Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-03-02
THE GAME OF MORRIS !;
OR, LOVE IN A MAZE

At the age OF twenty-five, Charley Morris,
sound in health, whole in heart, and tull in
pockets, esteemed fimseli-and not without
rcason-one of the luckiest fellows in exist
cnc., which belief naturally induced a very
comfortable and contented state of mind.
when, therefore, it occurred to him, one fine
summer afternoon, to lose his way i'll the heart
Of tangled and not particularly pleasant piece
of woods in q romantic section OF the State of
New York, he viewed the matter quite philO-
sophically, merely remarking to himself:
swell, Charley, old fellow, you have made
Il precious fool of yourself, and probably have
All opportunity of trying the luxuries of moss
bed and stone pillow, unless something should
turn up in the shape Of shanty or farm house.
And he trudged undauiingly on over fallen
trunks and tangled brushwood, till, the trees
suddenly receding, and the uneven path wide
ming into pasSable road, he came in view OF
what the Juveniles call "a lady on horseback
The appearance which they presented was
decidedly peculiar for the lady, like most OF
her sex. having a will OF her own, while the
horse, an ugly brute, was evidently net lack
ing in the same quality, 1t so happened that
the two did not agree The quadruped, nav
ing the advantage of superior strength, had
planted himself in the middle of the road, and
converted himself into sort of whirligig, re-
yoIying with a rapidty that made Charley
dizzy, while the feminine alternately pulled
disconsolately at the rens, and beiabored the
refractory brute with her riding whip.
say feminine because that was really all
Charley was able to decide concerning her per-
sonalitv He saw trim little figure, and heard
a voice whose silvery tones would have melted
the heart of anything save the animal or which
shs was mounted. But an enormous bonnet,
a cross in shape, between Quaker hat ana
those In which the stricter members OF the
Methodist sect delight to array themselves, CT
fectually concealed her features, and 1t was
I1ry n n-
ciplc, rushed to the rescue, that he discovered
that, instead OF being the deacon's wife or
iuvaterats old maid as he feared, 1t was a
charming brunette, with sparkling eyes anu
ROSY cheeks that deepened considerably in hue
when he politely offered to assist her by lea"
ing her horse to her place of destination.
.sNo trouble at all, ma'm,'' he responded
10 some family urged objection on the part OF
the lady. 81 am only forlorn bachelor, II
search of some mythical parsonage named
farmer Hopper"
"Why. that's my fathcr!' - exclaimed the
damsel, and then was silent, bushlng at hel
own yiyacity. .
ha;ng a tradition current in Charley's family
nat bo had injured his precious health ove
his Studies. Though suspect punch and the
n,e of shades would have been the more cor
rect reading his fond father had bilietted nm
for months sojourn IN the country, aI li'
house OF the aforementioned larue, IioPPeI
who was an old and esteemed friend ana cor
respondent. And Charley, who would nave pre-
ferred Newport orSaratoga decideaiy was no.
little charmed to find his exile was 10 oe cnseI
ed by the presence of this pretty httie i,dIue le
Being charmed, it may be presumed ne wa
charming. At any rate, his fair comPahio'
continued to blush, (bewitchingly, as Charie;
thought, who was not accustomed to any sue
variations of color in his redowa and polk
partners.) till they reached the gate that ie'
TO the farm house. This was suostan'is !.
building, with an air oil tnrift ana Sr;, Gona,Gr.
f-ou ,be exquisite taste with which iowerIni
zines and crcepcrs had been trained over IL
rouch walls and around the broad, well-scouF