Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-03-08
Mliscella1reous.
A Yankee Story.

The funny columns in the English papers
derive. more of their "stuf for smiles" from
the journals Of this country, than any other
source. We find in one of them this ludi-
crous anecdote Of the "Bewisched Clock"
which was quite new to us:
About haH.past eleven O'Clock on Sunday
night, human leg, enveloped in blue broad
cloth, might have been seen entering Dea-
con Gephas Barbery'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 barglariousIy won his
way into the deacon's kitchen. "Wonder
how much the old deacon made by orderin'
me not to darken bis door again!" soliloqui-
sed the young gentleman. promised him
would't but didn't say nothin" about win.
ders: Winders is just as good as doors, if
there amt no nails to tear your trouses onto.
Wonder if SallyIl come down !-The critter
promised me- I'm afread to move about
here, cause might break my shins over
somethin' ruther, and wake the old folks.
Cold enough to freeze Polish bear hear.
o, here comes Sally"
The beautious maid decended with a
pleasant smile, tallow candle, and a box Of
of lucifer matches. After receiving rap.
turous 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 Babery's kitchen
than it does elswhere, and Joe, who was just
making UP his mind to treat himself to q
kiss, was startled by the voice of the deacon,
her father, shouting from his chamber door;
"Saly! What are you getting up in the
middle of the night for 2"
"Tell him it's most morning." whispered
Joe.
"I can't tell a fbw said Sally.
"I'll make it the truth them" said Joe: and,
running to the huge, oldfashioned 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.
''I'ts five by the clock" answered Sally;
and corrobora,ing her words, the old clock
struck FIVE.
The lovers sat down again and resumes
their conversation. Suddenly the stair cssd
began to creak. "Goody gracious! lite
father" exclaimed Salley.
"The deacon by thunder" cried joe
"Hide me, Sally!'
"Where can | hide yous" cried the dis.
tracted girl.
"Oh, know" said he. "I'll squeeze into
the clock case" And, without another
word, he concealed himself in the case, and
closed the door.
: The deacon was dressed, and sitting him.
self down by the cooking stove, pulled out
his pipe lighted it, and commenced smoking.
give O'Clock, eh :" said he.-" Well, shall
have time to smoke three or four pipes, and
then I'll 90 and feed the critters
"Hadn't you better feed the critters fust,
SIR" suggested the dutiful Sally.
"No; saaokin' clears my head, and
wakes me up" replied the deacon, who SEEM
ed not whit disposed to hurry his enjoy
ment.
Burr.r.r.r-whiz-ding! ding! ding!!!
went the clock.
"Tormented lightning !" cried the deacon,
starting up, and dropping his pipe on the
stove what'n creations that"
"It's only the clock striking FIVE" said
Sally tremuously.
Whiz ding! ding !! ding!! went the clock
farieusly.
"Powers of mercy- cried the deacon
"Stricken FIVE it's stricken a hundred all
ready" :.
deacon Barberyv' cried the deacon's
better half, who had hastily robed herself,
and now came punging down the staircase
in the widest state of alarm, what is the
matter with the clock!"
"Goodness only knows" replied the old
man. ats been in the family these hun.
dred years, and never did know it to carry
on so afore."
"Whiz! ding ding!! went the clock
again.
"It'll bust itselfw cried the old lady.
shedding a food of tears, {" and there won:
be nothin left of it."
'4ISs bewitchedw said the deacon, who re.
tained feaven Of good old New England
superstition in his nature. "Any how" said
he, aftera pause, advancing resolutely to.
wards the clock, III see what's got into il"
:. "Oh, DON'T" cried his daughter, seizing
one ofhis coat tails, while his wife clung to
the other. "Don't" chororsed both the wo.
men together.
"Let 90 my raiment," shoutedthe old dea.
con. amt afeald of the powers of dark
ness"
But the woman would not let GO; so the
deacon slipped out of his coat, and while
from the sudden cessation Of resistance, they
fell heavily on the floor, and he darted for.
ward, and laid his hand upon tue clock case.
But no human power could opepit. Joe was
holding it inside with death grasp. The
old deacon began to be dreadfnlly frightened.
He gave one more tug. An unearthly yell,
rs Of a fend in distress burst from the inside
and then the clock case, pitched hsaa-fore.
most at the. deacon, fell head.long on the
1oor, smashed its face, and wrecked its far
The current of air extinguish-
I'd the lamp--the deacon, the old lady, and
Sally, fled up stairs, and Joe Mayweed, ex-
ricatiDg himself from the clock, effected