The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-12-22
I AN AMUSING STORY.

AN NAMUsING STORY. aEf
Hooper, the editor Of an Alabama jour
nal, tells this capital yarn:
Shall | tell you an amusing story, hav-
ing no connection with politics. By per-
mission.
| Old Col. D., Of the Mobile dis.
trict, was one Of the most singular char.
acters ever known in Alabama; he was
testy and eccentric, but possessed many
fine qualities, which were fully appreciated
by tho people Of tho district. Many Of
his freaks are fresh in the memory Of the
old 'uns Of Mobile--and all of them will
tell you that the Colonel, though hard to
beat, was once terribly taken in by cou-
pie Of tyros. 1t is George Woodward, I
believe tells the story; but, however this
may be, it is in keeping with the others
related Of tho old gentleman.
II seems that Col. D. had a mis-
understanding with the two 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
well aware Of the Coils irrascible nature,
determined, as they loft one Of the courts
for another, to have some sport At his ex-
pense by the way. They accordingly got
about half an hours start in the leaving,
and presently they arrived at broad.
dark stream, that looked as if it might be
a dozen feet deep, but which in reality
was hardly more than as many inches.
Crossing it they alighted, pulled off their
coats and boots, and sat down quietly to
watch for the old "Tartar,"
| Jogging along, at length came the old
fellow. He looked first at the youngsters,
who were gravely drawing on their boots
and coats, as if they had just had swim
and-then he looked at the broad creek
that rolled before him like fluent, trans
lucent star. The Colonel was awfully
| puzzled. rp
| "Is this creek swimming?" he growled
after some moments.
No reply was n,ade-the young men
simply mounted their horses and rode of
some little distance and thsn stopped tc
watch our hero. a
The Colonel slowly divested himself o
boots, coat, pantaloons and drawers
These he neatly tied up in his handker
! chief and remounted, and as he was fat
short man--with paunch Of inordin ate
|. size, rather inadequate legs, a face like {
!. withered apple, and brown wig, there il
no doubt he made an interesting pictur,
as he bestrode his steed, with the breeze
holding gentle dalliance with the extremi.
ties Of his only garment.
| Slowly and cautiously did the old gen
tleman and his horse take the creek. Hal
a length and the water was not fetlocA
deep. Here the horse stopped to drink
A length and the creek was still no deep
or! Thirty feet farther and a decided
shoaling!
Here Col. D. reined up. "Thert
must" he said, "be cursed swift, deeE
channel between this and the bank. Sc,
hsw the water runs! We will dasl
through"
A sharp lash made the horse spring th'
watery waste, and another carried tn
horse and rider safely to the opposit,
I bank. The creek was nowhere more thai
' a foot deep.
IL A wild yell from the young 'uns an
nounced their appreciation of the sport q
they galloped away.
"Ill catch you, you Internal rascals!
q was ground between Colonel D.
Q teeth; and he galloped in hot pursuit, NUT
!, tering vengeance on his foes.
On--on-they sped, pursuer and pur
sued. The youngsters laughed, and yell
J, ed, and screamed--the Colonel damne,
5 with mighty emphasis, while his shirt flu,
a tered and cracked in the wind like loos
4 flying jib.
On-on--and the pursued reached
. farm. house on the roadside. Their pas,
ing startled flock of geese from fenc
t. corner, which, as the Colonel dashed uE
V met him with outspread wings, slongate
necks, and Kisses dire. His horse swervs
: suddenly, and the Colonel in momer
o was upon the ground, in most romanti
70 heap, with his gown and his wig by hi
d side, and his bundle of clothes scattere
around. as 57s
II The white-headsd children Of the hous
!. came out first, took distant view Of III
D. monster; a. it seemed to thsm--and the
l. returned to report progress. After linl
q the father Of the family came, and the a
!. fair being explained, he assisted the Coli
" mel in making his toilet; the Colonel swea
n ing, and the oountryman Laughing all Ii
n while. So @ s st
r. Dressed and mounted, our hero starts
r. off with woeiul phiz, and was soon o,
j Of sight. a
"a or Wherever we roam, in whatey'
climate or land we are cast, by the acc
ldAnts of human 1ifn. bAvoDd the mouI