Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-07-04
fHE BORROWED GARMENTS.

THE foRRowED GARMENTS.
Frank, lend nie your Swallow tailed coat"
.sWhat for 10
s.Here," and tossed him moderate sized
gard bearing the following inscription "Mr.
and Mrs. Fitzwatcr's compliments, and would
be pleased to see Mr.. Wilkins on Friday eve,
the thirteenth instant at eight O'Clock"
ssNo doubt of it,
"No doubt of what ~
ssThat the sight OF you would please Mr..
and Mrs. FItzwaters.'
'Probably; will you lend me the coat 20
s;Yes, certainly"
Frank Barnes and were disciples of Es-
culapius, and pursuing our studies at the =
Medical College. We were chums and fast
friends: we studied together, walked to-
gether, ate at the same table, and enjoyed in
common our shuck mattress and scanty quilts.
We had just finished our mid day allowance of
fsvictuals,' measured according to the board
house rule, and called by courtesy and our
landlady ssdinner." and had lit our pipes for
our post-prandial siesta, when the above card
was sent up to me, and occasioned the remark
that opens this chapter Frank and l were
the same height and weight ,and his coat would
fit me exactly: but here the resemblance
ceased entirely. Frank, though not foppish
in tt,e least, was always dressed with scrupu-
lous neatness, and though he seldom went in
to society, always had a complete suit of hand
some clothes. On the other hand, while was
very fond of society, was very unfortunate
lin regard to my wardrobe, and was rarely the
posscssor of a respectable outfit. had gone
one moonlight night to the suburbs, with the
intention of serenading my adorable Amelia,
young lady educated, refined and polished
according to the most approved style, but
whose father was not at all romantic, had
lamentably tuneless ear, and ssdidn't approve
of these here sereynades thought young men
ought to be in bed time enough to get up air.
ly in the mornin', and not go round howlin
like pack o. painters" Notwithstanding
this prejudice on the part of the parent, re-
solved to WOO the fair lady with a song, per-
haps with two or three. Having importuned
her to "Wake. lady, wake was respectfully
soliciting her tossMeet me by moonlight, when
her father interrupted the strain in a most in
harmonious manner:
s'Look here, young man, pack up that BIAS
ted fiddle, and leave here! How do you
spose mans goin' to sleep with such an in
fernal screechin gOin' on ?''
did not deign to reply to his interrogatory,
muttering, ssI go, but retnrn,' went. Vex-
cd at such a termination of the affair, Il waited
near by till all was again quiet, then went
back, and taking up the thread of my song
where it had been broken off, finished 1t.
Gathering confidence as l went on, / was pro-
ceeding to request her tOssCome over the hills
with me-" and was picturing in glowing colors
the sssweet content OF our humble happy lot."
when whack like a discharge from catapult,
body of unknown shape and dimensions, but
evidently of considerable weight and density,
struck the fence near me. 1nstinctively divin-
ing that this came from the hands Of the GEN.
ragged parient,' and fearing lest he should fol-
low up his salute with a volley, silenced the
vibrating guitar-strings, postponed the ssGood
night, song, sine die, (excuse the bull and re-
treated. In my hasty and not remarkably
graceful evacuation of the premises, an up
start nail in the fence made an ugly right-an-
glcd rent in my best broad-cloth.
And now Mr.. and Mrs. Fitzwater want TO
see me Friday eve to day is Thursday. too
late to get a new garment made, to say noth-
ing of my own impecuniosity. But as said
before, was very fond of society, especially
that OF Amelia, who would certainly be at the
party, as she was on very intimate terms with
Miss Georgia Fitzwater. So go must and
as society had decreed that coat is an indis.
pensabie article of apparel at party, bor-
rowed Franks immaculate swallow-tail.
"And Frank, shall want your gaiters," as
/ discovered that one of mine showed a very
ragged abrasion on the side, and the other was
sadly run down at the heel.
"Take 'em along,' said he, and quietly
went on scloud compelling" But was too
much agitated to smoke. let my pipe go
out, called Frank Mrs. Fitzwater, and was only
recalled to my senses when be reminded me
that my ssdoeskin'' needed repairing. So l
seized a needle and thread, and after many
futile efforts succeeded in passing the latter
through the eye of the former. l then care
fully closed the Gaping issure, not without
tangiing the thread several times, and uttering
several adjectives not very complimentary to
the pantaloons and tie maker thereof.
4 were vain to attempt to tell what horrid
dreams racked my brains that night. They
were an Ola podrida of absurd incongruities.
AT one time l was making my salaam to
Mrs. Fitzwater, and repeating the welcomed
complimentary speech to Miss Georgia, when
suddenly the needle which inadv ertently had
left in my trowsers, made its presence known
inla very insinuating manner. At another,
Mr.. Fitswater, was shaking my hand with one
OF his, and with the other extracting the pins
with which had tried to cobble the disinte.
grated coat-tail while Amslia's father stood
by poising two bricks over my devoted head.
Amelia looked charming in Franks dresscoat !;
and Miss Temperance Jones, an elderly SPIN
ster who formerly had taught my young idea,
and administered wholesome correction with
ner slipper, Il forget the number, it seemed
broodignagian at that time,) appeared at a
siae door armed with my damaged gaiter.