The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-03-03
Old Bill Stevens.

Old Bill Stevens.
Something put Bateman in mind
of old Bill Stevens. sort of happy
go.lucky Rip Van Wrinkle, who, like
Rip, was not unfamiliar with noun
tains, having passed good deal OF
time in the wilds of the Alleghenies
in the chase of bear and deer, before
he came West to Michigan and set
tied in Oakland county, and where.
perhaps, he imbibed his love for good
liquor, a fondness for roaming.
vagabond life, and took on strong
tinge of superstitious feeling that
seems inseparable from lonely noun
tain life.
sold Bill had a niece by the name
of Liddy," related Bateman, "who
was as full of mischief as pet coon,
and always inventing something to
take rise out of her uncle. Old Bill
was stopping around then with his
relatives and others, now and then
working, drinking whiskey, hunting
and loafing. One night Bill was
stopping at his sisters, Liddy's
mother, and had made up a trip to
Detroit the next day. Everybody
had gone to bed except LiGdy, who
was cheering around the house, when
Old Bill started to bed. Now Liddy,'
says he, I'ye got to git TO Novi Corn
ers in time for that first train, so be
sure and wake me up airly, Liddy.'
"'All right Liddy says, 'I'll have
you up at tive.'
"As soon as old Bill got to bed and
took to snoring, Liddy got cold
spread on the table, Topped the hands
of the clock around to o'clock, and
reused old Bill up.
"'Just nve," says Liddy, as old
Bill came out rubbing his eyes. He
sat down to the table, made jab at
the victuals, but soon dropped his
knife and fork, and, says he, Getting
up so airy takes away my Appetite
"'Well, uncle,' says Liddy, Il be-
lieve I'll lay down for awhile; I've
been up late,' and so she went to bed.
Old bill sat around for a spell and
then went out to take look at the
east for dayhreak, and then went in
again. About he went out again,
and no signs of daybreak. At 7 it
i was dark. Dark as thunder at and
pitch dark at 8. FROM being mighty
uneasy Bill's hair began to stand on
end. At 8 O'Clock he ran for his
brOther-in.law's room, hOllering !:
wake up, wake up. George; eter-
nal nights here and judgment day is
coming"
"Old Bill always, when loafing,
carried an old musket around on his
shoulder. One day Bill started down
to Now Corners to stock up on am
munition but before he went Liddy
got hold of the musket, put in a
charge of powder and short piece
of punk, then another charge and
another piece of punk. She lighted
the last piece. Just before Bill got
to NOyi he met an old crony in the
road, and as they went gOSsiping,
bang went the gun and kicked the
crony in the breast.
"'Don't you do that again, Bill
Stevens saws the crony.
"'Pon my soul | didn't do it. AM
| don't see how the durn thing came
TO go off. unless | was fooIin' round
the muzzIe with my pipe
acknowledging 1t again, Bill and the
other fellow started for the griefshop
at the corners, spent some time there.
and came out. They stood in the
road again talking oyer old times at
the east, and just as Bill was turning
to go, bang went The gun again.
"'D-n the thingu says Bill,'there
was only one load in it when l left
home.'
"And he laid the musket down in
the road and went home without it..
His cr0ny looked after him suspi-
ciouSIy, shook his head, looked out
OF the corner of his eye at the gun,
and hurried away from it," Detroit
Evening NeUS.
A Lincoln Story.