Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-09-15

SUCK sOule ulSldHCe dCTOSS lDe room.
intended to aston'sh my schoolmates with
that gun when | got home, for it astonished
me considerably, as | never had seen any
thing OF the kind before. l went into the
bar-room Of our hotel, and began 10 amuse
myself with my extraordinary gun. The
bar.room was crowded with customers
Letting off my gun at random, it grazed
one mans nose and passed on, hitting the
bar-keeper in the eye. Smarting under
the pain it occasioned, he came in front OF
his counter, caught me by the collar, Civ
ing me several severe shakes and boxing
my ears soundly he told me to put that gun
out of the way, or he would throw il in the
stove. felt considerably injured in my
feelings, and sneaking syly up stairs. placed
the precious gun under my pillow. soon
visited the shop again. The good woman
instructed me in the mystery Of the torpe-
does. ] had never seen one before. She
threw one with considerable force on the
floor and it exploded. l was delighted
Would not these astonsh our school boys7
bought six cents worth for that purpose.
Arrived at the hotel Just as the guests
were going to dinner, and supposing that
they had never seen anything in the torpe-
do line, and would be delighted 10 do SO,
could not refrain giving the opportunity so
taking two from my pocket and throwing
them with all my strength against the side
Of the wall through which the crowd was
passing, loud double report followed,
much to the surprise and annoyance of the
guests. The landlord came rushing out in
high state of excitement, and finding out
the culprit, he stretched me upon the floor
at a single blow from his open hand,
"There you little greenhorn," he excaim-
ed, "see if that will teach you better than
to explode your id crackers in my
house againP'
1t did 1 was perfectly taught in a sin
gle lesson. went up stairs and deposited
the balance of my torpedoes with my gun
ate no dinner that day. Ny dignity had
been iusulted and my appetite vanished
| was humbled. | felt forlorn and forsaken.
| had one resource. 1t was TO the toy-shop
| visited it again, bought a watch, breast
pin and top. l was still a rich man. l
had eleven cents left. went to bed and
dreamed Of all my possessions. The next
morning as soon as had swallowed my
breakfast, | visited the toy shop again, to
clock aroupd" l discovered many new
things which had escaped my notice the
day previous. Presently. sag a beautiful
knife with two blades, besides a gimle: and
corkscrew! This was novelty. The
most useful in existence, beyond all doubt.
| must possess it, My father would be de-
lighted, and it was too valuable an article
10 leave behind me. Wouldn't old Bethel
be astonished? But what was the price Of
this combination of all that was useful and
ornamental? Only thirty-one cents Alas,
had but eleven. found to my astonish-
ment, that my funds were exhausted
But have the knife must, so proposed
to my good friend, the shop woman, that
she should receive back the top and breast
pin at a slight deduction from what / had
paid her the day previous, and then taking
my eleven cents, should let me have the
knife. The kind creature consented, and
thus made my first "swoon," and got the
knife. Presently, discovered some molas-
ses candy 1t was whittier and nicer than
any had ever seen before. l must have
some, SO asked the lady to take back the
watch at a slight discount and let me have
the worth oft in molasses candy. She did
so and l found it delicious. had never
tasted anything so nice before. Before
might had resigned my gun into her pos.
cesSion and devoured its value in molasses
candy. The next morning | swallowed all
my torpedoes in the same shape, and in the
course of the day even my knife followed in
the sweet footsteps Of its illustrious prede-
cessors. Molasses candy was the rock on
which I split Ny money was all gone
my notions all swooned for it, and yet, like
Oliver Twist, 4 cried for more The good
woman had boy of about my size. l had
no particular use for my two pocket hand
kerchiefs. Her boy could use them, and
gladly accepted her proposal 10 trade them
for four sticks Of molasses candy. had an
extra pair of stockings which l was sure
should never need, and thsy-went for five
more rolls of molasses candyl When thus
diyested of all Il possessed, became resign
ed to my fate and began to turn my atten-
ton to some other source Of excitement.
made the acquaintance Of a young gen.
tlemen from Connecticut some twenty years
of age. He had been in New York once
before, and knew the ropes. He proposed
to show me the City. l gladly accompani
ed him, and saw many sights that day
which astonised me beyond measure. He
took me to the "Bear Market" as il was
then caled-"Washington Market"a as it i:
now designated. was of course surprised
at the immense quantities of meat there
displayed. "What under Heaven do they
expect to do with all this meat?" l asked
my companion with much curiosity.
They expect to sell it. of course" sale
he. They'll get sucked in, thef." repl
ed, exultingly, for felt assured that i
would never be possible to consume al
that beef before doomsday. Itwas proba
bly, all masticated within the next twenty
four hours; but to a raw boy from the coun
try, such a thing would seem Incredible.
/ think shall never forget an Inscription
> which | saw painted upon small squat,
, piece of board, and fastened to post OIL
the dock, at the rear of the market. /
was Corporation warning, and read a