The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-06-06

the ruffian had insulted the girl, ,whel
he sprang 10 his feet. but the hi.
tesmster was too qnick for him, ant
so he quickly settled back in his chair
AT last one of the men, excited will
liquor, struck the youth under th'
shoulder, and said, rudely:
tCome, pale face, song, a story, o.
a treat
The young man rose to his feet, an(
said, quickly:
Il can not sing, can not tell stories
and do not drink
'The deuce you can't and won't,
SAID the miner. 'What kind of white
livered monkey are you, any way z
and turning to the crowd continued
Il say, boys. what do you think of thi.
rOOster2 He can't sing, can't spin s
yarn, and don't drink
III general howl followed this out.
burst, anu the crowd gathered menac
ingly around the youth.
Curly, the stage-driyer, here inter.
fered, and said: Young man, better
consider the boys don't like it /; try q
story, or try a song, or order the poi.
son.
But don't drink said the youth
Il can not sing, g,and can not tell stories,
and, as he spoke, he turned a full
fearless face upon the excited crowd.
A murmur of disapprobation began
one rusty miner was calling attention
to city chap as was too proud to 60
chats with common miners and team
sters,' when the big teamster, 'Posey,
by wave of the hand stopped him, land
marching up to the youth said:
l think there's misunderstanding
here. If you don't sing,no tell stories,
nor drink, your education has been
sadly neglected for some kind of busi-
ness, sure but think it over minute
you might do something else, perhaps
The young man looked down for a
moment, and then looking up, said !:
Il might read you something which
OOiAoPS3 WOuiO oho WCA AL IiCu Vi SOuS
or story
Il knowed it, said Posey. 'Iknow-
ed there was game in him when he
jumped out of the chair, little while
ago; when the loafer commenced to
insult the Lily Room here, and a
light for the boy to read by!'
The crowd fell back, half morose
and half respectful. A candle was
brought, which Posey claimed the
responsibility of holding. The boy
drew a little volume from his pocket,
looked over the crowd for moment,
then opening the book, examined it
for moment, as if to find the place,
and commenced:
When the great and wise King
Solomon dispatched his fleets to Ophir
to gather gold, and gems, rare wood
for the temple which he was building,
he sent with them Seer TO mark the
conduct of his men, that each might
be rewarded according to his merits.
When the land of Ophir was reached.
some OF the men went at once to the
mines to dig gold; some were EN-
plOyed with trains OF camels, 10 treiy hi
merchandise and food 10 the min $ :;
some with drOmedaries carried the ex
press AID gold dust between the mines
and the sea shore. Some kept inns,
and gathered many shekels by dis
posing of bad food and poor beds to
the miners
THAT means you, landlord, said
POsey interrupting.
The boy continued: 'And the Seer
watched all these men in their daily
and nightly employinenta, and took
notes of their lives. Almost every one
had left father, or mother, or sweet
heart in Jerusalem, and, amid the tears
and anguish OF parting, had promised
to be faithful TO the end. But some
had forgot their promises when far
away ; some would spend whole eve.
nings in discussing the merits of their
respective dromedaries. and would do
this night after night, until they did
not have an idea above the brute over
which they had CONTROL
'That means you, Jake Farren, and
you, old Grimes, and you miserable
mule beating inlidels,' said Posey.
The young man had a delightful
voice, was beautiful reader, and as
he proceeded, the interest in his mar
rative increased. He read on:
'Somc who were miners would
work all day, and at night spend their
last sheckel in game which, in Judea
was known as cinch.'
That's you, Mike and Don Nc
Naughton,' said Posey, you disrepu-
table poker playing frauds
Again the reader proceeded: Some
desired to be considered dangerous
men and fighters, and would seek diff
ficulties with men their interiors, ply
sically, that it might be told in the
different mining camps of Ophir that
they were desperate men, with whom
none might trifle.'
'That's you Sam Brown, you cow
ardly buffer lnterposed Posey
And some,' continued the boy
grew vain of foolish exploits, and
learned to expect praise for only do:
ing their duty
Il guess that's me- said Posey; you
are given to such thoughts, sometimes
you know you are, you big unthink-
ing ruffin.'
almost all learned TO drink of the
juice Of the upas tree, and when under
its influence they were guilty of un-
manly and disgraceful acts, which
would have grieved their friends in
Jerusalem sorely, had they deemed