The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-11-08

from the paper, deliberately thrust bis
fingers into his pocket for the watch
when with one sudden bound, and an
abrupt and tremendous oath he sprane
from his chair into the middle of the
apartment.
Whack! with a furious snap of the
fingers went the fish to the floor, the
impish looking thing hopping and
squirming about in the sand.
ssI1ow in the name of all human
nature, did that fresh water devil, the
abomilabIe, overgrown black shrimp,
get into my pocket?" exclaimed this
victim, with one eye on the crawfish
and the other squirting suspiciusly
at his pocket as if doubt ul whether
there were not some more of the brood
behind.
1t was too much. Our hero just
naturally dropped his marble mask and
broke into shrieks of laughter. Every
body present as well as the last aston
ished victim, now jumped at once at a
conception of the joke, and noisy mer-
riment became general. AS soon as,
through absolute exhaustion, a slight
pause took place, the .jokee observed
mildly and with admirable gravity,
"WelI, gentlemen, cra,efsh.-
What will you all take?'
SO delighted was every body with
the fun, that another experiment was
unanimously insisted upon. Now, it
did happen that in the neighborhood re-
sided well known and. ailectionately
esteemed juvenile, who from some in
teresting pecuiarities and associations
in travestie, was sometimes called by
familiars, GRANDFATHER WnIrEHEAD.
"The gravity and stiffness of his youth,
The world had noted"
Our toatman determined to make the
grandfather crawfst, or break shaft
in the attempt. rhe doomed man was
sent for. Under pretence of desiring
some important communication, about
Il business affair, the expert messenger,
is cool 4 wag Us evel turned a "throttle
valve," walked his victim about the
streets for ten or fifteen minutes, until
he got him apparently per accident,
full and securel ly in among the conspir-
atorS, all looking so doletully grave and
serious, that MIR. Whitehead declares
he was at once impressed with the con-
viction that somebody either had been
or was just going to be sold. Howev-
er, without speaking of this, the grand
father was drawn into easy and natural
conversation. when in walking our he
ro Of the CLAWS, with one arm in
sling, and the other hand bandaged up
bigger than a boxing glove.
"Why, Cub, what's the matter?" said
Grandfather Whitehead, "has the gout
struck up through your thumbs?'
"Oh, don't ask me-" said Cub, in
half peevish, half good natured manner;
"inlerna! erysipelas,my boy; can't even
hel p myself to chew of tobacco!"
''l.et me give you chew of mine,
Cub"
"No, no! no, sir! | never chew but
one kind. But, here, you venerable
juvenile, you can put your hand in my
pocket and give me a chew ofmy own,
if you like. You'll find it down at the
bottom there. Confound the erysipe-
las!'
The remorseless william had fifty full
grown, live and hungry, desperate and
furious, jumping, Humping, fighting,
biting, kicking, and swapping crawfsh
in the bottom of the vast receptacle Of
portables!
"CertainIy, my dear boy" said the
PADRE, and down went his
right hand into Cubs left-hand pocket.
twill not be disputed that the grand
father had the usual number OF digits,
nor can it be questioned that a quin-
tupIe number otcrawfsh instantaneous
Iy attached themselves thereto!
There was frightful and most indis-
cribabIe cry. Out flew the hand, with
all It's gripping attaches, like an explod-
ing grenade, and twenty-five live black
things went flying in all directions a.
'ound the room. Such an extraordi-
lary caper as Mr.. Whitehead cut, we
IRE satisfied, was never equaIled by
Allchug, the contortionist, Gabriel Ra-
,eI, Hervio Nano, or Herr Kline. t
Then ensued scene unseen before q
outside ofIimbo. Every man was on f
is feet in an instant. No; some, we b
.erliy believe, stood on their heads! c
Ihen rose roar; another-again-
ouder- shriIler-wilder r. they Jump b
d, they yelled, they rolled on the floor, $
hey screamed, they bestowed their !,
ats, "they sawed their legs off," they
'rmed ring, they danced dance to
stonlsh Yahoos or Mandans. The Il
head deviI'' jumped into the middle, a