The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-03-30
VERY MUCH OF A JOKE.

1t was during the Presidential CAM
paigh which resulted in the election
Of Buchanan that the writer of the ap-
pended sketch, in company with three
other politicians, rode from Paduoah
to Boston, Kentucky, in a hack. They
were bound for one of the old-fash.
ioned barbacues, and he tells what
happened on the way thus:
The joking Judge NJ. was one .! the
party, and the bottles that peeped out
frem the basket under the seat seemed
to improve the sparkle of his wit, the
favor Of his jokes. and the music OF
his laugh, until the happy contagion
even reached the driver.
Our fun was at its highest, when
turning q curve in the road, we saw
Down its hot, dusty stretch, . solitary
ex-cart with its owner perched upon
what proved to be bags of corn. AS
. kind of advance guard, great, ugly
brindle dog came trotting along, in
advance, and attracted by our noise,
he threw himself in an attitude of de-
fiance, determined to dispute our ad-
vance. With his savage growl, red
eyes, and erect bristles, he indeed pre-
seated : formidable appearance. The
Judge could not let such an opper-
tubity for practical joke pass. Said
he:
@Iu bst the drinks for the day that
I can ruu that dog OF the road"
dDone," said we.
Stopping our hack, he got out and
threw the skirts of his Swallow tail"
coat ever his shoulders, stuck his old
slouch hat On the back of his head, and
going down on '.all fours," he scam
pered toward the dog with the most
frigntful yells, reminding one of the
fable of the ass in the lions skin. This
was too much for tine dog, and howl
ing with fright he took to the brush.
The oxen also saw the fearful monster
coming Down the road, and with a
wild below they took to the brush,
with their tails standing straight out
behind. Away they went, with the
wheels bouncing in the air, bags Of
corn bursting open, and spilling their
contents in q continuous drill.
Whoa, BIazel Whoa, Ball! o.,
Lordy! what shall do ?" came from
the frightened man on the cart, as he
was bounding from side to side, now
grabbing cart pole, then catching at
q bag of corn as it went over the side.
This kind of performance couldn't
last long without . change for better
or worse. as the oxen went tearing
down the steep bank Of little creek
and overturned everything in the wa
ter, about waist deep. One OK, get
ting loose, went up the opposite bank
aud soon disappeared, while the other
covered down piteously believing
rs we came up TO the scene Of disaster.
There stood the poor man in water 10
his waist, his wagon overturned and
half his corn soaking in the water,
while the other half was scattered i'm
the woods. lie looked scared and
pififui, and said:
go, Lordy, stranger, don't meyer do
that ar any more, I'm ruined ~
Ii was q splendid success, that joke,
and there stood the Judge holding on
to . sapling and laughing till the tears
ran dewn his cheeks.
We took up subscription for the
poor fellow, Judge heading the list
with an amount covering the damage,
and we added to it until we left the
poor man in thankfulness that he had
sold his corn so well. At the barba-
cue the Judge bet all his money on
horse race, and lost, and from that and
the effects of his drinks at our ex-
pense, we had to carry him to our
hack on a barn-door. On our way
home he insisted upon standing upon
his head.
Which was the ruined man?
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