Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-08-20
DAVID FULTON, EDITOR.
VOL. 3----NO. 40.


with the most of this article-the calves of
the legs, for example-presented in him the
appearance of so many well-drawn blisters-
His height was just FIVE feet nothing; and his
average weight in blackberry season, ninety
five. have been thus particular in describ-
ing him, for the purpose of showing what a
great matter little fire sometimes kindleth.
There was nothing on this earth which de-
lighted Ransy so much as fight He never
seemed fairly alive except when he was wit
Messing, fomentirg, or talking about fight
Then, indeed, his deep-sunken gray eye assu-
med something of living fire, and his tongue
acquired volubilty that bordered upon elo-
quence Ransy had been kept for more than
year in the most torturing suspense as to the
comparative manhood of Billy Stalllngs and
Bob Durham. He had resorted to all his usu-
al expedients to bring them in collision, and
had entirely failed He had faithfully repor-
ted to Bob all that had been said by the peo-
pie in the upper battalion "agln him, land lie
was sure Billy Stallings started it. He heard
Billy say himself to jim Brown, that he
could whip him, or ony other man IN his bat
| tal1on;" and this he told to Bob; adding, bod
darn his soul, if he was little bigger, if he'd
let any man put upon his battalion in such a
way" Bob replied, elf he (Stallngs) thot
so, he'd better come and try it, This Ransy
carried to Billy, and delivered it with spirit
becoming his own dignity and the character
OF his battalion, and with coloring we'll cal
culated to give it effect. These, and many
other schemes which Ransy laid for the graf
llcaton of his curiosity, entirely failed of their
object. Billy and Bob continued friends, and
Ransy had began to lapse into the most tam
tallzlng and hopeless despair, when circum-
stance occurred which led to a settlement of
the long disputed question.
1t is said that a hundred gamecocks will
live in perfect harmony together if you do not
put hen with them; and so it would have
been with Billy and Bob, had there been no
women, in the world. But there were women
| in the world, and from them each of our he
roes had taken to himself wife. The good
ladies were no strangers to the proves of
their husbands, and, strange as it may seem,
they presumed little upon it.
The two battalions had met at the Court
house upon regimental parade. The two
champions were there, and their wives had
accompanied them. Neither knew the others
lady, nor were the ladies known 10 each 9TH
er. The exercises of the day were Just over,
when Mrs Stalings and Mrs. Durham step
ped simultaneously into the store OF Zepha-
niah Atwater, from &C down east"
Have you any Turkeyred? :" said Mrs. 5.
"IIave you any curtain calico - said Mrs.
d. at the same moment
Yes, ladies'" said Mr.. Atwater, 81 have
! both %
"Then help me first" said Mrs. D., for
| I'm in hurry"
'sI'm in as great hurry as she is" said Mrs.
S., &" and I'll thank you to help me first"
"And, pray, who are you, madam" con-
tinuel the other.
Your betters, madam was the reply.
At this moment Billy Stallings stepped in.
=" Come" said he, " Nancy, let's be going it's
getting late
"Fd a been gone half an hour ago." she
replied, if 1t hadn't a been for that impudent
! huzzy."
Z" Who do you call an impudent huzzy, you
nasty, good-for-nothing, snaggl etoothed gaub
of fat, you - returned Mrs. d.
"Look here, woman" said Billy, have
you got a husband here? If you have, I'll
lick him till he learns to teach you better man.
ners, you sassy heifer you" At this moment
something was seen to rush out of the store
as if ten thousand hornets were singing 1t ;
crying, 'Take care-let me go-don't hold
me-where's Bob Durham ?" 1t was Ransy
Snlff1e, who had been listening in breathless
delight to all that had passed.
"Yonders Bob, setting on the Court house
steps," cried one "Whats the matter %
Don't talk to me! % said Ransy. " Bob
Durham, you'd better go long yonder, and take
care of your wife They're playing h with
her there, in Zeph Atwater's store. bod eter-
nally darn my soul, if any man was to talk to
my wife as Bill Stations is talking to yours,
if wouldn't drive blue blazes through him in
less than no time"
Bob sprang to the store in minnie, follow
ed by hundred friends; for the bully of a
county never wants friends.
bill Stallions," said Bob, as he entered,
"what have you been saying to my wife ?"
els that your wife," inquired Billy, obvl-
ously much surprised and little disconnected
Yes, she is, and no man shall abuse her,
don't care who he isl
"WeII," rejoned Billy, &c it ant worth
while to go over it; I've said enough for
fight: and, if you'll step out, we'll settle itH
" Billy" said Bob, &c are you for a fair
fight"
{" l am" said Billy. "Pve heard much Of
your manhood, and believe I'm better man
than you are. If you will 60 into a ring with
"Choose your friends said Bob; make
your ring, and I'll be in with mine as soon as
you will"
They both stepped out, and began to strip
very deliberately, each battalion gathering
round its champion, except Ransy, who kept
himself busy in most honest endeavor to
hear and see all that transpired in both groups
at the same time. He ran from one to the 9TH
er in quick succession; peeped here and lis
tened there; talked to this one, then to that
one, and then to himself squatted under ones
legs and anothers arms, and, in the short IN
terval between stripping and stepping INTO the
ring. managed to get himself trod on by half
of both battalions. But Ransy was not the on
" one interested upon this occasion the most
intense interest prevailed everywhere. Many
were the coniectures, doubts, oaths, and I'M
precautions, uttered while the parties were pre-
pairing for the combat All the knowing ones
were consulted as to the issue, and they all
agreed, to a man, in one oftwo opinions eth
er that Bob would fog Billy, or Billy would
fog Bob. We must be permitted, however.
to dwell for a: moment upon the OPINION OF
Squire Thomas Loggins; a man who, 1t was
SAID, had never failed to predict the issue OF a
hight IN all his life. Indeed, so unerring had
he always proved in this regard, that it would
have been counted the most obstinate infdeli-
lty to doubt for moment after he had deliv-
cred himself Squire Loggins was man who
said but little, but that little was always de-
livered with the most imposing solemnity of
look and cadence. He always wore the as
pect of profound thought, and you could not
look at him without coming to the conclusion