Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-08
Mr.. H and the Gun. Barrel.

MT. Il anu the n-baTTel.
We feel inclined to relate for the amuse-
ment Of our readers, an incident, the leading
particulars Of which we have received from
q reliable source. True or false, we give it
as nearly as possible as we received it, re-
GREETING our inability to give those graphic
touches to the picture, necessary to set off to
the eye Of the reader the ~laughable scene.
In some of the upper counties of this State,
it matters not where, there resided a Mr..
H, who at the time the incident occurred,
was somewhat advanced in life. He was a
plain, honest farmer, possessed of small
means, but by the industry and frugality of
himself and his wife, had secured a portion
Of this worlds goods. He was q man of
steady piety and enjoyed the confidence of
his neighbors, to whom he was often a source
Of great amusement, owing to his excessive
loquacity and on unfortunate impediment in
his speech. In common parlance, he was
tongue-tied, and made awful work Of the
Kings English, not only in common CONVEX
sation but especially on grave occasions
Withal Mr.. IL. was a huntsman of no mean
note and often amused himself with his fowl
ing piece.
On one occasion, he purposed taking a%jaunt
to indulge in his %favorite sport, but on exam
lining his fre-lock, found her in no condition
for a " sure shot," whereupon, he resolved
to give old blue trigger a thorough cleaning.
His wife Polly was, as usual, called to his
assistance to provide the necessary hot wa
ter and swabbing, and the old gentleman
with coat off aud sleeves rolled up, fell to
work with might and main to purge his gun.
After awhile, supposing the cleansing nearly
il not quite effected, in order to be sure, he
thrust his fore-inger into the muzzle and
giving it a sudden twist, found to his amaze
ment and discontinue, that his finger was
immovably fixed. After twisting, pulling
and jerking his finger for some, time, but all
to no purpose, he at length called out to his
wife, " Polly, come here" Soon she made
her appearance and found the old mans fin
ger fast wedged in the gun barrel. "WelP'
said he, Polly, did you ever thee a thircum-
stanth like thith." Polly supposing it to be
a triAing affair, seized the ~gun-barrel and
commenced jerking and pulling. This only
seemed to add to the adhesive power of the
gun-barrel, and greatly increased the old
gentleman's alarm and caused much pain
lie bawled out, "Polly, sthop, sthop! Lore
n matha, Lord u matha, that's no way tt
manage the thircumstanth. Bwing thomt
gweathe." Polly FASTENED to the lard-kel
and soon had the finger swimming in grease
The old man pulled and Polly pulled, but i
was no 90. His finger still stuck in the muz
zle as if it grew there. Finding the case n
better, the old man very piteously exclaimed
All, Polly, it is too tight for gweath. Wha
thai l do, Polly Lord a matha-Lord
matha. Did you ever thee q th%ircumstantl
like thith before" OF course, Polly neye
did, and the case was now assuming a fear
full aspect. The finger was much swollel
and was becoming more and more painful
What was TO be done? Various expedient
were tried, during which the old man CAV,
vent TO his feelings in ejaculatory prayer
"Lord a matha-Lord q matha." Much a
uG lONeu oiu Dlut lElRRCEf uG AONtu uS huSOi
more, and finally, after a grave consultation
as q last resort, it was determined that tn
old man should go to the nearest blacksmit
shop and have the end of the gun-barrel file
off, as the only means of saving his fnger.-
But how should he get there, was a question
To ride was impossible, as he could nj
mount his horse, and to walk alone wa
equally difficult, for he could not carry h
finger and the gun. barrel to boot. Polly WI
a good wife, and did not mind triAes to S
cure the comfort and relief Of her husban
With the ready contrivance Of a quick W
man, she proposed to take the gun-barrel
her shoulder, and with the old man follOwil
on with his finger stuck in the muzzle, the
could soon walk a mile TO the blacksmi
shop. To the old mans mind it was a cal
tai hit, and no sooner said than done, tn
started off at tandem, for the place of relic
The ground was rugged and the old gent
man at the onset cautioned his affectiona
Polly not to walk too fast and be careful n
to "sthumble." On they went at a snai
pace, the old man the while uttering I
most piteous groans, intermingled with t
exclamation, " Well, well, who did ever tn
n thircumstanth like thith! Lord a matf
Lord a malta ~ In spite of Polly's cauti
her foot would occasionally trip, which wou
give his finger a twitch, and draw forth fro
the old man an additional caution. Tn
had perhaps accomplished half the journ
on the interesting errand, when sudden
Polly %stumped her toe and fell sprawlir
and out popped the old mans finger FRI
the muzzle. The scene which followed CT
not be described. He jumped, he shout
he danced for joy, crying out Bleth
Lord, o my thoul and all that it'll within
bleth hith Holy name" Quickly they
turned home rejoicing at the happy pre-
dence which brought deliverance to his
ger. Ever after, Mr.. II. was particula
cautious how he put his finger about
muzzle Of old blue trigger.