The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-06-28
A Cicrgymaan'. >. Joke.

Twas spending the night in "a hotel in
Freeport, Illinois. After breakfast came
into the sittingroom, where met pleasant,
cHatty. good-humored traveller, who, like
myself, was waiting for the morning train
from Galena. r We conversed freely and
pleasantly on several topics, until seeing
two young ladies meet and kiss each other
in the street, the conversation turned on
kissing, Just about the time the train was
approaching. 'Come,' said he, taking up
his carpet-bag, since we are on so sweet a
subject, let US have practical application.
I'll make proposition to you. TIL agree to
kiss the most beautiful lady 10 the cars from
Galcna, you being the judge, if you win kiss
the next pretticst, I being the judge" The
proposition staggered me a little, and I could
hardly tell whether he was in earnest or In
fun butas he would be as deep in it as
could possibly be, I agreed, provided he
would no the frst kissing. though my heart
failed somewhat as I saw his biacl, eve fair
ly sparkle with daring YES said he, 'T'li
try it first You take the back car, and GO
in from the front end, where you can see the
faces of the ,adies,. and yousstand by the one
YOU think the handsomest, and I'll come in
from behind and kiss her. 'sy nE ~
I had hardly stepped inside the car when
Il saw at the first glance one of the loveliest
looking women my eyecver fslion. A bean
tifnl blonde. with alfburn hair, anda bright,
sunny face, full oflove and sweetness, and
as radiant and glowing as the morning. I
Immediately took nay stand in the aisle Of
the car by her side. She was looking out
Of the window earnestly, as IL expecting
same one. The back door cfthe car opened
and in stepred my hotel friends Il pointed
my finger slyly to her, never dreaming that
he would dare to carry out his pledge; and
you NAV imagipe my horror and amzement
when he stepped up quickly behind her. and
STOPPING over, kissed her with relish that
made my mouth water from end to end, !
expected Of course . shrek of terror, and
then a row generally, and a knock down
but astenishment succeeded astonishment
when l, saw her return the kisses with com,
pound interest. 80 v
Quick as q fash he turned to me, and said
Now. sir, IT is your turn : pointing TO a
hideously. ugly. wrinkled old woman who sat
in the seat behind. 'Oh, you must excuse
me you must excls mel Iexclaimed. I'm
sold this time. l give up. Do tell me who
you have been kissing sWell, said he,
ssince you are man of 50 much taste, and
such quick perception, TIL let you OFF,
And we all burst into general peal Of laugh.
ter as he said, This is my wife ! have
lbecn waiting here for her. knew that was
a safe proposition He told the story to
his wife, who looked ten fold sweetcr as shs
heard IL. s's
Before we reached Chicago we exchanged
cards, and discovered that my genial com
panion was popular EpiscopaIian preacher
Of Chicago, whose name + had frequentl,
heard. Whenever 60 to Chicago always
] go to hear him. and hearsier, more natu
raj, and more eloquent preacher il is hard Il
lfind. He was then but young man b.
| is now well known as one of the ables
divines Of the Episcopal de,,onination I,
the West -Harpsr's Monthly