The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-09-01
the mat There, Mrl Bsedlss This nat Z

and my boots in a. sweet pickle.
1t was now old Captain Jones' turn, the
grandfather Being reused from doze
by the hustle and racket, he opened both
his eyes at first with wonder and as,onish-
ment. Atlast he began to halloo so loud,
that you might hear him for mile, for
he takes it for granted that every body is
Just exactly as deaf as he is.
'Who is it? say, who in the world is
it" Mrs. Jones, going close to his car,
screamed out, 'it's johnny Beede." "IIo,
johnny Bcedle. remember he was one
summer at the siege of Boston" mo, no,
father, bless your heart, that WAS his
grandfather, that's been dead and gone
these twenty years" "IIo, but where
does he come FROM "Down toawn."
"IIo, and what does he follow for Evin'!"
And he did not stop making questions af-
ter this sort till all the particulars of the
Bcedlc family were published and pro-
claimed in Mrs. Jones' last scrcech. He
then sank back into his doze again.
The dog stretched himself before one
andiron; the cat squat down before the
other. Silence came OH 10y dcgrece, like
Il calm snow storm, till nothing was heard
but cricket under the hearth, keeping
tune with sappy yellow birch torcstick.
Sally sat up prim, as ifshc were pinned to
the chair back; her hands crossed gen
tcclly upon her lap, and her eyes looking
straight into the fire. Nanny Jones tried
to straighten herself too, and laid her hands
across in her lap. But they would not
lay still. 1t was full twcnty-four hours
since they had done any work, and they
were out of all patience with Keeping
Sunday. Do what she would 10 keep
them quiet, they would bounce up now
and then, and go through the motions, in
spite of the fourth commandment. For
my part, sat looking very much like a
fool. The more tried to say something,
the more my tongue stuck fast. Iput my
right leg over the left and said "hem."
Then | changed, and put the left over the
right. 1t was no use; the silence kept
coming on thicker and thicker. The
drops of began to crawl all over me.
| got my eye upon my hat, hanging on a
peg, on the road to the door, and then |
eyed the door At this moment the old
Captain all at once sung out "Jolmny
Beedle" ltsounded like a clap of thun-
der, and started right up end.
"Johnny Bcedle, you'll never handle
Sich drumsticli as your father did, if yer
live to the age of Mcthusulcr. lie would
toss up his drumstick, and while it was
whirlim' in the air, take Of gill or rum
and thon knich it a. Il oorr,o down With
out loosin' a strok in the tune. What
dye think of that, ha! But scull your
: chair round, close alongside 'cr me, so ycr
can hear. Now what have you come
altcr?-I-a'ter? O, jest takin' walk
| Pleasant walIin' | guess. Imean jest to
sec how We all do. Ho, that's another
= rlic. You've come a courtin', Johnny Bee
die; you're alter our Sal. Say, now, dye
want to marry, or only to court!"
This was what | called n choqkcr-
Poor Sally made but one jump, and land
ed in the middle of the kitchen; and then
she skulkcd in the dark corner, till the old
man after laughing himself into whoop-
ing cough, was put to bed.
Then came apples and cider, and, the
ice being broke, plenty chat with nanny
Jones about the minister and the sarmon.'
| agreed with her to nicely, upon all the
Epoints Of doctrine but had forgot the
text and all the heads of the discourse but
six. Then she tcascd and tormented me,
to tell who / accounted the best singer in
the gallery that day. But mum; there
was no getting that out of ME. ''Praise
to the face is often disgrace" says |, throw
ing sly squiut at Sally.
At last Mrs. Jones lighted tother can
die, and after charging Sally to look well
to the fire, she led the way to bedand the
squire gathered up his shoes and stockings,
and followed. ... ....
Sally and were left sitting good yard
apart honest measure. For fear of get
ting tongue-tied again set right in with
a steady stream of talk. told her all the
particulars about the weather that was
past; and also made some pretty cute
guesses at what it was like to be in future.
I At first, gave hitch up with my chair
at every full stop. Then growing saucy,
repeated it at every comma, and semi
colin; at last it was hitch, hitch, hitch,
and planted myself fast by the side of