Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-10-20
From the Centreville Enquirer.
Col 7 n Rarr

with Col. John German Barr,
ate Consul to Melbourne, Australia. He =,
vas a man of brilliant parts. With mind a
tored with useful knowledge, he posses
ed social qualities that endeared him to In
who had the good fortune to be thrown
nto his company. Among the many orig
nal good stories that he used to relate with 4
4 gusto pe~culisr to himself, remember the |
:,
Before l relate it however, [ will preface -
it by stating for the benefit of those who
him not, that he was commander Of
the first Alabama company received by the l.
government for the war with Mexico,-and Al
for a while acted as Lieutenant Colonel OF il
his regiment. His amiable temper, his '
generosity, and his manly bearing, eudear- :
ed him to his men to a remarkable degree C
During the cheated term of the Presi- I
Dental campaign of 1856, Capt. Barr, was t
called by his engagements to visit the nor q
thern part of Bib county. The region
not being familiar with him, darkness ap
preaching, and the houses few and far be.
tween he bethought him of seeking a lod-
piug for the night. He reined up his horse
in front of a house. There was a calf
hitched to tie gate, a spinning wheel on
the piazza and an old lady knitting. Eve
rythiug looked quite sRug, Capt. B. Gal
though a remarkably modest man when ne
envOS.sos0u the laIf sex,J Veutured 90 Gu
Suire the chance of nights lodging there.
The GOOD lady after hesitating a while sta
ted that her sold man" not being at home
she didn't like to take in strangers.
GLOW far is it to the next house? 2 en-
quired the gallant Captain.
"About a mile"
Good evening ma'am."
Good evening" Aud the weary horse
and rider ploGed on.
Now if l we're a novel writer | could ap-
propriately introduce right here a chapter
on the picturesque scenery of Bibb and an
other on the extraordinary Indebtedness
of that lineal extension denominated "about
a mile" But as l am writing an account
of an actual occurrence, | have no use for
any depression or Shadyism.
Capt. b rode along until he thought he
had gone "about q mile without seeing
any house.
He now began to think hat he was In
deed going 'about a mile"-that is going
around a circle whose diameter was q mile,
This thought proceeded from the tortuosity
of the road. His cogitations were abrupt
ly brought to a close, by his arrival at the
long looked for house. Custom being con
taglous, aud the good people in that region
being simple in their tastes and frugal II
their wants, he was not surprised to observ
that at the gate, a calf was hitched, on tn
piazza a spinning wheel stood, and IN tn
door a lady knitting. Accosting the lattel
he said I:
"Can l stay all night" The good lad
iutimated that her husband being abser
C she doubted the propriety of accommod'
;, ting a stranger. Disappointed. but notl
ing dauuted, our hero enquired the distant
{, to the next house.
"About a mile but I've done told y
If that before"
es Perplexed beyond measure, he at leDg
obtained permission to alight, hitch
a horse, and rest himself on the piazza T.
t, good lady eyed him with no expression
e, good will, and being often accustomed
lr make the best of a bad bargain, the "a
ut tain took a seat that was offered by no mea
be graciously. In the yard he discovered
,h little light haired boy peepiug curiously
u him ar, und the corner of the hose.
e, ais that your son, madam Z" be
e. quired of the good lady who was busy
r. her household duties, who answered wit
short, jerking, 'yes."
of BY some legerdemain of his own,
b. Captain soon had the little fellow betw'
be his knees, talking quite socially.
for "What's your name my little man !?
at "Captain John G. Barr, Sir" promI
ed replied the lad.
"Well, l hope that you will be a be
at man than your namesake."
for whats that you say ?' loudly in
'in- rupted the mother. "Doa't you dar
en-. anything agin Capt. Barr in this house
len you expect to stay here all night when
ire, old man comes home"
a The Captain CALAMITY a~pologised
lies promised more discretion in the future
tell After q while, the 'old man came
be and when he had rather grufhy saluted
stranger-cntered into conversation.
,irl, more he looked at b. the more he loC
ond perplexed, but after one long and int
you gaze, he started up, threw his arms ar,
t at the neck of b. and bursting into
cried out
your "Wife, it's him, it's him! !"
be ats who ?"
hat, "Why Captain John G. Barr, God
are him."
Never was there such a revolution.
but the chairs of the house were brought
your requisition for the use of the Captain.
but horse was put up, not III the cor crib
elor, near by the mother was all smiles
ends apologies, and never prepared a better
par per in her life.
Mine host was an cid compauion in
S. X.
right
lions ~ FRY fAkrY.-l-ast
Du do says the Washington States, Justice
nf tho Macy Vorh Doliaa d;s4r;ot MO