Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-17
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE II, 1858.
AN AMUSING STORY.


Hooper the editor Of the Montgomery tA'a']
Mail, and the we'll known author OF SIMON
Susgs, tells the following yarn;
Shall | tell you bit Of a story, having DO
connection with politics, this hot, dryweather'
By permission
ore Of the most singular characters ever
known in Alabama lie was testy and &C.
centric but possessed many fine qualities,
which were fully appreciated by the people
Of the district. Many of his freaks are fresh
in the memory of the old 'uns of Mobile; and
all will tell that the Colonel though bard to
beat, was once terribly taken in by compile
of lie gal 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 a misun
Outstanding with the two gentlemen alluded
TO, and was not on speaking terms with them
although all three we're professionally riding
the same circuit pretty much tcgHfer. Tue
young ones being we'll aware o. ihe Colone's
irascible nature determined, when they left
one of the courts for another,S to have some
fun by the way at his expense. They accor-
dinghy ct about half an hours start in loas-
ing and presently arrived at a dark, broad
stream, that looked as though it might be II
dozen feet deep, but in reality not more
than as many inches. Crossing it, they
alighted, and pulling off their coats aud
boots, sat quietly down to watch Tor old
"Ia tar"
jogging along at length came the old fell
low. He looked first at the youngsters, who
were grayely drawing on their boots and
coats, as if they had just had swim, and
then looked at the broad creek, that rolled
before him like translucent star. The Col
onel was puzzled.
as this creek swimming" he gr0w!ed al
ter pause of some minutes.
No reply was made-the young men sim
DIV mounted their horses aud rode eft some
little distance and stopped to watch our
hero.
The Colonsl slowly Invested himself Of coat,
boots, pantaloons and drawers. These he
nicely tied up in his handkerchief and hung
them on the horn Of bis saddle, then he re-
mounted, and az he was short, tat man,
with paunch Of rather inOrdinate size, raih-
er inadequate legs, q face like withered APP
ple, and Il brown wig, there is no doubt he
made al interesting picture as lie tc'
strobe his stecd, with the breeze holding gen
tie dalliance with the extremity OF his only
garment.
Slowly and cautiously the old gentleman
took the creek. Half length and the water
was not fetlock deep. Here the horse stopped
to drink A length and half and the stream
was no deeper. Thirty feet farther and de-
cided sLoaling.
Here Col. D refined to.
There must" said be- be ID of deep
channel between this and the bank-see bow
it runs. Wen dash through here"
A sharp lash made the horse spring the
wa,ery waste and another carried the horse
and rider to the opposite bank.
The creek was nowhere more than loot
deep.
A wild yell from the young 'ups announ'
ced their appreciation of the sport as they gal
Hoped away.
"Tn catch you, you - rascals." was
ground between Col. DIS teeth, and away
he galloped in hot pursuit, muttering ven
geance on his foes.
On they sped, pursuer and pursued. The
Youngsters laughed, and the Colonel damned
with mighty emphasis. while his shirt futter
ed and cracked in the breeze like loose fly
ing jib.
On, on, and the pursued reached 1arni-
house on the roadside. Their passing started
flock OF geese from fence corner, which
as the Colonel rushed up, met him with out
spread wings, elongated necks. and hIsses
dire. His horse swerved suddenly, and the
Colonel was on the ground in most unro-
mantle heap, with his brown wig lying by
his side and the bundle of clothes scattered
all round.
The white headed children of the house
came out first, took distant view of the
monster as it seemed to them, and then re-
turned to report progress. After little, the
father of the family came, aud the affair be-
ing explained, assisted the Colonel in max
ing his toilette--the Colonel swearing and
the countryman laughing all the while.
Dressed and mounted, our hero started Oft
with woeful phiz, and was very soon out OF
sight.
RAN TASTE