Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-03-20
NO. 12.
Enforced Dancing.

some salu ne was crazy, while others
declared that an inordinate love of fun
gave rise TO his quaint doings. He
might be called practical joker, and
it was said that he never allowed a
stranger to come and go without play
ing upon him one or more of his ridicu-
lous tricks
One chill, drizzly autumnal evening
horseman pulled up at the majors
door and requested hospitality for the
night. He had wandered from his way
and it was now too late to rectify his
mistake.
He was warmly welcomed and when
his horse had been taken in charge by
competent servant, and his saddle
bags removed, he was ushered into the
great living-room, where a cheerful
fire blazed in the enormous fireplace
and where candles were lighted.
The major was large, strOngly-built
man, of middle-age, bald-headed, rather
red in the face, with an eye deep-set
and twinkling.
The guest was also of middle-age,
tall and spare, but compact and mus
cular, with features ofa decided leonine
cast, strongly marked. heavy brows,
and a shock of thick, crisp hair, that
stood up on his large head Ike the
name of lion.
Supper was announced, and after
that the evening passed on pleasantly.
As the clock struck nine the host arose
and excused himself for a few minutes.
When he again returned he was accom-
panied by negro who carried fiddle
and bow, and the major himself had
large horse pistol in his hand.
MY dear FRIEND" said the host,
with bow and smile, ''we must not
let the evening pass without little
amusement. From your looks l know
you can dance. l have one of the best
fiddlers in the world; he learned TO play
in New Orleans, where music and dane
ing are cultivated. So, sir, you will
take your place upon the floor, and
dance us Il reel. Let it be Scotch
reel-you look like ScOtchman. Come,
make no delay. Strike up, Pomp."
The guest protested that he could
not dance. He had not done such a
thing since his boyhOOd. But Major
Han1ey would not take no for an answer.
He cooked his pistol, and swore that he
would shoot the guest if he did not
dance. The negro had begun to tremble,
and once or twice he seemed upon the
point of crying out, but fear of his
master withheld him.
The guest seemed to consider the mat
ter. He looked at the major and at the
pistol. The man might be really in
sane, though if he was there was much
method in it. However, he was there
alone-none to behold his discontinue
and mayhap, he thought, the tables
might yet be turned.
"Come-come, Dance, or / fire."
The guest arose and stood in the mid
die of the room, and then began to
dance to the negro's music; but the
music was wretched-so wreIched that
the major more than once threatened to
shoot the negro if he did not play bet
ter.
The poor wayfarer danced until he
was fairly tired, and then stopped. The
host was upon the point of urging him
on, when Il horses tramp was heard at
the landing, and presently a servant
put his head into the room and called
the master out. Whether he forgot
what he was doing, or whether he
cared not to be seen outside with the
pistol, we cannot say, but he left it on
the table when he went out. As soon
as the door was closed the guest went
to the table, and took the pistol in his
hand. As he had half suspected, it was
not loaded it was as innocent As a horse
shoe. But the traveller had his pistol
ammunition in his pocket, and he
quickly loaded the weapon with powder
and ball, calling upon the darkey to
witness.
Shortly the major returned, and his
first movement was to look for his pistol,
which he found missing.
''My dear sir" said the guest, with
low bow, and one of the blandest of
siniles-a smile, however, quickly fol-
lowed by look that might have made
a hero quail-'I found your pistol sadly
deficient; but | nave rectified all that.
You see | have my pOwder-flask and
ball-pOuch. The pistol is loaded, sir,
secuRdum drtem. We will continue the
amusement by dance executed by the
master of the house and let me assure
you that | can use pistol much better
than / can dance reel. Dance, sir, or
by the eternal, I'll puts bullet through
your legs, if not through your head.'
The major was startled. There was
something in the mans words that
almost lifted him from his feet, and
took away his breath; and in the look
was a command he could no more have
disobeyed than he could have hushed
the throbbing of his own heart.
He danced. The negro played now
Will uHCllOu- pay GU III d hdhhci "
reflect credit upon his New Orleans
teaching. More than once the dancer
begged to be allowed to stop, but that
pistol, held by an iron hand, kept him
moving. Had the weapon been aimed
at his head or heart, he might have run
the risk of the mans firing, but he
really believed the irate traveller would
as lief break his legs As not.
AT length the visitor went to the fire.
place and discharged the pistol up the
chimney, and the major was suffered to
sit down. AS old Pompey passed him
he stopped, and bent over, and whis-
Dered into his masters ear:
s'For de Lor' massy's sake, mars'r
don't ye go for to cut up no more. |
tell We L knows de man! WhOugh
who'd ebber forget i'm, He's Gen'r1
Jackson-der rale Ole Hickory, an no
mistaker'
Major Hanley opened his eyes wide.
There is no knowing what he might
have done, but as he was starting up,
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