The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-06-16
WI Sc ella m g o u $ j..
From the Petersburg Constellation.
"A TRUE STORY, ALTHOUGH AN OWL

Inspectors General of the Army, who, havIn.
finished the duties appertaning TO his Office
took leave of the commander for the purpose o
inspecting other stations. He requested the Int,
Dr. g., OF the Army, and myself, to accompany
nun TO tfe frontier town of Liberty, md we Sc
off together. DR.. G. and myse lf had previousl,
| to this, in order to relieve the duh monoion,
which usually hangs round frontier stations
played numerous pranks upon our brother Off
GERS; and many were the hearty laughs we occa
d,at the expense OF many am unlucky wight
NO ili-ieeing, however, ever arose in conse
quence of this quizzing; on The contrary, tie oh
Jects OF our VIII laughed as heartily ms any Oh,
else at the various tricks played off on them.
! Various attempts were made of the same ma
tnre on US, but always failed; the lime, however
mad now arrived When three young officer:
thought that they would throw the laugh on us
o'it the way the tables were turned on them.
selves was n "canton, - which will be seen il
the sequel. 4-s .f,.-s ~. IL. 81. a4
Having heard that the Doctor and myse
would return to the Fort by an unfreouenteJ
trai'; these three consprators wrote letter 10
an Oil man living near the border, tat whose
mouse we intended 10 lodge,) and signed our
names to II: the letter requested him 10 procure
( us fifty o,ot heads,tas we wished TO make medi.
cine OF them. Upon our riding up to the old
man $ house, We met him with his rifle on his
shoulder. He accosted us with show do YOU do.
Doctor--colne, light and walk ill., After taking
our seats ny the fire, the old man commenced
with We'll doctor. am afraid YOU will he dis.
appointed. was ont all day Yesterday and
part OF the night, and I have been out all dny to.
day, but dang me. if could kin more than four
teen Owls; but have sent down to my son in
Kay county, and he will kill as many as You
want Doctor G and myself looked asiounded,
ana were afraid to reply, but [ Immediately
smelt rat The old man continued, We'll, well,
never heard of medicine being made out of
Owl hends before. Pray, gentlemen, if it is n
fair question, what kindof medicine do you max e
OF them, aud what is it good foi?' ] replied,
why, Mr. f. that is secret; and you know ihat
II people were to find ont that we gave them
such things, we could not persuade them to
take it, Very true, said he l continued, mr.
F. think that the fourteen that you have got
will he amply sufficient for our present use, and
you may counermand your order to your son.
What shall we pay you for your troube?' why,
Doctor, You said in your letter that you woulll
give fifty cents apiece 'Ah!' said T., 'weli inst
let me see The letter. as have forgotten what
told you.' The letter was produced, and
knew the land wiring Immediately. you are
right Mr.. F. here is seven dollars, and he good
enough to rap the heads in piper, and put
Them in my saddle bags. grEf
The next morning, DR.. G. and myself started
for the Fort He was terrihlyvexed at the trick,
and growed for several miles, and got tiispleas'
ed with me several times for laughing about il.
For my OWN part, ] was in perfect good ht,tnor,
and thought it nothing but right that we had
been pald Off in our own coin; nevertheless,
was planning in my own mind a scheme 10 get
out Of the difficulty ourselves, ana throw il on
them. l finally adopted the following, in which
DIR. G. acquiesced, that we would say nothing
about Owls on our arrival aud the next morn.
ing at breakfast, make the conspirators eat
what we had brought. fae
We arrived at tho Missouri, aud called for the
boat. As soon as we pushed off, 1 saw upon
thp sifp hsn n IF off Sfnpu ling
and upon reaching the opposite shore, we were
sauted by loud and bOisleious laugh. We
enquired 'what was the marter?' With faces as
long and demure as those of the old puritans.
Said one, did you stop at MIR. FPS last night?'
Yes 'Are there plenty Owls there?' 81 did
not see any, replied, sdd you DIR. G?' He
answered in the negative. They began TO look
MS blank and, as afterwards aseertained, they
thought that the letter lid not reach Mr.. F. The
next morning was up at daylight. and with the
assistance of DIR. G. opened all the Owl heads,
and took out the brains and made fine hash,
well peppered and sailed. We set down to
breakfast. | was politely asked to take, some
hash but DR.. G. and myself declined, aud Lieut..
b., Lieut.. C. and Lieut.. w. ceare1 the dish.
One complained that there was too much pepper
in il, another that il was TOO SALT hut in spite Of
all their objections, the hash disappeared down
the throats Of the conspirators. Giving DIR. G.
signal under the table, turned 10 Lieut., H.,
WHO had written the letter, and said, well b.
how 10 you like Owl's braIns9' Owls brains
said he, what do you mean?' sNohing, re-
piled / /, 'only you G. ard w. have eaten up 7$
worth that we procured of Mr.. +. according TO
your request The table was immediately
cleared by the Young gentlemen, who ran out
sick and pale. We recommended emeics with
true professional dignity but they dIstlained our
professional advice. The story ran through the
Camp Immediately, and the laugh was loud and
long at the expense ofihe unlucky wights who,
although laying very good trap for us, were
completely outwiied and caught themselves, u
made to swallow the proceeds ofthei own in'
iqnity, s..r., E,bess aaf boss a,atoeas r}fi.
,G,otcth of Ohio.-Half century ago, Ohio
was a wilderness Now that State has "A pcpn-
lation OF one million five hundred thousand
one large and deusey populated city, ana halt
II dozen thriving towns-one thousand ami ten
post offices--fve4 incorporated tiies-lhlrty
three banking conipanies--ten collegesand pr,n'
cipal lseuinaries OF learning, together with pun.
lics institutions for the insane, deaf and dumb,
and the hnd Some SpaIl idea be had