The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1862-09-18
A Perilous Ride.

my story nad Deen pay or the richest an
: most glossy color, with lone spot of whit
hair on the forehead. His tail had been al
lowed to flow. uncurta!ed bv the mutilatin
= knife. naturally and gracefully as those O
the wild mustangs of the prairie. The am
pie chest, small ankle, and proud neck, ant
the wide apart, prominent eyes, and opel
Eostrls denoted gentle blood, but at thu
time / saw him, old age had whitened hi
beautiful bay coat long tufts of hair were
; growing behind each foot, his eyes were
rheumy. and the few long teeth he possesset
were loose. had noticed the care and at
tentiou besowed on him by every member o
that family. Not day passed that his neck
aud face were not caressed by soft feminine
hands, and if had been surprised at that
how much more so was l when Mrs. MOrri-
son, who, like myself, was stavi ing ere
through the summer. would frequently throw
both arms around his neck, and while his soft
nose rested against her shoulder would call
him pet names, and not unfrequently her
beautiful eyes would Gl! with tears while
thus employed. "Don john received all
these caresses as if he had been accustomed
to them, frequently following one and an
other OF the Inmates like huge house dog
My curiosity at length became so great
that resolved to become acquainted with
the reason why he was thus houored with
the respect and attachment Of the household
Not many days elapsed before / became ac-
quaiuted with the reasons, and assure you,
gentle reader, l considered them suflic lent
! to excuse any amount of affection which it
might please the superior brute 20 bestow on
his fellow, the dumb one. He had beloug-
ed to DR.. Mosely, of Whtesboro, for many
years practising physician in that place.
4he Doctor had been called to Utica, on
I bil-i ,vi- ],
had been absent three days. During that
, time one of those drenchng, warm, break
ing-up rains had set in. Mountains of ice
were rushing down the Mohawk, sweeping
every thing before them, overfiowing the
banks. carry ing away bridges and dwellings,,
aud alarming many of the Inhabitants, as
well it might-!or one must see a freshet to
understand its terrible importance. One
must hear the crasl and roar, behold the
mad waters rushing headlong and wild, -,
eager for destructou; behold the floating
wrecks of rlany a dwelling, often bearing
ching of life," and som etimes a human life,
as was witnessed not long since on the
Sehuylki(l.
The night was inky black, and Don John
picked out tho way faithfully and steadily,
never stumbling, but with the bride hang
ing slack across his neck. and his nose close
to the earth his master had little fear for the
consequences. They were approaching Ors-
kany. whore bridge spanned the Mohawk,
and Don John whiued pitfully once or twice,
till sharp word from his master warned
him not to show the white feather Ga the
other side be could just distinguish. through
the dense darkness, moving and gimmering
lights, and once he fanc;ed he heard sh out;
but ne lille needed aughtsave getting housed
as soou as possible; and sleeping OF the fati-
CUES consequent to his profession.
Now stop, Don, step sure; old Oriskany
bridge to my own hand and your kuo Wedge,
has lost many plank said the Doctor, pat
ting his beasts neck and pushing the wet
tangled front lock from his eyes.
They were now ascending the little emf
uence leading to the entrance, when the
horse stopped. Go on. sir.' said the Doctor
you are nearly home.' Still no attempt at
going on, and beneath them the angry waters
roared and beloved like maddened devils
banked of their prey. DO you hear me-
sir , with a smart buffet on the neck, and a
gathering up of the loosened bride into the
firm determined hand and the animal started
slowly, steadily, surely. frmy-though
the broad back slightly shivered from tim
to time, and the gait was so measured and
methodical, that at any other time he woul!
have observed it. As it was he only let
have smoothed his neck, for he had kind
ly heart and his poor beast had labored hard
through dreadful weather, and was sadly in
need of food and shelter.
Toward the end of the bridge the steps
became slower, and once stumbled in the
hind foot. A quick grasp at the bride, and
a CHEEKY "easy, ohn-easy, sir!' and again
the horses hoofs rcsounded on the hard
road. They were across, for the animal
neighed, and tossed his head till the Doctor
shook in his saddle. 'One more mile to so,
poor fellow, but first and you want some
refreshments.' So riding up to small
tavern door, where gonial light was shin
ing from the windows, he called loudly for /
the landlord. a dozen or more of the in
mates of the house came rushing to the door
with lanterns which they carried aloft, and !
a Good God Doctor, where did You come
'front.' broke from their lips almost smul-
taneously.
Come from? Why, from over the Mo
hawk! What is the matter? Has the
freshet carried away any of your senses?-
Hero boy,' as dismounting, he threw the
rein to gaping fellow, give John some /
thing nice. and dry him off. Keep him /
we'll wrapped up while he eats, and, land /
lord want tumbler of red hot Jamaica,
quick.'
Doctor said the group have you crossed
the Mohawk to night? and if so how?'
'Why, on the bridge; are you all drunk?'
said the exasperated physician.
Doctor said the old gray-headed land /
lord, "that bridge went down the Mohawk, /
this afternoon! Come with me and | will
show you! II you crossed, God only knows
how you did 1t. /
A shiver went to the Doctors heart-lan /
tern in hand, he followed the footsteps of
the men to the margin of the swollen and |
turbid river. Where was the bridge?
Almighty God.' said the horror-siruck
Doctor; where is my gratitude? my noble