Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-06-25
A BLONDE IN BREECHES.
A Sensation OF the White River
Yalley-A Tale OF the two
Cities, Augusta and
JacksonpOrt.
The Adventures OF the neautifaI
Horse.thief, Miss Nancy Hen
derson-Pretty Maid with
out "a bonnet

ter, an interesting youth, apparently III
teen or sixteen years of age, came 4
Augusta and soon found employment
A clear complexion, oval face, full, Ii
quid eyes OF blue, fringed with long
dark lashes that might grace Spanish
beauty; faxen hair, whose wavy lines
could not be repressed-such golden
locks as William the Conqueror OF
Harold, the last Of the Saxon Kings,
might have envied; n foot that would
ill nothing larger than n No boot and
a small, plump, dimpled hand, with del
icately tapered fingers, and figure
1.-THE yet symmetrical, round yet not vol
uptuous-such was Billy Henderson, as
he flashed upon our community last win
ter. He was employed in the telegraph
office, in the hotel, in the drug store, and
made good impression generally. At
the hotel the cook assaulted him, and
this aroused much Indignation among
our citizens. Being without protector,
a most estimable citizen persuaded him
10 apply to the county court and have a
guardian appointed for him. This was
done, and he choose another most esti-
mabe citizen for his guardian. That
citizen had Billy bound out to the first
most estimsble citizen, and the future Of
Billy Henderson was not so gloomy as
when the cook assaulted him. In fact,
he seemed to charm all as a mag
net, and won upon the regard and es-
teen of everybody. SO popular was
he that comfortable quarters and snoopy,
coy rooms and beds were always at his
disposal; first one of our most esti-
mable and then another, being always
willing to share a couch or bed with
him. Bnt time wore away in its fight,
and Billy suddenly took flight too.
Without warning or a farewell word,
he left his many friends at Augusta and
hied him to Jacksonport. For several
days the town wore mourning. The
most estimable gentleman who acted as
Billy's guardian, and he to whom the
dear boy was bound, and all the .esti-
mable young gentlemen who used to
offer Billy part of their bed on cold
nights last winter-they we're all discon-
ISOLATE when they found Billy had gone
" where the woodbne twineth."
1t seems that Billy remained at Jack
sonport several months in a livery sta
BILE, learning to ride bareback as other
boys do. Bet, lest week, be and another
boy rode two of the livery horses so far
from Jacksonport, and remained away
so long, that the owner of the horses
deemed it best to 60 in pursuit of them
They we're overtaken aud brought back
to Jacksonport, and Billy Henderson,
the handsome blonde boy of sixteen,
turns out to be Miss Nancy Henderson.
Imagination may paint, out language
can never describe the sensation pro-
duced in our little town on hearing of
this. Messages have been flashed across
the wires, and petition is in circula-
ton to have the venue changed from
Jacksonport to Woodruff, as Miss
Nancy is now on trial at Jacksonport.
They are moved to this by two consid-
erations. first, they wish to look into
her deep blue eyes again; and secondly,
hey know she can be acquitted here.
She lived here several months, and her
sex was never even suspected. She
night have lived here forever, among
)nr simple. virtue.loving people, and it
never would have been suspected. But
he moment she goes to Jacksonport-
hat Sodom, that modern Babylon-why,
be cat is out Of the bag, Were Brother
Dye and Mr. Davies, and all our other
livines, to preach for years they could
lot find a more beautiful illustration of
he native purity and virtue Of our pop
Ilation than this little episode in the life
# Miss Nancy" Augusta and Jack
contrast The former
III innocence and purity, never suspect
ng wrong in others, because none doing
wrong themselves; the latter. "of the
lesh, heshly." The only indiscretion
hat we, as a sentinel on the watoh.tower
# morality have yet observed was a sigh |
rom several of the estimables " that
lext winter might be as cold as last, and
hat Billy Henderson would come back.
The following letter from the Arkan-
as Statesman. Jacksonport, explains
he state of affairs in that Virtuous city
letter than we can hope to do it:
Mr.. EDIToR-We congratulate a COM
nunity possessed of men who are so
loble. minded as to look over the little |
of that dear little boy-girl |
FAMED VIM. Henderson alias Nancy
henderson, alias Mary Kirkwood, ETC.,
Who was guilty of borrowing our town
mans Gus Taber) horses, etc. also Of
making Mr.. -, Of Augusta, believe
lis boyhood, and lol and behold, even
haring his couch with him for two
months; also the couch of that princely, |
ong haired specimen Of manhood at
'oyer's stable named st. Clair. Such |
title indiscretions are not matter of
ny consequence, when our citizens
ONE nobly forward and 90 her bond |
n the trial for stealing horses they
lso generously furnished her with " a
ice little bonnet with a flower gar
en- on il" and inform US that her gar
ers cost seventy.fVe cents. Obi shades
Caesar. OBJ my, what generosity
What magnanimity Of soul to prevent by
mely aid the imprisonment Of an limo
emit girl, who did not do any guilty act,
ven il Gus Tabers horses were missing BY
err hand and cost that gentleman a good
1und sum TO get them hack. What an
xample Of innocence for a young girl
, sleep with gentlemen and leave them
nder the impression that she was boy.
Te sympathize with her, but the bulk Of
ur smpathies are with the men. We
ould feel honored If our protege would
company us 10 the ice cream saloon in
rat magnificent dress which, we under
and, will be presented to her by some
ne. ASoS.