The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-19
JOE MAYwEEDs ooURTsHIP.

About nhli-past seven D CLOCK on SUNDAY nlgnts
a human leg, enveoped in blue clothes, might
have been seen entering old Cephas Blrbary's
kitchen window. The leg was followed by the
entire body of a Yankee attred in his Sunday
go-to- meeting clothes. IL was, in short, Joe
Mayweed, VINO thus burglariously won his way
into the old deacon's kitchen.
"Wonder how much the old deacon made by
ordering me not 10 daTken his door agln," solilo-
quized the young gentlemrr. promised him l
wouldn't, but did not say anything about win
dows. Windows are as good as doors, If there
amt no nails 10 tare trousers onto. Wonder If
Sally will come down. The critter promised me.
am afraid to move about bere; might break my
shins over something or another, and awake the
old man. Cold enough TO freeze polish bear
here. o here comes Sally"
The beauteous maid descended with smile, q
tallow candle, and box of lucifeT matches.
After receiving rapturous greeting, she made
rousing fire in the cooking stove, and the happy
young couple sat down TO enjoy the sweet inter-
change of hopes and vows.
Bus the course of true love ran not q bit
smooiher In Barbary's kitchen than elsewhere,
and was just making up his mind mind to treat eat
voice OF the deacon, her father, shouting from
the door OF his chamber
"sall what are you getting up in the middle of
the night for !"
"Teil him it is morning" whispered Joe May
II can't tell him fb," said Sally.
'1ll make 1t a truth, then" said Joe. And
running to the huge old fashioned clock that
ftsod In the corner. he put the hand at five.
"Look at the clock at tell me what time it is,
cried the old gentleman.
"It is five by the clock, said sally, and corro.
UOratinK her words the clock struck hye.
The lovers sat down again and resumed their
conversation. Suddenly the stairs began to creak.
"Good gracious it is father
"The deacon, by thunder" !" exclaimed Joe +.
isHide me, Sally"
''Where can hide you 2" exclaimed the dis
tracted girl.
80, l know, said he; al will squeeze into the
clock-case."
And without a word he concealed himself in
the case and closed the door.
The deacon was dressed, and seating himself
by the stoye pulled out his pipe, lighted it, and
began deliberately 70 smoke.
olive O'Clock, ha Z" said he. "Well, ! shall
pave 20 smoke three or four pipes, and then will
q and feed the critters"
"Hadnt you better 60 and feed the critters
drst," suggested Sally.
"No smoke clears my head and wakes me
up" replied the deacon, who seemed not whit
disposed to hurry up the enjoyment of his pipe.
Bur-r-r, whiz, ding, ding, ding, went the clock.
"Tormented lightning cried the deacon,
Ftarting up and dropping his pipe on the stove,
''what'n earth is that"
att is only the clock striking five" replied
"Power of creation" cried the deacon. "strIk-
m i've. It has struck more than hundred
already"
"Deacon Bsrbary," cried the deacon's wife,
who had hastily robed herself, and now came
plunging down stairs, in the widest state OF
alarm, awhat in the universe is the matter with
the clock"
Goodness only knows" replied the old mlu.
"It is hundred years in the family, ani / never
knew it TO carry on so afore.'
Whiz ding went the clo.S Again
lt'll bust itself" cred the old lady, shedding
fso hc9S oi i,ars, "and there won't be nothing ct
sits bewitchsd,' cried the old deacon, wh
contained leayen OF New England superstition
IN his nature. "AnyhOw," said be, after pause
advancing resolutely toward the clock, ON SCI
what going onin IL
"Oh, dou't,' cried his daughter, ssHlng oh'
az his COAT tails, while his wife caught III
other.
''Don't," cried both women together.
"Iet 60 my raiment," shouted the deacon. 90
am not afraid 0f the powers Of darkness.
But the women wouldn't let 90, so the deacon
slipped out OF bis coat, and while from the suddel
cessation OF resistance they fell heavily 70 th
floor, he pitched forward and seized the KNOB O
the clock.
But nc human power could open a., for JO
was holding it rom the inside with death grr
The ola deacon began % be drea1'ully f-igh.
ened. H3 gave one mofoJuc, whom an urcartl
yell as OF q hsnd il distress burst nom tie 10
side the current Of air extngus he'd The candle
the deacon, the old lady, and Sally hew up =tuif,
and Joe MayWeed, eNtri'aGng himself from O..
closet, effected his escape 10 the same way j
which he had entered.
The next day all Appleton was alive with th
story of how old deacon Barbary's clock ha
been beWitched, and although many believed hi
version, yet some, and especially Joe MayWee(
affected to discredit the affair, and limited thu
the deacon had been trying the experiment
tasting frozen cider, and that the yagaries
the clock existed only in a distempered imagine
ton
However the nterdict being taken off, JC
was allowed TO resume his visits, and won ii
assent Of the old people 70 his union with Sail
by repairing the old clock till 10 went as well
ever