Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-10-20

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her fathers shop. The worthy me-
chanic was in o grimy and heated state,
the ordinary result Of labor at his partic-
uldr trade Oh warm afternoon, and the
information that an attempt at an sppro
prIation of his property was to be made
that night. did not tend to all immediate
cooling OF his blood. .
A council was held by Kate and the
blacksmith on the spot. ..asz
s.ro-nIght,' 8 aid The old man; rather a
short notice, but we'll endeavor TO be
ready for them a q.
1T would be better 10 get two or three
Of the neighbors TO watch with Us, faith
er,' said Kate; cont you think so! AS
there are only two of the scoundrels,
they can be easily captured
.Ay, Kate. only two, aud one of them
drunken lndann answered the black
smith; | lhlHk we can manage them
without the aid Of neighbors. We will
be independent and DO IL all ourselves,
asking no favors.' E.. .-.
Perhaps, father after all it would be
better to have them sought out anu ar
res Ell before nigh,; then all danger and
trouble W nd be az oided.'
And suppose we find them my dear
before night, we could prove nothing;
the villains would escape; they could
not be punished by law. No, Kate,
that wouki moi DO. Harry aud will al.
tend 10 them personally. - ... .s.
Harry exclaimed Kate; shaking her
pretty head. where will you find aim!
He's not been home since yesterday, and
you know he sometimes stays away for
days .s s.-... . a.....
The young scoundrel,' nutered John
CurnwrIght, with sigh. just at the
time when his father needs his add
Kate. I'm satisfied no good wall ever
come from that boy. Gone out of town
on some wild tramp, of course; the old
blunderbuss and your father. then. will
be enough, and Ill go home immediately
aud fix ihe weapon. After all, Kate,
you may have been very foolishly frigh,
ened and misunderstood this talk; and if
such should be the case, and we should
bring in the neighbors on false alarm
The whole town would laugh at us you
know. ....... ......
There's Dinah,' suggested Kate, arm
her; she would do for the Indian,
think -.. ... ........... ...-
BLOW The nigger' exclaimed the old
man, testify; don't allow her to know
any thing about 1t. She would raise a
howling sufficient to wake the dead
And Jom Cornwright, relying on
Auglo-Saxon courage, anG despisiug f.
thioplan aid, ordered his apprentice to
look TO the shop, and escorted his daugh.
ter home. ~ e -a. .....r .....F
Returned from a hunting excursion,
Harry Cornwright and a band Of kin
dred spirits that night held grand was
sail at the Green Dragoou tavern, wh ich
assail included a jolly supper and plen-
ty of punch. Master Harry was a, the
head OF the table, doing tie honors in
magnificent style, and Will Wilkins, of
North end--a glorious fellow at a song
supported him on the right, while doz
en- jolly fellows spread GU, on both sides
OF The table. Brave fellows were they
but dreadfnily fallen away from grace,
and, as general thing, utterly unwor.
thy the Puritan stock whence they came;
fellows who were eyed askeen by hon
esl maidens, stunned as followers of the
Devil by weli-behaved young men, and
regarded by the elders as fit only for tar
gets for lndiaa rifles on fields Of frontier
warfare.
Hurrah! There they are al it. In
deed they are. Observe Harry now,
giving toast; and notice the company
OF scape-graces rise, with mock reper.
ence, TO drink IT, Mark that fellow al
the foot of the table. with hands meekly
crossed, and eyes horribly squinted.-
Should you suppose anything bat mis-
chief resided in his bosom! Nothing
else, depend upon ii. Hark!
Fill your glasses. gentlemen. We
have some disloyal toast concerning king
George. Rebellion is commencing al
the Green Dragon.
The hours passed on; the streets were
quiet; rafting fire of loasls and songs
continued; bat wi! was drowning nsel.
in punch, flashing OUT only in obscure
CLEANS, and gentlemen who stretched
their mouths to laugh, found it difficult
10 shut them again, so relaxed were The
muscles. VIII Wilkins, The singer, in
a stale Of Inconsistencies slipped un-
der the table, where he was used as an
uneasy ioolstool by Harry Cornwright.
A drowsy glare was observed in the rev.
eller's eyes al the foot of The table. where
the biggest punch bowl was stationed,
and Two weak heads had fallen quietly 10
sleep, their beating brows reposing on
their plates, while one of their abandon
ed companions lazily poured cold punch
on their heads to sober them.
Although IIarrv was endowed with
good gifts in the art OF punch-drinking
he al last exhibited signs OF replelion;
and when he heard the clock strike The
hour OF IL. glimmerng OF sense ad
monished him to retire. So be stole of
10 procure room OF the landlord, IN
lending 10 remain at ,he Green Dragon
Il cant do il, said The host. Its i'm
possible. I've only one room containing