The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-12


and the young man, known among the
boys as "Specs, treated all hands with
long-nines to puff away all futher trouble
and to soothe their modification for the
past.
Nearly three weeks had now passed
since the above private consultation, and
still "Roscious" continued to boast of the
number Of pounds that he could swing
over his head, and lift with one, two, and
three fingers, and still he ogled the. girls
and promenaded when and with whom he
pleased.
The uninitiated grew impatient and
painted for sfaction, and immediate ac-
ton on the part of the private committee
the chairman of whom, by general con-
sent, was considered the young man in
green specs; who, by the way, had fallen
1t and made up three times during the
last ten days with his girl, on account Of
liberties which she had allowed the boast
ing "Roscious."
Still the victim slightly coughed, wiped
his glasses, and exclaimed
Patience, boys patience! The time
will soon come Artifce has done more
in conquering strong foe than ever ar
tillery did. So, be patient, vengeance
shall be thine"
The next day, cards of invitation were
sent lar and near for a splendid ball to be Civ
en- at the e- Hotel where the best socie-
ty,' male and female, was confidently
expected"
This welcome announcment-for John
was the best dancer for many miles around
produced such wonderful change of
positive electricity throughout his muscu-
lar frame, which powerfully attracted the
negatives Of the other sex, that when the
long wished for night came round on the
wheel ftime, every nook and corner Of
the house was filled, and as gay and hap
py company assembled as had eyer been
seen in Il.
AS the Main liquor law was something
that had never been heard of in those
days, the male members of the party
among VIII IN 'Roscious," dressed in his
gayest attire, was not the slowest-were
often OBSERVED vending their way from
the merry dance down The back flight of
stairs to see the elephant" and take a
bracing sniff of air.
After few of these trips, John became
50 wonderfully invigorated with the many
fresh shifts" that he soon resuscitated
again the old subject of his wonderful
lifting, and insisted that he could swing
over his head, without dropping it, lar
ger weight than any two men in that town.
"Doubted said the man in green specs.
John turned and looked upon the small
though closely knit and Witty frame of
| the young man, with as much astonish-
ment as if he had said that Noah and his
ark had Just arrived in town, and he would
be exhibited at three cents head.
"Doubted, did you say 7" inquired the
ha py "Roscsous," smiling with con-
sciousness of his own remarkable ability.
eyes SIR that was my remark" said
"Specs," "and l am willing to back my
op MON with cool ten-spot, that las
small as l am-can lift over my head,
without dropping it, that which you cannot" !"
The reply of '.Roscious" to the cool
.~stumper was characteristic Of the man.
Taking from his pocket-book two five dol
lar gold pieces he good-humoredly ex-
claimel-
"Will some lady in the room have the
k ndness TO hold twenty dollars in her
hand for about three quarters of a minute,
while / can convince this fellow that can
lift more with my left thumb than he can
with both his hands 2"
There was a perfect stampede among
the girls that they each might be the
lucky one ts confer favor on the only
nan in town who was universal favorite
with the fair sex.
The girl however, with whom "Specs"
had 50 often formed and dissolved copart-
nership proved the happy one to hold
the stakes and as she received in her
trembling hand the glittering money, it
could plainly be seen that she was 5itated
by variety of opposite emotions. 1t was
evident that she preferred ''Roscious' II
could get him = ii not, she preferred her
old lover in specs.
The dancing ceased, and as many of the
company as the room would hold crowded
in the 'parler to witness the feat OF
strength which was to decide, once for all
who was the strongest man in R.
Stepping up to the tablt, "Specs" grasp
ed heavy brown pitcher, some fifteen
inches in height and ten inches in diane
ter, and exclaimed
Now, ladies and gentlemen l will
take tbs heavy stone-pitcher-which you
see is flied with water, and which alto
gether probably weighs not less than
thirty pounds-by the handle, and hold
it with my left hand directly over my
head for full half a minute, and then
again set the pitcher upon the table with
out spilling one drop of its contents"
"Specs" here lifted the pitcher, and al
though no slight task, performed the trick
as described. AS he set it upon the table
| however, the exciting cry Of a "a fight
t a fght.!" arose from the back side Of the
| room, and the eyes of every one present
with the exception of those belonging t.
/ the league were turned in that direction
and before they were turned again to thu
/ table, by few rapid movements, the pitch
t er was changed for another of the same siz'
t and stamp, and "Specs" had his hanC
t upon the the handle, exclaiming-
0 ''Come, come never mind about tn,
/ Gc,hk r LII LII Al