Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-10-08
Wiles Of the Hoodlum.

In The population oIoan francisco
is an engaging class of vivacions young
men, who are known by the name Of
Hoodlums. A few evening ago, as u
young lady of patrician family in San
Francisco, on her return home from q
friendly visit, was walking along o.
Farrell street, she was accosted geni-
ally by young man with an immense
cigar for his principal feature, who in
choice hoodlumese, hoped she was as
well us could be expected, and solicit
ed loan as q mark Of esteem.
Unaccustomed rs she was to public
speaking the damsel responded with
scream whereupon there darted
from the opposite sidewalk a sturdy
gentleman, who promptly knocked
down the presumptuous hoodlum, and
as deity escorted the alarmed lady
beyond reach of further pecuniary i'm
portunity. Having rendered this SER
vice the stranger would fain have Ia
ken his leave, but the rescued fair one
nervously besought his protection to
her home, and there prevailed upon
him TO enter the house and receive the
thanks of her father.
The surprise of tho fashionable
household may be imagined when
Miss - introduced her deliverer, for
the strangers attire was decidedly
seedy. But when the lady explained
to her father how the brave young
man had saved her life and whipped u
man twice his size, the heart Of the
old gentleman warmed toward him.
lie called him n noble young fellow
and pressed q twenty dollar piece in
his hand, which after some reluctance,
was accepted, aud the plucky defender
of unprotected woman left tho house
with an invitation from the father 10
call at his place of business tho next
day, and be would try if 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 va.
cancy in the position OF head book
keeper just then, and besides the no
BILE young fellow could not write, and
bis chivalric young soul bad never
stopped TO learn the mysteries of fig
uros. So he was installed as porter .
position for which nature seemed tC
have specially designed him,
In the conduct OF this hero from
humble life there was nothing to dis
, credit his character for cbivalroui
maniness and bluff simplicity of ma
ture, until one evening soon aNer th'
above events, when the merchant ant
bis daughter, while enjoying a twi
: light promenade, encountered the he
: roic porter in the company Of an in
divdual ut sight of whom the younl
lady turned faint.
Curious TO relate, this individua
was no other than the one who ha,
been knocked down for accosting on
heroine so cordially, and whel
tho old gentleman was informed o
the fact he lost all faith in human ma
lure. Indeed, ,on the following day h
charged his porter with having prac
ticcd an imposition upon him, and wa
shocked at the frankness with whicl
: the justice Of the impeachment wa
confessed. Not blush sufiused th
cheerful countenancc of the detected
boodlum as he ingeniously avowc
, that tho littlo drama Of the cncounte
! in the street had been ingeniously ar
: ranged by an intimate friend and him
self, as n socable speculation upol
tho gratitude of wealthy parent
and he concluded bis statement by tn
8 remark that, while no was ready L
resign his porter's situation-socinI
that a partnership in the firm and tn
young lady's hand were the least h
could be induced to accept for rcmair
ing in mercantile liie--he trusted bi
0 venerable friend would not refuse I
: signify his continued esteem by pal
> taking of spirituous beverage at b
) expense. The merchant refusing th
Q proifcred courtesy with extreme hat
!, teur, and making some irascibe den
d onstrations with one of his boots, th
u still unruflled boodlum retired frol
l. the palatial warehouse with commel
:. dable alacrity, apparently unconsciol
" that he and his intimate friend ho
T, done anything that had not lis pc
~ feet warrant.