The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-11-22
One OF C0rWin's Franks.

Among the many interesting things
that were printed in the Louisville
Journal Of Monday, July II, 1865, is
the following amusing story: in which
the famous Tom Corwin figured. Ev-
eryone has heard of the eloquent, pa
thetic and humorous stump orator of
Ohio. He was pronounced by Henry
Clay-a most competent authority
to be the best stump speaker he ever
heard. he carried his love of fun in
to every department of life. In the
private circle, where he knew every
person, and where he unbosomed him
self fully, he was most delightful
conversationalist.
II do not know" says writer in
the old Louisville Journal Of the date
above referred to, ''that he now, as
age and infrmities are creeping on, in
dulges in the humorous proclivities so
much as he used to do, but some
twenty years ago he used to
tell with great gusto the following sto-
"'In early life-so early that can
not remember the removal-my father
pulled up stakes, and, carrying with
him the household goods, went from
Bourbon county, Ky, where j.! was
born, to Ohio. Notwithstanding
rough-and- tumble struggle with the
world I had hard time to get on, ow-
ing to a numerous and rapidly-increas-
ing family. Well, family matters had
not much improved when | reached
my thirteenth or fourteenth
"sAt this time there lived in the
neighborhood a young merchant
named Pickering. He had inherited
a well-stocked farm, was good-looking
and made strong profession of re-
ligion. This latter qualification caus-
ed him to find peculiar favor in the
eyes of my father, who was
always blinded by professions OF extra
piety.
"'This fellow had strong banker
ing after one Of my sisters, who was
very pretty girl. To her he was pecu-
liarly distasteful' She seemed always
annoyed by his presence. She dared
not dismiss him entirely for fear Of the
paternal anger. Things went on this
way for year or two, and as lpartookk
largely of my sisters hatred Of him l
resolved to get rid of him in some way.
T cast obout some time for plan, but
nothing gave me the slightest hope OF
being successful.
"3At last returning home late one
summer night from the mill, I found
the family at their nightly devotions.
Passing the windows of the room in
which they were assembled, l saw
Pickering was there, and pretty soon
discovered that he was nodding, and
finally his head dropped. Now was
my opportunity. I stole slyly into
the hall, and, reaching the hall door,
which was slightly ajar, and close by
which was Pickering 'on bended
knee I reached in and, quickly pull
ing his chair from under him, he roll
ed heavily as sound sleeper would,
upon the floor. The noise alarmed
all. The old gentleman stopped in
the midst of his almost interminable
prayer and saw the position Of
Pickering. All the family laughed
outright even my mother smiled:
Pickering endeavored to pick him.
self up as rapidly as possible, but the
had touched the old man upon his
tender point. It was evident, from
his rubbing his eyes, that he had slept
under the old gentleman's ministra-
tions, and was not Pickering his pro-
Tossing brother? Slowly, yet most
digniGedly, did the old gentleman ap-
proach him. "Begone hypocrite," he
cried in laundering tones. "Never
enter my house again. =.
" Pickering was thunderstrack.
He felt that he could make no apology
which would not add to the insult.
He had no suspicion of the extra force
which had aided him in his fall. He
at once found his hat, took up his line
Of march, and completely crestfallen,
passed by me as L stood In the shaooW
Of the porch.
"'At a suitable time I entered and
got my supper, was told by my broth
er in hurried whispers what had hap
pened, and then I stole off to bed, af-
fecting ignorance, and laug Ching most
heartily, as I esconced myself between
the sheets, at the complete success OF
my plan. Next day [ cautiously i'm
parted my secret to my sister. She
was in her own room at the time, and
threw herself upon the bed and rolled
in the agonies and convulsions OF
laughter. She had been emancipated
forever from an obnoxious lover. The
old gentleman did not hear the real
state Of affairs for fully twenty years,
but when he did be laughed hearth
".