Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-06-18
NUMBER 81.

one foot mideg deep IN puddle OF water. Inc
Doctor was positive that should take cold 10 con-
sequence Of it. and won wager of him by not
coming off hoarse the next morning, 10 his utter
establishment.
But this unfeeling limb Of mine, has sometimes
brought me into awkward scrapes. never shall
forget how supremely foolish fell one evening,
when had been ridiculing most numerically =
certain foppsh' coEcei,ed fellow about TO ~n in
the presence of his two sisters, whom did not
knnw to be such, and never imagined that Walter,
nv friend, who sat mex, to me, would let me run
on in such strain without apprising me of the
blunder was committing. why you incompre-
stole fellow said he to me as soon we came a.
way, 'what tine vengeance possessed you to keep
on talking in that style, ,chen 1 aods treading on
your toes ercry instant to make you stop"
Once indeed came very near being detected.
and the artifice by which escaped had the stran.
gest effect Who would believe that the ghost Of
wooden leg would break up match? Or that
by saving my limb, shonId maka Beau Babbleton
lose his mistress? | will tell the whole story, for
for it is seldom wooden leg has kicked up snch
dust.
One very dark evening was walking home
ward through street where the sidewalk was
somewhat narrow, and the cellar entrances projec-
ted quite out to the curbstone. One of these hap
pened to be covered with wooden grating, and in
walking over it, trod in the dark upon defec-
tive part, and my foot broke through. 1t was my
wooden leg, and in my endeavors 10 extricate it,
tie unfortunate limb broke loose and fell into the
cellar. Here was terribly awkward position for
fine gentleman to be 10. There was no getting
my leg out of its li,nbo in the dark, and to apply
! for help would discover me. Luckily had my
walking stick and with the help of that made shift
to hobbIe to my lodgings, where arrived undis-
covered, thanks 10 the darkness and latenesss Of
the hour. But the difficulty was not over. | had
lost my leg, and no one could make me such anoth.
err or, if it could be replaced, the thug could not
be effected without delay ofmany days, and the
story would infaibly get wind. What should
dot knew the house into which my stray limb
had slept, bu. was not on the right terms with the
occupant to trust him with the secret. This was
the most unucky circumstance of a!l-he was
Joe Clackaboui, person with whom had quar-
! rel, and who was moreover an arrant busybody.
In short. he was no berson to enlrust with the Sc
cret of wooden leg
| At last thought struck me of method to get nv
leg and save nv credit, for saw plainly that my
leg must be had Immediately, or else The cat must
be let out of the bag. thought of Beau Babble>
ton, the foppish fellow mentioned above, as per.
sonage on whom [ might tn some conscience.
play the trick of falherIng my lost limb had got
myself into bad odour with his sisters and two or
three score oftheir gosping female acquaintance.
| bv meaus Of his foppery and the insensbility OF
my timber toes, and determined now 10 be revcn-
ged on him by means of the same inlractabe MEM
Der. The plan was this--lo send by trusty SER
want, note to Mr.. CIackabout, requesting the leg
in the name of Beau Babbleton: by which means
should get my limb again without being suspect.
ed, and Beau might account for The superiority
| of shinhnnes in HE own animal acanomy ELI
as he was able. ....sa,
The plan succeeded to admiration; and much
better than looked for. had the luck to see
darky passing under my window next morning,
and him sent off with the note: You must i'm
agine the surprise of MIR. and Mrs. Clackabout
and his two sisters, they sa: at breakfast, when
they received the following.
"Mr. Babbleton's compliments to Mr.. Clacka.
bout, and requests that he will have tae goodness
to despatch him his leg by the bearer; il will be
found in the cellar. Mr.. B hopes to be excused
for stepping through Mr., C's cellar door last eve
ming"
Nobody knew what to make of this strange
epistle at first. One thought it hoax, but on
sending into the cellar to examine, the leg was
found sure enough. and the breach in the cellar
door where the mis-step had been made. And
then what staring and wondering there was a.
mong the Ctackabouts at the discovery of Beau
Bebbleton's artiice. who would have thought
lhr-they all exclaimed; "A tip top dandy
buck of the first water An irresistible creature
among The ladies' and yet doing all this with a
wooden leg Y OH! Monsirous y!
However after pretty close scrutiny Of the I'M
fortunate limb, it was delivered TO Cufy, who
passed for Beau Babble,ons servant. as no ques-
tons were asked, and my stray appendage brought
me without any discovery being made. NowI
was Richard myself again; 5u; Beau Babbleton
was absolutely beside himself Mr.. Clackabout
CHANGED to meet him the same forenoon. and wish
him Joy on the recovery of his leg. Bean repll-
ed that his leg had never been i'll. as
Not i'll to be sure, but terribly out of Joni said
&. Out Of joint, out of joint. Sir! What do you
mean 2 =.
oh, don't mean II was hurt in breaking through
the cellar door; indeed believe it was sent back
in good order: truly you walk very well with il.
One would never suspect you as.,
'Never suspect me- don't Understand you,
Pray. Sir. what do you suspect me of?
of getting the boot on the wrong foot; for you