The Scouting Expeditions of McCulloch's Texas Rangers; or, the Summer and Fall Campaign of the Army of the United States in Mexico--1846; including Skirmishes with the Mexicans, and an accurate detail of the Storming of Monterey; also the Daring Scouts at Buena Vista together with anecdotes, incidents, descriptions of country, and sketches of the lives of the celebrated partisan chiefs, Hays, McCulloch, and Walker. Page: 65
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
BILL DEAN'S STORY. 65
these emotions were changed to bitter sorrow, as one by one they
discovered that the fairest flower among the emigrants was crazed.
The sweet caresses of her mother and sisters she answered only
with a vacant stare; the kind offices of those who crowded around
were uncared for, unregarded. Her half-frantic lover, as he
uttered words of comfort and endearment, was answered with a
look that told plainly she recognised him not, that he was forgotten.
Restoratives of every description were resorted to, but without
effect. A favourite little dog, as he wagged his tail in joy,
and endeavoured to lick the hands of his mistress in token of gladness
at her return, was spurned as a stranger. Songs that she
had loved in childhood fell in soft cadence upon her ear; yet she
heeded them not. Presents from her lover-gifts that she had
treasured in her heart of hearts-were passed over as idle toys.
Her once bright eye, so full of intelligence and life, was now
glazed, vacant and lustreless-her round, full face, once so radiant
with intellect, was now a meaningless blank-and as her friends
gazed upon her they wrung their hands in sorrow, and with sad
misgivings that the reason of the poor girl was lost for ever.
"At length, continued Bill, an elderly matron left the melancholy
group, and started off as if intent on making one more effort
at restoring the crazed one to her senses. Presently she returned
with a large plate of hot, smoking sour crout in her hand.
Elbowing her way in among the sorrowing crowd, she presented
the dish to the girl, and""
And with what effect ?" ejaculated a Ranger who had been
listening all the while, and who now dashed away a tear which
had gathered in his eye. " With what effect ?"
"*As-ton-ish-ing!" slowly ejaculated the wag. "It brought her
right to; and the way she skived into that crout showed that
twenty-four hours' hard exercise in the chaparral is a great help
to the appetite!"
"It took at least twenty minutes to collect the scattered horses
that broke their ropes when the 'laugh that succeeded this termination
to a sad story first burst upon them."
By two o'clock on the next morning we were in our saddles
once more and again upon the road. We were obliged to start
thus early, and then move slowly to accommodate the infantry
who accompanied us. About ten o'clock we came in sight of the
town of Comargo, and found the steamer had already arrived.
60
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Reid, Samuel C., Jr. The Scouting Expeditions of McCulloch's Texas Rangers; or, the Summer and Fall Campaign of the Army of the United States in Mexico--1846; including Skirmishes with the Mexicans, and an accurate detail of the Storming of Monterey; also the Daring Scouts at Buena Vista together with anecdotes, incidents, descriptions of country, and sketches of the lives of the celebrated partisan chiefs, Hays, McCulloch, and Walker., book, 1859; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth38096/m1/69/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.