Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-08-22
GETTING INTO TIGHT QUARTERS.

GETTING INTO TIGHT QUARTERS.
During the last brush between @Uncle
Sam" and tie 9Britishers,n a regiment was
raised in Canada principally composed of
pardoned felons and other worthless of that
stamp. 1t was called the Kings Own,'
but was more properly nicknaned and repu-I
ted as the devils Own its advent in a
place being more dreaded than an excursion
from Yankeedom. The officers kept up the
Satanic fame of their corps with common
dable spirit, the pillar being Ensign DE
He was the most consumate practical Joker
in the army, and his messmates held him in
awe in consequence Of the repeated success
of his tricks upon them. After an outrage
Gus affair which nearly cost the lives of w
or three ofhis comrades, it was resolved to
~retaliate at the earliest opportunity, which
soon offered.
The regiment,on the march to the frontier,
bivouacked in the vicinity of IAcadie. 1t
then became a question of some import to
know how the mess table was to be garnish-
ed. One suggested a very common exPedi-
emit among both officers and men, VIZ, a visit
to some neighboring hen-coop. Another i'm
mediately added that, at about a mile from
the encampment, he had noticed an old lady
feeding some pretty plump geese.
Let's have 'em, by all means cried DE.
The party sailed out, and on reachingthe
old ladv's premises a r-econnoitrance showed
the geese were penned in under one Of those
ovens which the generality of Canadians built
near their houses instead Of baking their
bread as in this country.
Who'll crawl in z came to be the ques-
ton.
D'E--wiIl; he understands the bust.
ness, and IS the smallest chap among u.s. said
one of the party.
Certainly cried the Ensign, who always
sought distinction in exploits Of the kind !
viii, but some of you must go to the houst
and entertain the old woman so she may no
interrupt my operations
q DE, although a slight man, had to exer
1 his utmost strength in order to squeeze him
self half through the doorsof the pens
Now he cried, warding off the attack Q
! a benigerent old goose, run in to tho 81
woman
|, And they did run in
Madam Madam they cried-there's
d fellow stealing your geese Come quick
quickR
Z The old lady flew to the ehimney-corHel
seized her broomsIck, and sailed out to SUI
Il prize the Ensign in the hottest of his tustl
With his ferocious antagonist, the patriarch;
d goose. She instantly proceeded to intimat
i her presence by dealing the trespasser a te
g rifc blow, the full force Of which sat upant Ii
= exposed part with unrestricted effect as i
y had on his 'shelliacket' only.
Heloh, there ! Stop that, you fools-yo
% hnrtp shouted the officer.
Hah, you rascalr the infuriate woma
), Arieked. 1H teach you to roba poor lor
+ widow of her lorful property, and she apple
! per weapon to the cnlprit with redeubled el
Z ergy,
= Murder yelled tie ensign.
What's it, whispered a captain who owe
4 DE. a grudge Of long standing. sGiveit
the fellow he added, patting her eneoura
4 ingly on the shoulder.
d sWack-wackr wenttIe broomstiek.
OASn-AbuIuCI u1htACAlIIA . GIN
the depredator.
Strike lower, my good woman said Il
y yindicative captain, with as much GOODNESS
ifhe were experimenting a military flo
{ cling.
The injunction was implicitly followed D
: Toared with pain and made superhuman {
q forts to e~xtricate himself. His. comrades, /
but the memorable captain, were rolling up,
the grass convulsed with laughter.
If IN give you a guinea if you'nstop,' cri'
10 the Ensign.
2 I'm give you two-go it, whispered Il
~ captain, urging her on.
at She resumed the eastigation with a bic
y than sent the broomstiek flying into piect
J DE crew desperate, and with the yell Of
n. Mohawk he escaped goose in each bar
ey He Tasted alone upon the booty tt
d. night. but the others were too delighted
complain efa slim mess in consequence.
sR4