The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-02-10
A BRIDE CONTEST.

Had the man from Raccoon valley
dropped dynamite shell in the redhot
stove, he could not have surprised the
store more than he did by the purchase
of three glass pitchers. The store was
dumfounded, but, always slow to evinco
emotion of any kind, it said nothing
until the stranger had taken chair,
placed his basketful of glassware at his
feet, lighted penny cigar and shown
his intention to linger awhile, provid-
ing he found things pleasant.
Then the man with the bushy whis-
kers who was lollihg on the counter
shuffied his feet in warning and at
length said, II low you must drink
heap of water up your way"
The storekeeper strolled around from
behind the counter and, taking post
with his back to the stove and his eyes
fastened on the transom over the front
door, ventured in all Indifferent. way,
eyes, you must drink a heap of wotter
to buy dollar an a half worth O.
pitchers at onct."
The stranger grinned again.
perhaps he don t drink only water"
came from the man who was rocking on
nail key behind the stove.
"They hain't fer VOTER. but fer wed.
din presents, said the stranger.
mighty souls A triple weddin!"
cried the storekeeper. "Well, you uns
az up in Raccoon valley do beat alIr'
''This here petic lar instance do beat
all, admit" said the man who hailed
from that small but important part of
the state of Pennsylvania. 1.-THE blue
pitchers fer Teacher Perry, the green
un fer Jakey Wingle, old Jawhn Win
gle's son; the plain un's fer Hen Har-
mon"
And the store lifted up it's voice in
one grand mighty souls''
The stranger rubbed his hand through
his long beard and grinned again.
''It's nine mile to Raccoon valley.
It's kinder an outen the way, ahint the
time sort O. a placet, an I've never ben
there an don't know them as you un
has spoken of, :" said the man on the
counter. "But you mowt tell US of it. -
"Gwon!'' cried the rest of the gath
ering.
Il low if you don't know Teacher
Perry, or Jawhn Wingle's son Jakey,
or Hen Harmon, you uns mowt O. heard
O. Squire Kramer, amt you?''
The store had not, and the stranger
said, mighty soulsp'
Having thus expressed his surprise at
the ignorance about him, he continued:
swell, not hevin heard O. Squire Kra-
mer, O. course you uns hain't heard o.
his twins, Flory an Pet. Them was
girls The pretties' in Raccoon valley,
or any other valley, fer that matter
II year old, feet 8 inch high, weighin
scant hundred an twelve pound, slim,
yeller hair, musklar. He'd I BEN a
younger man might o. gone in the
fight with Teacher Perry, Jakey Wingle
an Hen Harmon, but gettin near to SO
as am, with missus and seven lit
tie uns at home, lef' the feel to them,
an high time they an them twins he'd
o it. 1t was a case o. the three o. 'em
courtin the two o. 'em, fer if Teacher
Perry, or Jake Wingle, Jawhn Wingle's
Kramer's he never set up with any
pete lar twin, but with whichever he
seen first. -.
about corn cuttin time Teacher Per.
~ goes over to Squire Kramer's, an he
|. sails, sails he, Squire, want one o.
your twin dotters.
Which imp sails the squire.
scratchin his head, kinder puzzled like.
''Jest then up comes Hen Harmon an
Jake Wingle, Jawhn Wingle's son.
Squire, sails Jake, kinder flustered
like, fer fear the teacher he'd got ahead
o. him, me an Hen each wants one o.
'em twins
esquire Kramer, he thot piece, an
then sails, sails he: Boys, they's three
O. you uns an two o. the twins. One O.
You uns has got to git left. Which un?'
1.-THE three o. EN- kind O. looked fool
ish like, an Squire Kramer cast his eye
down over his 90 acre feel O. tall, straight
corn.
Which un?' he asked ag'in after a
bit
G1ttIn no answer, ne says: $50
yander fell o. corn? Well, I'll tell you
what we'll do. Well decide this here
matter by a corn cuttin tournyment.
The two fellers tibet cuts the most corn
in two hours time kin have the twins.
The one Teller that cuts the most kin
hev the first pick atween Flory an Pet.
"An so they agreed.
"Well, sirs. tibet there corn cuttin
tournyment was the grandest thing !
ever seen. All the folks in the valley
knowed o. it an come to look ON. There
was fully so buggies hitched along the
fence when the squire give the word an
Teacher Perry an Jake Wingle an Hen
Harmon fell to cuttin. Have seen a
heap o. corn cut in my day, but never
eeen the beat o. the way them boys