The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-07-29

derberry bushes in the buryin -groun
an eff you hain't seen it yer otter, fer
then We might get an idee what sorter
a woman she was. Pretty? Why.
she was model, she was-a perfect
model. Hair! You uns don't often
see SIGH hair nowadays ez Becky
Stump hed-soft and black like.
Eyes! Why, they. sparkled jest like
they was filed with new buggy paint,
an was all watery like. An, mighty
souls, but she could plough! fer she
wasn't none of your modern girls as
is too proud to plough. Many a day
l set over on the porch at our place an
looked down across the valley an
seen her a-steppin' along th'oo' the
| tel, an I thot how I'd like ter hev
one han'le while she'd hev the other,
an we'd 60 trampin' along life's fur
row together.
'"The whole thing came to pint at
a spellin' bee up to Swampy Holler
school," continued the Patriarch, un-
mindful CT the interruption. Becky
stump was there an looked unusual
pretty, fer it was cold outside an the
wind had made her face all red on
the drive over from home Slime was
tnere, too, logged out in store clothes.
1T didn't take me five minutes to
see tibet Slime Cruller was tryin' to
show off afore Becky Stump: was try
Ing to prove to her that he was a
smarter lad than me.
When intermission come Slime he
gifts off in one corner an begins blow
in to 6! lot of the boys. I heard him
talkln' loud about me, so I steps over.
He sayd it was all a mistake; that he
could beat me at anything-spellin' :,
wrastlin,' or fishin' He was shown
Off agin, for he talked loud like Becky
stump could hear, an I makes up me
mind wouldn't stand his b'owin'
See here, Slime Cruller,' I sails, sails
|, you uns is nawthin' but a blow
norm l sails. You claims you kin
Wrastle. Why. I kin th'ow you in less
time an it takes to tell it, an if you
step outside I'll prove me words
You th'ow me!' he sails. Then he
begin to laugh like he'd die at the
very idee.
with that we went outside, foller-
ed by the rest OF the boys. They was
quarter moon overhead, an the girls
put two candles in the schoolhouse
winder, SO with the snow we could see
pretty we'll.
AT it we went. Boys, you otter a.
ben there! You otter "a seen it.!
That was wrastlin'! When Slime an
me clinched I ketched him 'roun' the
waist with me right arm an gifts
hold OF the strap of his right boot
with the forefnger Of me left hand.
He gifts his left arm aroun' my neck
an down my back somehow, an with
his right hand tears the buttons off
me coat an grabs me in the arm
hole CT me waist-coat Over we goes,
like two dogs, snarlin' an snappin'.
while the boys in ring aroun' US
cheered an the girls crowdin' the
schoolhouse porch trembled an
screamed with fright. We twisted we
turned, we rolled over an over tell
we looked like Twin snowballs. Slime
got off the boot I'd holt, on, an
gives me sudden turn tibet almost
sent me on me back. But was quick.
Mighty souls, but I was quick! I ms
with me foot an landed me heel right
on his chist an he went flynn ten
feet inter snow bank, keryin' me
coat-sleeve with him. He was lookin'
up at the moon when run up to him.
an I'd "a he'd him down, but he turn
ed over
But 1 was quick. Mighty souls. but
l was quick! I KEEP me feet an gifts
one han inter his waistcoat pocket an
hung to MIN. Whenever you WHISTLES
git your man by the bootstrap or the
pocket, an you has the best they is.
Eff hedn't "a done tibet, I might not
"a zen here today. But done it. an
Ter full hour me an Slime Cruller
rolled roun', even matched. Time
an agin I got sight of Becky Stumn
standin' on the porch, her hands
grlpped together, her face pale, her
eyes almost poppin' outen her head.
she was watchin' us so hard. an the
very sight of her urged me on tn in
human efforts. It seemed to have the
same effect on Sine. The blood he
gin to run outen both me nose-holes
an yit I KEEP at it. Me heart beat 50
hard it made me buttons rattle. Still
I KEEP at it. Sine was so hot it was
fer me jest like wrastlin' with a. stove
an still we KEEP at it. Then all Of
sudden-it was two hours after he'd
fust Notwithstanding seemed to
SWIM couldn't feel no earth beneath
Il only know'd that I was still hold.
in on to Sime-then I know'd naw-.
thin. .- ...5. r.
When I came to was layin' be the
schcolhouse stove, an Becky Stump
Was leaning over me rubin a snow
ball acrosst me forehead. The other
folks was standin' back like, fer they
seemed to think tibet after SIGH an ex-
hibition it was settled an they didn't
want to disturb u.s.
r." Becky I whispers, did VIM
You did, she sails. You both
tainted ct oncet, but you tainted on
top