BY JOHN G. GIVEN. SELECT TALE. Jltirrtcfl itt ft 7e.sf, OR, TABLES TUIISED OX A PRACTI. CAL JOKER. EY J. A. S PERRY. Delilah Moore! Delilah Moore !' (f unallored distress." Walter did not you'll be caught in your own trap some neglect the favorable moment to draw her day. ,0h, you'll change your tune I'll most unconsciously into an explanation of warrant. You'll play a joke some of her real sentiments 'towardshimself, and these times that' will be a sorry joke for such a sweet and unreserved confession you; and old as I am, 111 live to see it of love rewarded the stratagem, as made too. him inwardly bless the carelessness. But little did Delilah heed the warning which had. elevated the old stick to its hake of the finger, or the awful prophetic neck breaking altitude, words of Aunt Marcia, as she danced Delilah was fairly bealen at her own round the room in an ecstaey. o" fun, weapons. Almost ere she had time to holding her graceful sides, and filling the think, she had exchanged vows, and house with the merry music of her laugh- plighted her faith irrevocably. In the ter. moments of delicious embarrassment which And what, think you, was the occasion succeeded, the accident which brought of hr extravagant mirth ? Why, she has about the tender scene was quite forgotten; just caught her Aunt Marcia composedly am when she did recall the accident to dozing in her rocking chair, and we doubt mind. she was surprised that her lover's whether a drowning man ever caught injured arm had for the last five minutes, more eagerly at a straw than did the mer- encircled heF little waist with an afiection curial girl atone which lay, suggestive of ate vigor which was perfectly incompati bly mischief, upTn the floor. Moving on ble with a fra-tured limb, tip-toe to the back of the old lady's chair, .Ql,, you vile fellow !' she exclaimed, ne extended the- straw, and tickled her breaking suddenly awav from him, wiih a aged cheek the least bit in the world, return to her accustomed lev iiy, 'it wasn't Aunt Marcia gave her head a shake, as if fa;r it's too' bad to be cheated so; but to dislodge a saucy fly, and Delilah com- wont I pav you fot this the next time I pressed her pretty lips, to restrain her catch you ! trust me for that,' and half merriment. The straw was again applied, piqued at the ruse, yet hightly pleased at and the old lady raised her hand quietly, tne r(,SlIJt, she tripped away to the house, but without opening her ey es. to brush leaving him to reflect on the happy ad- away me annoyance. a tiitru time was tha provoking tinilation repeated, when Aunt Marcia, though not a passionate woman began to lose her patience at the pertinacity of the supposed insect in dis turbing her repose, and in mere self de- fence, resolved on its destruction. Ac- cordingly she raised her hand cautiously to within six or eight inches of her face, and then brought it down with so great a force as to leave the mark of her fingers there, and cause her cheek to tingle with the pain. Delilah could contain herself no longer, but fairly screamed with delight, while her aunt, thus made aware of the source of her annoyance, with ominous gravity delivered the speech above quoted, Lively as a cricket, and quite as noisy, was Delilah Moore. She was pretty, too, indeed bewitching. Auburn hair that flowed in ringlets of gossamer lightness, about the fairest soltesl cheeks, light blue yes, a light step, and rosy lips that smiled' incessantly, even in sleep; ah, what a lump of mischievousuess she was. ; But she was most incorrigibly given to the silvery tones of the old clock in the practical joking. I dare say ihertf was hall, lolled len. not an individual in the vil.age. who had 'There I've wor,' exclaimed Delilah not in some time or other been a victim joyfully. of this propensity of hers; and yet nobody , 'Fairly won,' answered Walter, but could be seriously angry with her. Very without manifesting any disposition to nervous people were afraid of her, but liquidate the debt. fond of her too; and by them she was- "'Well,, cried she, in a tone of sly in treated something after the fashion in quiry, -ain't you going to pay up V which children treat a playful kitten . Walter was staggered. However happy fondled and caressed, but always with due ; he might have been to pay the Quaker fip regard to the claws. (a coin with which the reader is doubtless Many a village youth adJressed her, . familiar) at a more fitting and private op but she proved a will-o-the-wUp to her portunity, he was mortified at her seeming wooers. She was never serious long want of modesty, to demand it in the enough, to hear proposal, so that most ; presence of so many witnesses, notwith of them soon wearied in the butterfly t standing the light had been sent out of the chase she led them. But even a butterfly ; room a moment previous, is sometimes' raught; and it is not to be ! 