Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-12-11
BEAUTY AND THE BARBER.
From Chambers JOurnal.l

From Chambers Journal.l
l had just finished putting up nay
shutters; it was getting rather late
nearly ten O clock, for Pdhad hard day s
work of it; and no wonder, for it was
the night Of the Lord Lieutenants ball !.
We think good deal of the Lord Lieu
tenant down here in Yorkshire, and
when we get up bit in the world, and
get asked tohis Lordship' ball, we think
deal of ourselves; and my word, some
folks are bit proud Yes, that very
day i had dressed the Miss Millikins
hair for the ball, pretty early, mind you,
h, for wouldn't put my old customers out
of the way for any of your upstart peo-
pie, seeing as have dressed the hair OF
all the first families in Lydtord, and my
father before me, whereof no man
knoweth to the contrary, as the lawyers
say. Now Millikin has drawn me gill
of ale in the days whenhe kept the tap
up Newsman's Yard-and has borrowed
many q six.pence of me too-not but
what he was welcome to them, as | told
his lordship, when he came 90 ask me
for my vote for the town council. But
that's neither here nor there. 1t isn't
Millikin and such-like as I'd take the
trouble to tell story about. IL were
past nine, as I've told you, and were
putting up the shutters pretty smart, not
being thing1 often domyself but It so
happened that night, and in another
minute | should have been off to the
White Horse, to meet one or two good
fellows, who were in the habit of having
glass or two together of night but as
l was screwing up the bar OF the shut
ters, what should see drawing up TO my
door but a splendid carriage and two
beautiful horses, all OF lather with
sweat Well, that put me about bit,
to think what carriage should be dong
at my door at this time OF night; but |
hadn't long to wonder, for a grave, tall,
solemn-looking chap comes up to my
door, and calls out: Is Croecher
here2"
That's me, says |.
"Oh, then" says he Jump in; "
pointing with his finger to me to get up
the s.eps Of the carriage, where there
was tall hunky holding the door open
for me. Well, that capped me still more.
I've heard of things like that in story
books, and there's something very like
it in the 'Raban Nights, where they
seem to think deal more Of us barber
chaps than they do in this country. But
then, this is land of freedom Well,
as l we're saying, this t'other chap kept
motioning of me to get into the carriage,
but says |, Master, where are you
bounds"
"Oh, never you mind" says he;
you'll be well paid. Look sharp"
but I'd like to beautify myself bit,
says |, and must tell the missus.
With that he took up my hat that was
living on the counter, and bangs it on my
head, and pushes me into the carriage,
and away we went before you could say
Jack Robinson and away we went.
Eh, but we did 90 rarely! Itwere a dark
4 night, and frosty; andwe soon got ont of
the lights Of the town, and still the horses
galloped on; and could see the stars
twinkling overhead; and then it grew
colder all of a sudden, aud the windows
of the carriage were covered with ice in
a minute, and | could see naught but
the inside where / were sitting with the
strange man. And he said never a
word. But still we galloped on; and
u
and dash of river hard by above the |
clatter of the hoofs, and we crossed
bridge, / think, for we went up and down |
for minute, as if we had been in a
swing. And then the sound of hoots |
died away altogether, as If the horses |
were galloping over gravel or soft turf
and presently the carriage stopped all
of sudden. A lootman stood at the
door, the silent man jumped out.
Stay therel he cried as he went, with |
a gesture of authority" stay therel
And there / staid, for we're cowed-like,
with being carried off like that, and
didn't know if my soul were my own: !
"What'll the old woman say, thought
| thought to myself The carriage |
moved on bit, and stopped again.
Now, then, my lad says the foot
man, opening the door. e-AA4AA
But / weren't going to be ordered |
about by such cattle as he. Says |:
I'm on thy masters business, and if |
thou dosn't speak respectful, I'll smite
thee in the ear-hole It's we'll to stand |
on your dignity with those chaps, you
see.
"Oh, l beg your pardon, says the
man more respectfully; but will you
step into the housekeeper's roOm2
And with that fellof the high-horse |
I'd been riding, for to tell the truth,
were thinking for a while l we're per-
haps rightful son of lord as had been |
stolen in his youth and that they were
taking me home to the halls of my faith
ers, and happen were going to marry |
me to the daughter OF the usurper, to
make all square. But says /: "Tll stick /
10 the old woman" Not but what the
flesh is treacherous, aud happen I'd /
have changed my mind when I'd seen
the Young one. But, however, all this
was knocked on the head when heard
hunky tell me TO 20 up to the house
keepers room. Il were only dressing
Job, after all
Well, before I'd got well inside the
door, an old chap, dressed IN black.
catches hold Of me BY the elbow,
Creecher?" says he; Creeeher2
Yes, Tn Creecher, says l. What's
vour uleasure2 p go
'Ob, YOU We to come this way directly.
And away be went along passages, and
up stairs. and down stairs. and present
" We came 10 broad corridor beauti-
fully carpeted, and the old man tapped !