The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-04-23

heart already, for nothing but the pro.
misses it seemed to hold out.
Having placed his carpet,bag in safe.
keeping, he found it would be some time
yet before supper; SO, on consultation
with his feelings, he concluded that he
would find bis way down to the rivers
bank below the village street, and in
dulge in democratic wash: in other
words, a good plunge and swim. Tired
and dusty as he was, he started off OH
his hygienic errand. hoping TO feel in cx
cellent trim for his supper.
Perhaps half mile or more from the
street he saw beautiful little nook
bending. in from the rivers bank, where
he thought his good luck invited him.
He turned down to it. and found himseli
wholly concealed from the road, and from
every ordinary chance of detection and
disturbance. Disrobing himself as quick
as he could, he laid his clothes in Sc.
cure place and plunged in. ssa
Just about the same instant that he took
his delicious plunge in the July waters Of
the little river, a stranger OF about his
own size had been caught ilching sun
dry articles of household economy from
the dwellings of the good housewives in
the village, and had started IF in heed
less haste down tie street, at the cry
which was set up of +" Stop Mief I" He
darted away at such speed shat.no one
thought there was much use in pursuing
him, though they had so carefully mark
ed his dress and appearance that they
knew they would recognize him should
he turn up again.
The fellow was frightened nearly to
death. He felt certain he should be
caught, and knew already that people
must have started across the country to
head him off by the route he had taken
embling and uncertain what to do, he
plunged into the thicket by the roadside,
and came pat upon the heap of clothes
only few minutes before vacated by
our friend, Chester jerks. z
Well, if here aint prize {" he ex-
claimed to himself, lifting both hands,
81 couldn't ask anything more to my
mind ! = zs ~
And without single moments delay,
he proceeded to put off his own clothes,
and to put on the respectable suit he found
| lying near him. Of course his next
move was one as far distant as possible
from that locality. He struck out a path
across the fields, unwilling to trust his
person on the highway until night she uld
kindly come down and throw her pro.
tecting mantle over him.
In due time, Mr. Chester jerks hac
completed his tumblings and curvettings
his swashings and washings in the river
and took himself out of the current 10 tht
privacy of his chosen boudoir in the bush
es. He dried off carefully, and he rub
bed himself vigorously with the crash,
towel he had brought in his carpet-bag
4 /" Ah," said he aloud, when he was Who'll
Ily through, "sloa0 I, feel like another per
son! I feel clean I feel fresh ant
new Ii could only have the good lucI
to see Mary Maxwell as soon as I ge
through my supper, twill be as nea
what should like as anything could be !!
Theteupon he fell to. to dress himse
again. He picked up his shirt; yes, TIL
was still there, and it fitted him. N.
suspicious excited yet. He seized hi
drawers. They were all right. An
still no misgiving. He grabbed at h
trousers, and had fairly poked into on
leg of them, when cry of dismay e:
capped him. 7
g Great George of Oxford " he cal
! ed. What is all this -
! Quicker tben 9 wink, lie had drawn G
= l
T the trousers leg, and was holding up IL
t entire article for inspection His fat
i was long picture of despair without
q frame al s eaze
:, He reached down and poked over Il
remaining items of his wardrobe; The
J were no more his Than the trousers we
his that he held in his hand. They loo
! Jed thoroughly dingy, cheap, uninvitin
and unclean. They were not the cloth
It of decent gentleman at all, but rath
J the rig of some villainous pack pedlar.
e What to do-was the momentous que
g tion. The conclusion was very plai
U stern as it was, likewise. There was
II positive alternative but for him to put
'e these clothes at his hand, and tempora
n ly make the best of it. Perhaps the
was clothing store in the village. al
= he would shed his skin there as soon
D. he could find it. But it was a sickeni
ID qualm at his stomech that he slipped t
III garments on SO gipgerly. He thong
lis he should have preferred to wash tn,
ut out in the river first, but how could
az wait for them TO dry
all ~ n,.t tI T. g.