North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-04-25
wanted to find out whether he gave it to

| pei COulu mdhe OUT HOtnlHB lTOlu lHciT Gull
versation. He must get peep in deer
those shutters. 1t would shorten his days
if he didn't.
There was stand of beehives at few
PAGES, and Jerry pressed one of these hives
into the service. Placing it carefully on
an end beneath the fropt window, he climb
ed upon it and peeped in.
Daniel was eating apples and swapping
the seeds at Sylvania, and Sylvania was
combing Daniels head with fine tooth
ed como. The shawl lay near by onsa Ia
ble Jerry's eyes were distended with sur
prise he had hardly thought matters had
gone quite so far.
All at once Daniel declared he must
have kiss. Sylvania was Mortified, and
there followed rough and tumble fight
and pursuit around the room. Daniel fin
ally conquered, and obtained the kiss by
holding Sylvania's hands, and steadying
her head against the cupboard door.
Jerry was so tickled at the result, that,
forgetful of his insecure standing, he jump
ed up and struck his feet together. Fatal
strike! The beehive trembled, tottered.
and went over with a loud crash, carrying
Jerry down with it to ruin
The bees thus unceremoniously disturb
ed, poured forth by the quart, and stuck
on to our unlucky hero at every point
available, and at the same moment the
window overhead flew up, and Miss Syl-
yanias shrill voice was heard exclaiming-
"I tell you I will, Daniel. It's that
abominable yaller dog of Turner's. He
killed the grey goose and two Of my chick
ems last night, and I've vowed I'd scald
him if ever he came this way again"
She kept her vow-poor Jerry could
testify to that-for simultaneously with the
conclusion of Miss Croker's speech, he was
submerged with pailful of boiling hot
water. He sprung up with howl of ag-
ony and rage, and casting one look full of
vengeance toward the open window and
fed.
Daniel Clay uttered wild shrek at
sight of yerry's distorted countenance, dim
ly revealed in the light which shone out in
to the night, and then he tainted entirely
awey. 1t took Sylvania full two hours,
with camphor and hot cloths to bring her
valiant sweetheart back to life and con-
seriousness.
When he did recover, he was firm in
the belief that he bad seen the individual
known in polite circles as "Old Nick" and
not all the earnest assurances of Sylvania
that she'd bet it was Jerry Walpole sneak.
ing round" could shake his opinion.
Why his head was all afre, and he
buzzed like a spinning wheel r' was Dan
el's unanswerable argument.
Daniel Clay never again darkened the
door of Sylvania Crocker. He had been
warned not to court her any longer, he told
his friends, and shortly afterward left the
village, and was heard of no more. Sylvia
MIA got writ against him for breach of
promise, but the sheriff of the county, af-
ter hunting after the accused six weeks, in
order to serve the writ on him, gave up
! in despair, and Sylvania paid the costs.
Jerry was confined to his bed three
weeks after this accident, and Old DR.. Hill
never was able. to decide whether it was
the measles or small pox that allied him.
The doctor says it is mystery to HIM to
this day what could be the cause of such
singular disease.
In time Jerry got about again, somewhat
Scared, but otherwise good as new. His
unfortunate experience had not cured him
Of his propensity for peeping and the We
ry next night after his convalescence, he
nearly broke his neck by falling down the
garret stairs, in trying to creep down in
the dark, to listen to the conversation of
his mother and visitor, on one of the
chambers. He got his hair pulled out by
the roots scores of times, having it sudden
ly shut in door where he was listening at
the cracks; lost his coat tails, and had his
nose rendered unpresentable in the same
manner. and met with other casualties too
numerous to chronicle.
The boys of Hillsboro' took it into their
heads to form club. There was very lit
tie going on in the village, and Young
America needed excitement, so they orga-
nized the "Secret Take Care of No. l
Club"
Jerry would have joined it in spite Of
the hot gridiron and creased pole which
gossip asserted were among the initiatories.
but there was an entrance fee of five dol
lars to pay, and three dollars more for a
| certificate of membership. -
And Jerry was as much noted for his
stinginess as for his curiosity. therefore, on
pecuniary scruples, he refused to join. But
he was continually tortured with desire
to know what they did at their numerous
private meetings, and would have given
C all his old shoes" to have been specta-
tor of their proceedings. This desire grew
and strengthened daily, until our hero felt
as if he could not live longif he did not
get hold of the "Take Care of No. Gibbs
secret.
All the meetings of this august and pow
erful body were held in the private cham
bers of the members-Hillsboro' having
no town hall, or public building suitable
for their accommodation. Jerry thought
and contrived, and one Fridry night his
| mind was made up that he Would in some