The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-12-08
Published in the Ohio Star by express permission.
CHAPTER I.

IN not stand this any longer ssid Bill Grimes
Nor l. neither said Ike Wilson.
L wonder how you'll help it,? responded Tom
Peters, hammering piece of leather to the tune
of Yankee Doodle. and filing the shop with din
that drowned all voices for the space of the next
five minu. es.
There are many ways to kill "a dog besides chok-
ing him.. broke in Ike, as the noise of Toms ham
mer and ringing lapstone subsided.
That may be TOO, but you'll find old Liguumv;ia,
bard to Kill. I'm mistaken in him. He's
screamer when once raised; and l. for one, had as
lief meet bear, to his patti when his nap
is fairly up
"A hard bit and steady hand have cured many
a wild colt, said Bill, and II do tito the end of the
world
There's no uee in your talking, Tom,' said Ike, /
little tartly, You always were a chicken hearted
sort of feller, afraid of your own shadow on a
moonlight night Nobody asked for your advice,
nor Your help. Hardamer's old tyrant. and his
wife a she-dev!l We've stood their kicking and
cutting long enough, and will be fools to stand it any
longer, But you go your hands and knees
if you choose, and thank them for beating you;
but for one / set my foot down that old Lignum-
vie shan't lay feather me, from this day,
| henceforth and forever
Here's my hand to that said Bill Grimes dash:
ing his hard fist into the open palm of his worthy
| associate.
Il don't like the present state of things any bet
ter than you do remarked Tom, who began to feel
lIimsefin the minorty-'but can't see the use
of feller's putting his head into the lions mouth.
/ We can't hold our own against old Hardamer,
and it would be fool hardness to try
There were many just such as you, Tom, in
the glorious days of the Revolution; but all the
prophesying faint hearted croakers. was nothing.
The Yankee boys had right on their side.'
But right don't always make might
Poo! Amt here three of us, and any one a
match for old Hardamer? Don't talk of might
against right, if You please. But you needn't ia
tgue yourself, Tom, about the matter, if you're
afraid! Ike and l can do the thing to a charm
Wore not afraid of the devil, tail and ALL
i reckon you'd fiud the Old Boy queer Gus.
toner to deal with. But well let his majesty res
you please responded Tom. l. for one, have
particular friendship for him; nor any desire tc
provoke his i'll ilby too much familiarity. Let's
hear how you're going to managa AFFAIRS and ther
I'll tell you whether I'm with you or not.
Comparisons are odous, so says the copy-book
but they are useful sometimes, you know, Tom
and, much as it may offend your ears, I must dras
in your friend, his Satanic majesty by way of illus
traton. It's easy matter to raise the devil, yol
know; but there is telling how he'll behav'
l. himself there's no telling how body will act ii
it the case. Now. we have determined to raise tn
I I. l..
g afterwards, is yet to be told. No sailor knows ex
q q actly how he will act in storm; but he would b.
20 ubber indeed if he staid on shore until he set
! !. tied the matter to his satisfaction.
}, That may be all very true, Bill; but good sail
or will be very sure, before putting to sea- that
is right and tight allow ard aloft; and that there
ballast enough to keep all erect in the
You know that Hardamer has law on his side, an
u that if he can't manage us himself, he turn
over to constable. I've wish to have a tast
of the whipping post
This is a free country, Tom; and pretty b
4. one too. I'd find my way to the Rocky Mount
aims before I'd wax another cord for the old rasco
IN if he attempted to play game of that kindi ar
tn Id tell him so, tco. The fact is the law wouldn
to Justify him in the way he bully-rags and beats
te all the while. There are two sides to questio
n always-and, of course there two sides to thi
ct If he'll treat US we'll, we'll treat him well. b
& 'wseywersey' if he don't.
ne Well, don't care if join you,' said Tom, wi
er was not quite SO headstrong his fellow appre
ate tees. but who, when he once determined upon d
rth ing thing, would show no hanging back.
ned ned i thought there was something of the man
al you Iom,' said Ike, seizing his hand and shaki
1t vloienfly-if we don't have tea-party, no
; with old Lignumvite, I'm fool.
Don't let's be in too much of hurry about
Do 1ke,' suggested Tom who liked to do things sic
but sure.
Strike when the irons hot, is my motto 81
Ike,