The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-08-26
A SCENE IN VIRGINIA.

At Culpepcr Court House, in Virginia.
soon after the formation Of the county, Dick
Hardy, then q good humored, gay young
bachelor, the favorite of both sexes, was
called upon to carve the pig at the court
dinner. The District Judge was at the
table, the lawyers, justices, and everybody
else that felt disposed to dine. At Dicks
right elbow sat militia Colonel, who was
trick ed out in all the pomp and circumstance
admitted by his rank. He had probably
been engaged on some court martial, impos-
ing fifty cent fines on absentees from the
thrustng bis fork into the back of the pig,
despatched the officers regimentals with
some of the suPerfiuous gravy. Il beg your
pardon" said Dick, as he went on with his
carving. Now these were times when the
war spirit was high. and chivulry at pre-
MUM. Beg your pardon might serve as
a napkin to wipe the stains from ones
honor, but did not touch the question of the
creased and spotted regimentals.
The Colonel, swelling with wrath, seized
spoon, and deliberately dipping it into the
gravy, dashed it over Dicks prominent
shirt frilI.
All saw the act, and with open eyes and
mouth sat in astonished silence, waiting to
see what would be done next. The outrag-
ed citizen calmly laid down his knife and
fork. and looked at MS frill, the officer, and
the pig. one after another. The Colonel,
unmindful of the pall;d countenance and
significant glance of burning eyes, leaned
back in his chair. with arms akimbo, re-
garding the young farmer with cool diSdain.
A murmur of surprise and Indignation arose
from the cOngregated guests. Dicks face
turned as red as turkey gobbler's.
He deliberately took the pig by the hind
leg, and with a sudden whirl brought it
down upon the head of the unlucl1y officer.
Stunned by the squa~hinS blow, astounded
and blinded with streams of gravy, and
wads of stufiing, he attempted to rise, but
blow after blow from the fat pig fell upon
his bewildered head. He seized a carving
knife and attempted to defend himself with
blind hut Intellectual fury; and at length,
with desperate effort, rose and took to
his heels. Dick Hardy, whose wrath wax
ed hotter and hotter followed, belaboring
him numerically at every step, around the
table, through the hall, and into the street,
the crowd shouting and applauding.
We are sorry to learn that among the
crowd were lawyers, sheriffs, magistrates
and constaoles; and that even his honor
the judge, forgetting his dignity and posi-
ton, shouted in loud voice, Give it to
him, Dick Hardy There is no law in Chris
tendon against basting a man with roast
pig!" Dicks weapon failed before his an
ger; and when at length the battered Col
Oncl escaped into the door of q friendly
dwelling, the victor had nothing in his hands
but the hind legs of the rooster. He re-en-
tered the dining room fourishing these over
his head, and venting his still unappeased
wrath in great oaths.
The company reassembled, and finished
their dinner as best they might. In reply
to a toast, Hardy made a speech, wherein
he apologised for sacrificing the principal
dinner dish, and, as he expressed it, for
putting public property to private uses. In
reply tn this speech treat was ordered.-
In these good old times folks were not so
virtuous but that man might have cakes
and ale without being damned for it. 1t is
m Surpo 40 tho Iou wound ~, n