The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-09

air and threw up his hands as 1t he ex-
pected to reach it.
The best thing about the business was
that the ball struck the little boy who |
had been yelling my praises, and he was
30 occupied in weeping for the rest Of the |
game, that he let me alone.
My wild throw gave me fearful
wrench in the side, and struck out every
time after that; but as that was what the |
majority did, / didn't feel as lonely as /
should have stated that having had
9 weeks notice Of the game, the most Of
Us prepared sort of purlesque uniform,
with view of helping along the fun.
My cap fitted very much, but the
frontisplece extended nearly . foot direct
ly outward. The trousers were gorge
eusly illuminated with stars, but were
tight, and were continually coming nm.
fastened at the knee and working up my
legs. The stockings were 9 brilliant.
crimson, and the shoes Of the ordinary
kind. The shirts had an immense letter
IS" worked In front, to distinguish our
members from the others.
In all such games the blunders are in
Vulnerable.
One of our nine insisted, after reach
ing second base, that he had the right to
run back to home-plate, instead of going
forward, as the distances was the same.
Another, finding the bali at first ahead
OF him, hastily withdrew to home, where
he commended that he had right TO stay
until he saw favorable opening.
"That'e the way we used to do!'' he
said, savagely, "and It was good deal
better :han this new-fangled fashion,
s'In the ninth lnning the situation as
sumed an interesting phase.
Our opponents Invincibles- were
at the bat,we having played out our nine
innings.
We had made fifty-f,e runs, and they
fifty three. If we could blank them
(ano each club had been whitewashed
several times) we would win. If they
should get in two runs, the game would
be tied, and another inning would be
necessary. If they should get three, they
would WIN.
The ''excltement was intense as the
expression goes. The shouting stopped,
and the country folks began trenching
upon the field in their anxiety TO see the
close. .z
Our captain admonlshed us all to keep
cool and to watch every chance.
"Don't get rattledi" was the caution
he repeated half hundred times.
We all promised We wouldn't allow
ourselves to be ratified, Though there were
only one OK two who knew he was warn
ing US against becoming demorahzed or
(figu1 atively) loosing our heads.
The first ball struck went straight to
the pitcher, who took it on the bound and
threw it furioaslv to first, to head of the
striker.
The baseman, startled to see it coming
like cannon ball, turned his back to
ward it and shrugged his shoulders. It
struck him and fell at his feet, he turning
franticaIly around to hunt for it.
The runner would have been there in
time, if he had not stumbled and torn
half his uniform of. This 80 bewildered
him that before he recovered the base
man found the ball.
One man out and no runs
The second batter drove q s'skyscraper''
over the center-feld, and made his second
before the ball was folded in.
This looked bad, but we were much
cheered and revived by the captain beg
ging Us again not to get ratified" We
drew long breath, and resolved to die
before becoming e'rattled."
The pitcher took his position, and got
ready to deliver the ball to the batsman.
At this juncture the runner, who was
ON second base, stepped of pace or two
to watch his chance.
The instant he did 80 the baseman
near him took. the ball from under his
arm, and, tapping him on the shoulder,
shrieked for s.judgment!'
The umpire could do nothing bat give
the runner out. Was.
This little trick, You know, is some
times played by professionals, and is
nothing but deception as to where the
ball is. Fs
The opponent supposed it was in the
pitchers hands, ana did not suspect the
risk he ran in stepping off his base.
Two men out, no runs in and we were
ahead!
The next three batsman made their
bases by knocking skipping, difficult
balls. With all the bases filed, this
made the situation extremely interesting,
and we became more determined than
ever that we would not be ''rattled.''
I began dancing about and moving
forward and backward as though the
ground had become suddenly red hot,
while at the same time my head was
thrown 80 far back, t. allow me to gaze
skyward, that the long fore piece of my
hat pointed straight toward the zenith
"Right-feldl Take it, right field 7 was
shouted by every member of our nine,
while our opponents began to boot and
howl SO IS to "rattle'' me; but had seen
that thing before, and my poise was toe
sublime for me to be disturbed by such
trihes.,
''Just see him take that in oldfash.
Toned stylel" some one called from the
crowd-prebably the u1chin VINO had
been heralding my skin from the begin
ming.
Keep back, keep backi" / shouted
'sThis is my ball! Don't get IN the way,
] say!''
| They did let me alone. Audience and
| players held their breath to witness the
play.
"A learned Afterwards all fha ladies'