Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-11-20
An Interesting Incident.

He who carefully observes human lie IN
all its phases and connections. will ind
much that is pleasing and much that is sad.
Not a day passes, even IN the most quiet com
munity. or in the most Limited circle OF
friendship OF acquaintance but some event
~transpires worthy Of record and
aRce. 1t is our privilege to relate q pleasing
incident that occurred in the family OF enc
of our most esteemed and popular citizens.
Two or three nights ago, = soldier, all the
war from Texas, wearied in body, haggara
in the expression of his face, and with gar
msnts torn and worn, knocked at the door
of the above mentioned gentleman, who was
at the time in dispensing his well known
hospitality to . number Of friends. The
Texan soldier is Of Irish descent, and g.
course well yersed in the rich brogue' Of
that nation. One of the visitors answered
the summon at the door, who after the usu-
al good evening" was greeted with And is
the gentleman of the house in sir I? Yes,
was the reply, 4 will send him to you
The gentleman Of the house soon appear
ed. Good evening TO your 'oner, and can
yeu give = poor soldier a bit of lodging for
the night2 The gentleman was sorry he
could not-his house was full of company.
What, and do you refuse q poor soldier a
nights lodgingsr But the gentleman's
house was too full-every room and every
bed would be occupied and he was COM
PEELED, though reluctantly, to refuse o sec
ond time. However, he could not see the
soldier leave his premises with no prospects
of obtaining shelter for the night, so he kind
~ handed him a sum of money for the pur-
pose. But the soldier persisted in his be-
secches yet longer. Alounge or three chairs,
or even the passage floor would answer. Fl.
nally, the 'gentleman's' name was asked and
given. The soldier seemed surprised on hear
ing it. He paused, scratched his head and
stared. And hcv ye not a son in Texas ?
he asked, at the same time mentioning the
name of the poison 10 whom he refereed
The 'gintleman' remarked that he did, ane
that was bis name. The soldier had known
him out there for several years he was one
Of his most intimate friend and constant ad
wiser he had been with him through thicl
and thin, night and day, in sickness and il
health, in adversely and prosperity, in 10,
and in sadness in fact he knew all abeu
him and could tell about him. The old gin
tlemsn's heart re!ented; he must hear abou
his beloved son, and he therefore invited th
soldier from the dark passage to the brilliant
~ lighted parlor, where in lively conversatio
sat the family and the company. He pause
at the entrance and gazed around, and th
company gazed at him. Suddenly a fair
scream was heard, and one of the ladies,
daughter of the 'gintlsman of the house
rushed towards the soldier. She had reco,
nized in him her long absent brother. Hel
we drop the curtain. The soldier had gor
to his fathers house and kept his name S
lent. while he was SO disguised in appsa
ancs as almost to defy recognition. It W;
q playful trick he had concocted and pc
formed to his entire satisfaction, and IL
surprise of the whole family can better
imagined than described. He had been al
sent from Virginia for several years, and I
turned in one of the Texas companies a fl
days since to fight our battles.
Pet. Express.