'How can I find you in the dark!' he upposed that Delilah could rove forever! exclaimed. free. Iler mother had often said, that ' A pretty excuse, indeed ! Here I am just in proportion as she teased, annoyed behind the table, ready to meet you half and ridiculed particular persons, she loved way over it; and if it is dark so much them, and if this was a true criterion, the belter I need be at no pains to hide young -Walter Lake must have possessed my blushes.' a very large share of her affections; for if' While the company were electrified at there was any one she delighted to plague this unlooked for forwardness, Walter's and play tricks on more than another, it gallantry, unable to withstand a second Was himself. k i appeal, urged him reluctantly to the table. He was the son of the most wealthy j when a loud and unequivocal buss testified and respectable farmer in the country, : that the fip was duly paid, and was steadily pursuing the profession 'Bring a light, bring a light Ellen of law in the village, lie was one of her Smith !' cried Delilah, almost choking earliest admirers, and had persevered in ; with laughter. The young lady addressed, his addresses, when his more faint hearted , anticipating spnrt of some kind, was not rivals gave up the seemingly vain pursuit; i slow to comply, and on her appearance and' yet, even with a clear field, his en- with a light, there stood the fun loving .deavors to 'bring ner to tne mark, seemed hopeless: and lie too was beginning to j despair, when a little accident, with a j little ruse betrayed the . little castle of the heart, which he had been so long besiege ing, into his hands. He was walking in the garden with Delilah one evening, striving desperately to bring about little serious conversation, and she with equal perseverance evaded j it by bursts of merriment and strokes of j ridicule, when one of her frisky move ments brought her foot in collision with a large beam, standing upright, receiving a i very precarious support from the bough "of a tree which overhung the wall, it toppled over, and Walter in the eflbrt to shield her, caught the whole weight of the blow on his right arm. It occasioned but a slight bruise, but perceiving the alarm which Delilah's features instantly exhibi- 'WE OO WHERE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES POINT THE WAY ted, he turned the affair to a good account by affecting to be very seriously hurt. Of all people, those of sanguine tem perament have the quickest sympathies, and are least able to control their emotions, either of pleasure or pain. Delilah for once, became as grave and serious as a i iudtre. while her blue eves swam in tears venture It nrght be supposed that now Delilah was engaged the prospect of some day assuming th - responsibilities of a wife, would make her more sedate and diguiued. But not so; shu was wilder and more mischievous than ever. Just in proportion a.s her happiness was increased, her pro- pensity for practical joking was increased also. The verv next evening she suc- ceeded in retaliating upon her lover the cheat he had practised. Some friends were passing t e evening with her, and a merry pariv she made it with her fun and frolic. When it was nearly time for her company to withdraw, a little dispute arose between her and Walter as to the precise hour. It's near eleven,' said he. 'Nn, scarcely ten, she returned. 'What will you bet?' asked Walter plafullv. A Quaker np, was the ready reply. 'Donel' The bargain was scarcely closed, when girl, her lair fingers clinching tightly the ears of her wooly headed negro maid; whose ebony features, were thus held across the table in the precise spot Walter approached- to pay the lost fip. The rows of grinning ivory betrayed the de light with which Molly participated in the jest. Of course the confused lover was greeted with convulsions of laughter, which he, with a lame grace, was forced to join in, while at the same time, he made an instinctive manifestation of dis gust by applying his handkerchief to his mouth. The cream of the joke, however, Delilah alone enjoyed. While she deter mined to turn the laughter upon Walter, she had uo notion of being defrauded of her dues but had in reality, received the kiss herself. Months passed on, and Delilah contin ued the same provoking, pretty, bewitch EDENSI3URG, THURSDAY, ing, mischievious little madcap as ever, with the exception