Columbia gazette., 1853-12-10
MISCELLANY.
A YANKEE STORY,

| A YANKEE STORY.
| The funny columns in the English
papers derive more of their "stuff fol
smiles'' from the journals of this coun.
try, than from any other source. We
tind in one of them this ludicrous anec-
dote Of the "Bewitched Clock" which
was quite new to us:
About half past eleven o'clock OIL
sunday night, a human leg, enveloped ir
blue broadcloth, might have been seem
entering Deacon Cephas Barberry's
kitchen window. The leg was followed
finally, by the entire person of live
Yankee, attired in his Sunday -go-to-
meetin' clothes. 1t was, in short, Joe
Mayweed who thus burglariously won hi.
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 gen.
tleman. Promised him ] wouldn't, but
didn't say nothin' about winders.
Winders is just as good as doors, eff there
ain no nails to tear your trousers onto.
Wonder if Sally'el come down: The
critter promised me. I'm afeard to
move about here, cause I might break
my shins over somethin' nuther, and
and wake the old folks. Cold enough
to freez Polish bear here. 0, here
comes Sally
The beauteous maid descended With
a pleasant smile, a tallow candle, and a
box of lucifer matches. After receiving
a rapturous greeting she made up rous-
ing 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 Barberry's kitchen than
it dose elsewhere, and Joe, was just
making up his mind to treat himself to
a kiss, and was started by the voice of
the deacon, her farther, shouting from
his chamber door :--'Sally! What you
getting up in the middle Of the night
tor::'
Tell him it's most morning. whisper
ed Joe.
4 can't tell 6b.' said Sally.
'1'll make it truth, then," said Joe;
and, running to the huge, old fashioned
clock that stood in the corner, he set it
at five.
Look at the clock, and tell me what
time it is,' cried the old gentleman.
Its five by the clock answered Sal
ly, AMI, corroborating her words, the old
clock struck FIVE.
The lovers sat down again and resum-
ed their conversation. Suddenly the
staircase began to creak. 'Goody gra-
cious! It's father exclaimed Sally.
The deacon! by thunder!' cried Joe
Hide me Sally'
where can I hide you:' cried the
distracted girl.
'Oh, | know said he. sI'll squeeze
into the the clock-case.' And, without
another word, he concealed himself ir
the case, and closed the door.
The deacon was dressed, and sitting
himself down by the cooking stove, pull.
ed out his pipe, lighted it, and com.
menced smoking deliberately and calm.
ly.' 'Five O'Clock, eh' said he. well
| [ shall have time to smoke three or foul
lpipes, and then I IL 90 and feed the crit.
tcrS.
Hadn't you better feed the critters
fust, sir, suggested the dutiful Sally.
NO; smokin' clears my head; and
wakes NE up replied the deacon, who
seemed not whit disposed to hurry his
enjoyment.
Burr-r-r-r-whiz!-ding! dings ding
ding! went the clock.
'Tormented lightning!' cried the dea-
con, starting up, and dropping bis pipe
on the stove:-'what'n creations that:'
It's only the clock striking 6ye!' said
Sally, tremulously.
Whizz! ding ding! ding went the
clock furiously.
Powers Of marcy!' cried the deacon
eStrikin' FIVE: it's struck hundred
Deacon Barberry:' cried the deacon'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 ole
man. It's been in the family these
three hundred years, and never did
know it to carry on so afore.'
Whiz! ding |! ding! ding! went the
clock again.
It'll burst itself!' cried the old lady
shedding a food of tears. sand there
won't be nothin' left of it,
Its bewished!' said the deacon, wht
retained leaven Of good old New Eng
land superstition in his nature. sAny
how said be. after a pause, advancing
{ resolutcly towards the clock, 'I'u SCI