The Placer herald., 1871-03-11
The Bewitching Clock.

About half-past IL O'Clock, on Saturday
night, human leg, enveloped in broadcloth,
might have been seen entering Cephas Bar
bery's kitchen window. The leg was fol-
lowed, finally, by the entire person ofa live
ly Yankee, attired in his Sunday go-to-meet-
ing clothes. 1t was, in short, Joe Mayweed.
who thus burglarously, in the dead of night,
won his way to the deacon's kitchen.
"W onder how much the old deacon made
by ordcrn me not to darken his door again?"
soliloquized the young man. promised
him | wouldn't, but didn't say nothing about
winders. Winders is just as good as doors,
if there amt no nails to tear your trowsers
onto. Wonder if Sal'll come down? The
critter promised me. I'm afraid to move
here, cause might break my shins over
sumthin' or other, and wake the old folks.
Cold enough to freeze polar bear here
Oh, here comes Sally!'
The beautiful maiden descended with a
pleasant smile, follow 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. Blu!
The course Of true love ran no smoother in
old Barberry's kitchen that it did elsewhere,
and Joe, who was making up his mind TO
treat himself TO a kiss, WAS startled by the
voice of the deacon, her father shouting from
he C amber door:
sally, what are you getting up in the
nj Idle Of the H. hit for !"
"Tell him it's most morning." whispered
Joe.
81 can't tell fb," said Sally.
"l'll make it truth then, said Joe, and,
running to the huge, old-mshiened clock
that stood in the corner, he set it at FIVE.
''lt's five by the clock" answered Sally,
and corroborating the words, the clock struck
five.
The lovers sat down again and resumed
the conversation. Suddenly the staircase
began to creak.
"Good gracious it, father"
"1he deacon, by thunder?" cried Joe,
"hide me Sal p
"Where can hide you'll" cried the dis
hacted girl.
ooh, know" said he, "Ill squeeze into
the clockcase."
And, without another word, he concealed
himself in the case, and drew the door be-
hind him.
The deacon was dressed, and sitting him
self down by the cooking stove, pulled cut
his pipe, lighted it, and commenced smoking
very deliberately and calmly.
"Five o'clock, eh said he, "Well,
shall have time to smoke three or four pipes;
then I'll 90 and feed the critters'
"Hadn't you better 60 and feed the crit
ters first, sir, and smoke afterwards p sug-
gested the dutiful Sally.
"No; smokin' clears my head and wakes
me up" answered the deacon, who seemed
not a whit disposed to hurry bis enjoyment.
Bur-r-r-r-whiz-z-ding went the clock.
''Tormented lightening" cried the deacon.
starting ", and dropping his pipe on the
stove, "W hat in creation is that!'
Its only the clock striking fve," said
Sally tremulously.
Whz' ding! ding! ding! went the old
clock furiously.
"Powers Of mercy ?" cried the deacon,
Striking FIVE! It's struck hundred al
ready"
deacon Barberry!" cried the deacon's
better half who had hastily robed herself,
and now came plungng down the staircase
in the widest state of alarm. "What is
the matter with the clock p
Goodness only knows" replied the old
man.
"lt's been in the family these three humid
red years, and never did l know it to carry
on so before"
Whz! bang! bang! went the clock.
eth burst itself!' cried the lady, she'd
ding food of tears, "aud there won't be
nothing left Of it,"
"It's bewitched," said the deacon, who