Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-10-05


here long. We have insulted him dozen times,
and he has less spunk than think he has if he
don't resent it some day. Wen get him into
quarrel then, and have him discharged.
"But,' said I, ado you know anything about
his history! He may have some all-absorbing
end to accomplish, which is the object of his un
firing assiduity. You should have little charity
for the fellow, and taking Crockett's motto, "be
sure you're right before you go ahead.''
sNo, we know nothing of him; and if circum-
stances are as you suppose, it will be his own
fault, if they are discovered too late; for we have
tried often enough to scrape an acquaintance with
him. You had better not take up on his side, if
you do not wish to incur the displeasure of the
whole office. Good night "a
had some charity for the fellow and was re-
solved to see him rghted should he get into diff
Guilty. I soon saw that he was very unpopular,
and that /, as felt disposed 10 make allowances
for him, was considered his friend. Many were
the jokes at our expense, whenever the s'Quaker
corner" Gas the place occupied by us had been
dubbed9 was mentioneda universal litter ran round
the office. The little things irritated me, but as
I was not the principal object at whom these ar
rows were aimed, I resolved to forbear and let
him be the first to speak.
ST say, fellows" said rowdy looking custo-
mer who went by the name of Zeke, edo Qua
kers ever have camp-meetngs?"
a'Yes,' answered another, 'sthey have camp
meeting over there in Quaker corner every night.
That fellow camps out upon the floor every nap
he takes" ,4's''- r.
'sWell,;'' said another, GIVE heard of boarding
at the market house and sleeping on the bridge,
but never saw an illustration of it before
ssWonder if they wouldn't take in boarders2"
asked the first speaker; ''I'll see if they don't
want the rules and regulations of the house
printed :; if they do Til board out the bill.'& >aE
glanced at my neghbor to see how he bore
this ridicule. His face was flushed and his lips
firmly compressed, asif to choke down the rising
Indignation. But he said not word; I fanced,
however, that he picked up the type faster that
usual. rat2i .&tf- a.t E5 l5. - 5'ss's-S
I. Things could not go on in this way much long
er. for as godlike quality as forbearance is, it
cannot hold out against everything. / saw that
storm was gathering and prepared to act my part
as a man when it burst forth ~ -:Ssi'- 7-'S-71 '
1t was Saturday afternoon; the hands were
ranged round the s'stone,'' with their bills in
their hands, waiting to be paid off @"Quaker''
happened to be at one end of the s'stone'' and i'm
mediately opposite him stood s'Zeke.'' AS usual
ssQuaker' was tsthe observed of all Observers
and sly whispers, viii ch were answered by litter
or nudge Of the elbow, passed round the group.
AS the foreman paid ssQuaker' the amount due
him, he gave him new quarter dollar to make
out the change. This did not escape "Zek's"
eye,T andhe said in tone to be heard by all.
eff the eagle on that quarter had life and were
a State prison convict, would not swap places
with it, for my confinement would be far prefer
able to being squeezed to death"
This was the hair that broke the camels bac k.
With the exclamation ssyou id scoundrel!'
made one bound, land with stunning blow brought
rZeke' to the floor. Then jerking off his coat,
and placing himselfin fighting attitude, he turn
ed to the astonished group with "come now
you cowardly ruffians. IF you cannot let me
alone peaceably will make you do it by force.
II have borne your insults long enough, and if
you have any more to offer. come with them
This challenge sufficient. Coats came off
and sleeves rolled up in minute. I saw
my friend would be apt to, get the worst of the
| fight, and forcing him into corner, I exclaim-
\ ed 1* - go .,.'' = ~ .-.s
80 "Gentleman, one word if you please! Itwould
be cowardly for you all to attack this man; win
not see it done And if you will attempt it
have something here (tapping my breast signif-
1=eantIy) to stop it. He is not. to blame, he has
only resented insult, which any ofyou would
have done. You have all insulted him because
! he has conducted himself strangely; let him ex-
plain his conduct and perhaps we can make up our
! quarrel. He owes you an explanation-f not to
Eyou, he certainly does to me. And now sir,'
said he, turning to him, II demand of you as a
right 80" - l.. %5s1 .,i,Es & :. -.
E. He hestated moment. ''Come my friend -
said I, t'let$us haveit whatever it is, and at
put an end to this quarrel: 81 q S-s1'' -t.z -
fT"Well, gentleman he said, ''I am not disposed
to lay my private affairs open to public gaze, but
I suppose must do it for once, =. You must know
then, that from my earnings must not only sup
pert myself but my mother, two sisters, and three
small brothers, who reside in distant State.
could earn enough at home to keep them well
] but my reason for coming here is this : One Of
j my sisters who is now a beautiful girl Of sixteen
and the pet of the family, has been blind from he1
Il birth. We had no hope of her ever acquiring the
faculty of sight, and were content to abide by what
| we thought a dispensation Of Providence. But
recently have seen case similar to hers, young
man,, who was restored to sight by an eminent
= physician of Paris I have corresponded with tina
physician, and he has high hopes that in my sis
81 ter's case he can effect cure This, gentlemen