The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-07-02
(W,i!ten for the Cecil Whig.)
HUMAN CHARACTHR-No. VI
CAPTAIN BOUNCE.

1t was at fourth of July dinner, in the inte-
rior of ---, that had the singularly good,tor-
tune to meet with this remarkable individual
Joey Bounce was militia captain--a man very
much looked up to there, but strange compound
of oddties,-one of those queer mixtures Of wit
and gravity which both amuse and puzzle u.s.
And if you are now to make his acquaintance for
tho first time you need not be surprised to find
him at one moment using language and express
sing sentiments that would tefit Judge upon
tho bench, and in the next, delivering himsclfin
a manner altogether at variance with these. But
such WIS the man, and you must take him rough
and smooth together have settled it in my
mind, that Joey was bit Of Il way, and that he
occasionally assumed style U.s. TO suit the par
ticular drift Of his humour, more than i'll accor-
dance with the tone oths education Be This as
it may, one is still mystifed, and suppose ever
will be-this is what hate.
OF course it was hot day, chow could it be
heped,) and every body was hot, first because it
ra, bot day,--secondly, because of the parade,
and thirdly, because now OF the free use OF the
stimulating preparations Of the table, The cap
tain was at the head of it, and his company hav-
ing drunk his health in bumper, he rose and
thanked them for the hatterng compliment and
sat down. This would not do. general
knocking succeeded, and call for speech from
captain Bounce; when he Bounced up, and i'll his
peculiar manner proceeded: (bul here allow me by
parenthesis just TO say, he was one of the most
quizical, apple-headed, dumping faced looking
little fellows, with cast in one eye, that you
ever saw:)--
Fellow citizens,--fellow soldiers, and gentle
men,
"When in the course ofhuman events" step
ped upon the stage of human existence, of course
| little dreamt that such day of glory and re-
nown as this awaited me- Hear, hear,) much
less did | expect the superexcellent honor and
high privilege of addressing such body of res
pectable and enlightened yeomanry. CHEERS. }
lgive you the day we celebrate. cloud cheers
and bumper, with cries of proceed, proceed.)
Yes, the origin Of this proud day to Americans,
big with consequences of overwhelming import
to the crowned heads Of the time, was fraught
with the most eventful bearing upon the destnes
of the progeny Of our forefathers, who hallowed
it by their likelihood, their property and their
cred honor. (Three cheers.)
Gentlemen-I need not cover the hackneyed
ground ofrecaptulating to you, who are familiar
with the bood-wrlt page Of our national wrongs,
the hardships and unequalled privations with
which our predecessors earned, secured and
transmitted to US, the rights, liberties and immu-
mites we now enjoy and this day participate, nor
VIII |. Suffice it to say,I have ever found you rea-
dy ut your country's CALL to render to her if ne
" 'ho sdCIlliCe ol your lives. (I1edr J
But, departing from the beaten track, desire to
communicate to you, under your forbearance, as
not only notinapplicable to the present occasion,
but indeed, though in homey style, bearing ex-
actiy on the subject, the substance off sort of
colloquy had once with my friend of the "bay
ctate,' Mr. Iitmouse Finch more Familiarity
known there, as fifty, or; Tit Finch. And that
l may DO nm the more ample justice, and 'noth-
ing extenuate, as he was at the time, in conse-
quence of fow of spirits Ito which he was addic
ted good deal fudded, and was banked and
interrupted by an unaccountable thickness of
speech and flood of hickups, with your leave
will endeavour to represent my chum Tit, in
manner and matter.
1t was some months ago, on a day of town
election. We were in the street, Tit elevated
little above me on a cellar-door and puzzled
monstrcusly to maintain his eminence, even
with the aid of a friend on each side, as body
guard to support him. 1t was somewhat after
this fashion,
sinister (hicup) Bounce-my friend (hic)
csp.ing Bounce--In view of (hic) this here mul,
si.ads Of unliterste sovsrins pe---peoplo,-snd