The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-12-04
HIS WITS ABOUT HIM.
A Very Pretty Sketch.

! certainly thought he was "out of hi
head. : He had such peculiar ways ant
said such peculiar things; and he wen
about as if he was in a somnambulic stat,
almost; that is, I don't mean quite that
but he never seemed to take the same no
tice of what happened about him tina
other men do. And, as to his ever beer
surprised at anything, never knew hin
to show surprise on but one occasion il
, his life. What that occasion was shall
naturally mention before I am done.
j His name was Joseph Harrison, ant
he was student at the academy in San
ford-one of the style of academies tha
seem to have nearly gene out of datt
now, where both sexes were taught under
the same roof. l attended the Sanford
school. The principals house was or
the corner across the way from the aead
lemy, and he bearded dozen or so Of the
Istudents. was one of these boarders.
| | shall never forget the day Mr.. Har-
risen came to the house to board. I was
sitting on the second floor piazza, study
ling. 1t was late on a summer afternoon
As he entered the gate | leaned over to
look at him, and when he was just un-
derneath, l ehanced to drop my book 1t
struck him on the shoulder, and fell to
the ground. He turned and looked at it
quietly, and then poked it aside with his
big cane.
| What does he carry that big cane for?
thought I, and why don't he pick up my
book, or look up at me, or do anything a
rational being would?
He rung the bell, and / did not see
any more of him till tea time. He sat
directly opposite me at the table. Would
you believe it, he never looked at me
once-nor, indeed, at any one else, it
seemed-which was the reason, perhaps,
why 1 looked at him more than [ ever
did at any other young man in my life
the same length of time.
After tea, we gathered in the parlor, as
we were in the habit o. doing, and he
was introduced to me. He bowed, and
then, for the first time, looked at me-or
rather he looked through meas if he
saw something behind me, and my head
were as transparent as glass. Then he
smiled and turned away.
l confess l was provoked at the manner
of the young man. What amused him, |
should like to know. When Belle Har-
rison asked me afterwards how liked
her cousin, ,I-seia / dian''tlike him at all.
She only laughed, and said she believed
nobody ever did like him at first.
Somebody asked me to sing. / seated
myself at the piano. and gave song in
my best manner-which I have been
taught to believe was not an inferior man
ner BY any means. My voice was good,
and l had received the best musical cul
ture. What mysterious influence was
at work upon me I did not know; for, if
/ ever thoroughly disliked person in my
life, certainly disliked Harrison; but it
is true, Notwithstanding, that l sung for
him; and when I turned away from lhe
piano, it was with some special curiosity
l anticipated his comments. if he chose
to make any,or his manner and its mean
ing, if he chose to hold his tongue.
IF you will believe it, the man was
looking at painting on the wallLlook-
ing at it standing p,with his hands clasp
ed behind him, and hrs back to the COM
pany. Was there ever such clown?
"What is the name of that beautiful
song?" asked Oaville Redway, young
man from the village, who had been in
vited to tea, and now sat with US in the
parlor.
l told him.
"I must have it, said he; 'it is exqui-
Site" and he took out pencil to write
on card the name of the piece. "He
broke his pencil lead-"will some one be
kind enough to lend me knife?p he ask
ed; II have forgotten mine
| Mr.. Harrison heard the question, al
though he was still looking at the pic
ture, and he produced large pocket
knife, which he handed to Mr.. Redway.
at is very sharp" said he; "be care
full"
The first thing Redway did was to cut
his hand. The blood spurted out in jets.
He turned pretty white, but he just gath
cred his hand in his handkerchief, and
said it was a mere scratch Of no conse-
quence."
beg your pardon, SIR Mr.. Harrison
spoke; "it's of some consequence, You'll
lose your life if you don't look out. I'll
i fix you
He took his own handkerchief and
tied it loosely around Redway's ARM
Then he took the knife, shut it carefully
put it under the handkerchief next to the
arm, and began to twist it about. As the
handkerchief tightended on the arm, the
blood ceased to flow.
''Send for DOCTOR" said Mr.. Harri.
son.
"a doctor!" uttered Redway. "Isn't
this good deal of fuss over little cut9
IA little cut said Mr.. Harrison, when
you cut an artery, it's big CUT
DR.. Miner was three doors of, and he
came in few minutes. He expressed
great appreciation of young Harrison s
conduct.
Young Harrison, as unconcerned as q
post, had returned to his inspection Of
the painting he seemed to admire SO much
Mr.. Redway soon went off with the doe
tor.
The knife lay on the table. Out Of
pure imprudence, or. similar feeling,
took up this terrible knife and acciden-
tally cut the end of one of my fingers
nearly off. screamed loudly, for it was