The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-03-31

Hooper. the editor OF an AlAhAma
Journal, whose name We now forget. but
which has always something in It 70
make us laugh, tells the following yarn:
Shall l tell you bit of = story. hay
ing no connexion with politics. this hot.
dry weather? BY permission
"Old Col. D.. of the hobls
District, was one of the most singular
characters ever known in Alabama. He
was testy and eccentric. but possessed
many fine qualities, which were fully
appreciated by the people Of the dis
trict. Many Of his freaks are yet fresl,
in the memory of the "old 'uns' Of
Mobile. and all will tell thst the Co..
though hard to beat, was once terribly
taken in by couple of legal tyros.--
Geo. Woodward believe. tells the sto.
ry, but however that may be it is in
keeping with the others related Of the
old gentleman.
1t seems that Col. D.. had
misunderstanding with the { % gen
tlemen alluded to, and was not on speak.
ing terms with them. although all three
Of them were professionally riding tho
same circuit pretty much together
The young ones being well aware Of
the Col. 8 irascible nature. determin-
ed, w. en- they left one of the courts for
another. to have some fun BY the way
at his expnese. They accordingly got
about half an hours start in leaving,
end presently they arrived at = dark.
broad stream that looked as if it nigh.
be dozen feet deep, but in reality. not
not more than that many inches
Crossing it. they alighted, and pulling
off their coats and boots, sat quietly
down to watch for old "Tartar."
Jogging along. at length came upthe
old fellow. He looked FIRST at tho young.
sters who were gravely drawing on
their boots and coats. as If they had
Just had a swim. and then looked. .,
the broad creek that rolled before him
like translucent star. The Col. MAS
awfully puzzled. r.
"Is this creek swimming?" he growl,
ed after pause of some moments.
No reply was msde-the young men
simply mounted their horses. and rode
off some little distance and stopped t.
watch our hero.
The Col. slowly Invested himself Of
coat, boots. pantaloons and drawers
These he nicely tied up in his handker-
chief AID hung them on the A.orn Of
his saddle, then he remounted, aud as
he was short, fat man, with a paunch
of rather inordinate size. rather made.
quate legs, face like withered ap.
pie. and brown wig, there is no doubt
he made an interesting picture as he
bestrode his steed, with the breeze hold.
ing gentle dallianco With the extremity
Of his only garment. s..r
Slowly and cautiously the old gentle
man took the creek. Half length and
the water was not fetlock deep. He-c
the horse stopped to drink. A length
and half, aud the stream was no deeper,
Thirty feet farther, and decided shoal-
ing!
Here Col. D, reincd up
There must" said he, ''be . h-ll Of
a deep channel between this and the
bank-see how it runs. Well dasl,
through here" a.. ..-.
A sharp lash n.ade the horse sprin.
the wa.ery waste, and another carried
the horse and rider safely to the oppo-
site bank. .l ... =.
The creek was nowhere more than q
foot deep. -...
A wild yell from the young 'uns an
nounced their appreciation of the spor.
as they galloped away.
"pll catch you, you--- ras.
calls" was ground between Col. DIS
teeth and away he galloped in hot pur-.
suit, mutterering vengeance on his foes
On they sped, pursuer and the pur-
sued. The youngsters laughed. and thu
Col. damned with mighty emphasis.
while his shirt fluttered and cracked il.
the breeze like loose ayingj b.
On, on, and the pursued reac he'd a
farmhouse on the roadside. Their
passing started flock of geese from n
fence corner, which as the Col. rushed
up, met him with outspread wings, elon,
gated necks and Kisses dire. His horse
swerved suddenly, and the Col OF,
the ground, in most unromantic heap.
with his brown wig lying by his side
and the bundle Of clothes scattered d,
around.
The white headed children Of the
house came out at first. took q distan
view of the monster, az it seemed tc
them, and then returned to the repor
progress. After little the father o
the family came, and the affair beins
explained, assisted the Col. in maxim, !;
his toilette-the Col. swearing and tbc
countryman laughing all the while.
Dressed aud mounted. our hero start
ed off with a woeful phiz, and was ver,
soon out of sight.