The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-09-02
Selfrf Stury.
T Il & UNKIND Gu 7.
BY CHARLEs DAILY DOUGLAS.
please. sir. NAV I ride ?"

home from school. 1t was keen bright
afternoon in JANUARY ;the snow cracked
under foot and sparkled in the sun, and
.he sleighing was excellent. The boy
had walked perhaps quarter of mile
onlhis way, and had something more
.baisa mile yet to walk. He was far
M - boy, with many chores to do, and
ID kaew there would be little daylight
eft after he had walked home. l say
tome. 1t was the place where he boar
led while he was attending school for
he winter, and he was trying hard to do
work enough to pay for his board. 1t
was a matter of some consequence to
his lad whether he could save an hour
FOR study in the evening; and every mo
ment saved on his way home from school
was something toward it.
Solomon Purnell, rich farmer of the
was just passing in large
box sleigh, alone, and drawn by two
stout horses ;and knowing that Mr.. Pur
nell went past his boarding -place,he had
no hesitation in appealing to him for a
ride. He did more-he assumed that the
farmer would cheerfully grant his re-
quest; and, thinking, he ran swiftly to
The passing sleigh with his books under
bis arm, and laid his hands on the tail
board, preparatory to jumping in.
The farmer instantly laid the lash on
the horses, and the spirited horses boun-
ded away at fast gallop. Their speed
was so much increased that the boy was
unable to jump into the sleigh, bat had
to run with it,with his hands on the tail
board. The farmer then turned round
in his seat, and exhibited his face-the
face of a young man,too, not more than
thirty years Of age-glowing with venge-
full wickedness.
"I'll teach ye, ye young heather, to
catch rides with mei' he exclaimed +; and
his 'sblack snake whip whistled through
the air, and descended in cruel cut
across the boys cheek and neck. Aston
ished, frightened and humiliated, the lad
would have let 60 at once; but he saw
that the speed of the sleigh was now so
great that he could not do so without
falling. Again the lash descended, this
time over his shoulders. He relinquished
his hold, and was whirled into snow
bnnk at the side of the road, while his
cherished school-books spun into the
srow in the opposite direction. A loud,
rude laugh from Mr.. Purnell greeted his
mishap, and the sleigh disappeared over
a hill. r,, ,, :.
The boy arose, grieved, shocked in
body, and angered. He was a studious,
retiring lad,sensitive to i'll treatment, and
scrupulously careful himself in his treat
ment of others. He picked up his cap
and books, brushed the snow from his
clothes, and dashed a tear Of mortifca-
ton from his cheek. 81.
Il only hope,Sol Purnell," he said to
''that l shall live long enough,
and have good chance to resent that
meanness as ought to-"
And then he quietly plodded on home
and was occupied until eight O'Clock
milking the cows, while Mr.. Purnell sal
in his armchair before his own fire place
and smoked his pipe, forgetting already
the thorn that he had planted that after.
noon. Is se utpt
Thirty years passed. Solomon Pur.
nell was sixty years old, awealthy land
owner and cultivator, and one OF the
most substantial men Of the county
The office of superintendent OF the poor
was vacant, ,and an appointment to fill the
vacancy was to be made by the COVER
nor. It was an Office of much import
ance in the county, and considerable
profit. This appointment was invested
with unusual Importance, as it was con
ceded that the appointee would be the
candidate of the dominant party at the
next election for the full term of six
years, ,and would unquestionably be elec
ted. There were two candidates fol the
place, and Solomon Purnell was one o.
them. Tt was generally conceded thai
he would be appointed. He was an ex
cellent party man; he had contributed
largely in times past to the party, by his
,abors and his influence, and he had the
names of the greater part of the infuen
tial men of his party on his petition. Hs
was well qualified by nature and experl
ence for the place; and it was well un
derstood that he was quite anxious fol
it. He had never before asked anything
of his party but this place was just sucl
a one as he would like to fill and i
seemed to be the voice Of the party tha
be ought to fill it. His opponent was
clever, competent man, but possessed o
hardly 1.-THE Of the influence of MIR
Purnell.
At the propertime delegation OF tn
friends of each candidate appeared be
fore the governor and urged the claim
|of their respective candidates. For Mr.
Purnell, judges, legislators, and men 0
large property and position spoke, urg
ing his appointment; for his opponent
MI Sands, only few political and per
sonal friends. The governor, middle
aged man, with an earnest, firm featured
face, heard all that was said, and thel
spoke as follows: ss;.
ssGentlemcn, have heard your argu
ments, ,and considered them as you mad
them. There are some others that nigh
have been mentioned, but will not re
fer to them. 1t is conceded here tha
either of the gentlemen named woul(
creditably and competently fill this Office
Such being The case, for reasons entirel.,
satisfactory to myself, shall appoin
Mr.. Sands. His letter Of appointment
will be forwarded tomorrow,
The friends Of the successful candl
date retired, delighted and surprised a
their good fortune, those of Mr.. Purnel
went away astonished and chagrined be
yond measure One of the latter, per
sonal friend of the Governor, remained
after all the rest had gone, and, taking
advantage of his intimacy began to re
monstrate against what be termed lnja
dicious action of his excellency in thi
matter. The Governor stopped him a
once
81 know Solomon Purnell great dea
better than you do" he said LET M
tell you little story" He then wen
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