The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-12-25

n idle or dissolute company; never play
ID billiards in the tavern, was always
posted on all subjects of history and
philosophy, and stood at the head of the
academy as a scholar. She lamented
at his gawky ways, and sometimes Won
dered if something could not be done
to remedy them, and she would determ-
inc not to laugh at him again but the
next time she would witness one Of his
mistakes, her merry laugh would burst
forth. i
As we werc saying, Eli appeared
He had knocked on the knocker, and
then, having espied the bell handle, and
thinking that he should have pulled
that instead, he grasped it and gave it
a jerk. The wire broke very easy, and
Eli came near going backward down the
steps. This seemed to disturb his equi-
librium the whole evening. He tum-
bled twice in going up stairs and when
he came down to tho pnrlor he bowed
first to the servant girl, who was just
going out, having brought in lamp.
At length, the company being all as.
scmbled, it was suggested that games be
played, and Juniper tree" was decided
upon, and merry time they had Of it
for half an hour. Then the game of
"Copenhagen" was substituted, during
which gathers were ripped out, hoops
dislocated, hair came up, and there was
a good time generally. Carrie Brooks
received the most kisses, and Augustus
Hobbs seemed to be the most active in
distributing them. Eli Goddard sue.
ceeded in slapping Anna Breck's hand
and in chasing her for her reward, he
tipped over the piano stool, pulled down
a window curtain and af or laughable
struggle had to content himself with
kissing the back of her head.
Then came "Blind Mans Buff" ant
Jared Wilcox was the first one blinded
He stood for moment in the middle oil
the room, and then made a sudden start
to the right, followed by another to the
left, but they eluded his grasp. He
jumped around the room like colt, the
girls crowded into corners, jumping up
on sideboards, window sills, and book
cases, contriving all manner of ways to
escape capture. Just at this nome nj
Mrs. Curtis, who lived over the way
came from the old folks room to the
parlor door to see what she called the
carrying on" She was a neighborly
old lady, and always liked to be around
on great occasions. A cancer had de-
stroyed her nose many years before, and
she wore false ono made of silver
covered with flesh .coIored kid. Hel
spectacles were fastened to it in such q
manner that it was difficult to detect tn,
deception, and many who had no
known her for long while, we're no
aware of the real value of her nose. AT
night, when she retirel, nose nd spec
tacles came off together, and were re
sumed in the morning. -
Just as she appeared at the parlor
door, Jared happened to make dive
in that direction, and grasped the oil,
lady round the waist Before she coult
recover herself from the astonishment
Jared passed his hand over her face, t.
discover whom he had caught, and il
doing so Knocked off spectacIes, nos,
and all. A loud roar burst from tn
company. Wilcox pulled the bandag
from his eyes, and on beholding wha
he had done, he rolled back upon tn
carpet in convulSive laughter. Mrs
Curtis picked up her property, an
without stopping to say, "Good bye,
Aounced out Of tho house, and hurried
to her own domicil. It may be vel
b re to state that she never visited th
BaIdwins again aud no ovorturcs from
them could pacify her. She mover for
got it. 'F .5'a a"
Another game was started, succeodc,
by playing the piano and singing, unit
some one proposed playing forfeits, an
the motion was accepted. Eli hear,
this with dismay; he had some expert
encO in playing forfeits, and had foun,
that redeeming them before a Who'll
room full of folks was a difficult opera
tion. However, no had to do as tn
rest did, and "Twirl the Platter" wa
the chosen gamc. They each had "
number. Ellis number was nine, ant
that number was called more frequent
( ly than any other; but Eli was as spry a
a cat, and always caught the platter be
fore it was done spin ming. A larg
quantity of handkorchiefs, rings, an
pen knives were accumulated as pawn.
but mono of them belonged to Eli. A
'Ost Garry Brooks turn came to twirl il