Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-12-04
A Glimpse Of the Elephant.
ssRrrTEN TOR THE JOURNAL AND UNION.
av ONE OF TIE INITIATED. %
, o (Continued.)
(Continued.) y
CH A p T Z II TX.

Unfortunate unction, and his battle with, the wolf
A long train of wagons upon the plains is a
fine sight, and hence our voyageurs were re-
0aled with this notable perspective Tor many
Ss,~. MGny were size sSeisSssses rcn!ln9slly
occnrr;ng. Init we dismiss them all ultil they ar
rived at The Cottonwood, where circumstance
bannened. so dreful in its results that IT merits
being rescued from obscurlty:
Mr.. Flint, in addition to divers other accom-
o plishments united, the need OF praise as oeing
worthy of appointment as charloteer IN orulnary
TO Phnbus. His execution IN governing Ihe ue-
scendants of asses was startling TO the mules'
and sdmirable to the beholder; hence 1T fell 10
his portion TO drive.
Cottonwood Creek isaa muddy run in winter,
and n succession of dark green-sklmmed pools
n s,,nYner.-a very sporterage to- Tophet,' as
Tyndall afterwards expressed ~ but tle grove
of the beautiful trees from which 1t derives It's
nomenclature, skirting its neighborhood, amply
redeems il from his aspersions. The parson
was not fond of displaying his prodiglous skill
in horsemanship at the expense OF olu nohey;-
Indeed he infinitely preferred to stretch his
listess length upon the blankets,--particuiarly'
as thereby he was enabled to combat old hlng
AIchohol at his leisure, sucking in the old Ty-
rant in the form of Cognac, at rate unap-
nroachable, and with the most laudable vlgor.
Thus Fate proceeded, and in her vain OF wains
Mr.. Flnt's own team, under his own supervl-
sion, until the train reached Cottonwood. The
run, or properly the ex-run, was now Looming
chaos of mud, and Flint's heart sank IN dlsmay
upon inspecting the narrow, but appalling ABYSS
which separated him from the promised land on
the other side. But our philosopher made II
his ruling principle to live in hope, II ne died
in despair, and so he drove in like other heroes,
N the attemDt.
Mules, like headstrong bugbears as they are,
entertain an unaccountable aversion To mud, and
in ihe present case, they also induiged IA viii
bf their own as well as Mr.. Flint, and their re-
solve was Numerically contrary to that OF the
martyred driver. When Greek meets Greek,
then comes the tug of war; when those two OBJ
stinate animals of the jackass breed-phlloso-
phers and mules-enuenCh themselves IN OPPo
site oninions. hot times ahead may be predicted
with confidence. Difficulties thickened about
p Mr.. Flint, which it is but just TO say he bore
with exemplary fortitude, but while he whipped
and threatened, his mules surpassed threatening,
and twisting suddenly, he was precipltaled OIL
into .brush-pile, exclalmng while Vo'ali''
oLook out parson, look out!
In compliance with Mr.. Flints reasonable
request. the parson raised the tent sheet OF the
wagon promptly, and thrusting out his unique
nhysioqnomy, he looked around with an lnvient
air, But his sentinelship was not OF very long
Duration for the mules, relieved OF the res
traints of the philosophers reins ana the terror
of his whiplash, completed the work OF demoIi-
ton bv overturning the wagon, the Rev, Nalier
incomparatively precious head being hrmiy I'M
bedded in the mud as if driven by pile driver
his feet extending aloft, one OF them encased IN
large lard can, and performing, like Bryant
wild goose, multifarious gyratlons IN The tnn
cool atmosphere, while the oleaglnOus content:
of the aforesaid can streamed over him IN boun
tiful profusion. Tyndall dismounting, ran e
extricate the expounder Of scriptures from hl'
terra incognta, and with Filnts assistance an'
a long pull, strong pull, and pull altogether
they drew him forth from his subterraneouS re-
treat Thespis stained the faces of his follow
ers with the lees of wine, but never E'hlop
from the hidden sources of the Nile, or that Ia
bled region where Lacadamonean currency was
in vogue sported a countenance OF such aus
XIV hue as the meritorious parson.
'|Takin' nigh cut to hell, stranger! IN
uired gaunt specimen of buckskin.
t,He's only steSin' the march on SmmS, re
piled TynlRl.
"Ef he'll only burrow that wen in the groun'
when he gits to Californy, won't he roll out IN
chunksP'' remarked a third. .,
Giles a deep man.--he amt satisfied W.T.
looL;p at things on the outside; he wants to pen
etrate the mysteries of natur', - said another.
"His explorations" said Tyndail, "afe hon
orable exemplars of the pursuit OF knoWledg
under difficulties.
uUnder ground, you meanY"
Go observed one Of the fraternity, denomipa
tod mar excellence, the Baby, whose RUM
noss;an was an invncble habit OF splitting Q
every body and every thing in his vicinity.
W'That feller's hoggish," resumed the mr.
sneaker, ,.to take this much lard to, grease h
boots" ,L.l .,.;.od
rcncw his toilet, for though not quite a Nash
Brume. vet as his personal appearance was IN
rrovcd not a whit, he deemed that nttle car
and tbe outward and carnal man would not
ohortive mains Flint, in pursuance ol ms MAJ
II, oC uniting the best face on everytnhg, Soug
60 onel;orote the face of affairs by putllhg u
,ronon ON its wheels again. His endeaVo
'vsrc seconded by all present with near
WI WI Iii and all was presently, as the Sayl'
= s,;ght sideup, with care all except SyAesv
oouircd n prodgous sum total OF scrn
hing to put him TO rights 10
tbe;r day's journey had been but sho
and tbev had made camp early IN the ai'erhoO
S,J,os srhseouent to his renovation, IN oraer
yDo sool,ing borrowed Flints rtlc ana
os't NJ second Boone, TO slay the fo'r-lo0'
ou' ~ e H. ,,,fderneSs without mercy In
were now upon the confines Oh ."o I'LL, "T'o ii,
gion, and though that animal Is poJM pu,. M9oIl,
cult to kill, ferocious, yet goesr|iy H., ~ ~, :
assaults were daily made upon GabI .''?n :
members Of the train About inc "''e''