The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-02-17
MY FRIEND LEWIS.
From London Society.


gether; but he could always knuckle
down better than l could. We played
at turnpike-gate with our hoops; and
somehow he always trundled his be-
tween the pebbles which constituted, to
our young imaginations, the pike, man
in apron, toll-bar, and all-while | scat
tered them and lost the game. When
we first came together we were both
schoolboys on the same form. His les
sons were my lessons, day after day but
then, if there was an advantage in the
progress, it was generally on my side
Somehow he got all the credit.
Lewis was born under extraordinary
circumstances. His family were a wild,
ambitious, and, have often heard my
mother say, an inscriptions set. At
the period of his birth they were in the
height of their splendor 1t was i'm
possible to reproach them in those days
They had the biggest house in their
neighborhood by far. Their horses and
stables were the envy of everybody.
They gave parties that blocked up the
place with the equipages of the guests.
The greatest people in the land went to
see them; and even people of distinc-
ton from abroad, on arriving in the
country, would take the earliest oppor.
tunity of paying their respects to the
Lewses. Mr.. Lewis himself was q
gloomy, morose, unpopular man; but
his wife, when she was young, was one
of the loveliest women, as my father
often declared, to my mothers NORTH
cation, upon whom the sun ever shone.
It seems that she was as brilliant in
mind and as courageous in spirit as she
was in person lovely. Mr.. and Mrs.
Lewis were called, among the local
tradesmen, the beauty and the beast.
While he never had gra cious word or
look, she was always wreathed in smiles.
She had kind word and a ready hand
for the poor. IF she disliked her lord,
she loved her children, and they were
always with her in the carriage. Two
boys that were the envy of all other
boys who saw them; who wore the love-
hest feathers in their hats trundled
hoops with padded sticks played with
marbles every one of which was an
agate; and spun tops of satinwood with
silken cords, were the idols Of their
beautiful parent, and were very seldom
permitted to range beyond her sight.
There was an uncle in the family-who
had married, | believe, the mother of
Mrs. Lewis, after her fathers death, and
whom Mrs. Lewis loved as well as the
most devoted daughter can adore the
most indulgent parent. He was her
mentor, her guide in all things. His
word was her law; and she was never
tired of telling her friends about his
wisdom and the great position he held
in the world Gossips said that the
only fact which made the married life
of Mrs. Lewis bearable was that her hus-
band was related closely to her step
father.
1t was very natural in Mrs. Lewis to
make much of her step.fathcr. He was
the parsonage to whom she looked for
the advancement of her darling boys in
life. His influence appeared to be bound
less-and he knew 1T, as my mother,
who often saw him frowning out of his
chariot window on his way to see his
beautiful step-daughter, would tell me
in after years.
The elder boy was sickly, and was
kept at home but the second was sent
to school and, as | have said. it was at
school | first met him.
The new boy made sensation. 1t
was whispered along the forms that his
name was Lewis, and that he had come
in barouche, with a servant in livery
to carry his books. We crowded
round him in the playground, and
found that his pockets were full of
money that he had knife with one
blade more than the cock of the school;
and that most imposing coat of arms
was engraved on the heaviest Of silver
spoons and forks, which were brought
for his use at table. The master fawned
on him, and gave him easy lessons, and
put him at the desk nearest to the stove.
We hated him for this-boys are only
little men.
Out of school, Lewis, must say, gave
himself no airs. His plentiful pocket
money was lavishly scattered when the
apple-woman came into the playground.
lie would buy shilling's worth of
Bonaparte's ribs, and give every boy in
the school one. He would propose a
scramble for apples, or whole quart OF
Spanish nuts. | have known him come
with half dozen cocoa-nuts, and give
one each to the fellows who played at
horses with him. Playing at horses was
his passion. A boy must be a great
'avorite, or be able to dispense favors,
who wants to drive team in the play
ground. Lewis was amiable enough, we
thought, then, and was ready to give
everything he had-provided we would
be his nags. We made him pay-and he
drove us. He was a ready fellow with
his fists, | admit. He would give but
would have no takings. | got on very well
with him, and was often his offsider,
because made my bargains openly, and
he liked that. / carried off heaps of
things, till my mother at home was
quite alarmed. "Where did you get
that splendid top, Bob?' said mother.
Lewis" was my answer "That kite
must have cost five shillings, Bob"
Lewis" | replied. "Your fathers
knife is not worth that" my maternal