The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-04-23
FRANK MILLETs REVENGE;
TIE BIG JUMP
BY JUNICS.

anu SbaDuS yet II Ollc VI tuc llttIe VII
lagos Of the Buckeye State, an old
: rough, rickety- looking building which
, !, any of the people in the ncighborhoot
would have told the inquirer was &c tn
store" In this old building or store
there vas wont to meet about six nights
out of every week, dozen er two of a!
,, good natured, ugly, and green lot o.
chaps as could be scared up between
Maine and Texas.
Among these characters was Bot
Westley, who seemed to never enjoy
himself as we'll as when engaged in some
scheme to play off his jokes, on some
one grcener than himself Many is the
threshing poor Bob was threatened by
his luckless victims; but somehow he
always managed to get off with whole
hide, and a sound head.
This village store, like great many
others of it's class, contained two very
necessary, might say Indispensable
articles, to render it q favorite resort
for he boys. The first of these was a
good natured storekeeper, and the other
was cigars; and many, many is the joy
GUS peal of laughter that went up with
the blue smoke, that curled above our
heads and spread its rank odor among
the rusty tinware and cracked looking
glasses that decorated the ceiling. As
luck would have it, four of the hardest
cases in the crowd had to go nearly the
same road on their way to and from the
store. Among this croa0d was Tom
Evans, Bob Wesuy and Frank MiIlet.
Frank was as daring fellow as we had
in the crowd; and, when there was any
fun on hands, was generally selected as
our leader. Many is the Hollow-eve
ramble we had under his guidance-ta-
king off wagon-wheels, putting plows in
the tops of cherry trees, and penning in
luckless- calves until their only mode of
egress would have been through little
hole at the top of rail fence, some fif-
teen feet from the groun d-wos some of
the ways in which we would employ our
selves at such times. But from some
unaccountable cause, Frank had fallen
in love with the prettiest girl in the
neighborhood, and of late his visits to
the store had been less and less fire.
quent, until, at the time of our story,
his absence was looked on as matter of
course. Between Bob Westlcy and
Frank Millet there had always existed
the warmest friendship; but Bob's love
of tricks would not let such an opportu-
nifty as was now offered pass without
giving Frank specimen of his genius.
Atthis time there was regular sing
ing school in the neighborhood, and
Frank made practice of walking home
with Mary Collins as regular as the eve
nings came. Between the school-house
10 which the singings were held and
Mary's home, there was rapid little
stream, running between soft clay banks,
and, at the place ofcrossing, was almost
twenty feet wide. This stream was
spanned by rough-hewn log. Bob's
plon was, that we should cut this log in
such manner that when Frank and
Mary should cross, their united weight
would break the log and precipitate
them into the stream. Of course we all
gave our consent; and, on the appointed
night, as soon as we found convenient
time slipped out of the house and made
our way to the log. Bob had every thing
prepared, and three or four of US turned
over the log while he, saw in hand, wa
ded into the stream and commenced
operations The water was almost at
freezing point, but still he sawed away
until he declared his toes were freezing
fast to one another; however, he got it
done at last, and whilst he slipped on
dry socks and boots, VIC rolled the log
back in its place.
We had hardly finished before ap-
preaching voices warned us to conceal
ourselves. Pretty soon Frank and
Mary were seen emerging from the mar
row lane and entering the path which
led to the log. Soon they reached it,
and Frank offered Mary his hand; but
scarcely had they proceeded one-third
of the way before the log commenced
cracking beneath their feet. 1t seemed,
however, as if Frank comprehended in a
moment what was wrong; for, springing
quickly into the water, he caught Mary
in his arms just as the log fell heavily
into the stream. Frank did not stop to
look but bearing Mary to the opposite
side, he placed her en- the bank, and,
springing up after her, they proceeded
on their way. So far we had been get
ting the worst of the bargain and iu
no very good humor with ourselves for
engaging in such an undertaking, we
proceeded homeward, agreeing that,
should Frank charge US with the affair,
we should deny having had any part in
it. Bob himself was disheartened at
the i'll success of his plot; and his mood
mess threw gloom over the rest of the
company.
! The next night saw Frank at the