River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-10-15
MISCELLANY.
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 looked across the table in.
TO the bright eyes of his little wife,
"wouldn' t 1T be a good joke to get bach.
elor Bill Smiley to take widow Watson to
Barnum's show next week g.
"You cant do it, Ed. he won't ask
her, he 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 cut night-gown he blushed like a
girl and went away
81 think | can manage it, said Ed
shut III have to lie lust little. But
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 go over to the
place to borrow some bags of him. and il
| don't bag him before | come back,
don's kiss me for week, Nelly.
So saying, Ed. started. and while he is
moving the fields we will take look at
Bill Smiley. lie was rather cookbook.
ing fellow, though his hair and whiskcrs
showed some gray hairs, and he had got
IN set Of false teeth. But every one
said he was a good soul, and SO he wa D..
lie had as coed hundred acre farm as
any in Norwich, with a new house and
everything comfortable, and if he wanted
awiic, many a girl would have jumped al
the chance like rooster on grass-hop,
per. But Bill was so bashful--always
was---and when Susan Sherrybottle
whom he was so sweet on, though he
never said boo" to her, got married t.
old Watson, he just drew his head in like
mud turtle into his shell. and there was M
getting him out again, though it had beer
noticed that since Susan had become q
widow, he paid more attention to hi.
clothes, and had been very regular il
his attendance at the church the fan
widow attended.
But here comes Ed. Wilbur.
"Good morning Mr.. Smiley
"Good morning, Mr.. Wilbur; what,
the news your wayf'
"0h nothing particular that know
off, said Ed, ''only Barnum's show thai
verybody is talking about, and every
body and his girl are gong to. was
over to old Sockrider's last night. and
see his son Gus has got n new buggy, and
was scrubbing up his harness. and he's
got that white-laced colt Of his as slick
as seal. | understand he THINKS Of tax.
ing Widow Watson to the show. He's
been hanging around there good deal
Of late, but I'd just like to cut him out
would. Susan is a nice little woman
and deserves n better man than that
young pup Of fellow, though | would
not blame her much either il she takes
him, for she must be dreadlully lone.
some, and then she has TO let her farm
ont on shares, and it isn't half worked
and no one else seems to have the Spunk
IL speak to her. BY lingo, if were q
single man, I'd show you trick or two
SO saying, I'll. borrowed some bags and
started around the corner Of the barn
where he had left Bill sweeping. and put
his ear to knot.hole AMI listened know
ing the bachelor had habit of talking "a
himself when anything worried him.
"Confound that young bagrider = said
Bill, "what business as he there, I'd
like TO know ; Got a new buggy has hei
Well so have I. and new harness too
and | declare I've half mind ta-yes.
will I'll 20 this very night and ask her
TO 60 to the show with me. In show Ed
Wilbur that amt such calf a. hi
thinks | am, il ] did let old Watson get
the start Of me in the first place -
10. could scarce help laughing out