Mariposa Democrat., 1857-10-01
A Capital Story.

Some years ago, an eccentric old genius,
whom for convenience we will call Burnes, was
employed by farmer living in town some
six or seven miles westerly from the Penob-
scot river, to dig well. The soil and sub
stratum being mostly sand, old Bnrnes, after
having progressed downward about forty feet,
found one morning upon going out to work
that the well had essentially caved in and was
full nearly to the top. So having that desire
which most men have, Of knowing what would
be said of them after they are dead, and no
one being yet astir he concealed Himself in a
rank growth of burdocks by the side Of a
board fence near the mouth Of the well, hav-
ing first left his hat and frock upon the wind
lass over the well. At length, breakfast was
ready, boy was dispatched to call him to his
meal, when 10! and behold it was seen that
Burnes was buried in the grave unconscious
y dug by his own hands The alarm being
given and the family assembled, it was decid
ed first to eat breakfast and then send for
the coroner, the minister, and his wife and
children. Such apathy did not flatter Burnes'
sefestcem a bit, but he waited patiently, de-
termined to hear what was to be said and see
what was to be seen.
Presently all parties arrived and began "pros-
pecting" the scene of the catastrophe, ms people
usually do in such cases. At length they
drew together to exchange opinions as to
what should be done. The minister at once
gave it as his opinion, that they had better
level up the well and let Burnes remain; for
said he, he is now beyond the temptation to
sin, and in the day of judgment it will make
no difference whether he is buried five feet
under the ground or fifty, for he is bound to
come forth in either case The coroner like
wise agreed that it would be a needless ex-
pense to his family or to the town to disinter
him when he was so effectually buried, and
therefore entirely coincded with the minister
His wife thought that as he had left his hat
and frock, it would be hardly worth while to
dig him out for the rest of his clothes, and so
Il was settled to let him remain But poor old
Burnes, who had no breakfast and was not at
all pleased with the result of the inquest laid
quiet until the shade of the evening stole over
the landscape, then he quietly decamped to
parts unknown.
After remaining incognito for about three
years, one morning he suddenly appeared
(hatless and frockless as he went at the door
of the farmer for whom he had agreed to dig
the unfortunate well. To say that an ava
lanche OF questions were rained upon him as
to his mysterious temperance, etc, would
convey but feeble idea of the excitement his
bodily presence created But the old man
bore it all quietly, and at length informed
them that on finding himself buried, he waited
for them TO dig him out until his patience was
exhausted, when he set to work TO dig himself
out, and only the day before had succeeded !;
for his ideas being somewhat confused by the
pressure Of the earth at the time he was bu-
red, he had dug very much at random, and
instead of coming directly to the surface he
came out in the tewn of Holden, sir miles east
efthe Peao5scot riceri
No further explanations were sought for by
those who were SO distressed and sorrowful
over bis supposed iinal resting place.