The Placer herald., 1874-02-21

WHO DID IL !

The following good joke on one of our
Auburn sports happened some time ago, but
has just come TO light. 1t was just after
The heavy snow storm, and the rain was
falling in torrents. The said sport conceived
it to be good day.o bag quail and con-
cluded to take hunt. The gun was ac-
cordingly taken down, the Ammunition bags
and pouches replenished, the dog turned
loose from his kennel, the heavy over-coat
hauled on. when off started our hero il,
spite of the protestations of his better half
with the firm determination to bag at least
between one and two dozen mountain quail
though pitchforks should rain, tines first.
He went, and was gone more than half the
day. Coming home in the evening, as thor
oughly soaked with rain as though he had
been wading all the time through a river,
his wife accosted him with, "Well! you re
pretty sight, now, aint you? Where
your quails ?" ''Don't," says he, "don'
say word. I've had the devils own time,
already, without you adding anything to
it," With ooh, wi at fool!' she darted
off into the kitchen TO see about finishing
preparations for supper, leaving him to
change his apparel, and fix them to dry as
best he could. He was getting pretty well
along in the business, when neighbor
stepped in Just then his wife called out.
"supper is ready" Neighbor had been to
supper, SO he excused himself for a few
minutes and retired to the dining room.
lie had just seated himself comfortably at
the table, when he burst out laughing
whats the matter? Are you going era
zy? believe you are; for no one with a
sane mind would have gone hunting such a
terrible day as this" "Hurry," says he,
good naturedly, "get the tea poured out,
and sit down, and will tell you little
joke, but mind you must never say word
about it, or I'm goner." "Go ahead l
promise secrecy" says his wife. "Well,
as was going out of town, noticed what
| thought was a rabbit, sitting under bush,
about 30 yards from the road, and of course
hauled up to shoot it. Snap, snap, went
both hammers, but my gun would not go
off, l kept swapping until | snapped about
half box of caps, when l came to the
conclusion that my powder must be damp.
So drew the loads, and commenced re-
loading, but found the powder was wet In
horn. l then hurried back to town for dry
powder, thinking Mr.. rabbit would not be
easily scared from bis shelter, and, sure
enough, when returned there he was. |
fired, and the stupid thing only shook his
ears in defiance. So fred again, but with
the same result. was astonished; but l
loaded with a double charge, stepped up a
little closer, and let him have the contents
of both barrels. But all he did, was shake
his ears. That was too much, so went up
to see what was the matter, and found had
come back to town through the rain to get
dry powder to shoot stuffed rabbit skin,
some miscbievous boy had set for bate,
and was the dupe." His wife roared with
laughter. and said it served him right;
anybody who would 60 hunting on day
like that, ought to be duped." "You may
have your fun, says be. "but for Gods
sake, never tell anyone. I'd give a 800
to know who did it," He did not think Of
bis neighbor sitting in the parlor, and the
hall doors open.
t.