The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-03-02

fore hurrledly discussed pound and nall OF
mince pie, with cut of bacon, for his supper;
and having swallowed half a quarto Of distilled
waters, by way Of security against the night
air, he sailed forth to reconnoitre Mr. Snooks'
premises, and obtain, if possible, an interview
with his mistress The wealthy attorneys
house, with the retiring modesty which is sup
posed to characterize its owners profession,
stood a little back from the line of the street,
and was surrounded with small, but neat
garden. An iron gate, which was secured only
by latch, afforded ready access to this second
paradise, and Mr. Snubbs succeeded in stealing
round to his mistress's window unobserved.
Here, however, he tapped and whispered in
vain; he even yentured to hum, IN dlsconso-
late tone, the words of Scotch song
"This ae night. this ae night,
ra. .-... 0 rise and let me in"
; Still no Miss Snooks echoed back the cadence
of his7song. In fit of desperation, the love
sick clerk now approached window, through
which streamed a food Of light. The shutter
was only half closed, so that our traveller could
easily perceive what was doing within; but
what pen can describe the horror of the unfor-
tunate clerk, when he saw, in Mr.. Snooks' best
parlor, which was splendidly lighted up for the
occasion, with candles and argand lamps, Miss
Geraldine Snooks in her bridal dress, and smil-
ing from ear to ear, leading down a dance with
an elderly gentleman in white, with huge shirt
collar, and George the Fourth wig, and whom
he readily recognised as old Oroonoko, the rich
tobacconist, for whom the tickle Miss Shocks
had often expressed particular aversion AT
this unexpected sight, Snubbs could not sup
Vrb
rupted the festivities within. The attorney,
snatching a horse pistol from the mantle piece,
rushed to the door, followed more lelsurely by
the bridegroom, armed with fFe-shoyel. Our
hero now endeavored to effect his retreat, but
unsuccessfully, as one leg was caught IN a
man-trap. which Snooks had placed near ta-
vorite fruit tree, and the other was held fast by
large house dog, who had rushed forth upon
the first alarm. The fellows cries guided the
company to the scene of action. Lights We're
procured, and poor Snubbs was at last rescued
from his perilous situation. He had fortunately
received little bodily harm, but his fright was
excessive and his clothes were torn. He was
speedily recognised, and his suffering excited
rather mer-iment than sympathy; but what
affected him most was, tn bis mistress, instead
of showing any signs of remorse or pity, joined
very heartily in the mirth which his deplorable
plight had provoked Old Shocks, indeed,
threatened prosecution for respass; but the
good -natured tobaeconSt interiered, and even
Mrs. Oroonoko joined in interceding for her un-
fortunate lover.
The Tilted clerk is now respectable mar
chand, drives his two-horse wagon around the
country, and in the arms of an afectionate wife
has forgotten the disdain of Miss Geraldine
Snooks.
SrBANGEsF SUICIDE ON REooRD.-One night
last week, Greenwood cemetery was the scene
of perhaps the most extraordinary suicide that
ever was committed. 1t was case in which
man prepared his own tomb, buried himself
with his own hands, and then lay down to sleeI
his last sleep beside the coffin which contained
the poor remains of beloved child.
The performer of thls strange act of sci
destruction, was an English ship carpenter
named Sylvester Rupert, about 81 years o
age, who for some time previously had beer
living with his family, consisting Of wife anc
two children. in house on Perdido street. II
October last when the yellow fever was still
prevailing, his youngest daughter, Lizzie, fell :
NlCIlIl W IHS SCOuiS6, anu III consequence "
his poverty he had to bury her in the earth
instead of tomb, as is customary in this neigh
borhood.
Little Lizzie was but four years old when hel
spirit was released from its clayey tenement
and winged its way 'to the land of the leal. =
She had been pet of her father; "the bright
particular STAR in his domestic heaven, and he
mourned as did Rachael at the loss of hel
children and, like her, refused to be comfored
After the vail of pestilepee was lifted from
the city, the business of repairing ships for
time was brisk, and Rupert was thereby ena
bIed to pay off his debts and lay up small
sum of money But it was not long before
the supply Of ship carpenters, who had rushed
in from the north, exceeded the demand, and
finding himself unemployed, Rupert turned his
attention to the melancholy task of erecting {
tomb for his darling daughter. He first pur
chased piece of ground in Greenwood GENE
terry, and then bricks and mortar, and day afte
day he toiled in the construction of "a narrow
| house" The work, though new to him, wa
faithfully performed. 1t was a labor of love
but when completed he had no money lef
wherewith to purchase marble tablet. 1t wa
perhaps his trade that suggested to him tb9
wood might be used as substitute for marble
but, be that as it may, he framed together Ger
tain pieces of wood, something similar TO thos
used in closing the portfolios of ship, ant
carved on the outside the name of his beloved
child, who had departed hence. The door o
wood fitted closely to a frame of oak, and a
the four corners were large screws to fasten
/ to the frame.
/ After all had been prepared, little Lizzie
grave was opened, and the coffin which con
| taned her cherished remains, was removed
its new lodgment.
/ Day after day, from this time forth, Rupor
was in the habit of visiting the tomb. He con
stantly carried his screw driver in his pocket
and at every visit opened the door of the sler
chamber, pnscrewed the lid from coffin, an
read again and again, in the decaying corps
Of her who had been so lovely and so beloved
sad, sickening lessons of mortality. Befor
closing the coffin, he would always strew flow
ers-frail, perishable flowers the remair
of her who had proved as perishable as the!
then, shutting the door of the tomb he woul
pass with melancholy step from the city of tn
dead to the city of the living. Occasionally
would take his wife with him in these visits
his daughters tomb, and would speak to he
of death as a thing to be desired But b
l;etoDar She saw thc