The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-05-04

ny bOoihF
Such wns Col John -possossiug q
iuHd of humor lhHt no misfortune r0uld rN-
hnusl, aud a flow of animal spirits which
would hnyc enalled him 10 dance on lhe
graves at VII lii- dearest fricudr, or 60 hnvo
sung Yankee Dpudo ~ his own execution,
AZ q much hlnr period Of lcNnn history,
lho writer had lha happiness 20 nuke tho
gallant colonels acquaintance The hfsl
time ! snw him was NJ the city Ot llpuHlOU,i ,iii
lho summer Of 1915 llo WIS Standing on
tho ground htep Of the flight leading up 10
llie door Of the Star Hotel Holding his
sidcs with both hands, aud emitting through
hs enormous mouth boiserous explosions,
he noemnd literally dying willalaufhIer his
tiru trfir,i trt,. ',''. gI,s llila sGinA- IN hia
tnrrhoHd swelled out uH thirk asa mnn'H
thumb, while his oyes, cleaning with savage
muh, remained fixed on furm in the porch
above him. Tho latter was lawyer Seth AT
len, a gentleman with the Hll, mengre figure
at n bnrhcr's pole, huge m,isiaehe aud great
proiuHion Of rulllus. ilo had taught duel
mortal To his antagonist, The previous day,
aud was Just lheu relating ton circle Of won
dering lonlcra the history % his proweSs,
The contrast between hiH skeleton figure,
iuppirh dress, aud narrated exploits, had
struck Neil NJ trnuHcendenlhlly ludicfuus,
aud hence his sudden aud ungoycrmble
nrrriment
'Whnl nre you luughug aI, follow 2 Al
len demanded sirrnly, M lee measured our
falaati Win his eye,
AZ YOU, followed 10y another sonorous
peal, was the answer
'lll teach you how to make sport of gen.
tlcmon' shouted Allen, lfenziod with rage,
NJ lac flew down the steps and aimed a iuri-
our kick fall nl the others fhce.
all ..tutt. tlt.. T..t ,,t liz ,tott IuUI auI
then stopping suddenly, thrust his head be-,
tween AllcG's legs, aud fairly rnisod him on
hi- neck. Ia lhal ridiculous position hc trut
ted with the famous duclisi several timcs
rouud the yard, Hs u strong nnn might trot
with n clnld. laughing noisily Ike M IDIOT
while Allen yoriicrniod for his pistols! Neil
Ihcn walked Oh lcisurry some fifty PAGES
mud tossed his burden into n mud hole, with
roar that was rn.cchoed 10y the %pocia-
tors.
An immediate challenge wps the result
Col. Neil accepted, chose rifles Of The largest
size, aud fixed the distance al hundred
yards.
Il will only wing him. said the laughing
hero, nv -ha- look his stand, .he,sIoo poor To
make good bacon at the first fire he broke
ThC 0riCr's arm, and 30 rhr Etfhir rrUdrt
a mere running reference 10 the rcunin-
ing iagls ofour singular biography mus, close
this sketch.
Col. Neil Was born aud brought up IN n
pine tent on the bauks Of the Cumberland
SivCr iu Tynuessee. Attic age of IL lac ran
away fro In his father, and made his way to
ihc Wilderness Of Texas. tie there adopted
the profession ofArins, which bc never more
Toiiuquishcd lie Inns been cnplain of rang
err, relriiel e ''-'I1,ss,s g''ar.l~I1aH 10 Mex
icau traders, mud general lhcfcHtchcr Cor
the shcr6s of mnuy counties; und yet MI lns
life hd- hccn one long merry laugh. And in
decd hc muy ho snid 10 huvc perfect right
To laugh fever man had, for better, warm
or, more generous heart never bent ina hu-
rrutr t1uSutt. ii- -rir--f,r7tu rt'alize tti- i,-
yoriIe wSl,-To die laughing. Times.