SHOOTING AT THE DEVIL.

By “Spinning Bait.”

Dear “Spirit”—Speaking of raising stock, a friend remarked: “We had a jennet to die and leave a sucking colt; brother gave us two youngsters, a present, to feed it on milk; soon as it was two years old, he sold it. Well, the buyer lived in Yazoo, and took Jack to his plantation, and turned him in “the cane.” His owner—don’t know where he was raised—was out with his gun, and Jack spying him—doubtless feeling lonesome, too—struck up his most unearthly braying, trotted up within five feet and halted! With eyes starting, knees in a shake, and his gun to his shoulder, he fired both the loads at the poor animal, dropped the gun, and broke for the quarter! on the way he overtook the proprietor, who enquired:

“What on earth is the matter, Mr. C—?”

“Oh, Lordy! oh, Lordy! I seed the Devil in the cane brake, ah! Shot both bar’ls into him, and am going to get my bible an’ tote hit the balance of my day days; foh fear he might take spite outen me some day.”

“Had he a long pair of black and grey ears and a bushy head, Mr. R—? You know what a jackass is, do you not?”

“Don’t know nothin’ ‘bout ears, but sech horns, Sir, as that devil had—oh, Lordy! I’se feared to go back whar the hands is thouten my bible.”

“Pshaw! do not be so silly, R—; come, I insist on your going back for the gun, I expect you have killed my purchase, and if not, at least you must see if he needs any aid.”

They had not quite reached the place of the fright, when Jack was seen coming along shaking his head, and with one ear flapping about loose!

“Oh, Lordy! thar hit is,” broke from R—.

“Why, you goose, it is as I expected, you have played the deuce with the poor fellow and [several words unclear] what’s the difference between a jackass and the devil!"

R— looked as if a load was removed from his mind, but, turning to his employer, said:
“Ef that aint the devil, what’n deuce does he look like?” Quien Sabe?

HINDS CO., MISS.


Notes:

Source: New York Spirit of the Times 30.20 (23 June1860): 232. (University of Virginia Alderman Library).

Erin Bartels prepared this typescript.

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