Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-02-16
Johnny Beedle's Sleigh Ride.
BY JOHN NEAL.

| IdheIu tue Oluel uedIu Ii JeTTlUle UOISG
in the bar room, and thinks |, I'll just put my
head in, and see what's the matter Whoor
all |" reared heap cffelows "here'S johnny
Beede, he'll 60 and that will make ten :" and
they hauId me in among them. whats the
occasion ?" says |. " A sleigh ride, over to
Shaw's (every body goes to Shaw's that goes
sleigh ridiug) with fiddle and frolic p
"Whoorah |" says l.
81 motion" says DR.. Partridge, "that every
gentleman go right off now, and get his sleigh
and his lady, and meet at Hanks corner -
and with another whoorah, we burst out of
DOORS and scattered
| ran full spead to the widow Beans. Her
daughter Patty is the handsomest girl in
Casco bay. | had given her some pretty
broad hints and only waited for a good chance
to pop the question. And out it shall come,
this very night, says l.
| bounced into the widow Beans out of
breath, and was near catching Patty in the
suds She was inst done washing, and was
wringing out, standing in the midst of tubs
mops and kettles She was struck all of
heap at the sight of her spark, and would
| have blushed nicely, | guess, if she hadn't
| been as she could be, already a word in
your ear Patty" says I, giving her the wink,
! and stepping into the corner, | told her what
was brewing. I'll run and borrow the dea
cons sleigh, and come back right away" says
|. 20, you needn't be in such tearing hur-
ry," says she, for I've got to shift from top
to toe. You see what pickle I'm in"
All, Patty" says |, beauty when una,
dorned's adorned the" Well, VOW"
says Patty, says she, and off | shot, for how
was to follow up such bold speech but |
could not help staggering all the way to the
deacon's to think how swimmirgly matters
were going on. | was so full of this, that |
entirely forgot to make up a story to fop off
upon the old deacon, till got almost TO the
door for the deacon is a sworn enemy to all
/ froIics, and 50 is bis mare "ll tell him |
want to carry grist TO mill" But that will
| be found out. No matter so it is after elec-
ton, as the politicians say"
! The deacon gave mortal Squnt at nv face,
when [ did my errand, but | was behind
shirt collar He then fell to chewing his cud
aud considering. Mothers clean out" saws
|, both rye and injun" The deacon spit
Well, neghbor, if you are afraid to trust
felIer there's two shilling beforehand"
"Poh, poh, John" said he, walking mp and
pocketing the money, "not trust you hear
that Now, Joshua, tackle up Suky You'll
drive the crtter slow, John, and now think
ont You may bring my grist, that is now at
the mi-and look sharp at the miller when
he strikes the toll measure, John"
1t was too late to stick at lies now. So
promised everything, jumped in the sleigh,
aud steered for the widows with Aying col.
ors.
1t is the height Of gentility, you must know,
E. Z L. L., l,,r
possible on such an accession. | sat over
heap of warm ashes in the widow Beams
parlor, listening to Patty stamping about in
her stocking feet, in the chamber overhead
for one good hour Then | stood up to the
looking glass and frizzled up my hair, changed
my shirt pin to a new place, thought over
some speeches to make under the buffalo skin.
aud finally laid q plot to lug in the awful
question 10 a sort of a slantindickular fashion
At last Patty appeared in all her glory
was just crookiag my elbow to lead her out
when in come Mrs. Bean.
, "Where are yOu going to, Patty ?"
Cover to Shaw's, sleighiug"
"What, and leave your cousin Dolly all
alone, to suck her fingers A pretty how
dye do that, after coming all the way from
SacO just to see you !"
Here was a knock down argument. All
my plans of courting and comfort melted down
and ran off in moment. | saw directly that
the widow was resolved to push big Dolly
Fisher into my sleigh, whether or no and
there was no remedy, for the widow Bean is
stamp that is neither to be got around or
moved ont Of the way. said something about
the sm all size Of the sleigh, but it would not
do-she shut my mouth instantly.
Let me alone" says she " | went sleigh
ing afore you was born, youngSter. If don't
know how to pack sleigh, who does? Patty
Bean stow yourself away, here, and shrink
yourself up small If there amt room, we
must make room, as the fellows use to say.
Now, Dolly, hoist yourself in there"
She tumbled into the sleigh, like a shot
from shovel, or cart load of pumpkins into
gondola 1t was chuck full of her. 40,
she's a whopper, tell ye."
"Why, johnny Beede," says Mrs. Bean,
I" in my days they use to pack US in, layer on
layer"
At this hint | tDeaked round to Patty, to
begin the second layer on her lap But the
widow was wide awake. She cenched me by
the collar, and patting upon Dolly's knees.
Here's the drivers seat says she. "Plant
your feet fat and firm, niece jump up
johnny and now, away with her my lad"
BY this time had got so raving mad that
| could hold in no longer l fell afouI of the
old mare, aud if / didn't give it to her about
right, then there's none Of me, that's ALL
The deacon counted the wets on her right
side a week afterwards, when he called on me
for reckoning, which was made with chalk
upon the upper flap of his every day hat
Sukey not understanding such jokes, took the
bit in her teeth and shot off, right on end, like
streak of new Connecticut lighteing jim.
ina how we skinned over it Aud the
houses, and barns, and fences, and the pig
styes, few by US like clouds by the moou.-