Year: 1874

ing 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 eyes oil
his little wife, 'Wouldn't it be a good
joke to get bachelor Bill Smiley to
take Widow Watson to Barnum's &
show next week ?"


"You can't do it, Ed. /; he won't ask
her; he's so awful shy. Why, he
came by here the other morning when
l was hanging out the clothes, and he
looked over the fence and spoke, but
when shook out a single gown he
blushed like a girl and went away"


81 think can manage il" said Ed. ;
fsbut I'll have to lie just little. But
it wouldn't be much harm under the
circumstances, for know she likes
him, and he don't dislike her; but Just
as you say, he's SO shy. Ill Just go
over to his place to borrow some bags
of him, and if / don't bag him before
| come back don't kiss me for week,
Nelly"


So saying, Ed. started, and while he
is going across the fields we will take
a look at Bill Smiley. He was rather
good looking fellow, though his
hair and Whiskers showed some gray
hairs, and he had got a set of artificial
teeth. But every one said he was
good soul, and so he was. He had as
good hundred-acre farm as any in
Norwich, with a new house, and eve
rythin2 conforfabLe, and -if ae- waited
a wife, many girl would have jump
ed at the chance like a rooster at a
grasshopper. But Bill was so bashful
always was-and when Susan Ber-
rybottle, whom he was so very sweet
on, although he never said sboo" to
her, got married to old Watson, he
just drew in his head like mud tur-
tie into his shell, and there was no
getting him out again. though it had
been noticed that since Susan became
a widow he had paid more attention
to his clothes, and had been very
regular in attendance at the church
the fair widow attended.


But here comes Ed. Wilbur.


"GOOd morning, Mr.. Smiley"


"Goon morning, Mr.. Wilbur, what's
the news your way 2"


"Oh, nothing in particular, that /
know of said Ed, "Only that Bar
NUNS show, that every body is talking
about, and everybody and his girl, is
going too. was over to old Sack
riders last night, and / see his son
Gus has got new buggy, and was
scrubbing up his harness, and has got
that White-faced colt of his as slick as
a seal. understand that he thinks of
taking Widow Watson to the show.
He's been hanging around there a
good deal of late, but I'd just like to
cut him out, would. Susan is nice
little woman and deserves a better
man than that young pup of fellow,
though 1 would not blame her much
either If she takes him, for she must
be dreadful lonesome. aud then she
has to let her farm out on the shares,
and ii isn't half worked, and no one
else seems to have the spunk to speak
up to her. By jinge! If 1 were a sim
gle man I'd show you a trick or two"


So saying Ed. borrowed some bags
and started around the corner of the
barn, where he had left Bill sweeping,
and put his ear to knot hole and list
ened, knowing the bachelor had . hab-
it of talking to himself when anything
worried him.


4Confound that young Sackriderl''
said Bill, Gwhat business has he here,
I'd like to know? Got new buggy
has hel Well. so have and a harness
too and his horse can't get in sight of
mine; and 1 declare I've mind to-
yes will I'll go this very night and
ask her to go with me. I'll show Ed.
Wilbur that I ain't such CALF as he
thinks / am, if did let old Watson
get the start of me in the first place."


Ed. could scarcely help laughing
outright, but he hastily hitohed the
bags on his shoulder, and with a low
chuckle at his success, started home to
tell the news to Nelly and about five
O'Clock that evening they saw Bill go
by with his horse and buggy on his
way to the widows. -


He logged quietly along thinking of
the old eiBging school days and think
ing what pretty girl Susan was then
and wondering inWardly If he would
have more courage now to talk up to
her, until at distance of about mile
from her house he came to bridge
over a large ereek-and it so happen
ed that just as he reached the middle
of the bridge, he gave tremendous
sneeze and blew his teeth out of his
mouth, aud clear oyer the dash board.
and striking on the planks they rolled
over the bridge and dropped into four
feet of water.


Words cannot do justice to poor
Bill or paint the expression on his
face as he sat there-completely dumb
founded at this startling piece of ill
luck. After while he stepped out of
the buggy and getting down on his
knees looked over into the water.
"Yes, there they are,p at the bottom
with crowd of little fishes rubbing
their noses against them, ana Bill
wished to goodness that his nose was
as close tor one second. His beauti-
full teeth that had cost him so much,
and the show coming on and no time
to get another set-and the widow aud
young Sackrider. 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 fooling
around there for. He had no notion
of spelling his good clothes by wad-