Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-02-16
The Time O Day.

Of Sepoy fame, while holding the commits
sion of captain in dsshing marching regi
ment, was on trip of pleasure, with hi:
wife, in the north Of England, and having
come one day to a small Yorkshire Inn,
the larder of which was well nigh empty,
lac ordered all the host had on hand in the
shape of food, to be served up for bis din
ner, after which he joined his wife in an
upper room.
While the host was preparing the meal
for his guest party of sporting gentle
mel of the country entered the inn. and
called for refreshments. The landlord was
sorry to inform them that all his Iarder
contained of food had been bespoken by d
gentleman who was at that moment wait
ing up stairs with his wife to have it
served
Who was the gentlemanf
The host could only tell them that he
was an Irishman, and seemed to be a very
quiet, good-natured and harmless body.
(The Captain was travelling in citizens
clothes.)
Gan Irish gentleman! A potato, with
pepper and salt, will answer for him. Go
up and tell him so."
But Boniface preferred not to do 50.
''Then," cried one of the party-a squire
of the neighborhood, with more money
than sense-''take up this watch to the
gentleman, and ask him If he will send US
word what's the time O. day, for we can't
tell"
1t was a habit in that section, when one
would intimate to another that be didn't
have much faith in his good sense, or in his
judgment. to show HIM a watch and ask
him to tell what's the time o'clockl'
The host, himself fond of fun, and feel
ing assured that the last callers would get
the worst of it, took the watch-a very
valuable gold repeater-and went up
stairs and did the errand. Bligh took the
watch and looked at it.
'.By my life! it's beauty. Tell the
gentleman I'll be down presently, and shall
take pleasure in expounding to them the
mystery O. time-telling by the watch, and
I'll fetch the watch with me-"
The host returned with the answer, aud
shortly afterwards carried up his guests
dinner. The 'squiee was for little time,
furious with the landlord for having left
his watch behind; but he finally cooled
off, and having called for a gallon Of beer,
he sat down with his friends to wait.
After he had finished his meal, Captain
Bligh opened his portmanteau and took
out two great horse-pistols ane placing them
under his arm, he took the watch in his
hand and went down into the barroom,
where the sporting gentry still waited.
"Ah, gentlemen, give you good day.
And now who is the man that wants the
time O. dayi / shall be delighted to en-
tighten him"
They did not like the looks of ths man
at all. He earned the soldier in his every
look; and Just now there was good deal of
the tiger manifest.
''Come, come, gentlemen-I am Captain
BIigh, at your service. A short time since,
the landlord brought to me this watch, &C
companIed br message which | have
come TO answer as such message nchly
deserves" And he Significantly tapped
lis fD,ser upon the pistols. ..Sow whose
is ,Se wetchr Is II yours, sirf" 10 the
squire himself.
The 'sduire denied the ownership
promptly. All the watches in the world
would no; have tempted him to expose his
life to the terrible Irish captain whose
fame was known to him.
Bligh then applied to the next man, and
then to the next, and so on to the next, and
all denied the ownership.
81 am happy to find, gentlemen, have
made mistake. You will pardon me, i
am sure. | thought the owner of the
watch was here"
He then mt the watch into his pOcket
slipped the pistols into the pockets of his
blouse, TUNED to the bar, and settled his
bill, then bade the company good evening,
after which he joined his wife on the
porch, at the door of which his carriage
was In waiting.
Captain, afterward General Bligh, kept
the watch to the day of his death, often
telling the story of its capture, when he
left 1t by will to his brother, the we'll
known dean of Elphin.