Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-08-18
The Bewitohed Clock.


About half past eleven o'clock on
Sunday night, human log, onvoloped
in blue broadcloth, might have been
seen entering Ccphas Barberrys $
kitchen window. The leg was sfollowed
finally by the entire person of lively
Yankee, attired in his Sunday clothes.
1t was, in short, Joe Mayweed who
thus burglariously, in the dead ofnight,
won his way into the deacon's kitchen.
"Wonder how much the old deacon
made by orderin' me not to darken bis
door againY" soliloquised the young
man. ~ promised him wouldn't but
didn't say notbin' about winders.
Windcrs is just as good as doors, If
there amt no nails to tear your trow-
seas onto. Wonder if Sal II come
DOWN. The critterpromised me. I'm
afraid to move here, cause / might
break my shins over somothin' or moth
or, aud wake the old folks Cold
enough 10 freeze a polar bear here
Oh, here comes Sal'yw
The beautiful maiden descended
with pleasant smile, tallow candle
and a box of matches. After receiving
rapturous greeting she made up
roaring fire in the cooking stove, and
the happy couple sat down to enjoy
the sweet interchange of views and
hopes. But the course of true love
ran no smother in old Barberry's
kitchen than it did elsewhere, and Joe,
who was making up his mind to treat
himself to 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 tory
"Teli him it's most morning." whis-
pered Joe.
81 can't tell fib," said Sally.
"Tll make it truth tho" said Joe,
and running TO the hugo old-fashioned
clock that stood in the corner, he sat
it at FIVE.
"Look at the clock and tell me what
time it is" cried the old gentleman,
upstairs.
"It's five by the clock" answered
Sally, and, corrob orating the words,
the clock struck five.
The lovers sat down again and
resumed the conversation. Suddenly
the staircase began 10 creak;
"Good gracious it's fltherlp
"The deacon, by thunder :" cried
Joe "hide me, Sal y
"Where can hide you ?" cried the
distracted girl.
"Oh, ! know" said he, an squeeze
into the clock case"
And without another word he con-
ccaled himself in the case and drew
the door behind him.
The deacon was dressed, and sitting
himself down by the cooking stove,
pulled out his pipe, lighted it, and
commenced smoking very deliberately
and calmly.
"Five o'clock, eh Z" said be. DWELL,
] shall have time TO smoke three or
four pipes, then III go and feed the
critters"
Hadn't you better 60 and feed the
critters first, sir, and smoke after
wards Z" suggested the dutiful Sally.
"No, smokin' clears my head and
wakes me up" answered tho deacon,
who seemed not whit disposed to
hurry his enjoyment.
MISUNDERSTANDING went
the clock.
'sTormented lightning r. cned the
deacon, starting up, and dropping his
pipe on the stove. "What in creation S
thatY
"lt's only the clock striking five" /"
said Sally TREMENDOUSLY.
Whiz! ding ding went the old
clock furiously
''power Of mercy !" cried the dea-
con. Striking fivey it's struck a
hundred already y
''Deacon Barberry y cried the dea.
conss better half, who had hastily
robed himself and now came plunging
down the staircase in the widest state
of alarm. "What is the matter ofthe
clock Z"
'Goodness only knows" replied the
old man. ats been in the family
these hundred years, and never did |
know il TO carry on so before"
Wbiz bang bang! bangl went
the old clock.
"It'll burst itself!' cried the old
lady, shedding a food of tears, ''and
there won't be nothing lett of itp
"lts bewitched,' said the deacon,
who retained leaven Of New Eng.
land superstition in his nature
Anyhow no said, after a pause,
advaneingresolutely toward the clock
"l'll see what's got into itw
ooh, don't cried the daughter
affectionately seiEing one of his coat
tails, while his faithful wife hung to
the other.
Don't" chourished both the womer
together.
"Let so my raiment" shouted the
deacon, II amt afrain of the power.
of darkness !"
But the women would not LET 20, SC
the deacon slipped of his coat, and
while, from the sudden cessation OF
resistance, they fell heavily ON the
floor he darted forward and laid hi.
head on the door Of the clock case
Butno human power could open il.
Joe was holding IL inside with death
grasp The deacon began to be dread
fully frightened. lie gave one more
tug An unearthly yell. as of fend
IN distress, came from the inside. and
then the clock case pitched head fore
most on the floor, smashed its face
and wrecked its proportions.
The current OF air extinguished tho
light-the deacon, the old lady anc
sally fled up stairs, and J oe Mayweed
exuicating himself from the clock
effected his retreat in the same way
that he had entered The next day
all Appletown was alive with ths
story Of how deacon Barberry's clock
had been bOwitcbed and enough
many believed its version, some, aRd
especially Joe Mayweed, effected "a
discredil the whole affair, hiuting tha,