and, as he puts it, what there's
| In it," OF course he meant the girls, and
ma said l was the only girl he could see;
and that was funny, too, for his eyes
seemed good to me. But, sakes alive, L
mustn't talk about Frank, for I've got
more'n a hundred cuts in my fingers to
cure up.
My chum has come home, too. We never
was chums till we went to HealdSburg.
Then had to have chum, and she was
large and plump, and l was small and
slim. She was blonde and l was bru-
nette, SO we got awfully attached to each
other, of course. l like her just splendid,
but | don't think she ought to allow that
little chubby, smooth-faced boy to hang
around her so, if he does ride safety
SO Well-especially considering the way
she encouraged Danny at Healdsburg.
We think our crowd Will bring nearly as
much money home as the summer travel
over the SQuaw Greek road will this sea-
son, and surely 'twon't be as long
about it.
Things have changed wonderfully
while l was away. A bran new brick
block has been built opposite the Court
addition to the town. The tall, good
looking blonde from Carley's addition
don't have SO far to walk now for her
mail, though goodness knows no one
ever knew OF her getting a letter, though
she says she is "specting one from back
yander in st. joe" She gets to see the
boys, however, every day; and, ii Pm not
mistaken, that's what she comes for.
And if that lawyer don't quit laughing
| and giggling with her up in the corner
every afternoon, there will be a row up
at his house, if have to tell the madam
myself.
What do you suppose I'm going to do?
Can't guess? Pm going to join the Swim
ming Club. l would have been charter
member only was ''off for the summer"
when it was organized. The mother of
the club (may her shadow never be lessl
cabbaged enough lumber to build a Swiss
| chalet bathing house up at the point and
she takes in members for life on good
humor-her good humor. She's prom
| ised to take me in. She calls it the "Illi-
nois Swimming Club;'' but, sakes alive,
| Illinois and Missouri are sister States.
| Oh! but they have good times. The little
| black-eyed widow don't like to swim
before the Superior Judge, and won't if
she knows he's around, but sometimes
he just smuggles himself up there after
she's in the water. Then what can she
do? He can come as often as he likes
when l learn to swim, for I've got just a
grand bathing suit. l bought three rem
nants of ribbon for it at Levy's yesterday,
| and intend to put them all in the cos
tune If | have to put two-thirds on my
! head. The mother OF the club is Just tCO
| funny for anything. She swims Ia Illi-
nois and like a porpoise. She floats like
cork, and is going to teach me to do the
same. The only thing she can't do In
the water is to sink. The daughter of the
club swims as gracefully as mermaid,
and her coaXing tone lures the unwary
| beyond their depths, but then the raft is
safe resort, and no one gets drowned.
The Golden Daughter" looks Just lovely
| in her jaunty red suit, and with her two
chicks takes gracefully to the water. But
| pll be in it next week if my ribbons
don't give out.
/ just got home in time for the grand
Harvest Ball, and it was grand sue
cess. All the girls went and few boys.
The belle of Big Valley came proudly
leaning on the arm of O sack-sewer.
Her debonaire corsage, embellished with
ripe barley heads, not only made aeon
trast with the blue, black hair but also
caused an uneasy feeling, when in the
heat of dancing, the boards fell within
The graceful dancing of this couple was
not only exhilarating, but at times clat-
terry, and bar or two previous to the
music. The steak cutter of Main street
added new laurels to the many he al
ready swung to his belt, by the Jig step
he so deity introduced into the waltz, as
we'll as by the finished manner in which
he relieved the willowy beauty of Scott's
Valley of her pompadour sateen skirt, a
feat his feet accomplished without miss
ing step. Two pins and two dishes of
ice-cream, then all went merry as mar
riage bell. The widow from Fourth
street danced with an eclat that was con-
sanquineous, or may be the fact that the
SUMNER boarder' was so attentive to
the little married beauty in the stage cor
ner had as much to do with it. But sup
per came, and all the delicacies slowed
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