Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-08-09

PAMELA PIXIES ELoPEMENT.
BY WILLIAM L. WILLIAMS.

Sylvester Pike was sexton of the First.
Parish Meeting house in the pleasant village
of Plumield. His house stood next to the
burying ground, where, for more than hund-
red years the grcy-Laired father, the smiling
mother, the ambitious youth and the prat'ling
babe, had one by one found that rest that
awaits all the children Of men.
| Sylvester Pike had n beautiful daughter
named Pamelia.-so lovely, in fact, that on
having her photograph taken at one time the
artist would take no pay for his pains, but
only asked leave to retain a duplicate. This
| he was SO impudent as to put in his showcase
| at the street door, thereby collecting such a
crowd of admirers and causing such an OBJ
struction, that he was forced to send for the
constable to disperse the assembly. When they
too. 1t was not total loss, however, for the
next day he received letter enclosing sum
which amply compensated for all damage.
The Jealous youth who had thus obtained
the portrait Of her who held his heart in silk
en- chairs was no other than Lyman Diggles,
the accomplished clerk in Roots apothecary
shop. PAMELA Pike, from among all the ad-
mirers who fattered her by their attentions
had selected Diggles as the object of her pref
erence and affections, much to the disgust Of
her father, who had great aversion TO the
young apothecary, Notwithstanding he was
Indebted 10 him for large number Of jobs as
mn 70 -,
which Diggles prepared and sold his medi-
cines.
Very likely, if Mr.. Pike had taken no notice
Of his daughters whim in fancying this young
Esculapius, she would soon have weared of
him but love, like some other things, thrives
by opposition and when old Pike said she
should not accept attentions from Lyman Dig
giles, she said she should and accordingly
encouraged "the boy" at first from spirit of
opposition, and finally because she found her.
self actually in love.
Diggles was delighted with his success,
proved most attentive lover, and made many
presents; but PAMELA could not help noticing
that they all consisted Of those fancy articles
usually found in an apothecary. shop, such as
cologne-water, portemonies, fans, and hairs
brushes, which pleased Miss Pike but it puz-
zled Mr. Root. who found that he had to re-
plensh his stock Of fancy goods oftencr than
formerly, and at the same time could perceive
no increase in fales
Young Diggles had no idea of cramping his
to something nobier. He knew that old Pike
had reversed the California gold-seekers luck
for in thirty years digging Of graves he had
laid in gold while most Calfornians, after
digging less number of months for gold, lay
in grave. So he decided that it would be
very pleasant to have the beautiful PAMELA
for wife, and the wealthy sexton for father
m~law. He was aware of the animosty which
he bore towards him, but Diggles had brass
enough TO make n large sized pcstle and mor>
tar, and he never met Mr.. Pike without taking
off his hat, and bowling like weeping willow
though his bows, like borrowed umbrellas.
were never. returned.
At length one day when Lyman felt unusu>
ally blue, having been reprimanded by his
employer for breaking bottle Of 'Scraggs'
Snake-tail Dark" he determined to go to the
father Of his sweetheart, and ask for the hand
of his daughter. He had but little hope of
success, but he made that little 20 a great
ways. He accordingly arrayed himself in his
best suit, saturated his hair with some of his
employers best hair-oil scented his handker-
chief with some strong perfumery, wrote on
slip of paper asa11aeagc to his PAMELA to send
her in case he y be refused admission to
the Pike mansi9 6a started off, smelling as
much like an apo afy>shop as he could.
Mr.. Pike was at home, and in very ill>hu,
NOR; for he had been digging a grave for fat
man who had died suddenly in the almshouse;
and as the town paid no more for fat mans
grave than slim ones, he found it an un-
profitable job, and wondered why it wouldn't
have done to put the coffin in edgewise. When
Diggles entered the room, his obsequous bow
tended to still farther exasperate the sexton.
'What do you want, young man ?' inquired
he, curtly.
II come to ask favor" replied Diggles
"There is no favor that can grant you, sir,
unless it be to dig your grave and that will
do gladly growled the King Of Spades.
"AIost likely, sir but we will not descend
to that subject; for l have no intention of
using graveyet while, and when do need
one, shan't ask you or any one else for it. My
present purposes are all above ground
Perhaps you are aware that between your
daughter PAMELA and myself exists passion
which increases daily. Like our country, we
can never be happy unless united; and come
here now to ask of you her hand, as her heart
is mine already
"You young scapegracel what do you
mean y roared the astonished father. .Have
you the impudence to ask me to give my
daughter to boy that cleans out an apothe-
cary>shop?"
81 do no such thing, Mr.. Pike; am Mr..
r cots assistant"
II should think you had cleaned it out
pretty thoroughly by the quantity Of cologne
bottles and perfumery TASKS on my daughters
but you have my answer, young
man, and now you can leave"
In q very short space of time, Diggles was on
the opposite side Of the street in q very dam
aged condition, feeling as if he had been
seeing works on Boston Common, and the
old elm had tumbled down on his head. He
had also an impression that he had been sit