Year: 1863

pSSah iiO py iuhuihS o""J HN
home. Bolieau, we are told, was driven
into his career by the hand Of fate and
the peck of a turkey. Attila started in
life with no other cause and capital than
an old sword, and which be palmed off
for the divine weapon of mars; and Ro-
bespierre owed his political career to wet
ting his stockings, and there heard
swords which burn," which fired his soul,
and determined his course in life. My
running away from home arose from a
minor modification, caused by carrying
pretty girl over the brook.


Dolaud Lean and myself were good
friends at fourteen years Of age, and we
both regarded with little more than friend
ship, pretty HELEN Graham, " our oldest
girl at school," We romped and danced
together, and this lasted for such length
Of time that it is with feeligs of bewildcr-
ment that look back upon the mystery
of two lovers continuing friends. But
the time was to come when jealousy lit
her spark in my boyish bosom, and blew
it into a consuming flame.


Well do | remember how and when
the "green-eyed "perpetrated this incen-
diary deed. 1t was on cold November
evening, when HELEN, Donald and my
self we're returning with our parents from
a neighboring hamlet. AS we approach
ed ford where the water ran somewhat
higher than ankle deep, we proposed to
carry HELEN across as we were accustom-
ed TO with hands interviewer "chair
fashion," and thus carried our pretty pas
senger over the brook. Just as we were
in the middle of the water-which was
cold enough to to have frozen anything
like feeling out of boys less hardy than
ourselves-a faint pang Of jealousy nip
ped my heart Why it was | knew not,
for we had carried HELEN across the brook
ere now, without emotion, but this eve
ming thought or fancied that HELEN
gave Donald an undue preference by cast
ing her arm around his neck, while she
steadied herself on my side by holding
the cuff of my jacket.


No flame can burn so quick, or with
so little fuel as jealousy. Before we had
reached the opposite bank, | wished Don
aid at /" the bottom of tho sea-" Being
naturally impetuous, burst out with


You need ma hand sac gingerly, Hell
len as if ye feared IA. can ave carry
We lighter than Donald can carry half Of
ye."


Surprized at the venemce of my tone,
our queen interposed with an admission
that we were both strong, and that she
had no idea of sparing my power. But
Donald's ire was kindled, and he utterly
denied that l was at all qualified to COM
pete with him in feats Of moral courage.
On such topics boys are mostly emulous,
and by the time we reached the opposite
bank, it was settled that the point should
be determined by our singly bearing Hell
len across the ford in our arms.


HELEN was to determine who had car
ried her most easily, and settled with
myself privately in advance, that the one
who had obtained the preference would
really be the person who stood highest
in her affections. This reflection stimula-
ted me to exert every effort, and l verify
believe to this day, that / could have car
ried HELEN Donald on either arm like
feathers. But must not anticipate.


We suffered all the rest of the party
to pass quietly along, and then returned
HELEN, with the utmost care l carried
her like an infant to the middle of the
water. Jealousy had inspired a warmer
love, and it was with feelings unknown
before that | embraced her beautiful form,
and felt the pressure of her cheek against
mine. All went swimmingly, or rather
wadingly for minute. But alas, in the
very deepes: part of the ford, l trod on a
treacherous bit of wood which rested, l