Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-10-25

Simpson looked complacently, ant
The fellows who hoped out of tn
ring wounded, smiled maliciously
but his courage didn't forsake him.
The ringmaster looked pleased a
the mule was led up.
Simpson spat on his hands anc
mounted the ANIMAL with his leg
around his neck and his hands claspec
tightly into his equator.
Go in, Simpson shouted the audi
ence loudly.
Then the ringmaster snapped his
whip, and the mule started off. Sc
did Simpson-of the mule head first
He rose, covered with dirt, his i'm
macculate shirt front smearcd with
mud, his new clothes almost ruined
But he was spunky.
Don't give up!' screamed every.
body.
But he didn't. lie mounted the
innocent looking qnadruped once
more. The mule ran in every dlrec
tion and tried all sorts Of ways to re-
lieve himself Of his burden, but in
vain. He smiled just as if the five
dollars were in his hand. Then the
mule stood on his hind legs and the
blood commenced to rush to Simpson s
head, but he held on firmly until the
animal, satisfied OF its inability to rid
Itself of its load in that manner, re-
sorted to the never failing trick of
rolling.
After Simpson had been rolled on
four or five times, he suddenly re-
membered that old Probe bad an
nouncel that it would rain on the
following day, and there would be no
use Of getting that five dollars, as he
coUdn t 90 on Il racket in the rain
SO he gave up.
lie was IA sight to behold as he
walked out of the tent.
When we got to his house, his faith
er saw the condition Of his clothes. -
And he waxcd wroth. And MUIR
mured
Come hither, my gay and festive
offspring.
And he went.
The old man shook hands with his
ear. And took him into the barn.
On the way he broke a picket off
the fence in very suggestive way
1t seemed to me an Indian massa-
ere was going on in the barn.
When | met Simpson the next time
he looked as if he felt like clubbing
himself. He looked as melancholy as
snperannuatel army overcoat.
4 thought YOU could ride a mule,
| said, plavfuly.
so | can, he replied sulleuly, but
not circus mule.
believe him.
--.~. -
ny" AN incident Of Col. Dahlgren's S
Raid around Richmond. We now
learned we were about three miles
from Dover Mills and ten miles below
Columbia Mills. Our guide, the ne
gro spoken Of in the first part Of this
narrative, and who had been assigned
to this expedition, misled us during
the night, and, to obviate the delay OF
retracing our steps, Colonel Dahl
gren, on the representations Of the
guide that an excellent ford was to be
found at Dover Mills, concluded to
cross at that point. After two hour $
halt we again moved on and soon
reached Dover Mills, but only to meet
disappointment. The negro had de-
ceived us no ford existed at this
point, nor was there any means of
crossing the river. He then stated
that the ford was three miles below
this was most obviously false, as the
river was evidently navigable to and
above this place. as we saw scows and
sIoop going down the river, and it
would seem impossible that he should
not know that no ford enlisted in the
sells Jajlv nassing Col Dahloren had
warned him that if he detscted acting
in bad f,ith or Vino we wou)d sure2
" hang him and after we left Dover