The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-02-19
BEGINNING LIFE
OR, ROLLING OVER WITH A PRETTY GIRL IN A
STREAM or WATER.

STREAM or WATER.
| began life by running away from home.
Boileau, We are told, wps driven into his ca
reer BY the hand OF fate and the neck of .
turkey. Atilla started in life with no other
cause and capital than an old sword, which
he was adroit enough to palm Of for the d.
vine weapon Of Mars. And Robespierre
owed his political career to wetting his stock
ings, and then heard "the words which
burn" which fred his soul and determined
his course in life. Ny running away from
home arose from minor modification, csus-
ed by carrying pretty girl over brook.
Donald Lean and myself were good friends
at fourteen years Of age, and We both regard
ed with a little more than friendship pretty
Helen Graham, sour oldest grip at school.
We romped and danced together, and this
lasted for such a length Of time that 1t il
with feelings Of bewilderment that ! look
back upon the mystery Of two lovers contin-
uing friends. But the time came, rs come it
must, when jealousy lit her spark in my boz
som, and blew il into consuming fame.
Well do ] remember how and when the
"green eyed" perpetrated this incendiary
deed. Ii was on cold October evening,
when Helen, Donald and myself, were re-
turning with our parents from . neighboring
hamlet. As we approached n ford where the
water ran somewhat higher than ankle deep,
we prepared TO carry Helen across, rs we
were accustomed to do, with hands inter-
woven, s'chair fashion," and thus carried
our pretty passenger 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 feeling out Of boys less
hardy Than ourselves faint pang OF jeal-
ousy nipped my heart. Why It was knew
not, for we had carried Helen Efty times
across the brook ere now, without emotion,
but this evening | thought or fanced that
Helen gave Donald an undue preference by
casting her pretty arm around his neck, while
she steadied herself on my side by holding
the cuff Of my jacket.
No fame can burn as quickly or with so lit
tie fuel as jealousy. Before we had reached
the opposite bank, was wishing Donald at
the bottom OF the sea. Being naturally i'm
| petuous, burst out with:
"fou need ma baud sac gingcrly, as il We
feared . IN. ! can carry ye lighter than
Donald can the half o. YEP
Surprised at the vehemencc OF my tone our
queen interposed, with an admission that We
were both strong, and that she had no idea
OF sparing my powers. But Donald's ire
was kindled, and he utterly denied that was
ut all qualified to compete with him in feats
OF Carriage. On such topics boys are gen.
orally emolous, and by the time We had
reached the opposite bank it was settled that
the point should be determined by our singly
bearing Helen across the ford in our arms.
Helen was to determine who carried her
most easily, aud settled with mysolf pri-
i tall lie hat the swh rkX
ed the preference would really be the person
who stood highest in her affections. The re-
lection stimulated me to use every effort,
and verify believe to this day that could
have carried Donald and Helen on eithe,
arm like feathers. But l must not antici-
pate.
We suffered all the rest Of the party to
pass quietly along, and then returned to the
ford. l lifted Helen with the utmost care
and carried her like an infant to the middle
Of the water. Jealousy had inspired Z
warmer love, and it was with feclings M
known before that embraced her beautifu
form, and felt her cheek against mine. AL
went swimmingly, or rather wsdeingly for {
minute. But alas in the very deepest par,
OF the ford, trod on treacherous bit oil
wood, which rested, | suppose, on . smooth
stone. Over | rolled, bearing Helen viii
me, nor did we rise until fairly soaked from
ncaa TO loot.
/ need not describe the taunts Of Don aid
or the more accusing silence Of Helen. Boil
believed that l bad fallen from mere weak
ness, and my rival demonstrated his supe.
rior ability BY bearing her for long dis
lance on our homeward path. Az wo ap
preached the house, Helen, feeling dry AND
better humored, attempted to conoiliats me
But preserved = moody silence. Wal
mortified beyond rsdress.
That nigh. packed up few things AND
ran away. My 'boyish mind, sensitive and
irritated, exaggerated the indignity which Il
had received, and prompted me 20 : coars.
which fortunately led me TO better result.
than usually attsnd such irregularities.
went to Edinburgh, WHARF found N uncle,
a kind hearted childless man, Who gladly
gave me plspe Ia his hcnss, and employ 81
me in his business. Wealth flowed n upon