Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-07-29
AN AMUSING STORY.

for preservation in the drawer. cit
may not be new," he says, "where the
parties are known-for the story has
been told in print before, by one who
was at one time resident of the country
where the circumstances occurred-but
it will be new to the great ma jority Of
your readers"
Sam-happened TO arrive at The
pleasant village Of s., one mild au
tumn evening. and "put up" at an old
tavern; and as he entered che heard
music and dancing in an upper chamber"
the landlord, who was an old acquain-
tance, told him that ball was going on
in the hall above. "Come, Sam, go up,
there will be fun and good music"
"Can't do it," said Sam, "havn't the
trimmings; (he was halter and knew
the value of trimmings,) look at my
shirt. 'Twouldn't do"
"Never mind that" said his friend,
81 can give you shirt of my own" and
stepping into an adjoining room, he
brought out shirt big enough for Dan
iel Lambert. Holding up the shirt he
said:
"There, now, is comfortable roomy
shirt for YOU"
ooh, that won't do, shall lose my
self in it entirely"
"Well," said the good natured B Oni
face, 81 guess. after all, l can do better
for you. One of the girls in the kitch
en- is ironing some shirts for one of the
5oarders, and l can get you one that
will fit any how; just hold on
He presently re appeared with a nice
shirt of quite another pattern, into which
having thrust himself. in an adjoining
bedroom, lie made hasty toilet and en-
tered the ball room.
Geing young and good looking, he
found as many partners as he wanted,
and had selection of the pretticst girls
in the room.
The other rustic beaux and the home
ly bellies, didn't seem 10 ike it much
The jealous lovers went so far as 10 say:
"I'll cut the comb of that conceited
cock if he don't mind his eyel''
Meanwhile Slm--feltt that he was
the observed of all observers, and his
pride was not little elated.
Presently there came toot T! toot
of an old fashioned stage horn in the
distance. The coach numbered up to
the iun; The driver threw out the mail
and went into the bor-room, it being his
stopping place at the inn for the night.
Won't you go up stairs and join the
dancers?" asked the landlord; "they'le
having great time up there; don't you
hear the fiddle going, and the floor a
tremblin?"
In those days stage drivers were of
the most popular" cast of the commu-
nifty; and our hero knowing this, readily
consented. He called 10 the maid for a
clean shirt.
She came with the answer that the
landlord had lent it to Sam TO dance
in to night. not knowing or thinking that
the driver "would want to use it that
night
Here was .'pretty kettle of fish, his
only clean "sark" loaned to stranger
to take his place in the ballroom, to
which the landlord had just invited him.
He vas tearing mad, and after few OBJ
servations which we're rather more ner-
vous than elegant, he entered the ball
room; his face was flushed, and his voice
somewhat husky with passion, and strobe
into the middle Of the hall.
The music stopped, and the driver
broke the ensuing silence with the sud-
den question:
as there man by the name Of Sam
, here?"
"That's me-" said Sam, stepping for
ward. evidently expecting some new ev-
idence of his sudden popularity.
ooh! you are Sam, then, are
you?"
"Yes. what do you want of me?'
''Nothin' in particular, only when you
get through with that shirt of mine
which you've got on your back and are
struttin' around in. I'd just thank you
to leave it at the bari"
A loud laugh followed this exposure;
the cocks comb lcas cut; his feathers
dropped; and amidst much cackling he
vanished from the festive scene."