Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-05
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY s, 1858.

FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY :, 1898.
EXTRACTS FROM KNICkERBOCkER.
In the Editors table We find the following
extract from new but unpublished novel
1n style it is fair specimen OF many novels
that have been published
Come to the Hermt's Cave!
And they left.
Their path lay through the thick forest,
over miry groves and pleasant swamps
where red and several other kinds of squirrels
were springing around them, with their
puffed-out cheeks filled with cocoa-nuts for
the winters store. The gentle owl, ENJOYING
the sunny afternoon, sang merrilv in the
branches. The snail and the wildcat skip
ped pleasantly together upon the verdant
green. The smooth emerald serpent Kissed
welcome to the maidens, as they tripped
along, stopping now and then 20 pluck aad
eat the luscious horse chesnuts hanging in
rich clusters above their heads.
Soon the cave was reached. They looked
in and beheld the Hermit preparing his tru-
gal meal of fag-root and sorrel. A. their en-
trance be started and gszed earnestly at the
maiden. Equally fixed was Der gaze
They"
But before proceeding further we shall 20
on to give short sketch Of the previous life
of the Hermit.
"He came into the world at small town
called Kansas, which has since become a
large and furnishing territory, on Indepen-
dence day, l776, years ago-the very day
on which the Fourth-of uly was signed. Be-
ing of a free disposition, and good penman,
be would have undoubtedly signed his name
with the rest but unavailable circumstances
at home prevented. Or all his early his
tory we have no account, owing to the negli-
gence Of his posterity; so that We hear Moth
ing Of him whatever until he reached the age
OF ten years, when he commenced attending
the village school Here he escelled in all
athletic sports; could jump four rods and
half to any other girls or boys one; and.
moreover was at the head OF every class In
school. Ga one occasion he Is said to have
chastised boy three times bis own size. for
throwing piece of orange peel at little
girl. When twelve years VI age, being dis
appointed in love affair, be attempted to
commit suicide by taking oDe-thirteth OF a
barrel of wbskey, having read in the papers
that there was enough strychnine in barrel
of whiskey to kill thirty men. But his CONS
titusion wDs naturally 80 strong that its only
effect WAS to make him q little laxative, and
be concluded he was worth saving little
longer"
The following will explain themselves, and,
therefore, need no titles:
1.-The late lamented John Wilson, the cele-
brated Scottish vocalist, who was as excel
lent man as he was singer, used to mar
rate a circumstance which will remind 5.
G. NJ of the subject matter of his co~mun;-
cation to the editor. which We may say III
passing, awaits future publication:-'Oae
pleasant Sunday in Glasgow said be one
night in the sauctum, u stslwart Highland
man entered drug store, or apothecary's
shop. and said Have ye any spirits, or al
cohol? All the shops are closed, and can
ma get q auaigb O. Glenlivat or Islay; | am
sair thirsty. Gamma We give me wee drap
O. .souethin' warmth 1t really did seem
hard case; and the good hearted apotheca
~ helped him TO what be supposed to be 40
uncommonly stiff horn of Iure spirits; or al
cohol The man drank it off; gave him one
wild look; spread bis two hands suddenly
over the abdominal portion of his person,
and Immediately vacated the premises. The
apothecary was startled: What was the mat
ter with the maD?' He took dowr the vessel
from which be had poured the devouring
fluid, and found that he had given the man
by mistake, a bumper of aqua-fortis! tie
was frighten'd half to death! The man bad
left his hat behind him, and the apothecary,
bare-hesded. rushed out with it in bis hand,
his hair flying in the wind, and made hot
pursuit after the fugitive. But be was hope
lessly gone What life Of anxiety the poor
fellow lived for some three months! lie was
afraid to open the daily newspapers, lest he
should see recorded the mysterious and mel
anchoDy death of his victim 10 the public
streets. At length, hewever, his fears died
away. Nothing was heard from the missing
sufferer, until six months after the awful
event; when, one pleasant Sunday morning
who should walk into bis shop but the 'dleh-
ticap Individual himself! Have you got.
said he, to the as:ound,d apothecary, have
YOU got any more Of that liquor you sold me
the last time was here? II you have. give
me a horn. ] never tasted anything like 1t.
1t went right to the spot. Why, 1t lasted me
fortnight. No reduction about that tuid'
But the apothecary contented himself this
time, by giving his returned customer glass
of pure spirits, o. being by much the safer
drink Of the two"