Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-09-28
A Good Story.
The following story we extract from a Letter

to the Alabama Journal, by J. J. Hooper:
Old Col. D., of the Mobile District, was
one of the most singular characters known IN
Alabama He was testy and eccentric, but pos
sessed many fine qualities which were fully
appreciated by the people of his district. Many
OF his freaks are fresh in the memory OF the
'sold uns," of Mobile-and all of them will tell
you, that the Col though hard to beat, was
once taken in by couple Of legal tyros.
It seems that Col. D. had had u misun-
derstanding with the gentlemen alluded to, and
was not on speaking terms with them, although
all of the three were professionally riding the
circuit pretty much together. The young
ones, being we'll aware of the Colonel's irasci-
BILE nature, determined 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, and pre-
senty they arrived at a 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 alighted, pulling on
their coats and boots, and sat down quietly to
watch for the old Tartar.
Jogging along, at length up came the old
fellow. He looked first at the youngsters,
who were gravely drawing on their coats and
boots, as if they had just had swim-and then
he looked at the creek that rolled before him
like fluent, translucent star. The Col. was
awfully puzzled.
"Is this - creek swimming!" he growled,
after pause of some moments. *
Noreply was made-the young men simply
mounted their horses, and rode off some little
distance, and stopped to watch our hero.
The Colonel slowly divested himself of
boots. coat, pantaloons and drawers. Then he
remounted with punch Of inordinate size,
rather inadequate legs, face like withered
apple, and brown wig, there is no doubt he
made and interesting picture as he bestrode his
steed, with the "breeze holding gentle dal-
lance" with the extremities of his only gar
ment.
Slowly and cautiously did the gentleman
and his horse take the creek. Half a length
and the water was not fetlock deep. Here the
horse stopped to drink. A length and half
and the stream no deeper! Thirty feet far
ther, and decided shoeling!
Here Col D. reigned up. "There must,
said he, abe a HI of a swift deep channel be-
tween this and the bank-see how the water
runs! We will have to dash through!'
A sharp lash made the horse spring over the
awaterv waste !" and AM n carried the horse
and rider safely to the opposite bank. The
creek was nowhere more than foot deep.
A wild Yell from the "young uns" announc-
ed their appreciation Of the sport as they gal
loped away.
sI'Il catch you, you- rascal 70 was ground
out between Col D-'s teeth, and away he
galloped in hot pursuit, muttering dreadful
vengeance on his foe.
On on, they sped-pursuer and pursued
The youngster laughed, yelled, and screamed
the Col swore with mighty emphasis, while
his shirt flowed and cracked in the wind, like
loose flying glib.
On, on-and the pursued reached farm
house on the road side. Their passing start
led flock of geese from fence corner, which
| as the Colonel dashed up, met with outspreae
wings, elongated necks and Kisses dire. His
horse sweryed suddenly, and the Colonel in q
moment was on the ground in most unro
mantle heap, with his brown wig by his side
and his bundle of clothes scattered around!
The white headed children of the house
came out first and took distant view of the
| monster-as it seemed to them-and then re-
! turned to report progress. After little the
father of the family came, and the affair being
explained, assisted the Colonel in making his
! toilette; the Colonel swearing and the coun
tryman laughing, all the while: Dressed ane
remounted, our hero started. off with wofu
phiz, and was soon out of sight.