The Portland daily press., 1862-07-16
MISCELLANY.
A CIergyman,s Joke.

/ was spending the night in hotel in Free
port, Illinois. After breakfast came into tae
sitting room, where / met pleasant cha sty
good humored traveller, who. like myself was
waiting for the morning train from Gslena.
We coayersed freely and pleasantly on several
topics until seeing two young ladies meet a1d
kiss each other in the street, tie conversation
turned Oh kissing; just about that time the
train was approaching. .Come,n said he.
taking up his carpet-bag. "since we are on so
sweet a subject, let US have a practical appli-
cation. I'll make a proposition TO you. I'll
agree to kiss the most beautiful lady in the
cars from Galena, you being The Judge. IL YOU
will kiss the next prettiest, / being the JUDGE"
The proposition staggered me a little aud |
could hardly lell wae.her he was in earnest OF
in fun; but as he would be as deep in il as
could possibly be. agreed, provided he woulG
do the first kissing, .nough my heart failed
somewhat as / saw his block eyes sparkle with
daring. "Yes," said he, I'm Try il iirs.. You
take the back car, and go in from tie 'front.'
end, where you can see the ladies' faces, and
you stand by the one you shink the ,,andsom-
est, and Ill come in from behind and kiss her."
had hardly stepped inside of the car when
saw at the first glance one of the ioyel;esl
looking women my eye ever fell on. bear-
tifu blonde, with auburn hair END a bright,
sunny face, full of love and sweetness, and rs
radiant and glowing as the moraiag. ANY
further search was totally unnecessary.
Immediately look my st;sad in the aisle of
the car by her siGe. She was looking out of
the window earnestly, rs if expecting some
one. The back door of the car opened and in
stepped my hotel friend / pointed nv finger
slyly TO her, never dreaming that he would dare
to carry out his pledge; and You may imagine
my horror and amazement when he stepped
up quickly behind her, and stooping over kiss
ed her with relish that made my mouth wa
ter from end TO end. / expected, of course,
shrek of terror, and thea a row generally.
and knock-down; but asionishment succeed
ed astonlshment. when | saw her return the
kisses with compound interest.
Quick as flash he turned to me. and said.
Now, sir, it is your turn,'' pointing to hide
ousiy ugly, wrinkled woman, who sat in the
seat behind. "0h, you must excuse me, YOU
must excuse mel! exclaimed. "I'm sold this
time. | give il up. Do tell me who you've
been kissing" "Well," said he, ''since YOU are
man Of such good taste and quick perception,
will let You off, And we all burst into
good peal of laughter as he said, "This is nv
wife. l have been wai.ing here for her. /
knew that was a safe proposition He told
the story to his wife, who looked ten-fold
sweetcr when she heard it,
Before we reached Chicago we exchanged
cars, and discovered that my genial compan-
ion was an Episcopal preacher of Chicago,
whose name had frequently heard. When
ever go TO Chicago always go 10 hear him.
and neartier, more natural, and more elo-
quent preacher it is hard to find He was then
but young man; he is well known as one of
the ablest divines of The Episcopal denomina-
flon in the West-l Harper's Monthly.