Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-06-14
AN AMUSING STORY.

Hooper the editor of the Montgomery ALA. }
Mail, and the well-known author of Simon
Suggs, tells the following yarn
Shall l tell you bit of story, having no
connection with politics, this hot, dry weather?
BY permission
Old Col. D, of the Mobile 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 tho district Many
OF his freaks are fresh in the memory Of the old
'nnsof Mobile; and all will tell that the Colonel
though hard to beat, was once terribly taken
In by couple OF legal tyros. Geo. Woodward
L believe, tells the story; but, however that
may be, 1T is in keeping with the others related
OF the old gentleman.
1t seems that Colonel D. had q misupder-
standing with the two gentlemen alluded to.
and was not on speaking terms with them, al
though all three were professionally riding the
same circuit pretty much together. The young
oScs being well aware of the Coionel's irascible
nature, determined, when they left one of the
courts for another, to have some fun by the way
at his expense. They accordingly got abont
halt an hour ; start in leaving, and presently
arrived at a dark broad stream that look ed as
though it might be dozen feet deep, but in
reality not more than as many inches. Cross
ing 1t, they alighted, and pulling off their coats
ana boots, sat quietly down to watch for old
Tartar"
jogging along at length came the old fellow.
He looked first at the youngsters wac were
gravely drawing on their boots and coats as if
they had just lad a swim, and then looked at
the broad creek, that rolled before him like a
translucent star. The Colonel was puzzIed
" Is this creek swimming % he growled after
pause of some minutes.
NO reply was made-the young men simply
mounted their horses and rode off some little
distance and stopped to watch our hero.
The Colonel slowly diyested himself of coat.
boats, pantalOons and drawers These he
nicely tied up in his handkerchief and hung
them on the horn of his saddle then he re.
mounted, and as he was a short, fat man. with
n paunch OF rather inOrdinate size. rather in
adequate legs, face like a withcred apple, and
a brown wig, there is no doubt he made an in
teresting picture as he bcstrode his steed, with
the breeze holding gentle daliance with. the
extremity OF his only garment.
Slowly and cautiously the old peutleman n
took the creek. Half length and the water
was not fetlock deep. Here the horse stoppea
10 drink. A length and half and tie stream
was no deeper. Thirty feet farther ard a de-
cided shoaling.
Here Col D reined too.
- There must" said he, 90 be ID of deem
channel between this and the bank-see how il
runs We II dash through here
sharp lash made the horse spring the wa
terry waste, and another carried the horse and
rider to the opposite bank.
The creek was nowhere more than foot
deep.
wild yell from the young 'uns announced
their appreciation Of the sport as they galloped
away.
"Ill catch you, you - rascaIs," was
ground between Col D-'s teeth. and away
be galloped in hot pursuit, muttering ven
geauce on his foes.
On they spec, pursuer and pursued Thc
yOungers laughed, and the Colonel damned
with mighty emphasis while his shirt fluttered
and cracked in the breeze like a loose flying
jib.
On, on, and the pursued reached farmhouse
on the roadside. Their passing started a flock
of geese from a fence corner, which as the Col
onel rushed up, met him with outspread wings,
elongated necks and Kisses dire. His horse
swerved suddenly, and the Colonel was on the
ground In most unromantic heap, with his
brown wig lying by his side, and the bundle of
clothes scattered all round
The whit -.eaded children of the house came
out first, took a distant view of the monster as
it seened to them, and then returned to report
progress. After little the father of the fam.
lily came, and the affair being explained. as
sisted the Colonel in making his toi.ette-the
Colonel swearing and the countryman laugh
ing all the while
Dressed and mounted, our hero started of
with u wOeful phiz, and was very soon out of
sight