Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-11-06

eouth. unlettered slave, spirit Of piety SO shin
ingly practical. When I behold the bFutalizeC
bondmsn evince srch sigrs Of religi90, am re
minded of those tender ard precious little babei
who sometimes delight their mothers with exalt
ed utterauces of the ike, and AN inclined TO be
! lieve thst one knows Just as much about II q;
| the other does.
It pai.s me deeply TO say, my boy, chat Cap
/ tsiu William Brown so far forgot himself oT
| Wednesday, upon the discovery OF the non-srri
val of his spectacles, that be used language O.
sn incendisry description sgsinst the beloved
| General Of the Msckerel Brigade, thereby prov.
| ing himself TO be one Of those erszy fanatics
who sre trying to ruin our distracted country
He said. my bov that the adorcd General o
| the Msckerel Brigade was a 5ead-beat, aad
! furthermore observed that be would bs very
/ sorry to take his word.
/ Such IsnEUays could not pass unnotced, and
/ q court Of inquiry, composed of Captains Bob
/ Shorty, Sarnyule Ss-mith, and Colonel Woberi
! Wobinson, was Instantly called. The court had
a decanter and tumbler only TO aid its deGbera
iions, it ing determined by the War d Dspart-
ment that no fact which could be detected even
| by the aid Of glass, should 90 uuinspected.
William having been summoned to the pres
ence, Samyule declared the court IN session, and
says he:
The sad duty has become ours, to invesf-
gate Getting charges against brother in arms
which has heretofore been the mirror Of chivslry.
Il is specfa against him:
a." First That sad Captain William Brown,
Eskevire, did affirm, declare avow, testify, and
articulsts with his tongue, ticker, and organ Of
speech, that the General Of the Msckerel Brigade
was a dead beat.
Second, That aforesaid Captain William
Brown, EskeviTs, did proclaim, utter, euunci-
ale, and illuminate, that be would not take the
word Of the General of the M8ckerel Bigade.
q" What has the prit - say to these charges
Did he say that our idolizsd Commander y IS g
dead-beat7"
William smiled calmly, and says he: The
chsste remark exactly fs the or:fcs my lips. .
Con6ns yourself to Euglish' says Colonel
Wobinson, maiesticsl'y. What did you mean
By the observation p
Why" says William pleasantly, " I meant
that before be was beaten he must be dead
And after death, you know says William,
reaching one hand absuactedlY toward tie de
csnter, latter deslh, you know, We must all
GsGteA by worms"
This explanation, my boy, was satisfactory
and conveyed q grave moral lesson; but the
COurt felt convinced tina. the second charge
couldnot be thus simply answered.
Captain Samyuls Ss-milh set down the tunb
Ter for a moment, and says he
You're not guilty on the first count Vii
liam; but didn't you say thst you wouldn't
take the word of the General Of the Macksrel
Brigade q"
" Which did, ." says William.
And what excuse have you to offer, my
trooper 2" says Captain Bob Shorty, pointing
his question with bis spoon.
d" Is the general q gentleman 2" says William,
sesJchingly.
The Court believed him to be such.
" An ' says William, " then if he's q gentle
man be always keeps his word, and Of course IL
is impossible for any one to take it."
Verdict Of mot guilty, with T5commenda'
ton to mercy"
Courts Of Inquiry, my boy, are calculated to
draw out the uch humor Of military character
and are equally useful and appropriate with al
other Jokes, IN times Of devastating wsT.
Yours smi.irgiY,
ORPHFUS C. EFRR