National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-09-12
Wlles Of the uOOdIum.

= In the population OF San Francisco il
{ IN engaging class OF vivacious youn(
! men, who are known by the name o
/ Hoodlums. A few evenings ago, MS {
young lady of p,trician family in Sai
Francisco, on her return home from q
friendly visit, was walking along OFar,
rell street, she was accosted genially by
n young man with an immense cigar for
his principal feature, who in choice
hood lmese, hoped abe was as well rs
could be expected, and solicited loan
as mark Of esteem.
Unaccustomed as sho was to public
speaking the damsel responded with n
scream; whereupon there darted from
the opposite sidewalk sturdy gentle.
man, who promptly knocked down the
presumptuous hoodlum, and as deity
escorted the alarmed lady beyond reach
of further pecuniary importantly. Hav-
\ 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 tho 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 n man twice his size, the
heart of the old gentleman warmed to-
ward him. He called him noble young
fellow and pressed a twenty dollarp piece
in his hand, which, after some reluc-
lance, 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
for him. Accordingly the
noble young fellow presented hin self
at the store (on Front street, the next
There did not happen to be vacancy
in the position of head book-keeper just
then, and besides the noble young fell
low could not write, and his chivalric
Young soul had never stopped to learn
,he mysteries of figures. SO he was in
stalled as porter, position for which
nature seemed to have specially de-
signed him.
In the conduct of this hero from hum
Die life there was nothing to dscredit ,
lis character for chivalrous manlipess {
md bluff simplicity OF nature, until one +
venlng soon after the above events. ,
when tho merchant and his daughter, 4
While enjoying twilight promenade, G
ncountered the heroic DC rter in the q
ompany OF an individual Mt sight of
'hom the young lady turned faint.
Curious to relate, this Individual was 8
o other than the one who had been h
nocked down for accosting onr heroine !,
cordially, and when the old gentle n
IAN was informed Of the fact he lost all n
nth IN human nature. Indeed, on the
blowing morning he charged his port.
with having practiced an imposition
pom him, and was shocked at the =
ankness with which the justice of the
npeachment was confessed. Not a
lush snffused the cheerful countenance R
the detected hoodlum as ne inoenu.
'siy avcc""ed that the little drama of
lie encounter in the street bad been in. ;,
enious'y arranged by an intimate il
lend and himself, as sociable specu- i.
ton upon the gratitude of a wealthy 10
irent; and he concluded his statement
: the remark that, while he was ready n
resign his porter's situation-seeing e e
at partnership in the firm and the Co
Jung ladys hand were the least he
'uld be induced to accept for remain c
G in mercantile life-he trusted his
'nerable friend would not refuse to
gnify his continued esteem by partak- a. a.
g OF spurious beverage at his ex- ]
'nse. The merchant refusing this VI,
offered courtesy with extreme hau- I'M
'lr, and making some irascbe dem do
stratons with one Of his boots, the tn
III unruffled hoodlum retired from the Pa Pa
latial warehouse with commendable att aft
acrity, apparently unconscious that he .hi
d his intimate friend had done any
ing that had not its perfect warrant