Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-08-03

Two of Cincinnatps raging drummers
relate the following story -
"One morning last week they We're |
through Fayelte county. The |
morning WIS one Of those wet, Disagree
able ONES that will sHmetiinos cofiie even |
in So fair month rs May. Az they
drove through n lane ilanked on one sac |
by grove of lofty trees they saw fox
squirrel spring from the wet grass and |
make his way up Il large walnut with u
haste that manifested a decided disposition
10 DO pahieky. Tho tice Wds ilniost as
tall as any stick that graces the Marirosa
Grove, and once cscQnced in the highest
branches his squlrroship could laugh to
scOrn the feeble efforts of a regiment OF
sharpshOotgrs. Almost simultaneously
with seeing the squirrel our drnmmers
saw small bOr wading through the wet
grass His age could not hate t'een
more than twelve years. His hat
hung down on his haxen locks like
V mark, while from behind there
protrudcd and fitted Ike the tail of
comet the neither cad of his shirt.
No shoes had he on, but he walked upon
the toes Of one foot, by reason Of stone
hruise on his heel, hut the other foot had
a stumped nall, 40 he had TO fall back on
INC UtNl VI ANA WI HNIl7NNAs I'M NNAh
was not therefore, Hs graceful a. il might
have been under more favorable elrcum-
stances. This rural urchin bore poised
upon his shoulder rifle Of enormous
length Of barrel and breadth Of bore. II
might have belonged TO Kenton, Wctzcl,
BuOuc, or any Of the carly pioneers for
ought We know II looked like n trusty
"wenIOn," Just such one ~ one would
want to load with slugs if We we're watch
ing "a melon patch ON "A OZARK aud dole
ful uight
Our drummers, feeling kindly toward
the ambitions hoy, called tn hin, aud
giving the information that a squirrel had
"skcdaddled up that walnut tho boy
turned deaf ear 1t first, surprising, no
doubt, that the drnmmers were puking
fun ut him. Finally, on being told a
second time, he halted aud asked
"Did You see thu squirrel 20 upi"
ave did"
"Thal's enough; TN get hlm;" and
the little fellow took cover beneath a
scrub ash.
The drummers hung their horse aud
buggy 10 a fence, and haetuned To make
| such noises as soon drove the squirrel to
| the side Of the tree next the narksman. A
| low whistle from the boy warned them TO
| lesist, and the next instant the old rifle
l hvlchod loltll flame aud uttered sound
/ that would have done no discredit TO
/ mountain hoWitzcr. The drummeta ran
| from the vicinity Of the tree IN great pre-
| cipitatiun, thinking It's whole top had been
torn out. They were wore scared
| than hurt. for only one limb, two
/ inches In diameter, came down.
| The hoy now loaded and fired with
| great rspidhy. Sometimes the sqnlr-
| rel would run down a iew feet, hut would
| 20 up again atthc next shut Ten times
had the boy fired aud still the little animal
| had whole skin. There was 1T this
| point Of the bumbardmcut shade Of sad
ness seen slowly creeping over the urchln' +
rOuntenanrc, aud on being questioned, hi
stated that lis ammunition was nearly gone
having but ngle load left. Having
rammcd humr his last bullet, he took q
seat against the foot Of tree with th,
camnuss and dclihration nf a hen sitting
upon n peck Of eggs. On being asked
what he intended ~ do, lac replied:
"Mislcr, that squirrel is too high, AM
Pm going In wait ill he comes down If i
takes week.
The drummcrs left the little fellow bit
ting there watching that big walnut. |
that hoy don't get To BE- President il vii
not he because he don't deserve the place