Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-05-02

the far, owing 10 cheap gambling that
was conducted by means of low rou-
lette-tables in n spot called Bachelors
Acre; but like many other prohibitions
at Eton. this one was made with very
complete knowledge on the part of the
masters that nobody had the slightest
thought Of paying attention to it.
Now it stood to reason that Windsor
Fair should be TO Jickling the one
bright date in the years calendar. 1t
therefore fell like thunderclap on
Jickling when, the evening before the
first day of the fair, Asheton said to
him: Mind. Jickling, won't have you
going to fair, for you'll be certain to
come to grief in some way fvou do !;
and I've made up my mind that grief
and YOU are to be kept apart this half.
Not go to the fair Even Stumpes
and Blazepole thought this stretch of
prerogative.
The next morning, at about half
past eight-that is, after first school
| was engaged in taking bun and
coffee at Browns the pastry-cook ;.
We could cram about a score together,
at most, in Browns little shop, and the
place was always as full as an egg
so full, indeed, that on the morning IN
question, being on the point OF stuiling
my last fragment of bun into my
mouth, was powerless 10 turn round,
on feeling an arm laid upon my sleeve
tuggingly but | recognized the voice.
1t was Jlckling's, and said - say,
Rivers. I'm going to the fair. Will
YOU come:
And tagging asked, astonished.
I'm Eoin. to shirk it, said Jickling.
And prayers:
i shall shirk them too, WAS his in
swcr.
Il darcn't' ! calculated, timidly.
Then you're funk, responded jick-
ling. with great contempt.
Now did not ike the imputation. Of
thinking Beiug III my heart OF hearts
considerably afraid botn Of the swish
ing and the licking, was the more
concerned to shoS that stood III not
tile slightest dread of either Of these
or,lcaI,. Some more conversation en-
su,l between US, approximately tempt
ing on hi~ side, fcthly resisting Oh
minc and the upshot Of il was that,
several other BOYS agreeing TO Join the
party, | no longer had the moral cour-
age IL hold aloof; and IN another ten
minutes was crossing Windsor Brtigt,
with beating pulse, throbblng heart
and eyes strained 10 see if they would
not hcnold 4 master spring up ike 4
lcb in-thc box at the next street cor
u-r.
The NOBLE Oil town that Windsor j.
amt, perhaps. never more noble tnan
during these fair davs. when the gilt
ter and bustIc Of the booths, the ant
nation Of the crowd, the tinsel trap
pings ot beast and giant shows stand
ont IN contrast with the stately gran
deur If the Castle The boo,hs used
10 stretch right down to the Castle :
foot. At the point called tie Hundred
Steps, and wind away Though th,
town up 10 the Bachelor Acre once
mentioned. maxim. IN unbTokcn row
on either side Of the roadway. A.
Bachelors Acre lay the focu, Of the
fair. Here were the clrcuses, shooting
galleries, shittlc-allcys. Aunt Nallics
roulette tables, and al the fun that T.
popularity described rs fast AMI furious
Ia the town every thing wa, more
mild. One could buy gilt gingerbread
there. fashy porcelain, false noses.
masks, and other interesting objects,
and indulge in such slow gambling a
may be afforded BY betting pence On
marbles set 10 race down an inclined
plane studded with pins. But, il you
wanted cxcltemont. your way lay :,
the Acre. and thither. Of course, We
al sp~d.
.Iickllng was no sooner in the Acr,
than he directed our attention to th,
booth where learned pig was exhibit
cd. and suggested we suomld 20 and see
the admission being moderate Id. ;
head.
We streamed all together into tht
.arned-pig show Il think We were
ninc), then into II booth where WAS ;
calf with two heads. and 20 on through
the usual round OF fair monstrositie-
not forgetting lady who weighed hve
and-twentv stone. and who, to GA
.Iickiing IN idea OF her muscular pos
ers. which he seemed disposed to quer
ton. lifted him up in mid-;lir by til
seat OF his unmentloAables, 10 his IN
tense disgust. BY this time We ha'
forgotten that such people A. master
/ existed, and, little intoxicated by til
1 beating OF drums. the squtakIn9 o
| pandean pipes, the braying ot horns
and the inspiriting sounds of loud bar
rel organs spurring the cavalcades Q
I merry-go- rounds. we turned read
I ear 10 the Establishments of a costel
monger. who, behind his barrow, ha
! got roulette-table. screened by a kin
/ of sackcloth continuance Of poles an
ropes, and safe as the bank
The ecostermonger was one OF many VIII
| conducted business on u safe and plea
Antf ttSONtt a.
boys TO stake pence, sixpences, or sui
lings as they could, cry of Here's til
master coming. would he set up by
| husky confederate: whereat the boy
would jump awav like aifrighted frog
and the stakes would disappear flowing
~ into the p ckets OF the costermonge
Unfortunately. even such a simple ~
TEN as this has its drawbacks, and I'll
main one was that, after trying Oh IL
jokea few times, it became the story {
the wolf in the fable, and nobody wOui
believe the husky confederate, charme
ne never 80 wisely Jickling, who ha
gathered practical experience of Wln'
sor Fair the year before, wa, up 10
good many moves on the board, aud II
first step when behind the sackclo
screen was to eXcl2im, N his quic
wild voice. as he laid shilling 's-wor
OF pence Oh the table. Now, no mas;
can see us here; so ii this fellow or an
body else cries out care, it'll be II fal
alarm, mind that suppose the wor,
could hardly have been OUT of i
mouth, when, without The slighte