that her jokes were not altogether as harmless as formerly, but became more seriously annoying in their character." To-be-sure she never occasioned pain to others that she did not bitterly lament it, and sorrow over incon siderateness with penitence that was truly sincere while it lasted. But the rebound of her feelings was always in proportion to the grief which at that moment, op-, pressed them, and she was no sooner done mourning for the consequences of one excess than she was guilty of greater. Her mother scolded, her father threatened, but all ineffectually. The latter indeed, sometimes thought seriously of giving her up entirely, for his judgment whispered to him that it would be impossible to live j in harmony with such a mixture of mis chief and caprice; but somehow his heart in the other scale always kicked the beam ! against the reason, and he could not mas- ter resolution to forsake her. Apart from j her unfortunate peculiarity, she possessed j every charm that was desirable in a wo I man, and Walter preached himself into forbearance, and lived along in the hope j that she would some day see the itnpro- priety of her conduct, and settle down ; finally to love, honor and obey, in'sohcr j earnestness, as a sensible woman should. In the meantime the various members of Delilah's family, who were kept in a ' continual ferment by her eccentricities. held an indignation meeting at which,! . after due deliberation, it -vas resolved she j i must be cured, and her worthy uncle, the j j doctor, was entrusted with the task. j j 'So, uncle, you have undertaking to : cure my what do you call the affection ? , ' oh, I have it ! morbid propensities for j joking !" exclaimed Delilah, as she tripped . , into his office, the day after the holding ' j of the family council. 'Kill or cure you jade, that's my max- i im,' said the doctor, tartly, without taking j . his eyes off the paper upom which he was j j mulcting a prescription. j La ! what a tear, barbarous old uncle ; you are ! But I hope you'll adopt the i homoepathic. treatment in my case. Homoepathic be hanged ? The doctor was intollerant of all innovations. I am quite taken with homcepathy of late,' continued Delilah. I believe in that doctrine, I won't be treated by any other system.' - 'Suppose we compromise it, sauce box,' said the doctor peering over his spectacles with a twinkle of his small round eyes, which meant more than he chose to utter; suppose we compromise it, and say a ; homoppathic remedy in alopalhtc propor tions. 'Good, good !' exclaimed hi? merry niece; 'I'll be your patient for ever.' The doctor shook his head menacingly, and left his seat to rummage his book shelves for a volume which he had just ihen occasion for. Delilah, as soon as his back was turned, slipped into his chair, unfolded the prescription which he had just written, and found il to read thus : Bx Argent, nitr. gr. x. Aqr.ce dist. zig m. With a scalpel which lay upon the table, the incorrigible girl dexterously ; erased "some of the letters, and with a pen j interloping others a task which the doc ! tor's sprawling arfd disconnected chirogra- phy rendered quite easy soon altered the reading to the following form : Br A gent in kid gloves, Agreeably disposed, Marry immediately. When the doctor resumed his seat, the altered prescription was carefully refolded and turned to its place while Delilah, in another chair was busy in the perusal of the last Gazette. A few minutes after wards a servant made his appearance, and the prescription was placed in his hand3, with directions to deliver it to Miss Aftei prime. Miss Oliva, by the way, was a young maiden, with a year or two on the sunny side of fifty, and of excessively tender sensibilities. The door had scarce closed after the servant, ere Delilah's laughter burst forth. The doctor started as if he had received an electric shock. Knowing that those ! merry sounds portended mischief, his first impulse was to pass his hands to his head to make sure his wig was there, his next to examine the skirts of his coat to see that no quizzing label was pinned to them. Finding his person exempt from the trick, whatever it might be, he turned to his niece with as much austerity as he could assume for it was almost impossible to resist the contagion of her merriment and said, approaching her with a demonstra tion of resoluteness. 