The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-11-11

IN blank dIsmGy.
"What shall we do ?'' exclaimed 81
las.
| az don't know returned Jonas, "un
| less we take fists for it.'
I "But I can't fight so, I've got an aw
full felon on my right forefnger, ant
thatlI be in the way.''' Silas evidentl.
felt bad about it.
"Well, then, suppose We kick it out?'
/ "I'm sorry that I can't accommodate
you, but my feet are SO covered will
eorns that it's impossible; I'll bite will
ye, and that's the best 1 can do"
81 should be glad to bite, but the
truth is my front teeth are all false
ones-cost fifty dollars-and kinder
don't like to spile 'em."
"What shall we do, theu?" asked 81.
las, in despair. -
"Let's sit down here on this log and
consider the matter; I'm tired'' Jonas
red, perspiring face spoke more plainly
than his tongue. So the men sat down
on the two extreme ends of the log, and
eyed each other for awhile in silence
At length Silas rose
"Look here, neighbor Whitcomb, what
if We should make up? I hadb't any
business to say anything about your
boot-jack and | m sorry did. I don't
know but your jacks fine thing"
Whitcomb sprang to his feet and
grasped Jonas hand.
"Don't say word about it, neighbor
Jonas; it's /, only 1, that's to blame. I
ought to have been ashamed to have got
put out at so small thing; it was notbin'
but the truth, either. II ask your
forgiveness"
"No, neighbor Whitcomb, it's I that
should ask yoasr forgiveness. I'm the
only one that's to blame, and I feel
heartily ashamed of myself I could
crawl into holler log and stay there a
fortnight, if it would only undo what
I've done"
"My dear friend, I beg leave to as
sure you that it is I, not you, that is in
error, and"
"I tell you, Whitcomb, it is no such
thing. It's all my fault; and I am SO
ashamed that I could
"I am one that ought to creep in the
hollow log, and stay there till 1 learn
better than to treat good neighbor in
such a shameful way. I'd no business
to get mad with you for
eyes, you did, too ! You did just
right-just as any Christian man would
have done, and, now, as it's my fault
"It amt SO / tell you that I'm the
one that's to blame. It's all my un-
goEernable temper. I've get the ug-
hest temper of any man in Wheat
void"
"Why, neighbor WhitcOmb, your tenn
per can't hold candle to mine! I was
alters called the quarrelsomest boy in
school, and you know it. So it's me,
and not you, that ought to apologize"
cts false And if you don't stop
contradicting me, I'll let you know I've
got temper worth having; I'd just as
leave fight about tempers as boot jacks -
Whitcomb was getting slightly exasper-
ated
$50 had l." cried neighbor Jonas, and
at it they went, pulling, striking, kick
ing, cutting and biting. Felous, false
teeth and corns we're forgotten, and
there was general knock down. Jonas
rolled over in the mud, with Whitcomb
uppermost or "toppermost," as he after.
ward expressed it to his wife; notwith
standing his advantage, he managed tc
bite piece out of Whitcomb's left ear
and Whiteomb very kindly returned the
compliment by imprinting glorious
/ scratch on Jonas temple.
The contest lasted until the strength
of the champions was completely spent
Jonas was lying submissively in q hel:
low ditch half filed with frogs, mud
snakes and water--the ditch, not Jonas
while Whitcomb was romantically
situated, his head resting on rotten
stump, and his feet hanging gracefully
in neighboring thorn bush.
There was long silence over Deacon
| Reeds "tater patoh," if We except a
little hard breathing proceeding from
| the thoraxes of our exhausted friends
but at length Whitcomb called out faint
ly-
"Jonas?"
"Welll'' te-- L--
"Let's get up and go home"
agreed. But low are we to do it?''
Poor Jonas was evidently in the slough
of dependency"
"Wait little, and we'll feel better.
Did scratch your face bad?"
"No. no, nothing OF the least conse-
quence. Did I bite your ear bad?"
"Don't mention it, my dear Jonas, it
amt worth thinking Of; I shouldn't
wonder if it was nigh healed up by this
time. But come, you crawl ont of the
ditch, while I get my feet clear of this
bush. It strikes me we can help one
another-that's it-there, I'll meet you
half way"
The two worthless crept out together,
shook hands, and, after great deal of