Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-10-14

as he was a thick-tongued individual any
how, it did not seem to enhance his intel
igibility in the least
Says Edmond, rising to depart, what (hic)
do you say, old buck, (hic) do you intend
Chez going to the (hic) celebration
Walter replied by saying, Ispozerlefer.'
which, by giving pretty extended stretch
to the imagination, might be translated into
suppose I'll have to-
III meet you,' says Edmond, at I'm
Gle Johns, very early. Good night"
AT this very interesting point of CONVEX
sation, Edmond left the room, and Walter
rose to see his friend out, which laudable in
tention he would doubtless have carried into
efect( Notwithstanding Edmond had been gone
some seconds) had not his foot struck a chair
which caused the floor to rear up and strike
him In the face, at which he became very
indignant, but saw nothing which could
have offered the insult until turning round
he discovered at the back of his bed, the OBJ
ject as he imagined, by which the insult had
been offered. He started with rage at his
antagonist, without noticing that the bed was
in his way, over which he fell, and as he
did so grasped his overcoat, which he i'm
aglned was the man who offered him such
base indignity, and proceeded to infict
series of well aimed blows, swearing that he
would tear him to pieces which threat he
actually carried into immediate execution,
to bis own entire satisfaction. Satisfied with
] toto lszI L
quietly resigned himself to the arms of Nor
pheus.
Edmond, whose home was halfa mile dis
tant, started thither full of pleasant thoughts
as to the pleasure he should have of going
with Uncle Johns daughters to the celebra-
ton, with the eldest of whom he was in love,
and certain prattling people in the neigh
borhood said he was addressing. EdmoEd,
it must be admitted, was little vain that
night, for he was thinking how little influence
liquor had over him that although he him
self could tell when his head was getting
light, yet nobody else could ever tell by his
actions that he had tasted liquor he then
thought how cleverly he would fool the old
folks, by slippingto bed without making any
noise, &c. But whilst he was in this pleas
ing train of thought, all at once be came to
a large level old field of about ten acres,
beautifully covered over with broom-straw !;
and as the gentle breeze blew softly over it,
causing it to wave most brightly in the
moonlight, he very naturally took it to be a
large mill pond How it came there, he
could not account, nor did he try. He saw
it there, and like true philosopher, deter
mined to swim over it. So without hesita-
tation, he stripped off, entered the water,
and swan to the other side like duck. On
reaching land, however, without thinking
of his clothing, he struck out for home, and
in short time reached home. as he suppo-
sed, but which really was Uncle John s res
idence. He bolted into the cook kitchen,
which he very innocemtly mistook for his
own room, and after fumbling about for his
bed for some time, he stretched himself out
on the table, muttering something about
some body always wallowing on his bed in
daylight, so as to have it as hard as plank
at night Then without further ceremony
he endeavored to sleep, thinking how clev-
erly he had managed to get to bed without
waking the old folks. And here must dc
him the justice to say that in this respect he
managed admirably, for not single person
on the hill knew his being there until next
morning, when the cook maid went into the
s kitchen to build a fire preparatory to getting
breakfast, when by the light of the fire, she
saw, on turning round, man lying on the
L table naked, whom she imagined to have
J been murdered and brought there by the
e perpetrator of the deed, for the purpose O
throwing suspicion into the wrong channel
g She uttered scream, and at one bounC
e cleared the kitchen door and ran to commu
II nicate the alarming intelligence to the white
g people. The family who were early risers
were already up, and instantly repaired t.
o the kitchen to see the poor unfortunate maj
$ who had met SO hard fate. The old gen
e tleman going before, hastily seized table
n cloth and threw it over the murdered man
n just before the rest came in.
It There they all stood around, looking OF
him, expressing in decided terms their pit,
e and astonishment. See, said Uncle John
y he has certainly been strangled; the violen
e contortions Of his countenance prove it, be
1t yond the shadow Of doubt.
q The only reply to this observation was al
1t involuntary shudder, and all again was 81
4 lence. Each person seemed lost in NUT
II astonishment, as they gazed on the corpse
y Whether it was the mesmerie influence ex
erted on him or not, we are unable to say
er but Uncle John had just concluded his re
IS marks, when horrible dictut up rose th
a murdered man, and sat upright in bed
q lhe ladies shrieked and rushed out of th
g room with all possible dispatch Our poo
n friend looked wildly around he asked wha
IN such proceedings meant' His breath an
n swered the interrOgatory; for cask ths
If had contained brandy for the last forty wear
or would not have smelt stronger.
n After a brief conversation which it is hard
r. y necessary to give in detail, Uncle job
is clearly felt it to be his duty to say somethin
n to the young man, in regard to his inten
t, temperate course. Edmond, saws he. fr,