Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1868-04-25
TIE BEWiTCHED CLOCK

DrOaOCiOtn, mISuC lave oo'n oCou oHICI'
ing Cephas Barberry's kitchen window.
The leg was followed finally by the entire
person of q live Yankee, attired IN his
Sunday go-to-meetin' clothes. 1t was, in
short, Joe Mayweed, who thus burglari-
ously, in the dead Of the night, won his
way into the deacon's kitchen.
"Wonder how much the old deacon
made by orderin' me not to darken his
door again ?" %soliloquized the young gen.
tlcman. Promised him | wouldn't but
didn't say nothin' about winders. Win
ders is just as good as doors, if there
amt no nails to tear your rowsers onto.
Wonder if Salrl come down? The crit
ter promised me. Pm afraid to move
here, cause l might break my shins over
sumthin' or 'nuther, and wake the old
folks. Cold enough to freeze a polar bear
here. Oh, here comes Sally "
The beautiful maiden descended with
a pleasant smile, a tsllow candle and a
box of matches. After receiving a rap
turous greeting she made up a roafing
fire in the cooking stove, and the happy
couple sat down to enjoy the sweet inter
change Of views and hopes. But the
course of true love ran no smoother 10
Ba,berry's kitchen than it does elsewhere,
and Joe, who was making up his mind to
treat himself to a kiss, was startled by
the voice of the deacon, her father, shout
ing from her chamber door
"sally, what are you getting up in the
middle Of the night for Z"
Tell him it's most morning. whisper
ed Joe.
Il can't tell a fib," said Sally.
"Ill make it a truth then" said Joe,
and running to the huge old fashioned
clock that stood in the corner, he set it
at five.
Look at the clock and tell me what
time it u.s." cried the old gentleman up
stairs.
otis five by the clock,' answered Sal.
ly, and corroborating the words the clock
struck five.
The lovers sat down again and rcsum-
cd the conversation. Suddenly the stair
case began to creak.
Good gracious ! it's father"
The deacon, by thunder !" cried Joe,
hide me Sal y
"Wherc can l hide you p cried the
distracted girl.
"Oh, l know" said lie, I'll squeeze
into the clock case.'
And without another word he concealed
himself in the case and drew the door
behind him.
The deacon was dressed, and sitting
himself down by the cooking stove, be
pulled out his pipe, lighted it, and com.
menced smoking very d, liberately and
calmly.
"Five o'clock, eh ?" said he. "Well,
l shall have time to smoke three or four
pipes and then I'll go and feed the crit
ters."
Hadn't you better 60 and feed the
critters first, sir, and smoke afterwards 2"
suggested the dutiful Sally.
mo, smokin' cle@s my head and wakes
me up" answered the deacon, who SEEM
ed not o whit disposed to hurry bis en-.
joyment.
Blu. r-r--whiz z--ding--ding ! went
the clock.
"Tormeuted lightning |" cried the des.
con, starting up and dropping his pipe
on the stove. "What in creation is
that ?"
Ills only the clock striking five" said
Sally TREMENDOUSLY.
Wbiz | dingi ding! ding! went the
old clock furiously.
powers of mercy r. cried the deacon.
Striking five !! it's struck q hundred al.
ready
deacon Barberry r. cried the deacon's
letter-half, who had hastily robed her.
self and now came plunging down the
staircase in the widest state of alarm
What is the matter of the clock 2"
Goodness only Knows" replied the
old a "It's been in the family these
hundred years, and never did l know it
to carry on so before"
Whiz! bang ! bang | bang | went the
clock.
It'll bust itself I" cried the old lady,
shedding q flood Of tears, and there
won't be nothing left of it."
Its bewitched," said the deacon, who
retained . leaven of New England super.
stifion in bis nature. "Anyhow," be
said. after q pause, advancing resolutely
toward the clock, "Ill see what's got in.
to it
"Oh, don't |" cried the daughter, sfec-
tionately selling n Of bis coat tails,