Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-03-17
An AMUSING STORY.

Hooper, the editor of an Alabam,
journal, whose asme We have just nov
forget, but which has always something
in i to make us laugh. tells the follow
ipgcapital yarn:
Shall | tell you q bit of q story. having
no connection with politics, tbis-hot, dry
weather f.By permission
sold Col. D., of the Mobile dis
.tr:et, was one of the most singular char.
.ac;ers ever known in Alabama. He
~ss .testy and eccentric. bat possessed
many fine qualities, which were fully
appreciated by the people Of the district
Many of lis freaks are fresh in the mem
..ory of the "old uas" of Mobils-and all
of them will tell you that the Colonel.
though hard to beat, was once terribly
taken in BY q couple of legal tyros. 1t
il George Woodward, Ibelieve, tells the
story ; bat however that may be. it is in
keeping with others related of the old
gentleman.
ut seem. that Col. D-had a
misunderstanding with the two gentle
men alluded 10, and was not on speak
ing terms with them, although all three
Of them we're professionally riding the
circuit pretty much together. The young
ones being well aware of The Colonel's
irascible nature, determined, a. they
left one of the courts for another, 10 have
some sport at his expense by the way.
They accordingly gotsbout half an hours
start in leaving. and presently they ar
rived at q broad, dark stream, that look.
ed as if it might be a dozen feet deep,
but. which in reality, was hardly more
than as many inches. Crossing it they
alighted, and pulling of their coats and
boots, sat down quietly to watch for the
old Tartar
Jogging along. at length came up
the old fellow. He looked first at the
youngsters who were gravely drawing
on their boots and coats, as if they had
just had q swim, and then he looked al
the broad creek that rolled before him
like q fluent translucent star. The Col.
was awfully puzzled.
"Is this creek swimming ?" he grosl-
I'D after q pause of some moments.
"No reply was made-the young men
simply mounted their horses. and rode
off some little distance, ard stopped 10
watch our hero.
"The Colonel slowly Invested him
self ofboots. coat, pantaloons and draw
.ers. These he neatly tied up in his
handkerchief, and hung them on the
horn, Of his saddle, then he remounted,
and as he was a fat, short man, with a
paunch of ~inordinate size. rather made
t9pste legs, a face like a withered apple,
and a brown wig, there is no doubt he
made an interesting picture as he be-
strobe bis steed, with the breez, holding
gentle dalliai.ce with the extremity Of
his only garment.
Slowly and cautiously did the old
gentleman take the cre,k. Half a length
and tie water was not fetlock deep.
Here the horse stopped to drink. A
length and a hall, and the stream 10
idssperl Thirty feet farther. and a deci-
d<d shoalingl
Here, Col. D-r-incd up. There
'musI, said he, BE aa-of q swift, deep
channel between this and the bank.
The creek was nowhere more than . foot
deep. i.
A Wild ysll from the young'uns an
nUunced their appreciation of the sport .
they galloped away. I
III catch you. you--rascals,'
vas groand between Col. D-'s
teeth and away he galloped in hst pur
>ait, mut,eling vengeance on his foes.
On, on, they sped. pursuer and pur-
sued. The youngsters laughed. yelled
and screamed, the Colonel damned with
mighty emphasis. while his shirt fut
,ered and cracked in The wind, like
loose flying jib. .
On, on. and the pursued reached The :
on tbs road side. Their pas.
sing startled a aock of geese from a fence :
corner, which as the Colonel dashed up, .
met him with outspread wings. elonga- ,
Ted necks, and misses dire. His horse 9
'HeEved suddenly. and the Colonel in a |.
moment was upon the ground. ia a most i
anromaniie heap with his brown wig :
y ing BY his side. and his bundle of {
scattered all around. e
1.-The white-headed children of the v
house came ont first. took a distant view C
If the monster, as it seemed 10 them, and d
hen returned to report progress. After
, little the father of the family came,
the affair being explained, assisted
he Colonel in making his toilette ; Col T
,nsl swearing and the countrvman laugh. S
ng ~ 1he While.
sDf1~tfzat5 mounted, our hero star q
I'd Oh 0ifh xeefal whiz. and was very !.
'Oo1 ont IF sGht '
A TINE TO R~ssr.-There lies in the g
of every heart. that dream of ! !,
Touih, and the chastened wish Of man v
aood. which neither cares nor honors ;:
ian extinguish /; the hopes of one day !.
from the pursuits which absorb .
Is |; Of interposing between "a old age =
md the tomb, some tranquil interval of 9
reflection, when with feelings not sub :,
1u.l buf soffapad -.tb n~e5u, M, ~ OF