The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-01-02
Beauty and the Barber.

And all the fond tribute its owner can claim.
Beauty and the Barber.
| had Just finished putting up my shut
ters. 1t was getting rather late-nearly
10 o'clock, for I'd had hard days worl
OF it and no wonder, for it was the nigh
| of the Lord -Lieutenant's ball. We thinl
a good deal of the Lieutenant dowr
in Yorkshire; and when we get up bi
in the world, and get asked to his Lord
ships ball, we think good deal of our
selves; and my word, some folks are 8
bit proud Yes; that very day l hac
dressed the Miss Milliken's hair for th'
bali, pretty early, mind you, for wouldn'
| put any of my old customers out of the
way for any of your upstart people, see
ing as I've dressed the hair of all the tirs
families III Lyulo.G and my father before
me, whereof no man knoweth to the con-
trary, as the lawyers say. Now, Milliker
has drawn me many gill of ale in the
| DAYS when he kept the tap up at New
mans Yard, and has borrowed many a
| siXpence OF me, too-not but what he was
welcome to them, as l told his lordshir
when he came to ask me for my vote fol
the town council. 1t isn't Milliken and
such like as I'd take the trouble to tell a
story about. 1t were past nine, as I've
told you, and were putting up the shut
ters pretty smart, not being thing often
did myself; but SO it happened that night /;
and in another minute should have off to
the white Horse" to meet one or two
good fellows who were in the habit of
having a glass or two together of night
but as ! was screwing up the bar of the
shutters, what should l see drawing up to
my door but a splendid carriage and two
beautiful horses, all of a lather with
sweat! Well, that put me about bit, to
think what carriage should be doing at
my door at this time of night but hadn't
long to wonder, for q grave, tall, solemn
looking chap comes up to my door, and
calls out:
'ls Creecher here ?"
"That's me-" says l.
"Oh, then,' says he, '.ump in !" point
ing with his finger to me to get up the
steps of the carriage, where there was Il
tall tlnnky holding the door open for me.
ncMda OF 'ttati ttati eappssd psdl me m}.Ss still more. q I've
and there's something very like it in the
" 'Rabian Nights,' where they seem to
think u deal more of us barber chaps than
they do in this country. But then, this is
a land of freedom. Well, as 1 were say
ing, this tother chap kept motionng OF
me to get into the carriage, but says |,
Master where are you bound ?''
"Oh. never you mind" says he; you'll
be well paid. Look sharp"
But I'd like to beautify myself bit, -
SAYS |, land 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
Jack Robinson" Eh, but we did go
rarely 1t were dark night, and frosty
and we soon got out Of the lights of the
town, and still the horses galloped on
and | could see the stars twinkling over
head; and then it grew colder all Of a
sudden, and the windows of the carriage
were covered with ice in minute, and |
could see naught but the inside, where !
was sitting with the strange man. And
he never said word But still we gal
loped on; and after a good bit, heard
the murmur and dash of river hard by
above the clatter of the hoofs; and we
crossed Il bridge, | think. for we went up
and down for a minute, rs if we had been
in Il swing. And then the sound of hoofs
died away altogether, as if the horses
were galloping over gravel OF soft turf
and presently the carriage stopped all of a
sudden. A footman stood at the door; the
silent man jumped out.
| 'Stay there!" he cried, as he went, will
a gesture Of authority stay there =
And there | staid, for were cowed-like,
with being carried off like that; and didn't
know if my soul were my own. "What'l
the old woman say, though ?" | thought
to myself. The carriage moved bit, and
stopped again
Now then, my ladm says the foot
man opening the door.
But | weren't going to be ordered abou
by such cattle as he. Says l, '.I'm on thy
masters business, and if thou doesn'l
speak respectful I'll smite thee in the ear
hole" It's well to stand on your dignity
with these chaps you see.
''Oh, | beg your pardon!" says the man
more Respectfully "but you will step into
the housekeeper's room?"
And with that fell off the high hors,
Ia been riding, tor to tell you the truth
were thinking for a while I were perhap!
rightful son of a lord as had been stolel
in his youth and that they were taking nj
home to the halls of my fathers, and hap
pen were going to marry me to the daugh
ter of the usurper, to make all square
But says |, ''rll stick to the old woman >
Not but what the flesh is treacherous, anC
happen I'll have changed my mind wher
I'd seen the young one. But, however
all that was knocked in the head when
heard the tiunky tell me to 60 up to th'
| II ,1r,o
ing job after all.
Well, before I'd got well inside the
door, an old chap dressed in black catche
hold of me by the elbow.
"Creecher !' says he "Creecher :"
Eyes, Pm Creecher," says l. "What'
your pleasure?"
"Oh, you're to come this way directly
And away we went along passages ant
down stairs and up stairs and PRESENT.,
we came to a long corridor beautiful
carpeted and the old man tapped at
door and young woman opened it ane
says she, "Is he here ?" And the old ma
says, Eyes"
"Come in," said she; 'my lady will
speak to you directly"
And | went into little room as wa
beautifully furnished, with easy chairs an
sofeys and all the luxuries of the season
"Well, my DEAR" says I to the maid
''and so your mistress is going to the ball
But it'll be we'll nigh time to come hom
before she gets there"
"Hush," she says, putting her finger t.
. her lips.
began to think it was death job as
mad got on hand. I've had such job
aiore now, when the corpse was younI
and had beautiful hair. All and many
time my fingers has itched, for, says I
myself: It's pity such lot OF beautifu
hair should 90 down to the worms, whe