National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-05-20
The BetcitcHed clock.

ed i'll blue broadcloth, might have
been seen entering Cephas Barber.
rvs kitchen window. The leg was
followed finally by the entire person
Of IA llvly yankee, attired in his
SUNDAY go-to-meetin' clothes. 1T
was in short, Joe Mayweed who
thus burglariously, in the dead OF
night, won his way into the deacon's
kitchen.
"Wonder how much the old
deacon made by orderin' me not to
darlen his door again ?" sollloquized
the Young man. "Promised him |
wouldn't, but didn't say nothin'
about winders. Wmders is just as
good as doors, if there amt no nails
to tear yonr trowserS onto Won
der if S,l'lI come down? The crittcr
promised me, I'm afraid to move
here, cause J. might break my shins
over sumthrn or mother, and wake
the Old folks. Cold enough to
freeze a polar bear here. Oh, here
comes Sally !"
The beautiful maiden descended
with a pleasant smile. a tallow can.
die and a box of matches. After
receiving a rapturouS greeting she
made up roaring fire III the cook
ing stove, and the happy couple
sat down to enjoy the sweet inter
change of views and hopes. But
I hA Of lava !.
smoother in old Barberry's kitchen
than ii 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.
shouting from her chamber door
"SallN, what are you getting up
in the middle Of the night for =
"Tell him it's morning. whisper.
ed Joe.
81 can't tell a tib,' said Sally.
''I'Il make it true them" said Joe,
and running to the huge old fashion
ed clock that stood III the corner, he
set it at five.
"Look at the clock and tell me
what time it is" cried the old
gentleman mp stairs.
"lts five by the clock," answered
Sally, and corroborating the words,
,hc clock struck five.
The lovers sat down again and
resumed the conversation. Sud
denly the staircase began to creak
'Good gracious . it's father"
"The deacon by thunder" cried
Joe; "hide me, Sal ~
"Whcre can | hide You I" cried
the distracted girl.
son, ! know" said he, "Il
squeeze into the clock case"
And without another word he
concealed himself in ;he ease and
drew the door behind him.
The deacon was dressed, and
sitti' , himself down by the cooking
stove, pulled out his pipe, lighted it,
and commenced smoking very
deliberately and calmly.
Give o'clock, ell p said he
"Well, shall have time to smoke
three or tonr pipes, then I'll so and
feed the critters
"lladn't You better go and feeo
the critters first, sir, and smoke
afterwards p suggested the dutiiu
Sally.
"No; smokin' clears my head ant
wakes me up,' answered the deacon
who seemed not whit disposed to
hurry his enjoyment.
Burrr.r-whiz z-ding-ding
went the clock.
"Tormcntcd lightningw cried the
deacon, starting up and dropping
his pipe Oh the stove. "What II
creation is that Z"
"It'S only the clock striking five,
said Sally trcmulouslN.
Whiz! ding. ding. ding. wen
the old clock iuriouSly.
"Powcrs of mercy - cried TN
deacon. "Stliking five ! it's strneI
Il hundred alrcadN.'
/ "Dcacon Barbcrry" cried The
> dcacon's better half, who had hastll.
rohed herself and now came pIung
ing down the staircase III the wlideS
state of alarm. "What is the mat
ter Of the clock -
"Goodurss only knows, rcplic,
| thr old man .I,'s bccu in the tamiI
. these hundred wears and never did
NOV # to carry ON SO before"
WhiZ, bang bang. bang. wen
! thr clock
, .Irll burst itsclrr cried the ol,