The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-02-11
a Clergyman's Joke,

L was spending the night IN hotel in
Freeport, Illinois. After breakfast went
into the sitting room, where l met pleas
ant, chatty, good humored traveller, who
like myself, was waiting for the morning
train from Galena. We conversed freely
and pleasantly on different topics, until see
ing 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, "since we are on so sweet a subject
let us have a practical illustration. I'll
make proposition 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 the jAdge"
This proposition staggered me little, aud
| could hardly tell whether he was ia ear
nest or in fun !; but as he would be as deep
ly in it as l could be, agreed, provided be
would do the first kissing, though my heart
failed somewhat as | saw his black eyes fair
ly dance with daring.
EYES," said he, ''Pll try it first. You
take the back car, and 60 in from the front
end, where you can see the faces of the la
dies, and you stand BY the one you think
the handsomest, and III come in from be-
hind and kiss her."
had hardly stepped inside the cars
when [ saw at the first glance one of the
loveliest looking women my eyes ever fell
on. A beautiful blonde. with auburn hair.
and g. bright, sunny face, full of love and
sweetness, and radiant and glowing as the
morning. Any further search was totally
unnecessarily l Immediately took my
stand ia the aisle by her side She was
looking out Of the window earnes ly, as
if expecting some one. The back door Of
the car opeped and in stepped my hotel
friend. ! pointed my finger to her slyiy,
never dreaming that he would dare to carry
out his pledge, and you may imagine my
horror and amazament when he stepped up
quickly behind her, and stopping over, kiss
cd her with relish that made my mouth
water" L expected, of course, a shrek of
terror, and then row generally and
knock-down; but astonishment succeeded
astonishment when [ saw her return the
kiss with compound interest
Quick as flash, he turned to me and
said:
'Now, sir, it is your turn" pointing to
hideously ugly, wrinkled old woman,
who sat in the seat behind.
''Oh, you must excuse me you must ~
| exclaimed. I'm sold this time. l give
up. Do tell me whom you have been
kissing.
'Well," said he, ''since you are a man
Of so good taste, anI quick perception, I'll
let you off. Aud we all burst into a hearty
peal of laughter as he said. This is my
wife. have been waiting for her. knew
that 1t was safe proposition.'
He told the story to his wife, who looked
ten-told sweeter as she heard it,
Before we reached Chicago we exchang-
ed cards, and l discovered that my genial
companion was popular Episcopalian
preacher Of Chicago, whose name 1 had
frequently heard. Whenever 90 to Chi
cago l 90 TO hear him, and a heartier, more
natural and eloquent preacher is hard to
find. He was then young man he j.
now we'll known as one of the abest diviues
Of the Episcopal denomination in the Wa5t.
[ Harper's Weekly.