The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-01-29

ilat am TIE illSone party, ana tnat ne is my
keeper. You may rely upon il, that the very
moment we arrive, he will affirm in the most
positive terms, and with the utmost earnestness
of manner, that such is The fact /; and then he
will desire you to take me into the asylum
Poor fellow " said the other, with some
slight indications of feeling. Poor fellow -
but there is nothing too extraordinary for these
unhappy beings TO fancy
| thought II right to acqualnt you OF the fact,
said the lunatic, in order that you might not
be taken by SURPRISE
Oh,there was not the slightest danger Of that.
We are too we'll accustomed TO such tIIings to
be deceived either by their nffirmatons or repre-
sentations.'
Good morning, then, for the present. said
the lunatic, as he Quilted the SuperIntendant's
apartment
Good morning mumbled the latter.
In about two hours afterward, gig with two
persons in 1t was seen TO drive up to the gate Of
the institution It was opened, and both pro-
ceeded to the door. AS they entered the place
-" Here is an unfortunate individually suid the
iunatic, addressing himself to the Superiniend
ant, whom you will be kind enough to t.ke
every care of
The other was so COMPOUNDED hy the uneX
pected observation, that lie was unable for some
seconds to utIer n word.
Very good, said The superintendent Of The
institution {; we'll take cnre Of him. ut The
same time laying hold of the astoIisled keeper
of the lunatc, by tIie breast Of The coat.
Sir-sir--sr = stanmercd the coo!nunded
man you labor under mistake : thar, point
ing to the Innate, is the person 10 lie commit
ted your care. l--i-i-hroueit him here
No dorh; of IT, said tLe Uyersee', sIl drag
gng the haptesS wjEl; turwar,t, assisted 10y a.
mother servant of the establishment, TO The part
of tie ASYLUM ;or which he was intended.
Gracious Heavens, Sir wnat is The tnean-
ing OF ihiS y exclaimed the Iucklpss party, half
~nff"raved with nsonishment and Indignation, &
struggling hare, TO dsengage himself from the
grasp of The parties.
"Cornc away, my good man, quietly with US,
said The Snperintendani, sooihngy.
BY all that's sacred, Sir y shouted the other,
with the utmost veheinence,' I'm not the lu-
nalc that is he,' again pointing to The actual
party.
| knewit all / to!'you how it would be-
said the latter, in n steady voice, and with The
greatest self possession.
This way said the Superintendent, careless
iy, still dragging the unfortunate party for
ward.
lbs mistake, Sir, by
ooh, there's no mistake, my good man ; no
mistake interrupted the guardian of the place.
No mistake echoed the lunaric, with the
most perfect noncIlalance, displaying all the
while the most rational demeanor.
SIR shouted the unfortunate party Sir, are
you serious {? Are you aware of what you're
about !?
Perfectly serious i; perfectly aware Of what
we're doing,' replied the Superintendent, drily.
Sir, Pm not the una,ic that is the lunatic,'
pointing third time to The proper party. Let
go your hold, or you retain in ut your PERIL
vociferated the other.
Never mind the poor fellow told you
how he would conduct himself and what he
wonld say observed the klnatic.
A few pulls more. and the astansiied and Ell.
ragged party actually dragged into his de-
sined apartment, when both the Snperinten-
.lant ard the inferior servant let go their hold
| leave the reader to fancy what were the feel
ings of the poor wight.
Quite safe now he's in our custody now 81
and you are relieved from all further RESPONSE
bility,' said the Superintendent to the insane
party, the moment lie had shut the door on the
lunatic.
All right said The luna,c, as if relieved Of a
heavy load of responsibility. The family OF
the unfortunate man will make the necessary
us to expense"
Oh, that's all settled already: the necessary
arrangements were made yesterday, when the
first intimation of his coming here was sent 10
u.s.
So / understood said the Iunatic, in IL mat
ter ofcourse sort of style; and with that, he
quilted the place and sprining into The gig
which had remained at the gate all this time
most sane man in his majesys dorninions.
1t is impossible to describe the mingled sur
prise and CONSERVATION with which his relatives |
and friends were seized OIL his return home
Their frs! apprehension, on missing his keeper,
was, that he had murdered him on the way; and
their fears were only partially calmed by his
assuring them, in answer to their inquiries as to
what had become Of his companion, that when
they both proceeded TO the asylum. the parties
having charge of the institution insisted that he
was the lun;.t;e and took him under their care
An express was sent off to the
asylum, 10 inquire W neither the parties had been
there at all, when the messenger found. TO his
nnutterable surprise, that the facts were as the
unatic had represented and MS the messengers
statements and protesaions to he mistake
which had been committed, Ewere equally dis
credited with those of the unfortunate party
himself, the latter wns not liberated until the
following day. !