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Show Thirty years ago Michigan people were a frank and truthful set. Strangers could come here and trade horses with their eyes shut, and breach of promise cases were unknown. Folks meant what they said and when they gave their word they stuck to it. Exactly thirty years ago this month a widower from New York State appeared in Lansing on business. That same business carried him over to DeWitt, eight miles away. While on the way he stopped at a log farm house to warm his cold fingers. He was warmly welcomed by the pioneer and his wife, both of whom were well along in years, and after some general talk the woman queried: "Am I right in thinking you are a widower?" "Yes." Did you come out here to find a wife?" "Partly." Did anybody tell you about our Susie?" "No." "Well, we have got as bouncing a girl of twenty two as ever you set eyes on. She is good-looking, healthy and good tempered, and I think she'll like your looks." "Where is she?" "Over in the woods here, chopping down a coon tree. Shall I blow the horn for her?" "No, if you'll keep an eye on my horse I will find her." "Well, there's nothing stuck up or affected about Susie. She'll say yes or no as soon as she looks you over. If you want her, don't be afraid to say so." The stranger heard the sound of her axe and followed it. He found her just as the tree was ready to fall. She was a stout, good-looking girl, swinging the axe like a man, and in two minutes he has decided to say. "Susie, I'm a widower from New York State. I am thirty-nine years old, have one child, own a good farm, and I want a wife. Will you go back with me?" She leaned on the axe and looked at him for half a minute and then replied. "Can't say for certain; just wait till I get these coons off my mind." She sent the tree crashing to the earth and with his help killed five coons, which were stowed away in a hollow. "Well, what do you say?" he asked, as the last coon stopped kicking. "I'm yourn!" was the reply, "and by the time you get back from DeWitt, I'll have these pelts off and tacked up and be ready for the preacher." He returned to the house, told the old folks he should bring a preacher back with him, and at dusk that evening the twain were married. Hardly an hour had been wasted in courting, and yet he took home one of the best girls in the State of Michigan. |