Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-03-26

the tedlum OF the trip by contribu-
tjrg something to the general
amusement.
Among The passengers was one
long, lank specimen whom no one
could fail to recognize as a 7 Yankee.
lie sat apart from the rest, notwith-
standing, while the singularity of
his appearance did not fail to draw
many curious eyes towards him.
At length, when all the resources
of the company seemed exhausted
one Of them turned dubiously to
our Yankee, and politely requested
him to favor the company with a
song.
!: "a song!''' echoed he, looking
up.
Yes sir, you sing, do you not?
81 did once,'' replied he; aud l
may add it saved my Hfe.''
''Saved your life!''
All wele eager to hear how this
could be, and 9fter some little urg-
ing, the stranger consented to graf
|ify them.
" You must know" said he, that
I was one Of the first to go to Cali
itornia when the report first reach
ed us at home Of its stores of gold.
1t was nothing then to what it is
nova perfect waste in fact, with
hardly mark Of civilization, where
now you can see hourishing towns
numbering their thousands OF ;nhab-
itants.
80: g Being fond Of adventure, I sep-]
Sarate 'front.' he1restsof f#my = compa-
ny,Sand determined 70 fndnyWay
to the diggings myself: One night
| found myself lying on the grass,
with my pack for my pillow, just
on tbe edge OF a forest. It did not
enter my head to be afraid until it
became somev hat dark, and I heard
with fearful distinctness the cry of
the prairie wolf. | listened again,
and was alarmed to find the cry
coming nearer. Evidently they
scented me.
"At length a whole pack of
blood-tIlirsty rascals came bounding
on ill they came within a hundred |
yards of me, and then stood stock
still, and began to draw nearer.'
My hair rose on end. I was
terribi y alarmed; I endeavoured to
think>of some possible way of scar
ing them. Ilaving heard that they
were terrified by fire, I lighted a
match. They drew of a ]ittle, but
Immediately retrace} their steps. |
This movement was repeated on
both sides. [ found this would !
never do; [ must think Of some
thing more decisive. But what?
81 lecollected having in my
youth attended a singing school for
the space Of two evenings, during
which | received some indistinct
notion Of the manner Of singing
cold Hundred.'' That recollec-
ton saved me.
" Without more ado, l began, /
and did as we'll as | could. By the /
time l got through the first line, I
noticed the wolves began to look a
little wild and uneasy, and-will
you believe it gentlemen ?'' said the
narrator earnestly before I fin
isned, every individual wolf, put
ting his fore paws up to his ears,
scampered away as if old Jack was
after -hina?'
A shout of laughter both loud and
long, followed this narrative, at the
end Of which the speaker, who had
not stirred q muscle, grayely con-
tinued: %$.st
You see, gentlemen, i have
been frank with you; 7 did not
wish to take. advantage ofyour very
kind and complimentary invitation
without forewarning you of the con-
sequence. IF after what I have
told you, you are still desirous Of
hearing me, Twill endeavourto give
you :" Old Hundred, which is the
only song know,an to which, for
reasons already=given | feel IN
commonly attached r. @~
After that story he was unani-
smously excused
The President of a Debating So