The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-07-28

OEE OF THE Mas MEs.-Many instance.
have been cited Of fhesnness, and seyers
persons have been held np as examples, pos
sessing that quality IN . superIaliye degree,
One Of the most eminent mem ofthis clasl
( that we ever knew. was boss carpenter.
who lived not far away from Massachusetts
he had ofcourse, youngest apprinticc, or
whom his meanness was concentrated, like
the rays OF the sun conyerged by burning
glass.
The boy, whom we will call Joe, and who
was very cunning and shrewd withal, wss
obliged to submit TO much rgor as regard
the severity Of his labofs and the scantiness
Of his clothing and food. One evening Joe
was supping on the fragments ofa repasl
that had been set before s)me guests-the
good wife had had company that afternoon
-and he committed the enormity Of apply.
ing lump Of butter that was leh on his
plate to a chunk ofgingerbread which he
was about to swallow. Alas for Joe! bic
master opened the kitchen door Just as be
was opening his mouth eud before be could
swallow the delicious morsei bis Crime was
detected.
The indignant master was struck aghast
at first by the species of juvenile turpiiude,
but he seized the young epicure bv the hair
of his head and gave him an unmerciful
beating.
Joe went to bed sorrowing, but comforted
himself with the reflection that he was four.
teen years old,and had but seven years more
to be fiegged for eating bultered ginger.
| bread
| Joe was ingenious, aud before he had
composed himself To sleep that night, he had
formed pland ofrevenge upon his master.
I According 10 this plan, he arose early
next morning,and u he was hurrying on his
clothes, he mu,tercd-
! 'Pll fix story on TO the old feller-Tll
raise laugh agin him--I'll learn him to
lick me SO like bIazes.'
| a ) soon as Joe was dressed, he rushed in
to the streets. and ran toward the principal
hotel, bawiing Justify and Stimulating the
most clamorous grief. AS he tore along the
streets, believing ike yearling bull, and
rubbing his eyes with dngy pocket han /
kerchief, he naturally attracted the atten-
ton of every person within sight or hearing.
BY the time he had reached the front of the
hutel, quite crowd was ready to intercept
him, as he made feint to rush by.
whats the mltlerr cried dozen voices.
20 dear, o dear! il's SO dreadful' below
ed Joe, twisting his countenance into the
similitude of baked apple.
Whats SO dreadnl!'
20 my masters dead--died sich a awful
death, too-O dear, dear"
| your masters dead--awful death! How
did it happen! Stop your conlounded oel-
lowing and tell US about it,
20 DEAR said Joe, his voice broken with
counterfeit sobs, you know what small
soul my master had; what old feller (sob)
he was for money (sob). Wal, il pears
that somebody (sob) had suthin agin him
(sob) and went last night--O dear, dear, It's
so orfup
Look here, young man, stop that crying
and tell the story
'Wal, my master, he used to slecp with his
mouth wide open, a-snooring, (sob) and
somebody went last night and baited the
steel-trap with fo-pauce, and sot it on his
pller and ketchgd his som otore mornin' and
left his body in the bed. Boo-hoo-hoo. o.
dear, dear!'
And with this, Joe made break through
the astonished crowd. and disappeared a. .
round corner, while the welkin was ring.
ing with shouts of laughter.
Joe's master did not hear the last Of his
awful deceass for long time. and those who
knew him best declared that Joe's story wa:
no myth, and that the longer his body walks
about, clutching greedily everything that
the law allows him,' the stronger evidence
he gives that he is troubled by no such in
cumberance as soul.