The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-09-04

dozen plated spoons, loF NllitH TIC eA-
chan ged dozen solid, old fashioned sill
YER ones and "the boot Nat seemed
to regret his bargain, and showed no dis
position to take the old spoons which the
Squire laid in bunch before him, when
the latter fearing he might alter his
mind, and demand his property back
again, left the room for the purpose of
slowing them snugly away. A broad
grin passed over Mats face as the old
man disappeared and rising from his
seat he approached one of those solid,
old fashioned English clocks, specimens
of which may yet occasionally be met
with, which occupied position in one
corner of the room. Opening the door,
Nat carefully cut the cords which sus-
Iained the weights so that the slightest
jar would be sure to part them, and then
thrusting his knife up underneath the
face of the clock, he clipped all the cogs
but one from one of the wheels, closed
the case again, and had just taken his
seat when the Squire entered.
/" Tell you what, Squire said Nat,
assuming a frightul expression of coun-
tenance, - l begin to feel -fraid I'm
agoin' to have one o them drafted fits
which take me down some times Yes
there il comes !" he yelled, and immedi
ately afterwards he jumped from his chair
high enough almost TO touch the ceiling,
and came down upon the floor with a
force which shook the house TO its foun
dation. Bang bang went the weights
in the old clock, and rick rick click
elk +! snap. snap went the wheels, till
the Squire was fairly dumb founded and
knew not which to attend to first, the old
clock or Nat, who lay writing upon the
floor. The scene did not last long how
ever, for Nat speedily recovered and then
the Squire alluded to the noise which
the clock had made. Nat examined it,
and pronounced it worn out. He told
the Squire he had better either make
rat trap Of it, or sell it to the first second
hand furniture man that came along
Then he incidentally and quite carelessly
mentioned his own clock and comparing
it with the Squire's pointed out the new
Improvements, especially the alarm ar
rangemept, at all of which the old man
was consumedly tickled, and the upshot
was that the clocks changed owners as
the spoons had done before, Nat receiv
ing the old clock worth about twenty
dollars for ten shilling article. Nat
now thought it about time to travel, and
accordingly departed
lie hid the old clock, together with
the Squire's spoons, carefully away in the
bottom Of his wagon, out Of sight, and
started, but he had not gone far when he
met the Squire's wife, OF whom he had
managed to get full description, both
with regard to her temper and appear
ance, returning homewards.
Ain't Your name Mrs. B.?'' he en-
quiied as they met.
Yes" said the old lady snappishly,
Z" but what's that to your business -
o, nothing replied Nat; "only |
didn't know but what you'd like TO buy
u few notions-a pair of scissors for in
stance. stopped into your house yon-
der, AMI the Squire tell d me he had broke
yourn since you'd been gone-but he
said lie wouldn't buy you any new ones,
and you shouldn't buy any for yourself"
Did he say that o. said the old lady,
defance flashing from her eye.
He did So replied Nat, " said YOU
shouldn't buy scissors nor nothing else
without his consent"
It's all very well for him to talk that
way behind my back said Mrs. b.,
" but he wouldn't do 1t il was there
III show him whether III buy any thing
or not - she continued determnedly,
and she Immediately proceeded to pur-
chase numerous articles to the amount Of
about three dollars, all the money she
had with her, after which she proceeded
homewards boiling over with wrath, and
Nat proceeded on his way wishing
Words would fail TO give correct de.
scriplon of the scene that followed when
the Squire's wife reached home, and we
shall not attempt it, but shall pass on to
an Incl ent VIII Gu occurred some time af-
forwards. The old folks had become re-
conciled to each other, and went by in
vitation, 10 a neighboring city. While
there, they found their way into the n.u-
scum, and almost the first thing that at.
tracted their attention was their old clock
Ii looked as natural as ever, and was al
tered in nothing save Its history-they
learned for the first time, from a label
upon it, that it had once been the proper
ty of Geo. Washington, and that it had
been bought at auction by gentleman,
together with the documents proving its
identity, and sold TO the proprietor OF the
Tucker was the last pedler that ever
4" Sold the Squire.
Here is the New York ReroiTs notion