Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-16
TERMS: So so i'm advance.
WHOLE NO. l4S.

In the Wild days of MiSSouri-no one we
presume, will dispute its present civilized slate
"a number of the more excitable and adyen
turous young officers of our gallant army were
stationed at Council Bluffs, to guard the from
tier from the incursions of the wild and then
powerful tribes which roamed in that imme-
date neighborhood In their isolated position
they had little to destroy the monotony of life
except an occasional march to check some
tribe which was warming into hostility, or in
inventing and playing off tricks upon each
other. 1t n.attered not how outrageous, or
dangerous, or ridiculous, any devilment prac-
tised upon one officer by another should be,
| they never for once grew angry, but the vic
tim merely set his wits to work to, if possible,
surpass his own case by retort on his adver-
sary. A Lieutenant who was particularly
good at these practical Jokes, because his dig
nihed and cool manner made him less suspec-
ted than his comrades had played off one up
on brother Lieutenant who had a delightful
| lisp. A short time otter, at al evening card
party in his quarters, the. aign;hed joker was
expatiating to several officers, among them his
lisping victim, how very becoming it was for
a man, under all circumstances, to keep cool,
and remarked, moreover, that in his own case
it was a constitutional habit, in the face of the
|
nerve which defed surprise The advantage
OF such temperament was enlarged upon,
the chances it afforded of escape from danger
particularly pointed out, and general assent
| given to its great value in the possession of a
military man.
Well, JIM" inquired his lsping friend,
s' how would you do, thopothe a thell with an
inch futhee thould drop itthelf into high
walled angle in which you had taken shelter
from a company of tharp thooterth, and where
it wath thertain if you poked out your nothe
you'd yet peppered''
How - said the other, wnking at the
circle, 'why, take it cool, and spit on the fu-
seer
Yeth, thath true,'. answered the lisping
Lieutenant, apparently perfectly satisfied and
another wink travelled round the circle of op-
tics.
The party broke up, and all retired for the
night except the patrols, who continued their
rounds, as we believe they generally do on
military posts, until morning goes into frag-
ments, when the air of hustle and activity be-
gan its hum in the barracks. The soldiers
were passing from their several quarters, and
soon there were number gathered upon the
parade. Presently several officers assembled,
and were talking in cluster, when along
came the lisping Lieutenant he looked at
the group and Immediately passed into the
quarters of his dignifed friend, who was still
IN bed.
"Ah, is that you, Charley" said the sleepy
Lieutenant, lazily opening his eyes.
Yeth, JIM" said the hsper, sc want to
try an experiment thith morning, and thee
how d-n cool you can be p saying which
he walked deliberately up to the fire burning
upon the hearth, and placed in its hottest
centre ponder canister! and instantly re-
treated.
There was but one mode of egress from the
quarters, and that was upon the parade ground
the rear being built up for defence against
attack. The occupant took one glance at the
fire, saw the canister, and compromising his
situation in moment, he dashed at the door,
but his friend had it fast on the outside.
" Charley, let me out, if you love me ?"
shouted the occupant of the quarters
" Thp1t on the canister, Jim p shouted he
in return.
Not moment was to bealost-he at first
snatched up blanket to cover his egress, but
now, dropping it, he raised the window, and
out he bOunced-SGns CutOtteS, sans every
thing, but very short under garment and
thus, with hair almost on an end, he dashed
upon full parade ground. The shout which
hailed him brought out the whole barracks to
see what was the matter, and the dignifed
Lieutenant pulled a tall Sergeant in front of
him to hide his parade dress.
Why didn't you hpit on it, Jim ," inqui-
red Charley.
&C Because there was no sharp shooters in
front to stop retreat,' answered Jim.
Cali got to thay ith,' says Charley,
&c that you might thafely done it, for I'll
thware there walnut a thingle grain of pow
der in it 7"
Under a volley now of the sharpest kind of
shooting, tn cool and dignifed Lieutenant re-
treated into his quarters, perfectly satisfied to
acknowledge that, under some circumstances,
!, it is not very easy to take 1t coolly!