Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-01-29
BEGINNING Life.

began life by running away from home.
Boileau, we are told, was driven into his
career by the hand of fate and the peck of =
turkey. Atilla started 10 life with no other
cause or capital than an old sword. which
he was adroit- enough to palm off for the
divine weapon of Mars; and Robespierre
owed his political career to wetiing bis
Stockings: aud tffFFre heard athe words which
burn," which fired his soul. and determined
his course in life By running away from
home arose from a minor m,rti6cafion.
caused by carrying a pretty girl over the
brook. . .
Donald Lean and myself were good
friends at fourteen years of sge, and we
both regarded with little more than :rieni-
ship pretty Helen Graham, "our eldest e;iz
al school. We rompPd and danced togeth-
er, and this lasted for such length OF time,
that il is with feelings oil bewilderment that
look upon the mystery of two lovers o}n-.
tinuing friends. But the time came, q
come it must, when hi. jealousJ lit her spark
in my boy:sh bosom, and blew it into con-
suming flame.
Well do remember how and when the
"green-eyed" perpetrated this incendiary
deed. 1t was on cold October evening,
when Helen, Donald. and myself were re-
turning with cur parents from a noighbor-
ing hamlet. AS We approached ford where
the water ran somewhat higher Than ankle
deep, we prepared TO carry Helen across,
as we were accustomed /. do, with hands
interviewer, n, .'chair-fashion," and thus car.
ried our pretty passenger over the brook =
Just as we were in the middle OF water
which was cold enough at that time to have
lrJzel anything like feeling out of boys less
hardy than ourselves-a faint Pang OF jeal-
ousy nipped my heart. Why it was know
not, lor we had carried Helen fifty times
across the brook ere now, without emotion;
but this evening thought OF faucied that
Helen gave Donald an undue preference,
by casting her pretty arm around his neck,
while she steadied herself on my size by
holding the cuff of my jacket.
No flame can burn so quickly, or little
fuel, as Jealousy. Before. we had reached
the opposite bank; was wishing Donald
at the "bottoL OF the sea-" Being naturally
impetuuus, burst out with
"You need ma hand sac gingerly, Helen,
as If ye feared fa'. can aye carry We
lighter than Donal can half Of ye..''
Surprised ut the vehemence of my tone,
our queen interposed with an admission
that we were both strong, and that she had
no idea OF sparng my powers. But Don
aids ire was kindled, and he utterly denied
that was at all qualified to complete with
him in leafs of carriage. On such topics
boys age generally emulous, and by the
zine we had reached the opposite bank, it
was settled that the point should b. deter
mined by our singly bearing He:en across
the tord in our arms.
Helen was to determine who had carried
her most eusily; and settled with myself
privately IN advance, that the one who had
obtained the preference would really be the
person who stood highest in her affections.
The reflection stimulated me 10 exert every
effort, and verify believe to this day, that
| could have carried Donald and Helen on
each arm like feathers. But mus, not an
ticipate.
We suffered all the rest of the party to
pass quietly along, and then returned to the
ford. lifted Helen with .he utmost care,
aud carried her like an infant TO the middle
Of the water. jealousy had inspired warm
love, and it was with feelings unknown be-
fore, that embraced her beautiful form and
ielt the pressure of her cheek against mine
All went swimmingy, or rather @edingy,
for minute; but alas, in the very deepest
part of the ford, l, ,rod on treacherous bit
of wood, which rested, suppose, on a
smooth stone. Over Irolled, bos-;" =
win me- nor d'd "" ...g helen
@ 'ro"' =. arse until fairly soaked
st -. mead 10 fool, e.s :. n,,,,s
I need not describe the taunts Of pona'D'
or The more accusing a silence OF he'en,m n.
Bot6 believed th.>t had fallen 'so@ "a W. hi.
superior abby, bearing s' in his arms '''