Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-05-24
The Snowman Out witted.

The menagerie was in town. A rare occur
renee was an exhibition of the wild beasts, Ii.
ons, tigers, polar bears, and ichnuemons, &c.
a. Baltimore at the early day of which We are
writing, yet they came occasionally, and this
time were visited by old Ma, Wheatley, a jolly,
wealherbeaten boalman, well known in Balti-
more as an nveerate joker, who never let any
one get to the windward of him. He was fur
thermore stutterer Of the first class.
Nat visited the menagerie.
As he entered, the Snowman was stirring up
the monkey and tormenling the lion, giving
elalaborate descriptions of the various propen-
stiles and natural peculiarilies of each and all
This. ladies and gentlemen, this, say. is
the Afrikin Lion. A noble beast he is, ladies
and gentlemen, as is called the king of the for
est. | have often heard that he makes nulhing
of devouring young creatures, of every descrip-
lion, when a, home in The woods. Ceting ii
is that no other beas, can whip him!
M -m-misler 2 interrupted Wheatley, d-do
y-you say he caa-n, be whipped' 2
[ duz,' said the man of lions and tigers
'Wha-at ill you be, | ca-an. fetch critier
wha,'ll whip hm'
Il ain. be,lin' man, at all. But | don't OBJ
iect TO takin' small bet to that effect
'I'll b.b.bet ca-an f-f-fetch some,hin' tharll
whip him. Wha-at s-say to a hundred d.d-dol-
lars Z
Now there were several merchants in the
crowd who knew Wheatley well, and were
fully convinced that if the bet was made, he
was sure of winning. So he had no difficulty
in finding backers,' one of them told him he
would give him ten gallons Of rum if he won.
The menagerie man glanced at his lIon.-
There he crouched in his cage, his shaggy
mane bristling, and his tail sweeping. the very
picture of grandeur and majesty. The brIbe
was tempting and he felt assured.
'Cering, sir, cer,ing have no objections
10 old Hercules, taking about with any cresur
you may fetch
'Ve.ve-very well,' said Nat, 'it's b-bet.'
The money was planked up, and the next
night was designated for the terrible conaicI.
The news was spread over Baltimore, and al
an early hour the boxes Of the spacious theatre
were flled-he pi, being cleared for the af-
fray
Expectation was on .ip-toe, and il was with
great impatence that the crowd awaited the
arrival of Whealley. He a, length entered,
bearing large bag or sack on his shoulders,
which as he let it fall upon the floor was OBJ
served 10 contain some remarkable hard and
heavy substance. The keeper looked on with
indignation.
Where's your animal 2 he inquired
Th.,h-ihere,' said Nat, pointing with his fin-
ger a, the bag.
Well what is it 2 asked the man with in.
creasing as,onishment.
Th-ih-lha,, l-l-ladies and gentlemen said
ii ho, IN.
whimbamper /!
"A whimbamper !? echoed The keeper
8 That's certainly a new feature in zoology aud
anatomy. A whimbamper we'll let him ON,
and clear the ring, or old Hercuus may make
a moulhful of both of you.
The keeper was excited.
Accordingly Ma, raised the bag, holding the
aperture downwards, and out rolled huge
Swapping turtle while the cheers and laugh ghler
of the audience made the arches ring.
sFhere he is 2 said Wheatley, as he tilted
the Whimbamper, over with both hands, and
set him on his legs. The snapper seemed
uncons cious of his peril
Whea,ley was about leaving the ring when
the keeper swore that his lion should no. dis
grace himself by fighting such piiabe foe.
'V-very weI,' said Nat, if y-y-you ch.choose
10 g-gve me the hu-u-ndred dollars
But it's unfair cried the shoman.
The audience in,erposed and insisted upon
the fight There was no escape, and the show
man reluctantly released the lion making him.
self secure on the top of the cage.
The majestic beas, moved slowly around the
ring. snuffing and lashing. while every person
held his breath in suspense. Lions are prylng
beasts, and this one was no. long in discover
ing the turtle, which lay on the floor, a huge
inanima,e mass. The lion soon brought his
nose in close proximity TO it, which the turtle
not liking, popped out his his head. and rolled
its ewes, while sort Of wheeze issued from Its
savagerous mouth. The lion jumped back, turn
ed and made spring a, the crler, which was
now fully prepared for his reception. As the
lion landed on him. the turtle fastened his ter
r.lic Jaws on The lions noslrils rendering him
powerless 10 do harm-ye, with activity OF
limb. be bounded around The circle, growled,
roared, and lashed himself. but The snapper
hung on, seeming to enjoy the ride vastly, !.
Go it, whimbamperr cried Whea'ley rom
he boxes.
The scene was rich.
The Snowman was no less enraged than inc