The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-09-26
NUMBER 141.

in a situation to undertake his usual .jaunt to
Saratoga or Newport and bethought himself
of an invitation which he formerly received
from his uncle, Van BrommeI, the hearty old
farmer, to pay him visit at Pumpkindaie.-
To Pumpkindale Mr.. Spriggins accordinglyre-
lpaired, with the express resolution of astonish-
ing the natives This with the aid OF his vel
low kids, embroided waistcoats, brilliant neck
] ties patent leather, French phrases, and FASH
ionable airs, he certainly succeeded in doing.
He even made some impression by The attrac-
tions on the feelings of Miss Rosetta Rapple-
way, young lady visitor, who had previous
ly been on amiable terms with Cert Van Brom-
mel the farmers Oldest son. Cert sulked and
swore in private, but fear of his father kept
him from publicly showing his resentment
One day, however, an idea occurred to him,
which he turned to account for getting rid Of
his rival. Cert invited his cousin to go out
with him pigeon shooting, and Adolphus,
though his taste did not lie much in that way,
consented to go, as means of killing time
They setout accordingly with arms, ammuni-
ton and provision for the day which last were
carried by Cert in small tin pail About
two miles from the house, they came to pas
ture field, bordered by extensive woods. 4
score Of cows-Yar Brommel was noted cat
tie breeder--were feeding at one side of the
pasture.
"See Dolph," said Cert "the pigeons are in
the woods yonder. Now if you will Just
stand awhile on that fiat corner of the field so
that | shall know where you are, will go
into the woods and drive the pigeons over to
you, and you can pop them as they come out.
You keep the pail, too, and we'll have dinner
there by and by"
Spriggins agreed to these terms, which ex.
actly suited his easy notions of sport and
Cert plunged into the woods he stated forthe
fiat rock which had been pointed out to him.
No sooner had he placed himself upon it than,
to his amazement, all the COWS in the pasture
rushed frantically toward him. lowing loudly,
kicking up their heels, pushing one another
and behaving as though they had been sudden
lly smiten with insanity. Adolphus stood par
alysed, expecting to be gorsd to death or tram
pied under foot. Butinstead Of that the COWS
merely formed q circle round him, stamping
believing shaking their horns, and glaring at
him with their great eyes in an unaccountable
manner. He shouted in terror to Cert, but
received no answer. He dared not leave the
rock, or even fire his gun to attract his ceus-
ins attention for at the slightest movement
that he made, there was general stir among
the cows shaking of the formidable array
of horns and an impatient stamp and murmur,
Jas if preparatory to a rush. Spriggins was ut
terly bewildered. To do him justice, he would
very likely have faced loaded pistol at ten
PAGES without finching. But this novel dam
ger was Of such strange and frightful char
Iacter that he was totally unnerved. He stood
Imotionless, waiting for his cousin or somebody
else to rescue him, and the cows, with equal
patience kept up the siege till their wretched
prisoner was ready to drop with terror and ex-
haustion. At last late in the afternoon the
Ibt1rly form of OLD Van Brommel presented it.
self to the delightful eyes of Adolphus. His
uncle came slowly through the field with a
tin pail on his arm, and no SOONER did the
Icows get glimpse of him then they deserted
and tore furiously towards his uncle, who shoul-
Idered his way through them with the utmost
lunconcern.
Goodness gwacious, uncle" grasped poor
tSpriggins, whats the meaning of this extwa-
ordinary conduct of these dwedful animals?'
And he related with considerable agitation
the history of his captivity among them, his
uncle roared and shook his sides with laugh
ter
''Haw! hawl haw do tell nowl You've been
standing on that ere stone all day, frightened
by the keows. Hol hol no! Bless your soul,
Dolph, the keows are fgood critters, They
wouldn't hurt baby. Thought you were
coming to salt 'em Haw! hawl hawl Wal, now
ifthat amt the best joke Tve heered on" And
again the stout old farmer laughed TIL the tears
poured down his cheeks.
'Salt themp' exclaimed the mortified Sprig-
gins. "You don't mean to say you salt your
beasts alive!"
eyes I do, Dolph,' replied his uncle. Look
here, and you'll see."
So saying. he dumped the salt out of his
pail in small parcels over the rock There
was general stamp and below, and a stimuli
taneous rush towards the savory condiment,
which twenty tongues were soon busily en-
gagged in licking.
"There, Dolph, you known how keows are
sa1ted alive now!" said old Van Brommel.
''You'd never ha' learned that in Wall street
Hol no! ho!''
Spriggins returned to the house much crest
fallen. The story of his adventure was soon
about, and there was great joking and snig-
gerng at the supper table, the fair Rosalia
herself not being able to refrain from joining
in the fun The next morning Spriggins dis
covered that he had urgent business in. the
city, and he was never since been seen in
Pumpkindale, though his consin Cert cordially
invited him to his wedding that fall. Sprigg-
ins now is won't to speak Of country life as
"extwemely vulgaw," and on one occasion
(when the sport of pigeon shooting had been
casually alluded to) he went so far as to pro
nounce it san atwocious humbug.
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