The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1883-01-12
BEN BUTLER'S BRIDGE.
THE WAY NAssACHUsRTTs' NEW GOVERNOR
MADE THE MOST NARROW rs
CAPE OF HIS LIFE..

The recent triumph of Ben Butler ana the
clever device by which he neutralized the
effects of the "splits" il his own ranks,
says Derrick DOdd in the San Francisco Post,
recalls an Incident in the Generals early ca
reer, and which is interesting as showing
that even in his youth Ben displayed those
strategic abilities which have since done so
muck for his military and political career.
1t appears that young Butler was much
enamored Of a pretty girl who lived on a
farm about six miles from that OF the Butler
family in the western part OF Massachusetts,
The country beauty was coquette, howev-
er, and kept quite large train OF admirers
in suspense, each rival doiua his best to gain
the advantage of the others. At last mat
ters were brought to climax, and the dam
sci appointed a certain night when she
would render her final decision as to which
suitor she preferred.
II goes without saying that they were all
better looking than Ben, but the latter de-
termined to put the inside of his head against
the outside Of those of his opponents. The
nearest way to the fair flrt's house and the
one taken by all her eager followers, was
over bridge formed by a single and some
what slippery log placed across deep brook
in the rear of the house. Young Butler re-
paired to this bridge an hour earlier than the
accustomed "eourtin' time" carrying a pa Il
of lard with which he carefully anointed the
log by the mellow moonlight, backing him
self across it astraddle.
AS he afterwards sat with his sweetheart,
waiting for the other suitors to appear, a
loud splash came from the direction Of the
brook. Ben's game eye tvinkled, AMI in
imagination he could see one of his gor-
geOusly got UP fellow-candidates eli mbing
up the opposite bank with his teeth chatter
ing and heading for home across lots, but the
consplrator looked as innocent as a cat in
the dairy and said nothing.
Pretty soon there came another souse. and
after a while another. The beauty began 20
look at the clock, and showed evidence of
decided pique at the negligence of her other
admirers-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 approaching together. PRETTY
soon came q tremendous double splash
Dear me-" said the young lady, "how
the fish are jumping to- nightr'
The upshot of it was that when the future
Governor rose to go the sighted beauty gave
him her hand. Sealing the bargain With an
old-fas hioned husking bee kiss, Butler left
his prize in such a 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 q header down
below, just as his victims bad done. He
climbed up the already well-clawed bank
and made six miles to home, uttering Kear-
neyisms unfit for publication. He was ia
ken with chillS and fever as a result, and,
when he got well, found his faneee had
eloped with hired man. Butler tells this
as the narrowest escape of his life, as be
says the girl began eating onions the very
next day after she became engaged. The
General has been lucky ever since.