'Get you gone, graceless ! You've been at some of your mischief again.' Delilah in unrestrained glee, scampered into the bouse, which was adjoiningand was 60011. engaged in poking new fun at her aunt. The doctor commenced a dili gent search for the cause of her amuse ment. While he was thus engaged his WHEN THEY CEASE TO LEAD, WE CEASE TO NOVEMBER 213 1850. servant returned with the altered prescrip tion, which solved the mystery. Miss Oliva Afterprime had nigh gone into con vulsions at the sight of it, and in towering indignation, had sent immediately to em ploy another physician. Whether ihe doctor was greatly grieved at the loss of his patient does not appear but certain itis that he inwardly vowed vengeance ujon Delilah. Putting his hat over his eies, and hurrying his hands deep into his pockets, he hurried forth to agitate a plot retributive. When the doctor returned to dinner, and found his niece at the table, there was a complacency in the air, and a sort of anticipated triumph in the twinkle of his eye, which seemed to say 'ah, infi. del, I have thee!' No other allusion, direct or indirect, was made to the jest of the morning if we except a smile that lurked in the corner of Delilah's mouth, as she suspended her knife and fork to glance roguishly into her uncle's face. Dinner concluded, she ran up to get her bonnet to go home. She lingered a few moments at the toilet to arrange her cm Is. This done, she turned to leave the cham ber, but no go' for ihe door had been closed, and the key turned on the out side. Sohol said she to herself, 'I'm to be kept here prisoner, till tea time, as punish ment for my trick. Ha. ha, what a retal iation! His vengeance hath this extent ..w ......... '"V.- Swv. .u.w Quite contented with her durance, she took up a book and seated herself by the open window. Her eyes soon wandered from its pages, however, and her attention was caught by 'metal more attractive' with out. In the piazza, in the rear of the ho tel which was just opposite, and divided from the doctor's residence only by a small yard attached to either building stood a stranger, who was leaning forward in an attitude of immense admiration , gazing at Delilah through his eyeglass. He was dressed in a top mode with long black hair, most fastidiously combed and curled; whiskers of a length and luxuriousness that would have been no discredit to a Moslem a moustache of elegant proportionsjand what contributed to make his appearance eminently ridiculous, his eyeglass was ap plied over a pair of green spectacles. Al together his air, and manner was so deci dedly Frenchified, that there was no mis taking his nationality. Delilah, ever on the alert for making sport, ran to the closet brought forth a tel- i escpe, and resting in on the window sill, j applied it to her eye, and brought it to j bear upon the queer stranger. Monsieur j no sooner perceived himself the subject of j ner inspection, man ne ocgan making a most extravagant display of admiration by gesticulating violently, laying his hands ; upon his heart, clasping them before his j face, bending on one knee in an attitude of j deploring admiration, and wafting on the j tips ot his hngers, numerous and frequent kisses. 'The impudent fool! exclaimed our lit tle quiz, astonished, as well as amused at the man's conduct 'but I'll punish his impudence, and give my uncle the slip at the same time.' Tearing the fly leaf from the book she had first been engaged with she scribbled the following note: 4Oh, gentle Monsieur: I am locked up here by a cruel uncle. Fly to rescue me from this terrible imprisonment. There is a ladder in the yard which you can easily elevate to the window. Set me free anrl you will be entitled to the eternal gratitude j oi me unnappy prisoner. Folding this paper with a thimble in side, she threw it over into the hotel yard the Frenchman darted forward, caught it pressed it eagerly to his lips, and opened it. By this time several of the inmates of the hotel, ma!e and female, and all intimate with Delilah, the host himself being a rel ative of her father, had crowded into the piazza, and were interested in watching the proceedings. The Frenchman, as soon as he had perused the billet doax, cleared the fence at one bound; speedily elevated the ladder he found there, to the window, and stood holding it firm for the gay beau ty's descent. She had no intention of ex posing the prettiest foot and ancle in the village to Monsieur's gaze; but after than king him a number of times for his gallan try, bade him to return to the hotelwhere she would join him to expres3" her grati tude more fully." I have ver much honor to obey Mad otnoiselle! Bowing humbly he marched ofl, turning at ever step to kiss his fingers to her, and not neglecting in his passage to wrench a board from the fence, thus re moving every obstacle to Madomoiselle's decamp, him. Delilah descended and followed 4 You see Monsieur, it