Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-02-25
From the New York Dutchman.
COLONEL CRICKLEY'S HORSE.
ny PAUL CREYToN

origin of the quarrel between the Crick'
ley's and the brakes. They had lived
within mile of each other in Illinois,
for five years, and from the first Of their
acquaintance, there had been a mutual
feeling of dislike between the two fami-
lies. Then some misunderstanding about
the boundary Of their respective farms,
revealed the latent flame and Col. Crick-
Ter having followed fat buck all one az
ternoon and wounded him, came up to
him at dark and found old Drake and his
sons cutting him up This incident adj
ded fuel to the flame, aud from that time
there was nothing the two families did not
do to annoy each other. They shot each
others ducks in the river, purposely mis-
taking them for wild ones, and then, by
way of retaliation, commenced killing Oft
each others pigs and calves.
One evening, Mr., Drake ihe older was
returning home. with his pocket full of
rocks from Chicago, whittier he had
been to dispose of a load of grain. Sam
BArStonO was with him on the wagon, and
as they approached the grove which in
tcrvened between them and Mr. Drake g
house. he observed to his companion
What beautiful mark Col, Crickley's
old Roam is over yOnder!
Hang it muttered old Drake 80 it
is"
The horse WAS standing under some
trees, about twelve rods from the road.
Involuntarily Drake stopped his team.
He glanced furtivcly around, then with a
queer smile the old hunter took up his ri
he from the bottom Of tho wagon, and
raising it to his shoulder, drew sight on
thc Colonel'S horse.
Beautiful = muttcrcl Drake, lowering
his rifle with the air of man resisting =
powerful temptation. { l could drop old
Roam SO easy
Shoot, suggested Sam Barstonc. who
loved fun in any shape.
No, no, 'twouldn't do, said the old
hunter glancing cautiously around him
again.
L won't tell said Sam,
wal, won't shoot this time, any way,
tell or no tell The horse is too nigh. II
he WAS fifty rods off instead of twelve, so
there'd be bare possibility of miataking
him for deer, I'd let fly. AS it is, I'd
give the Colonial five dollars for shot,
At that moment. the Col, himself step
ped from be hind big oak, not half =
dozen PAGES distant, and stood before Mr..
Drake!
We'll, why don't you shoot? ?
The old man stammercd in some contu-
sion-'That you, Colonel? II 'rcS
tempted to, declared And as l said,
III give aV for one pull
Say an X and it's bargain
Drake felt for his rife, and looked at
old Roam.
How much is the hoSs wuth . he NUT
tered in Sans ear.
Bout fifty
Cad, Colonel III do it! Here's your
XP
The Colonel pocketed the money NUT
tering-
Hanged if I thought you'd take me
upr
With high glee, the old hunter put q
fresh cap on his rife, stood up in'his wa
gon, and drew close sight on old Roam
Sam Barstone chuckled, The Colonel
49,, ,,' his hand before his face and chucklcd
too.
Crack went the ridc. The hunter tore
out horrid oath, which will not re-
peat. Sam was astonished Tho Colo
mel laughed. Old Roam never stirred
DEdAe StaTeu AZ MS IlIlc WIN = law as
black as Othello's.
What's the matter with you, hey 2
'Fus time ever you sarved rue quite such
trick, swan!
And Draks loaded the piece with grea
wrath and indignation.
People said you'd lost your mack o
Shootin,' observed the Col, in a cutting
tone ofsatire.
Who said so? It's lie y thunderet
Drake. Il can shoot
~ horse at ten rods ha ha ha!'
Drake WAS lvid
Look here, Col, I can't stand that
he began,
Never mind, the horse can sneezed
the Col I'll risk you.
Grinding his teeth, Drake produce,
another ten-dollar bill,
Here he growled, I'm bound to hav
another shot. any way.
Crack away, cried the Col, pocketin
the note,
Drake did crack away-with q deadl
aim, too-but the horse did not mind tn
bullet in the least To the rage and ur
utterAblo astonishment Of the hunter, ol
Roam looked him right in the face, as
e"Iather liked the fun.
. . Se'sake, cried Sam. you're drunk /
5oAatt dozen rods-oh, my eye
s.x@1a. "nt your mouth, or Il