The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-08-18
How I Began Life.

! Boilesu, we are told, was driven into bis ca
reer by ,he hand Of fate and the peck Of a
turkey. AttiIa started in life With no other
cause and capital than an old sword. which
ne was adroit enough to palm off for the
d'vine weapon Of Mars; and Robespierre
owed his political career TO wettiug his
stockings-aDd there heard swords which
burn" that fred his soul, and determined
his course 10 life. My running away from
nome nrose from q minor modification,
brook.
Donald Lean aud myself we're good
friends at fourteen years Of age, and we
both regarded with little more than friend
ship pretty Helen Graham, "our oldest girl
at school" We romped and danced to-.
go,ber, and .hi: lasted for such length Of
time that look back upon the mystery OF
two lovers continuing frieods. But the
time came, as como II must, when jealousy
lit her spark 10 my boyish bosom. and blew
!. into consuming fame .,.e ..t $50 .
Wolf do l remember how and when the
green. eyed" perpetrated this ipcendiary
deed. 1t was on a cold October evening.
when Helen, Donald and myself we're re-.
turning with our parents, from q neighbor.
ing hamlet. As we approached ford where
the water ran somewhat higher than ankle
deep we prepared to carry Helen across, as We
we're accustomed TO do, with hands inter wo.
ven"cbair fashion"an thus carried our prot
ty passenger over the brook. Just as 20 we're
in the middle of tho water-which was
cold enough at the time to have frozen any.
thing iiko foeIIng out Of boys less hardy than
ourselves--a faint pang Of Jealousy uipped
my heart. Why Il was, know not, for We
had carried Helen fifty times scross the
brook ere now without emotion, but this
evening l thought or fancied that Helen
gave Donald an undue preference bycast.
ing her arm around bis neck. while she
s,esdied herself on my side BY holding the
cuff Of my jacket. ~ ~. "'.' i'.H' 7'5
No flame can burn 80 quickly or with 20
little fuel as Jealousy. Before We had
reached the opposite bank, was wishing
Donald at the bottom Of the sea. Being
naturally impe, uous. l burst out with -
! ''Ye need ma haud sac giugerly, Helen. as
II ye feared fa. ! can aye carry ye lighter
than Donald can half of ye."
Surprised at tho vehemence of my tone,
our queen interposed with an admission
that We vere both strong, and that she had
no idos ofJsharing my powers. But Don
aids ire was kindled. and be utterly donied
that was At all qualified to compete with
him in feats, of moral courage. On such
topics boys are generally emulous, aud by
'he time wa reached the opposite bank, il
vas settled that, the point should be deter
mined by our singiy carrying Helen acsoss
the ford 10 our arms. q ... g- .,et o.
Helen was to determine who had carried
her most easily, and I settIed with mysoif
privately in advance, that the one who
obtained tho 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 Douald and Helen on
either arm like feathers. But must NO,
anticipate. s..-.,,.. '...r .-,-.., -... .....
We suffered all the rest of the party to
pass quietly along, and then returned to
the ford-I lifted Helen with tho utmost
ease, and carried her to the middle of the
water. Jealousy had inspired warmer
love. and it was with feelings unknown be
fore shat / embraced her beautiful form,
and felt the pressure Of her cheek against
mine. All went swimmingly. or rather wa.
dinghy, for minute. But alas, in the very
deepest part of..the ford trod on troaeh.
erous Bit Of wood, which rested, l suppose,
on asmooth stone Over I rolled, bearing
Helen with me, nor did we rise until fairly
soaked from bead to foot.
CT the more accusing silence of Helen
Both believed that had fallen from nero
weakness, and my rival demonstrated his
superior ability, BY bearing her in bis arms
for long distance on her hOmewavd path.
Az we approached the house, Helou, feeling
dry and better humored, attempted to con.
ciIiaie me. But 1 preserved silence. was
mortified beyond redress. .r. -.., .....
| That nioht I nack ad nm n Eav th;ooa ard
ran away. My boyish mind, sensitive and
irritatd, exaggerated the negation which II
had received, and prompted me TO course
which, fortunately. lod me to better results
than usually attended such irreg ularities -
l went TO Edingurgh. where found an
uncle, o kind. hearted, childless man, who
gladly gave me . place in his house, and
employed me in his business. Wealth
flowed 10 upon him. became bis partner
went abrOad-resided four years on the
continent, and finally returned 10 Scotland,
rich, educated, in short, everything but
married. 'f' H1C '.Ii a .'H.tGl.
One evening, while 1t ball at Glasgow, I
was struck BY young lady of uupretending
appearance, but whOse remarkable beauty
and frightened expression indicated mind
of more than ordinary power. ! was intro
duced, but the Scottish names had long
been unfamiliar to my ear. and could not
catch hers. 1t was Helen something, and
there was something in the face, too, that
seemed Notwithstanding suggestive OF
pleasure and pain. a. fsl....- ... g:
But We became we'll acquainted that
; evoniDg. ! learned, without much diff.
Guilty, her history. sho was from the coun.
try, had been educated. her parents bad
lost their property. and she vas now gov
erness in . family of the city,