Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-03-05

dressed out in the habilIiments o
those in humble life, this idol of hi
parents preferred soliciting me as +:
playmate. We were often engaged
in the little sports of youth, and if i
had not been for the disparity of oul
fathers wealth, we could have beer
'.good fellows well met" But, or
all occasions, when any circumstance
occurred that excited him, instantly
he would reproach me with our poy.
erty.
As l was his junior by two years
/ readily concluded that belligerent
attack by me, for such insults, could
not be viewed as the stronger attack.
ing the weaker. 1 thereupon delib-
erately Determined, the first time he
repeated those insults, would plant
my fist between his eyes, even if
was whipped hs the teacher, fer
committing what might be consider
ed an unpardonable offence. A few
days after, he and myself were con-
tending for the mastery at game of
marbles, l happened to bear off the
palm of victory, much to the chagrin
of my playmate, when he began his
reproaches; and 10 sooner did he be-
gin, than | planted my pugilestic ex-
tensor on bis olfactory prominence,
when an out-pouling Of claret sue
ceeded, and general fight began.
1t was long pull, and a tough pull,
but the poor now rose in power over
the rich, and the rich gave way to the
overpowering influence of the poor
I new crowed, and was cheered b,
all those of my caste. The result
was carried to his parents, with such
animadversions as caused their ven
geance to be threatened against me-
1t was deemed unworthy Of the in
reference of his father, but the son
was warned not to mix with poor
peoples children, as they always
bore q spite against the rich In a
short time afterward, we again (after
settling preliminsries) began game
of marbles, and again commenced
quarrelling when he declared that if
ever touched him again, his father
had ordered the negro servants in
on him to make common
cause with him, and give NE q good
drubbing. In reply, l told him l
could bear anything bat his taunts
relative to my fathers poverty; that
we had an abundance of the substan-
tials of life to eat, and plenty of
clothing to keep US warm in winter;
and, if we were not as rich as they
were, yet we had plenty, and l was
as good as he was; and if he desired
to get drubbing at any time, he
had but to repeat the like.
Another day found US at marbles
again. / soon began to suspect
fight was preaneditated, the servant
keeping near his young master all
the while. At length he began his
old taunts, when ! soon let his claret
out again, and instantly his ebony
caught my arm, and held it until his
master struck me, when Sampson
like, 1 burst the bonds and gave him
a doucer that set him biubbering; and
with nothing then to hinder the ex-
ercise of my pugilestics, l gave him
enough to make him request permis
sion to back out He and his SER
want now presented rather a bloody
each having bloody
face. Without awaiting the return
of the naaitre dscole, they ran home,
their blood and wounds.
! now crowed in earnest. that l had
both master and negro
But my Civilizations were of short
duration In some two hours there
hove in sight the veritable father
the rich, the consequential Charles
Hungerford--with two good hick-
ories. His hurried steps and ges-
Liculations evinced determination of
purpose well understood (by me at
least. No sooner had he entered
our little old temple of learning, than
be began by charging our efeminate
old hero of the rod, with his connl-
vance in the abuse that his son had
received; and that ii he did not in
stantly draw me up and give me a
lrub bing, he would break up his
school, and commence a suit against
my father for assault and battery
committed on his son.
The old man, not knowing what
else to de, called me up. l demand
ed hearing, and the calling of wit
nesses to prove justification, but all
to no purpose l must be whipped;
that was the long and short of it
The attempt was made, but the Sc
1uel showed that the old man could
not do it, when the rich Mr.. Hunger
ford readily assisted. ! now ex-
erted myself to the bringing up OF
my whole power and might in pre-
venting the application of the lash to
my skin. bit, l kicked, l scratched,
| threw them both down, but despite
Of all l could do, they whaled me Sc
verely, until Hungerford's vengeance
was apPeased. In turn, 1 went home
to exhibit my wounds and bruises to
my parents. Some dozen of eur
poor neighbors were called in to
witness the abuse l had received
My father consulted sn attorney, but
his advice was, that as Mr.. Hunger
ford was rich and influential, and my
father in humble circumstances, the
of suit would, in
stead Of benefting him, operate in
the end to his disadvantage, by like
ly fixing on him heavy bill of costs.
My parents now began to reflect on
the invidious distinction made be-
tween the rich and the poor in that
locality; that the. wealthy rolled in
their fine carriages, accompanied by
their liveried servants; that the poor
were compelled to bow to the rich
man clothed in fine linen;" and
that the poor man had always to stand
- l.