The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-03-22
PETER PUNCH'S HEROISNT.
By HELENA DIXON.

Peter Punch was u Yankee peddler. |
His home was in little village near
the seacoast. Peter had two reasons
for returning from his peddling tour at |
the end of every fortnight /; one was to
rcplenish his stock at the variety store,
and the other to see his b1ue-eyed,
flaxen-h haired sweetheart, Charity Chase.
All the odd notions wi hich Peter, with
all his volubility and palavering, could
not sell-all the bits of lace and rem
nants Of ribbon which would not be
disposed of even for a "mere nothing"
grateful Charity. Peter was a natural
salesman. He rarely turned his back
to house without leaving some article
OF merchandise behind him on which
he had made a snug profit. So in course
OF time he began to feel independent
and to mediate quitting the itinerant
| business and open store i'll the village.
Then he began to think about taking
| q wife, and of course he would marry
Charity. Peter had never once given
a thought to any other of the fair dam
sells of Beanville.
But just as lie had about made up his
mind to propose, and marry at once,
| there came to the village q dashing
| y ltt1lS III
She dressed and walked like a queen,
only at times she was afflicted with the
Grecian bend, but Peter--silly fellow
thought her bent fignre the most superb
one he had ever seen, and "Wished to
goodness the girls at Beanville had
| sense enough to fix themselves in that
style, then they would look more like
| S0mebOdy.7
Peter saw her first at her uncle's,
| where she was going to pass the sum-
mer. He sold her pair Of gloves and
lost his heart to her on the spot. "What
a level of a hand she has!" thought he,
as he pocketed the pay and went back
to his wagon. "Charity's gloves are
three sizes larger. What waist is hers!
slim but plump as peach. Her cheeks
are like mothers peOnies, only prettier,
with lips like dead ripe cherry. Now
if was only as / ought to be by good
rights, she wouldn't leave these diggins
till she was Mrs. Punch
Thus solloquizing, Peter cracked his
whip and drove off. Somehow Peters
tongue was far less glib on this excur-
sion than was it's wont, and as a cOnse-
quence the end of the second week
found him with his goods not half dis
posed of. But he determined to return
home nevertheless. He turned his
| morse 5 u6tIu Guc CAlI6CUlOu VI bCttII-
vile, talking thus with himself:
"Tm bound to go and see that Miss
DelOng aud find out whether she is as
stuck M as her uncle's folks. For my
part don't see what's the use Of some
folks feeling so mighty big; hope she
amt proud. She looked as clever as
pie, though I've heard say you can't tell
by frogs looks how far he can jump
| Peter was soon in sight of Beanville
again. He was determined to become
aGuainted with Miss Delong at once.
So he resolved to call and show heI
some shavls on his way into the village,
Full of this idea he reined his horse to
the side Of the road and dismOunted.
Taking box OF paper collars from
the wagon he selected one and. put il
his pantalOOns out Of his boots, brush
ing the mud from the latter with wisE
of straw. Then, satisfied with his
preparations, he resumed his seat and
drove on. He called on Miss Del0ng
: and concluded in very short time thai
she arGs proud. "Pr0ud as Luciter, and
, didn't use me half decent, but I'll VIII
her yet, that's true as the seven stars il
the bull that the schoOhnaster tells
about
Peter turned his horse out to pasture
and fell to hOeing and wedding in hi
mothers garden, SO as to be near ms
proud charmer.
go, if I could only be hero! W0
men love brave men, mother says I
| I could only save her life without tOt
. much risk I'd Jump at the chance. I
the house would only burn up, so cOul(
save her, wouldn't mind having m.
. eye-winkers singed a bit. Then sh
~ would marry me out of gratitude"
Peters head was full of such thought
as these. At last his wish seemed abOu
gratifed. He was walking down tn
= Street one day, his hands in his pocket
; when he saw a pair of horses comm!
down the street at full speed. Two Ia
[. dies occupied the seat behind them
Miss Delong and her aunt. -,
"The horses are running away wit
them as sure as guns Now, Pete
Punch, here is chance. Show yourself
a her0i" -
n Peter quickly posted himself in from
: of the running team, throwing his ha
and shouting wildly to the ladies t
keep up good courage and he wOul
save them. On they came, and Pete
made dash for the bride bit, misssin
o. it, was thrown down, and the wheel
passed over his-COat- tail.
care you hurt, Mr.. Punch?0 aske
the sweet voice of Miss Delong from th
seat in the buggy, which had come t
q stand-still.
"No, ma'am not bit, and shouldn
mind it if / was, I'm so glad | hav
saved your life.n :
~ "Saved my life, Mr.. Punch In whs
way? Your conduct struck us as some
3. thing very strange said the lady.
ID "Do you see that bridge yonderY r.
m I hadn't stopped that runaway team yo
$, would be soaking in the bottom OF til
" A merry laugh from both ladies ran
out on the air. If" :,
Y, "Why, bless your simple soul, NJ
Punch. the horses weren't running ava
- We were in q hurry to reach. the dep
= before the train leaves, that was all
And with that the ladies drove on aga
4 faster than before, leaving Peter
w sneak off home, feeling, as he expTesst
~ it, as Though he had been caught in
p- hen-roost.n But he did not give up Il
nj notion of becoming hero. He felt su,
1T. he would yet have an opportunity, al
resolved to watch for it. .4#.si
III One evening he was passing the h0u
~. where Miss Delong was staying, Wht
" her voice talking in a pleading to-
reached his ears, The windows we
:. open and several persons were asseI
. bled in the parlOr.
yE "Save me! save me! VIII no o.
Of save me from this cruel fate1 rang
M M pleading tones on the evening ar,
he Peter bolted into the house Like lgt
Ter ming. .5.iisE. - aai.as ll~.ss
!. In his wild anxiety, he saw no O
Is: but the lady of his love, and q M
standing over her with a dagger in