West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-12-29
SCARED OUT OF A WIFE.
Country courting About Thirty
Years Age, as Told BY an Old
Bachelor.

IL was one OF those lights in
midwinter wheu the wind sweeps
over the laud, making everything
tingle with it's frosty breath. that
was sc tel before fire, surrounded
by Jolly halt dozen glrls and boys
aud an old bachelor who | will c II
Joseph Green, abou. forty aud
eight years old.
It was Just the nigh without te
make those within oujpy u lood
story. SO each OF us had told oui
fovoritc story save Mr.. Green. aud
rs he was Il jolly old fellow. We all
looked for a good story. We were
somew hat surprised TO hear him
say, IL have NO story shat would
interest you" So we had TO find
other cntertainm,nt FIR awhile,
when one OF the boys toll me to
ask him why, and how il happened
that lao never got married so
did.
"Vell, ladies and gentlemen"
he began, cit don't seem right for
me to tell you how it happened
but as it is about myself. don't
care much. You see, whea l was
young we had to walk as high as
Two miles to church and singing
school, which was our chief amusc-
ment But then this dou't have
anything to do with my not getting
wife, but just wanted to show
you thtt we had some trouble them
days in getting our sport.
"John Smith and 1 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 tho best of boys imaginable, he
old man took umbrage and wouldn't
allow US to come near the house.
So we would see the girls to the
end of the lane and there we would
take the final kiss. We soon got
tired of this sort of fun, and | told
John on our way to singing school
one night, that l was going into
the house too.
Gle said the old man would run
mo out if did. | told him | was
going TO risk it anyhow, let come
what would. He said he would
risk it if would. So home we
went with The girls. when we got
to the end Of The llYe, told the
girls we proposed going all the
way.
"They looked at each other in a
way | didn't like too well, but said
they-the old folks-woule be in
bed, so they didn't care if we did.
"They were more surprised yet,
when / told them we thought of
going In for little chat. SO all
was quiet when we got to the house
We had no trouble getting into the
kitchen. Then and there we made
our first court, and made
up my mind to ask Sadie TO be my
wife the next time | came.
at was now past the turn Of
night, and as we had four miles to
walk, | told John we would have o
DO going, so we stepped out on tho
porch. bat just as wo did SO, the
sky was lit up by Lightning aud one
tremendous peal Of thunder rolled
along the mountain sides. lis
echo had not died out in tho
far of wales, until the rain beg ~ TO
pour from the garnerod fulluess Of
the clouds.
owe waited for it to stop until
we were all sleepy, when the girls
said we should go to bed in the
little room at the head Of the stairs
which led out Of the kitchen, as
their father didn't get up early.
owe could be home before the
old folks were astir. So after
kissing and bidding the girls q
sweet goodnight and wishing them
pleasant dreams, aud promising to
come the next Saturday nigh,
We started for tho bed.
eve did not have FAR to 20. rs
the bed was near the head OF the
stairs. John was in BED. but al.
ways was a little slow and full Of
curiosity, I was looking around the
little room.
"At last / Thought / would sit
down on chest which was spread
over with nice white cloth, while
/ droy oft my hoofa Go Io,,r