AMERICAN COURTSHIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 953, 1 August 1878, Page 3

AMERICAN COURTSHIP.

You know nothing m the old country of going nhead. If you only saw one of our young fellows setting off to pick up a wife, it would waken you up amazingly. There you would see him, perhaps, on a harvest afternoon, with his smart wagon and best taam. He arrives at the father's door ', leaps out — starts right m Miss is sitting m one corner sewing ; father, hi t'other, putting a new handle to his axe. " Good-morning both,' says the young man. " Goodmorning, Fred," say both m retur.i. " I say. squire," say? Fred, " the old lady is m the kitchen, with a something iv her head sue wants to be a'telliugyou of; yon had better start." Still cutting away at the handle, the old squire gets up and leisurely bowls himself out of the reom. " Now for it !" says Fred. ' I say, Miss, its all up with me." "Up with you V says Miss—" how's that V " Why," says Fred, " there aint no fun m natur' — " a fellow living by his self m a house as big as a Shakers' meeting, and nothing m it barrjn' plenty of furiiitur' m the rooms ; the kitchen block full of hams and ingin nets ; the cellar over the lip with cider, and nothing else m the universe but the live atook out of doors. 1 " Well, what else would you have," says Miss ; aint that enough, you goney ¥' " Euougb," says Fred, " no, there aint a wife iv the lot." l( Ah ! that's queer,' says Miss, with a blush. "No it ain't," says Fred, "a crifctur must begin some time to be married. I've just ta'en a thought that way since the house ; s fixed. " But I have often thought o' you before, Miss ! Oh ! there now, my dear, dont look flustered," says Fred, iv a soothing one. " I hain't got honey words ; but I have a heart-, you may depend, as warm as a cooking-stove." '' Tuts ! you're a bold fellow," says Miss. " Well," says Fred, "tuts aint no. You won't say that ugly word?". " Won't I," says Miss. " Well, then," says Fred, " you will say ' No' when I ask you right off?" "To be sure I will," says she "and keep my word, too, you gomeral." " Then," says Fred, with a solemn voice, " Mary, ray sweet love,' will you lefuse me !" "No," says she, according to promise. " There you are !" says Fred, triumphantly, " taken the bait ! so I'll step along and tell father." All was settled right off, and E'red got a pretty wife next week to finish the lot.