New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-01-19

OR, ROLLING OVER WITH A PRETTY GIRL IN A
STREAM OF WATER

o.. Beginning Life.
OR, ROLLING OVER WITH PRETTY GIRL IN A
STREAM OF WATER.
Ibegan life Drumming away from home. Botleau,
told, driven into his career by the hand of
fate and the peck of turkey. Ata started in life
with no other cause and capital than old sword,
which he was adroit enough to palm off for the
divine weapon of Mars. And Robespierre owed his
political career to wetting his stockings. and there
heard &c the words which burn which fired his soul
and determined his course in life. My running away
from home arose from minor modification, caused
by carrying pretty girl over brook. ...--.
Donald Lean and myself were good friends at four.
teen years Of age, and both regarded with little
more than friendship pretty Helen Graham, q our
Oldest girl at school, We romped and danced toget
en- and this lasted for such length of time that it is
with feelings of bewiderment that look back upon
the mystery of two lovers continuing friends. But
the time came, come it must, when jealousy lit her
spark in my bosom, and blew it into consuming
flame. ..,
Well do 1 remember how and when the &c green
eyed' perpetrated this incendary deed. 1t was on a
cold October evening, when Helen, Donald and myself
were returning with our parents from neighborng
hamlet. As we approached a ford where the water
ran somewhat higher than ankle deep, we prepared
to carry Helen across, as were accustomed to do
with hands interviewer, g chair fashion," and thus
carried onr pretty passenger over the brook Just
we were in the middle of the water-Wlich was cold
enough at that time to have frozen anything like
feeling out of boys less hardy than ourselves faint
pang of jealousy nipped my heart. Why it was l
knew not for we had carried Helen fifty times across
the brook ere now, without emotion but this evening
thought or fancied that Helen gave Donald an I'M
due preference by casting her pretty arm around his
neck, while she steaded herself on my side by held
ing the cuff Of my Jacket
No flame can burn so quickly Or with so little fuel
as Jealousy. Before reached the opposite bank,
was wishing Donald at the bottom of the sea. Being
naturally impetuous, burst out with:
q Ye need ma baud sac gingerly, Helen, as If We
feared IA, can aye carry ye lighter than Donald
can the half O ye.H
Surprised at the vehemence 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 ire kndled, and he utterly
denied that was at all qualified to compete with him
in feats of carriage On such topics boys are gene
rally emulous, 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 arms.
\ Helen was to determine who had carried her most
easily, and settled with myself privately, in adj
vance that the who had obtained the preference
world really be the person who stood highest in her
affections The reflection stimulated me to every
effort, and verify believe to this day that | could
have carried Donald and Helen on either arm like
feathers. But must net anticipate.
We suffered all the rest OF the party to pass quietly
along, and then returned to the ford lifted Helen
with the utmost care and carried her like an infant
to the middle of the water. jealousy had inspired a
warmer love, and it was with feelings unknown before
that embraced her beautiful FORM and felt the pres
sure of her cheeks against nine. All went swim
mingy, Or rather wadngly, for a minute But alas !!
in the very deepest part Of the ford, trod on
treachcrols bit of wood, which rested, | suppose
on smooth stone. Over I rolled, bearing Helen
with me, nor did we rise until fairly soaked from head
to foot
! need not describe tie taunts of Donald, Or the
more accusing silence of Helen. Both believed that
had fallen from mere weakness, and my rival demon
strated his superior ability by bearing her for long
distance on our homeward path. As we approached
the house. Helen, feeling dry and better humored at
tempted to conciliate NE. But preserved a moody
silence. was mortified beyond redress
That night packed up a few things and ran away.
My boyish mind, sensitive and irrtated, exaggerated
the indignity which it had received and prompted
me TO course which fortunately led me to better re.
suits than usually attended such Irregularities went
to Edinburgh, where found an uncle, knd-hearted
eehdess, man, who gladly gave me place in his
house, and employed ME in his business. Wealth
flowed in upon him. l became his partner-went
four years on the continent: and
finally returned to Scotland, rich, educated in short
everything but married.
One evening while at ball in Glasgow, was
struck by young lady OF unpretending appearance,
but whose remarkable beauty and heightened express
sion indicated mind of more than ordinary power.
| was introduced, but the Scottish names had long
been unfamiliar to my ear and could not catch hers.
1t was Helen something, and there was something in
the face, too, that seemed Notwithstanding sug-
gestve of pleasure and pain.
But we became we'll acquainted that evening.
learned without difficulty her history. She was from
the country, had been educated, her parents had lost
their property and she was now the governess of n
family of the city.
l was fascinated with her conversation, and was
continually reminded by her grace and refinement of
manner that she was capable of moving with dstin-
gushed success in a far higher sphere than that
which fortune seemed to have allotted her. am
naturally neither talkatve nor prone to confidence
but there was that in this young lady which inspired
both and conyersed with her as | had never con-
versed with any. Her questions of the various conn
tries with which was familiar, indicated remarka-
ble knowledge of literature and incredibestore
information
We progressed in intimacy and as our conversation
turned the causes which induced SO many to leave
their native land, laughingly remarked that owed
my own travels to falling with pretty girl into
ford.
had hardly spoken these words, ere the blood
mounted to her face, and was succeeded by quite a
remarkable paeness. Iattributcd this to the heat OF
the rjom-laughed-and at her request, proceeded to
give the details of my ford adventure with Helen
Graham, which did, painting in glowing colors the
amiability OF my love.
Her mirth during the recital became almost ire,
presSible. At the conclusion she remarked
Mr. Roberts, is it possible that you have forgotten
me =
| ga2ed an nstaut-remembercd--a was dumb
founded The lady with whom ! had become &C
quainted was Helen Graham herself.
hate, and so do you reader to needlesSly prolong
a story. We were soon maTied-Heen and I made
our bridal tour to the old place As we approached
1t in our carriage, greeted stout fellow working III
the field, who seemed to be better sort Of laborer
or perhaps small farmer by inauiring some partcu
lars relating to the neighborhood He answered well
enough, and ! was about to give him Il sixpcnce
when Helen stayed my hand, and cried in the ole
style
"Hey,.Donald, mon, dinna We ken yer old fren's ?
| The man looked up in establishment. 1t was Don
aid Lean. His amazement at our appearance was
heightened by its style and it was with the greatest
difficulty that we could induce him to enter our car
rage and answer our numerous queries AS tc cid
| friends. ...
Different men start in life y different ways be
| leve. however, that mine is the only instance OF
| record OF gentleman who owes wealth and happi
ness to rolling over with pretty girl in stream O
water.
BELLE BRlTrAN's DEFINlTIoN OF LovE.-We fnt
the following in the New York Mirror:
A lovelyaady living in the far West,
4" Like youthful hermftess
Beaateous in wilderness"