Mountain Democrat., 1857-04-11

An said the dentist, thoughtfully,
you came from E, in DevonShire.-
The name of that village is associated in
my mind with curious incident which
occurred TO me some threeor four months
since.
Now, l happen to have a decided ham
kering, whether natural or acquired, after
strange stories; and my curiosity being
excited / begged the dentist to have the
kindness to satisfy it. Seating himself
opposite me, he immediately complied,
and began in these words
One night between three and four
months since, was aroused near mid
night by loud knocking and ringing at
my door. was just about to step into
bed and my servants having long before
retired to their rooms, hastily resumed
my clothes, and answered the summons.
An elderly gentleman with military air
and address entered.
There was an odd, staring look in his
eyes, but he told me in perfect coherent
manner, that he was suffering from dread.
ful toothache, and wished to have one Of
his grinders extracted Immediately. Of
course | ushered him into this room,
placed him in the patients chair, and
proceeded to examine his Jaws | don't
think l ever saw finer or more regular
set of teeth-not veStige of decay could
l perceive in any of theIn-and the one
which he pointed out as the offender
seemed to be perfectly free from disease.
However, he insisted so strongly on hay
| ing the tooth pulled out, declaring that
his comfort nay, hisvery ylife-depended
on its being done, that consented, though
most hnwillingly, to perform the opera
ton, and in a twinkling the tooth was
out Having paid me the fee, the patient
deliberately wrapped up his tooth, put it
in his pocket, rose, and wishing me good
night, was about to depart, when suspi-
cion which arose In my mind caused me
to suddenly thrust lighted candle close
to his eyes. They never blinked; the
pupils were fixed and distcndcd; in fact,
to cut the story short, my visitor was fast
asleep; and in a fit of somnambulism had
left his bed, and caused me to extract an
excellent tooth. AS he still continued in
his tratice, aud it would lave been dan
gerous to arouse him suddenly, prevail
cd on him to allow me to accompany him
home. lie made his way with uncrrinG
accuracy to the hotel and the gates hap
pening to be open for the reception Of
the occupants of night coach, saw
him to his room without attracting OBJ
servation.
On enquiring after him next morning,
Lheard that he had left by an early con-
veyancc for E., in Devonshire.
looked attentively at the dentist; he
was a tall man, dressed in black, with
white neck-cloth; his head was large,
nearly bald, and he wore a pair of gold
spcctacles which had a trick of slipping
down to the very point of his long nose
whenever he shock his head, which he
did pretty frequently.
Did you ever ascertain, l asked, the
name of your Xisitor2
Yes, replied the dentist. He took the
blank part of letter from his pocket, and
tore off the corner to wrap up the tooth
the remainder he dropped on the carpet
and it bears the address
Capt. II. Ellis, -th Regiment,
| E., Devonshire.
Here, then, was the explanation of my
poor friends mononania. He actually
died the victim Of somnanbulisrh. And
such was my first adventure as executor
of will.
Stealing Turkies-Two soldiers lately
went of turkey stealing in Mexico. The
turkey roost was half a mile distant from
the cncampment. and belonged to a man
who had given umbrGge to some of the
men. The plan was that two of the men
should engage him in conversation, or
otherwise employ his attention, while the
other two should go forward on their
praiseworthy errand. By some mistake,
one of the two who were to 60 forward.
found himself alone; but resolving to
make the most Of his time, he grabbed an
old 'un' firmly by its drum sticks, and
put out at full speed. He had gone but
few steps when he found himself hotly
pursued. Thinking to himself, now, legs,
do your duty, he made desperate brush
for about q quarter, now lost in the tall
grass, (Which had been set on fire,) now
envclOped in smoke, and now appearing
in full view again as some broad fame
shot upward, the rapid hippity clip pace
Of his pursuers falling more significantly
upon his ear at every step. Farther sue
cessful racing, carrying such weight, be
came exceedingly dubious. To drop the
turkey and merely make good his indi.
vidual retreat, could not he thought Of
There was but moment left for delibera.
ton : he was already 'winded,' and would
be gone coon in six jumps; or what
was worse, it would be q gone turkey
without change of tactics. Suiting the
action to the thought, he threw the tur.
key upon the ground, placed his foot up
on its neck, aud Squaring himself Ia
R0urkV, he shouted out to his pursuer
"Now, come on, and if you are better
man than am, you can take yOur OLD
turkey" "Why, Sam, you blamed fool, >
cried the one behind, ''it's nobody but
me with another one."
Couldn't Fool Him.-Paddy served in
Florida, and saw bumblebec there one
bright Sunday morning, for the first time
in his life; and was rather pleased thar
otherwise at his gay yellow stripes, his
Vermillion -tuft, and bright blue legs; but
in an attempt to catch him, got stung, al
which he dropped hrs religious book and
swore blue streak. The next day, Pad.
dy encountcreda n brown hectic, which he
eyed askance and thus addressed: ID
: own you, but do you think don't know
you in yOur .tatigucs"
A Delicate DistinctiOn.-At a country
house where Sheridan was on visit, Ar