Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-01-19


lull cry, rising and sinking on his toes with
each bar and beating time with knee, body,
arm, neck and head; but probably from some
deiect in his throat seeming to choke and
swallow at every other syllable. bearing no
small resemblance to u hen swallowing stolen
hot hasty pudding.
CoNv1vAL HAB1Ts.--A custom of long con-
tinuance had not become wholly disused in
1870, by men Of all occupations farmers,
mechanics, and others, used to quit work, on
Saturday afternoon at three o'clock, ito 20
down town." do the errands of the week. and
spend the hour in athletic and other amuse
ments. Drinking was not forgotten it was
not forgotten at any meeting Of friends, ex-
cept on Sundays. At taverns, for six days of
every week in the year. the toddy stick was
never dry, and while pies were kept in the bar
room. the flip iron was never cool. 1t is
wonder that my sobriety was left, as no re-
straints seemed to exist from prudence, NOR
ais or fashions
MINISTERIAL ToDDY-The clergy was not
behind the society in yielding to the indul-
gence, and gave occasion to the name Of min
sterial toddy to one of the tipplers. by the
following adventure. The ministers from the
river were crossing the bleak hills Of Berk-
shire, one very cold day, one stopped Mt a
tavern to warm and get something comforta-
bic. Calling for half "mug Of toddy." they
differed in opinion, whether it should be made
of rum or brandy. and finally compromised
upon "half and half" The inn keeper heard
the discussion, but mistook the direction, and
produced the article, composed Of half of each,
but without water. and disguised by being
made very sweet with molassos. The SIM
ple-hearted good men, unsuspectingly took
long, hearty, breathless pull at the drcei.ful
liquor, and returning to the sleigh, and set
ting their faces against the cutting NortL-
wester resumed their conversation by the in
quiry, "Broher, has not the ,redther Nodera-
ted good dedl"
n CLERICAL JOKE-The minister was the
Rev. Solomon Williams, a good name, and
of good stock l was too young TO ap-
preciate his requirements. literary, intellectu-
al, social or moral; ] only remember some of
his peculiarties. He suffered from some dis
ease in childhood (the ricketts,, l suppose
by which he halted in his walk. aud which
rendered his address and bearing rot impo-
sing. lie lived long. aud | believe peaceably
with his people; | suspect that his attain
ments were not high, and that his influence
was limited; but remember hearing that al
| ministers meeting in IIadley. the younger
brethren, in the familiarity and license of the
olden time, began one after another. TO Ques-
ton Rev. Dr. Lyman. of Hatfield, the pa
trlarch OF all that country, what the people
OF their respective parishes said abont them,
aud they were answered in the same Sportive
spirit, that the reply which Mr.. Williams re-
ceived was that "whon his people should have
| occasion to knock his brains ont, they inten-
ded to strike him below the waist band"
PRANKs.-Tricks, jokes, ridiculous stories,
mystifcaion, and every kind of aughable de-
ception. and the pages of Barnum 1.-THE most
disgraceiul, because the most truthful repre-
sentation of one phrase of American society,"
| might receive many good illustrations from
! these scenes. Mr.. Charles Tappnn, in his
letter OF October 18th, has given II specimen
of the stories they used to get up on each
other, but he told the half only. A tailor and
n halter, both respectable, lived near each
other in Comfort street." The story ran
that the tailor found humble bees nest.
and told the boys what fine fun they might
have, by fighting it with their jackets. The
halter seeing them thus employed. ran to
them in great haste, and putting on IL most
Ierocious countenance, exclaimed. " on yonng
dogs what would yonr mothers say, il they
knew you abused your clothes, so put on
yonr jackets this instant and nse your hats.
The leading blacksmith of the town. mar
OF responsibility and wealth, but eccentric il
manner and austere in appearance, almost tc
grlmness, at one of these afternoon assem-
bages, once bOasted, that in his shop might
be found ready for use every article Of black
smiths work, which farmer would ordinaril,
require upon his farm during the year. Tht
opportunity for fun was too good to be lost
a large party repaired to his well-flled shor
and after close examination, no steel wa
found to be used with flint, to make fir,
for burning the stubble on the meadows. an,
it cost the blacksmith pretty penny TO es
, cape the laugh, and treat the company.