Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-01-20

OF the age 10 which we I'VE, aha VINO as0
A rsr,irular sympathy in ,ne fate OF unmarried
clergymcn, ,hrus, her long nose between inc
Ceaa on and he Squire aud asked
Law me. Deaeon,-'Squ,re,-why do"t the
minister comes! !,
Then Miss Nartha Buskbody, seeing the
De the Squire and Miss Peepabout, CO.
psped in a colloquy, wrigged herself into their
eompanv and asked the same question.
Then another and another and aaoihef
follow ed the example, and there was quick
" a knot Of people gathered round the
Deae OIL and the Squire, all asking questions
which nobody could answer. The whole con-
gregation was in buz-buzzing. Every one
va. asking where the minister was, although
every one knew tha, all the rest were just as
ignoran, as himself.
Bill Mugs, the sexton, kept Juggling away
a, the bell rope ill he haG toed the people out
of patience. But we must leave the bell lolling
and the sexton FIRE ing, aud The Deacon and the
Squire and the old maids, and all the rest OF
the congregation on the tenter- hooks OF sus.
pense, and go back TO see what has become OF
our friend ichabod.
Ichabod had slackened his pace after leaving
the house aud had fallen inro sort Of reverie
Finding himself rather late before he got near
the church, he resolved 10 make short cut
across a field where the road made an angie, SO
jumping over a stone wall he steered directly
for the church, bu, had not proceeded many
pace. when he was startled by most savage
and uamusical boo boo ing sound in tone oil
the deepest bass he ever heard.-Lifing up his
eyes he beheld furious bull making al him
With all speed and believing like mad. ltis
needless 70 say tina, he took to his heels; The
bull made after him, and Ichabod put on with
all the Heetness he could exert Four legs are
better than TWO, and it was soon e,ideo, that
the ouadruped would win he race. lchabod
fould he could no, reach the wall before the
bull would be up with him Now thought he
'it is all over with me- His shoes few oh;
but The bull kept on. He dropped his hat, but
the s,ral ag. m cid not lake; the bull was not 20
be made fool Of He threw his sermon be-
hind hiu,, but with no brtter success; The bull
was not to ae reasoned with; he gave the man.
uscript whisk with his tail and scattered il 10
The four winds!
Pm gone! I'm gone!' said Ichabod, for the
bull was close behind him;-at this instant he
espird an apple tree close al hand; and SUM
moning all his remaining strength hr made d
desperate leap and was fortunate enough 20
spring into the tree al the moment the bull was
at hi, heels
Here was an unlocked for deliverauce, but
uuluck ily the bull was not so easily got rid Of.
Though disappointed Of his prev he kept about
the tree vi h such a menaoing disposition thai
Ichabod dared not descend. |, ST med as il the
malicious animal knew hat he &ep, congre-
CATION waiting. he suck 10 the spot with such
per,inaciy For two marital hours did the un-
lucky Ichabod sit peIched upon the tree in
hit Of he church. Every minute seemed an
age 10 him. He heard the bell toll, ,oll, toll,
and each stroke seemed the funeral kuell 10 his
hopes.
He pictured 10 his fancy q crowded congre-
cation waiting ~ anxious suspense and los in
" order and amaz.mert at his non appearance.
Alas! said he 20 himself
81 hear voice you cannot hear
Which bids me thus delay,
see the horns you cannot see
Which force me here to stay"
He saw the congregation come out OF the
church and scatter hi,her and thither like shee p
wi hoai shepherd, vet he burst no. leave the
apple tree, because there was-no, a lion-but
bull in the way!
The congregs ion were q, las, fairly tired
| out. Two hours had they wai'ed, and no par
son came. The sexton lef IF 'oliirg III. Yell,
| and indeed i, was qniie time, for he ID near
| ~ worn tbs rope A. The people all Came gu,
Of the church, having after two hours d batirg
upon the matter. come TO the CONCLUSION ba,
t"ere @ouiI be no s,rmoH, and that there W as
good ground fer ala m as to.th- fate Of The min
lister. They senT - PARTIES, east, west, north
and south, o EXPLORE: hs country, and present.
| lv Ichsb,d discovered crowd advancing
along the road he AIDED by he Deacon and the
Ssxton. lchanod mus cred all he strength Of
his lungs aud bawled out TO them like seven
wa chmen upon tower. The whole parry
came to hall and gszsd around with aston
| ishment and fear: a, Iengh they spied some-
thing snugly roasted in the apple tee they
took it al first for huge black turkey.cock,
but on nearer approach they found it TO be
no other than thr Reverend Person!
Now the bull JUS a, rha, momen, happened
to be paving aud snuf4iug with his nose 10 the
ground on the o. htr side Of the tree, SO that
he was hidden from he par by thorn bu sh
at IT'S foot. The people seeing Ichabod perch-
ed on high IN that same manner, were struck
dumb with amazemen for few mnmen,s.-
Was the Door man bewitched or had he run
mad, or what had possessed him 10 spend The
afternoon dangling hke&a scarecrow on the
| bough Of au apple tree instead Of holding forth