The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-02-20

THE PIGEON RO0ST.
BY J. y. l..

1t sounds moro like the sounds that
greet your ear when you enter Mrs. Ray.
mond's parlors on the nigh. Of one Of her
grand assemblies. than anything else: but
stay, here seems to be a road. at least it
feels like one under one's feet
Lets take (which way?'
Stop, | have an idea! said l.
And what is it?' said Wadley.
why, let's feel for the norM side of a
tree
| Do what?'
The north side Of tree, you know. is
the roughess.'
a bright idea. think said Phil.
But our idea was better in theery than
in practice: we examined a dozen trees !;
I've done it in day-time-but by feeling
We could not discern north from south
devil bit--so we took one way hap haz-
ard. On we went, a mile or more, Wad.
ley having the lead.
'Wadley. said !, the roar Of the pigeons
is receding from us; we have got out OF
the roost. and have gone wrong: we had
better retrace our steps
Il dont-oohh and his answer was
broken off by loud splash.
What as the matter?'
oh! l am-the Lord knows where
drowned iu quagmire-oh. belpl--every
step sinks me deeper!
Goodness, man, come back this way
said j, not daring to bulge an iuch for
fear of getting into it myself.
Just at that moment, as if by magic,
the moon burst out in little blue spot
from the misty canopy of clouds which
enshrouded her--the first time she had
made her appearance the night long. and
revealed to US a small rocky heath covered
with haws, crab-aPPles, briers and sedge.
with swampy stream running the mid
Gle Of it. l beheld my friend Wadley
standing in it up 10 his middle, and my.
self on the very brink Of it. Phil now
found his way out withou. any difficulty.
and no damage but the accession of wet
and muddy pair of inexpressibles lap.
pened to know the spot we--had walk
ed a couple of miles the wrong way, when
/ hundred rods in the other direction
would have carried us right into the
camp.
There WAS nothing to do, however, but
for us to reirace our steps, which we did,
but had hardly drawn near TO the roar Of
the roost. when the moon left us to shift
for ourselves agaiu. Grateful for what
she had dono. we groped in silence for
some distance.
'Wadley.' said l. after long ard to-
dious travel in the dark, we surely have
gone more than two miles!'
higher five, by my reckoning he re-
sponded. in despondent voice.
'Ah! see bright spot in the heavens
Il. is so, the moon is coming out again. >
And as spoke. the silver glmmering
orb burst forth in her bright effulgence,
and scudded merriy through the twicker-
ing twigs Of the high trees.
The dark masses of pigeons were piled
up in the trees around till scarce bough
was visible, and some trees bent to the
very ground with their encumbrance: the
thousands that whirled and fluttered
through the air in every direction, were
now distinctly visible. and presented a
singular and wild scene.
Angels and ministers o. grace defend
U.S. cried Wadley in my ear--'yonder's a
veritable ghost, Jack. sure as shootin..'
'Where?' said 1. somewhat hurriedly.
Look, under yonder tree--that thingl
Did you ever see such an object since the
r day you was born?'
Bless me! what can it be?'
1t was white. roundish object, of no
particular SHAPE. and very frightfu to be-.
hold. Phil and l cautiously drew towards
1t, and we found it to possess some feint
resemblance to human being. apparent
ly asleep or dead.
BY all that's funny. it's Fred, as live.
cried Phil. going up and giving it punch
with his sun-b that brought him to his
feet instanter
'Heh-yol good Mr.. Devil. dont stick
your pitchfork into me SO strong Lord
| thought was dead! Who's here
thieves! help! murder!--O ye cut. purs.
es, or Ill show you what virtue there is
in musket ball.. and Fred raised his gun
to his shoulder. l knocked it up.
why, Fred, is that the way you trea,
friends?'
Friends! What boys, is it you? Dear
me, am exceedingly astonished! Devil
ish glad to see you. By all the kettles in
Lucifer's kitchen. | thought was a gone