The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-06
. eoscrrr lls eoS S,ET nor ~ TIM
Aud How ne Was Punished for his I'm.
prudence.


"No one eau ever accuse me Of beinI
double,iaeed. / always say Just what
o think, no matter who Is hit by 1t; and
do as like, without regard to anybody
opinion, always keeping clear, oil course
o Of what is wrong ] am one Of those rart
. birds-tndependent fellows"
This was the boast Of Harry Rice, con
!: fdent and conceited fellow Of IL years
and he confirmed the statements with q
very decided nod Of his fine head.
Harry had come to represent his family
!. at the wedding Of a modest little country
cousin. He evidently felt that, as a city
} boy, he should shine out gloriously over
all his green and boorish cousins" as he
styled the sensible, Woodworking fellows
he had come to visit.
He even expected them to be abashed in
bis presence; but here he was sorely mis-.
taken. The first talk they had together
about schools and books settled him, for
he found that, with only 20 weeks school.
ing in the year, they were in advance Of
him in mathematics and general reading.
But young "Care.for-nought" was
bound to make a sensation somo way, and
he struck upon his most unfortunate pro.
pensity, that OF fidiculing others before
their faces. He called this independence;
others called 1t impudence.
Weddings in remote farming.districts
are not managed just US in cities. In this
case many OF the relatives and friends
from distance came the day before, aud
were entertained over night.
The boys were all in their best attire
that afternoon, and before the arrival OF
any OF the guests, had gone up 10 the will
age to wait for tho mail.
When the stage stopped TO leave the
bags, Harry walked up to the window,
looked boldly in, and never expecting to
see any OF the travellers again, remarked,
as II to himself:-
"They have brought all the odds and
ends OF mortality to town today"
Before the cousins had chance 10 look,
the stage had rolled away.
A man was selling Holsters from his
wagon near tho postollice. Harry walked
boldly up, and pulling claw from large
lobster, commenced picking the meat from
it with his knife. 49,.
OF course the lobster.peddler was angry,
and declared that ''that are Teller would
be q dead loss to him-that nobody would
buy one.claw.ed lobster"
20 yes, old fellow!" cried Harry. 81
know q gentleman now that's in search OF
one; indeed, he wants span Of one.
cIaw.ed lobsters.'"
After thisfoolish remark he twitched
large claw from another lobster, and then
pretended to go away.
The flshman bawled after him I'LL the
hills sent back the echoes. When Harry
was ready, he walked back laughing, laid
half dollar on the edge Of the wagon.
seat, and throwing lobster over each
shoulder, walked off crying:-
"Lubstersl fresh lubsters!"
AS the cousins walked homeward ono
OF them saw wnter running in stream
from the broken Holsters down Harry's
back, and said, "Your clothes will be
ruincdw
"Plenty more where these came from, ("
was the reply; and he refused to take the
Holsters in his hand, OF course every one
stared as he went along, and one OF the |
other boys said. "Folks will think you arc
crazy"
~ never care what folks think. al.
ways do Us please" said Harry.
When they reached the farmhouse,
there, seated in the parlor enjoying them.
selves, were tho "odds and ends Of NOR.
tality" he had seen in the stage.
None OF them seemed to recognize him,
and he felt greatly relieved; for with all his
impudence he was hardly brave enough to
face three aged persons whom he had
openly and wantonly insulted.
He took particular notice OF the lack of |
hair on the old mans wig, and theabund.
ance OF it on his ancient daughters head.
30 he resolved to have some fun out Of |
false hair, and to show the company his
wit.
pains to brush rudely by the old man,
and by q quick movement OF his hand to
throw the hook Of his watch chain in
such way that II caught the wig of the
old gcntleman's head, and left It perfectly |
bare.
The poor man thought his head had
been pushed off, and put up both hands in
search oft.
"Beg your pardon!" cried Harry.
"You'l find It on the floor behind YOU,
sir"
He looked about for approving smiles,
but everybody was indignant, The sweet
girl that was 10 be the bride Of tomorrow
shot whitening glance ut him; and ''the
daughter with too much false hair" re.
placed the wig, and not smile was seen.
The old man, however, soon had his
turn. As Harry took seat beside him,
he spied the white lines on his coat, where
the lobsterjuice had run down and dried.
"Young man." he said severely, 'you
had better remove the stains and the olor
OF fish from your clothes before coming
among well.brel people,"
"0h," said Harry, "l'ye been buying
Holsters to help Uncle Abram fced the
herds that are hocking to the feast and,
by the way, now that the subject OF hair
is up, will tell you-for your benefit"
he added, glancing at tho maiden lady,
who had tower OF braids and puffs and
curls on her head, that false hair is SELL
ing below par in the New York market.
1t Is SO out OF fashion, that the sale entire.
ly depends on country folks. As I'm in
New York, Ill order q lot for anybody
who wants it."
4 dead silence fell on all the company,
and there was painful restraint during
the rest OF tho meal. No one dared open
his lips lest he might be turned into riii.
cule BY this young city gentleman who
i'darei to do anything that pleased him!"
The next morning, while Harry was in
the stable, admiring two fine horses, his
uncle came out and asked
| ,,nt1 ltlyn ta SfS1a 6aIf,.l Al.
"Yes, very much, thank you, Il can
drive myself replied Harry.
"No, | shall drive this time" said his
uncle, "but you can be ready 10 go to the
8 o'clock train. Be in good season, so as
TO secure seat.
"Why, sir, ] am not going today" ex.
claimed Harry, In surprise.
"You're mistaken there. You certainly