Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-12-07
a L9unyoroNS ssst;etcis.
AN AMUSING STORY.

Hooper, the editor of an Alabama Jour
nal, whose name We Just now forget, but
which has always something in it to make
US laugh, tells the following capital yarn
''Shall tell you bit OF story, having
no connection with politics, this hot dry
weather? By permission
"Old Col. D., of the Mobile dis
trict, was one Of the most singular charac-
ters ever known in Alabama. He was tes,y
and eccentric, but possessed many fine
qualities, which were fully appreciated by
the people of the district. Many of his
freaks are fresh inthe memory of the 'od
uns' Of Mobie-and all OF them will tell
you that the Col. though hard to beat was
once terribly taken in by couple of legal
tyros.
Tits George Woodward, I believe, tells
in keeping with others related of the old
gentlemen.
''It seems that Col. D--had a mis-
understanding with the two gentlemen allu-
drd to, and was not on speaking terms
with them, although all OF the three We're
professionally riding the circuit pretty
much together. The young ones, being
well aware of the ol'sirascibe nature, de-
termined, as they left one of the courts for
another TO have some sport at his expense
by the way. They accordingly got about
half an hours start in leaving, aud presently
they arrived at broad dark stream, that
looked as if It might be dozen feet deep,
but which, in reality, was hardly more
than as many inches. Crossing it they
aIighted, pulling of their coats and boots,
and sat down quietly TO watch for the Tar
tar,'
Jogging along, at length come up the old
fellow. He looked first at the youngsters,
who were grayely drawing on their boots
and coats, as if they Just had a swim-and
then he looked at the broad creek that roll
ed before hun like fluent translucent star.
The Col. was awiuly puzzled.
sis this creek swimming" he growled
after pause Of some moments.
'No reply was made; the young men
simply mounted their horses and rode some
little distance, and then stopped to watch
our hero.
"CoL slowly divested himself of boots
coat, pantaloons, and drawers. These ht
neatly tied up in his handkerchief, anc
hung them on the horn Of the saddle, thel
he remounted and as he was fat, short man
E with a paunch of inordinate size, rathe
). inadequate legs, with face like withere'
e apple, and brown wig, there is no doub
= he made an interesting picture as he be
o strobe his Steed, with the breeze holdin
gentle dalliance with the eXtremihes Of hi
only garment.
"Sowly and cautiously did the old gen
\ tleman and his horse take the creek. Ha
a length--aud he was not a fetlook deeE
Here the horse stopped to drink. A lengt
i, and half-and the stream no deeper 2
!, Thirty feet further and decided shouting
Mt "Here Col. D.---reined up-'Ther
must, said he, 'be swift channel betwee
this and the bank. See how the watC
81 runs We will dash through.
e. ga sharp lash made the horse spring ii
q wintry waste, and another carried the hor
= and rider safely to the opposite bank. TT
creek was no where more than a foot dee
= ga wild yell from the young 'uns al
H. nounced their appreciation of the sport
they galloped away.
"Pl catch you, you-rascals, W
ground between Col. D---'s teeth, al
|, way he galloped in hot pursuit, mutteril
- vengeance on his foes.
On-on-they sped, pursuer and pursue
The youngsters laughed, yelled, and screar
IN ed--the Col. swearing with mighty emph
sis, while his shirt fluttered and crack
in the wind like loose flying gib.