Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-08-23
Ducks In summer.

An inimitably impudent sort Of a wag
writes most barefaced kind Of a story to
the N. Y. Spirit. He calls himself "Stahl,"
and the adventure which he relates, he
swears to the truth Of: it happened to a
couple of young friends of his:
Aaron was a tall strapping fellow, near
seventeen. You never saw a more sus-
ceptible youth. Being good-looking, the
girls were easily smitten with him.
Moses was much younger than his cou-
sin. He knew Aaron was taking on about
that naughty lass, May Seton. And May
was in love with Aaron. May and Troup,
and Sue, and Polly, all came out one Fri
day evening, with Moses sister, Ange-
line. Nose goes off early on Saturday to
let Aaron know. Aaron was for running
over to his Aunt's.
"No," says Nose, "bring the guu; the
woods are full of squirrels; we might kill
dozen, walking the two miles,
The road led along the creek bank,
Aaron was in brown study, thinking Of
May. Nose was looking up in the tree
tops and among the bushes, anxious for a
pop at something. 1t was the shadiest and
quietest of places. So far, no game.
"Let's leave the road bit, and 90 to
the bend of the creek" said Nose; ssit's out
of the way, nobody ever disturbs it. Well
see something there.
And they did-let it be dated, uly 18th,
"Sh" Kissed Nose, through his teeth.
"What is it," asks Aaron, reused lit
tie.
Nose put his hand to his ear.
"Ducks-the biggest kind"
"This time e'year?'
81 see 'em!'
"Give me the gun!'
"No-could'nt think of it,"
Klick-klick!
swell, blaze away!-they'll fly if you
90 nearer"
'sThe bushes are in the way,'' says
Nose, bringing the piece down from his
shoulder.
"shoot, anyhow!" insisted Aaron, i'm
patiently.
"Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord! cried Nose,
turning pale as death, and dropping the
gun on the ground.
"What's the matter?" said Aaron, run
ming up.
dts the girls in a-srimming!"
They sat down as still as snow-fakes.
A long silence. At last Aaron looked
slowly around at Nose. Noses face as
he returned the glance, was regular
sheep killing one.
"Let's climb upthe tree?" Nose, be-
ing the lightest, gave the gun to Aaron,
and climbed far out on branch over the
creek and got into squirrels rest. Aaron
wasn't quite SO light.
L was q pretty sight, in course. You've
read about the nymphs, syrens, and so
forth? They couldn't compare.
There was a louder noise than usual
among the the unconscious bathing beau
ties. Aaron stretching his already elonga-
ted neck, at the same time hitching the gun
forward. Unfortunately, the trigger caught
in vine, and it went off with more
deafening report, it seemed to the parties,
than ever echoed from lannon's mouth.
1t was the climax Of the adventure. Nose
tumbled from excitement, plump into the
creek, between Sue and Polly. The gals!
they dove madly, strangled, and put up to
the bank. They robed in twinkling,
but not one with her right dress on. Aaron
dashed into the woods. There was a ter
rible scream as he ran right into their midst.
All split in different directions, and came
dropping in one after another, at Moses
mothers.
The boys took a large turn in the woods,
and did not get back before night. They
said they had been deer hunting, and
hadn't seen the creek. The girls appear
cd 10. beliere them.