Year: 1865

once called on my friend, Steve Con


ant, and while there the conversation


turned on courtship, and at my request th'


old gentleman told me an incident in hi


own love affairs, which give in his owl


words:


"Wall, seeing it's you, I don't mint
telling you about scrape that happened
to me when | was sparkling Nancy here
That is something l never tell anybody
But you shall hear it.


"No, don't, Steve," broke in the ole
woman, g should think you would be
ashamed OF yourself telling love scrapes te
everybody"


eff you can't hear it you may 20 out
OF doors-so here goes {: When l was nigh
about twenty-one came up here all alone
and built me a cabin. | hadn't a naber
nearer than five miles, so you see l didn't
quarrel much; but as it grew to be near
winter, | got kinder lonesome, and begun
to think that l ought to have woman to
keep me company so one morning
started to Lenway, to take look at the
girls, to see if | could find one to suit me.
When got down to the settlement ask
ed young chap if he knew of a girl that
wanted to be married, and he told me that
he guessed Nancy Knox did, and ifI want
ed a wife, | had better try and hitch on
with her; and he said if it was agreeable,
he would 90 to Deacon Knox and make
me acquainted with Nancy, and he was
as good as his word, and 'twasn't an hour
before Nancy and | was on the best of
terms. Afore night l hired with the dea-
con for ten dollars I; month, half of the
pay in produce, and the rest in clear cash,
and | was to work all winter.


Wall, for about two months l felt as a
mouse in a new cheese I courted Nancy
every Sunday night, and l was determin-
ed before another week to pop the ques-
ton, and hadn't a bit of doubt but what
Nancy would be overjoyed at becoming
my bosom companion. Wall, about this
time there came fellow from one of the
lower towns to keep school, and he hadn't
been there more'n week atore found he
had a natural hankering after Nancy:
and, worst of all, the old deacon, who
seemed mighty pleased at the thought of
my courting the gal, began to kinder cool
off, as if he would like the schoolmaster
better for his son-in-law, and ii made me
feel kinder down in the lip, l can tell you.


Wall, on one Sunday night, Bill Smith,
for that was the pesky critters name.
came in just dusk, and when the clock
struck nine he didn't seem to 90. Old
Mrs. Knox and the young uns all went to
bed, and there were left but the old dea-
con, Bill, Nancy and |, and | kept 'spect-
ing every minute when he would show
Bill to bed but he did no such thing; but
Just as the clock struck he ris up, and sez
he:


Steve, let's 60 to bed, for we must be
up bright and airly to have them ere logs
to the river


Wasn't that hint, eh l looked at
Nancy, but she turned away her head,
and at this up the ladder and to bed. |
was boiling over mad with all CREATION
Bill, Nancy and the deacon in particular.
| got into bed-but l felt SO bad | could
not 60 to sleep. Like as not, the school
master was hugging and kissing Nancy in
the kitchen, and | could not shut my eyes
for the life of me. Wall, all at once it
occurred to me that there were some bio
cracks in the floor over the kitchen. and |
could watch and see all that was going on
below so out Of bed l got, and crawled
along on all fours, and finding big crack,
| looked down through. Bill and Nancy
were setting about two feet apart, though
now and then Bill would hitch his chair
a little nearer to her. How | could have
choked that man!


Watched them for about a quarter of
an hour, and by that time l was near
about troze, as it was an awful cold night,
and | hadn't rag on except two shirts.
BY and by Bill hitched his chair a little
closer, and / could see he had made up
his mind and was just going to kiss her.
How it riled me! But | was bound to
see it through, so moved little nearer
to get better view, and at that moment
the plank tipped up and down | went
kerchunk, and, landing between Bill and
Nancy, Bill thought for once Old Nick
had come, and streaked it out of doors :;
and as for Nancy, she gave one look and
covered up her face with her apron l
started out Of the kitchen as quick as you
could say scoot, and as l was going up the
ladder heard old Mrs. Knox holler:


Nancy, scoot the cat down, or she'll
break every dish in the dresser


The next morning when she went out
to milk | popped the question to Nancy,
and she said she would have me, for she
didn't care cent for Bill Smith, and we
have been married forty years come next
June"


DEATH OF ADMIRAL DUPoNT.-Rear
Admiral S. F. Dupont died at Philadal-
phia, Friday, very suddenly, after an i'll
|