His First Courting.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 414, 26 October 1889, Page 6

His First Courting.

Whkn I was young I was never very powerful in the courting business, though afterwards 1 was gradually brought to and convalesced. I wasn't afraid of shot guns or baulky mules, but a young lady I always allowed plenty of room. My memory still keeps one foot on the first night I ever went to see a girl, two miles off— Suke Jenkins eon, prettier than a barrel of poaches. I'd love her at sixty yards for a long time. We sat around the fireplace, and I talked mostly with the old folk ; they talkod altogether with m<\ There is one thing I ne\er could understand, and that is why the old folks always think that it is necessary for them to sib up witha young man till the last horn blows to entertain him, and waste their wholo time in trying to make it pleasant for him, when they don't do any such thing. I talked well enough to the old folks, but when I had talked them out I had also talked myself out when I found myself alone in the presence of Suke. J couldn't say much, and ehe knit a good deal. I was only nineteen and was away from home. What could I say ? What could you have said ? But she knit on. The conversational go?fcip ran along in the following style — the stars represent intervals ; the reader can fill up these pauses, as X did, by twirling? their thumbs, looking at the ceiling, the floor, and their boots. Occasionally I looked at .Suke — when e>he didn't see mo. It was 10 p.m. : • What timo have you, Mr Brown ?' • Indeed, my watch is in my o*.her vest. 1 ' It gets late very early now nights.' ' O yes, indeed it does.' • • • * t « ' Won't you be afraid to go homo in the dark ?' • Not a bit, I am not easily scared, and I know every step of the way in the dark. 1 ' Whs not that twelve the clock etruck now, Mr Brown ?' ' No, I only counted eleven.' ' Oh, I forgot ; our clock always strikes one less. I wish it would strike one more than it does.' I Do you go to bed early, Mr Brown ';' 'Oh, it doesn't matter when 1 go to bed.' • You seldom get sleepy then V • I can get along without it very well. 1 I 1 wish I were like you.' i ( There, I have gotten that mitten done i since you were here.' I • You don'bsay so? That's quick work. You're a good knitter.' ' That fire is not like present company, Mr Brown.' • Why not, Miss Suke V • Because it is oufc.' I thought I had better go, ac it looked like she had begun to hint in that direction, co I made some kind of an excuse and left. I never went back there, because from that day to this it has always seemed to me that she some way mount she wanted mo to go home, bub for my life I qouldn'b prove it. 1 didn't marry her, for spit*.