Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-05-21

said we would be around about twelve
O'Clock that night-wanted him TO let
US in, and bake a hoe-cake, at the same
| time displaying a piece of silver mon
ey.- The girl was waiting upon our re-
| turn, and we Immediately set out for
I the party Sic told us much OF their
manners ard customs, and we in turn
entertained her with description OF
| our social parties at the North, man.
| ners- and habits OF. the ladies, de-, &C.,
1 and in the recital of which she mani
| tested deep interest. We now asked
her if she drank anything? She con-
/ fessed to a weakness for apple,jack, and
sometimes a little whisky-and had
I'VE any good brandy? we assured her
] that We could not now drink, as we
were under protect. She inquired what
| that was? We ansW, ed that it was
similar to the Harri-ka. il of the Chi
nese, only more SO. Mt wishing to
seem entirely ignorant OF foreign al
fairs, she simply answered yes. we
| then told her that at the party 1t would
be drink or fight, and we could not DO
either. We then arranged a plan of
action. A famous preacher named
Craven, in this State, gave birth to the
somewhat popular song of Pop Goes
! the WeaseP-and after comparing them
/ to bad wheat, said that when they
were squeezed between the thumb of
the law and the forefnger of the gos-
pei, out pops the whisky bottle. On
our arrival at the party 'out pops the
whisky bottle and when it came our
turn we smilingly handed it to the
gall after my partner, that's our Gus
| tam.' When to the astOnishment of
all, she absolutely refused to drink; we
| then also declined with thanks. FOO
[ bad too bad,' was echoed from all sides,
but the girl was firm in her refusals.
Our male friends were gorgeously ap-
I paraled no coat, vest or suspenders,
and their shirts foaming over the
lwaistbands of their pants like beer.
Their trousers bagged at the knees,
and yet they were happy. The rhy-
ming game for kisses was first in Or
der. then "a dance that excelled any
thing of its kind we ever saw. Alter
the dancing was over; some one pro-
posed the very game which we wish
ed to escape, viz: Hunting the brogue,'
The men seat themselves in circle
fiat upon the floor, then raising the
knees sort of arch is formed, and all
snuggle up closely together, holding
their hands under their knees. The
hunter takes his stand in the center OF
the circle. A hard knot is tied in the
corner of a handkerchief, and in order
to render it more effective asmall peb-
BILE is sometimes inclosed. This hand
kerchief is rapidly passed around the
circle, concealed by the knees of those
passing it. When it gets behind the
hunter he is struck a violent blow in
order to remind him that he must 'be
smart Should he detect any one with
the 'brogueI he jerks him quickly into
the centre, and takes his place in the
circle. Fearing to receive their blows
we slipped quietly across the room to
an athletic looking man, and uttering
the simpIe- word spards, placed our
hand in his.S There was no response,
but his, fingers closed upon ours, and
we were jubilant. After we were seat
ed he took his place directly opposite,
and the play began. The blows fell
thick and heavy; several were jerked
inside the circle, and at last we were
eaug tit passing the sbrogue.' The hunt
er's hand was almost upon our shOul-
der, when false brogue came whiz-
zing through space, and striking, cads-
ed him to leap high in the air. I'm
mediately there was little 'unpleas-
antness.' which was apparently settled
by; all denying stoutly any knowledge
OF the false brogue. The gall now ex-
pressed an ardent desire to return
home. We were as anxious as she, but
seemed to prefer staying until the par
ty broke up. After we had left the
IoI ~, ,,,iln G hnhisI
we could distinguish cracking of the
bushes apparently upon each side of
the trail, and the gaP did not talk
much. but seemed to have one ear
stuck back ward, and the other forward
like horse. We.innocently Inquired
if that was wild hogs? She replied
briefly, wild hogs did not travel at
night. 'Daer?' NO Coon" NO
Presently the bushes parted, and our
hero or the circle presented himself.
sThe gaP gathered up fragment of a
rock, and we stood upon the aggres-
sive Thanks to the temperance move
ment, instead of having a side pocket
occupied by flask, we had a little
steel box said to contain six death war
rants, and manufactured by ono Colt,
of which the public have read. When
the lock clicked, we listened for a cor
responding click, when we would have
taken to the bush; but as these fellows
fight with their 'mauleys,' We felt AS
though we were his equal in the con-
test should one occur. He charged us
with having changed the brogue; this
we denied positively, asserting that We
could prove by our next neighbor that
we passed the true brogue, and there
fore could not be held accountable for
the false stroke. After some further
parley he withdrew, and nay humane
partner kindly remarked, why didn't
you plug it to him anyhow" The
bushes on the other side of the path
were opened, and 'pard' stood there
with hand extended, which we grasp
ed, and bade him goodbye, with a
feeling of genuine friendship, for we
felt that he would have risked his life
in our defense. Walking quickly we
soon reached the cabin, and telling the
girl to leave the latch-string uut, we
passed on down the mountain side, to
the home of our negro friend, who
arose, and upon bright clean hoe,
baked for us cake that can be better
imagined than described. In compa-
ny with this negro, this cake, and a
pint of rich milk, we passed the re-
mainder of our last night among the
Clay Eaters. III.
A RECENT remarkable suicide is at
tracing much attention at the South.
Last winter beautiful and accom-
plished young lady reigned as the belle
of New Orleans, and captivated by her
charms a young clerk and a wealthy
merchant. Society believed that the
young man had won the maiden's
heart, but it was soon found that she
accepted the hand on the merchant, and
they were recently married. The re.
jected lover attended the wedding, and
after the ceremony the groom and few