The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-29

Chffstnras eve, the 24s6 81 gDefemDef,A olVt
3rne usaaI custom Of those days With gen;
t,ennen travelling Nas III the old fashloneaa
tRosWbtsaed xie. Dir. Randolph was, oI
csurse, mech pleased 70 receive SO d lEsla.
rufsf1el d guest. Senator Cragfofd says 9 = 9
fsH1nds Ar. RanGolph greatly improved IN
teaftlI since he parted With him In WASH.
tf,apn city. and in 6ne Sow Of Spirits, uney
sasup tiIi q late hour discussing the poiitfcaa
news OF the day, and Hea as statesmen,
warriors, poets, and philosophers. uh ~ ~
sizing to bed Mr. Randolph remarked 20 W
istinguished friend that be hsd been inVlteo
TO fake Christmas dinner with an ola auo
esteemed friend, and that s1asmucn Us se
aid not know whether be, CRAWFORD. wo.Ha
come or not, he had promised 10 auenu, guy
added that il NE, Crawford, would conseh'
to 90. they would "ride oEer ID lne> '1A'
ing" ~ -.. ~ Ron.
doiph's friend lived onl5 in the nsgnDo.-
hood. cd,nssptcd at once. AT this, Mr. Ran
doirb kade him goodnight; the weather
t.e;po. eiear. but intensely cold, and Mr.
Grassford .sauch fatigued from his ride from
Washinrfon city to Cbafl otte county, slept
sonndiy. About $50 O'Clock, however
senator Crawford says be was aroused 1lom
t,is 'slunybexs by Mr. Randolph and ser
want wbe Informed him that he mast !" De
nm. IA Il 1gas time to start on the r1de 70
ainner.o Mr. Randolph approached fhe
he'd Wifi "a large bowl OF strong conee
and. brandy, and said 10 his friend
n Drink this. Crawford; ). it. will open your
ewes. brace you for tie ride, ard give
Won an :appetite for dtnneE.o While the
senator ipas dressing and slipping the coffee
and brandy, Johnny approached ana aa.
iusted hage pair OF old English spurs OF
tine purest metal, OF great age ana ar'iseic
design. The spurs on, tte Senator was au-
monisiled that the horses we're ready NJ tne
door by the paving apd champing OF Inc
hits. and at the same tire Mr. Randolph, IN
tha. pecul,ar voice like the notes Oh a SILVER
tru,npet. said: !" Crawford. all ls reaoy ;
iers ride The distinguished Georgian
approached the door, and, by the lisht
~ numeroGs nine torches. he saw three
horses in, readiness. Mr. Randolph,
.poipting 10 an immense black stallion,
even champing, paving, and snorslns'
held BY two stulwart negro fellows, SAID
81 crawford. mount that horse" hr.
Ora WORD being a very large aud corpulent
man, said 4" Dir. Randolph, / can't ride
'tbat horse" q Mount him, Crawford.
mount him." was the reply. Dir. Crawford
demonstrated by saying that he was not ae-
,customed to horseback exercise, ana ne
doubted his ability to ride that animal
iDointing 10 the restless black stallion).
MIR. Randolph seemed irritated, and re-
nlied sllarply: "Mount sir mount
him!n Mr.. Crawford saw that no excuse
would do, and he finally consented 10
mount, which be did after great EFFORT
the stallion neigbing, painting. paWlpe'
and rearing, but the negroes held him &C.
es,rely till the ponderousGeorglan got larry
and sduareiy in the saddle, well In the STIR
runs. and the reins well in hand. AIR. Ran
doiph then mounted large bay stallion or
high mettle, and then came forth Juba, the
trusty body servant, dressed in full livery,
with cooked hat and trumpet. Juba mount
ed the thoroughbred mare Tr,fle. Mr.. Ran-
doIph then said in clear, shrill voice {:
I" All ready" At that the negroes unloosen-
ed The grip on the black stallion. Juba
brought one long, loud blast onhis trumpet,
and the horses for moment stood as II
poised In midair, and then, with tremen-
dous plunge, they started. 49,.
Juba led the way, followed next by Dir.
Randolph and the bay stallion, then Mr..
Crawford last, on the impetuous and hard
moutbed black stud. The weather being
cold and dry, and the roads hard frozen,
the morning air smote the face. as with
shower OF needles; and the Gathering OF
boofs of those thorougbbreds upon the
hard. frozen ground in the stiiless OF the
winter morn soon resounded through those
old Virginia hills like the roar Of cavalry
Charge. Mr.. Crawford, being man OF
great muscular power. made several efforts
to stop the headlong career OF his stalwart
charger. but the more he pulled the faster
he ran; he hallooed finally 10 Mr..
Randolph to Stop-stop, that he could
not stand it"; but to all OF his en-
treaties Mr.. Randolph turned deaf ear,
and the only response he could get would
be the bugle-bIast OF Juba, far in the van,
mounted on the mare Trifie, who he"
through the air like an arrow. Every time
Juba blew the trumpet the black stud ran
faster and faster, until the corpulent Geor-
gian felt that all was lost. But on they
sped, until nearing the fiat lands OF Staun-
ton river, when thecry Of hounds was heard.
And to the left Dir. Crawford cast bis eye,
beheld an immense pack streaming around
the bills toward the Christmas riders.
On oame the hounds, and on went the
horsemen. Soon the Staunton river came
in full view, which for the moment prom
Used great relief to Mr.. Crawford, OF Geor-
gia. Consequently he watched Juba and
the mare, considerably in advance, as they
neared the turbid and foaming river. But
ms Juba and the mare struck the river bank,
to the great modification and disgust OF
Mr.. Crawford, in they went; then followed
Mr. Randolph on the melted bay stallion !;
and finally Mr.. Crawford felt that all hope
was now gone, and with secret reseryg-
Is 10 aff., r.,
check the wild career OF his mighty charger
he pulled with all the power OF q giant
against the bit; but it was not OF the slight
est consequence, for the first plunge the
black stud made he was swimming in
water.
By this time Mr. Randolph's full pack OF
hounds had caught the party, and were
swimming and yelping as though they were
within fifty yards OF wounded stag or a
red fox. The, current OF the river was
rapid, and the water intensely cold, and
while swimming and drifting to the other
bank the thought and hope struck Mr..
Crawford that when safely across the ride
for the balance Of the trip would be at
their leisure. Hence 1t was that Mr..
Crawford watched again with no little
anxiety Jaba and the mare, still nearing
the opposite bank, when, TO his horror. as
the mare assembled the bank, Juba again
brought blast or two on his trumpet
the mare switched the waterfr her fiaxen
tail, md On abe went-Mr. Randolph sec.
onds and Ms. Crawford and the black stud
third. The hounds having lan even start
from tae south size Of the river, now kept
mp with the Christmas party, and in fui
cry.as though they were on the warmest
trail. Sooa second pack joined the first
pack, md so on for every feY miles new
pack would join the chorus. aud on they