The Shasta courier., 1855-10-06
a ,C..n.uuns In a F~ney Country.

4 ,Csen-lxu fn n Femcy Country.
1t is really astonishing what monstrous sight
of mischief there is in pint Of rum. If one oi
these was to be submitted 10 analyzation. as the
doctors call it, it would be found TO contain all
manner of devilment that ever entered into the
head Of mau, from cursing and swearing up to
murder aud whipping ones own mother, and
nonsense enough to turn all the men in the world
out of their senses. II man has got badness
in him, it viii! bring 1t out just sassafras tea
does the measles; and il he is good-for-nothing
sort of fellow, without any bad traits in par
,icular. IT will bring out all his greatness 1t af-
fecis different people in different ways-some it
makes rich and happy, and some poor and mis-
erable; and it has different effect on different
peoples eyes-some it makes see double, and
some il makes blind that they cannot tell
themselves from a side OF bacon. One of the
worst cases of rum-foolery on record took place
in the vicinity of Pineville, some time ago.
Bill Sweeny and Tom Culpepper were two of
the greatest ''old coveys" in that settlement for
coon hunting. The fact is, they did not do
much of anything else; and when they could
not catch any, it was very evident that coons
scarce. One night they had everything
ready for regular +" burst;'' and owing to some
extra good fortune, Tom had got 'pocket.pis-
tol,' as he called it, of regular old jamaica to
keep off the rheumatism. After taking good
horn, they went out on their hunt with their
light-wood torch all in blaze. and the dogs
barking and yelping like many evil spirits.
Every now and then, while stopping for the
dogs. they would drink each others health, till
they began to feel very comfortable. and chatted
away about one thing and another, without
minding which way they were going. Present
ly they came to a fence, which they climbed
over without much difficulty.
Who's fence is this T. asked Bill
Il j.. Al - L
sumthn' to drink
After taking drink they went on, wondering
what on earth had become of the dogs. They
soon came TO muddy branch. After pulling
through the brers, and getting on the opposite
side, they took another drink, and after going a
little farther came to another fence-a mon
strous high ono this time.
Whar upon airth have we got TO, Culpepcr 2
says Bill. never seed sich heap of branches
and fences i'll these parts
Why says Tom, it's all old Starbird's doin's;
You know he's always bildin fences, and maxim
inf4rna improvements as he calls 'em. But
never miud-we're through em now
i reckon we ant says Bill; here's the all
iir'dest fence yit
Sure enough, there they were, right against
another fence. By this time they began to be
considerably tired and timber in their joints;
aud this thIrd fence u terribly high one-
Tom dropped the last piece Of their torch. and
there they were in total darkness.
Nav you've done it,. says Bill.
Tom knew that they were III prcdicameut,
hut thought il was useless 10 grievc over spilled
milk. Never mind, old hoss,' says he; cum
ihcod and I'll take you out The next minute
hs some nnucky stumble, he soused into the
Mater.
Bill hung on The fence with both hands, as if
i',' ihonglt Tom was swinging round TO take him
of
Hello. Tom says he, whar in the world
have YOU got to!'
Here be- says Tom spouting the water out
OF his mouth, and coughing as if lie had swal-
lowed iadpoe. Look out-there's another
branch here
'ln the name o sense, wlar be We 2 says Bill.
II tAis an a feDcy country rot my buttuhs."
'lcS, aud braucly too; ; and the highest
and deepest aud thickest that ever seed, In all
Iuy born DAYS"
Which way be you says Bill.
Here. right the branch replies Tom.
C.ime ahead-let's 60 home
Cum TO thunder! | in sich place as this
whar man hanf got his coat tail unbitched
iron fence, fore he's over his head and ears
IN water'
After getting out and cropping about awhile in
'be darkness, they got together again. After
taking another drink, they started for home, de-
nouncing the ieuces and branches and helping
one auolher up now and then; but they had not
got more than twenty yards, before they were
brought 10 u halt by another fence.
Blame my picter. says Bill, If don't think
were bewitched. Who upon airth would build
fences all over creation this way -
1t was about an hours job TO get over this
one; but alter they got on the top, they found
The ground on the other side without much
trouble. The bottle got broke this time, and
they came near fight over the catastrophe. 1t
was We'll, however, that they had lost the re-
inainder OF their rum for, after crossing two or
three branches and climbing as many more
iences, daylight came on. They then found that
t.ey had been climbing the same fence all night,
aho We're no, more than hundred yards from
he spot where they FIRST came to it.
Blli Swetny says thn, he csnnot account for