The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-24
ONE OF coRWIN.s FRANKS.
How He Rid His Sister OF the Attentions
Of Abn0xinu

Among the many interesting things
that were printed in the Louisville
Journal of Monday, July Il, 1865, is the
following amusing story, in which the
famous Tom Corwin figured. Every
one has heard of the eloquent, pathetic
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 into every de-
partment of life. In the private circle.
where he knew every person. and
where he unbosomed himself fully. he
WAS a most delightful conversation.
alist.
81 do not know" says writer in the
old Louisville Journal of the date
above referred to. ''that he now, as
age and infirmities are creeping on, in
dulges in the humorous proclivities so
much as he used to do, but some TWEEN
ty years ago ne used to tell with great
4usto the following story:
I'm early ife-so early that can
not remember the rcmoval-my father
pulled up stakes, and, carrying with
him the household goods, went from
Bourbon county, KY, where l was
born, to Ohio. Notwithstanding q
rough-and-tumble struggle with the
world had hard time to get on, ow
ing to numerous and rapidly-increas-
ing family. Well. family matters had
not much improved when l reached my
thirteenth or fourteenth year.
cat this time there lived in the
neigh borhood young merchant named
Pickering. He had inherited a we'll
stocked farm, was good-looking and
made strong profession of religion
This latter qualification caused 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 a
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 a year or two, and as partook
largely of my sisters hatred of him l
resolved to get rid of him in some way.
/ cast about some time for a plan, but
nothing gave me the slightest hope of
being successful.
'''At last returning homo late one
summer night from the mill, found the
family at their nightly devotions- Pass
ing the windows of the room in which
they were ssembled, ] saw Pickering
was there. and pretty soon discovered
that he was nodding, and finally h $
head dropped. Now was my opportun-
ity. / stole slyly into the hall, and,
reaching the hall door, which was
slightly ajar and close by which was
Pickering Ion Bonded knee" ! reached
in and, quickly pulling his chair from
under him, he rolled heavily, as sound
sleeper would. upon the floor. The
noise alarmed all The old gentleman
stopped in the midst of his almost in
terrninable 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 he
had touched the old man upon his ten
der point. 1t was evident, from his
rubbing his eyes, that he had slept I'M
der the old gentleman's ministratiens,
and was not Pickering his processing
brother? Slowly, yet most dignifiedly,
did the old gentleman approach him
"Begone, hypocrite!" he cried in thun-
dering tones. ''Never enter my house
again"
Pickering was thunderstruck. 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 shadow
of the porch.
.s'At suitable time I entered and
got my supper, was told by my brother
In hurried whispers what had hap
pened. and then I stole off 10 bed, af
fecting ignorance. and laughing most
heartily. as esconced myself between
the sheets, at the complete success of
my plan. Next day l 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
agonies and commissions OF laughter.
She had been emancipated forever
from an obnoxious lover. The old gen
tleu1an did not hear the real state of
affairs for fully twenty years. bnt when
he did he laughed heartily. Louis
vile Ccurier-yournaL