The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-06-25
VOL. 8, NO. 10.-WHOLE NO. 374.


Joe 0ayWesd's Coursshlp.
The funny colu nas Of the English papers de-
rive more Of their ''stu6 for sm les" frsu josr-
nas in this counsry, than from any other source.
We hnd in one Of them this ludicroas sneolose
OF the "bevitched clock:
About half past eleven o'clock on sunday
night, human leg. snveloped iu blue broAdelesh,
might have been seen entering Deacon Cephas
Bsrberry's kitchen window. The leg vas fel.
loved, fually, by the entire person Of live
Yankee, s,tired in bis Sunday 90 70 nsslin'
clothes II vas, in short, Joe Nayseed Who
thus bsrglariously Won his way into the dsacsn's
kitchen
wonder hsw much the old deacon made by
orderin' me not 10 darken HE door asaia," sslii-
oQaized the young geotleaan. Promised him
l wouldn't. but ddn't saw nothin absss sinders.
Winters 10 "a good as doors il there ains ~ sais
70 tear your trowsers onto. Wonder il SALLY
oil come down. The crittcr promised ne. In
Afeared 10 move about here, cause mi chs break
ny shins ever s,meihin' o. another and cake tas
old folks. Cold enough 10 freeze Polish bear
here. .. here coaes Sslly."
The beareous maid descended sth . pleasant
smile, tsllow candle, and ooA OF luefer match
&c.
After receiving raptarous greeting. she made
. rousing fire in the cooking stove, and the hap
py couple sat down to enjoy the swses inter
change Of VOWS aud hopes.
But the course of true love ran net Q Whit
smoother in old Bsrberry's kitchen than it ioes
else ~ here, and Joe, Who vas jast makius up bis
mind to treat himself to kiss, vas startled by
tie voice Of the deacon, her father, shestisg
| from his chamber door -
''SAl, what are you getting up in the middle
Of the night tor"
'Tell him it's most morning." shissereA Joe
Mayweed.
~ can't tell 6b," said Sally.
"l'll make it trath, then" said Joe.
And running TO the huge old fashioaed cleck
| that stood in the corner, he put the haods a
| Eve.
Look at the clock aud tell me what time IL
is," cried the old gentleman.
Its five by the clock" said Sally.
| And corroborating her words the clsck strsck
Eve.
| The lovers sat down again and resumed their
conversation. Suddenly the staircase began -
creak
Good gracious, i,'s father" exclaimed Sal.
1.-THE DEACON n, .A--i--," ---i-i".a Ia.
Hide me- Sally.
Where can / hide YOU ?" cried the distracted
girl.
40, know" said he. "rn sqaeez. into the
clock case"
Aud without word he concealed himself il
the case and closed the door.
The deacon was dressed, and seating Li.s.
self down by the cooking stove, pulled his
pipe out, lighted it, and began deliberately 70
smoke.
Five o'clock, EN- ~ said he We'll, shall
have time TO smoke three OF four pipes and then
I'll go and feed the critters"
Hadn't YOU better feed the critters frsts"
suggested Sally.
mo, smokin' clears INV head and ~skes me
up" replied the deacon, who seemed no, whit
disposed to hurry up his enjcyment
/ But rr-wbz dug! ding! ding went the
!. clock.
, 'Toraented lightningl" cried the deacon,
t starting up and dropping his pipe on the stove
. "what'n airth is thatg"
"It's only the clock striking five" replied Sal
", trcmulousy.
Whiz ding ding. ding went the old clock.
furiossly.
Power sf crsatienl" cried toe deacon.
''strkln' ave. ns struck more than a hundreA
: already"
"Deacon Bsrberry," cried the deacon's better
half, who had hastily robed herself, and nov cane
plungins down the staircase in the widest state
OF alarm, "wtat in the universe is the matter Of
, the clock ?"
, Goodness only knows" replied the old msa,
= sits been q hundred years in the family, and
. never knew it TO carry on 90 afore."
, Whiz' ding! ding! whizz z! went the clock
! again.
'Ii'll burst itself" cried the lady, shedding Q
. food Of tears, ''and there won't be nothin' left
: Of it,"
"It'e bewitched!" ?" cried the deacon, Who re-.
, taine1 lesven OF good old New EagIand super.
stition in his nature. Anyhow" said he, after
a pause, advancing resoiute'y tosards the clock,
, an see what's going on in it."
20, den't!" cried his daughter, sexisg one oi
hs coat tails, while his wife clung TO the other.
Don't" chorused both women together.
"Let 60 my rAiuent!" shouted the deacon
"I amt afeared Of the powers Of darkness"
But the women wouldn't let 90 % the deacon
!, slipped out of bis coat, and while iron the sud
. . den cessation Of resistance they fell heavily up
on the Hoor, he pitched forward and seized the
mob Of the clock
But no human power could open it. for Joe
: vas holding it from the inside With death
= grip:
!. The old deacon began 10 be dreadtully fright
, ensd. He gives one more tug. when an I'm
!, ear hly YELL as Of f-nd 10 distress, burst from
|, the inside, then the clock pitched head foremost
:. at the deacon and wrecked its fair proportiens
= The current Of air exiting gaish-d the candIe-ths
deacon, the old lady. sud Sally aed Up stsire. snt
Joe Nsyweed. er,ricatng himself from the clock
4 effected his escape in the same way 10 which h
= entered.
:, The next day all Appleton vas alive With the
!, story hsw deacon Bsrbsrry'e clock had been bs
!. ~itched and although many believed his yer
- sion, yet some, and especially Joe Msyweed, af
. fected to discredit the whole affair. and hintipJ
:, that the deacon had been trying the expeines
- OF tasting frozen cider, and that the vagsries Q
~ the clock case existed only 10 distsmpered il
. aginatiou.
=