True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-01-06
FoR THE TRUE AMERICAN.
THE WILD MEN.
BY SENIOR.

Of hodT, successfully execnteu' Pet'
haps as-any that was ever undertaken,
We vOuch IS true, With the exception O
little embelishment which the writer
cOnsidered himself at liberty to use
The two "wild men" are yet living;
one Of them q citizen Of our own city;
the other. the worthy pastor OF little
congregation not far distant. Both OF
them will doubtless pardon the narrator
for publishing an account Of their youth
full prank. and can, if they will, bear wit
ness to the truth Of the facts recorded.
/ was yet boy when my parents re.
moved from the keystone Slate," and
settled near N, thriving village on
the banks Of the Little Beaver. With
this village all my earliest associations
are connected. There | studied my pro-
fessiou, in company with several others
and jolly time we had, for the students
characteristic-love Of fun-was pretty
strongly developed in all of us.
On bright spring morning, two OF my
I" cronies" were clambering the steep side
of the hill which formed the southern
bank of the creek that skirted the town.
They ascended slowly, assisting their
progress by means of the roots which ran
across, and the limbs which overhung
their path. Having gained the top they
passed along it until they reached a deep
ravine which divided the bill; leaPed
down from the brow upon a ,able-llke
stone, a few feet below; pushed by a
clump Of young hemlocks to their right
and entered the Rock House." This
was ledge of rocks crownng the hill
which idtted over in such a manner as 10
rolm secure and pleasant retreat from
sun and shower; hence its name. Il
was a place of frequent resort to the
young townsfolk, and to strangers who
usually left their names carved in 'ht
stone as mementos of their visits, Here
our student friends seated themselves, ba
red their heads to the cooling breeze
wiped the perspiration from their faces
and looked down in admiration upon thu
scene spread out beneath them.
And a glorious view it was Abov'
and around them waved the leafy bough
of the oak and the hemlock /; directly be
low them, the waters Of Little Reave
ran merrily along, making sweet mus
as il danced over its rocky bed, or dashe'
against the piers Of the bridge whicl
spanned its breadth, and linked the vii
lage with the hill. To the right was IN
town, its spires glistening in The mornin
sun, and its busy populace hurrying shro
ils streets. Before them was tract Q
meadow land, stretching up the creek
: but gradually rising into a rolling upland
on which were standing some charming
residences. Glancing upward or down
ward, the creek was lost either way, an
there upon its bank, a little above Then
d sat Schellzer, tile old German Fisherman
patiently watching bis lines, in an'lcipa
ton of "foine boile.' , -. - 80.
As they were standing sdmirlng til
scene, a mischievous smile passed owe
the tatures Of one of them. la
Graham, said ne, +" would you lik
some sport this fine morning = 'f
"Yes indeed, John. I'm in for any
thing in tha, line. How are veto hav
il! You've hit on something, I'm SURF
by your looks. Out with it," 49,. Ip4
=" You know how old Scbeltzer, ther
breads crazy people, or as he calls then
Z the void mensh." Now suppose "
90 crazy for awhile, dtry the old gent
! nerves, a little. What say you, hey !"
GOOD, good agreed !" shouted Gr
ham, clapping his bands. and fairly ski
3 ping with delight; at least, he vouI
have skipped, had he had little MOI
room.
O. A few moments suficed for " CRAFTY
ING their costume" as John very gravel
termed the process of turning their pan
: inside out, lucking the legs into the
f. boots, and binding their pocket handke
%. chiefs about their heads. Their hat
:, and vests, they threw aside as cumbrou
," "How will do. Jack :" asked Gr
Sc ham, when they had completed their ta
w let. 80 sIA .fefl.ni sa" Z.
i'd Glorious, glorious! You are qui
10 a respectable looking candidate for Be
~ ~ lam. Presto, change! old fellow your
ell crazy now, recollect; sofollow me-"
lh With an unear.hly shrek he leap'
ds from the rock. Scheltzer started to f
in. feet, and looked up, just as John, hav'
I, caught by an over.hanging limb. W
A." swinging himself down the bill, and
m' Graham, with yell, if possible, me
ms hideous and less earthly, was jumping
in. in obedience to his comrades " follt
10 me-" e 5'rt .'t#.. s. 81 -
No. For q moment, the old fisherman sto
BAT spell-bound, gazing in mute horror up
a.. j. the wild figures rapidly approaching hl
80 then dropping his rod. plunged into
creek, splashed across to the oppos
I'LL bank, and fed as for dear life. On
in ran at topmost speed, and never slacke
old ed his pace, until he was stopped she
of dripping and muddy. pale and .rembl!l
~ by a group of idlers, standing around
w. Of the village groceries, who greeted b
in' with loud roars Of laughter. Is. 1s
ore {" What's the matter g. asked one.
ne. No answer but q solemn shake Of
: head, and q frightened look oVerhis shc
Wy der riOwsrd the hill. a.. s6s .4w
lrs, "Have you seen ghostl' inqull
ght another. sh!rHa d 3!g.i va ggE &"
lat "Orthe Devill' said third nr,
~ NV .l..., Ioh Lnn,v nichi