The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-09-20

The Philadelphia North Americas
gives the following local, in recent mum
ber:
"Among the handsome villas that or
nament the vicinity of Chestnut Hill! is a
notable water-cure establishment. where
health, longevity and digestion equal to
that Of a thresbing machine are imyarte
through the medium of douchcs, wet
packing, aud style of bolognas made
from tarina and cracked wheat Among
the guests at the establishment-of whom
very many board at the water-cure for
the sake OF It's beautiful surroundings
rather than its hydrauics-is a gentle
man whom We will call Colonel Blank -
Col. Blank is votary of nature, ard has
aweakness for botany that takes him &C.
casionally upon long walks by the fra
grant hedgerows that ornament that beau
tiful locality. As the Colonel saunlers
about while thus employed, he combines
profit with pleasure, and sees in every
weed that grows beauty invisible to pco-
pie whose ideas are anchored down 10
doubloons and brick houses by the pon-
derosity of worldly cares. A few mcru-
ings ago the Colonel was boianizing as
usual, aud at the same time listening,
erectiS duribus, to an accotdOan which d
meadow lark was playing upon an adjun-
ing fence rail The Colonels eye. IA mo
ment afterwards, was arrested by re-
markable specimen of rot7ophyium peitQt
am, as botany terms it, or mandrake, as
known in the Old Testament and by non
botanizing people. Resting upon lis d :
ieate footstalk was the fruit Of that plant,
a single specimen, amber in hue, and ,x-
Guisitely aromatic in oder. The Colonel
saw the prize skilting the borders of
ditch and determined TO secure IT, As
is characteristic of all truly great minds,
the Colonel no sooner furued the idea
than he set about It's execution. He
slowly squatteG upon the edge of the stag
nant ditch, skiliiuily established an equi-
poise by keeping the center of gravity
over the base, aud cautiously extended
lis hand for the prize. But alas for the
uncertainty of human calculations . As
the Colonel leaned over the ditch to pluck
the coveted mandrake upon the oppu>ite
margin, he lost his balance. the neither
part of his unmentioDabjes burst with a
loud report, his spcct2c!es fell from his
nose, and extending his hands 10 protect
that organ from the mud, he plunged his
hands wrist deep IN the oozy bottom
Without his spectac!es, the Colonel was
as helpless as the babes IN the wood He
regained bis equilibrium at last, and set
about some means Of repairing damages
For this purpose he pulled large ciu~
ter Of weeds, and commenced the opera
tioU Of removing the mud from his sleeves
The Colonel's misfouunes, however, were
not vet complete. His hands and arms
were seized with violent itching. that
caused him to execute pas seut fully
equal TO that performed by the learned
elephant, Prince Albert Surprising
himself attacked by swarm Of mosQus-
toes, the Colonel struck wildly out with
both his hands, only TO increase the IN
iensify OF his torture. Most unfortunate
y, while ihus syraring, the Colcnei dis
covered his spectacles, though with one
Of the glasses broken out. BY adjusting
these upon his nose, he was enlightened
as to the cause OF his misery. The weeds
With which he had wiped the mud from
his hands were sttayiny ucttieS The
Colonel, at this discovery, said something
emphatic, and started for the place of
beginning" where, by an application of
vinegar to the infalued parts, he was re-
stored to his normal condition. When
lie next goes botanizing, the Colonel in
tends to tie his spectacles around the
back of his head. Gentlemen similarly
situated will do we'll to make note"