Georgetown weekly news., 1854-10-26

Soclable, and spend dollar, or even d dime
occasionally; but nO-every five cents he
gets he hangs ON to as if he was afraid the
eagle on it would spread his wings and fly
away with it, doing him out of a five cent
piece. But he can't stay 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. We will soon get him
into a quarrel, & then have him discharged "
But" said l, 'do you know anything Of
his history? He may have some all-abSorb-
ing end to accomplish, which is the cause Of
his untiring assiduity. You should have
some charity for the poor fellow, and taking
old Crocketts motto, 'be sure that you are
right before you 90 ahead "
mo, we know nothing of him; and if
circumstances are as you suppose, it viii be
his own fault if it is discovered too late
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 every man in the
office. Good evening" Ihad some charity
for the fellow, however, and was determined
to see him righted should he get into
difficulty. | soon saw that he was very ur-
popular, and that l, as felt rather disposed
to make allowances for him, was considered
his friend. Many were the jokes cracked
at our expense, whenever the Quaker Cor
ner" las the place occupied by us had been
dubbed) was mentioned, and an universal
litter ran round the office. These inSignif-
cant things irritated me some, but as | was
not the principal object at whom these az
rows of ridicule were aimed, [ resolved to
forbear and let him be the first to speak.
II say, fellows" exclaimed a rough, row.
dy-looking customer, who went by the apt
name of Zeke, "dO Quakers ever have camp
meetngs?"
"Of course they do" answered another
"They have real campmeeting over there
in Quaker Corner every night usually
That fellow there camps out on the floor ev-
cry nap he takes"
"Well," said another, II have heard of
boarding at the market house, and sleeping
out on the bridge, but [ never saw an illus
tratiOn of it before"
"Wonder if they wouldn't take in board
ers?" asked the first speaker. "I'll see if
they don't want the Rules and Regulations
of the House printed; and if they do I'll
board out the bill"
| glanced at my neighbor to see how he
bore this. His face was flushed and his
lips firmly compressed, as if to choke down
the rising Indignation. But he said moth
ing | fancied, however, that he picked up
the type faster than usual
Things could not go on in this way much
longer; for, as gOdlike quality as forbear-
ance is accounted, it cannot hold out against
everything. [ saw that storm was gath
ering, and prepared to act my part as a
man when it burst forth.
1t was Saturday afternoon. The hands
were ranged around the stone with their
bills in their hands, waiting to be paid off.
Quaker" happened to be at the end of the
stone, and Immediately opposite him stood
| Zeke. As usual, the Quaker was the OBJ
served Of all observers, and sly whispers,
which were answered by litter or nudge
of the elbow, passed around the group. As
the foreman paid "Quaker" the amount due
him, he gave him new quarter dollar to
make out the change. This did not escape
Zeke's quick eye, and he said, in tone to
be heard by all
'If the eagle on that quarter possessed
life, and were a state prison convict, l
would not swap places with it, for my con-
finement would be highly preferable to be-
ing thus stingily squeezed to DEATH"
This was the hair that broke the jaded
camel's back With the exclamation, ''you
scoundrelr' he made one bound and with
stunning blow brought the fellow to the
floor. Then, jerking off his coat and pla-
cling himself in a fighting attitude, he turned
himself to the astonished group, with 'Come
on now, you cowardly rufiians. If you can
not let me alone 10y peaceable means, will
make you do it by force. I have borne
with your insults long enough. Now you
happen to have any more to offer to me,
please to come on with them
This challenge was entirely sufficient
Coats came off, sleeves were rolled up in a
minute. l saw that my friend would be apt
to get the worst of the fight, and forcing
him into a corner | exclaimed
Gentlemen, one word, if you please It
would be cowardly for you all to attack this
man; will not see it done. And if you
will attempt it I have something here, tap
ping my pIcdSC slSllllCdnllyJ lHdG VIII SlOp
it. He is not to blame. He has only re-
sented an insult, which any Of you would
have done. You have all repeatedly insult
ed him because he has conducted himself
strangely. Let him explain his conduct,
and then perhaps we can make up our quar-
rel. He owes to you an explanation, if not
to you he certainly does to me. "And
now, sir, )" said |, turning to him, 81 demand
it as right
He hesitated moment.
"Come, my friend, y said I, ''let us have it,
whatever it is, and at once put and end to
the quarrel"
"Well gentlemen, " said he, 81 am not dis
posed to lay my private affairs open to the
public gaze, but suppose l must do it for
once. You must know, then, that from my