Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-09
A CLERGYMAN's JOKE.
Kl..Ing ahe Pre.tIe.t L.dy IN lhe Car.

kissing the PreftIest Lady In the Car
| was spending the night in a he
tel in Freeport, Illinois. Ate
breakfast l went into the sitting
room where | met a pleasant, chat
ty, good humored traveller, who
like myself, was waiting for the
morning train from Galena. We
conversed freely and pleasantly on
different topics, until seeing two
young ladies meet and kiss each
other in the street, the conversation
turned on kissing, just about the
time the train was approaching.
''COme," said he, taking up his
carpet bag, "sinee we are on SO
sweet subject, let US have a prae-
teal application. I'll make a pro-
position to you. I'll agree to kiss
the most beautiful lady in the cars
from Galena, you being the Judge,
if you will kiss the next prettiest,
being judge"
This proposition staggeredIdme a
little, and l could tell hardly
whether he was in earnest or in
fun; but as he would be as deeply
IN as L could be, so | agreed, pro
vided he would do the first kissing,
though my heart failed somewhat
as | saw his black eyes fairly dance
with daring.
"Yes,' said he, an try it first.
You take the back car and go in
from the front end where you can
see the faces of the ladies, and you
stand by the one you think the
handsomest, and I'll come in from
behind and kiss her"
l had hardly stepped inside the
cars when l saw at the first glance
one of the loveliest looking women
my eyes ever fell on. A beautiful
blonde, with auburn hair, and
bright, sunny face, full of love and
sweetness, and radiant and glowing
as the morning. Any further search
was totally unnecessary. L imme-
diately took my stand in the aisle
by her side. She was looking out
Of the window earnestly, as if ex-
pecting some one. The back door
of the car opened and in stepped
my hotel friend. 1 pointed my fin
ger at her, slyly, never dreaming
that he would dare to carr out his
pledge, and you may imagine my |
horror and amazement when he
stepped up quickly behind her, and |
STOPPING over, kissed her with a
relish that made my mouth wa
ter"
[ expected, of course, shrek of |
terror, and then a row generally, |
and a knock-down; but astonish-
ment succeeded astonishment when |
| saw her return the kiss with COM
pound interest.
Quick as a flash, he turned to me
and said:
''Now, sir, it is your turn" point
ing to a hideously ugly, wrinkled
old woman, who sat in the seat be-
hind.
"Oh, you must excuse me you
must !" L exclaimed 81 am sold |
this time. / give up. Do tell me
whom have you been kissing?'
"Well," said he, since you are a
man of so much taste, and such |
quick PERCEPTION, I'll let you off.
And we all burst into a hearty peal
of laughter, as he said, "This is my
wife. have been waiting for her.
l knew that it was a safe PROPOSE
ton
He told the story to his wife who |
looked tenfOld sweeter as she heard
it.
Before we reached Chicago we
exchanged cards, and discovered |
that my genial companion was
popular Episeopalian preacher of
Chicago, whose name l had fire.
quently heard. Whenever l go to
Chicago, | always go to hear him,
and a heartier, more eloquent
preacher is hard to find. He was
then young man he is now well
as one of the ablest divines
Of the Episcopal denomination in
.he West.-HaTper'S Weekly.