Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-11-05

was truthful not tfigned. More than five
years since he exi iressed The purpose OF GO
ing there some I'll he for that object. And
| am strongly of he impression that this
Harper's Ferry rebellion WAS an incident
of special temp,a don ,hs4 crossed his path,
rather than the rebuilt Of long settled and
malured purpose.
"ln March, 1884, he came 10 reside
with me, as STUDENT and law clerk, and
was employed in by office, and continued
an inmate of my family for a year. But
he had no taste fo6 the law. Though
generally faithful 10 his dulles as copy
ist, the law, in ilS facts and principles,
was destined 10 ri emain to him blank OBJ.
surilv. The nj ost perseyering drill on
nv part could not fix in his mind The most
simple elementslot legal knowledge
was disappointed in the result cf my ex
pertinent with Ihim. Possessing, as he
appeared to, so fair s"share of general in
lelIigence. it was q mysteyto me 10 find
in him SO much; relucla6ce to intellectual
analysis. His knowle1ge, however, was
the fruit Of a W lie extended superficial OBJ
servaton Of MEN. matters, and things,
rather than Of reflection and reasoning.
And sill, ia hisI elegant penmanshiP, cor
rect orlhographH, and ready knowledge
of arithma,ic anb grammar, and there was
evidence that inI his early life he had stu
died 10 some purpose and effect. The
truth, when discovered. was this. He
had nurlured til } fancies of a poetic imag'
ina.lon for years, and his mind wandered
in a land of Dire dms.
The world add life were scarcely ap'
Drecialed as Eealilies. While he could
not draw complaint or a promlsEory
note, a score Of fancy verses for lady''
album would be thrown off without effort
as by intui.ionl The use of guns anC
pistols was wAh. him kindred passion tc
! his poetry, as a marksman he was deat
shot. If thrown in the midst Of strife anC
contention, h9 would naturally become
soldier as by Tie force OF this passion
wilhoa, pers sonal motive or inducement
and indeed, is against his own welfare
and happiness. And still he appeared
kind 10 even one; and during the year ht
was with me, though often sbslractec
from his prS per employmentS by his poet
ical infatu&ionS, lie was never guilty, tt
my recollection of dsobliging act or un
kind world toward myself or ny family
never kli iew him 10 drink glass of in
observation-disclosures, or TO utter a Profane
oath. liz would do anything and every
thing reas bnable 10 obllge US, except tt
learn lar
He wfnt TO Kansas during the yeal
1855, and is said to have had something
10 do With the defence of Southern Kan
sas from The border ruiIians. How much
or what, 4 have no means Of knowing
lie was dnce at the East afterwards for a
short lime, but his family and friends
shortly afterwards lost all trace of him,
and for wo or three years have supposed
him dead While with me. never dis
covered ih him any special interest in Alb,
ollionisnl, nor any special sympathy for
the color4d I'd race. If he was ever conver-
ted TO thai faith. il must have through the
teaching df Buford and other border ruff
fans in Kansas.. | know Of none of his
family fri9 9nds who are specially infected
with anli-Slsvery senuAents. Governor
Willard ofVndiana, is his brother.in-law
and he has Certainly been no 'heretlcar
teacher to tkis end.
IL can VI conceive, from my knowl-
edge of the character of Cooks mind how
that without "a purpose Of crime. he would
become the Araslie of the first leader IN
romantic advA Anture that might solicit his
aid. Ii anyb@dy is killed or injured il is
consequence not intended by Cook but
necessity ariS Sing from the circumstances
into which he has been led. Cook was,
in fact, the Bla nnerhasset Of Browns en-
lerprise. without BIannerhassers estate,
but more OF courage and skill" -