Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-10-02
An Amusing Story.

That "they who dance must pay the piper
is saving well illustrated in the following
anecdote, sent to us by friend for preserva-
ton in the Drawer. 1T may not be new" he
SAYS, "wbere the parties are kHown-for the
story has been told in print before, by one
who was at enc time a resident of the coun-
tv where the circumstances occured-but II
will be new to the great majority OF your
readers
Sam - happened to arrive at the pleas
ant village of s., one mild autumn eve
ming, and "put up' at its only tavern; and as
he entered he heard music and dancing in
an upper chamber" The landlord, who was
an old acquaintance, told him that ball was
going on in the hall above. "Come, Sam, go
up; there'll be fun and good music"
"Can't do it" said Sam, "havn't the trim
nings: (he was a halter and knew the value
of trimmings.> look at my shirt. 'Twouldn't
do"
HNever mind that" said his friend, 81 can
give you shirt of my own" and, stepping
into an sdjourning room, he brought out a
shirt big enough for Daniel Lambert. Hold
ing it up, he SAID:
"There, now, is a comfortable, roomy shirt
for you"
ooh, that won't dol should Lose myself
In it entirely"
"Well," said the good natured Boniface,
81 guess, after all, can do better for you
One of the girls in the kitchen is ironing some
shirts for the boarders, and can get you one
that will st, any how; jest you hold on"
He presently reappeared, with nice shirt,
of quite another pattern, into which, having
thrust himself, in an adjacent bedroom, he
made a hasty toilet and entered the ball
room.
Being young and good-looking, he found
rs many partners as he wanted, anil had Sc
lection from the prettiest girls in the room.
The other rustic beaux and homely bellies
"didn't seem to like it' much. The jealous
lover went so far as TO say:
HI'll cut the comb of that conceited cock
mighty quick, if he don't mind his eye!'
Meanwhile Sam - felt that he was the
observed of all observers, and his pride was
no. little elated.
Presently there came the tooti tooti of an
old-fashioned stage-horn in the distance
The coach numbered up to the inn; the
driver threw out the mail, and went into the
bar-room, ir being his stopping place ct the
inn for the night.
won't you 60 up stairs and join the dane
ers? asked the landlord; they're having a
great time up there; don't you hear the fid-
die, and the floor attending"
In those days stage-drivers were Of the
most popular class of the community; and
our hero, knowing this, readily consented
He called to the maid for his clean shirt
She came in with the answer that the land
lord had lent it to Sam to dance in to-
~,~I~& ipl~i hat h.
stage-driver would "want to use it that
night"
Here was 'pretty kettle of fish!'' his only
clean "sark" loaned to a stranger to take his
place in the ballroom, TO which the land
lord had Just invited himi He was "tearing
mad,D and after few observations, which
were rather more nervous than elegant, he
entered the ballroom, his face flushed, and
his voice somewhat husky with passion, and
strobe into the middle of the hall.
The music stopped, and the driver broke
the the ensuing silence with the sudden
question: f
as there a man of the name of Sam -
here? msj ad Is 'f.u1 .ylL3
"That's mel" said Sam, stepping forward
evidently expecting some new evidence Of
his sudden popularity.
"Ohl you are Sam -, then, are you?"
"Yes, and what do you want with me?'
"Nothin' in partick'ler, only when you gel
through with that shirt of mine that you've
got on your back, and are struttin' round in
I'd Just thank you to leave it al the bari"
A loud laugh followed this exposure; the
cocks comb soas cnt; his feathers dropped
and amidst much cackling he vanished from
the 'gay and festive scene."-Harper's Mag
ueine -s