The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-11-12


ing dove, these pigeons" ,oy
"Ha! very good.-as Ollapod says, l
owe you one.''
II wonder what in the devil they come
to the roost ior. anyway! they keep such
al eternal clater and luttering about all /,
night that it is impossible Tor them to sleep,
aud have often noticed that they sleep in
the daytime--they don't come here for that
purpose certain. 1t seems to me that il
must be TO hold sort Of literary conver-
saZione."
"Literary, should say"
at sounds more Ike the sounds that
greet your ear when you enter Mrs. Ray
mond's parors OH the night Of one Of her
grand assemblies, than anything else; but
stay, here seems to be road, at least it
| feels like one under ones feet"
Lets take it,-which way!"
''Stop, have an ideal" said |. A
! The deuce!" =.
"Yes. let's feel for The norA side Of a
tree" f...r
| DO what! r..ef
The north side of tree, you know, is
the toughest" a.,.. L. ,.,,to,.
"A bright ideal" ~. ..- .....5, f''s
But our idea was better in theory than
practice: we examined dozen trees; I've
done it in day time-but by feeling we
could not discern north from south-devil
bit-so we took one way at hap-hazard.
On We went, d mile or more, Aukley hav-
ing the lead, .,...
"Auhley," said |. .'lhe roar Of the pig.
cons is receding from us; we have got out
OF the roost, and have gone wrong; we
had better re-trace our steps"
II don n't-oohr" and his answer was
broken off by IA loud splash. y'.e,r.
''What is the mattrr" -,..,
"Oh! am-ti,e Lord knows where.
drowned in quagmire-oh! help.-every
step sinks me deeper!" IN
Goodness, man. come back this way
said !. not daring 10 bud sc an inch for fear I.
OF getting into it myself o.4,a ,~,
Just al that moment. as if by magic, the
moon burst out in a little blue spot from
the misty canopy OF clouds which en-.
shrouded her-the first time she had made ..
her appearance the night long. and re-
vealed to US small rocky heath covered
with haws. crap-apples, briers and sedge.
with swampy stream running through the
midst OF it. | beheld my friend Auklsy
standing in it up 10 his middle, and my
self Oh the very brink. -:
Wsd now found his way out without =,
any difficulty. and no damage but the nc.
cession of wet and muddy pair Of mex,
pressibles. happened TO know the spot ,
we had aighted upon, and had the salts
faction to find that we had walked cou.
pie Of miles the wrong way. when hum
dred yards in the other direction would
have carried us right into our camp.
There was nothing to do, however, but
Tor us TO re-tLace our steps, which We did;
but had hardly drawn near TO the roar Of
the roost, when the moon LETT US to shit for
ourselves again. Grateful for what she
had done, we groped in silence Tor some
distance.
"Aukley," said [. after long and tedi-
ous travel in the dark, I'VE surely have
gone more than two miles!"
''Nigher five. by my reckoning" he re-
'ponde /, in despondent voice.
''Ah! | see bright spot in the heavens
Is so, the moon is coming out again"
And as he spoke. the silver-glimmering
orb burst forth in her bright efugenoe,
and scudded merrily through the wicker
ng twlgs Of the high trees. -
The dark masses Of pigeons were piled
up in the trees around ill scarce a bough
Vas visible, and some trees bent to the
'ery ground with their encumbrance; the
housands that whirred and fluttered
Trough the air in every direction, were
low distinctly visible, and presented sim
,uar and wild scene.
angels and ministers o. grace defend
Isl" cried Aukley in my ear, yonder's
'eritable ghost, Ernie, sure as shootin."
"Where!"
Look. under yonder tree-that thing!
Did you ever see SUCH an object since tho
lay you was born!"
BLESS me! what can it be!"
1t was white roundsh object, OF no
shape. and very irightfulto be.
'old. Wad and ! cautiously drew towards
t, and we found it TO possess some faint
esemblance TO human being, apparently
.seep or dead. '5ef
by all that's funny, it's the Colonel. as
live" cried Aukiey. going up and giving
punch in the ribs with his gun.but,
nat brought him TO his feet instanter.i in1id
"ileh-yo! good Mr.. Devil don't sick
our piiohork into me so strong. Lord! r
bought was dead! Who. here?- thieves!
elp! murder! Out, ye cut-purses, or III
how you what virtue there is in musket
ALL" And the Colonel raised his gun to
is shoulder. knocked il up. why.
;oonel Overton, is thai the way YOU treat
riends?" wv
Friends! What! boys, is il you2 Dear
ne, am exceedingly as,onished! Deyil-
'h glad 10 sea you BY oil The kettles in
.ucIer's kitchen, thought was d goauss a