Connecticut western news., 1873-09-19
Wiles of the HOOdlum,7

In the population of San Francisco is an engaging class of vivacious young men, who are known by the name of Hoodlums. A few evenings ago, as 8 young lady of patrician family in San Francisco, on her return home from a friendly visit, was walking along O'Far- rell street, she was accosted genially by young man with an immense cigar for his principal feature, who in choice hoodlumese, hoped she was as we'll as could be expected, And solicited a loan as mark of esteem.
 Unaccustomed as she was to public speaking the damsel responded with a scream; whereupon there darted from the opposite sidewalk sturdy gentle man, who promptly knocked down the presumptuous hood1um, and as deftly escorted the alarmed lad y beyond reach of further pecuniary importantly. Hay ing rendered this service the stranger would fain have taken his leave, but the rescued fair one nervously besought his continued protection to her home, and there prevailed upon him to enter the house and receive the thanks of her father. ~
 The surprise of the fashionable house. hold may be imagined when Miss - introduced her deliverer, for the stran- ger's attire was decidedly seedy. But when the lady explained to her father how the brave fellow had saved her life and whipped a man twice his size, the heart of the old gentleman warmed to- ward him. He called him noble young fellow and pressed a twenty dollar piece in his hand, which, after some reluc- tance, was accepted, and the plucky de- fender of unprotected woman left the house with an invitation from the father to call at his place of business the next day, and he would try if he could do something for him. Accordingly the noble young fellow presented himself at the store Con Front street) the next morning.
 There did not happen to be a vacancy 1n the position of head book-keeper just then, and besides the noble young fel- low could not write, and his chivalric young soul had never stopped to learn the mysteries of figures. So he was in- stalled as porter, a position for which nature seemed to have specially de- signed him.
 In the conduct of this hero from hum bie life there was nothing to discredit his character for chivalrous manliness and bluff simplicity of nature, until one evening soon after the above events. when the merchant and his daughter, while enjoying twilight promenade, encountered the heroic DC Crter ill the company of an individual at sight of whom the young lady turned faint.
 Curious to relate, this individual was no other than the one who had been knocked down for accosting our heroine so cordially, and when the old gentle man was informed of the fact he lost all faith Tn human nature. Indeed, on the following morning he charged his port CT with having practiced an imposition upon him, and was shocked at the trankness with which the justice of the impeachment was confessed. Not blush suffused the cheerful lcountenance Of the detected hoodlum as he ingenu- ously avowed that the little drama of the encounter in the street had been in- genlously arranged by an intimate friend and himself, as sociable specu- latlon upon the gratitude of wealthy parent; and he concluded his statement l by the remark that, while he was ready ] to resign his porter's situation-seeing l that partnership in the firm and the | young ladys hand were the least he | could be induced to accept for remain ing in mercantile ife-he trusted his | venerable friend would not refuse to signify his continued esteem by partak- ing of spurious beverage at his ex- pense. The merchant refusing this l profered courtesy with extreme haul teur, and making some irascible dem- onstrations with one of his boots, the | still unrufaed hoodlum retired from the l palatial warehouse with commendable | alacrity, apparently unconscious that he and his intimate friend had done any thing that had not it's perfect warrant
 Chemists say no matter is ever lost. | Printers deny it.