Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-11-26
VOL. 3.--NO. Is.
BILL TRoT AND HIS YANKEE CLOCK.

I BILL TROT AND HIS YANKEE CLoCh.
| well. SIR Bill said to me one day, about
five years or better, ago, bought wooden
DAY clock from Yankee pedlar, named Tom
Jones, who used to travel through this coun-
try, droppin' one at most every house. Twas
the last one he had, and give him 6fteen dol
lars for it. She was a perfect goer of clock
and then sich a beauty Her little squatty,
dumpy figur' dressed out in her painted case,
list filled my eye exactly, to gnat's heel 1
sot her on the mantle shelf, SO as might alters
see her. l didn't think I'd ever git tired
| lookin' at her. Her little peDjlum would
swing back 'ards and forreds, pickin' off the
seckins at proper rate. Thar she'd roll it,
peckin' away, day arter day, and week arteS
week, dead bent on keepin, up with the sun
and determ'ed that nary time-piece in the set
tiement should git ahead of her. Shed dig
ahead at the hours, never stoppin' to ketch
breath, but firm away in admirable style. I'd
wind her up of nights, and then go to bed,
putin every confidence in her, and bein' per-
fectly satisfied that she'd do her duty faithful,
although wasn't watchin' of her and wouldn't
allow the sun to be up before she put her hand
TO the hour for sunrise. And then, sir, when
I'd be restless, and couldn't sleep, or when
was sick, then what company she was to me.
To be shure she couldn't talk to me-jist cal
led my name-that's all. Though some times,
she'd say sDick' so plain, I'd look mp at her
and almost expeck her to lead off a regular
built chat. Well, sir, she continued to be
good for five years, and was my hearts delight.
In fack, may say she hilt on to be good lon
ger than that but it was about that time she
, begun moustrousls to rczemble old Dave Will
sons wife-you know who she was p
Cannot say do, exactly
sWhy, sir, thort you knowed-Old Dave
used to say that his wife was a charming cree
tur-one of the best of women-that he did
. not believe, from old Mother Eve down to tho
: present gineration, better ever
: throwed petticoat over her head. To be
. shure, he sed she had her ways there Bill snuff
;, fed in imitation of old Dave, whom L knew
very well, she would have her ways, and sich
- ways she did have.-Well, sir, my clock got
X TO be the same way-some of her works got
10 outer fix, and for spite she done jist as she
IF blamed please. Strikel yes, sir, she did-like
70 all dingnation! She'd take notion to bugle
,- of sometimes, and she'd ring in on them wires
! one hundred an fifty times. At first was tick
ID led at it, and would set and laugh at her for
70 bein' sch fool to be cutting up them ex-
IS trays what didn't hurt anybody but herself
d But at last began to git tired of sch fooIery.
It seemed to me, whenever had a tough job
before me, and wanted TO study it out, or
,e whenever was right sleepy, then she'd pick
A her chance to come them big licks, put up
d with it a long time-didn't do nothing to her
# and thort. By letting her have her fun out,
p. she might git tired of it herself, after While
But she didn't; she still hit on stouter 'an
ever. On last Sunday L went up above here TO
n muster, and, as l alters does on sch occasions,
lie tuck rather too much Of the fetch nae lightly.
he When got home, thort the best place for
ut me was in bed-so as TO sleep off my boozy, 1
I'd pulls of, and gifts in bed but no sooner did
IN my head fetch the piller, than up starts the
ly clock-ch-r-rring -ch-r-r-ring-1 determined
ID to put stop to sich capers that night. got
ID up, loaded my old musket, tuck a cheer, and
g sot down right before her. Now, old lady, ,
3 sez l, 'yer arter the spite game agin We p
g Jist go on eff you like it--but dar' TO strike q
N hundred this time, and, dang me eff you don't
"a ketch h-ll' Ny threats didn't scare her one
Is bit-she stuck away, 'peared like livelier than
p ever. She went it so peart, she soon got up to
S' ninety-ninety-on wo--three--foUr--fye-
&c ski see yer gwyin' it, sez l, and cocks
+ the old musket, ch-r-r ring-I puts it to my
'e shoulder-ch-r-r-ring- takes sight-ch-r-r-
ring-I lays my finger on the trigger-ch-r-r-
ring, seZ she, stouter an ever, and was startin'
with another chee-when lums away, and in
~ half seckin' finds myself fat on my back, in
the middle of the -four. As picked myself
- up, heard the old lady still goin' it and
: dern me, eff she didn't strike fifty times more
. although twenty-five buckshot had tuck effect
all among her countenance, and both her hands
!, were taker smooth off. haint wound her up
= since; for with the pluck she's got, ther's nc
knowing what she might do, if she had the
chance. She's without exception, the best
game ever seed.'
Moral. Although it may be well TO take
Tirie by the fore-lock, yet it would be better
not to do so rashly.
G A BuccASEER on THE BIBLE.-I. y. Norris,
or a candidate for Congress, in speech at Quin-