The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-05-04
SC4RED OUT OF Il UIFE.

County phliof. III was one OF IilDSc nignIS
in midwinter, when the wind swept over
the land, making everything tinsle with it's
frosty breadth, that | was seated before a
blazing fire, surrounded 10y a Jolly, half
dosen boys aud bachelor--Peter Gieen-
about forty aud eight years old.
1t was just the night without TO make
those within enjoy good story; 50 each of
us had to tell his fayoIite story, save Mr.
Green, and as he was a Jolly old fellow, we
looked for jolly story. We were some
what surprised to hear him say. az have no
story that would interest you," so we had
to find other entertainments for n time,
when one of the boys told me to ask him
how it happened he never got married.
SO did.
WELL gentlemen" he began. "it don't
seem right for me to tell how that happen
ed, but IS it is abou. myself | don't care
much. You see see when ! was young. we
had to walk as high as five miles 10 church
and singing school, which was our chief
enjoyment. But this don't have anything
to do with my getting wife, only | want
co to show you that we had some trouble
them days in getting our sport.
John Smith and ] were like brothers,
or like Mary and her little lamb ; where
one went the other was sure to go. So we
went TO two sisters. and as we were not
the best boys imaginable, the old gentle
man took umbrage and wouldn't allow us
to come near the house. would take
the girls to the end of the lane, aud there
we would take the final kiss.
1--WE soon got tired of that kind Of fun.
and | told John, on our way to singing
school one night, that | was going to take
Sadie home, and that l was going into the
house, too.
''lIe said the old man would run me if |
did.
Il told him | was going to risk it any
how, let come what would.
''He 81 id he would IslS it if I would.
$50 home we went With the gmls.
"When we got to the end of the road |
told the girls we proposed going all the
way.
'They looked at each other in n way l
didn't like too WELL but they said the old
folks would be in bed, so they didn't care
if we did,
"They were little more surprised still
when / told them we thought of going in a
little while, but as Ill was quiet when we
got 70 the house we had no trouble in get
ting into the kitchen.
Then and there we had our first court.
and | made up my mind to ask Sadie to be
my wife the next time | came.
''It was now past the turn of the night,
and AS we had four miles to walk, told
john we had to be going. So we stepped
out on .he porch, bnt as we did So. the sky
was lit up ty lightning, and one tremendous
thunder peal rolled along the mountain
side. Its echo had not died out in Ihe far
wales until the rain began to pour from the
garncred fullncss Of the clouds. We wait
ed for it to stop until were all sleepy.
when the girls said we should go to bed in
the little room at the head Of the kitchen !;
and their father didn't get up early, we
could be home before the old folks were
astir. So after bidding the giils a sweet
good might, and hugging them a little, and
wishing them pleasant dreams and prom
Using them to come back on Saturday night,
we started for bed.
"We didn't--have far to go, as the bed
stood near the head of the stairs. john
was soon in bed, but as was always a lit
tie slow and full Of curiosity, was looking
around the little room.
''At last thought | would sit down on
a chest which was spread over with nice
white cloth while l drew off my boots. So
down | sat, when stars of the East, | went
plump into a big egg custard pie
Il thought John would die laughing, for
he said | had smashed the custard all to
thunder and the plate right in two.
You see we had to be awful quiet, so
that the old man would not hear.
II vas now ready to get into bed, so |
put the light out and picked up my boots,
thinking to put them i'll a more cOnven lent
-
Il pipe hole, which had been covered with
paper, up to my hip.
Now one part of me was up stairs,
while the largest part was IN the kitchen.
.shs my leg was very long, it reached Il
shelf which was occupied with dishes, cof-
fee pots, ETC.. and turning it over, down it
went with a tremendous crash"
"1he girls had not yet retired and |
could hear them laugh fit to split their
sides.
Il felt awful ashamed, and was scared
until my heart was i'll my throat, for | eX-
pected the old man every moment. ex-
trncted my leg from the confounded hole
Just i'm time, for the old lady looking into
the kitchen from the room down STAINS ask
ed what all the noise was about.
"The girls put her off as best they could
and went to bed while John was strang
ling himself under the covers TO keep
from laughing aloud.
I'VE soon went off into the land of
dreams, with the hope of waking early. /
wish could tell You my dreams, but il
would take me too long. One momen. 1
would fancy myself 10y the side of Sadie,
slipping nectar from her heaven -bedewed
lips. and the next would be flying from
the old man while he would be 1ourlshing
his cane over my head.
''This all came to an end 10y John giving
me kick.
''On waking up and looking around |
saw Johns eyes as big as my fist, while
the sun was beaming in the window,
''What to do now we couldn't tell, Tor
we heard the old man having family pray
eli in The kitchen.
'John looked out of the window aud said
we could get down over the porch rooi
.''Get out aud dress as soon as possible,
he snid.
$50 i'm my hurry my foot got fastened in
the bed clothes and out | tumbled head
foremost, turned over, and down the steps
until struck the door, which WAS fastened
by a button which. giving way, out roll
cd, right in front of the old man.
''IIc threw up both hands and CRIED
Lord have mercy on us for he evidently
Thought | was the devil.
'.Thc ola lady screamed until you could
have heard her mile.