The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-04-29
IA Little moro Leg, Charley"
LEILA,

IA Little moro Leg, Charley"
The other evening, we chanced to meet
an old policeman, whose fun is as exhaust
less as his taste for S. O. p. brandy and
inhuhi,ahle sold rye" We kindly took
the old stager by the arm, and, after a few
preparatory remarks, asked him if lie had
anything new to tell. The sturdy old boy
surveyed us for some moments through
lens Of cut glass, and then smiled blanlly.
did lever tell you about Charley
B-'s fire-rope?' he asked, confident.
ally
Never" said we.
"Then let's take something said he,
sand you shall hear all about it."
The ex-poiceman did take something,
and then he said:
"Charley B., you know, was
capital fellow, that boarded in Amity place;
hut sicl sleeper never did see. Why,
that chap would 60 TO sleep with brass
band in each ear, and an old woman beat
ing tin-pan on his stomach. Well, Char
ley joined hose company, and had great
ideas Of running to fires; but his sleep
troubled him, and he sat up for two whole
nights, for fear that fire should break out,
and he not know it. At last he came to
me, for my beat lay right past his boarding.
house, and. says he:
"'Tom, I want you to do me favor
"'Spit it out says I.
"WeIl,' says he. I'll be darned if I'll lay
awake any longer, but I'm going to tie a
rope to one of my feet, and let it hang out
of the window at night. When there's a
fire. you just give the rope good pull, and
shant mind stan'ling something hot
"It's 60, my boy says I. Just hang
out your rope, and You shant sleep after the
first tap Of the bell
"Now, you see, the first night alarm in
that district after that, was on bitter cold
night, and made up my mind to warn,
myself at Charley's expense; so went to
his boarding house, and commenced peer
ing about for that rope. thought he ha(
forgot it. at first; but when got onto the
stoop, see it a hanging from second
story window. about halfway between tn,
end Of the house and the stoop railing.
allow does the natural fool expect M
to pull that says to myself.
"But got over the railing, and, with M
heels on the edge of the stoop. commences
reaching fur the rope. I managed to 81
hold of it, and was just givingit one savag
pull to relieve my feelings, when my heel
slipped, and away swung, like a kite hang
ing from roof The first thing hear
was like several claps Of small thunder, ant
then the rope give with a vengeance!
felt myself going down. until the tips Of m
boots just touched the airy pavement; an
? when looked up, hang it if there wasn
Charley, with the longest leg ever did se
i hanging out Of the window, and he strae
ding the sill lopsided like, and screamin
like a California monkey with his tail
the fire.
"Oh, murder fire! I'm dead !-quicl
Let 60, you fool! roared the sleepy fslle
"Now, you see, that made mo mad, b
q cause I'll done it all out OF kindness, and
}. held on like sticking plaster.
It "'Murder" yelled Charley.
t. "'A little more leg. Charley says
ct and then let 60, for the house WAS raise
G and crowd was collecting. They haul'
+. Charley in, with one leg about va
# longer than the other, and swearing till
a. was blue around the mouth. ! tell you,
f. didn't leave home for one week. and shou
1t not wonder if his tailor had to make hi
at some new pantaloons. he always thoug
10 that didn't mean it, concluded our
We o.6fcio friend, with an innocent wink.
n "Oh, Of course you didn'tT-N.