Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-01-21

and wers advancing towards the tree. staring
land wondering 10 hear the passon talk in sucl
an unaccountable manner.
\ Come down, come down. said the Dea,
icon. What have you been doing all the az
ternoon m Colonel Shute' orchards
! 'Ay, ay,' said Bill, what are YOU about
there aloit without your hat and shoes or,vou
look tor all the world like a starved monkey
sitting on lee backstayg'
/ AT this moment the party had got nearly
up to the tee. Look out look outii' cried Ich-
abod. 'He's comingl' They had no time TO
ask tcilo it was that was coming, for before
the words were fairly out OF his mouth. they
heard furious below, and bouncc--in an
instant the bull was among them, Heaven.
what a scampering! The whole squad took
to flight quicker than a flock of ducks on
hearing shot The deacon lost his hat and
wig, and captain Blueberry ran out of his
boots. which were little too large for him.
Divers other accidents happened. The grea-
test catsstrophes were those of Squire Snake
root and Lieutenant Darling. The Squire
being puTsY and short winded. was oyertaken
by the bull, and received tremendous butt
in the rear which disabled him SO that he
could not SIT down without double cushion
for fortnight. The boil after knocking him
over ran after the others, and the Squire
made shit to climb up into the tree and
take sides with the parson.
The Lieutenant's was more lrightful case
lie yeas short, fat, thck-se aucl<-legged
fellow, and happened to be dressed IN pair
of stout, old-lsshioned leather brooches. The
ball having fioored the Squire, came in the
twln.Sling of bedpost right upon the Lieu-
tenant, who was waddling or IN double quick
time. The bull hit him a poke behind, in
tending TO serve him as he did the Squire but
one ofhis horns catching in the 1yaistband of
the Lleutenanfs inexpressibles, lie was taken
OIL his less in an instant and whisked oil upon
tbs bulls horn. Away went the bull securing
after the lugatiyes, with the unfortunate Lieu
tenant dangling BY the waistband, aud fairly
cut Of his wits with horror. His capers in the
air were only brought 10 an end by the bulls
bringing up, butt, against the stone wall, and
pitching the Lieutenant completely over into
the road.
The rest of the party got over the wall
without any help, and escaped the fury Of
the animal And now commenced a regular
set-to-The party armed themselves with
stones and clubs, and began a pitched bat
Tie with the bull for the deverance Of Icha-
bod. Ihumps, bangs, thrusts, pokes and
missiles of every description, were showered
upon the hide Of the furious beast, who shook
his redoubtable horns. tlourishcd his tail, and
ran butting and believing here and there,
wherever the attack was hottest, Ichabod and
Squire meantime shouting from their citidel
in the apple tree, cheering on the assailants,
aud attacking the bull in the rear by peting
him with sniall-shot in the shape Of winter
pippins
This holy war lasted for three quarters of
an hour, and the bull seemed likely to win
the day. Ichabod fancied himself already
reduced to the necessity of taking up his quar-
tiers IN the tree for the night; but luckily, at
this moment reinforcement arrived and the
bull began slowly to retreat; the assalants,
headed by Bill Mugs, pressed their advan-
tags, carried the stone wall by eseGidde, form
Ell solid column, and in short time the
bull was driven from the field without the loss
of single man. And thus the victory being
achleyed-lchabod came down from the tree.
But it was all over with him. Ills sermon
was gone, the afternoon was gone, and he
soon found that his hopes of wagging his
pow in a pulpit, were gone. The bull was
never out of his mind lie never had the
courage to attempt another sermon. and at
the very thought Of marching to church in a
surplice, he imagnes, to this day, he hears
a boo boo-ing and sees pair of horns.