The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-15
Wlles Of the HOOdlum.

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, rs q
young lady Of patricinn family in San
Francisco, on her return home from q
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 Us well as
could be expected, and solicited loan
as mark OF esteem.
Unnccustomed as she was to public
speaking the damsel responded with q
scream; whereupon there darted from
the opposite sidewalk n sturdy gentle
man, who promptly knocked down the
preslmptuous hoodlum, and rs deity
escorted the alarmed lady beyond reach
OF further pecuniary importantly. Hay-
ing rendered this service the stranger
would fain have taken his leave, but The
rescued fair one neryonsly 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 iashionablehou
hold may BIO 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
md ylipped n man twice his size, the
heart Of the old gentleman warmed to.
ward him. He called him n noble young
fellow and pressed twenty dollarpiece
in his hand, which, nfter some rPluc-
lance, was accepted, and the plucky de-
fender of unprotected woman left the
house with an invitationfrom the father
to call ut his place Of business the next
day, and he would try il he could do
something for him. Accordingly the
noble young fellow presented himself
at the store ION Front street, the next
morning.
There did not happen to be q vacancy
in the position OF head book.kOeper Just
then, and besides the noble young fell
low could not write, and his chiyalric
young soul had never stopped to learn
the mysteries Of figures. So he was in
stalled as porter, q position for which
nature seemed to have specially de-
signed him.
In the conduct Of this hero from hum
bic 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 n twilight promenade,
encountered the heroic porter in the
company Of an individual at sight Of
whom tho young lady turned faint.
Curious to relate, this individual was
no other than the one who had been
knocked down for accosting orr heroine
so cordially, and when the old gentle.
man was informed Of the fact ho losta
faith in human nature. Indeed, on the
following morning he charged his port
or with having practiced m imposition
upon him, and was shocked at the
frankness with which the justice Of the
impeachment was confessed. hot II
blush sufTused the cheerful countenance
OF the detected hoodlum as he ingenu-
ously ayowed that the little drama OF
the encounter in the street had been in
geniously arranged by an intimate
friend and himself, as a sociablo specu-
lation upon the gratitude of wealthy
parent; and he concluded his statement
by the remark that, while he was ready
to resign his porter's situation-seeing
that q partnership in the firm and the
young lady's hand were the least he
could be induced 10 accept for remain
ing in mercantile life-he trusted his
venerable friend would net refuse to
signify his continued esteem by partak-
ing Of spurious beverage at his ex-
pense. The merchant refusing this
proiIered courtesy with extreme haul
teur, and making some irascible DEM
onstrations with one OF his boots, the
still unruGled hoodlum retired from the
palatial warehouse with commendAble
alacrity, apparently unconscious that he
and his intimate friend had done any
thing that had not its perfect warrant,