Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-07-12

twill" said Semiramis. "Slaves,
recollect the eunuch--strike!''
They struck. Minus had hardly
time to utter cry, when his head
fell upon the pavement the smile
was still upon his liIs.
"Now | am queen of Assyria 70
exclaimed Semiramis, "and perish
every one, like the eunuch and like
Minus, who dare disobcy my orders y
A YENTRlLoQUIST NONPLUSSED.
On a bet fairly won-.feeding' the head.
1t was many years ago, prior to
the revolution, when the good old
laws for hanging for numberless
crimes (for which short imprison-
ment answers now-a-days,) were in
full vogue, that small party were
gathered one bright moonlight night
in an eating cellar in the city of New
York, around an old table from which
the steam rose to the ceiling as it left
the surface of large dish of soup
set in its centre. The party appear
ed in merry humor, and as three
noted character had that day swung
from the scaffold, the topic of con
versation naturally turned upon the
execution.
"Old Jack died game at all events"
said one of the men.
I'm 'fraid that's morn you'll do, :"
retorted another.
Il don't fear death in any shape"
replied the first speaker.
you don't, hey" suddenly chimed
in a third person.
"No, don't, nor can't be scared
either" was the Dragging answer.
"You can't, humph-allow me to
doubt that, will you," sneered his ops
ponent.
"lf you don't believe it. you are
freely privileged to test me; but, mind
you, the consequences be upon your
head not mine.''
Well, well sec. You don't fear
dead people, do you?"
mot SO much as living ones"
"Very well. Now, then, I'll bet
you twenty dollars that you dare not
go down to the scaf1old and feed one
OF the men hung to-day with some
hot soup?"
Are you in earnestl"
"Never more so in my life; there's
the money-let's see you cover it,"
The boaster put his hand in his
pocket, drew forth well-hlled wal
let, and placed twenty more dollars
upon the table.
"ihen you take the bet!n exclaim-
ed his opponent, i'll a surprised voice.
~ do. Let George hold the stake. 4"
Ihe prellmlnaries were soon ar
ranged, and with a bowl of soup and
spoon, the boastcr took his way to
the scaffold.
Now it happened that the person
with whom he had bet was a ven
triloquist, and no sooner had he left
the house than his opponent also de-
parted, taking by-way to the scat
fold, by which means he reached the
place three or four minutes in adj
vance of the soup-feeder, and getting
under it, took his station behind one
OF the posts, and awaited his coming.
In few moments the bragger ap-
peared, and when at the foot of the
steps, he looked cautiously around
him, then quickly ascended and stood
by the side of the corpses. The wind
moaned and the chains creaked, as
the bodies swung to and fro; but,
without hesitation, the boaster seized
the spoon and raised it full of soup
to the dead mans lips. Now was
the ventriloquist's time. AS the han
die OF the spoon was raised, the
corpse suddenly exclaimed, in the
sepulchral tones of the dead
"R's hof!"
"WeH, bio,o 1t, then :" was the in.
stant retort of the feeder, as he cool.
ly lowered the spoon, descended the
scaffold and took his way to the eel.
lar.
The ventriloquist also made tracks
for the same place, and fully testified
that the bet had been fairly won, and
swearing that, after what had taken
place that night, his opponent might
brag as much as he pleased, bat
wouldn't get another wager out ot
him.
TRAIT ORA TRAIToR.-When bo.
dy after body ofIbe Hungarian
troops at Villages drew UP before
the Russians, and silently laid down
.;a!e;nr arms without any surmiiss OF
the treachery, Gorgey noticed at his
SIDE the young Remenyi, scarcely
eighteen wears old, and "a virtuoso ~,