The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-09-05
Select Storg.
AN UNPLEASANT RIDE.


b Wife" said Ed. Wilbur one morning
he sat stirring his coffee with one hand
Ia holding a plum cake on his knee
7ith the other, and looking across the
able into the bright eyes of his neat lit
ID wife wouldn't it be good joke to
IN Bachelor Bill Smiley to take Widow
Watson to Robinson's show next week 2
e You cant do it, Ed. he won't ask
IL, he's SO awful shy. Why he came by
6erc the other morning when was hang.
|ng out some clothes, and he looked oveI
|6e fence and spoke, but when shook out
hight gown he blushed like girl and
snt away"
(" | think can manage it, said Ed.
+'but I'll have to lie just little. But
<en il wouldn't be much harm under the
circumstances, for know she likes him
la he don't dislike her but, as you say,
LIS shy. III just go over to his place to
Iorrow some bags of him, and if don't
{ng him before | come back, don't kiss
"a for week, Nelly"
So saying Ed started, and while he is
1,owing the fields We take look at Bill
<niley. He was rather good looking
hllow, though his hair aud whiskers
bowed some grey hairs, and he had got
IL a set Of artificial teeth. But every one
bid he was good soul and so he was.
Dc had as good hundred acre farm as
INV in Norwich, with new house and
Everything comfortable, and if he wanted
! wife, many girl would have jumped at
khe chance like rooster at grasshoppcr.
Bill was so basaful--always was-and
when Susan Berrybottle, that he was sweet
on Though he never said "boo" to her,
got married to old Watson he just drew
his head, like mud turtle, into his shell,
and there was no getting him out again,
though it had been noticed that since Su-
sau 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.
But here comes Ed Wilbur"
"Good morning, Mr. Smiley
Good morning, Mr., Wilbur. What's
the news your way ?"
"0h, nothing particular, that | know
Of" said Ed, "only Robinson's show that
everybody and his girl is going to. Twas
over to old Sackridcr's last night, and |
see his son Gus has got new buggy and
was scrubbing up his harness, and he's
got that white faced colt Of his slick as n
zeal. understand he thinks of taking
the Widow Watson to the show He's
been hanging round a good deal Of late,
but I'd just like to cut him out, would.
Susan is a nice little woman and deserves
4 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
'punk enough to speak up to her. By
lingo If l were a single man I'd show
him trick or two"
So saying, Ed. borrowed some bags and
started around the corner of the barn,
where he had left Bill sweeping, and put
his ear to knot hole and listened, know
ng that the bachelor had habit of talk
ng to himself when anything worried him,
"Confound that young Bagrider!" said
Bill, "what business has he, then, I'd like
o know? Got new buggy, has he ?
Well, so have |, and new harness, too
md his horse can't come in sight of mine;
md / declare I've half mind to-Yes, !
will I'll go this very night and ask her
o go to the show with me. I'll show Ed.
Wilbur that amt such calf as he thinks
am, If did let old Watson get the start
4 me in the first place T.
Ed. could scarce help laughing outright,
'ut he hastily hitched the bags on his
and with low chuckle at his
ucccss, started home TO tell the news to
Nelly; and about FIVE o'clock that evening
hey saw Bill go by with his horse and
,uggy on his way to the widows. He
ogged along quietly thinking of the old
inging school days-and what u pretty
,iri Susan was then--and wondering in
Fardly il he would have more courage now
o talk up to her, until ut distance of
bout mile from her house he came to a
'ridge-oyer large crcek-and it SO hap
'ehed that Just as ne reached the middle
{ the bridge he gave a tremendous sneezc,
md blew his teeth out Of his mouth, and
lear over the dashboard, striking on the
hanks they rolled over the side of the
ridge and dropped into four feet Of
Iater.
Words cannot do justice to poor Bill,
= paint the expression of his face as he
at therc--completely dumfounded at this
tariling piece of IN luck. After while
. stepped ont Of the buggy, And getting
a his hands aud knees looked over into
he water Yes. there they were, at the
cttom, with crowd Of little fishes rub
ing their noses against them, and Bill