The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1870-04-28
The Bewitched Clock.

brOadcIOth, might nave Oeen entering
Cephas Barberry's kitchen window.
The leg was followed finally by the en-
tire person off lively, Yankee, attired
in his Sunday go-to- meetin clothes. 1t
was, in short, Joe Mayweed who thus
burglaripusly, In the dead Of night, won
his way into the deacon's kitchen.
"Wonder how much the old deacon
made by orlerin' me not to darken his
door again?" soliloquized the yoiig
man. promised him wouldn't, but
didn't say nothin' about win.lers. Win.
ders II just a. good as doors. Ii there
amt no nails to tear your trowsers onto.
Wonder If Sal III come down. The crit
ter promised me. I'm afraid to move
here, 'ra,,se I might break my shins over
sumthin' or mother, aud wake the old
folks. Cold enough to freeze polar
bear here. Oh here comes Sally !!
The beautiful maiden descended with
a pleasant smile, y tallow candle and a
box Of matches. -F
After rapturous greeting, she made
up roaring Ire In the cooking stove,
and the happy couple sat down to enjoy
the sweet interchange Of views aud
hopes. But the course Of true love ran
no smoother in old Barberry's kitchen
than it did elsewhere, and Joe, who was
making up hi. mind to treat himself to
a kiss was startled by the voice of the
deacon, her father, shouting from his
chamber door: @+8.
Sally. what are you getting up in the
middle of the night for?'
Tell him it's most morning." wills
pered Joe.
~ can't tell fib," said Sally.
I'm make it a truth; them" said Joe,
and, running to the clocg, he set 1t at
five.
"I.ook at the clock and tell me what
time it is," cried the old gentleman up
stairs.
Its Eve by the clock" answered
Sally, and corroboia ating the words, the
clock struck five.
The lovers sat down again and rcsurfi-
ed the conversation. Suddenly the
staircase began to creak.
"Good gracious! it's father
"The deacon. by thunder" cried Joe
"hide me, Sal'' ~--.s
"Where can hide you?" cried the
distracted girl.
"Oh, know" said he, "I'll squeeze
into the clock case
And without another word he conceal
ed 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 COM
menced smoking very deliberately and
calmly.
"Fiye o'clock, eh?" said he. "Well, !
shall have time to smoke three or four
pipes; then I'll go aud feed the critters y
Hadn't you better go and feed the
critters first, sir, and smoke afterward?'
suggested the dutiful Sally.
mo, smokin' clears my head and
wake me up" answered the deacon, who
his enjoyment.
ur-r-r-r-whiz-z--din ng-ding! went
the clock.
"T"rmented lightning!" cried the
deacon, starting up and dropping his
pipe on tire stove. "Wliat in creation is
that?'
"It's only the clock striking five,"
said Sally, tremulously.
Whiz. ding! ding! ding! went the old
clock furiousiy.
"Powers of mercy!" cried the deacon
striking five! It's struck hundred
Already
deacon Barherry!" cried the deacon 5
better half, who had hastily r"bed her
self and now came plunging down the
staircase in the widest state of alarm,
"Nhat is the matter with the cIock?'
Goodness only know-,' replied the
old man. Its been in the family these
hundred years, and never did I know it
| to carry on so before.'
Whiz! bang! bang! bang! vert the
clock " ~
"It'll burst ITSELF" cried the old lady.
/ shedding y flood Of tears, ''and there
won't be nothing left Of it,"
Its bewitctled," said the deacon, who
retained II leaven Of New England su-
per-tition in his nature. ''Anyhpw.'
lie said. after Il pause. advancing re-olu-
tely toward the clock, I'm see what's
got into it,"
"Oh don't" cried the daughter. affec.
tionateIy seizing one Of his coat tails
while his faithful wife hung Oh to the
other. -ms ss
Don't" clorused both the women to-
gether... .~s..s.... ..... -.s- ST..
LET go my raimentu" shouted the
deacon; II ain t afraid Of the powers OF
darkness" FS *~2 75s 49, 1858
But the women would not let go SC
the deacon slipped off his coat, and while
from the sudden cessation Of resistance
they fell heavily on the floor, he darted
forward and laid his hand on the door
of the clock case. But no hnman power
could open it. Joe was holding it inside