Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-04-24

]papersof piece got up by some pretender and
| signed "a OountrymaD," filed with ISLANDERS Of
Judge Thompson, induces me to ask the publ
cation of the following letter, which speaks for
itself and puts poor "Oountrylnan" right. q.
Dora CoALFIRLD, April 9th, 1860.
Dear Z:-SeeiDg that in the last Stanton
Spectator notice is given Of forthcoming COM
munication from IA Countryman," feel it due
to the cause of justice and to the memory OF the
dead, to say that my poor friend "Countryman"
is no more, and that vile conspiracy is on foot,
and fear has been carried out, to injure his
memory. You know his last letters to the pa
pers represented him in a most deplorabe pickle
-compassed about by furious Bulls and Dogs
and in that condition, foreseeing bis end, he de-
termined to perform the, melancholy task of
writing his own epitaph, in that favorite tongue
of his, ''Dog Latin" So he cut with his knife
in the bark of beech tree which served him as
q temporary shelter from the angry beasts, and
at the root of which, in the deep dark hollow of
mountain, he requested to be buried, the fol-
lowing words descriptive of the horrid death
which was staring him in the face 9at
"Hic jacet "Countrymanus" ictus taurus canibusque
laesus, = A5ia7 :
Magnis causis cecedit sed sctransit gloria mundi"
On the night of the 4th inst, happened to
pass that way on a coon hunt and there found
small company of men digging deep hole at
the foot of that beech, and burrying in it hor-
ribly manged corpse which at once recognised
to be that OF my dear s'Countrymap,n But what
followed attracted my attention and alarmed me
tor the reputation Of my friend. There was a
man along they called "Judas,' or "Junius," or
some such name. And "Judas" said, the North
American In3uns, whose histary he gave to the
company in long figmarole, interlarded with
something about Louis Napoleon, and the Pope,
and the Virginia Conventions, and the tspetty
German Princes"-hat he said them hyuns
never let their enemies know who was killed in
battle, and SO he advised that 'sCountryman's"
grave should be covered over with leaves, and
somebody should be got to write on to the
Spectator just the same as if poor "Conntryman"
was alive. He said he would undertake to con-
sult his great friend HIMSELF on the subject, and
ne knoYea he would get i managed 50 that no.
body would know .C6nntrylDanw was dead
And so the party broke up, with that scheme on
hand, and went up Ia the tree after they were
gone aud read the epitaph, which being put in
to English means "Here lies "a Countryman"
poked to1death by bulls, and tora to pieces by
dogs. He fell iny q great cause.l But thus pass
eth away the glory Of the world" So he is
dead, Mr.. T., and if be writes any more letters
to the Spectator, it amt bin. Now you know
"Oountryman" was amazingly attached to Judge
Thompson, and made the best use he could OF all
the little English he knew to praise his kindness
Of heart and nnimpeached integrity. And now,
if that cuss Judas" or Whatever they cali him
he was 9 smashing looking chap-should get
any body to write hard things about Judge
Thompson, in the name Of "a Oountryman," L
want every body to know that faint him, and
that them Bulls and Dogs have finished my poor
friend, which is better for him than to lose his
character by abusing man he loved.
Yours &C., CooNEY.