The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-05-17

ueQ CnrOugn LnOSe ola Virginia Hills,
like the roar of huge cavalry charge.
Senator Crawford. being man of great
muscular power, made several efforts
to stop the headlong career of his stall
wart charger, but the more he pulled,
the faster he ran. He halloed finally
to Randolph to "stop-stop; that he
could not stand it; but to all his en-
treaties Mr.. Randolph turned deaf
ear, and the only response he could get
would be the bugle blast of Juba, farin
the van, mounted on the mare Tri1e,
who flew through the air like an ar
row. Every time Juba blew the trum-
pet, the black stud ran faster and fas-
ter, until the corpulent Georgian felt
that all was lost. But on they sped,
until nearing the fiat lands of the
Staunton river, when the cry of fhounds
was heard, and Mr.. Crawford, casting
his eyes to the left, beheld an immense
pack streaming around the hills to-
wards the Christmas riders. On came
the hounds, and on went the horsemen.
Soon the Staunton river came in full
view, which, for the moment, promised
great relief to Mr.. Crawford, of Geor
Consequently he watched Juba
and the mare, considerably in the ad
vance, as they neared the turbid and
foaming river. But as Juba and the
mare struck the river bank, to the
modification and disgust of Mr.. Craw-
ford, in they went; then followed Mr..
Randolph on the mettled bay stallion;
and, finally, Mr.. Crawford felt that all
hope was now gone, and, with secret
reservation to make one more desper-
ate effort to check the wild career of
his mighty charger, he pulled with the
power of "a giant against the bit; but it
was of no use, for the first plunge the
black stud made hekas in swimming
water.
By this time Mr.. Randolph's full
pack of hounds had caught the party
and were swimming and yelling as
though they were within fifty yards
of a wounded stag or a red fox. The
current of the river was rapid and the
water intensely cold, and whilst swim
ming and drifting to the other bank,
the thought and hope struck Mr.. Craw
ford, that when safely across, the ride
for the balance of the trip would be at
their leisure.-Hence it was that Mr..
Crawford watched again, with no little
anxiety, Juba and the mare, still near
ing the opposite bank, when to his
horror as the mare assembled the bank
Juba again brought blast or two on
his trumpet the mare switched the wa
ter from her flaXen tail, and on she
went, Mr.. Randolph second and Mr..
Crawford and the black stud third.
The hounds having an even start from
the South side of the river, now kept
up with the Christmas party, and in
full cry as though they were on the
warmest trail. Soon a second pack
joined the first pack, and so on, for
every few miles new pack would join
the chorus, and on they went. Finally,
Juba and the mare quit the road and
struck out through the fields, followed
by Mr.. Randolph and Mr.. Crawford,
across gullies, bitches, over fences,
through briars, ponds, creeks and
everything that obstructed straight
line. At last relief came, for the party
reached Col. Barksdale's about one o.
clock. Mr. Crawford was greatly
exhausted, and his pants having slipped
above his knees, his legs were scratched
by briars, bruised by fence ratings and
saplings, and chafed no little by, the
stirrup feathers. The premises were
thronged with some half dozen packs
of hounds that had joined the Christ
mas party on theroute. The hedistinguish-
ed guests were received with much
satisfaction and great consideration.
The old fashioned Virginia gentry
were present in full force. The first
thing that greeted the visitors on their
entrance into the mansion, after the
usual salutatiOns and introductions,
was an immense silver bowl full to
overlooking with hot apple toddy; yet
he was suffering greatly from the
terrible morning ride; still, neither Mr..
Randolph or any of the party made
opu aIIuSiOp to If Dinner hniOp an
nounced, Mr.. Crawford found much
difficulty in getting to the table, still
there was no allusion made to the
morning ride. After being seated
around the table for at least five hours,
and having eat and drank through
truly Christmas course, and under
going the excitements of the rich food
and viands, discussion and speech
making, in addition to his corporeal
sufferings from the ride, suddenly the
distinguished Georgian wished to be
excused. He informed Col. Barksdale
that he would be glad to retire. But
little sleeping was done, as the phan
tom of the black stud constantly aroused
the great Georgian, who awoke him
self more than once, by hallooing two
-wo, sir ~ and holding on to the bed
post. About IL o'clock the next day
Mr.. Randolph went to the room of his
friend and said:
"Crawford, if yougo to Georgia next