Middletown transcript., 1868-09-19

plan for arbitration and settlement. At
this period the face of the country was
covered with extensive forests, intersper-
sed in the neighbQrhood of the settlements
by patches of clearing with the tree stumps
shooting their second growth, and here
and there gigantic Sycamore or Lirio-
dcndron towering majestically above the
leafy ocean. From the centre of each
settlement arose one of these forest kings
its girth of body being that of shall
lop, and its branches and foliage covering
II rood" The assemblage was held under
stupendous oak nearly equidistant from
the two settlements. The discussions were
strong and boisterous, and the convention
was upon the point of breaking, when the
following novel arrangement was unani-
mously agreed upon,
Two committees of three from each
party, were appointed to carry out the
terms of the agreement, which were as
follows:
A hole or cavity was worked in the
! yrNy Of each of the two trees before men
toned, about yard from the ground, and
of such depth, capacity and inclination, as
would prove it suitable substitute for an
ordinary bomb, mortar or field piece Into
! this was introduced a charge of gunpow-
der sufficiently large to cause an explosion
which might plainly be heard from one
settlement to the other, the charge ramm-
, cd home and train laid to a secure dis
tance, On the open road between the two
trees the middle point was accurately mea-
sured off and ponderous stone laid there
I on. Each committee selected from its
own community the heetest youth, best
known for his athletic achievements and
agility. These were to be seated back to
back upon the boundary stone, each fur
nished with a fambcau or torch of resin
Gus pine, and facing towards his own goal,
Vand who, upon given signal, was to fly
for the firing OF the train. The first cx-
plosion following, was to decide the con-
test in favor Of the party securing it, to
the complete surrender of all claim and
prosecution by the other.
The high noon of the day had arrived
by the time the assembly completed its
labors, and the committees proceeded al
nee &c their duties. Long before sun.
setting the preparations were E.: 4, am,
at the "Corners the population was
gathered upon the little Square" " tc
learn the selection of the competitor foi
| the contest which was to come off that
night. The choice fell upon STRIPPING
distinguished for his celebrity. of move,
ments, his aversion to every species of toi
and labor, and his fondncss for hunting
fishing, a yagabond, wandering kind o.
life, and the surly landlords only daugh
ter. So often had he been forbidden tt
enter or approach the home of his beloved
and been told to give over forever all hop,
! Of ever obtaining the object of his wishes
that both he and the young lady, who
warmly reciprocated his affection, hac
pretty well concluded to abandon further
effort and waiting. " The worthless laz,
yagabond," the old dignitary of the littl,
=" Inn " would say, is too shiftless ant
idle for son-in-law of mine. Let him g,
to work like other men, clear OFF some Ian,
and build him a cabin before he looks fo
wife, and not expect me to provide hin
with both wife and home" Sensible ad
vice it must be admitted, but Jocksol
Fink did not accept it, still preferring t,
live on his Nimrod kind of existence.
When the committee called him forward
and informed him of the honor conferre,
upon him, his dark eyes twinkled witt
delight, for he well knew, of all the youn!
men in the settlement, there was not on
who could cope successfully with his wiry
sinewy muscles. Night was approachin.
and it vas time he should prepare for th
struggle. In addition to the rewards pro
missed him by the committee, if he game,
the cause, several of the villagers sough
to inspire his feet with feetness by prom
ises, one of a jack-knife, and another of
; bullet-pouch and pound each of powde
and lead. The enthusiasm Of the q Cor
ners' increased with the approach of tn
hour of trial, until just at the point o
Jockson's starting to join his rival at tn
starting stone, old Dominic Friester, th
: landlord, had become so thoroughly arous
ed to the Importance of the issue and $
Jealous for the honor and glory of th
= - Corners" that he sought opportunity t
4 whisper in Jockson's ears the comfortabl
assurance that he =" should even have Al
/ nea yet, if he would only win"
{" Jist 60 and tell the gal SO, Dominic
and say the things DONE was all tina
Jockson said, as his 1.-THE and wythe-lik
form snaked its way to join the committee
= A deeply interested witness to the pre-
cecdings of the assembly and the prepara
tions of the afternoon, was beautiful
d formed Indian maid known to all tn
d country BY the name of Modura. She wa
n the descendant of the last chief of one
Il the confederated tribes, and the only re
d naming representative of that proud ST
r chems race. She had passed her chile
S hood in her native forests, and much of he
= time had been spent in companionship wit
: Jockson, in his extra-civilized mode of il,
ing. Many were the times he had bour
IS tifully supplied the cabin in which Medul
Q and the old crone who nursed her 'infanc
d lived, with the choicest productions of h
/" snare and lines; and his appearance
II II