Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-01-09
miscellaneous.
BEGINNING LIEE

OR, ROLLING OVER WITH A PRETTY GIRL IN
srREAM or wArER.
| began life by running away from home
Boiloau, We are told, was driven into his ca
rccr by the hand of fate and the peck of a
turkey. Atilla started in life with no other
cause and capital than an old sword which he
was adroit enough to palm off for the divine
weapon of Mars and Robcspicrro owed his
political career to wetting his stockings, and
there "heard the words which burn" which
fired his soul, and determined his course in
life My running away from home came from
a minor modification, caused by carrying a
pretty girl over the brook.
Donald Leon and myself were good friends
at fourteen years of age and we both regard
ed, with little more than friendship, pretty
Helen Graham, "our eldest girl at school.
We romped and danced together. and this
lasted for such length of time that it is with
feelings of bewildcrment that l look back up
on the mystery of two lovers continuing
friends. But the time came, as come 1t must,
when jealousy lit her spark in my boyish boz
som. and blew it into a consuming flame.
Well do | remember how and when the
green eyed perpetratcd this incendiary deed.
II was on a cold October evening. when Hell
en-, Donald and myself were returning with
our parents from ncighboring hamlet As
we approached ford whore the water ran
somewhat higher than ankle deep, we prepar
ed to carry Helen across as we were accus-
toned to do, with hands interviewer, "chair
fashion, and then carried orr pretty passen-
ger over the brook just as we were in the
middle Of the water-which was cold enough
at that time to have frozen anything like feel
ing out of boys less hardy than ourselves
faint pang of jealousy nippod my heart Why
It was ! knew not, for We had carried Helen
fifty times across the brook ere now, without
emotion, but this evening / thought OF ianci-
ed that Helen gave Donald an undue prefer
ence by casting her pretty arm around his
neck, while she stoadied herself on my side
by holding the cuff of my jacket.
No fame can burn quickly or with SC
little fuel jealousy. Before We reached
the opposite bank, was wishing Donald al
the "bottom of the sea- Being naturally
impetuous, | burst out with
''Ye need ma hand sac gingerly, Helen, az
if ye feared IA. | can aye carry ye lighter
than Donald can half of ye"
Surprised at the yehemenco of my tone
our queen inteposed with am admission tina
we were both strong, and that she had n,
idea of sparing my powers. But Donald
ire was kindled, and he utterly denied that
was at all qualified to compete with him il
ieats of carriage. On such topics boys arr
generally emulous, and by the time we reache,
the opposite bank, it was settled that tina
point should be determined by our singl
bearing Helen across the ford in our arms
Helen was TO determine who had carried he
most easily, and ! settled with myself private
ly in advance that the one who obtained tn
preference would really be the person VIII
stood highest in her affections The renec
ton stimulated me to exert every effort am
verify believe to this day that could hav
carried Donald and Helen on either arm iii,
feathers. But ! must not anticipate.
We suffered all the rest of the party to pas
quietly along, and then returned TO the fore
/ lifted Helen with the utmost care. and cai
ried her like an infant 20 the middle of tn
water. Jealousy had inspired a warmer Low,
and it was with feelings unknown before thu
| embraced her lovely form, and felt the pre-
sure of her cheek against mine All wer
swimingly, or rather wadingly, for a minut
But alas, in the deepest part of the ford,
trod on treacherous piece Of wood, whiC
rested, | suppose, on smooth stone Oy
rolled, bearing Helen with me, nor did "
rise until fairly soaked from head to foot.
| need not describe the taunts of Donul
OF the more accusing silence of Helen. Bot
believed that had fallen from mere weakness
and my rival demonstrated his superior abil
ty, bearing her for long distance on OF
homeward path As we approached the hous
feeling dry and better humored, she attempt,
to conciliate me. But preserved amoody +
lence. ! was mortified beyond redress
That night packed up few things an
ran away. My boyisb mind, sensitive and
ritated, exaggerated the negation which il HI
received and prompted me TO a course viii,
fortunately led TO better results than genera
ly attend such Irregularities | went to r.
inburgh, where found an uncle, kind heal
cd, childless man, who gave me a place in i
house, and employed me in his business.
Wealth flowed in upon him. became
partner-wont abroad--resided four years
the continent; and finally returned to Sec
land, rich, educated, in short, everything b
married.