Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-08-24
MELlNDA'S WEDDING.


When Melindy Wiggins got engaged
to Pelig jerks her ma was Just tickled
to death Beaus was scase down to
Punkinville, for none of the young men
would stay arter they was growed up
besides, peiis is real forehanded and
quite Il catch
His ina was sot ag'in his marryin at
all. and Melindy she wouldn't never hev
caught him eff she hadn't took airly
mornin walks bout the time he went
over to his place of business, and met
him rs ef by accident.
am told that he proposed by Tag
CARTS barn, and was excepted in front
Of the shoemaker's, and gave Melindy
her engagement ring jest this side of the
blacksmith's; but | can't quite believe
folks get petickerlers as close as that. |
only say they say so. | don't swear
to it.
Well, Mrs. Wiggins she wus real sot
up about it, and she said that Melindy
should be dressed up as much as any
bride there ever had been in Punkin-
vile, et not leetle better But Mr.
Virgins, Melindy's pa he come of a
close family. and he was near himself
twas his mater TO be-and when Me
lindy's ma asked him fur money to shop
fur the things, he Jest buttoned up his
pockets and said, Nav" He oilers
pronounced no that way when he was
sot. Nav" sez he, Il amt toiled and
moiled forty odd year fur to let my
money be spent like water, You kin
make list out OF what is wanted. and
III get it,"
Well, when he spoke up like that,
Mrs Virgins she knew 'twasn't no good
talkin, so she said, "'P'r'aps you air
right, pa" and she wrote down some
things, and kinder winked acrost to
Melindy, who was beginning to cry At
the idea Of her pa, that didn't know
caliker from blankets a-choosin her
weddin clothes.
The help saw all that and heered wha,
wus said, and naturally told folks.
Well, that AFTERNOON Mr.. Virgins
went to town to sell his potatoes, and
got the money. and come down ON the
boat as usual
The boat landin is In quite lonesome
place, and he went home by sort Of side
path anyways, and just about dusk the
Browns heard howlin in the picnic
woods, and goin to see what 1t wus
there wus old Virgins tied to a tree.
he told em he'd been beset by robbers,
and that they wus so fierce and furious
he'd been obliged to give 'em every cent
he had. He described em as most out
landish critters He said their hair wus
like cotton wool and their faces black.
their hats wus tied on with big handker.
chiefs, and they wus queer and slopy in
the small Of their backs. Their hands
and feet wus sort Of small and skinny
lookin, and they had blue overall and
linen busters on He said 'twan't their
strength that overcome him, but their
bein so spooky and supernaturallike
And one Of 'eIn said, in holler voice
Little you know who we be-" and the
other: Were takiH your money because
you don't pervide as you should fur sol
emn occasions Beware in futurer
When he got home he cried and said
he wished he'd Civ Mrs. Virgins the
money for Melindys things, but she
said II happened fortunate that her sis
ter, Melindy's aunt. had sent her pres.
ent fur her weddin.
The help now, she don't think them
robbers wus supernatural. and she sez II
ever Mr.. Virgins finds out the truth she
dunno what will happen to MIRA Wig
gins kinder think myself that the
robbers wus Mrs Virgins and Melindy
dressed up In some old clothes, with cot
ton batting wigs, and don't blame EN-
Well, Melindy had her clothes aftei
all, but before they wus finished Mr.
Virgins he'd got over his skeer and got
as mean as ever again, and he wouldn't
give his unfortunate wife nothin extr,
for the supper She borried The Tide o
Fashion from the Rabbits, and found
out that she'd orter hev chicken salad.
But Mr. Virgins, he said he WI,
sellin his chickens. not devourin OF EN-
hum, and ! suppose what she mad don,
before kinder weakened poor Mira Wig
gins conscience. for, seein her own coop
wus locked mp. the poor soul wen
around to the neighbors and stole on,
chicken apiece from each Of us II wa
kinder just 10 DO il that way when sh,
might have took EN- all from one Of us
and those Of us that caught her at 4
made up our minds not 10 say nuthin
but Jest to pray fur her. and we'd SEN
over word that ef there wus anything W,
could do to call on Us And perhaps sh.
fel, we'd he willin TO spare the chickens
but wus proud about askin fur em.
Well. she go, the things together some
bow, and abe cooked the chickens an'
made the salad. and borried chany o
most Of rs, and got up real fust rat
supper. and 50, the table with flowers
they wus mostly marygolds and old man
and some folks don't like the smell o
neither. but the yaller and green locke
pretty. and II was all ready for the com
pany when they cam hum from church
We that knowed things felt that W
could zee marks Of innard torture o.
poor Mra Virgins face. and we felt :
UmpathiEe fur abe wus naturally