Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-03-31

strange being. He spent his time principal
J in bOtanizing, for which purpose the val
lies and adjacent hills of Silver Creek afor-
ded ample scope, which he did not fail to
improve for in a short time he had quite
q respectable berbarium which he carried in
a large tin box strapped over. his shoulder.
AT night he was ever busy in star-gazing and
writing down his f%ancies, either under the
similitude of dreams or visions. ThisIhad
evidently beeh his employment for Years;
for he alwaydcarried along with his areen
vanished tn ox a large roll of Manuscript
In order thatkhe reader may understand the
nature and style Of these singular produc-
tons, we will transcribe a few lines of one
Of them -
Friday evening, nine o'clock-Moon in
perigee-Arcturus South-Sign Taurus
evening calm and the horizon slightly hazed.
l was standing on Brents knoll and 1 saw
in my vision a great chariot, drawn by roar
ing lions, and before this l saw the multi
tudes fall crying aloud-'Long live the
Emperor Long live his goodly reign !!
And l saw the Chariot wherein the Emperor
rode stopped not, but rushed madly over the
crying multitude crushing them to powder.
And then a terrible groan arose from the
bleeding throng, so terrible that / stopped
my ears from hearing it. And | asked what
meaneth this And a voice from afar said,'
&c.
Thus would old Danton's Manuscript run
on, generally containing some practical pre-
.cepts andtrntAsv and at times an admirable
bit upon some political or ecclesiastical error.
Many deemed the old man insane, but Of
this all we're not satisfied; he certainly had
strange peculiarities, to say the least of
him.
Soon after his arrival in the village he
formed an acquaintance with the Doctor, who
took great pleasure in humoring his fancies
and at the request Of the old man gave him
access to his Library and to the specimens
Of medicinal herbs with which his cabinet
was we'll supplied. The old man was a
frequent visitor at the Doctors Office, and
many times when the Doctor was away he
would be there reading the theories Of erudite
medical Authors and inspecting the medicin-
al plants Of the Materia Medica. This gain
ed for the old man the soubriquet of the
Doctors Student.
In his ramblcs along the Creek he had
met with John somewhere near the Mansion,
and whether it was from the fact of their
both being of a singular disposition, or from
some other circumstance, it never was known,
bat it was evident that they had upon their
first meeting formed an abiding friendship.
Danton was a frequent visitor to the Man
sion, holding close conversation with John,
but what their theme was no one ever knew !;
for they kept it all closely concealed. No
matter how much they were interested in
any conversation, the moment any one drew
near them it was Immediately interrupted,
and the two personages soon Separated
This was their habits invariably. It was
evident that something was going on be-
tween these two singular personages that
was entirely inexplicable, which gave rise to
certain and various conjoctures respecting
them.
Matters went on thus for a few weeks; John
and the old Botanist holding their mysteri-
Gus conyetsaW2ouSssaMng himseito S%SiAEitioSasS us
vagaries Of the old man. Day after day the
old man was a welcome visitor at the Doc
TORS office, and he was permitted to make
free there as if it was all his own. Matter:
went on thus, as we were saying, until
little circumstance occurred to MAJ the peace
of the actors in our story the Doctor wa
forced to suspect the old star-gazer with dis
honesty; for one day after the old man haC
paid his usual visit to the Office, the Docto
missed an article from his private desk in
manner that forced him to suspect Dantol
for moving it; no one beside had liberty t
ontor there, then who else could be guilty
1t was an article Of apparently triaing value
but the Doctor priced it highly, and its los
gave rise to very unpleasant reflections. Ii
said but little about it to any one exceI
Juliet, but took occasion TO address a not
to Danton forewarning him from payin
any further visits to his office. The old b,
taniat-aG1tAA--vHvAUToIs VI u sJtang
epiStle addressed to the Doctor, in which |
neither confessed nor denied the charge.