Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-10-06
rom the Jefferson Independent JUST BEYOND SHOOTING DISTANCE OF } THE BIG SPRING." JEFFERSON
 (}OITSTY Spnt let 1SEO


 COUNTY, Sept 1st 1858.
 MR. EDIToR: 1 notice in late number of your paper, that Col. A. Il. Ferguson has lately exhibited very savage tellings towards all man. kind and "know nothings' in particular. Not wishing that the Hon. Senator Chat would have been, If he had only got votes enough) should unjusty De deemed suddenly mad, feel it my duty to relate an incident that occurred at my house, winch will conclusively prove to all un- biased minds, that Col. Ferguson had been for some time troubled with awful fits and his tragic airs at De Witt was the grand finale. But to my story:
 "'Tis an OCT true tale"
 During the late canvass, after an exciting de- bate between the three aspirants for State Sena- tor, Cat which the Colonel had "snorted" con- slderably) the company adjourned to my house. Alter tea, Colonel complained of feeling unwell, quite chilly, like White river ager coming on" wished fire made, and, if possible, would Ike a room to himself, as, ever since the elec- tlonS, hree yeors since, in Pennsylvania and Vir- s'nia, he had been afflicted with the night mare ana feared he might annoy any fellow lodger DO ordered load of fruits (of course mean plhe knotS) carried to my office; good fire was soon started, and l accompanied the Colonel to
 - ~ " 'itio "lSIoohg hlnnSelf, he eSpled a large engraving hanging by the wall. Gt was 'ne tent scene Tn Richard the Third ) and march, Ing up to It asked what it represented. told hlm and remarked that I conceived if ono of the brightest gems of the "immortal hard ;, and asked him if he was familiar with his wr;t;nrr, 3 The Colonel replied: "That he had never road Ills writings but knew him well. went To .slxnla, nlne days with his oldest son in Rardsto,r,s ny, that was named after the old cock,
 Not hhdlng the Colonel very sound on dra- liiatlc literature, bade him good night. and ba. lnS much fatlgued soon retired to bed I had not slumoered long before my wife awakened me, and asked "what terrible noise that ,,as 9,, listened, and remarked to her that it was onlr heavy thunder, hoped we would have rain as our sweet potatoe and china pea crop very mncb needed good season. My wife said the noiso more resembled great big fellows groaning ;n terrible fit, thanit did thunder. We s0on went to sleep again. I judged it was little past midnight; had been sweetlv dreaming of the benlgnant charity displayed by three such smart men traveIlng over the county enlqbten- Ing the heatheus, when I was awakened bv tho most terrific noise; 1t was no thunder this time but the agonizing cry of some poor human i'll at ease. rushed from the house. noise the nro. ceeded from the office opened the door and there In the centre of the room stood Col Fergu- son, with nothing on but his shrit, his haron end which made his head look as large as q turnen. tlne tub, his jaws clenched, eyes staripo and every muscle of his stalwart frame convnlsed Why, the sweat drops on his brow were as laroa as clam shells. have seen Booth perform inc "Crooked back tyrant,'' the elder Keap. in his pamiest days, Cor I am an old man now.1 and had thought Bayley Bradshaw was some on fits. but Col. Ferguson is entitled to the horns.- There he stood, and loudly hissing from be. tween his clenched teeth, "Avaunt, foul fend a7aunt! kingdom, a kingdom, yes the sobole of my White river plantation, if you will oaly take that k''ow nothing record from my sight" By this time 1 was enabled to dash basin full of White Sulphur Spring water on his face, which brought his head down to the size of tar bucket the sweat drops slipped from his brow as slick as sap from fat pine, the muscles Of his sinewy frame relaxed as though he was just out of vapor bath at the Hot Springs and his eyes once more looked akin to human. He gazed for a moment at me, and in a weak and trembling voice, said "Why, is that you, Uncle Sam?'' II sort of think I have had a htP' The fact is, jined the know nothings at the wrong time; wish had never jned them at all but after l had jned them, (with best intentions in course,) if had only slid out aui- etiy, might have rid the Real Estate Bank hob by plumb into the State House at Little Rock. But, as 1t was, l, like a d-d fool, after lining them, had to "craw'- fish out, and, in doing so. made a big fuss, which riled the devilish dark lantern fellers, and they have been down on me ever since; but never mind, Uncle Sam, will be Senator yet, and when go to take my seat, will travel on the Napoleon and Little Rock railroad" The Colonel ask ed me for nipper. ] handed him some Harrison county," he took small bite, about pint and half he soon after became calm, and I again bade him good night; had closed the door, when he called me