American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-04-27
The Annapolis Fair.

of my soldier friends, and former comrades
in battle, was returning to my quarters
it was after 10 clock and fearing might
be halted by the guard, [ came the back
way. and as / came by the Methodist Epis-
copal Church No. l, my attention was at
tracted by a brightlight at the open door,
and thinking it must be gt0rioas rectcdt
that would be protracted to that late hour,
| neared the door, through curiosity, and
inquired of the door keeper if the meet
ing was about closing; being answered in
the negative, | asked who preached? He
replied that it was "a Fairj" this remind
cd me of the great sport had often had
driving horses for the premium, and Of the
fat cattle Ihad often seen at country Fairs
A Fair says Ia Fair i! How can they
have a Fair in a church. SO | walked in,
but halt man asked me for "ten cents,
not having thought about paying to get in
to a church. this took me little by SUR
prise. but paid, meantime induiring il
the elephapt had performed yet, but pas
sing through another door, | was stillmore
surprised for instead of elephant | behcld
the preachcr. instead of .tatcatae hbeheld
pooy solliers, and instead Of fast horses |
beheld fast loomeR. And if you had seen
how fast they took money out of my pock-
ct you would have called them fast too
"Here sir-have your fortune told |
told her | did not believe in fostune tell
ING o neither do |, it's only for fun"
7 told her did not care, so | turned the
wheel of fortune and she told me "was
Jelooed By all this provoked me for |
knew she did not lore me herseT, SO |
started on but, 'stop! youmust turn three
times, so did, and she told me 81 was
married, and that | possessed great Wis
dom, these being equally untrue, | start
ed off in disgust, but halt "O0y ten
cents" told her she had said sit was
oniy fi,a," and | would not have paid, but
the preacher explained that the girls had
turned GipY for ClriSt's sake; | paid the
poor girl but had not got my wallet in my
pocket, when a beautiful girl of sixteen,
(pity her modesty) asked me to pay for
her. The beautiful smiles put on for the
occasion, had the desired effect and soon
was minus another dime. Not waiting to
hear her fortune FASTENED on, but only
to be met by another fair damsel, dressed
in purple aud scarlet with hair curlcd in
beautiful ringlcts, hanging in rich profu-
sion over her youthful form, addressing
me in the softest and most fascinating man
ner of her sex, her ruby lips whispered,
"Wont you take chance" | was all
mazement-certainly she does not mean
for me to kiss her before all this crowd,
but soon her blue coated attendant, who
no doubt had paid dearfor his whistle, and
was trying to build castles in the air-told
me about IA cake" and "such a beautiful
cake, all iced with sugar and floating the
stars and stripes" Well, | took a chance,
paid the immortal quarter-drew blank,
and had not gone two steps until | was
compelled to repeat the same, by very
pretty girl who talked so nice, gave her
a quarter and travelled, butnow was told
in great earnest by a boy that there was
"an express package for me-" started
but had not gone far when news boy in
formed me, there was letter in the Post
Office for me. Then | will get the letter
first. After paying the unlawful postage
of stem cents" proceeded to read, "Dedr-
est friend,'-yes think you are dear
''Ten Cent" only .fous lines and fiUe lies
but could excuse the writer though |
understood she had been a church member
for some time. started to go to the ex-
press Office, but being outfanked by the
daughters of chance, / fell back in good
order and sought refuge atJacob's we'll
having drank OF Its sparkling waters, l.
began to think truly this is the land of my
fathers kindred and | shall be entertained
for the night, but as | was sabout to return
thanks for the hospitality of my fathers
kindred in the land of Mesopotamia, l
was politely reminded by the fair damsel,
that this was only the "ten cent well of
Annapolis" and having watered the Camp
bell which had with me, she demanded
another dime Butsoon Rebecca's broth
er Laban came out and inyitedme into the
house-soon some of the servants treated
me to some of the rich cake of jacobs
house, and saucer of the highly favored
milk Of humanhiaatess eongealed ,eittoat