Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-01
ICHABOD IN HE'S;
The Pleasures of Bathing.
BY PAUL CREYToN.

L.
Tchabod Inches was extravagantly fond of a
bathing. Nearly every day, in the summer Il
time, be used to go down to the pond, back i
of Deacon Johnsons barn, deposi; his clothes
in the bushes, and plunge like a duck into +
the water. !
| The pond was fine bath-so clear and =
brilliant, when the sun shone, that every c
pebble that glttered on the hard bottom, t
was distinctly visible; and when Ichabod
dove down in the deepest places you could
see him kicking and sprawling among the
frightened fishes, like great white frog, or
a regular norman.
Ichabod chose the shadowy part of the
pond, behind Deacon Johnson's barn, from
considerations which every modest person
will commend. The deacon had some very
gay and enterprising girls, who delighted in
rambling about the farm, sometimes extend
ing their excursions to the pond, and, there
being no such thing as hiding it the trans
parent water, lchabod found the barn con-
venient retreat, on occasions of surprise. He
could always hear the girls coming in season
to catch up his clothes, retreat to the barn,
and dress himself, without giving them a sus-
picion Of his presence.
One day, however, Ichabod was sadly dis
com6tted. This is the way Of it.
1t was in the afternoon There was
soft, warm air, and a cloudless sky. Ichabod
had enjoyed delightful bath, and, in the
shadow of the bushes where bis clothes were
concealed, he was or the pssat of slippiegt
his under garment over his head, when he
was startled by most terrific growl.
Ichabod was nervous. At bound he
plunged into a blackberry bush, and looked
around for the bear, panther or whatever
the animal might be- that growled so horri-
bly,. Wet as Ichabod's hair was it stood
up all over his head. He was paralyzed
with fear.
Another growl, however, started Ichabod
ont of the briars He had never heard any
thing so horrifving before. H. caught a
glimpse Of a huge. bristIng monster, with
glaring eyes, on the other side Of the bushes,
and-fed.
Unfortunately, Ichabod was not only out
of his senses, but out Of his clothes. He left
his shirt hanging on the briars. He rushed
into the barn, He shut the door after him
with great trepidation, and cIung to beam
to keep from falling. He trembled as he
had never trembled before, and his leg
seemed crumbIing awav beneath him.
Finding himself safely in the barn. howev
, err, with the monster on the outside Ichabot
presently began to recover from his fright
Still hearing Il series of unearthIy growls, ht
ventured to look through a crack in the door
: to get a sight at the monster.
1t was not bear. It was not panther
" It was only dog-Deacon Johnson's doc
, the most peaceabe of all dogs. Beside,
= = Ichabod and Towser had always been friend
L But Ichabod had never before seen him bri'
: tie up so, or heard him utter such grows.-
He was as large as two dogs.
: He is mad,' thought Ichabod.
} Then Ichabod began to think ofhis clothe
! He dared not 60 for them, never feAectin
that Towser's unaccountable insanity was a
y owing to sheer fright. Nothing, indeed, te
e rifles a dog so much as the sight of huma
/ being in state of nudity. Ichabod cou
l. not have got within a rod Of Towser had |
> tried. Towser's growl was grow oft
- and he followed his old friend through Il
u strange fascination of fear. And now he b
Is Is gan to yelp and to bark before the barn do
ls in most wild and alarming manner,
40 poor Ich
r After suffering much agony, in his retre
u lchabod, anxious to recover his clothes,
III u solved to presume upon his former intima
eu with Towser, to coax him out of his insani
az Accordingly, after considerable prelimina
.% om whistIing and hattery, through acrack, Tel
I'n bod cautiously opened the door,
- Towser, recog ognizing the voice, had fo
,no o moment appeared easier but the instant
:et saw the terrible sight of a naked man,
Us -; bristles went up again, and he yelled no
~ IA bly,. lchabod shut the door, as if he b
,!u ,o been met by a troop Of wolves!
IN Our hero's situation was, you NAV $
VI without Notwithstanding but pl
Tue SAINT. In vain did he beg and entreat I,
tue ser to know him, and come out of his M
der ness.
un- Poor Towser! good Towser-Tow. I
come Tow he cried-and Towser ansv
life, ed with yels.
'tor- Ichabod groaned, and cursed and sh
that red. and cursed in--when--shade
eer Diana Ia chorus of female voices hnrs
cca- Ichabods ear.
the %, Lor! 0, Lor! its Johnson's gi
hce, groaned Ichabod looking through the CT
e. That internal dog-they'll think there
ash thief in the barn! Ho! Don't come =
ar OF shouted, as three robust girls approac
'igor the door-don't come for heavens sab
4 his lie flew about the barn like achcken