Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1858-06-10
An AMUSING STORY.

Hooper, the editor Of an Alabama Jour
nal whose name vas We nov forget, but which
has aiways something 10 il TO make US laugh,
tells the following yarn
shall tell you a bat 81 \ story, having no
connection With politics this hot dry westosrl
BY permission
Old Col. D, Of the Mobile district.
was one OF the most singular characters ever
known IN Alabama No was testy and
eeesntric, but possessed macy 6ne qualities,
which were fully appreciated by the people
OF the district Many Of bis frsaks ere vet
fresh in the memory Of the 'old uns' Of NJ o.
bile And all will tell that the Col though
hard 70 beat, was once terribly taken in by a
couple OF legal tyros. George Woodward,
L believe, tells the story, but however that
may be, IL is in keep Jog with the Others re
lated Of the old gentleman
10 seems that Col. D had n misap.
derstsnding With the two gent tlomen alluded
to, and was not on speaking tcrms With them,
although all three OF then were profe sionally
riding tho same circuit pretty much together
IhelyounRiones being we'll aware Of the Cols
irrascible nature, determined, when they left
oae Of The courts for another, TO have some
fun by the way at his expense They ac
cordingly got about half an hours start in
leaving and preseatly they arrived at dark
broad stream that looked as though il might
be DOZEN feet deep, bat in reality. not moro
than that many inches Crossing il. they
ahghted, aud pulling of their coats aud
boots, sat quietly down TO watch for old
Tartar
Jogging along, at length came the old
fellow.
He looked drst at tie youngsters. who were
gravely drawing on their boots aud coats as
If they had just had . swim, aud then looked
at the broad creek that rolled before him
hike translucent star The Col was aw.
fully puzzled.
is this creek swimming7 be growled az
ter pause Of some moments.
No reply was made-the young men sin.
ply mounted their horses and rode OF ,oms
ii''le distance aud stopped TO watch our
hero
The Col slowly divested himself Of coat
boots, pGntaloons and drawers These he
nicely tied up in his hankerehief aud hung
them On the horn Of his saddle, then he re
mounted, aud rs he was a short. fat man
with a paunch Of rather inordinA,e size.
rather inadequate legs, a face like witbered
apple, aud brown wig, there is no doubt
be made an interesting picture as be bestrode
his steed, with the breeze holding gentle
dalllanee with the extremity Of his only gar.
ment
Slowly and cautiously the old gentleman
took the creek. Half length aud the va.
ter vas not fetIock deep Here the horse
stopped to drink. A length aud . half, aud
the stream was no deeper Thirty feet
farther, aad decided shoAliug
Here Col. D reined mp
There must, said he, be ID OF deep
channel between this aud the bank-see bow
it runs. Well dash through here.
A sharp Lash made the horse spring tho
watery waste, and another carried the horse
and rider to the opposite bank
The creek was nowhere more than foot
deep.
A Wild yell from the young 'uns anuouuced
their appreciation of the sport as they gal
lOped away.
Ill catch you, you - rascals, was
ground between Col D. teeth,
aud away he galloped in hot pursui,, rnut,er.
iBg vengeance on his foes.
On they sped, pursuer and pursued. The
youngsters laughed, and the Col damned
with mighty emphasis, while bis shirt aut
tered and cracked in the breeze like loose
Tying jib.
Oni oni ana the pursued reached a farm
house on theroAdsids. Their passing started
Aoek Of geese from fsucs corner, which,
as tho Col. rushed mp, met him With out.
spread wings, elongated necks aud Kisses
dire. His horse sWerved suddenly, and tho
Col. was on the ground, in a most unroman.
tic heap, with bis brown wig lying by bis
side, aud tho bundle Of clothes scattered all
around.
Thc wAiis beaded children u tie Saass
came out hrst, took distant view of the
monster - 10 seemed 70 them and then re.
turned 20 rePort progress. After = little
the father Of the family came and tbe affair
being explained, assisted the Col 10 making
his toiletto-the Dol. swearing and the eoun
trylnan laughing all tbe while
Dressed aud mounted. our bero started
Of vita woful phis aud was very soou out
Of sight
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