Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-07-15
Beginning Life.

home. Boileau, we are told, was driven
to his career by the hand of fate and the
peck of turkey. Attila started in life
with no other cause and capital than an
old sword, which he was adroit enough
to palm off for the divine weapon Of
Mars and Robespiere owed his politi.
cal career to wetting his stockings-and
there heard words which burn which
fired bis soul and determined his course
in life. My running away from home
arose from a minor modification, caused
by carrying pretty girl over the brook
Donald Lean and myself were goot
friends of Ia years Of age, and we bott
regarded, with little more than friend
ship, pretty Helen Graham, sour Oldest
girl at school" We romped and danced
together, and this lasted for such length
of time that it is with feelings of bewil-
dernent that | look back upon the mys-
terry of two lovers becoming friends
But the time came, as come it must
when jealousy lit her spark in my boyish
bosom, and blew it into a consuming
fame
Well do | remember how and when
the "green-eyed" perpetrated this incen-
diary deed. 1t was on a cold October
evening, when Helen Donald an2 my
self were returning with our parents
from a neigLboring hamlet. AS we ap-
preached a ford where the water ran
somewhat higher than ankle deep, we
prepared to carry Helen across, as we
were accustomed to, with hands interwo-
ven, 'chair-fashion,' and thus carried
our pretty passenger over the brook
Just as we were in the middle of the
water-wbich was cold enough at that
time to have frozen anything like feeling
out Of boys less hardy than ourselves
faint pang Of Jealousy nipped my heart.
Why it was ! know not, for we had car
ried Helen fifty times across the brook
ere now without emotion, but this even
ing | thought, or fancied that Helen gave
Donald an undue preference by casting
her arm about his neck, while she stead
led herself on my side by holding the
cuff of my jacket,
No fame can burn so quickly, or with
so little fuel as jealousy. Before we had
reached the opposite bank Twas wishing
Donald at the bottom Of The sea- Being
naturally impetuous, burst out with
"Ye need ma haud sac gingerly, Hell
en-, as if ye feared ia. can aye car
ry ye lighter than Donald can half ye."
Surprised at the vehemence of my
tone, our queen interposed with an ad-
mission that we were both strong, and
that sho had no idea of sparlng my pow
ers. But Donalds ire was kindled, and
be utterly denied that was at all quail
fed to compete with him in feats Of NOR
al courage. On such topics boys are
generally emulous, and by the time we
reached the opposite bank, it was settled
that the point should be determined by
our sipgly carrying Helen across the
ford in our arms.
Helen was to determine who had car
ried her most easily, and l settled with
myself privately in advance, that the
one who had obtained the preference
would really be the person who stood
highest in her affections. The reflection
stimulated me to exert every effort, and
| verify believe to this day that l could
have carried Donald and Helen on eth
er arm like feathers. But must not an
ticipate.
We suffered all the rest of the party
to pass quietly along, and then returned
to the ford. lifted Helen with the ut
most ease, and carried her like an infant
to the middle of the water. Jealousy
had inspired warmer love, and it was
with feelings unknown before that en-
braced her beautiful form, and felt the
pressure Of her cheek against mine. All
went swimmingly, or rather wadingly for
a minute. But alas, in the very deepest
part of the ford trod on a treacherous
bit of wood which rested, l suppose, on
smooth stone. Over l rolled, bearing
Helen with me, nor did we rise until
fairly soaked from head to foot.
Ineed not describe the taunts of Dom
aid, or the more accusing silence of Hell
en-. Both believed that 1 had fallen
from mere vvaakneae and M, r;oI L.