The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-19
LUDICRous INCIDENT.

An honest widow, who rents a few acres Of
land in the immediate vicinity of Scots burgh
town, happens 10 have two hand-madens, one
of whom is so blIthe-hearted and we-favored,
that she is followed by whole host Of rustic
admirers, and among Others, by shoemaker,
who was observed last winter 10 be particularly
frequent in his visits, and assiduous in his at
tentions. Dreading, however, the surveillance
of the mistress, he preferred the byre 10 the
kitchen, and generally appeared about milking
Tune, ready To trim the homemade taper and
Joke with the lasses. One evening he arrived
rather early, and wishingto surprise his .dearIe,
or To pluck out the heart of her mystery, he
mounted the henroost and there enseonced
himself TO the no small annoyance OF the 'iea-
thered people" AT first the poultry cackled as
loud as II iumart had got among them but,
IN The end, they became more reconced 10 their
fellow-lodger, who, TO do him justice, gave them
no unnecessary disturbance Al length the
lasses entered, and while draining the well filled
udders OF Hawkey, Honey, and Flecky, the
conversation turned, as usual on the compare
i've merits Of their respective lovers. Ia this
coloquy the name oi the shoemaker was not
forgotten; but Jenny tossed her head, sneered
at his pretensions, and threw out divers hints
anent certain youth whom somebody cared
for though few kent about This declaration
sounded like kneIl in the ears OF the shoema
ker; his heart went pit-a pal al fearful rate
the sweat broke on his sWarthy brow-hls breath
ing became sho,t-hls joints trembled-and
SUCH IN word was his agitation, that down
he lumbed, roost and all on the backs Of The IN
offending cows, who, unused TO such rough treat
ment, returned the compliment by kicking and
dunshing, TO the no small danger of the asto-
nishcd maldens. In moment the pals were
upset-the Guilty stools capsiZed--the mixers.
dlslodged, covered with trotlly stream not
whit the more pure from lis hasty contact with
another element Fortunately, however, they
escaped more afraid than hurt, when, reireating
to the kitchen, they looked so pale and wo-be-
gone, and told such a tale of what they had
heard, felt, and seen, that even the widows
flesh began 10 creep. In this emergency she
applied TO a neighbor, who possessed some repu-
taton for plety, and who forthwith undertook 10
"lay the boyle" Scarcely, however had he
reached the byre door, (pilgrlm-ike, furnished
with book and taper) when he was met by
the shoemaker, who, having recovered from his
fall and understanding what was going forward,
exclaimed, in an under tone, '.lt's me, John
is me-not word to the mistress-say nothing
about il ava, and I'll keep We in shoon for half
year 10 come, forbye tTeain We The first time we
meet IN Tlbbie Jamieson's." This appeal was
irresistible; John had known the shoemaker
'lrac a Gallant" and why should he expose him?
Back, therefore, he twaddled to the kitchen,
talking as knowingly, and looking as demurely,
as If he had actually exercised the 'foul fend
himself" Thus the matter ended but the Sc
cret, by far too good TO be kept was in short
time known over ''the whale country side" and
even vet bids fair TO form the subject of much
rustic merrment at the farmers nge cheek du-
ring the slang fore-nighls o wInter-Dumtties
Courier.