Butte record., 1853-12-24
A YANKEE STORY.

papers derive more of their '1stuff for
smiles" from the journals of this coun-
try, than from any other source. We
find in one of them this ludicrous anec-
dote of the "Bewitched Clock" which
was quite new to us:
About half past eleven O'Clock on
Sunday night, human leg, enveloped
in blue broadcloth, "might have been
seen" entering Deacon Cephas Barber
ry's kitchen window. The leg was fol-
lowed, finally, by the entire body of
live Yankee, attired in his Sunday-go-
to-meetin' clothes. 1t was, in short, Joe
Mayweed who thus burglariously won his
way into the Deacon's kitchen.
"Wonder how much the old Deacon
made by orderin' me not to darken his
doors again ;" soliloquized the young
gentleman. promised him l would'n
but didn't say nothin' about winders.
Winders is just as good as doors, eff
there amt no nails to tear your trousers
onto. Wonder eff Sally II come down.
The critter promised me- Pm afeard
to move about here, cause might break
my shins over somethin' nuiher, and
wake the old folks. Cold enough to
freeze a Polish bear here. O, here
comes Sally"
The beauteous maid descended with
pleasant smile, tallow candle, and a
box Of Lucifer matches After receiv-
ing rapturous greeting she made up a
rousing fire in the cooking stove, and the
happy couple sat down to enjoy the
sweet interchange of VOWS and hopes.
But the course of true love ran no
smoother in old Barbarry's kitchen
than it did elsewhere, and Joe was just
making up his mind to treat himself to
kiss, and was startled by the voice of
the Deacon, her father, shouting from
his chamber door:
'Sally, what are you getting up in
the middle of the night for'"
Tell him it's most morning." whis-
pered Joe
81 can't tell 6b," said Sally.
''Ill make it truth, then," said J Joe;
and, running to the huge, old-fashiooed
clock that stood in the corner, he set it
at FIVE.
Look at the clock and tell me what
time 1t is" said the old gentleman
"It's five by the clock" said Sally,
and corroborating her words, the old
clock ssruck FIVE
The lovers sat down again and re-
sumed their conversation. Suddenly
the staircase began to creak "Good-
ness gracious It's father" exclaimed
Sally.
"The Deacon, by thunder" cried
Joe. Hide me, Sally.
"Where can hide you;" cried the
distracted girl
"Oh, l know" said he "I'll squeeze
into the clock case" And, without an
other word, he concealed himself in the
case and closed the door
The Deacon was dressed, and sitting
himself down by the cooking stove, pull
ed out his pipe and lighted it, and COM
menced smoking deliberately and calmly
Five o'clock, eh?" said he "Well,
SHdll UdNe liiue W SlnOhe TWO Ut luTeS
pipes, and then I'll 90 and feed the crit
ters"
Hadn't you better feed the critters
first, sir" suggested the dutiful Sally.
"No, smokin' clears my head, and
wakes me up" replied the deacon, who
seemed not whit disposed to hurry his
enjoyment,
Burr-r-r-whiz ding! ding! ding!
ding. went the clock.
"Tormented lightning!" cried the dea-
con, starting up and dropping his pipe
on the stove ''What in creations
that Z"
Its only the clock striking fve!"
said Sally TREMENDOUSLY.
Whizz. dingl ding! ding went the
clock furiously.
"Powers of marcy" cried the deacon
"Strikin' FIVE; its struck hundred"
deacon Barbary,' cried the dcacon's
better half, who had hastily robed her
self, and now came plunging down the
staircase in the widest state of alarm.
"What is the matter with the clock'"
Goodness only knows" replied the
old man. dts been in the family these
three hundred years, and never did I
know it to carry on so afore."
Whiz! ding! ding! ding! went the clock
again
"It'll burst itself !" cried the old lady,