Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-01-31
How the Tailor got ont Of the Grape
Wines.

A&&@S4
What a rare collection of story and adven-
ture-rife with historical interest-could the
country editor enrich his columns, if he had
the opportunity, occasionally, to listen to the
conversation upon olden times, between the
reverend fathers of our Parish still living, and
strong and hearty as the green live-oaks under
which they played in their infancy-hale speci-
mems Of a former age.
A few weeks since we were in the company
Of several gentlemen, enjoying to the utmost
a rich train of amusing incidents which were
related BY one Of the oldest and staunchest of
our citizens-a man whose energy and spirit
were evidenced in his eyes-which were inim-
itably Iudicrous as told by him, but must look
pale and sickly in print. However, while wait
ing for the mail, we would fain try to tell Hoae
the Tailor got out Of the Grape Vines.
1t was many years since-there was but one
house where now stands Plaquemine--and
cane, and tall trees, and wild underground were
then where are now fine streets, brick stores
and luxurious dwelling houses. In those ear
ly days of our Parish, that necessary appen-
dage to a neighborhood, the tailor, was as
useful and deemed as requisite then as now
and in the case we speak of, as in every other
instance, we presume, he was a lille ~tailor.--
Well, this little gen~tIeman--rather a diminu-
tive specimen of the O'Roukes'--was very
anxious for a bear hunt, but merely as a spec
tator this would be something new in his ira
vels. The b'hoys (for truly there were speci-
mems of this genus in those days as well as
at presently being informed of his wish, raped
at O'Rouke's shanty early one frosty morning,
and scarcely waiting for him to adjust his toll
ct, hurried him off in his tight pants and slip
pers into the thickest and widest portion of
the woods. Bears were plenty in those days;
and the two Youthful hunters, with their spec
tator, had to await in ambush but a very short
time, before the play opened. Each had select
ed his spot for seclusion; but unfortunately
for O'Reuke, while placing himself, for safety,
alongside or in the rear of him whom he
thought the best shot. he most unluckiIy got
near a dense thicket Of grape and other vines,
encircling the underground of black;jacks and
blackberry bushes, on the bank of a drain.
In a short time, a monster animal, a most
venerable looking bear, stole slyly along, snuff
ing the air as if he thought his breakfast was
near him.
"Ill jist ratrate to a more eonvanient dis
lance" said our hero softly and seriously, as
bruin approached directly towards the spot
where he was standing.
"Don't you move, Rouky, for your life" re-
piled the elder hunter. But scarcely were the
words out of his mouth, before the younger
blazed away at the tempting bait, too quickly
and incautiously. merely wounding the bear,
causing him to roar, froth at the mouth, and
to cut the most savage antics. This looked
rather beligerent, and the hunters decanped
in a hurry, Ga second shot having made the
matter worse,0 to load and renew the contest
but missing "Rouky," they turned upon their
heels, when his well-known but despairing
voice saluted their ears.
sHoly Saint Patrick am / to be aten alivew
cried the unfortunate Mr.. O'Rouke, while loud
er bruin growled.
"Load quick, Piarre, the bear has him r' said
the youngest.
The piece was loaded and the hunters re-
paired to the scene where man and beast were
struggling for life and freedom. But what a
ORouke was in! At the moment of
stampede, he had unguardedly sprang d.
'ectly into the midst of the briars and grape :
and got himself completely entangled
md confused; when his rescuer came up, he
vas pale and bloody, his breeches gone, and
till struggling f~uriously to escape from the
G
eff yes was but an animal of sinse, and
you'd listen to rasen r. wildly and deliriously !
ried Rouky, the bear now sitting upright with {
n a few feet of him, g%rinning most maliciously. Y
But at this instant, the clear crack of a rifle
vas heard-and the ball entering the head of
he bear, he sprang forward with a yell and
artly fell upon Rouky, who, frightened al .
1ost into fits, found a hole near the earth, c
trough which he crept, and blinded by blood \
nd fright, he went koo-shug, head foremost v
ITO the cooley! Crawling out on the oppo- "
tie bank, muddy, bloody, without hat, breecb- Z
) or slippers, Roukey took one last look to n
If the bear was after him-then wheeling e
ITO a cow-path, be made straight linen in the n
irection of the Mississippi, followed by the
sonizing laughter of the youthful hunters: t,
this was, "hou the tailor got out Of the grape 6
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