The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-05-01
Seleeteo Stotp.
BILL AND THE WIDOW.

morning as he sat stirring his coffee
with one hand and holding a plum
cake on his knee with the other, and
looked across the table into the
bright eyes of his little wife, would
MT it be q good joke to get bachelor
Bill Smiley to take Widow Watson
to. Barnum'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 the clothes,
and he looked over the fence and
spoke, but when shook out a night
gown he blushed like a girl and
went away"
81 think I can manage it." said
Ed; "but I'll have to lie just lit
tie. But then it wouldn't be much
harm nnder the circumstances, for I
know sne likes him, and he don't
dislike her; but just as you say, he's
so shy. I'll just go over to his
place to borrow some bags Of him,
and if 1 don't bag him before 1 come
back, don't kiss me for a week,
Nelly"
So saying, Ed. started, and while
he is moving the fields, We will take
look at Bill Smiley. He was rath-
er looking fellow, though his
hair and Whiskers showed some gray
hairs, and he had got in a set of ar
tifcial teeth. But every one said he
was a good soul, and so he was. He
had as good hundred acre farm as
any in Norwich, with a new house
and everything comfortable, and if
he wanted a wife, many girl would
have jumped at the chance like
rooster on a grasshopper. But Bill
was so bashful-always was-and
when Susan Berrybottle, who he
was so sweet on, though he never
said 'boo" to her, got married to
old Watson, he just drawed in his
head like q mud turtle into his shell,
land there was no getting him out
Iagain, though it had been noticed
that since Susan had become a wild
ow he had paid more attention to his
clothes, and had been very regular
in attendance at the church the fair
widow attended.
But here comes Ed. Wilbur.
"Good morning, Mr.. Smiley"
"Good morning, Mr.. Wilbur, what's
the news your way?"
"Oh, nothing particular, that l
know Of" said Ed, "only Barnnm's
show thateverybody is talking about,
and everybody and his girl is going
too. ! was over to old Sockrider's
llast night, and 1 see his son Gus.
thas got a new buggy, and was scrub
bing up his harness, and he's got
that white faced colt of his as slick
as a seal understand he thinks
Of taking Widow Watson to the
show. He's been a hanging around
there a good deal of late, but I'd
Just like to cut him out, I would.
Susan is q nice little woman, and
deserves a better man than that
young pup of q fellow, though l
would not blame her much either if
she takes him, for she must be dread
full 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 the spunk to speak
up to her. BY lingo! if l were.
single man I'd show you 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 a knot
hole and listened, knowing the bsch-
ielor had d habit Of talking to him
self when anything worried him.
"Confound that young Bsgrider!"
said Bill, "what business has he
there, I'd like to know? Got a new
buggy has he? Well, so have I,
and a new harness too! and his horse
can't get in sight of mine; and 1
declare I've half a mind to-yes, l
viii! I'll go. this very night and
ask her to go to the show with me.
Pl show Ed. Wilbur that l amt
such calf as he thinks l am, if l
did let old Watson get the start of
me in the first place!"
Ed. could scarce help laughing
Ioutright, but he hastily hitched the
bags on his shoulder, and with
Ilow chuekle at his success, started
home to tell the news to Nelly; and
about five o'clock that evening they
saw Bill go 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 a pretty girl Susan was then
and wondering inwardly if he would
have more courage now to talk up
to her, until at q distance of about
a mile from her house ne came TO q
bridge-over large creek-and it
so happened that Just as he reached
the middle of the bridge, he gave q
tremendous sneeze, and blew his
teeth out Of his mouth, and clear
over the dash. board, and striking on
the planks they rolled over the side
of the bridge, and dropped into four
feet Of water.
! Words cannot do justice to poor