The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-07-21
Mike Finck and the Bull.

The story of Mike Finck and the bull
would make a cynic laugh. Nike took a no.
ton to go in swimming, and had just got his
clothes Oft, when he saw Deacon Smiths
bull making at him-the bull was vicious
animal, and had come near killing two or
three pcrsons-co Mike felt rath.
er "Jubus." He didn't want to call for help
for he was naked, and the nearest place
from whence assistance could arrive was the
meeting house, which was at the time filled
with worshippers, among whom was the
gal Mike was paying his devours to-" So
he lodged the bull as the animal came at
him, and managed to catch him by the tail
He was dragged round till near y dead, and
when lie thought he could hold no longer he
made up his mind he had better "hocr.n-
And now VIC will let him tell his own story
80, looking at the matter in all its bear
ings, | cum to the conclusion that Id bet.
ter let someone know whsr | was. So
gin a yell louder than a locomotive whistle
and it warn't long before seed the Dea.
cons two dogs comm down like as if they
war scein' which could get thar fust. l
knowed who they were arter--they'd jne
the bull agin me, was sartin, for they were
orfui wenomous, anH had a spite agin Inc
30 says |, old brindle, as ridn' is as cheap as
walkin' on this route, if you've no oLec.
tons, III Just take deck passage Oh that
ar back o yourn. So | wasn't very long
gettin' astridc Of him; then, if you'd bin
thar, you'd have sworn thar warn't no,hin'
human in that ar mix, the sile few so or.
fully rs the critter and ! rolled round the
held--onc dog on one side, and one on the
olher-tryin' to clnch my feet. | prayed
aud cussed, and cussed aud prayed, until |
couldn't tell which did at last-and nei.
ther warn't OF no use, they were SO oriully
miyed up.
We'll, reckon | rid about half an hour
this way, when old brindle thought It were
time to stop TO take in a supply Of winu,
and cool off little. So when sc got round
he naturally halted. So scz I, old boy,
you'll lose one passenger sartin. So jst
cl lrn up branch, kalkelatin' 10 ioost thar
I'LL ! starved, afore I'd DC rid round that ar
way any longer war maxim tracks for
the top o the tree, when heard suthn'
maxim an orful buzzin' overhead. kinder
looked up, and if thar warn't--wcl thar's
no USE a swearin, but it was the biggest
hornets nest ever blt. YOu'll "cin in"
now, reckon, Mike, cause there's no help
for you. But an idea struck Inc then, that
stand heap better chance rdin' the bull
than whar was. Srz !, old fcller, if you'll
hold on, I'll ride to the next station ANYHOW,
let that be whar it will. So | list dropped
aboard him agin, and looked alOit TO see
what had gained by changn' quarters, and
gentlemen, I'm liar if thar warn't nigh
hall bushel Of the sngin' yarmints ready
TO pitch into Inc when the word "go" was
gin. We'll, | reckon they got il, for "all
hands started for our company. SO nc OH
EN- hit the dogs-about quart s,rucl. me,
and the rest charged On briudlc
This time the dogs led of fus', dead bent
for the old deacon's and as soon as old brin.
die and could get under way we followed,
and as was only u deck passenger, and
had nothin' to do with steering the craft,
swore, if had, we shouldn't have run that
channel, any how. But, as said before,
the dogs took the load--brindle and next,
aud the hornets droI.ly artcr. The dogs
EsIlia~.rlsdis sss!!1 .as no .srns.s I
about two hundred yards from the house.
and the deacon heard us and cum out |
seed him hold up his hand and tnrn white.
! reckoned he was prayin' then, 70, he
didn't expect TO be called for so soon aud it
warnt long neither, aforr the whole congre.
gaticn-men, women and chidren-cum
out. and then all hands went to yclln.'-
None OF EN- had the !ust notion that brindIc
and | belonged to this world. list turned
my head, and passed the hull congregation.
see the run would be no soon, for brindlc
couldn't turn an inch from fence tina,
stood dead ahead. Well, we reached tha,
fence, and | went ashore, over the old crit.
tcrs's head, landin' on 'tother side, and lay
thar stunned.
1t warn't long afore some Of EN- as war
not scared, came runnin' to see what war
For all hands kalkelated that the bull and
belonged together. But when brndle walk
ed off by himself, they seed how it war, and
one OF 'em said, Mike Finck has got the
wust ofa scrimmagc once in his life ~
Gentleman, from that day dropped the
courtin' Dizziness, and never spoke to ga
since, and when my hunt is up on this ear, :,
there won't be any more Fincks, and its all
OWN to Deacon Smiths Briadle Bull.