Year: 1865

the girls, to see If I could find one to suit
me. When I got down to the settle
ment I asked young chap 1t he knew
of a girl that wanted to get married,
and be told me he guessed that Nancy
Knox did, AID if I wanted wife, I
had better try and hitch on with her and
he said that if it was agreeable, he would
go to Deacon Knox's and make ne ac-
quainted with Nancy, and he was as good
as his word, and twasnt an hour before
Nancy and i was on the best of terms.
Afore night hired out with the Deacon
for ten dollars month, half of the pay in
produce, and the rest in clear cash, and
was to work all winter.


"Wall, for about two months I felt as q
mouse in new cheese. I oourted Nancy
every Sunday night, and was determined
before another week to pop the question,
and I hadn't bit of doubt but what Nan
cy would be overjoyed at becoming my
bosom companion. Wall, about this time
there came a fellow from one of the lower
towns to keep school, and he hadn't been
there more'n q week afore found he bad
. natural hankering after Nancy; and
worst of all the old Deacon, who seemed
mighty pleased ,at the thought Of my
courting his gal, begun to kinder cool off,
a. II he would like the schoolmaster bet
ter for bis son-in-law, and it made me feel
kinder down in the lip, / can tell you.


"Wsll, On one Sunday night, Bill Smith,
for that was the pesky oritter shame, came
in just at dusk, and when the clock struck
nine he didn't seem to go. Old Mrs. Knox
and the young uns all went to bed, and
there were none left but the old Deacon,
Bill, Nancy and !, and kept specting ev-
cry minute when he would show Bill to
bed, but he did no such thing; but just as
the clock struck ten he ris up, and ses he {:


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


Wasn't that hint, chr looked at
Nancy, but she turned away her head, and
at this up the ladder and to bed. I was
boiling over mad with all creation-Bill,
Nancy and the Deacon in particular.
got into bed-but felt so bad could not
60 to sleep. Like as not, the schoolmas-
ter was hugging and kissing Nancy in the
kitchen, and could not shet my eyes for
the life of me-. Wall, all at once It oc-
CURED that there were some big cracks in
the floor over the kitchen, and I could
watch and see all that was going on be-
low; 80 out of bed I got, and crawled
along on all fours, and finding big crack,
/ looked down through. Hll and Nancy
were setting about two feet apart, though
every now and then Bill would hitch his
chair little nearer to her. How could
have choked that man!


/ watched them for about a quarter of
an hour, and by that time was near about
froze. as it wasan awful cold night, and I
hadn't rag on except my two shirts. By
and by Bill hitched his chair little closer,
and could see that he had made up his
mind and was just going to kiss her. How
it riled me! But I was bound to see it
through, so l moved little nearer to get
better view, and at that moment the
plank tipped up, and down went ker-
chunk, and landing between Bill and
Nancy. Bill thought for once that old
Niok had come, and streaked it out OF
doors; and as for Nancy, she gave one
look, and then covered up her face with
her aproa. I started out of the kitchen
as quick as you could say scoot, and as 1
was going up the ladder, Iheard old Mrs.
Knox holler:


co 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 cum next
june