Year: 1859

Charley P--'s Performance of Mazeppa


A few years since there lived, in beauti
ful village in the State of Ohio, an elderly
gentleman, who for want of better name
we shall call Barnes. The aforesaid gentle
man was blessed in the possession of three
lovely daughters, one of whom had lover
yclept Charlie P, who resided in the
rural district, several miles south of the
village aforesaid


This "gaiant loveyer" was wont TO pay
her visit every Sunday afternoon, calling
in season to accompany the family in theft
attendance upon religious service. After re-
turning from church he would spend the
afternoon and night until the ''wee, sma'
hours ayont the twa" in the pleasant occu-
patton of courting-i. G., in hugging and
kissing, cd Hbitum.


1t chanced that about noon, one hot day
in the month of July, lS-, our young lover
started for the residence of his enamorita,
arrayed of course in his "best bib and tuck
ers." The sun shone burning hot-so hot
in fact, that though loves fires were coursing
through his VEINS and all his thoughts were
on love intent, shiI he could not but wish
that he were in the shade of "some vas will
derness;" and when at last he came to the
banks of the Olentangy, along which for
some distance, his route lay, he came to the
conclusion that a bath in lis rippling waters
would recreate his wasted energies, and en-
able him to prosecute his suite with renewed
vigor.


No sooner thought than done. lie rode
short distance from the path, dismounted
disrobed, and directly disappeared beneath
the aoaces. After enjoying himself for q
while-as one naturally would after a long
ride in boiling summer sun-he concluded
that it might also conduce to the happiness
Of his feminine equine companion, were he
to favor her with washing. Acting upon
the thought, be emerged from the stream
and approached ye ancient more' but found
that she being unused to the contemplation
of the bare "human form divine" was not
inclined to permit him to approach.


After some time spent in coaXing and
caressing her, he succeeded in removing The
saddle and securing deck passage for linn
self Now, another difficulty presented itself,
she would not take water, as she had yet
considerable doubt as to his identity with
her young master, and kept casting sidelone
gances at her queer rider starting and rear
ING at every moment. At last gentle coun-
sci prevailed, and she entered the stream
having her doubts and fears removed. The
climax was capped by her perceiving in the
water large snake, leisnrly floating down
ward with the current. She stood not then
upon the order Of her going, but went, tcal
adding wings to her feet. She had so often
been to the residence of her masters charm
er, that she knew as well as he that was
now their destinations through the villa e
she went, astonishing the quiet citizens, and
stopped not until she had reached the domi
ci of Mr.. b.


1t SO happened that his "ady love-" hel
sisters, and several young ladies OF the neigh
borhood with their beaux, were sitting with
the old folks under the trees in front Of the
house, passing time in social converse until
the hours of religious service They were
thus innocently enjoying themselves when
our now frantic steed bearing the unbounded
Mazeppa, came dashng up the avenue into
their midst, where hating suddenly, our
hero was precipitated over her head and
after one CT two invountarily somersaults,
made his unceremonous debut as model
artist his attitude being that Of the spread
eagle in ''purto naturoliJus."


For few moments all was confusion.-
The young ladies screamed, hid their faces,
and broke for the shelter of the house; while
the young men greeted the debutante with
cheers far surprising in vigor and sincerity
those which few nights since were vouch-
safcd to the ambitious aud persevering as
pirant for historical fame-the late Fifth
avenue leader of fashion, who forsook the
abodes of wealth and luxury that she might
give the poor and uncultivated of the West
lesson in Shakesperan readings


We might add that our equestrian was
Immediately provided with clothing; and also
that having been endowed by nature, with a
figure cast in the form Of the Apollo Belvidere,
his extempore exhibition did not in the least
injure his suit, for in a short time he led
the fair demoisele to the altar. And, to this
day, if you wish to call blush on the cheek
of any of the senoritas who were then pres
ent, you have only to ask how they liked
"Charles P--'s performance Of Mazeppa." b"


Youmgs Spirit Of tie SouM


t,of 10