Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-03-15

answer. The speaker, famliarly known a.
Big Bill, here rose from E seat near the
stove, in the Horse and Halter bar room, and
advancing toward the man h4 first addressed
added:
And now, Sitter, if You waattO trot your
horse, Ragbag, agin my gray mare, Lady
Shinbone saw the word and we'll trot!'
Done! said Sitter Ill trot my horse a.
gainstayour gray mare, mile heat Tomorrow
afternoon, weather permitting; fifty dollars a
side
This little affair settled, all parties at once
renewed their legitimate busness-whiskey
drinking and talking horse
1 never saw flies worse than they are now,
said Big Bill; they worry Lady Shinbones 3
life out of her. She's blood all over, and a
mighty thin skinned beast to that; consequence
is, the flies peg it into her like sixty. I'd give
something to know how to drive them off,
| Keep your stable dark said man with a
white hat.
Keep fly net on her, added the man who
struck Bill Patterson.
Rub her with pen'r'yal,' suggested an apothe.
| cary.
TRY pizzernctum intment,' suggested the
apothccary's enemy.
Use a fly brush,' slyly insinuated Uncle Ned,
and as he spoke brigh light shot into his
black eyes. There was an idea behind them,
and as he jerked the corners Of his mouth down
and looked serious, looker-on in the Horse
and Halter took little note of it.
few minutes afterwards he motioned to
Big Bill, and drawing him away from the rest
OF the crowd into corner, said with mystic
rious air:
4 know an infaIlible recipe, Bill. There is
no use in telling the crowd of it, but as you
are friend | will tell you, conidentially, re-
member, confdentiaIIy''
Certain, honor bright confirmed Big Bill.
well, then, you go git lot of walnut leaves,
and make decoction just as strong as you
can make it. Wash your gray mare with it,
and Tomorrow you will see if she don't look
like different beast
Did you every try it yourself?' asked Bill.
Yes! answered Ned, my old bay horse
owes half his good look to the deeoetion.'-
Whereupon Big Bill again joined the social
circle, and after few flirtatons with the whis-
key bottle rose up and departed. The decoc>
ton was on his mind, liquoT inhis head, and
the gray mare id the stable. As he got near
home he remembered that walnut tree stood
back of the road, near his house, so hauling
down fence rail he made vigorous attack
on the lower limbs of the tree, and soon had
leaves enongh on the ground to keep the flies
out of the whole State, as he judiciously res
marked't0 himself, while employed in trying to
gather up the leaves. Never zoe such leaves
he soliloquised, 'theysstick to taO ground like
as if they were glued there He said thisafter
making several futile attempts at gathering up
one especially large, that kept eludiDg his
grasp. He made desperate lunge at it, and
over he went.
'Take.care,' old boy, said he don't go to
cnttingup such capers. Steady, now, steadyn
and like the memorable Toodles, he balanced
himself on one thumb, preparatory to assuming
the perpenicular-he assumed it. Guess I've
got enough; do use taking more than you want
you know, said he as he cast longing look at
the big leaf which had already cost him one
tumble. Old fellow, I'll leave you just where
you are, don't mind y6u,' and closely grasp
ing his breast all he had gathered, he cork-
screwed home. When he had got there he had
ust two ideas left, one was big copper kettle |
TO boil the leaves in, and the other was the gray
mare, or the mare into the kettle, was more
han he could cypher out. Luckily Ahe stun |
oled over the pump, and finding bucket there
n, up TO the handSe,' several times; then TAX |
ng breath 4e went in several times more |
inally feeling 'as if somebody had taking lot
# blankets off his brains, cooled of; he boiled |
lp the walnut leaves, made the decoction, and 7
,oing out to the stable, by the bright light of
he young new moon which kindly lent itself /
or the occasion, he 'soused the beast to use
lis own expression, 'tiII she hadn't dry hair
n her hide Now my lady, continued he,
gon won't be at home to receive no more fly
alls and that tail Of yours will know little
est. Tomorrow you We got to spread your-
elf agin Ragbag, mile heat. Eve bet fifty on
on, old woman; don't disapp oiDt me-. And
fteF this exhortation Big Bill cleared out of
he stable.
Next morning Big Bill went ont to the stas
lie, threw open the door, looked in, the gray
lare was gone, and there stood bay mare in
or place! Bill opened his eyes till the reached
ne roots of his hair, which stood up straight.
What are you doing here, my lady,! asked he
the bay mare. A peculiar switch of the tail
shake of her name, and side look from her
rye liquid eyes, induced Bill to look closer at
er. BY all the trots.' he burst out, that |
cans down everything I've heard oflateiy.-I
gray mare turned into Day. 0omeDO0y
BID me! The end Of the world! the"-Bil
lddenly checked himself--'the walnut leaves
oiIed. They did t!' Yes, they did it, and la
J Shinbone the gray mare was now a sight to !
sbold. She was ofap ugly bay color, with /
ripes something of the appearance ofa piece ,
mahogonY veneering in the rough. Now,
'ntinued Bill, you're beauty, you are! Moth
g can take the devil out Of that eye of yours,
ough. There's grit there; proof against all
alDut leaves, past, present, and future.'
IN he afternoon Bill was on hand with his
ariegated mare, and having duly driven over
the Horse and Halter tavern, he gave the
are in charge of the hostler, first seeing her
sIl blanketed and then went into the bar room. '
ere be found Sitter, the owner Of the bay d
rse, Ragbag, who at once accosted Bill: I