Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-06-25
BILL AND THE WIDOW.

"Wife," said Ed. Wilbur ono morn
ing as hcsst stirring his coffee with one
hand and holding a plum cake Oh his
knee with the other, and looked acros.
the table into the bright eyes of hit
little wiis. ''woald mt il be good joke
to get bachelor Bill Salilcy to take
Widow Watson 70 Barnum's show5nex'
week." = ! -
"You can't do it, Ed; he won't ask
h,r; hos 50 awful shy. Why, he came
hy here the other morning when I w,x
hanging out the clothes, and he looked
over the fence and spoke, but when j
shook out night gown he blushed like
. girl and went away. - :,
II think lean manage it," said Ed;
"but I'll have to lie just little. Bu.
then it wouldn't be much harm under
the circumstances, for know she likes
him, and he don't dislike her; but just
as you say, he's so shy: I'll just. &c
over to his plaoesto borrow. some bags Of
him, Sa1ld 4 L don't hag him be6ere ]
come baok, don't fiss me for szs~eek,
Nelly" p
So saying, Ed. started, and while he
is moving the fields, we will take a look
at Bill Smiley He Was rathersa good
Hooking fellow, though his hair and
whiskers showed some gray heirs, and
he had got in set Of artificial teeth.
But every one said he was a good soul,
and 10 he was He,had as good ! hun
dred acre farm as any in Norwich; will,
a new house and everything comfort
able, and If he wanted q wife, many a
girl would have jumped ut the chance
like rooster on grasshopper. But
Bill was so bashful-always was-tsntl
when Susan Berrybottle, whom he% was
80 sweet on, though he never said
''boo" TO- her, got married to old Wat
son, he Just drew in his head like mud
turtle into his shell, and there was no
getting him out again, though it had
been noticed that since Susan had be-
c0me a widow he had paid more, atten-
E6on to His clothes, and had. been very
regular in attendance at the church the
fair widow attended.
But here comes Ed. Wilbur.
a I. Good morning, Mi. Smiley. ~"
"Good morning, MI. Wilbur, what Is
the news your way? 2"
"Oh, nothing particular, that know
Of" said. Ed. '.only Barnum,s show
that everybody is talking about, and
everybody and his girl is going too. ]
was over to old Sockrider's last night,
and SEQ his son Gus. has got a now
buggy, and WAS scrubbing up his har-
ness, and he's got that white. faced colt
of his as slick as seal. I understand
he thinks Of taking widow Watson ia
the show. He's been a hanging around
there a good deal of late, but I'd just
like to cut him out, ItwolllL Susan is
nice little woman, and deserves a bet.
ter man than that young pup of a fel.
lows though I would not blame he,
much either if she takes him, for she
must be dreadfully Lonesome, and then
io lsts larh6ls 1o,lt ons oanI.s Mares,
Eand iteisn.t Hall worked, and no one
else seems to have the sp,,nk to speak
mp to her. BY jingo! if I were single
man I'd show you q trick or two"
So saying, Ed. borrowed some bags
and started around the corner Of the
barn, wl,ero he hid left Bill sweeping
and put his car. tp knot-llole and lis
tened, knowing the bach helOr had q habit
Of talking to Himself when nnythinf
worried him.
"Confound that young. bagrider :
said Bill, "what business has he there
I'd like to know? Got a now buggy
hos he? Well, SO have I, and q new
harness too! and his horse can't get il
sight of mine and declare, I've hal
a mind to-yes, I will! Illgo this YER,
night and ask her to go to the sllov
with me-. III show Ed. Wilbur that
amt such calf as he thinks I am, If
did let old Watson get the start of m,
in tho first place =
Ed. could scarce help laughing out
right, but he hastily hitched the bag
on his shoulder, and with a low chucki,
Mt his success, started home to tell til,
news to Nelly; and about five o'clocl
that evening they saw Bill 60 by. will
his horse and buggy on his way to I'll,
Widows. He logged along quietly
thinking of the old singing school day
and. what pretty girl Susan was the,
and wondering inwar.lly if he woul,
have more courage now to talk ,ip t.
her, until ut distance of about mil
from her house he came TO a BRIDGE
over large creek-and it 30 lappene,
that just as he reached the middle O
the bridge, he gave tremendou
sneeze, and blew his teeth out of hi
mouth, and clear over the dash board
and striking on tho planks they role,
over the side OF the bridge, and droppc,
into four feet of water.
Words cannot do Justice to poor Bill
or paint the expression of his face ~ IL
sat there-complctely dumbfounled a
his startling piece Of ill luck. Aftc
awhile he stepped out of his buggy m,
getting down on his hands and knees
looked over into the water, eyes, tl,er
they were" ut the bottom with
Of little iahc" r"'l':"
i ness ~