The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-11-05
g .4leasant ShettB.
BEGINNING LIFE,

-Fs8 Hs& asf Oh
ROaEfng ever with "a Pretty Girl i'm
a.ld "it tllc WATER

satf a'1is the water
began life by running from home. Bolieau,.
we'are told, was driven into his career by the
hand Of fate and the peck Of a Turkey. Attilla
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
Robespierrc owed his political career, to wet
ting his stockings, and there heard the words
that burn which fred his soul, and determined
hiscourse in lie. Myrunning away from home
camelson a minor modification, caused by car
rying pretty girlover the brook
Donald Lean and myself were good friends at
fourteen years Of age, and we both regarded,
withlttle more than friendship pretty Helen
Grahaui, @our eldest grip at school. Weromp-
ed and danced together and this lasted for such
a length Of time that it is with feelings Of be-
wilderment that | look back upon the mystery
of twoioyers continuing friends. Bat the time
came, as come it must, when jealousy lit hef
spark nmy boyish bosom, and blew it into a
consuming fame.
Well do | remember how and when the
green eyen pcrpctrated this incendiary dead
1t was cold October evening, when lielen, Do
nalbairl myself were returning with our par
parents from aneighboring hamlet AS we ap
proachela ford where The water ran somewhat
higher than ankle deep we prepared to carry
Heensacross, as we were accustomed to do, with
our hanls interviewer, "chair fashion," and thus
carried our pretty passenger over tbs brook
Just as we were in the nlSdle OF the water
which was cold enough at that time to have fro
zen anything ike feeling out Of boys loss hardy
than ourselves-a faint pang Of jealousy nipped
my heart Why it was knew not, for we had
carried Helen fifty times across the brook ere
now, without emotion, but'this evening tho't
or fancied 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 ofmy jacket.
No flame can burn 50 quickly or with so little
fuelsas jealousy. Before we had reached the
opposite bank, was wishing Donald at the bot
burst out with
"Yeneed no hand sac gingerly, Helen, as
ye feared la' can aye carryye lighter thar
Donald can half OF ye."
Surprised at the yohomence of my tone, ou
. queen interposed with an admission that We
were both strong, and that she had no idea 0
sparing nay powers. But Donalds fire was kin
died, and he utterly denied that was at al
qualified to compete with him in feats Of carry
ing. On such topic boys are generally emu
lous and by the time we reached the oppost
bank, it was settled that the point should be de
termined by our singly bearing Helen across til
the ford in our arms.
Helenwas to determine who had carried he
the most easily, and | settled withmyself priv
ately advance, that the one who obtained th
preference would really be the person who stoo
highest in her affections. The reflection stiln
ulated me to exert every effort, and verify be
leve to this day, thatI could have carried Don
aid or Helen On either arm like feathers. Blu
Imust not anticipate
We suffered all the rest efthe party to pas
quietly along and then returned to the ford.
lifted Helen up with the utmost care, and ca,
ried her like an infant to the middle of the wal
er. Jealousy had inspired warm love and wa
with feelings unknown before that | embrace
her lovely form, and felt the pressure ofhe
cheek against mine. All went swimminsly, {
rather wadingly for minute. But alas, in tn
deepestpart Of the ford, trod ona treacheror
piece Of wood, which rested | suppose on
smooth stone. Over rolled bearing Hcle
with me, nor did we rise until fairly soaked lrol
head to foot
Ineed not.descrbe the taunts of Donald, nc
the accusing silence of Helen. Both believe
that | had fallen from mere weakness and m
rivaldemonstated his superior ability, bearin
for q long distance on our homeward path. A
we approached the house, Helen heing dry an
better hnmored attempted to conciliate me-
But preserved moody silence. Twas mort
fed beyond redress.
That night packed up few things and ra
away My boyish mind, sensitive and irrtato
exaggerated the negation il had received, al
prompted me to a course which furtunately le
to better results than usually attend such i
rcgularities went to. Edinburgh, where
found an uncle, q kind hearted, childless d
man who gladly gave me u place in house, ar
employed ii his business Wealth flowed
upon him. became hispsrtner went abrot
---resded for years On the continent; ana final