Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-11-28
BEAUTY AND THE BARBER.

IHAp lust finished putting up my shut.
tiers; it was getting rather l~ate-nearly
ten o'clock, for I'd had a hard day work
of it; and no wonder, for it was the
night of the Lord ~Lieutenant's ball. We
think a good deal Of the Lord Lieutenant
down in Yorkshire, and when we get up
a bit in the world, and get asked TO His
L0rdship's ball, we think a deal of our
selves: and my word, some folks are a bit
proud! Yes. that very day | had dressed
the Miss Minikin's hair for the bali, pref
.sty early, mind you, for / wouldn't put
my old customers out of the way for any
of your upstart people, seeing as I've
dressed the hair of all the first families in
Lydferd, and my father before me-, where.
OF no man knoweth to the contrary, as
the LAWYERS say. Now. Millikin has
drawn me many a gill of ale in the days
when he kept the tap up ct Newsman's
Yard, and has borrowed many a siXpcnce
of me ton-not but what he was vel
come to them, as told His Lordshlp,
when he came TO ask me for my vote for
the town council. But that's ither here
nor there. II isn't Millikin ana such-like
as I'd take the trouble to tell a story
about. II were past nine, as I've told
Won, and ! were putting up the shutters
pretty smart, not being a thing often do
myself; but it so happened that night;
and in another minute | should have been
off to the Whit Horse, to meet one or
two good fellows who were in the habit
of having a good glass or two together of
A night; but as I was screwing up the bar
of the shutters, what should see drawing
Up to my door but a splendid carriage
and two beautiful horses, all OF a lather
Nth ,,rGl.f Wall that mt me ahnnt a
bit, to think what carriage should be do
ing at my door at this time of night; but
/ hadn't long 10 wonder, for a grave, tall,
s~Olemn.looking chap zones up to my
door, and calls out: ''ls Creecher
here ?"
"That's me-" says I.
ooh, then says he, lump in !"
pointing with his finger to me TO get up
The stcps of the carriage, where there was
& tall funky holding the door open for
nc. Wei, that capped me still more.
I've heard Of things like that in story
books. and there's something very like it
in the "'Rabian Nights where they
seem 20 think a good deal more of us
barber chaps than they do in this coun-
try. But then this is a land OF freedom,
Well, as / were saying, this t'other chap
kept motloning OF me to get into the car
riage, hnt says !, Master, where are you
bound -
con, never you mind says he /;
*'you'u be well paid. Look sharp"
"But ia Ike to beautitv myself a bit"
says |, and ! nun tell the missis."
With that he took up my hat that was
lying on the counter, and bangs it on my
head, and pushes me into the carriage,
and away we went before you could say
- vi lsaI r,,~,r - aud ouyuK- v-n want
Eli! bus We did 60 rarely 1t We're dark
night, and frosty and we soon got out OF
the lights of the town, and still the horses
galloped O n and l could see the stars
twinklirg overhead and then it grew
colder ali Of q sudden, and the windows
OF the carriage we're covered with ice in q
minute, and l could see naught but the
inside where I were sitting with the
strange man. And he said never 8 word,
But still We galloped on and alters good
bit ! heard the murnur Il dash OF a
river hard by above the CHATTER of the
hoofs, and We crossed a bridge, | think,
for we went up and down for a minute,
as if we rad been in Il swing, And then
the sound Of hoofs died away altogether,
az If tho horses were galloping over
gravel or soft turf and presently the
carriage stopped all Of a sudden. A foot
man stood at the door the silent man
Jumped cut. "StGy there - he cried as
he went, with a gesture Of authority
''stay theTef' And there l staid, for
were C0wca Ike, with a being carried of
like that, and didn't know if my soul
were NV own. "Whatll the old woman
say. Though ~ | thought TO myself. The
carriage mpved on a bit, and stopped
again.
Now, tnen, my lad" says the foot.
man, opening the door.
But I weren't going to be ordered about
by such cattle as he. Says !: Ppm on
tby masters business, and if you doesn't
speak respectful IN smite thee in the ear,
hole" It's we'll to stand on your dignity
with those chaps, you see.
"Oh, ! beg your pardon, says the man,
more respectful; "but will you step into
the housekeeper's room
And with that ! fell off the high.horse
ia been riding, for, to tell the truth, ]
were thinking for a while | were perhaps
rigAtful son Of a lord, as had been stolen
in his youth, and that they were taking
me home to the halls Of my fathers, and
happen wore going to marry me to thC
daughter Of the usurpeT, to make al
square. But SAYS | on stick to the
old woman" Not but what the flesh is
t~reacherous, and happen I'd changed my
mind when Ia seen the young one. But
however, MI this was knocked on the
head when | heard the nunky tell me Il
40 up TO the hOusekeeper's room. Ii wert
9aly a dressing Job, after all!
Well, before I'd got well inside thu
door, an old chap, dressed in black
catches hold Of me by the elbow. "Crecch
err says he, "Crcecher:'
Eyes, Pm Creecher, ~ says l.. what
your plessnrel'
ooh, you've to come this way direct
~
And sway we went, along passages
and IN stairs, and down stairs; and pres
entity we came to q broad corridor, beau
tifuilv carpeted, and the old man Tape.
at the door, ana a young woman opene.
it, and ssvs she: lis ne here and th
man saws, yes Come in, y she said
''my lady will speak 70 Won directly.
And ! went into a little room as wa
beautifully furnished with easy chair
and soteys, and all the Inquiries OF th
season.
well, my dear says l TO the maid
land so your misses is going TO the bal
But it'll be well, nigh time to 20 home b.
fore she gets there.