Year: 1874

knee with the other, and looked across
the table into the bright eyes of his little
wife, wouldn't it be good joke to get
Bachelor Bill Smiley to take Widow Wat
son 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 l
shook out a night-gown he blushed like a
girl and went away"


" l think can manage it," said Ed;
"but III have to lie just little. But
then 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. III just go over
to his place to borrow some bags of him,
and if l don't bag him before / come
back, don't kiss me for week, Nelly?"


So saying, Ed. started, and while he is
moving the fields, we will take look at
Bill Smiley. He was rather good. look
ing fellow, though his hair and whiskers
showed some gray hairs, and he had got
i'll 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 new house and
everything comfortable, and if he wanted
a wife, many girl would have jumped
at the chance like a rooster on a grass
hopper. But Bill was so bashful-al-
ways was-and when Susan Berry
who he was so sweet on, though he never
said boo !" to her, got married to old
Watson, he just drawed in his head like
mud turtle into his shell, and there
was no getting him out again, though it
had been noticed that since Susan had
become a widow he had paid more atten-
tion to his clothes, and had been very reg
ular in attendance at the church the fair
widow attended.


But here comes Ed. Wilbur.


" Good morning, Mr.. Smiley"


GOOD morning, Mr.. Wilbur, what's
the news your way?'


"Oh, nothing particular, that l know
of" said Ed, "only old Barnum's show
that everybody is talking about, and ev-
erybody and his girl is going to. l was
over to old Sockrider's last night, and /
see his son Gus. has got a new buggy,
and was scrubbing up his harness, and
he's got that white-faced colt of his as
slick as seal. l understand he thinks
of taking Widow Watson to the show.
He's been hanging around there good
deal Of late, but I'd just like to cut him
out, would. Susan is nice little wo-
man, and deserves q better man than
that young pup Of fellow, though |
would not blame her much either if she
takes him, for she must be dreadful lone
some, and then she has to let her farm
out on shares, and it isn't half worked,
and no one else has the spunk TO speak
up to her. By jingo ! if were a single
man I'd show you 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 listened, know
ing the bachelor had habit of talking to
himself when anything worried him.


"Confound that young Bagrider !"
said Bill, "what business has he there,
I'd like to know? Got a new buggy, has
he? Well, so have l, and n new har-
ness, too, and his horse can't get in sight
of mine and declare I've half a mind
to-yes, l will 1! I'll go this very night
and ask her to go to the show with me.
I'll show Ed. Wilbur that | amt such
calf as he thinks / am, if l did let old
Watson get the start Of me in the first
place ~


Ed. could scarce help laughing out
right, but he hastily htched the bags on
his shoulder, and with low chuckle at
his success, started home to tell the news
to Nelly; and about five O'Clock that eve-
ming they saw Bill 60 by with his horse
and buggy on his way to the widows's.
He logged along quietly, thinking of the
old singing school days-and what a pref
ty 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 large creek-and it
SO happened that just as he reached the
middle of the bridge he gave tremen-
1ous sneeze, and blew his teeth out Of
his mouth, and clear over the dash board
and striking on the planks they rolled
over the side of the bridge, and dropped
into four feet Of water.


Words cannot do justice to poor Bill
Or paint the expression of his face as he
sat there-completely dumbfoundcred at
bis startling piece of i'll luck. After a
while he stepped out of his buggy and
getting down on his hands and knees,
looked over into the water. Yes, there
hey were, at the bottom, with a crowd
Of little fishes rubbing their noses against
them, and Bill wished to goodness that
his nose was as close for one second. His
teeth that had cost him SO much
and the show coming on and no time to
get another set-and the widow and
young Sockrider. 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 wading in with them
on, and besides if he did that he could
not go to the widows that night, SO he
took look up and down the road to see