The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-05-29
BILL AND THE WIDOW.
A GOOD LITTLE STORY.


"Wife," said Ed. Wilbur one 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 eye of his little wife, "wouldn't
it be good joke to get bachelor Bill
Smiley to take widow Watson to Barnum's
show next week?"
"You can't do it, Ed; he wont ask her;
he's so awful shy; 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 night gown
he blushed like girl and went away"
81 think l can manage it," said Ed,
'tbut I'll have to lie just a little. But
then it wouldn't be much harm under the
circumst ances, for l 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 his
place to borrow some bags of him, and if 1
don't bag him before l come back, don't
kiss me for week, Nelly"
So saying, Ed. started, and while he is
moving the fields we will take a look at
Bill Smiley. He was rather good looking
fellow, though his hair and whiskers were
| somewhat sprinkled with gray, and he had
got in set of artificial teeth. But every
one said he was such good soul-so he
was. He had as good hundred acre farm
as any in Norwich, with a new house and
everything comfortable, and several thous-
and dollars at interest, and if he wanted a
wife many a girl would have jumped at
the chance. But Bill was so bashful-al-
ways was-and when Susan Berrybottle,
whom he was so sweet on, though he never
said "beo" to her, got married to old
Watson, he just drew in 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 at
tendance at the church the widow attended.
But here comes Ed. Wilbur.
"Good morning, Mr.. Smiley"
"Good morning, Mr.. Wilbur; what's the
news your way??"
ooh, nothing particular that know of,
said Ed, "only Barnums show that every
body is talking about and everybody and
his girl is going, too. was over to old
Sockrider's last night, and 1 see his son
Gus. has got a new buggy and was scrub
bling up his harness, and he's got that
white faced colt of his as slick as seal
l understand he thinks of taking 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 nice little woman, and deserves a bet
ter man than that young pup of fellow,
though | would not blame her much either
| if she takes him, for she must be very lone
some, 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 jingo. if were single
man I'd show you trick or two.'
| So saying, Ed. borrowed some bags and
went around the corner of the barn, where
he had left Bill sweeping, and put his ear
to knot hole, and listened, knowing the
bachelor had habit of talking to himself
when anything worried him.
"Confound that young brigader!'' said
| Bill, "what business has he there, I'd like
to know? Got new buggy, has hep
Well, so have l, and new harness, and his
horse can't get in sight of mine; and de-
clare, I've half a mind to-yes, I will! I'll
go this very night and ask her to 60 to the
show with me. I'll show Ed. Wilbur that
| | amt such a calf as he thinks | am, if
did let old Watson get the start of me in
the first placen
Ed. could scarcely help laughing out,
but he hastily hitched the bags CD 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 old sing
ing school days-and what pretty girl
Susan was then and wondering if he would
have more courage now to talk up to her,
her house he came to bridge-over large
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 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 Bill or
paint the expression Of his face as he sat
there - completely dumbfounded at his
startling piece of ill-luck. After awhile
he stepped out of his buggy and getting
down on his hands and knees, looked over
into the water. "Yes, there they were"
at the bottom with crowd of little fishes
rubbing 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 Sockrider.-
Well, he must try and get them somehow
and no time to lose, for some one might
come along and ask him what he was fool
| ing around there for. He had no notion
of spelling his good clothes by wading in
with them on, and besides, if he did that