Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-10-13
NUMBER 40.
SEIEClHlYARIEIVY..
Does John Mutt live Heres

4
The following amusing story of celebrated
practical joker Of Boston, Munho, Mnckay,s told
in the N: Y. Dutchnan.. ~
One cold, raw November night in the year 1S-,
the wind blew asthough it would blow down old
Fanueil Hall, and the rain fell in such torrents
that Bunker Hill was nearly washed away. The
sky was as black ''all round my hat !" and the
air was compounded of that delightful mixture OF
frost and moisture in which there is enough OF the
latter to open the pores while the former goes di-
recty to the heart In the midst Of this rumbling
of the elements q tall figure might be seen winding
steadily along through narrow streets and lonely
alleys, shod with pair of fshennan's boots, and
enveloped in a huge pea-jacket for indeed rubbers
| and MackiAtoshes were unknown in those days,
until it halted under the window Of lonelylcot-
tase, at some distance from the town. and, the fam
lily having been some time in bed, knocked violent
ly at the door. At first his rude summons was un-
answered: !: but after repeated Ithnmps' bed room
window was thrown up, and q voice demanded who
"Piay, sir" said Mackay, for il was he, "will
you be kind enough to tell me if q person named
Mutt lives in this neighborhood e.
At'ro be sure he does, replied the voice from the
| window; "he lives here" bilAo
sI am glad of that "a said NJ, efor the night IS
very stormy, and have something of great impor-
tance to communicate to him.'SR1--b1uH :rf
"Ofg great importance, did you say =? Il know OF
| nothing very important that can concernme at this
hour Of the night; but whatever tits, letus hearit
| am the person you want lo3AL "a III.
stSpeak a little louder, if you please,' said NJ
81 am somewhat deaf, and the spout makes ss such
n noise. Did you say your name was Mutt ="
"CetainlysI i did ;,antlI wish yous would make
| haste to communicate whatever you have to say,
| for l have nothing on but my shirt and night
ca p, and the wind is whisting through me, nation
cold." a1t7Italr 'li 3+ 7L' - ih al5'a5 'l'
siHaye YOU got an uncle in Boston-chlldless
and very old-w orth ten thousand dollars ~ iiii
AT this question long-ponted white night-eap
| was thrust out Of the window; and IN an instant,
together with the shirt collar that followed, ltwas
saturated with rain. .ss-H liitF - ssl.,.i
"What did you say about an uncle, and ten
thousand dollars There is my uncle Wheeler Is
very old, and very rich; but what about him !'
IS ooh! nothing as YETI till am CERTAIN Of my
man. There may be great many Nuts here. 1t
| is John Mutt WANT q '-SN
"1 am the man H'i said the voicein the night-cap.
serhere is no mistake. There is not man for 20
miles round with the name of Mutt but me; and be-
sides my christian name IS John; and nave an un-
| Gle in Boston," 'h-s'i -" -
| BY this time the whole back and sleeve Of the
shirt ont of the window, the tassel at the end
of the white night-cap nearly touched the green
paings in font of the house and, had there been
| light enough to have seen, painter might have
caught an attitude of strainins anxiety, and lace
or rather faces, for by this time there was ie
male peering over Nuts shoulder, beaming with
| the anticipation Of good fortune 10 come. -,
"Wel," said Mackay, very deliberately. 81
suppose may venture to speak out but mind. II
| there is any mistake, you cannot say, 1T was my
fault"I Eyr,,iss,5sool -i1 10, ..,....,., ..l. .b
"No, certainly not"' cred two voices from the
| window.
"You say your name is John Mutt, 10 you3"
az do" =" - .-.- .. .'t7is. - ,.,, ~ ~
"Wen, then, all that have to say is,, may the
| Depil crack your iI.., ...H'..,,..I
| The two heads weIe drawn in like lightning
| from the rain; and, as the window was slammed
down with violence that bespoke rage and dis
appointment q loud horse laugh rose upon the
wind, and the lover Of practical Jokes turned on
his heels to trudge mcward through tile mist,
as the GOOD oman inside was going in search oil
the tndcr- box enable her to hunt dry chelnses,
| shirts and night-caps. e. SUI --''-'H . ~
| VI This story was many years Afterwards done INTO
verse. after the manner of Coleman the Younger,
by clever student of Harvard University, but all
that remember of the poetry, are the two con-
cluding lines 5 '''.- 'lA- 'tl''''-' -r'-''+
80 sand If your be certainly John Mutt. .e7
.-. 49, Why, then. the devil crack you'll" 5,, t-a,l