has not taken long for me to join you,' she said when sb had reached the piazza. FOLLOW,' Oui, Mademoiselle, I have ver' large happiness if it will be no part. You are so modest, answered Delilah. The Frenchmati bowed in acknowledg ment, and Delilah's friends here united their voices in commendation of his gal lantry, declaring that she could do no less, in pure gratitude, than to reward the de liverer with her hand. Perceiving from their merry glances the company were ripe for fun, and.consider ing the impudent stranger as a fair butt, the giddy girl cjcclairaed, addressing tha landlord Bring a broom, cousin Jack, and let me prove my gratitude by jumpingthe broom slick with him.' Jump the broomstick with Count de U Phinstank? answered the good, humored landlord with a wink, no, no, my little coz we will manage it better. Here's a young friend of mine, pointing to a trav eller, a recent guest who stood by, 'can play parson for once, and I'll furnish ihe feast gratis.' But .Monsieur has not signified his con sent yet,' said Delilah with a glance at the count. Oh, I have so much pleasure I cannot express. 'Very good, said Jack, 'just take your places and let the ceremony proceed.' The count begged a few moment's delay for the purpose of providing himself with a while vest, which he declared iadispen sible. Leave being granted, he entered the house to make the, supposed improve ment in his toilet, and the young man who had been called upon to officiate, followed him to procure as he said, a dictionary or prayer book, to read the service from. They returned together in about ten min utes; the mock cerempny was performed, and they were pronounced man and wife. iow, Madame, said the count, with a slight authority, my coach is vait in de street we must make the journey to my palace in the country.' Not so fast. Monsieur; I believe in your country, married people very frc quently do not live together, and as I am now a French woman, I shall adopt French customs.' 'Pardonniz mot. Madam, - ven de Frenchman comes to de republique, he do as de republicans. We will discuss that question at anoth er time,' said Delilah, 'for the present dear monsieur adieu, The count remonstrated vehemently in bad English, and with ludicrous passionate gesticulations. Delilah laughed merily, adjusted her bonnet and went home flatter ing herself that she had sufficiently pun ished his impudence by making him the ridiculous hero of a joke. It was about six o'clock the same even ing, that a servant tapped at the door of Delilah's chamber, and delivered a mes sage from her father, requiring her pres ence in the library. Shaking off her drowsiness, for she had just been indulging in a short cap, she hurried down to the library, where she found her father and mother. Dr. Moore and Aunt Marcia, assembled in solemn conclave. There was something in the solemn silence of the group, and the awful gravity upon their features, that filled her with unpleasant forebodings, as she timid ly enquired her father's will. Your folly, Delilah, has at length in volved you into a serious difficulty, said the old man, in a tone of mingled sorrow and reproof. You would not heed my warnings,' added Aunt Marcia, and now you feel the Consequences. 1 have been expecting it, -chimed in the mother, 'I have all along been in con tinual dread that she would bring some punishment upon herself.' Countess Delilah de la Phinstank!' broke from the doctor with a sarcastic bit terness, 'a pretty laughing stock, truly, you have made of yourself for the rest of your days. You have saved me the trouble of giving you a homcipaihic dose in alo pathic proportions, you have prepared yourself one that cannot fail to cure.' What in the world can be the meaning of all this?' enquired Delibh, uncertain whether they were speaking in sober earn estness or tiad formed a litile plot to terri fy her. That foolish marriage ceremony, re sume'd the father 'Was a very innocent joke, interrupted the daughter. 