The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-06-13
Volume 13---Number .67e..
AN AMUSING STORY.

| Hooper, the editor of an Alabama ionrnal,
vlose name we, just now forget, bnt which has
always something in it to make US laugh, tells
| " tae following yarn g. ,e .-. a. sfsi
'Shall I tell you bit of story, having no
ennection with politics, this hot, dry weather.
| by permission 2''F E.s*Ea bad ~'at
'Ol6 Col. D., of the Mobile district.
was one OF the most singular G. aracters ever
lnown in Alabama. He was testy aad eccen-
ric, but possessed many fne qualities, which
we're fully appreciated by the people OF the dis
| trict Many of his freaks are yet fresh in the
/ memory of the 'od uns of Mobile all will
tell you that the Colonel, though bard to beat,
was once terribly taken in by couple of legal
tyros 1t is George Wood ward, I believe, tells
the story; but however that may be- it is in
keeping with others related of the old gentle
man. @F .5.. 1867 s<4e5
ut seems that Col. D. had misunder-
standing with the two gentlemen alluded to,
ana was not on speaking terms with them, al
though all three of them We're professionally
riding the circuit pretty much together. The
young oues being well aware of she Colonel's
eraselble nature, determined, as they left one of
the courts tor another, TO have some sport at his
expense by the way. They accordingly got
about half an hours. start in leaving, and pre-
sently they arrived at broad, dark stream, that
looked as if it might be dozen feet deep, but
which in reality was hardly more than, as many
inches. Crossing it, they alighted, and pulling
OFF their coats and boots, sat quietly down to
watch for the old Tartar. = - 4s..,......
jogging along, at length came up the old
fellow. He looked first at the youngsters, wis
were gravely drawing on their boots and coats
as if they had just had a swim, and then he
looked at the broad creek that rolled before hin,
Ixf,a like fluent nn1ssS translucent star The Colonel
us this creek swimming?" he growled after
pause Of some moments fs. a..asn'r sl
mo reply was made-the young men simply
mounted their horses, and rode off some little
distance, and stopped to watch eur hero.
"The Colonel slowly divested himself of boots,
coat, pantalosns and drayers These he neatly
tied up in his hankeTchiet, and hung them on
the horn of the saddle, then he remounted, and
as he was short, fat man, with. paunch of in
ordinate size, rather inadequate legs, face
like withered applS and brown wig, there is
no doubt he made an interesting picture as he
bestrode his sseed, with the breeze holding gen
tie daliance with the extremity Of his only gar
ment. =. -. -..,.s. + . sea 4... -.
"Slowly and cautiously the old gentleman,
took the creek. Half length, ani the water.
was not fet,ock deep: Here the horse stopped
to drink A length and a half, and the stream
was no deeper. Thirty feet farther, aud . de-
cided sboalihg ..11. p t.,...'
"Here Col D. reigned up. There must,
said he, 'be h-ll of a swift, deep channel be-
tween this and the bank. See how it runs
Wen dash through here 80 tzaz laA
A sharp lash made the horse spring this wat
cry waste, and another carried the horse and ri
der safely to the opposite bank. The creek was
90 where more than a foot deep, n5..s...
A wilG yell from tie young 'uns announced
their appreciation of the sport as they galloped
away.
I'm catch you, you rascals," was then ground
between Col. D-'s teeth; and away he gal
loped in hot pursuit, muttering vengeance on
his foes. ... -.....eEs ...--es... .
On, on they sped, pursuer and pursued. The
Youngsters laughed, the Colonel swore with
mighty emphasis, while his shirt futtered and
cracked 10 the wind, like loose flying jib.
On, on, and the pursued reached, the farm
house on the roadside, Their passing startled
a flock of geese from a fence corner, which, as
the Colonel dashed up, met him with outspread
wings, elongated neeks, and misses dire. His
horse swerved suddenly, and the Colonel, in
moment, was on the ground, In most romantic
'sheap," with bis brown wig lying by his siae,.
and the bundle of clothes scattered all around
The white-h headed children Of the house came
out tsrst, took distant view Of che monster, as
d seemed to them, aud then returned to report
progress. After little while, the father Of the
Family came, and the affair explained, assisted
the Colonel in making his toilet; Colonel
swearing, and the counssyman laughing oil the
while. 20
Dressed and mounted, our hero started of
With voeful phiz, ana was very soon out cft
sight,