Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-13

t;aala cen DTydea return ihy prsIsoto rehesrss,
Ills ode cecilia would seem rugged yerss,
Now 10 thy case il warm flannel to lie,
1lli called asaln 10 PIE my eye
THE COLONEL'S HORSE.
1 have never been able to ascertain the cause
of the quarrel between the Cnckleys and the
brakes. They have lived within 4 mile Of
each other in Illinois for 1--WE years, and from
their first acquaintance there had been a
mutual feeling Of disliks between the two
families
One day Mr. Drake the elder, was returning
home with pocket full of rocks from Chicago
where he had been to dispose of load OF grain
and Sam Barton was on the wagon with him.
As they approached the grove which inter
vened between them and Mr. Drake's hOGse, he
observed to his companion:
"What beautiful shot old Criekley's roam
is over yonder."
"Hang it, so it is muttered old Drake.
The horse was standing under some trees
twelve rods from the road.
Involuntary Drake stopped his team He
glanced furtively around, then with a queer
smile the old hunter took up his rifle from the
bottom of the wagon, and raising it 10 his
shoulder he drew 4 sight on the COlOners
horse.
beautiful" muttered Drake, lowering his
rife with the air of man who had resisted
powerful temptation. could drop old roam SO
handsome"
''ShoOt :" suggested Sam Barton, who loved
fun in any shape.
No, 'twont do, said the old hunter, gIanc-
ing cautiously around.
"I won't tell" said Sam.
"Wall, wont shoot this time, tell or no tell.
The horse is to) Might he was fifty yards off,
instead of twelve, SO there would be a bare
possibility Of mistaking him for deer, I'd let
fly. As it is, I'd give old Crickley five dollars
for q shot"
At this moment the Colonel himself stepped
from behind big oak, not half dozen PAGES
distant, and stood before Mr.. Drake.
"Well, why don't you shoot I"
The old man stlmmered out some words in
eonigslls2iIny lsiI you, UoIoneIE Ii was tempted to,
1 declare But as I said, I'll give you V for
a pull"
Drake felt for his rifle, and looked at the old
horse.
"HOw much is old roam wuthi" he whis-
pered in Sans ear.
About $50"
swell, Ill do it. Here's an X"
The Colonel pocketed the money, muttering
"I'll be hanged if / thought you'd do 1t"
With high glee the old hunter put fresh cap
on his rifle, stood up in his wagon and drew q
close sight on old roam. The Colonel put his
money in his pocket and chuckled too.
Crack went the rifle The hunter tore a
horrid oath which will not here repeat. Sam
was astonished, the Colonel stared old roar
never stirred.
Drake stared at his rifle with face black as
Otbello's
whats the matter with you, hey fust time
YOU ever served me such a trick, l swan"
And Drake reloaded his piece with grea
wrath and Indignation
"Peo2le say you've lost your knaek Of shoot
ing" said the Colonel, in tone of cutting sar
"Who said so Ifs Tel'' thundered III,
enraged old hunter Il can shoot -"
" A horse at ten rods. Ha ha
Drake was livid.
Look here, Colonel; can't stand that" h
began.
''Neyer mind, the horse can" sneered tn
Colonel.
Grinding his teeth, Drake produced anOthe
Y. "Here, he grOwled, ''I'm bound to hav
my shot"
'.Crack away" said the Colonel POcketin
the note.
Drake did crack away-with deadly aim toe
but the horse did not mind the bullet in th
least To the rage and unutterable disgust G
the old hunter, roam stared him right in the fac
as if he rather liked the fun.
Drake" cried sam, you're drunk. hors
at dozen rods o Lord ~
"Shut your mouth, or I'll shoot you ;" sal
old Drake.
"The man lies that says i can't shoot. La:
week cut goose's head at fifty rods and l ca
do it again Cnckley, you can laugh now, bI
, I'll bet you fifty dollars can bring down ol
roam at the very next shot"
The wager was readily accepted. The stake
were placed in Sans hands Elated with tn
idea OF winning back his two tens and maxim
an in the bargain, Drake carefully selected
= perfect ball. and with buekskin patch CAREFUL
: loaded his rifle.
1t was now nearly night, but the hunter Wa
in the habit Of bOasting that he could shoot
bat on the wing by starlight, and without hes
tation he drew bead on old roan's head.
A moment later and Drake was drivin
7 through the grove, the most enraged and de
: peraie Of men. His rife, innocent victim
fire, lay with broken stock in the bottom
the wagon. Sam Barton was too much frigh
ened TO laugh.
In the meantime the gratifed Colonel ";
: rolling on the ground convulsed with mirth, an
old roam was standing undisturbed under Il
trees.
When old Drake reached home, his two sOI
/, discovering his i'll humOr and the mutilated col
: dition of his rife, hastened 10 arouse his spin
with news which they were sure would NAL
him dance with JOY.
"Clear outl" grOwled the angry old mat,
!, don't want to hear any news get away or
T knock you down."
I, "But father it is such trick played on o
+ Criekley."
2 "Old Crickleyl'' asked the old man; gettiT
5 interested. "Glad if you have played the CO
!, onel trick; let's have it"
e "Well, father, Jed and /, this evening we
= out for deer"
It ''Hang the deer, let's hear about your trick
n ''Couldn't find any deer, but l thought '
e must kill something, so Jed banged away at q
l. CoIonel's old roan-shot him dead
n "iShOt Old Roam" thundered the old hunte
e "Jed, did you shoot the Colonel's hOssl"
e "Didn't do anything else" /"
d "Then," said Jed, confident that the jol
must be agreeable to his father, Jim and
+ propped him up and tied his head back with
far the