Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-09-25
OLD JOE KENNEDY.

: w oOh tuO SOIu lever UfOk0 Oul
Y Joe Kennedy took a notion t.
make the trip to California. Witt
a this view he walked to lndepen
a dence, Mo-, which was about 3Ot
miles distant. When he arrived a
. this outpost, be found it impossibl,
, to get passage on any terms, ex
cept for the ready money. Of thi.
he had none, and he began to regret
his enterprise. he turned his at
tention towards bis old stamping
ground for home. To think of re.
turning on foot was out of the oues.
ton, for bis feet were CALLED, and bis
limbs considerably stiffened.
One morning be discovered a n ew
camp, and little observation con
WINGED him that they were of the
green order. He walked boldly up
to them, saying to himself as be
went along
'1'll see these fellows for passage
home"
He told them plausible story a.
bout having been robbed, and left be-
hind by bis party, &c, and offered to
help them for day or two for his
board. They took him up at his
offer, and before night he had made
rapid progress in their good opinion.
For one Of the party he appeared
to form particular attachment.
made him his confdant, and told him
his troubles.
ooh /! ! am an unfortunate man."
said he bursting into tears: q have
destroyed my peace, and made my
home desolate.' %
"How? what is the matter?"
'Oh! | am afraid to tell you, for
you would scorn the sight Of me-
| am very unfortunate mani"
"Well, tell me what is the matter,
and if can do anything for you, /
will"
"Will you not betray me?"
@No, / will keep your secret; you
may depend on me-
SWELL, as you manifest so much
interest in my case, will tell yon,
but you must not expose me. This
is my trouble: About month ago
| killed a man, and see by an ad-
vertisement in town last night that
the Governor has offered five thou
sand dollars for my apprehension"
Joe drew deep sigh-expressed
his regret for the occurrence, and
repeated his injunction of secrecy.
The man gave every promise Of
fidelity, but as soon as he thought
Joe had fallen asleep. he slipped
from the tent and aroused his COM
panions. lie told Joe's story, they
combined to deliver Joe up to JUS
tice, and lift the reward. According
ly, they took Joe on board ofa steam
er lying at the landing, and started
with him the next morning. Joe
kept up the hoax by appearing as
much like the man described in the
advertisement as posi- bic. But
when they arrived at their destina-
ton, he jumped up and made his ap-
pearance before the crowd on the
bank ofthe river.
The cry Of "There is old Joe Ken
nedy," arose from every part Of the
crowd; but, to the astonishment of
his faithful conductors and reward
hunters, instead of receiving bim rs a
felon, they greeted him as friend.
Joe turned to bis worthy cOmpag-I
mons da Uoyage, and said
"Gentlemen, [ am under lasting
obligations to you for your liberality,
and hope that You may be rewarded
in this world according to your de-
serts.
81 am now among my friends, and
you have the satisfaction to know
that you have aided an unfortunate
man in the day of need. / now bid
you adieu, with the hope that you
may always be as successful in your
schemes of benevolence as you have
been to-day
The blue noses saw how badly they
were sold, and retired out Of sight OF
the amused and delighted crowd,
whose raillery they could not stand.
Fanny Ferns husband, Mr.. Par