Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-09-07
Nj I s o Is u u a N = o
NY AND THE Wa rcu

custom prevails of young men giving their
watches IN trust to young women, for whom
they have declared their attachment. Tbe
watch is kept and carried i'm the bosom of the
lair one, until the anxious couple are united in
the bonds of wedlock. when, as matter of
course, the pledge of sincerity is delivered nm
to Its original owner. This is imagined nv
the country lasses TO be an infinitely be,tcr
plan Tor securing the fidelity of a sweetheart,
than that OF breaking a sxpence A watch
is valuable and highly priced article. l. is
worth at least couple of pounds and the
loss OF that sum by an individual in an hum
ole condition OF life, is very serious matter
olill, we believe, there are cases in which the
proposed match Is broken off, and the watch
abandoned forever; though doubtless this is
only III cases OF great hckleness, or when
| weighty reasons for desertion intervene.
The. following laughablc incilen. .g rd;rr
watch so entrusted, occurred few years
ago. Jenny Symington,a well favored sprighl-
iy girl, IN certain Clearinghouse in Galloway,
had been entrusted with the watch of her
sweetheart, Tam Halliday, neghboring shep-
herd, and which she carried with scruDulous
care in her bosom but even the most care
fully kept articles will sometimes disappear in
spite OF all the precautions considered neces-
sary to preserve them. Jenny, be it known.
was esteemed first rate hand at preparing
potatoes for the family supper; none could
excel her III serving them up, beaten and
mashed in the most tempting style On one
occasion, in harvest, when the kitchen was
crowded with number of shearers waiting
Tor their evening meal, and while JENNY was
busy beating mess Of potatoes, what did the
unlucky watch do, but drsp from her bosom,
chain, seals, and all, into the pot among the
potatoes Jenny's head being turned away
at the moment, she knew nothing of the dis
aster, and therefore continued to beat on at her
task. She certainly was little surprised when
she felt there was still a hard potatoe to beat.
notwithstanding her previous diligence but
thinking nothing of it, she continued to beat,
occasionally giving the hard potato, alias the
watch, good thump with the end of the beetle.
AT length she thought she had fairly comple,eG
the business and SO infusing a large lar of
sweet milk into the mess, she stirred all to-
gether, and placed the vessel ready for the at
tack OF the hungry on-lookers.
Behold, then the pot-a round gawsy tripod
| planted in the middle Of the floor A circle
was formed round it in lrice, and horn for
horn the shearers began 10 stretch and strive.
Many mouthfuls had not been taken, before
certain queer looks began to be manifested.
!
think they've got banes in them" "Banes ~
( (bones) says another, 'they're the funniest
banes ever saw; they are made of broken
glass and pieces % brass; I'll sup nae MAR
o. them" With that, another produced sill
yer watch case, all battered and useless, from
his capacious horn-spoon, and universal
strike among the suppers Immediately ersued
Ii was clear that a watch had been beaten uT
with the potatoes, so the good wife had moth
ing for it but to order the Objectionable pot Out
of the way, and to place basket Of oatmeal
cakes and milk in its stead.
What were poor Jenny's feelings during this
strange denouement? On the first appearance
of the fragments of the watch, she slipped hel
hand to her bosom, and soon found how mat
tiers stood. She had the forttude, however
TO show no symptoms of surprise; and al
though every one was wondering where the
broken watch had come from, she did not dis
close her knowledge Of how it had found il.
way into the pot AS it had belonged to nc
one in the house, the materials were not lden
titled; and as Jenny was young woman o
great prudence and modesty, and had neve
shown any one that she had watch in he
possession, no one leased her about it, I'm
short time the noise of the circumstance diet
away, but not til! ithad gone over the neighbour
hood that the family had found watch in TIT
potatoe pot; and, among others, it came to thu
ears Of the owner, Tam Halliday, who wa
highly pleased with the conduct Of his below
ed Jenny for he though. that if she had criet
or sobbed, and told TO whom the watch be
longed, it would have brought ridicule on then
both. Tam was, in short, delighted with tn