The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-05-08
HERO AND LEANpEn.

pcnt, in DAYS long since gone by, stood
u first-class brown stone temple (man-
sard roof four stories Observation-Disclosures
ed to the worship OF that potent Cv-
prian queeu-Madame Venus, whose
ardors even now are sometimes seen.
Aud among her priestesses was one
beauty rare, W hose only name WAS
: Hero-and wore her oNgn black hair
just across the classic water, on fair
Asla Miner shore, in a village called
a Abydos, Of thousand souls no more
stood great exporters warehouse
and little oil the road was the vine
eInbowered cottage where the family
abode, and the most conspicuous Or
namelit this charming family had was
the eldest son, Leantier, very like his
worthy dad. i-... -~a5l .qeg .ief
Now, Leander loved the water, and
kept II fancy boat tor his own especial
rowing when he wished to he atloat
and one day while lac was pulling up
the European side, he espied our iiftle
Hero thro wing pebbles iii the tide
AZ they each glanced aat each other
loves sharp arrow pierced theh
through, aud they both went home to
dinner with a feeling strangely new
AT AN early hour next morning
young Leander was at sea, rowing
swiftly by the place where he thought
the maid might be. And his zeal was
well rewarded, for she presently ap.
peared, blushing, anu most sweetfy
smiling, as the gallant t-oarsnlanjnear'd
Then with feelings quite ecstatic did
/ our youngsters leap ashore, and the
two were well acquainted ere the first
half hour was y er. sgals. J-gu mi .
Iu.r h, u Il
Leanderg cross the stream, and with
Hero passed long hours that did only
moments seem. His prolonged and
frequent absence put his sisters ina
rage, and they sent to, watch his do
ings an eayesdropping little page,
who, with eyes as large as saucers,
soon brought back this brief report
There's a gal across the water that
yer brother goes ter court" 3ss siHal
4 Then the girls were still more
wrathy, and they secretly conferred
how to stop Leander's sparking-foI
he could not hear word of remon-
! STRANGE or entreaty, but with grim
and angry phiz, only asked his charm
ing sisters to ATTEND to their own
biz" So one night, when he was
slightly indisposed with a sore throat,
they locked him in his chamber and
went down and smashed his boat. d
In the morning, when, as usual, he
went out to take the air, and to max e
his usual voyage TO his Hero sweet
and tair, lie discoveLed what his SIS
ters had been mean enough to do, and
shouldn't wonder it he swore very
few. Then discousoIate lie wandered
up and down the sad sea beech, won
dering how in Hail Columbia hefthe
other side could reach. s1~ 3- -HlHe
BY and by he saw a signal in the
distance blue and dim; twas sweet
Hero waving wildly her best hand
kerchief at him. Then no longer be-
ing able to endure his prisoned state,
in despair, 10 father Neptune he re-
solved to trust his fate. 20 We gods
and little fishes, give me strength in
arm and limb, toy across the brin Y
water LIN just a-going to swim" IA -
Then his collar and snspenders he
suspended on tree; the blue neck
tie his sisters made he flung iuto the
sea. And otherwise preparing in such
ways as he thought good, he just took
noble header from the rock whereon
he stood, struck out boldly for his
sweetheart, and in spite of all alarms,
him in her arms. @ =
Having made the trip so neatly. and
with such complete success, our gal
liant was much encouraged--more than
he could we'll express-so he told his
pretty Hero how he didn't care cent
for his old maid sisters efforts his love
visits to prevent. "You just stand
upon the tower, Hero, dear, and show W
a light, and I'll swim this little Hell
lespont to see you every night. 5D
Well, his sisters were astonished at
the change which soon took place in
the conduct of their brother-fOr he
really had the face TO invite them out
to concerts, and to stay at home by
day, and to act as if his passion for
s,that mink" had blown away. Till he
got them to believing that their watch
they could suspend, and that smash
ing his loved row-boat to his love had
put an end. 5 .s.t
All, but wasn't he a sly one? Every
night at twelve O'Clock he crept softly
down the stairway. with a wire he
| picked the lock, FASTENED to the wa
ter's border. plunged incon6nently
in, and across the jealous briny like
dolphin did he spin. Then returning
sun he'd come dawdling down to
break fast as if nothing had been done.
But this story's tragic sequel does
with grief o'erpower me (when this
piece is set 10 music, put this in mi
nor key.) One black night it stormed
and Numbered, and the breaking
waves dashed high, hurling wrath and
! bold defiance at the dark and lower
ing sky. till the Hellespont was really
in horrible condition, and decidedly
unpleasant for swimming expedi-
ton. s
Not nickel cared Leander, for he
eau. hit the glimmering sheen of Il pat
ent German students lamp well filled
with kerosene, which fair Hero as a
signal was just holding up to view,
and in spite of wind aud weather, he
resolved to put her through. So,
with undaunted courage, he began his
dangerous trip, with his head well out
of water, and stiffened upper lip.
He swan well till nearly over-till
he saw his Hero stand, holding out in
Joyous welcome her enhancing little
hand. Then sudden cramp o'ertook
him, and an overwhelming wave
swamped him-drowued hin-and
| HCNA lIliIL ~ d UCCp anu
grave. And his we'll beloved Hero,
holding up her guiding light saw her
luckless lovers body swept forever
from her sight.
She concluded, on reflection, that
the neatest thing to do in these dole
ful circumstances was to try the wa
ter 100. So she sang out, 80 Leander,
I'm coming after theel" and herself
precipitated from the tower into the
sea. The result of which proceeding.
as the morning papers said. that when
they found her body, the immortal
spark had fled.
| MORAL.
If young men will go accounting,
let them do it on dry ground. lest
some moist, unpleasant evening they
might possibly be drowned. Ii girls
will have foreign lovers, ] advise this