Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-10-13

had bathed his arm with the spirits Of harts-
horn.
This was too much for the nerves of poor
Bolus, and in the agony which followed. faint
ed. Here was another predicament. What
could do | could not run tor physician,
and leave Bolus insensible, SO again had re-
course to the treacherons ammonia; not, how
ever. until | had saturated his arm with lin
seed oil and lime water.
Under the influence of the restorative, he
soon recovered. and then came the tremendous
whacks | anticipated my fatal mistake would
produce although Bolus, who was worse
chemist than myself, always remained in igno-
rance as to the cause of the explosion
In month Bolus had recovered and could
again attend TO his regular business. l recci-
we'd the usual amount of whacks per diem, all
of which | aged to return in one way or
another with interest. | was then only niteen
years of age; but young as was, my heart
had been hardened and made resentiui by the
cruel treatment | experienced at the hahuS oil
Bolus. | had no pity, no rcmorse, and all my
thoughts were engrossed by schemes for re-
venge. / always had some new trick planned
and ready to be put into execution, and, with
the exception of one or two, such as adultcra-
ting Bolus's tea with senna, and his coffee with
aloes. l rarely repeated them.
Besides these j invented numerous ways OF
teasing him. When his tongue got started |
would whistle Yankee Doodle, and when he
struck me, would accidentally break bottle,
or graduate, spill some expensive solution
on the floor; by these and many other offences
the reader can easily form correct opinion OF
my character. | can now call 10 memory one
dav that [ accidentally let a bottle fall on Bo
lus' foot, scattering his clothes with sulphuric
/ acid he gave me j severe whipping, ana as
always moderated my revenge according to
! the amount of injury received, SO determined
! the punishment should be severe. AS the Tea-
| der will perceive, it was not painful, but was
/ at least r1rnypi; iDG and ridiculous. Inc next
| morning was the time fol its execution.
! Luckily had made up all unusually large
quantity of the tincturc of gals, and having
saturated his towel thoroughly, hung 1t mp
TO dry and then folded il up carefully and laid
| il in its usual place. then powdered some
nitrate of silver and mixing small quantity of
| the sulphate of iron with it, | threw in into his
washbasin and calmly awaited the result.
All the afternoon and evening was exceed
! ingly careful to perform his bidding with aiac-
rty and precision; and Bolus seemed to be
pleased with.my willingness, for as | was about
retiring for the night, he gave glass OF
root beer-a beverage in which had but lew
opportunities to indulge. However. the thots
of my revenge were sweeter than the beer ana
| his kindness had 40 effect whatever upon me.
| | then retired for the night, and, after re-
! freshing sleep, I arose and had the fire KIN
! died and the store scrupulously neat ere Boius
! made his appearance. Luckily the dye dId
| not color the skin Immediately, and Boius re-
| mained for a short time in sweet unconscious
ness of the trick that had been played upon
| him.
About eight O'Clock 1 was sent of an errand,
and was confident that before ! returned my
compound would have worked the desired ci-
| feet. | fingered on my way back to the store,
almost afraid to enter, but fearful lest my pro
| Ionged stay might create suspicion, | at last
made my appearance.
At first. did not credit my own senses;
did indeed intend to blacken Bolus's face, but
| did not intend to make tattoocd cannibal
/ of him but there he stood, the very picture
OF despair, striped and blacScr than any Eth
| opian [ had bched. First he would view
his hideous physiogomy IN the mirror, ana
/ then plunge his head in large tub of water,
which stood behind the counter. 1t was in
vain that | endeayored 10 strangle the laugh
| which spontaneously arose to my mouth my
risabie propcnsities were not to be subdued,
| and burst out in loud and prolonged ha
ha | could not help it. for never beheld a
more comical picture than Bolus presented, as
he stood behind the counter.
In all probability, Bous thought he was bad
enough without being laughed at, and he could
brook anything better than making his troub-
les the object of mirth or ridicule and seiZ-
ing the heaviest bottle near him, which hap
pened to be the suiphate OF quirine, worth 81,
he sent it whizzing at my head, but, lodging
it quickly, bang it went through an expensive
pane of glass and was smashed to atoms on the
sidewalks. OF course Bolus became more
enraged when he saw the d1meges his ssfOlly'
had cost him, but, crowd having collected at
the door, he obliged to retreat to his
sssanctum sanctorum."
1t was in vain that Bolus scraped and scrub
bed his hands and face with coarse towel, the
obstinate color still remained; but one morn.
! ing feeling, such as | never felt before
; Sprang up in my bosom, and dropped some
iodine OF potassium in his wash basin, and fol
month after, his appearance would lead :
person TO believe that he was fast recovering
from a severe attack the jaundice.
1t is useless to repeat the many tricks that
T l played during my apprenticeship, and alway:
at the expense Of poor Bolus; and will let i
suffice to say that they were numerous-but 4
, everything has an end, so has the first chapter
of this tale. BoluS soon died, and at the ag'
Y of twenty / entered college.