The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-11-21
8 Z L Z C u Il - L z.
.N0y,'seN ERA 81 .sess,
OR, TABLES TURNED PRACTI
CAL JOKER.
Ely J. A. SPERRY.

iDELILAH MOORE DeliIah NJ M0ore
you'll be caught in your own trap some
day. Oh, you'll change your tune I'll
warrant. You'll play a joke some of
these times that will be sorry joke for
you; and old as | am, Ill live 10 see it
too
But little did Delilah heed the warning
shake of the finger, or the awful prophetic
words of Aunt Marcia, as she danced
round the room IN an ecslacy Of fun,
holding her graceful sides, and filling the
house with The merry music of her laugh
ter.
And what, think you. was the occasion
of her extravagant mirth 2 Why, she has
just caught her Aunt Marcia mposedly
do1ing in her rocking chair, and we doubt
whether drowning man ever caught
more eagerly at straw than did the mer-
curiai girl at one which lay, suggestive of
ally mischief, upon the floor. Moving on
tip-toe to the back of the old lady's chair,
she extended the straw, and tickIed her
aged cheek the least biz in the world.
Aunt Marcia gave her head a shake. as if
10 dislodge saucy fly, and Delllah COM
pressed her pretty lips, 10 restrain her
merrment. The straw was again applied,
and the old lady raised her hand quietly,
but without opening her eyes, 10 brush
away the annoyance. A third time was
,he provoking tiliilation repeated, when
Aunt Marcia, though not a passionate
woman began to lose her patience at the
pertinacity of the supposed insect IN dis
turbing her repose, and i'll mere self de-
fence, resolved on its destruction. Ac-
cordingly she raised her hand cautiously
TO within six or eight inches of her face
and then brought Ii down with SO great u
force as TO leave the mark of her fingers
there, and cause her cheek to tingle with
the pain. DelIlah could contain herself
no longer, but fairly screamed with delight,
while her aunt thus made aware OF the
source of her annoyance, with omlnous
gravity delivered the speech above quoted.
Lively as cricket, and quite as noisy
was Delilail Moore. She was pretty, 100,
indeed bewitching. Auburn hair that
flowed in ringIets OF gossamer lightness,
zoout the farest soitest cheeks, light blue
eyes, light step, and rosy lips that
smiled necessarily, even In sleep; ah,
what lump of mischievousmess she was.
But she was most incorrlgihly given TO
practical joking. dare say there was
not an individual in the village who had
not in some time or other been victim
Of this propensity of hers; and yet nobody
could be seriously angry with her. Very
nervous people were afraid of her. but
fond of her too; and by them she was
treated something after the fashion in
which children treat playful kitten
fontIled and caressed, but always with due
regard TO the claws.
Many village youth addressed her.
but she proved wIll-o-the- wisp TO her
wooers. She was never serious long
enough, to hear proposal, SO that most
of them soon wearied in the butterfly
chase she led them But even butterfly
is sometimes caught; and il is not 10 be
supposed that Delllan could rove forever
free. Her mother had often said, that
just in proportion as she leased, annoyed
and ridiculed particular persons, she loved
them, and if This was true criterion,
young Walter Lake must have possessed
very large share OF her affections; for if
there was any one she delighted TO plague
and play tricks on more than another, II
was himself.
He was the son Of the most wealthy
and respectable farmer in the country,
and was steadily pursuing the profession
of law In the village. He was one of her
earliest admirers, and had persevered in
his addresses. when his more faint hearted
rivals gave up the seemingly vain pursuit;
and yet, even with clear field, his en-
deavors 10 bring her TO the mark seemed
hopeless; and he too was beginning 10
despair. when little accident, with a
little ruse betrayed the little castle of The
heart, which he had been SO long beseg>
mo into his hands
He was walking in the garden with
Dehlah one evening, striving desperately
10 bring about little serious conversation,
and she with equal perseverance evaded
Thy bursts of merrlment and strokes of
ridicule. when one of her frisky move
ments brought her foot in collision with a
large beam, standing upright, receiving
very precarious support from the bough
of tree which overhung the wall. II
ioppled over, and Walter in the effort 10
shield her, caught the whole weight of the
blow on his right arm. 1t occasoned but
slight bruise, bn. perceiving the alarm
which Delilah's features instantly exhibi-