Page:Southern Life in Southern Literature.djvu/188

170 custom of arbitrators, split the difference. In this instance the terms were equitable enough, and were immediately acceded to by both parties. Michael rose in a good humor, and the boys were, of course.

 

[William Tappan Thompson was born at Ravenna, Ohio, in 1812. After going South he was chiefly engaged in journalistic work, mainly in connection with the Savannah Morning News, with which he was associated until his death, in 1882. He first came into prominence as a humorous writer through his amusing "Major Jones Letters," contributed to his paper, The Miscellany, published at Madison, Georgia, from 1840 to 1845. This has remained his most famous book, but in addition to it he published several other volumes of humorous sketches.]

 

, December 27, 1842

To : Dear Sir—Crismus is over, and the thing is ded. You know I told you in my last letter I was gwine to bring Miss Mary up to the chalk a Crismus. Well, I done it, slick as a whistle, though it come mighty nigh bein a serious undertakin. But I'll tell you all about the whole circumstance.

The fact is, I's made my mind up more 'n twenty times to jest go and come rite out with the whole bisness; but whenever I got whar she was, and whenever she looked at me with her witchin eyes, and kind o' blushed at me, I always felt sort o' skeered and fainty, and all what I made up to tell her was for got, so I could n't think of it to save me. But you's a married man, Mr. Thompson, so I could n't tell you nothin about popin the question, as they call it. It's a mighty grate favor to ax of