Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-04-11
Beginning Life !:
Or, Rolling ousr a0Hh Pretty Girl an a
Stream Of Water.

L
home, Boileau, we are told, was driven
into his career by the hand Of fate and
the peck of turkey. AtiIIa started in
life with no other cause and capital than
an old sword, which he was ddroit enough
to palm offFor the divine weapon of Mars;
and Robespierre owed his political career
to wetting his stockings, and there heard
the words which burn which fred his
soul, and determined his course ofEfe.-
My running away from home came from
q minor modification, caused by carry
ing a pretty girl over the brook.
Donald Lean and myself were good
friends at fourteen years of age, and we
both regarded with little more than friend
ship, pretty Helen Graham, 'our eldest
girl at school. We romped and danced
together, and this lasted for such length
Of time that it is with feelings Of bewilder-
ment that look back upon the mystery
of two lovers continuing friends. But
the time came, as come it must, when
Jealousy lither spark in my boyish bosom
and blew it into a consuming flame.
Well do remember how and when
the 'green-eyed perpetrated this incendia-
ry deed. 1t was on cold October even
ing, when Helen Donald and myself were
returning with our parents from a neigh
boring hamlet. AS We approached ford
where the water ran somewhat higher
than ankle deep, we prepared to carry
Helen across, as we were accustomed to
do, with hands enterwoVen, chair fash
ion,' and thus carried our pretty passen-
ger over the brook. Just as we were in
the middle of the water-which was cold
enough al that time to have frozen any
thing like feeling out of boys less hardy
than ourselyes-a faint pang ofjeaiousy
nipped my heart. Why it was / knew
not, for we had carried Helen fifty times
across the book ere now, without emo
ton, but this evening thought or fancled
that Helen gave Donald an undue pre-
ference by casting her pretty arm around
his neck, while she steaded herself on my
side by holding the cuff of my jacket.
No flame can burn so quickly or with
so little fuel as jealousy. Before we had
reached the opposite bank, 1 was wishing
Donald at the bottom of the sea. Being
naturally irnpetuous, | burst out with
'Ye need ma hand so gingerly, Helen,
as if ye fered fa'. can aye carry ye
lighter than Donald can half of ye.'
Surprised at the Vehemence Of my tone,
our queen enterposed with an admission
that we were both strong, and that she had
no idea Of sparing my powers. But Don
AIDS ire was kinded, and he utterly de-
MED that ! was at all qualified to com
pete with him in feats of carriage. On
such topics boys are generally emulous,
and by the time we reached the opposite
bank, it was settled that the point should
be determined by our singly bearing He
len across the ford in our arms.
Helen was to determine who had car
ried her most easily, and | settled with
myself privately in advance, that the one
who obtained the preference would really
be the person who stood highest in her
affections. The reflection stimulated me
to exert every effort, and | verify believe
to this day, that could have carried Don
aid and Helen on either arm like feath-
ers. But 1 must not 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 warmer love, and it was with
feelings unknown before that ] embraced
her lovely form, and felt the pressure Of
her cheek against mine. All went swim
mingly or rather wadingly, for minute.
But alas, in the very deepest part ofthe
ford, trod on a treacherous piece ofwood
which rested, suppose, on a smooth
stone. Over rolled, bearing Helen with
me, nor did we rise until fairly soaked
from head to foot.
I need not describe the taunts of Don
aid, or the more accusing silence of He
len. Both believed that had fallen from
mere weakness, and my rival demonstra-
ted his superior ability, bearing her for
long distauce on our homeWard path. As
we approached the house, Helen feeling
dry and better hunored, attempted 70
conciliate me. But preserved moody
silence. was mortified beyond redress.
That night packed up few things
and ran away. My boyish mind, sensi-
tive and irritated, exaggerated the mega
ton which it had received, and prompted
me to a course which fortunately led to
better results than usually attend such ir-
reguTarities. I went to EdiDburg, where 1
e.s1.,d -, ,,nnla j kind hearfad chiidlass