Washington sentinel., 1854-03-26

stood close to resolution. As the old huntei
said to Gen. jackson, when it was objected tC
the hero that he had ordered feio Indian
women and children to be shot one morning,
Uncle John was "a pu,,cta man." As to
cudgeling William, that was out of the ques-
ton; for William contumaciously refused to
come within cudgelling distance, but bore off,
keeping vague watch on Uncle Johns move
ments, but as if he we're going about his busi-
ness, and preferred staying where he was, and
was not at all alarmed or afraid of Uncle
John-as many other would-be great fighters
before and since have done.
After divers abortive efforts to bring Billy
within striking distance, sbrilliant idea illumi-
mated Johns understanding. He had in the
shop kettle, or pot, left there to be repaired
it just about fit his head by moving the hair
from his temples: Uncle John thought If he
could beguile Billy to make another butt at
him, he would, by suddenly ducking his head
bring Billys head in contact with the iron legs
of the pot and damage his countenance con-
siderably; so covering up his face except the
eyes, and pulling off his red flannel shirt and
hanging it before him, he got on all fours and
approached his enemy. Everything succeeded
admirable. Billy came up and reconnoitred /;
Uncle John shook the red at him in the most
provoking style; he tainted and tantalized him
until no goat of spirit on earth could have
stood it. Billy, like other bullies, though as
brave as common, was no braver. He was o
little dubious. He wanted to see whether his
challenger was anxious to fight, before he con-
cluded whether he wanted himself to fight;
for there's great deal of human nature in
a goat Uncle John pretended to retreat,
and began backing. Billy straightway found
himself very pugnacious. He advanced,
reared up, bleated, backed, and nodded and
writhed his neck and put on terrible swash-
buckler airs, as if he were going to tear
things and do wonders. Uncle John still
made pretence of backing out, and Billy, nerv-
ing himself for q vigorous onset, came charg-
ing. Just in time Uncle John threw down his
head and let Billy drive at the spikes plona5.
1t was a dead level.shot. Billy bounded back,
bleated, shook his head, dropped his tail and
galloped of. But what became Of Uncle John ?
Unfortunately the shock knocked the pot down
over his ears, the rim breaking his nose as it
came down, and sent him reeling back on the
ground He tried to get up, and partially sue.
ceeded; but how to get the pot off? It wouldn't
come back any more, it was q tight fit and a
fixture. He was nearly smothered. No one
was near He couldn't see how to get away,
and he couldn't halloo He laid there for sew
eral hours nearly dead. At length a negro
came along and gave the alarm. Some of the
neighbors got together; but they could not get
the pot of, they stretched Uncle Johns neck
until he used to say it was as long as an Indian
hens, but it would not do. No further time
could be lost. So they raised him up, put his
head on the anvil, and, with the hammer,
broke the pot; but the blow knocked Uncle
John into the middle of the next week; q,
least it was then before he found himself in his
senses. When he came to, he made signs fol
them to take the bandages off his face; they
had splintered his nose, the backbone of it and
some of the ribs having been broken; as soor
as this was done, he commenced shaking al
over and laughing all over. When he had got
to the first stopping.place, thev asked him wha
was the matter-what was he laughing at
Said he: "He Hawl He! Iam-he he
I'm laughing--haw haw! he at the way
he ! haw he the way / FOOLED that goat
He he! haw, Gle hap! La,cs-amdrcy"