The Goldsboro star. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1881-18??, 1882-01-07

smallsized gophers and a wild cat. What
he gave his customer the wild cot for, we
a,e unable to say, but it is our opinion
that this hideous animal is coin OF no
great value estimated, perhaps, at one, or
probably five cents, -and takes 80 many
to make o gopher but we believe one
wildcat could matte gopher--'git," and
that p. d. q. AS the time was drawing
near when we had TO make our departure.
We concluded before leaving, to invest
one.half of our money (Which was only
ten cent piece) for tobacco, and when
we offered our coin to the merchant, he
became tnraged, and his innocent and
bland like disposition was transformed
into diabolcal nature. He leaped from
behind the counter, and like the tragedian,
who becomes enthusiastic in the char.
acter he represents, paced the floor,
tore his hair, wing his hands, stamped
his feet, and with one hideous yell, seized
,ls by the collar and threw us into a
meal box, and then went ont and locked
the door. What had we done that wa
shonld be treated in such manner
few moments before tho knight Of tha
counter was as mild and as pleasant an a
May morn. lie was cracking his Jokes.
narrating his exploits up and down the
rivers OF South West Georgia, and telling
us how many hundred rails he used to
split when small boy before breakfast
the number of miles he could walk in
ten minutes, ETC. But, alas there was
sad, sad change! He was changed from
sunshine into thundc: storm. A chan 90
came over us also. We were turned
from conccited hero to an humble poodle
dog Instead of feeling bold and lion.
lika, we felt like murderer, who was
trying to escape from the hands OF jus-
tice. We trembled, and orr hair ''stood
on end like the quilts upon the fretfnl
porcupine.' At last the merchant re-
turned with It body of armed men.
followed by women, children and dogs
We were taken from the store out into tba
alreet, where a proceasisn wea formed
tho writer and the enraged merchant
taking tho lead, followed by The armel
body of men, the different reli-
gio,ls denominations and secret organ.
nations, the most prominent of The
latter being the KIN klnx. The command
was given, and the assembled mass
began to move. We marched about
two miles, and halted at beautiful
grove, where We Witnessed our would-
be fate--,he gallows, which was
tasiefully decorated with gopher shells
and wildcat hides. The banjo. fiddla
and dulcimer were sending forth their
melodious strains to the heavens. l,allons
were sailing in mid.air, banners were
floating, and the average small hoy was
firing his toy pistol. This was q gala
day for tho citizens of !Colqutt, but q
sail one for the writer. The hour of OK
ocution arrived, and VIC Thought our time
had come when mortal man must render
up his earthly garb for that Of a spiritual
robe. We were placed on the gallows
the rope adjusted around our neck,
and when the black cap--the cap that
shuts of the light from this world--was
applied to our face, the band--that Ia the
banjo, fiddle and dulicimer- struck M the
tune Of 1.-THE Young man on the flying
Trapeze.' While the executioner in
the act of cutting the fatal rope, the earth
began to shake: the wind commenced to
rise until terrible gale came up tor.
rents of rain began to fall: the trees
wore torn from their roots, and
were flying in every direction the assem-
bled crowd became excited, and dispersed
from the grove-the place where con-
ceited hero was to be executed for limo.
Gently attempting to pass an illegal
currency. We were left alone on the
platform of death to encounter the raging
storm, expecting every moment to
be conveyed 10 THAT bourn from
whence no traveller returns" After
tho storm was over, kind hearted man
with blne Eyeglasses came 10 our rescue,
and released us from the jaws of death,
and We went on our way rejoicing.