The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-02-22
A Mid-Air Compromise.

the city of EEmira, at a locality known
as the Female College," the circum-
stances we are about to relate took
place. 1t seems that the Principal of
the college overheard plan among a
number of his young lady students for
drawing young gentlemen up to one
of the third-story rooms in basket
at night" as no gentleman suitors were
permitted to visit their lady-loves or
see them alone under the strict rules of
the institution. The Principal acted
accordingly, and at the appointed time
was on the designated spot; and when
the basket was let down took the low
er's place, gave the "signal twitch,"
and commenced going up toward
heaven, drawn by a trinity of an
gels. When two-thirds up, the angel
expectant, on looking down from the
window, discovered to her terror and
dismay, that instead of her lover, an
other man was in the basket; and near
ly frightened out of her wits, made the
fact known to her fair helpers in mis-
chief, with the pertinent inquiry of
What shall we dos What shall we
do: Oh, girls, girls, what shall we
do:" Whereupon one of the number,
noted for her GOODNESS and presence of
mind in trying emergencies, said:
Here! you all hold on to this cord !;
now, do just as l tell you, and I'll take
care of the man, no matter who he is,
or where he came from"
Then taking out her pocket-knife
and opening it, she leaned out of the
window, and in low, but firm voice
said, "Who are you there in the bas-
kets"
No response.
{" L say, who are you there in that
basket Do you hear? l have knife
in my hand, and unless you answer in
less than ten seconds, l will cut the
rope."
"Why, it's your Principal, don't you
know me: Don't for mercy's sake cut
the rope. Keep the knife further away
from itt'
"Well, you are in pretty fix, Pro-
fessor, and hanging between heaven
and earth, between life and death
What do you think ought to be done
with yous A principal of a female
college, who thus endeavors at night to
clandestinely reach the room of lady
student, ought to be severely punished
and also exposed
"Oh, l beg of you not to harm me
nor expose me, but let me down again
carefully, and don't let the rope Slip"
Professor" said the shrewd beauty,
son one condition only,will we comply
with your request"
"Name it! name it!
"You must solemnly promise that
none of us who have been engaged in
this little romance shall be disciplined
for it, and that you will make no men
ton of it to single soul while we are
inmates of the college, with the under
standing that we are to observe the
same solemn promise. What say you:"
81 consent"
every well. Hold up your right
hand! You do solemnly swear that
you will faithfully keep and observe
that promise, so help you God!'
81 do"
Enough, girls He has taken the
OATH Lower away"
The professor was soon carefully
and safely landed once more on terra
frma, much to his own relief and
and greatly to the joy, no doubt, of the
other party to the compromise; and he
lived up to his oath. In years after,
however, when time had absolved him
from it, and the lover whose basket he
"monopolized" on that eventful night,
had, as the story goes, married the girl
who on that occasion was $50 far
above him the Professor used to tell
the adventure to his particular friends,
and laugh over it till the tears ran
down his cheeks, as the most ludicrous
scrape he ever got into in his life, and
the only one he was let out of under an
oath administered. - Schuyler County
Democrat.
OLD ROMAN BABIEs.-I must also
say few words about the babies and
young children. They are made bond
slaves at birth, for the first thing the
nurse does after the ablution is to wind
around the infant-arms, body and legs
-swaddling- clothes, and these usually
indicate the rank of the parents. Some
are wrapped in very costly stuffs tied