Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-09-21
MlNGU MALKAY, THE PRAC rlCAL
lht-ID
JOKER.

line o! acung, the most systematically
troublesome that ever heard OF was
Mango Mackay, Of the town Of Boston,
on Massachusetts bay. Others follow
the sport rs most men follow the hounds
or cultivate music as a recreation, but
Mackay might be said 10 follow It as
though it were his trade. With them
1t is the by play, with him il was che
business OF his life. II was food and
ruiment TO him; he could not exist with.
out "a plot against the tranquility OF his
neighborhUod; lie laughed when others
were tut in a rage, and enjoyed 10 mark
when those around him we're suffering
from the results Of his inventive genius.
His Father died Just as he had grOwn 10
mans estate, leaving him n comfortable
independence; and from that period he
passed MS day aud nights IN Il crusade
against the good people OF Boston. lie
was an lshmaelItIsh Wit; for truly This
hand was against eycey man, aud every
man's hand against him. and the haud
of every woman too, from the Charles
River to South Boston, and for many
miles round the villages, by a semi CIR
Gle Of which the ancient capUol of the
land Of sIudG habits is enclosed.
One cold, raw November night in the
year Ii, the wind blew as though IL
would blow down old Falueil Hail, aud
the rain fell in such torrents that Bunk
er Hill was nearly washed away. The
sky was us black IA "dll around NV hat
and the air was compounded Of that de
lightlul admlXlure Of frost and moisture
IN which there Is enough Of the latter
g., ,v,.,, tb, ,,,r,= A, L,I. A.. C.-.- -
right to the heart. I'm The midst of the
%TumblIng OF the elements Il tall figure
might be seen vending slcalthiIy along
the narrow streets and lonely alleys,
shod with a pair OF iiSherInan's boots,
and enveIoped in n huge pea jacket, for
indeed rubOecS and MJckintoshes were
unknown IN those days, urtil il halted
under the window OF a lonely cottage
alsome distance from the town, and The
family being sometime in bed, knocked
violently al The door. At first his rude
was unanswered; but after r.
pedted thumps, Il bed room window was
thrown up, aud u VOICE demanded who
was there.
pray, sir;S said Mackay-for il was
he, "wlII you be kind enough 10 tell me
1t 4 person named Mutt lives in this
neighborhood!i
TO be spre he does" repliedi the
voice from the window, The lives here
81 am glad Of that, for the night is We
ny stormy, and have something Of greaI
importance TO communicate 10 him"
"Of great Imp]ortance!-of great i'm
portancc did you say! | know of moth
ing very important that can concern
me at This hour Of the night; but what
ever II is let us hear H.. | am the per
son you want"
''Speak a little louder if you please sail
Mackay, 81 am somewhat deaf. and the
spout makes such a noise. DID you say
your name was Muir"
"Certainly / did; and | wish you
would make haste 10 communicate what.
ever you have to say, Cor | have nothing
on but my shirt and night cap, and the
winds IS whlsllIng through ne nation
colds
"Have you got an uncle in Boston old
and chIldless-worlh ten thousand dol.
lars!"
At this question a long pointed whit
night cap was thrust out OF the window
and IN an instant, together with IN
shirt collar that followed il, was satura
ted with rain.
"Nhat did you say about an uncl
and ten thousand dollars? There is m,
uncle WheeIer-very old and very ricl
but what Of him?'
''Oh nothing as yet, until am cerlair
OF my man. There may be n good ma
ny Nuts about here. II is J Mutt
want"
81 am The man. said the voice in IN,
night cap. 81 here is no mistake
There's not a man for twenty miles a
round Of the name Of Mutt but me; an
besides my Christian name is John, an
i have an uncle IN Boston -
BY this time the whole back an
slee'es Of .hc shirt were out Of the viii
dow; the tassal at the end Of the whit
night cap, nearly touched the green D,
llnge IN front Of the house; and fad ther
been light enough TO have seen, a pair
ter might have caught an attitude {
anxiety, and a face or rather Two face.
for by this time there was a female pee.
ing over Nutt's shoulder, bcaminp vii
the anticipation Of good fortune TO com.
"Well," SAID Mackay, very deliberat,
ly,"l suppose I may venture 10 spea
out, but mind, if there was any mi.
take, you cannot say it was my fault"
"No, certainly not" cried two voic,
from The window.
"You say your name is John Mutt, ,
your
81 do.n