The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-05-23

Me blowcd on Cory? WHO'S been
a-tclIin' any sich tales? Wy, Cory is
as cz ugly ez 4 scrub oak, an never
would hr seed with that kind of a gal.
Hit takes beauty to rctch me-
"A Il men are just alike in that p int,
said Jake, who did not wish to be
scored against, 1.-THE likelier the gal,
the more the men folks, jst like honey
and flies"
"Hit pears to me- said the girl
quickly, THAT sometimes the flies gifts
too thick fer the honey"
The danger line in the conversation
was just averted 10y the refining up of
a horseman, who said:-
| "Hrv you-uns heared of the singin
we're gittin' up fer Friday week over
to Wilson's cave? Hits the Friday
fore the quarterly session, an we-uns
lowed hit would be right good thing
to hev a lectle practice-like fust.
Every man to fetch a torch an Il gal,
an eff the gal wants to bring along a
basket thar wont be nary Injections
raised Come jist ez soon after ye've
eat supper q possible
After answering a question or two
the horscman started off in pursuit Of
some others who had got away from
meeting before plans for the singing
had been made.
Il reckin' we'll hev a right lively
time" said Susan, as the three walked
on together.
yer goin' with me, hain't ye,
Susan?' said both young men at the
same time, moved by common i'm.
pulse.
NO, hain't; I'm already promised.
Any way, do ye think I'd 60 with the
two of We to sinein'? The gals would
blow me about it fer month
"Ye didn't know nothin' bout the
sinsin' till jist now, said John. GLOW
could ye hev made promis'? p
IL seed Ike akin her when he fIst
rid up said Jake bitterly. "He
| p'inted at hisself, an she nodded; then
WIZ when she promised
"Reckin 1 had right to ef | did;
| you-uns is jist too late. Hits just
this-a-waA: Id be proud to 90 with
ary one of ye: but hit pears like ef one
went, t'other'd hev to 60 along to keep
company"
Arrived at Susan's home, and having
eaten dinner, the trio passed the long
afternoon together The visitors de-
parted in better spirits than they had
come, neither being altos ether destitute
of hope for himself IN this seemingly
luckless courtship.
The night for the singing arrived,
and early in the evening couples on
| foot and on horseback came from diff
ferent parts of the cove. Each man
arrived according to instructions with
u torch and girl; and each girl with
| basket. The scene of festivity was
large cave, entered with very little
difficulty, and containing many side
rooms, leading off from the main apart
ment. One of these rooms for some
outlandish reason, as there was not the |
slightest resemblance in siz, or shape,
had been called the "corncrib" ever
since the Oldest man in the valley could |
remember. 1t was reached by a mar
row. winding passage, four or five feet
high.
After the arrival of all the young
people the pine torches were so ar
ranged as 20 furnish sufficient light for
the singers, and the class was divided
into sections called, counter, bass,
tribble and tenor" The chorus was
then led through many oldfashioned
pieces by the schoolmastcr, who had |
long before proved himself the musical
prodigy of the cove. AS had been an
ticipated the singing school soon dis
banded, and the company devoted itself
for the rest OF the evening to rustic
games and mcrrymaking. These games
were for the most part general and
took place On the level floor of the main |
apartmt mt. However, few of the
couples found opportunity to enjoy |
themselves in private 10y drawing aside
from the body Of picnickers beyond
the circle of light.
John Graham, although disappointed
at not being permitted to come with
Susan Cady, who was without doubt
the belle of the evening, had, after be-
ing joked by her for some time about
Cory" managed to gain her consent
to private interview in the 'corncrib"
as soon after the singing broke up as
it was possible for them to slip away
from the others. "Don't never blow
me about Cory again he bad said to
her with a laugh, ''she's SO ugly she'd
ort to be skinncd.' His good fortune
at gaining Susan's promise would have
seemed to him indicative of decided
, leaning on her part towards him had
he not accidentally learned that she
! had already agreed to meet his rival,
| Jake Ranc, in the same place, as soon
luncheon had been disposed Of lie
reflected bitterly that he also would
be disposed Of hy that time; if not,
why had she made an engagement