The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-06
OIG.StyIe Writing.
| OIG.StyIe Nritin".
| GRANDFATHER LICKsHINGLE DESCRIBES THE
| FIRE.FIEND.

GRANDFATHER LICKSHINGLE DESCRIBES THt
FIRE.FIEND.-
roll City DcrricE.J
Grandfather Lickshingle broke the 81
lence Yesterday evening as follows:
~ fell YOU what it is, children. there:
no Use talkin'. The newspaper-me OF to
dav can't sling ink with their grandfatherS
They're deccneratin'. This country sees nc
graphic writin' like it did when your grand
father was ridin' the editorial tripod ike
witch astride the gale. know OF no place
that affords better field for descriptive
writin' than these very oil regions. why.
the fires you have heard of can't be beat, eX
ceDtin', of course, beyond the tomb. hen
I hear OF one OF these CONGREGATIONS !usl
ache to take my pen in hand IN describe II
in my own graphic style"
Grandfather closed his eyes, swayeu to
and fro on his easy CHAIR. While his lace
plowed with enthusiasm. He seemed to be
in transport OF Joy.
"Brins forth my good gray quill nc
said, "and let me paint the hurnln' town.
One OF the children said he Thought
grandfather was going to have III lathel
said he was only in the newspaper business;
in bis Imagination, at Il salary OF & tnousaho
dollars q week, but would sooE be all right
.nTis night. Fire! fire! tire!' said
grandfather, rapidly tracing sheet OF INA
rinarv paper with 4 goose-quiil OF the
mind. "Fire! fire! fire! and the al
frichtcd winds took up the cry. Tie
fire. tiend, with his sword OF flame, was
seen lcapin' from the back window OF
bake.shop, breatbin' smoke and lorked
ligbtin' from his nostrils. In an instant
thc sleepin' CITY was out on the floor
barkin' its shins on chairs and things III .
mad hunt after its pantaloons. HUSH
bark The firc-fend rushes on ana on
like a war-horse, leavin' destruction IN
his trail. Look he scales the side OF yon
corner grocery, even as kitchen-maiG
would scale 4 fish, an with his fiery, forHea
tongue, ticks the paint often the buIidin''
See! like the hungry holocaust that he Is
lie is Iickin' up the sign, 'Salt mackcre''
bacon, -four, feed, an provisions as II lie
hadn't tasted bite for month. See aim
leap to the caves of my lady's bower an
gorge himself upon the gingerbread WoIK
OF the cornices. Now he hurts his BODY
through the windows OF yonder residence,
ransacks the premises an ESCAPES IKE
rocket through the roof. lie turns
somersaults from housetop to housetop'
knocks over chimney-pots, dances jig on
the hot shingles, like the boy on the
burnin' deck, an without as much as 4
slook out behind rains shower OF
sparks upon the heads OF the panlc-stricken
populace. But see him nov He splits upon
his caloused hands ar scoots up the liberty
pole like cat up an apple-tree. Up! up ;
up Higher higher higher Higher, ant
vet higher! Higher than hall Higher
than the price OF butter, until now WIN
one fiery foot he tiptoes it upon the topmost
tin, the while he filings his arms OF flame
about him like village lawyer making
Fourtli-of.JuIy Grafton. Now he places =
thumb to his nose, an with his extende Il,
fingers describes circle in the face OF the
man in the moon, while he laps his !orkeu
tongue about the American flag, an swaI-
lows it before a loyal people can shoot him
on the SPOT"