Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-02-12
q Bet at the Springs.

|
When visited the Springs last summer,
met young R, lively and most agreea~
bic person, witty and intelligent, but exceed
| lngys light and small of statue, almost a dwarf,
real little pocket Adonis, and decided pet
with the ladies'. At the same hotel there was
also prominent parsonage, known as Tom
b, who stood six feet in his stockings, q
| broad, heavy, course built fellow, strong as a
lion, proud of his strength, which with the ex-
cepton of his good nature, was all that he had
to be proud Of If he had any failng more
particularly fang than any other in his cata-
logue, it was his sovereign contempt for any
one not possessed Of physical strength. R
-, Of course, met with no favor in his eyes,
weak, small, and delicate as he appeared
One evening, after supper, the conversation
turned on feats Of strength. Tom B
held chairs out at arms length, bent pokers
over his, and glorified himself and other Sam
sons, until he reached pitch of genuine excite
ment.
"Why, Tom, observed B., IA great
frame is not always Indicative to strength, nei-
ther does a slight one indicate the reverse;
am very small and slender, yet will bet you
supper for the party that can carry you from
this Pavilion to the Spring, and back, without
putting you down."
"Carry me!'
"Yes, carry you!"
"Nonsense, my weight would crush you
down."
"Well, that's my look out; will you bet the
support"
''Supper yes, fifty suppers. Why you little
cherub, weigh nearly two hundred pounds;
do you dare to think you can carry me from the
Pavilion to the Spring, and back without put
ting me down?'
"Ths is whatI offer to do, but you are not to
use any unfair means toprevent, no arranging
of your legs, or anything of that sort
"Of course not"
Il am to carry you to the Spring and back
again, without putting you down. that's the
bet"
"That's it, it's bet, nice investment of your
surplus capital"
All doubted Rs ability to accomplish,
the feat, to back him. Tom J. being
among the most extensive operators, it was
an incident in the quiet routine of our house,
hold
The young gentlemen told the young ladies';
the young ladies thought it would be capital
fun, but they were afraid poor little R
would strain himself
Or says he'll do it if he breaks blood
vessel"
"Oh, shocking"
The excitement increases, and many pair
of gloves, handkerchiefs, and boquets are sta
ked on the result. Next morning, B.
did not make his appearance at breakfast, and
and it was whispered he sat up all night maxi
ing his will and practising with bum bells. At
performance, all is hustle, commoton and eX-
element; not only the piazzas and balconies,
but the entire road from the Pavilion to the
Spring was lined with ladies', on every side their
little sun shades glanced in the sunbeams, and
their light summer scarf waved to the breeze.
And now amid breathless silence, steps forth
from the hall of the Pavilion, 'observed of all
observers" the Dwarf and Giant. Expectation
is on tip toe, the excitement is intense-when
the musical voice of R, breaking the So
lemn stiffness is heard to exclaim-
"Strip."
"What?" says the Giant.
"Strip!" repeated R.
"What the devil do you mean!"
''Why exactly what say-strip, come, hurry
don't dissapoint the ladies'"
"You don't mean undress?'
eyes do; | wagered to carry you-you are
heavy enough in all conscience; I'm not going
to burden myself with an extra fifty pounds Of
clothing"
"You don't pretend you are going to carry
me without my clothes" almost shreked the
astonished giant.
81 bet that would carry you and nothing
else; will you get ready?"
"Sold OH Jemina. and by such little devil"
exclaimed Tom, and seizing RI by the
waistband of his trowsers, he rushed, amid the
shouts of laughter and waving of hankerchiefs,
into the bar-room, deposited R under
the counter, and ordered supper at nine o'clock
precisely.-Spirh Of the Times.