'I hope it may prove so,' said the father shaking his head gravely; but at present it wears a very serious appeearance. Ah. father!' exclaimed Delilah throw ing her arras around his neck, with a gay smile, you are only trying to frighten me,' Her father bit his lips and knit his brow in the effort to keep up to the slernnsss which the caresses of the pet were fast dis sipating, and disengaging her arms, refer red her to her uncle. You have carried the joke 10 far this time, niece, I Uic docuf siV. French VOL. 7. NO. 7. man turned the table on you. Under th pretence of changing his vest, it seems ha slipped off to the Clerk's office and pro cured a license; the man who officiated was a regular ordained minister; ihe cere mony although you went through it with mock gravity, was in the form, and, as you are of age the marriage is perfectly valid. Your husband has already instituted legal proceedings to compel your father to give you up, and the case is to have a private hearing before Squire Ftirplay to-raar row.' Oh uncle, you are jesting, surely, said Delilah, the tears springing to her eyes. Ycu judge others by yruirself, rico&: but I have spoke the truth seriously. It would be impossible to describe tha violence of the girls grief, when convinced of the reality of the doctor's statement. Her parents participated in her distress, but made no effort to console, her, nor held, out hope of her escaping from ihe doora she had so inconsiderately bro-Jght upou herself. Their seeming Iackof sympathy shocked her even ir.'jre than the dirSculty itself. She refused to believe that the law could force her to live with a man whom bhe was sure she could never regard with other feelings than dislike and -contempt. She relied, too upon the strength of Wal ter Lakes affection snd felt confident that his arm, if not.e oiher, would be foan'J ready and all powerful to rescue her from so melanchully a file. Anxiously, and with streaming eyes the watched for his coming, but when the hours waned and he came not as usual, fears sr:d douhta began to gather in a sickening throng. about her heart. She retired to her cliaml er at length to weep away one pari of ihe night, audio pass the other iu slumber disturbed by Creadfui visions. The hour for the hearing of the casa before the magistrate arrives next morning' and Delilah in tears, accompanied by her uncle and father entered a coachand drove to Squire Fairplay's. The Count's coun sel, wiih a few witnesses, were waiting their arrival. There was one thing, how ever that struck Delilah as strange; that while the Frenchman's cause wasenuust ed in the hands-of a lawyer, she wa compelled to appear in person, ar.ri her friends neglected to procure legal aid. She expressed her mind to her tincle and in sisted that Walter Lake should be imme diately sent for. It is useless my dear, returned the Dr. he has become exasperated by your relent less trifling, and the affair of yesterday de termined, his resentment.' Ah ashen palor overspread the agitated girl's face, but wss quickfy followed by a flash of indignation, and murmuring, 'he's cold hearted and false!' She turnjd to the magistrate with assumed calmness, and signified that she was ready for ilie pro ceedings. The case was speedily des patched. The license was ex.ib;teJ, th testimony examined, and the rnarri.ige in contestibly proved to be valid. The m3g istrate without hesitation, declared that the person of the wife must be delivered to the lawful husband. He t!.e:v :uldress:vi a few words of mild admonitlor, to the de fendant, and coneluJfd by recommending resignation to her lot aud expressing a hope that the severe tri'l mi::; result ultimately i n her own happitisss and r j good. The provoking coolness and iudinercnow to her feelings, which she thought v.'aa displayed in the whole proceedings by even the nearest and dearest relatives a roused to the full Delilah s pride, which enabled her to conceal for the time her harrowed emotion The Count's counsel now stated thai fetling of delicacy, and regard for the la- rWc fpelincr. hsd restrampd bis rlient from , e-, : . . :.. i i. .. appearing iu iwuu mi jcuii, uui iijji it coach was waiting to convey her, imder his charge to her future home, lie also expressed a desire lhat one of the lady's relatives 6hould. ;;ccoinpnny htr. The Doctor volunteered. Delilah took a con strained leave of her father; walked. with a firm step" to the carriage, and entered it with a dignified step of a martyr. But as the vehicle rolled off, and the feeling came over her that she was leiving her early home kindred ;ud fronds, ro share the fortunes of stranger whom she could nol help regarding as a madman and a brute, her p.HVctt d composure forsook hei andi dropping her he .d on her uncle's shoulder her agony broke forth in tears and sobs.. The Doctor strove to soothe her by biing-i ing to v jew the bright side of the picture. All ihit he said was meiiecMal sc gj:V; tinned inconsolable.. ' -., The coach finally reached the place of destination, a beautiful country sp.a, some six or eight mtk-s from the villnge, and Delilah in a state of listless despair, suf fered herself to be conducted into an ele gantly furnished room vvhern her unela placed heron a sofa with her fce Lurried in ocr Iliads, and eft t.e;uafr -wx c'V--