Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-07-16
a Wunroroun sketch.
THE BEWITCHED CLOCK.
BY THE OLD 'UN.

About half past / O'Clock on Sunday
night, human leg, enveloped in blue
broad cloth might have been seen entering
Deacon Crphas Barberry'S kitchen win
dow. The leg was followed finally, by
the entire person of live Yankee, attred
in his Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. It
was in short, Joe Mayweed who thus bur.
sIarious, in the dead Of night, won his way
into the dpacon's kitchen.
"Wonder how much the old deacon
'made by orderin' me not to darkn his
doors again ?" soliloquised the young gem
tprnen. "Promispd him ! wouldn't, but
didn't say notbin' abont winders. Winders
is Jest as good as doors, ef there ain't no
nails to tear your trowsers onto. Wonder
if Sal'll come down. the crtter promised
me-. Pm afpared to move about here,
'cause might break my shins over some
thin 'nuther, and wake the old folks
Cold enough 10 freeze polish bear here.
o, here comes Sallym
The beauteous maid descended with a
pleasant smile, tallow candle, and card
of ucifer matches. After receiving rap.
turous greeting, she made up rousing fire
in the cooking-stove, and the happy cou-
pie sat down TO enjoy the sweet interchange
Of vows and hopes. But the course Of true
love ran no smoother in old Barberry'S
kitchen than it does elsewhere, and Joe,
who was just making up his mind to trea
himself 10 kiss, was startled by the voice
of the deacon, her father, shouting from
the chamber door:
"Tell him it's most morning." whispered
Joe.
81 can't tell him a !" said Sally.
"l'l make it a truth them" said Joe
and running 10 the huge, old fashioned
clock that stood in The corner, he set it a
five.
"Look at the clock and tell me what tmt
it s," cried the old gentleman up stairs.
"Il's five, by the clock" answered Sally
and corroboroing her words, the old clocl
struck FIVE.
The lovers sat down again and resumed
their conversation. Suddenly the staircase
began TO creak.
Good gracious! It's father"
"The deacon! by thunder"' cried Joe
"Hide ne, Sal 20
"Wherr can hide you," cried the dis
tracted girl.
80, | know" said he. "I'll squeez
into The clock case" And without ano,hr
word he concealed himself in the case, an
drew the door behind him.
The deacon was dressed, and sittin
himself down by the cooking-stove, pulle
on, his pipe, lighted it, and commence
smoking deliberately and calmly.
Give O'Clock, eh - said he. "Well,
shall have time TO smoke three or fou
pipes, and then I'll go and feed the critters.
"Hadn't you better feed the critters fus
i sir, and smoke afterwards 2" suggested III
dutiful Sally.
t "No-smokin' clears my head and wake
me up" answered the deacon, who SCENE
= not whit disposed TO hurry his enjoymen
whiz-ding ding ding
b went the clock.
: "Tornented lightning" cried the DEF
con, starting up, and dropping his pipe q
: the stove; wha,'n Creations that 2"
. 'lts only the clock striking fve!" sa
|. SaIlv, tremulonsly.
}, "Whiz ding ding! ding ding" wei
" the clock furiously.
"Pnwrrs OF Mercy" cried the deaco
! "Sirikin' Ave, it's struck hundred already
"Dracon Barbprry 2" cried the deacon
'i better half, who had hastily robed hprsel
l. and now came plunging down the stairc,
in the widest state Of alarm, "what is Il
matter with the clockl"
,. "Goodness only knows" replied the o
y man. "It's been in the family these hu
:. dred years, and never did ! know it 10 ca
ct ry on so before"
,. "Whiz! bang bang bang" went &
clock again.
sslt's bust itself" cried the old lad
q shedding a food of tears, sand there woI
' be anything left of it,"
"It's bewi,ched !" said the deacon, W
retained a leaven Of good New Engla
ty superstition in his nature. "Any how
he sid, after a pause. advancing resoluts
towards the clock, "l'll see what's got il
it,"
sO don,tTy ~riad fha dauohtar al,