The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-09-03

from the country to sell the rig and fat
ten his wallet. He verified the state
ments of the auctioneer that the horse
was sound, kind, gentle, docile. amiable,
ambliDg and tender-hearfed, and that
the buggy would continue to roll on un-
til time should get tired of trying to re-
duce it to a state OF general uselessness.
Observation-Disclosures
enty-ive, going-last call-quick-
can't dwell-g-o-n-e :" cried the auc-
tioneer.
Gosh to snakesr' exclaimed the
guileless young man, as he settled up,
pocketed the remainder and left the cor
ner.
He felt good None Of us feel good
when our pockets are empty. / said to
myself that he would buy hair.oil,
cocoanut, bottle of perfumery, a jack
knife, dollar chrome, a two-dollar dia-
mond, a pair of pantaloons with stripe
down the leg; but ! was deceived. ]
thonght could read him as far as
bootblack spells ont the big words on
Fourth Of July poster, but he couldn't
be read He made bee-line for jew
eler's.
The guileless young man had never
owned watch in his life, but he enter
ed the store like man who had pulled
a watch from his pocket a million times
per day for fftv years. He went right
by the case containing the green sleeve
buttons, on past the case of silverware,
right up to the case where hundred
watches rested in velvet cases or on vel
vet-lined trays. The jeweler handed
out key-winders, stem-winders, stop
watches, watches corpuient with ma
chinery, watches thin and gaunt, but
ticking regularly and merrily. The
young man soliloquized. He said to
himself:
81 dunno. 1 dunno. It's burned pur-
ty, but it's whole hoss and buggyw
The jeweler flattered him little and
urged him some more, and offered him
written guarantee that the watch was all
right; and the young man soliloquized
another soliloquy- He said:
"Think of me walking up to Susan
with this ere watch kicking minutes in
TO hours! And won't the other fellows
sknlk around the cider-mill when this
ticker SHES up to their old bull's-eyes
and vanished casesi There's a hoes-
barn full of style and dignity right here;
but then it makes me sigh to think Of
putting horse and buggy into my vest
pocketp
He laid the watch down, picked it up,
laid it down again and started for the
door. Hating midway, he said to him
self:
am have it-by golly, I'll have that
ticker il the old man never looks me in
the face againr'
He handed over the money, the jew
eler gave him a cord for nothing, and
he hurried out of the store as if fearful
that he might change his mind. Going
around by the postofice, bootblack
asked him if he would have a shine.
There was his opportunity. He pulled
out the watch with a majestic air.
sprung open The cases, and loftily re-
piled:
81 haven't time.
"Say, you'll" cried the boy, "but that's
nice ticker"
"See there! ace therel" whispered the
young man with orange-colored whisk-
ers; "when me and the old hoss and bug
gy was rolling along here nobody said
nothing. Now they just come for me in
crowds"
As he walked up the street to point
from whence he could view the City
Hall clock his heart gave a jump. He
trembled as he pulled out his watch to
compare time, but after glance his face
cleared, he slapped his leg, and the boys
heard him saying:
"She's right to a tick, and feel zif /
could holler like drover."
! He wanted to go home, and yet he
had planned to remain all night. He
was undecided, when small girl with
wart on her nose, bareheaded and
barefooted, approached and asked him
the time of day.
Certainly, certainly" he replied, ai
he pulled out his watch; sit is just ex
actly ten minutes and second and &
haf to twelve O'Clock"
She passed on, and he kicked one foo
out behind, poked himself in the ribs
and whispered:
"See therel That watch just bring
folks around me like calves around
salt -barrelp
He decided to remain. He went to
hotel, and as he informed the clerk tha
he wanted dinner, he pulled out tn
watch and compared time. He wen
to the wash-room and pulled out tn
watch to see how long it would tax
him to comb his hair. As he sat dow
in the Office it seemed 20 him all at ono
as if the time-piece had stopped. Fl
pulled il out, held it to his ear, and
smile travelled clear around to hia bacl
collar button as be heard it tickin
away.
"Oh, yes, this ere watch stops,
doesp' he whispered; ait h'ain't wort
, an old white hoss and a quill-whet
buggy, is h'aintl"
He looked at the watch as he sat .
, the table; he compared time after dinner
he pulled it out as he rode on the street
car. When night came the young ma
from School District No. A had Cigar
tic contempt for all men who don't wes
watches. When he went to his room
made up his mind to sic mp all night I
"watch" for thieves. Some one ha
trailed him TO the hotel. without doub
q and wonld murder him TO get that tim.
q piece. Then he got sleepy and hid Il
watch between the beds. After fy
: minutes he put II under the pillo,
: Then he got up and hid IL under Il
n r. 3.