Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-11-12
Bill Slike Acting Devil.


1--WE were great croniss. With me there
was nobody like Bill, and with Bill there
was nobody like Hazel. We were both
what would be termed hard cases. in This
day and age Of the world. If any mis-.
chief was dole in the nsighborhood, Bill
and were sure to come in for our share
of the blame.
About Christmas times we always had
a deal of fun. such as building rail.pens
and putting calves and pigs in the upper
story, hanging plows, big kettles" or
anything we could lay hands on, high up
IN tress perplex the owners, and ali such
tricks as that. Now such acts would be
looked upon as an unwarrantable outrage
and the perpetrator would be hauled up
and fined; then, they were only laughed
at as I" Christmas tricks"
l rec0llect one Christmas Eve, Bill and
| set out to have rich time of it. Bill
was to fix up, and act as devil, and we
were to 60 around and Brighten the young.
sters out Of their wits. AccofdinIY, we
arranged grum looking cap with horns
in it, and placed it upon his head, and
then made q false-face for him out of red
flannel, wrapped him in white sheet, and
started. There were several boys with
us, and by them I was unanimously cleo.
ted to go before and give the old folks at
each house hint eff what was going on,
SO that we would not get ourselves into a
scrape.
The FIRST house in our route was Uncle
Jake Bonds. went in, made some er-
rand, and as soon as possible slipped the
joke to the old man and old woman. II
was all right with them, and so went
back and reported to my companions. In
a short time Bill, ALIAS devil, poked hi:
singular looking head in at the door, and
great scrampton, such Settlement a.
took place. Girls, boys, cats, and every
thing else, excepting the two old ones
tumbled UP stairs like an earthquake. In
we all hustled, and such laugh as we
hads and hew the gtrls slappa3 us on ou1
faces for frightening them so badly. Thii
was o most glorious beginning, and So
we were almost crazy to get to the next
house,.
After partaking Of some doughnuts
and other little cakes that had been cut
out with thimble, and which the girls
called kisses, we started, for Major AL
lens | went on as usual, and knocked
at the door. II
Come in" said sweet voice.
obeyed the command, and fouad Jane, tn,
Majors only daughter, all alone.
Where's the old folks 2" asked T.
:" Gone over to grandfather's," she re
piled, as sweet as sugar.
Very sorry" said I, for I had i'm
portant business with the old man."
She assured me they would be back il
a short time; and filling plate will
hominy" from large kettle. where i
was boiling on the FIRE, she invited me
with one Of the prettiess smiles you eve
saw, to sit down and wait till Il cooled
and eat some With her. -. 80.
looked at the big, plump grains, al
bursting open in the plate, and inhaled
the delicious odor that arose from them
then looked at the sweet face and sunny
smile of my would besentertainer, anc
you'd better believe I wished Bill and til,
rest Of the boys in Guina. i felt sur,
that oil the fun we could see would b,
nothing to compare with eating ".homi
ny" with Jane Allen, yet I dare not &C
the traitor. So l pretended that I hat
no time to spare, and bidding her gooc
evening, hurried back to my conpan
ions: 49,,
Boys said !, James ell alone b,
herself. It wouldn't be right to scar,
her SO bad-let's go on to Rrowns p
No, by gum said Bill, AT r4uldn,
miss that chance for a hundred dollars, g
She sighted me the other day at singing
school. and now I'll pay her back 10
it.p ss,,s...
! still remonstrated, but in vain. Bill