Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-08-06
spring; so that, when get a hold, she'll
cut the neck in two like stell-trap"
At length Sally was rather flung than coax

q into the track, directly ahead of Gridiron.
CHOW, gentlemen" said the master of the
ceremonies, "no mans to make grab till all's
been round; and when the first man are got
round, then the whole twist and tucking of
you grab away as you come under kss Look
here, Jim Fulger! you better not stand too
close to that gander, tell your, one after
another. Now blaze away!' 0he command
for an onset OF every kind with people of this
order).
vi they went, Miss Sally delighted; for
she now thought the whole parade would end
IN nothing more nor less than her favorite a.
musement, race. But Gridiron's vissage
pronounced this the most nonsensical busi-
ness that ever a horse of sense was engaged
in SINCE the world began.
For the first three rounds Zubly was Who'll
ly occupied in restraining Sally to her place
but he lost nothing by this, for the gander had
escaped unhurt. On completing his third
round lube reached forth his long arm, grab
bed the gander by the neck with a frmness
which seemed likel y TO defy goose grease, and.
at the same instant. he invoiunt2rily gave Sal
ly sudden check. She raised her head,
which before had been kept nearly touching
her leaders, hooks, and for the first time saw
the gander in the act of descending upon her;
at the same moment she received two pealng
lashes from the whippers. The way she now
broke for Springfield "is nothing to nobody"
AS lube dashed down the road, the whole
Circus raised a whoop after him. This star
ted about twenty dogs, hounds. ours, and poin-
tiers, in full chase of him Qor no one moved
without his dog in those days.. The dogs a.
Harmed some beled cattle, which were grazing
on Zube's path, Just as he reached them; these
joined him with tails up and 4 tremendous
rafting. Just beyond these went three tobac-
co-rOlers. at distances of fifty and hundred
yards apart each of whom gave lube ter
rife whoops, scream yell as he passed
He went in and cut OF Hawks Gully like
trapball, and was in Springfield &c in less than
no time" Here he was encouraged onward
by new recruit of dogs; but they gave up
the chase as hopeless berore they cleared the
village. Just beyond Springfield. what should
Sally encounter but flock Of geese the tribe
10 which she owed all her misfortunes She
stopped suddenly, and lube went over her head
with the last acquired velocity. He was up
in moment, and the activity with which he
pursued Sally satisfied every spectator that he
was unhurt.
Grldiron, who had witnessed Miss Salv's
treatment with establishment and Indignation,
resolved not to pass between the posts until
the whole matter should be explaind to his
satisfaction. lie therefore stopped short, and
by very Ineligible looks, demanded of the
whippers whether, if he passed between them,
he was to be treated as Miss Spitfire had been?
The whippers gave him no satisfaction, and
his rider signifed, by reiterated thumps of the
heel, that he should go through whether he
would or not. Of these, however. Gridirou
seemed to know nothing. In the midst of the
conference, Gridiron's eye lit upon the oscil-
lating gander, and every moments survey Of
it begat In him growing interest, as his slow
ly rising head, suppressed breath, and projec-
ted ears plainly evinced After a short ex-
animation, he heaved a sigh, and looked be-
hind him to see if the way was clear TWAS
plain that his mind was now made up; to sa-
tisfy the world that he would do nothing
rashly, the took another view, and then wheel
ed and went for Harrisburg as if he had set in
for years running. Nobody whooped at
Gridiron, for all saw that his running was
purely the result of his phlosoghic deduction.
The reader will not suppose all this consumed
half the time which has been consumed in
telling it, though it might have been so with
out interrupting the amusement; for Miss
Spitfire's flight had completely suspended itfor
time.
The remaining competitors now went on
with the sport. A few rounds showed plain
Iy that O1um or Bostwick would be the vic
tor but which, no one could tell. Whenever
either of them came round, the gander's neck
was sure of severe wrench. Many a half
pint of jamaica was staked upon them, besides
other things. The poor gander wi1hstood ma
ny a strong pull before his wailing ceased
At length, however, they were hushed by
Odum Then came Bostwck, and broke the
neck. The next grasp of Odum, it was thot,
would bear away the head; but it did not
Then Bostwick was sure of it; but he missed
it. Now OIum must surely have it. All is
interest and animation; the horses sweep round
with redoubed speed every eye is upon O.
dunn; his hackers smiling, Bostwick's t!emb-
ling. To the rope he comes; lifts his hand :;
when 10! Fat John Fulger had borne it away
the second before All were astonished all
disappointed, and some were veXed a little :;
for it was now clear that, {" if it hadn't O. been
for his great, fat, greasy paw to use their
own language, "Oium would have gained the
victory" Others cursed that long legged
lube lin, who was SO high he didn't know
when his feet were cold, for bringing such a
nag as Sal Spitfre to a gander pullen; for if
he'd O. been in his place, it would O flung
Bostwick right where that gourd o hogs lard
| (Fuger) was"
Fulgers conduct was little calculated to re-
concile them to their disappointment.
| & Come here, Neddy Prater,' said he, with
a Triumphant smile; &C let your Uncle Johnny
put his potato stealer (hand) into that hat, and
tickle the chins of them are sinners 4 little
Oh YOU little shining sons O. bitches walk
into your Mas Johnny's pocket, and jung lie so
as Arch Odum and Cory Bostwick may hear
you 7 You hear 'em, Cory? Boys, don't pull
wifi men any more. I've jist got my hand in;
wish had a pond full O. ganders here now
list to show how could make their heads fly
Bet all I've won, you may hang three upon
! that rope, and I'll set SLOUGH at full speed
and take off the heads of all three the first
grab; two with my hands and one with my
! teeth
Thus he went on, but really there was nc
Boosting in all this; it was all fun for John
! knew, and all were convinced that he knew
that his success was entirely the result of &C
cident John was really ''a good-natured
fellow and his caUorting had an effect direct
| Iy opposite to that which the reader would
suppose it had {; it reconeiled all to their dis
appointment save one 4 except little Billy
Mixen, of Spirit Creek; &ho had staked the
net proceeds of six quarts of huckieberrles1
upon OIum, which he had been long keeping
for safe bet. ! He could not be reconclleG
until he fretted himself into pretty little pa
neg-woods fight, in which he got whipped
and theD he went homo nerfncflV satisfied