The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-01-01
NUMBER 40.

and seein as how he's letlc superstitious,
'twouldn't be bad 60 eff we could frighten
the young minister small pile. There is
a hole through the partition which think
is large enough tu admit the old critter,
and eff, atween yeu, yeu could manage tu
fix a string around his wash bowl, l guees
l ken fix the rest May as well set rite
abeut it, while l go an git the other 6xins
ready"
Ebenezer's plan met the appreciation of
the others, and according to directions
Tom produced long piece of black whip
cord, which he fortunately happened to
have in his pocket, and proceeded to the
room occupied by Jerry Sleekeyes, a young
man of about five and twenty, who was
studying for the ministry. He was cor
daily hated by all the scholars, Ebenezer
in particular, for his prying and tattling
propcnsities, but was a special favorite Of
the Professor. To this room Tom pro-
ceeded, and finding its occupant absent, he
pulled the string from his pocket and
fastened it to the wash bowl, then trailed
the string along the floor to closet, where
he secured the end of it 70 nail. Through
the back part of this closet was an aperture
which led into the room in which the COW
was confined. But more of that anon.
Tom had scarcely performed his task,
when Ebenezer came back, bearing in his
arms a queer looking thing, about the
dimensions of a good sized coffee pot,
couple of sponges and flask of ofturpentine.
"What in creation are you going to do
with all of them traps;' interrogated Tom
as Ebenezer deposited his burden on the
floor.
"You'll find that out bimby."
"Well, what do you call that" pointing
to the queer looking thing.
"That's Fire Annihilator.
Ebenezer now took the Fire Annihila-
tor, and followed by wondering Tom, pro-
ceeded to the room and deposited the Fire
Annihilator under the bed in close prox-
unity to the stand on which Jerry usually
placed his lamp. To the Fire Annihilator
also was attached piece of dark cord, for
the purpose of pulling back the slide, SO as
to give vent to the fre-destroying vapor.
This string he also trailed along the floor
to the closet before mentioned. This being
accomplished he turned round to Tom with
an awful grimace on his large, coarse fea-
lures, and remarked:
ellis luminary won't 90 cut much sud-
dint, l spose, all on suddint, as the great
writer's say, all on suddint the parson will
be left in outer darkness, and then what'll
he see oh horrible tn relate"
Tom and Ebenezer now proceeded to
remove the loose boards that covered the
hole before mentioned. This was soon
accomplished, and calling Ike and Jim,
they commenced the task of crowding the
old COW through the hole into the closet.
They first enveloped the old cows mouth
with two CT three folds of thick flannel,
for what purpose the reader can as we'll
judge as 1 explain.
They accomplished their task with but
little difficulty, eliciting only an occasional
b-re-aw from the poor, prosecuted old
beast.
Everything was now in readiness, await
ing only the coming of the ''parsin" for
the further accomplishment of their de-
signs, Tom was ready to pull the string
that would dash into fragments the wash
bowl and pitcher, Ebenczer had also man
ned his string, and a couple of sponges
thoroughly saturated with turpentine were
bound to the cows horns, and Ike stood
ready with a match in either hand to ignite
the turpentine, at the word OF command,
AID Jim had posted himself on one side Of
the closet, to draw back the curtain in
order to give the COW egress.
"Now boys" said Ebenezer, as they
heard the heavy awkward tread of the
" parsin," du yeur business up suddint, and
don't let old Sanct mony glt his optics on
yeu."
On came Jerry, little suspecting what
nefarious plans we're concoctng to disturb
his tranquility.
On entering the room, he lit his lamp as
usual, and placing it upon the stand, sat
down, perhaps to mediate. Suddenly as