Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-10-30
EARLY DAYSIN ILLIN0Isi
Or, the way Col. b. Levied on ON
lst the Calf ~

the Calf.
We have read many "good ones
Of the early settlers Of the West, but but. (.
the following webelieve, Is q little g
head Of anything we have seen as yet. ;
AS it was related to US BY Col. B ~, Z
himself; there is no doubt ofits truth.
The Colonel said he came g this
State from Onondago county, N. ".
in 1899, when he was about nineteen,
and though rather verdant, in his own
estimation, he was considered "some
pumpkins. by the good people OF
p, where he first went to reside.
The second year Of bis residence at
P, then small Town. he was
elected to the office Of Constable, and
one Of his first duties of official caPa-
city was to levy, by virtue Of an exc
cution, on the goods and chattels OF 2
country neighbor.
. It was a new business to B. He
had never before seen a writ Of exc
cution, and his ideas Of the process OF
leyying upon anything were quite @
riginal. It was a warm morning in
May, when the writ was put into his
hands, with request that it should
be Immediately attended to. 3. foot
ed it something over q mile, to the
residence Of the delinquent, and COM
menced operations. The beginning
was easy enough. He levied upon
the wagon, the sled, the harness, and
even the horses in the barn, without
any difficulty. They. all remained
stationary, and even the old brindle
COW in the spacious barn yard walked
a few steps, and then allowed him to
place his hand upon her; but the old
brindle had a sprightly calf, Of about
three months, which seemed to have
no idea Of making familiar upon so
short an acquaintance.
B. looked dospondingly at the calf
aslit bounded, tail in air, to the farther
side Of fthe yard. His very blandest
!. bossy, bossy, bossy,!". as he extern
ded his right hand enticingly, was re-
garded with suspicion by the mische-
yous bovine. e.FB. re.read the writ
he could put but one construction on
itsimeaning. 1t was q command to
levy upon ALE the goods, chattles, &c,
and it must be obeyed. Besides he
would not rick the chances Of being
laughed at by other tofficcrs, and
mayhap losing custom, for being una
BILE to levy on a calf; to give itup was
not to be thought of a
For some time the Colonel tried
with the utmost suariter in modo, to
induce young brindle to stand STILL,
"just long enough Ito use his own
words) for me to lay this paper on
your back, and / won't hurt you, you 2
young scamp" Twas no go; 'bossy'
was not to be fooled by the intruder's
aoueeur. B. concluded to:give chase.
For nearly half an hour he worried
himself in vain attempts to lay hold
Of "bossey's" hindmost extremity
The sweat oozed from every pore.-s
He threw off his coat and tucked his.
pants into the tops Of his boots, and
with the writ in his hand, renewed his
chase in the most determined manner.
Away went the calf and away follow
ed the Colonel-now taking the most
direct route round the straw stack, B
now performing astonishing feats Of
agility across the four foot ditch that /,
Trained the yard; over tho old sled
Or "gudeman's milk stool !" one mo-. /
nent almost within reach Of, his VIC
i'm; the next, nearly the distance Of
! yard apart. It was alucky moment
or B. when young brindle halted ,op.
,osite the stack, while he recovered
lis understanding from a miscalcula-
ed leap that ended in the ditch. He.
walked slowly away, taking circuit
hat brought him and the unwilling
'ictim al. opposite sides Of the stack;
cautiously he crept towards the ami
r,and succeeded in just touch
ng his family pride, (the render. will
excuse u.s. when away he bounded
md away again followed the Colonel,
with the energy Of despair. He at
ength sat down on the sled to rest, I,
Ind master brindle came to a stand at
he corner Of the barn, with his haunch.s
IS slightly protruding. Again B. crept
along by the barn, holding
MS breath lest the unwary calf should
AXE the hint; when within a proper
distance, he nude successful spring.
and caught its unprotected extremity.
said the Colonel, "the wayt6e
young scamp Travelled about the yard
with me at the end Of his tail, was a
warning to green constitutes" Round
and round the yard they went, B.
parting company with his hat ana tile
.public documents therein. Hitch
ing his left hand gradually along The
grasped extremity Of tie terrified
brute, which ran as calf never raj,
before, b. finally collected all Ills Ell!
ergies, and making u desperate bound.
brought his right hand, containing tl,e
writ, slap down upontl,ey
creature's r,lfnp. will, tha tr;,,,.