Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-10-02
A CAPITAL STORY.

CAPITAL STORY.
Some years since. an eccentric old ge-
MUS named Barnes. was employed by
farmer living in town some six or seven
miles westerly from the Penobscot river
to dig well. The soil and substratum
being mostly sand, old Barnes, after hav-
ing progressed downward about forty
feet, found one morning upon going out
early to his work. that the well had es>
sentially caved in, and was full nearly to
the top. So having that desire which
men have, of knowing what will be said
of them after they are dead. and no one
being yet astir. he concealed himself-in q
rank growth of burdocks by the side OF
the board fence near the mouth of the
we'll, having first left his hat and frock on
the windlass over the well. AT length
breakfast being ready, boy was dis
patched to call him to his meal, when 10!
it was seen that he was buried in the
grave unconsciously dug by his own
hands. The alarm being given and the
family assembled, it was decided first to
eat breakfast and then send for the coro~
ner, the minister, and his wife and chill
dren. Such apathy did not fatter old
Barnes ,self,esteem. a bit. but he waited
patiently, determined TO hear what was
to be said and see what was to be seen.
Presently all parties arrived and began
prospecting the scene ofthe catastrophe,
as 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 we'll
and let old Barnes remain; "for. ."lsaid
he. he is now beyond the temptation TO
sin: and in the day Of Judgment it makes
no difference whether he is buried Eve
feet under ground or fifty. for he is
bound to come forth in either case.' The
coroner likewise agreed that it would be
a needless expense TO his family or to the
town 10 disinter him when he was, SO ef
fectually buried and therefore entirely
eoincided 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,
so it was decided 10 let him remain.
But poor old Barnes, who had no
breakfast, and was not at sllpleased with
the result of the inquest. laid quiet till
tue SnaueS OF evening SAole oNeI.iue lauu
scape. and then decamped to parts un-
known. After remaining incogaito for
about three years. one morning he sud
denly appeared. (hatless and frockless as
he went) at the door of the farmer for
whom he had been engaged To- dig the
unfortunate we'll. To say that an ava
lanche of questions were rained upon
him as to his mysterious re reappearance,
&C., would convey but feeble ideas Of
the excitement which his bodily appear
ance 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 pa
tience was exhausted. when he set to
work to dig himselfout, and only the day
before had succeeded; for his ideas being
confused by the pressure of the earth at
the time he was buried, he had dug very
much at random. and instead Of coming
directly TO the surface he had come out
in the town of Holden. sic miles east of
the Penobscot river! - V
No further explanations were sought
for by those who were SO distressed and
sorrowfuI over his supposed final resting
place.-BangOr Jefsrsonian.