Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1836-02-20
A MERRY RIDE.

A MERRY RIDE.
During the Revolutionary War, when a
corps Of the American army were encam-
ped near the borough Of Elizabethtown lin
New Jersey, an officer who was rather
more a devotee Of Venus than o. Mars,
paid his addresses to a lady Of distinction
whom he was in the habit of visiting
nightly, in the cultivation of those kindly
feelings which love SO cordially inspires.
On the discovery Of the cause Of the re-
peated absence of the officer. and Of the
place where his interviews with his dulci-
nea were had, some agoish friends resol-
we'd TO play of trick at his expense,
which Should deter him from a repetition
Of his amorous visits The officer. it APP
pears, rode very small horse, Of the pony
kind, which he always left united, with the
bride reins over his neck, near the door.
IL order to mount and ride off without de-
lay, when the business of counting and
issing was over; and the horse remained
until backed by the owner, without at
tempting to change his position. On a
certain very dark night, when the officer
had, as usual, gone to pay his devoire to
the object Of his affections, and was ENJOY
ing the approving SMILES Of the lovely fair
one, his waggish companions " ent private
ly to the door Of the house where the Off
Ger was, took the bride and saddle from
the horse, which they sent quietly away,
placed the former on the tall, and the latter
on the back Of very sober rumlnative
old COW, with the crupper over her horns)
who stood peaceably chewing her cud near
the spot. Immediately thereafter, they
retired some distance from the house, and
separating. gave the loud alarm that the
enemy had landed, and were ma rching in
full force into the village. On hearing
the voice Of alarm, the people ran out.
greatly excited, and CONSERVATION enter
ing every dwelling, found its urwelcome
way speedily into the household temple
where our official officer was worshippng.
Taking counsel for his fears, and snatch
ing hasty kiss, he started from the LADY,:
chamber, and rushing rapidly down stairs,
shot out Of doors with the velocity Of a
musket ball, and owing to the darkness.
not seeing the interesting change IN the
conformation Of his nag, mounted hastily
upon the saddle, with his back towards the
head of the COW, and plunglDg his sours
deeply into her sides, caused her to baw
out with excessive pain, and she darted of
in gallant style, and in her best gallop.
made towards the camp. The officer still
plying his ,rusty spurs and whip to the
skin and bones Of the suffering old animal,
and with all his love and wine on board
finding himself hurried rapidly back
wards, maugre all his Efforts to advance:
and hearing the repeated Rawlings of the
tortured and affrighted beast, he imagined
that he was carried off by magic, & roar
ing out most Justify that the devil had got
him-was carried in this state Of pertur-
baton into the very alignment of the camp.
The courageous sentinels hearing the
noise, and imagining no doubt that Han
nIbal and his oxen were coming, dscharg-
ed their pieces and fled as if the devil had
chased them: the alarm guns were fired,
the Drum beat to arms, and the officers left
their quarters and cried turn out! turn
out! with I'll. the strength Of their lungs.
The soldiers started from their sleep as if
a ghost had crossed their dreams-and the
whole body running half naked, togethe:
formed as quick as possible, in gallant dis
habiile, prepared to repel the terrible in
vader. When 10! the ludicrous sight soon
prepared itself to their eyes, OF the gal,
liant officer mounted on an I'D COW, with
bis face towards her tail, and this append
age sticking straight out beh'nd-ber
tongue hanging out, her sides laceraied
with the grievous glgging Of the spurs, and
himself, owing to his excessive fear, al!
most deprived Of reason, and half pe;rifed
with horror A loud and general roar Of
laughterbroke from the assembled band,
at the rider and his steed-the whole corps
gave him three hearty cheers, as he bolted
into the camp and he was seized and car
ried to his quarters in triumph, there to
dream of loves metamorphoses, backward
rides, stern away advances, and alarms of
invasions, and thereby to garnish bis mind
with the materials for writing splendid
treatise on the novel adventures OF cowol-
cgy.
FEMALE COURAGE.
In the time of the war, Buffalo was in
vaded bv the British from the opposite /