California Farmer and Journal of Useful Sciences, Volume 12, Number 10, 27 April 1860 — How Tom Corwin Rid his Sister of an Obnoxious Lover. [ARTICLE]

How Tom Corwin Rid his Sister of an Obnoxious Lover.

Kvkhy one has heard of the eloquent, pathetic and humorous stump-orator of Ohio. He was pronounced by Mr. (-lay (a most competent authority) to he the linesl stump-speaker he hud ever heard; nnd in this opioion I most heartily coincide, utter having heard Clay, Crittenden, Jones of Tennessee, I'olk, Benjamin, Smile, Randall, Hunt, TOSS Marshall, (ieuerul Lamar, Rates, Douglas, and a host of others. Well, this great orator carried his love of fun into every department of life. In the private circle, where he knew every person and unbosomed himself fully. he was the most delightful and genial

conversationalist I ever listened to. I do not know that he now, as age and infirmity are creeping on, indulges iv this proclivity to humor so much as he used to do; but some twenty years ago he used to tell, with great gusto, the following story: "In early life—so early that I cannot remember the removal—my father 'pulled up stakes,' und carrying with him the household goods, went from Bourbon county, Kentucky, where I was born, to Ohio. Notwithstanding a rough-and-tumble struggle with the world, he had a hard time to get on, owing to n numerous and rapidly increasing family. Well, family matters had not much improved when my thirteenth or fourteenth year came round. At this lime there lived in the neighborhood a young man named Pickering. He had inherited a well-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 always was blinded by professions of extra piety. This fellow had a strong hunkering after one of my sisters, who was a very pretty girl. To her he was peculiarly distasteful. She seemed always excessively annoyed at his presence. Yet he was ever at her side. She dared not dismiss him entirely, for fear of the paternal anger. Things went on in this way for v year or two, and ns 1 partook largely of my sister's hatred of him, I resolved to get rid of him in some way. I cast about for a plan for some time, but nothing occurred that gave me the slightest hope of success. At last, returning home late one summer night from the mill, I found the family at their nightly devotions. Passing by tbe window of the room iv which they were assembled, I saw that Pickering was there, and pretty soon I discovered that he was nodding, and finally his head dropped Now was my opportunity. I stole slily into the hull, and reaching the hall door, which was slightly ajar, and close by which Pickering was, 'on bended knee,' I reached in and quickly pulling his chair from under him, he rolled heavily, as a sound sleeper would, upon the tloor. 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 himself up as rapidly as possible, but he had touched the old man upon his tenderest point. It was evident from his robbing bis eyes, that he had slept under the old gentleman's ministrations; and had not my father a reputation far and wide for the fervency aud strength of his ministrations, and was not Pickering his professing brother? It was too much. Slowly yet most dignifiedly did my father approach him. "'Begone, hypocritel' he cried, iv thunder tones, 'never cuter my house Sffsitt.' Pickering was thunderstruck. He felt that he could make no apology Which would not add to the insult. He had no suspicion of the exterior force which had aided him in bis fall. He at once found his hat, took up his line of inarch, and completely crestfallen, passed by me as I stood griuuing in the shadow of the porch. At a suitable time I entered, got my supper, was told by a brother in hurried whispers what had happened, and then I stole off to bed, affecting ignorance and laughing most heartily, as I ensconced myself in the sheets, at the complete success of my plan. Next day I cautiously imparted my secret to my interested sister. She was in her own room at the time, and she threw herself upon tho bed and rolled in agonies and convulsions of laughter. She had been emancipated forever from the attentions of an obnoxious lover. The old gentleman did not hear tbe real state of the facta for full twenty years afterwards; but when be did he laughed heartily." _

The Cahilkon ItM —In Pari* the fashion for decorating ladies' slippers either by needle-work, by figured patterns ou the leather, or other material, or by the insertion of colored silk or satin, old as it is, has just been materially Improved upon. Mr. Leprince, of Itegent street, London, has contrived a method of changing the pieces of colored satin as often as the wearer desires'without in any way injuring the slipper. He makes a little pocket in the upper part of the slipper, under tho perforations of the pattern, into which is placed the piece of colored satin to be worn. When the wenrer wishes to change the color, nothing is easier than to withdraw one piece and insert another. A doien pieces of satin on stiff linings of different colors and shades are sold • ith the slippers. Tasteful hows und ribbon? with buckles may also be attached to the shoes hy a simple contrivance, and as easily removed. This novelty has revolved the name of the C'atnclcon shoe.