Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-08-07
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BILL AND THE WIDOW.

BILL AND THE WIDOW.
Wife, said Ed. Wilbur one morning as
he sat stirring his coffee with one hand and
holding plum cake on his knee with the
other, and looking across the table into the
bright eyes Of his neat little wife, wouldn't
it be good joke to get Bachelor Bill Smi-
ley to take Widow Watson to Robinson's
show next week?'
/ You can't do it, Ed; he won't ask her,
he's so awful shy. Why he came by here
the other morning when was hanging out
some clothes, and he looked over the fence
and spoke, but when / shook out night
gown he blushed like girl and went
away
4 think L can manage it, said Ed; but
! l'll have to lie just little. But then it
wouldn't be much harm under circum-
stances, for l know she likes him and be
don't dislike her; but, as you say, he's shy.
I'll just go over TO his place to borrow
some bags of him, and if 1 don't bag him
before l come back, don't kiss me for a
week, Nelly
So saying Ed. started, and while he is
moving the fields we take look at Bill
Smiley. He was rather goodlooking fel-
/ low, though his hair and whiskers showed
some gray hairs, and he had got in a set
of artificial teeth. But every one said he
was a good soul and so he was He had
as good a hundred-acre farm as any in
| Norwich, with a new house and everything
comfortable, and if he wanted wife, many
a girl would have jumped at the chance
like rooster at grasshopper. Bill was
| so bashful-always waS-and when Susan
Berrybottle, that he was sweet on Though
he never said boo to herr, got married to
! old Watson he just drew his head like a
mud turtle, into his shell, and there was
no getting him out again, though it had
| been noticed that since Susan had become
a widow he had paid more attention to his
clothes and had been very regular in his
attendance at the church that the fair
widow attended.
| DuI ncTe CO1DeS Eu. W lIDur.'
Good morning, MIR. Smiley
Good morning, Mr.. Wilbur. What's
the news your way?'
oh, nothing particular, that l know of,
said Ed, only Robinson's show that every
body and his girl is going to. L was over
to old Sackriders last night, and see his
son Son Gus has got a new buggy and was
scrubbing up his harness, and he's got that
white faced colt of his slick as a seal. |
understand he thinks of taking the Widow
! Watson to the show. He's been hanging
round deal of late, but I'd just like to cut
! him out / would. Susan is n nice little
woman, and deserves a better man than
that young pup of fellow, though l
wouldn't blame her much either if she takes
him, for she must be dreadful lonesome,
and then she has to let her farm out on
shares and it isn't half worked, and no one
else seems to have spunk enough to speak
up to her. By jingo! If L were a single
man I'd show him n trick or two.'
So saying, Ed. borrowed some bags and
started around the corner of the barn,
where he had left Bill sweeping, and pat
/ his ear to a knot hole and listened, knowing
that the bachelor had 4 habit of talking to
himself when anything worried him.
'Confound that young Bagrider = said
Bill, what business has he, then, I'd like
to know? Got a new buggy, has he =? Well,
so have |, and a new harness, too; and
his horse can't come in sight of mine and
| declare I've half a mind to-Yes
will d! I'll 60 this very night and ask to 60
to the show with me. I'll show Ed. Will
bur that amt such a calf as he thinks |
an, if L did let old Watson get the start OF
me in the first place y
Ed. could scarce help laughing outright,
but he hastily hitched the bags ON his
shoulder, and with low chuckle at his
success, started home to tell the news to
| Nelly and about five O'Clock that evening
they saw Bill 60 by with his horse and
buggy on his way to the Widows. He
logged along quietly thinking of the old
singing school days-and what pretty
girl Susan was then-and wandering in
wardly if he would have more courage now
to talk up to her, until at distance Of
about mile from her house he came to q
bridge-over creek-and it so happened
that just as he reached the middle of the
bridge he gave tremendous sneeze, and
blew his teeth out of his mouth, and clear
over the dashboard, striking on the planks
they rolled over the side and dropped into
four feet of water.
Words cannot do justice to poor Bill, or
paint the expression of his face as he sat
there dumbfounded at this
startling piece of i'll luck. After q while
he stepped out of the buggy, and getting
on his hands and knees looked over into
the water. Yes, there they were,' ut the
bottom, with crowd of little fishes rub
bing their noses against them, and Bill
wished to goodness that his nose was as
close for one second. His beautiful teeth
that had cost him so much, and the show
coming on and no time to get another set
and the widow and young Sackrider.
Well, he must try and get them somehow