Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-01-04
y}1isteHa,1sans @tadiua.
BEN. BUTTLER'S BRIDGE.

The lust achieved triumph of Ben. Butler
and the clever devices with which he neutral
lied the efectsof the s'splits' in his own ranks,
says Western paper, recalls an incident in
the Generals early career and which is inter-
esting as showing that even in youth Ben: dis
played those strategic abilities which have
done so much for his military and political Ca
reer.
1t appears that young Butler was much en-
amored of pretty girl who lived on a farm
about six miles from that of the Butler fam
lily in the Western part OF Massachusetts
The country beauty was coquette, however,
and kept quite large train OF admirers IN
suspense, each rival doing his best to gain the
advantage of the others. AT last matters were
brought to a final climax, and the damSel ap-
pointed a certain night when she would rem
der her final decision as to which sultor She
preferred. ~
It goes without saying that they were all
better looking than Ben., but the latter deter
mined to put the inside of his head against
the outside of his opponents. The nearest
way to the fair firt's house, and the nearest
one taken by all her eager followers, was over
a bridge formed 10y single and somewhat
slippery log placed across deep brook in the
rear of the house. Young Butler repaired to
this bridge an hour earlier tlHtn the ac-
customed ''cOurtin' time," carrying bucket
Of lard with which he carefully annOnted the
log by the mellow moonlight backing himself
across it aStraddle.
AS he afterward sat with his sweetheart,
waiting for the other suitors to appear a loud
splash came from the direction OF the brook.
Ben. IS game eye twnkled, and in imagination
he could see one of his georgeously gotten up
fellow candidates climbing up the opposite
bank with his teeth chattering and heading
for home across lots, but the conspiratOr look
ed innocent as a cat in a dairy and said moth
ing. 4.
Pretty soon there came another sUlse, and
after while another The beauty began to
look at the clock and show evidences OF de-
cided pique at the negligence of the other adj
mirers-a circumstance Ben. did not fail to
turn to his own profit. Presently he could
family hear voices in the distance, and he
knew that the last two swains were approach
ing together Pretty soon there came ire
mendous double splash.
"Dear me,'' said the young lady, Chow the
fish are jumping tonight"
The upshot of it was, that when the future
Governor arose to 60, the sighted beauty
gave him her hand. Sealing the bargain with
an old-fashioned husking- bee kiss, Butler left
his prize in such state of exultation that he
forgot all about the creased log, and the first
thing he knew both heels hit him in the back
of his head and he took a header down below,
lust as his victims had done. lie climbed ul
the already well clawed bank, and made the
six miles to home uttering Kearneyisms unfit
for publication.
He was taken with chills and fever us re-
suit, and when he got well, found his .tdncet
| had eloped with a hired man. Butler tells
this as the narrowest escape of his life, as he
says the girl began eating onions the very
next day after shebecame engaged, The Gen
eral has been lucky ever since.