Humours of Snowballing.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XX, Issue 2072, 26 July 1899, Page 3

Humours of Snowballing.

The snowballing of the last couple of days has provided one or two humorous little incidents. A well-know n business man was driving through Southbndge yesterday afternoon, when he was surrounded by a crowd of youngsters whose faces wore that guileless expression that portends mischief m the youth. Evidently preferring peace to war, he drovo through them shedding smiles on every side, which were returned with smiles equally as bland by the youthful element. Thinking that a bold stroke might ward off an encounter, he stopped his horse at the water-race to drink, but the youths still hovered round with the same expression of face, and their hands planted carefully under the backs of their coats, tie was almost persuaded to get off to fasten a portion of the harness that had come undone, the youth* lookel to innocentl/abjut. At last, being won to uoatidetico by the simple expression of face of the younaters, he did get off, and that'n where tbe fu.i begau. I'h3 boy with the most childlike innocence of expression stood back a few yards, and withdrew those hands do indifferently placed behind his back, reveal ing two perfectly-moulded snowballs, and, taking deliberate aim, laideil one, evidently asat'eeler, at long ring', with such precision that it spread itself Jjwn the collar of the victim. Diplomacy having failtd, the business mau tried entreaty, but this only revealed similar missiles from under the coats of all the other innocent-looking boys, and some fair shootiuir at loug range commenced, several shots taking effect. The viutim now deserted the cover of his cart and exposed his person, when a general fusillade started, the hands that bad been so innocently placed under the youths' coats now emer&iug la Jen with an inexhaustible supply of ammunition, Stung into passion, the victim got his whip out of the cart and set sail after the youthful delinquents, and the last seen of tho incident was a normally dignified gentleman, whip m hand, flying at top pace after a laughing youngster, who evaded him with as much ease as a mosquito would an elej-hint, while a long string of youngsters followed m pursuit of the pursuer of their comrade, and almost brought him to his knees every now and theu with a well directed ball, while the spectators of tho incident loosened any particularly tight clothing they woro to give their glee commensurate vent. Another incident worth recording took place about the same place. A nipper got a ball well on to a well-known resident, and snow being scarce, and the resident not wishing the boy to spoil m vain for a contest, cooled his youthful ardour by "dousing" him m the water-race. The youth appreciated the reprisal, and promptly got " square." Seeing his enemy standing beside the water-race, he got the assistance of a confederate, and the youth who hid been •• doused" m the water-race crept up behind his quarry, and going down on his hands and knees behind him, gave him a ''back." The second youth gave the victim a shove, and ho landed, not exactly gracefully, ia tho water-race, The youths ran away laughing, while a form stood like a bronze figure of the Spirit of Revenge brandishing its fist at them. Our Leeston correspondent relates an incident that took place there on Monday last :— A party of snow bailers attacked a Leeston clergyman, and the latter, who is decidedly of the muscular type of (. hris- | tian, embraced the opportunity of a little recreation, aud recognising that it would be folly to attack the whole gang singlehanded, made a rush at the nearest assail-, ant, grabbed him, aud gave him sufficient suowballing to last him tor some time to come. Evt-rything was given and taken m. the best spirit, however, but the unregenerate one was pleased to be released on. crying " peccavi,"