Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1838-11-24

r.
he first symptoms oiexcitement eviDced
~ our phlcgrnaiic hermit at this extraor.
linary interruption The soldier ia the
Meantime formed in compact circle a
'ound him, and began 10 question him IN
! strange language. This was TO him
1ew source Enhancement and perplexity
md when he examined them more close
|y, and saw their enormous, spurs, their
singular costume, and swarlby yisages,
he was completely overpowercd, and re-
NAMED dumb with CONSERVATION and
At length the leader of the
party arrived, ana by tic. aid OF an inter-
prefer, began to question hin relative to
The situation Of the Texian army, the
of General Houston, &c. &c.
To all Of these questions he could give but
one answer: he knew as little about the
Texian army, Con. Houston, or any other
Texian officer, as he did about the Anti
podes. Threats, remonstrances, entrea-
ties and flatering promises were alternate
ly resorted by the interpreter TO acquire
the wished for Intelligence, but in vain;
and at length all apparently became con-
vinced that he was an unfortunate idiot,
and released him, rather Gin pity than in
anger" The whole party then, a, the
command Of their leader resumed their
saddles, and disappeared almost as rapid
ly as they came, leaving the asionlshed
Old gentleman to lament over ruined
g ,rden aud deserted yard; for during
the short parley with the Mexican officer,
most of his pigs AMI poultry had been
transferred into the wallets Of the soldiers.
While he thus stood, apparently iivetel
to the spot, absorbed in, deep reflection on
account Of his recent losses, and OCCASION
ally casting wislful gIances towards the
prairie, where the retreating soldiers
were slowly disappearing ia the distance,
cockadodoo rung from one corner Of the
garden, and soon his favorite cock came
stru,ling forth with all the pomp ola lord
of The manner, followed by the scanty
remnant of bis former followers; gobbc.
gobbe, nohhe, sounded from another ex-
tremitv Of the yard, and soon few tur-
keys, hens, and swine, legan 10 return
from their leafy covorts, and resume their
vonted ramLl4s. These familiar sight
gradually restored portion. of his former
confidence and eqnanimlty; and resumlng
his pipe and his seat, he endeavore !, with
whtls CT tobacco smoke, to dsssipate the
unpleasant sans atoms which harrassed
his n.ind, but in vain. A thousand imr-
ginary fears tcrmen,ed him, and the whis-
pering of every breeze sounded on his
ears like the trampling Of cavalry; while
thus tortured with suspense, his eye cas-
ualy rested on the word "Maxico" printed
on the paper which enveloped hstobacco;
curiosity induced him " examine the pa
per closely: he nnilied the bundle, aud
emptying the contents upon The ground,
he f,uud the paper was fragment Of the
Tel-graph printed at San Felipe, and al
most the first article that met his view,
was the call of tie larentcd Fannin 10
volunteers. The first line printed in large
capitals, thus:
"ATTENTION!TO THE WEST
FACE MARCH" Overcome with
curiosity, his pipe dropped again unheeded
at his feet, while he read with intense
anxiety every item Of intelligence relative
to the rupture with Mexico. The truth
then, for the frs. time, burst upon his
mind-he troops that had just left him
were Mexican cavalry-,he whole country
was probably overrun by the desoalinG
armies of the invader, and possibly the
blood-tbirsty Santa Anna was close in The
neighborhood, and might issue peremp-
tory mandate for his execution! go, fool
that l wasp he at length exclaimed, chad
but subscribed Iorihs newspaper could
have avoided these evils! now, owing to
neglect, am surrounded by foes, aud to-
morrow's sun may find my crunhllng
llboaes mingled with the ashes of my burn.
ing cabin" Despair; however, was soon
supplanted by hope, and he determined
instantly to make one effort TO regain
place Of safety. His horse was soon
saddled, and small STOCK OF tobacco, a
few pieces of dried beef, and the huge
pipe, bis inseparable companion, were
hastily fastened to his saddle bow, and ere
sun set he was vending his lonely way
like hundreds of his countrymen, towards
the Sabine. Fortunately, his route lay
directly by the plains ofSan Jacinto, and
| he arrived in the Texan camp short
time after the termination of the battle.
Then new scene of wonders arose before
him. He saw for the frs, time, the one
starred banner now floating in triumph
over the tri-color of Mexico-he heard
for the frs, time, the name Of the Repub-
lie of Texas-of the Texian army-oi
General Houston, and other officers-oI
government he had never known. AL
most Supplied with nmazement he wand
erred, like another Rip Van Wrinkle, from
10 NTH