The Kentucky Marriage Proposal

Book excerpt: THE STORY: When John Lomax comes to the Chambers farmhouse to ask Ma Chambers for the hand of her daughter Natalie, Ma is delighted and quickly leaves the lovers to their own devices. But she neglects to tell Natalie the purpose of John's visit—which leads to a series of hilarious misunderstandings, compounded by an acidulous dispute over who really owns a certain piece of property that both claim. After John exits in a huff Natalie learns the real purpose of his visit, and Ma is sent off to retrieve the would-be suitor. Whereupon the desired proposal is made, and accepted, and another argument begins—as Ma sustains herself with the wine she has provided for a betrothal toast.