Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-03-09
Scared out Of q Wife.

ter when the wind swept over the
land, making everything tingle with
its frosty breath, that l was seated
before blazing fire, surrounded by
a jolly half dozen boys and an old
bachelor-Peter Green, about forty
and eight years old.
1t was just the night without to
make those within enjoy a good
story. so each Of us had to tell his
favorite story, save Mr.. Green, and
as he was jolly old fellow, we all
looked for jolly story. We were
somewhat surprised to hear him say
81 have no story that would inter-
est you," so we had to find other en-
tertainment for a time, when one OF
the boys told me to ask him how
it happened he never got married
So | did.
"Well gentlemen" he began, ut
don't look right for me to tell how
that happened, bnt as it is about
myself | don't care much. You see
when was young we had to walk
as high as FIVE miles to church and
singing school, which was our chief
enjoyment. But this didn't have
anything to do with. my getting a
wife, but l just wanted to show you
that we had some trouble those
days in getting our sport.
John Smith and | were like
brothers, or like MARY and her lit
tie lamb" where one went the Other
was sure to go. So we went to SEE
two sisters, and as we were not the
best boys imag n lble, the old gen
tleman took umbrage and wouldn'
allow us to come near the house, Sc
we would take the girls to the enc
of the lane and there we woul'
have to take the final kiss.
I'VE soon got tired Of that kind o
fun and | told John on our way t
singing school one night that | wa
going to take Sadie home and wa
going into the house, too.
He said the old man would ru
me off if l did.
81 told him | was going to ris
It anyhow, let come what would q.
HE said he would risk it II
would.
!, so home we went with the girl
u "When we got to the end OF Il
- ~ road we told the girls we propose
= going all the way.
~ "They looked at each other in
4 way | didn't like too WE'LL b
:" thew said the old folks won
&c g be in bed, so they didn't care if '
81 did.
% "They were a little more surpr
ed still when | told them
: thought Of going in while, b
~ as all was quiet we had no trout
in getting into the kitchen.
"0 "Then and there we had our ii
q :" court and l made up my mind
80 ask Sadie to be my wife the nj
,r. time | came.
N. 1T was now past twelve, 9
.ho we had four miles to walk.l told j
~ we had to be going. So we step
~ out on the porch but as we did
the sky was lit up by Lightning
one tremendous thunder peal rol
along the mountain sides. Its e
"a had not died out in the far off v,
-. 10 until the rain began to drop I
10 b. the garnered fullness OF the cio'
- We waited for it to stop until
nl 10 were all sleepy, when the girls
CIV we should go to bed in the Ii
=. room at the head of the kitchen
az their father didn't get up early,
A''' could be home before the old I
,"'0 were astir. So after bidding
A'D girls a sweet goodnight and
!" cling them a little, and wis
IAN them pleasant dreams and pro
ing them to come back next 81
day night, we started for bed.
ths "We didn't have far to go, al
'cla- bed stood near the head ofthe 81
} de- John was soon in bed, but wa
on ways a little slow and full OF
pos os;+u so looked around the