The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-28
For the Bulletin.
A FUNNY STORY.

A FUNNY STORY.
The able editorial on the "Cactus which
appeared in the BULLETIN of Sunday last, re
wives the recollection of an incident said t.
have, many years ago, occurred to yer,
learned professor of botany
In the year 1850 the sterile regions through
out the silent valleys of the ella and Colorado
were dotted with the camp fires of the earlies
emigrants to the gold fields Of California.
The all-absorbing dream of this vast multi
tude Of eager men, was the speedy acquisi
ton of gold. But every rule has an excep
ton, and here there was no exception to the
rule of exceptions.
Professor Blank, from his boyhood's days
up, had turned his attenuated back on all the
power and splendor of the mineral world in
order to concentrate the ardor-the fervor Of
his soul-upon the wondrous arena of the
great UegetaJle creation. Nothing, however
ininitesimal or gig mite, in this kingdom was
deemed unworthy his closest scrutiny. From
| the microscopic spores in the air TO the lofty
Biblical oak of Hebron, all were alike objects
of his investigating mind. But like father
who loves all of his children, and yet has a
favorite, so the Professor, while he loved every
vegetable thing on earth, the idol of his soul
the apple of his eye-was the great multitorm
Family of the Cactus
At the termination of each days travel, the
Professor would triumphantly announce to
his messmates his success in finding another
member of the Cactus family
''This, he would pedantically inform them,
/" Is the Mammllaris, the smallest member of
the whole family" The next day he would
member of the Cactus family" and, finally,
when he reached grove of Cereus Giganteus,
whose cruciform shadows were seen in the
light of dim moon, he grew wild, and to
his sleepy companions, narrated everything
known about the Cactus family" from the
present day down to prehistoric times. The
Cactus family" was the burden of his song.
One night the professor and his company
camped in Pimo village. The Indians in
habiting this country, at that time, enter
tanned agrarian views as to the ownership OF
tobacco, and regarded it as no violation of
any ethical code to enter camp at any time
and help themselves.
twas beautiful starlight night and the
moving through boundless contiguity of the
Cactus family" But, alas for the evanes-
cent nature of all mental bliss. A strange
noise in the camp at once destroyed this phan-
tom cactus grove. The professor and his
young Hibernian messmate awoke with
bound, and just in time to see man disap-
pear under the tent.
"Pat," said the Professor "who the evil
was that p
81 don't like to say, sir; but behave me or
not, sir, have me opinion"
"Whom do you suspect q said the Profess
sor ...... ...
81 don't think it right" said Pat, "to
mintion mans name till you are shure of
his guilt, sir; but if you will promise me your
word on the honor of a gintlem an, that you
will niver spake about it, nor niver mintion
his name SO long as yoa live, then I'll tell you
all | know"
"You have my word as gentleman, said
the Professor.
"Now, mind, sir you promise me niver
again to mintion the name so long as you
live, sir, said Pat. Then walking gen tly up
to the Professor, he whispered very softly in
his eager ear: 81 am strongly of the opinion,
Doctor, that he was nain.ber Of the Cactus
famiy!" AT. L.
Buras, La, Nov. 20, 1875.