The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-10-12
Love scrape.
BY HARRY HILL.

Altehdhl2 a singing Scnoot some years
lgo, | became acquainted with a very fine
girl, | beg pardon, they call them young
aides now.) From our first acquaintance
[ thought | loved her, and we became in a
very short time, every warm friends;" and
then occasionally visited the house, n
der pretence Of looming to see her broth
a wild, mischievous chap, who loved
fun better than he did his dinner. And
from that | got so fast that | became an
"every evening visitor" to see my fair
charmer.
pious, sedate old gentleman. and was down
on fun or mischief Of any kind. But with
all that, he had many fine points about
him, if he was fat. | think il there was
a chance of measuring the least section
through him he would measure at leas,
three feet in diameter. But never having
an opportunity to calliper him, I can'tsay
Tor certain how large he was. 1t matters
not, however, all know is he was a fine
Now, the old gent, or the "Governor,"
as we used TO call him, had taken a great
fancy to me. | used TO sit and talk politics
to him, and he often said | was a fine, quiet,
considerate. 'speriect model" young man.
And he would not suffer Leila" his pref
ty daughter, 10 go out Of his sight with any
one but me-"then nice young man." And
he always wished me to be intimate with
his wild son Charley, thinking he would
reform if he was in my company part OF
his time, and III assure you | did not I'M
deceive him as to my real character, for
the fair Lelia's sake.
One night, | remember, chow can | for
get it?) Charley, a jolly friend named
Frank -, and myself, returned from
a days fishing. There was the fair Leila
preparing our supper for US. Charley had
slipped from the kitchen, and Frank was
apparently amusing himselfby poking his
cane in a cage at a ~favorite canary. And
felt as if was alone with the girl | a
dored. Presently we sat down to supper
While was .wrestling" with a joint o.
beef, bang came a cold potato in the door
and struck me in the eye; then we could
hear footsteps and q heavy laugh retrear
through the entry.
We had by this time finished nearly al
there was on the table.
Leila" said |, a~pologizing for ou'
swinish propensities, ..you know fisher
mems luck, and all that"
Excuse the light, gentlemen" chimet
in my ladye tayer, cutting me short in my
apology. II will bring you somethin!
more TO eat
While we were waiting for the "fodder'
Frank sat thinking of--l don't know
what. and | about Leila, the possessor O
my heart. Or, at least, | thought she pos
sessed it.
And from hearts ] got to thinking of mic
dies. and from cradles to some
~"Ilist!" said Frank, .'don't you hea
Charley coming9 lie wants 10 give us al
other shower Of potatoes"
Well, we listened, and | heard some on
coming steal,hily down stairs, chuckliDg
Now" thinks |, .this is amusing TO b
interrupted, while such pleasant thought
are passing in your brains, to receive col
potatoes in your eye; romantic, amt it!'
"Let us give him a.trouncing." sail
Frank. with a chuckle, that told plainly h
wished to turn the tables.
We crawled around the room in the dark
ailu EFduh Hdu IOuuu d UIootus NV ! la
got hold Of the plunger of a churn. w
sneaked to the door just as the object c
our revenge had arrived.
Rush on." said Frank, and with tina
wo made an assault or the .'iellow crea
ture." felt the plunger lash against hi
ribs, and we beat him dreadfully. not eve
giving him a chance TO say a word.
"Throw potatoes. viii you, rogue"
Then up from the cellar emerged Leila
and as soon as she reached the top Of til
stairs with the light, she gave a scream.
Well, she had cause TO scream. for Their
against the wall, with ribs all punched in
broken for all we knew, and the wind en-
tirely punched out of him. stood the venel
able paternal relative of the girl | loved
yes, there he stood, and the model youn
man had punched his body for him. An
Charley stood at the head of the stairs
with an arm full OF potatoes and corn cobs
and laughed till The salt water appeared i
his eyes.
What a sight to gaze upon. the breath
less body Of my fat friend. 1t may be i'm
agined how horror stricken we were, an
how soon we made our exit through th
basement windows, like thieves surprise
in their midnight depredations, and afte
leaping over the area rating, we made
straight coat tail Of it, until we could n
longer see the house that contained HEI
THE GIRL FIRST LovED.-New York DMcl
man.
Modest Clerk,