The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-04-28
The Bawitched Clock.

The Bswitched Clock.
About half past eleven o'clock on Sun
day night, human leg, enveloped in blue
broadcloth, might have been seen enterin!
Cephas Bsrber.y's kitchen window. The
leg was followed finally by the entire per
son of lively yankee, attircd in his Sun
day goto meetin' clothes. 1t was 10 short
Joe Mayweed who thus burglariously, il
the dead of night, won his way into the
deacon kitchen.
"Wonder how much the old deacon
made by ordc.in' me not to darken bis
door again p soilequised the young man.
Promised him | wouldn't but didn't say
nothin' about winders. Winders is just as
good as doors, if there amt no nails to tear
your trowsers onto. Wonder if Sal II come
down? The critter promised me- I'm
afraid to move here, cause l might break
my shins over sumthin or mother, and wake
the old folks. Cold enough to freeze a
polar bear. Oh, here comes Sally!'
Tho beautiful maiden descended with a
pleasant smile, tallow candle and box of
matches. After receiving a 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 tue
love ran no smoother in old Barberry /.
kitchen than it did elsewhere, and Joe,
who was making up his mind to treat him
self to kiss, was startled by the voice of
the deacon, her father, shouting from the
chamber door
Sally, what are you getting up in the
middle of the night for?"
Tell him its most morning." whispered
Joe.
II can't tell fib," said Sally.
III make it a truth thcn," said Joe;
and running to the huge old fashioned
clock that stood in the corner, be set it at
FIVE.
Look at the clock and tell me what
time it is" cried the cld gentleman up
stairs.
It's five by the clock" answered Sally,
The lovers sat down again and resumed
the conversation. Suddenly the staircase
began to creak. Good gracious! its faith
u.
The deacon, by thunder?' cried Joe,
Where eau | hide you?" cried the dis
tracted girl.
"Oh, l know said he, 'Ill squeeze
into the clock case
And without another word he concealed
himself in tho clock case aud drew the door
behind him.
The deacon was dressed, and sitting
himself down by the cooking stove, pulled
out bis pipe, lighted it, and commenced
smoking very deliberately and calmly.
Five O'Clock, eh :" said he, "Wel', 1
shall have time to smoke three or four
pipes, then I'll 60 and feed the critters"
"tIadn't you better 90 and feed the critters
first, sir, and smoke atterwards2" suggues,-
ed the dutiful Sally.
"No, smokin' clears my head and wakes
me up," answered the deacon, who seemed
not whit disposed to hurry his enjoy.
ment.
Bur-r-r.r-whiz z-ding-ding! went the
clock
"Tormented lightning!' cried the dea.
con, starting up and dropping his pipe on
ITS only the clock striking 6ve," said
Sally TREMENDOUSLY.
Whiz ding! ding! ding went the old
clock furiously.
Powers Of mercy - cried the deacon.
Striking 6ve!" it's struck hundred al
ready.
Deacon Barberry!" cried the deacon's
better half, who had hastily robed herself
and now came plunging down the staircase
in the widest state of alarm, What is
the matter of the clock p
Goodness only knows" replied the old
man. ITS been in the family these hun
dred years and never did know it to carry
on so before"
Whiz! bang! bang! bang! went the
clock.
"It'll burst itself!' cried the old lady,
shedding food ct tears, land there won't
be nothing left of it,
ITS bewitched," said the deacon, who
retained leaveu of New England super
s,ition in bis nature. Anyhow" he said
after pause, advancing resolutely toward
the clock, Hi see what's got into it !"
oh, don't, cried the daughter affection
faithful wife hung TO the other.
Don't" chorused both tho women TO-
gether.
Let go my raiment!' shouted the
deacon, Il s!at afraid Of the powers Of
darkness
But the women could not let 60, so the
deacon slipped of his coat and while, from
the sudden cessation of resista nee ;hey fell
heavily on the floor, he dsrted forward
aud laid his hand on the door OF the clock
case. But no human power could open it.
Joe was holding i, inside with death grasp.
The deacon began to be awful frightened.
Tie gave one more tug. An unearthly yell
as of a fend in distress came from the in
side, and then the clockcase pitched head
foremost on the floor, smashed its face and
wrecked its proportions.
The current of air extinguished the light
the deacon, the old lady and Sally fed
up stairs, and Joe Mayweed, extricating
himself from the clock. effected his retreat
in the same way he had entered. The
next dsy all Appletown was alive with the
story of how deacon Barberry's clock had
been bewitched; and though macy believed
its version. some, and especially Joe May>
weed, affected to discredit the whole affair,