The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-07-26
From the Irish Citizen.
FREDERICK HELMOUTH.

IOtl luC III OlbIZShs
FREDERICK HELMOUTH.
When as a boy capered noisily a.
bout the house, drumming at every
door or window-pane, my sedate broth
er would scold me from behind his
books, and exile me behind his hear
ing-my sister Liza would harshly rep
remand an insupportable boisterer.--
Kate would give me lecture and by
way of conclusion, the poetical Mary
would cite a moral rhyme. But my
good father would say: "Let him alone.
Whoever has a merry heart can enjoy
the present at least. Who knows but
he may yet need al! his gaiety?"-
Dear father! this is long since. You
cannot hear your noisy boy now
Kate breaches no more-Liza rests un-
disturbed, and Mary's collection of
rhymes have reached an enormous bulk.
Yet my good humor, thank Heaven, is
as great as ever. Many storm has
passed over my head--many hair in
that head is bleached to winter white
ness, yet where others would quarrel
or weep ! have gone my way conten-
ted, through the aid Of my light heart.
But listen to my story:
The old and Reverend Mr.. Edler,
of Schlotzenbrugen, had sent over the
country to find an assistant for the COM
ing Sabbath for the cold under which
he suffered prevented HIM from fulfil
ling his duties. Nearly all the service
able geniuses having been engaged for
other purposes. the request reached me.
Precisely at two o'clock on Satur-
day afternoon stood by the town
gate, where waited the stately equip
page at my service. In the shafts of
an old dearborn stood the shadow of a
bav horse, and this substanceless shad-
ow might have been drawn by means
of stright lines, terminating IN acute
angles. This noble animal was led by
his owner and master, the worthy SEX
ton of the place was to visit, and he
was held by the head with both hands.
Whether this was done to prevent his
escape or his fall, I could not gather
from the stone like features of the SEX
ton. The owner was true counter
part to his horse. He was an old, tall,
dry man, his chin adorned with a red
beard of some days standing, and his
grey eyes winked from under pair
Of stiff, bristling brows. The face
seemed to have lost all kind Of muscu-
lar action, and set quietly under the
old foxy, three cornered hat that re-
posed on Its brows.
seated myself in the wagon, with
out uttering a word. My conductor
mounted and placed himself before me
on coop filled with fowls. Slowly
we proceeded--and so slowly, that, in
addition to being able to count the
stones on the road, made several i'm
portant discoveries. One Of these was
that my horse was lame in his hind leg.
His long experience enabled him to
receive without finching the most dex-
terously applied strokes of the whip.
No wonder that the pedestrians passed
us. congratulated myself, though,
for | had a chance Of reviewing my
discourse for the next day, without the
risk of breaking my neck, and without
having the words so mixed up by jolt
ing as to treat the congregation with
the conclusion by way Of a beginning.
Alta farmhouse on the road side, my
sedate driver stopped, and gave me
new companion in the shape ofa young
COW, a bargain of his own, which he
tied behind the wagon. We started,
ndllooking up ] perceived heavy
cloud over the nearest mountain, and
at that moment rush of wind envelop-
ed me in bath of pust, "Drive on,"
said |; "drive on" ! repeated; but all
in vain. made the comfortable dis
covery that my driver was deaf. /
wished at first the sexton, his horse and
conveyance to China.
The sexton at length turned his face
to me, saying, lit will rain.' So it did
on the word. Down it came in heavy /
torrents, and we ploded on slowly as
before.
At last we arrived at the outskirts
of the village Of destination. There