The Shasta courier., 1862-04-05
New Years Calls by the Brigadisr..


Orpheus C. Kerr, writing to the New
York Sunday Mercury, edifes US with the
following description of the impressive and
distinguished manner in which the General
Of the Mackerel Brigade conducted himself
on New Years Day
On New Years day, my boy, the General
of the Mackerel Brigade desired me to make
few calls with him and appeared at my
lodgings in confirmed state Of kid gloves
he bought for the express purpose Of making
a Joke. !,
Wellington" says |, & You look as frisky
as spring lamb"
g Thunder you might better call me a
goat, my Prushian blue, seeing that I've
got a couple ofkids on hand just now.'
The joke was a good article in the glove
line, my boy, and don't think that the
general had boon studying over it more
than four hours before we met.
We made our first call at house where
the ladies were covered with smiles as with
garment: and remarked that the day was
fine. The general smiled in return, until
his profile reminded me of a cracked tsa
pot and says he
" Ladies, allow me TO tender the compli-
ments of the season. In this wine," says
he, . which | hold in my hand, l behold
the roses of your cheeks when you blush,
and the sparkle of your eyes when you
laugh. Let us hope that another New
Year will find our unhappy country free
from her enemies, and the curse of African
slavery blotted out from the map"
l whispered to the general that slavery
wasn't on the map at all and he confden-
TALLY informed me that be dam.
We then repaired to house where the
ladies had very happy expression of fcoun-
tenance, and he told us that it was pleas
ent day. The general accidently filed a
wine glass with the juice of grape, and says
he,
Ladies', suffer me to articulate the com
pliments @. the season. This aromatic bev-
eragc,' says he, g is but liquid present
ment of yonr bushes and glanees, Let us
trust hat within year opr country will
resume the blessings of peace, and the un-
happy bondman be obliterated from the
map"
One Of the ladies said I" te-he''
Another said that she felt +" he he -
believe her, my boy
As we returned to the street, l told the
general that he'd better leave out the map
at the next place, and he said that he'd do il
if he wasn't afraid that congress wouldn',
confirm his appointment, The did.
We then visited family where the ladies
had faces beaming with happiness, and OBJ
served that it was beautiful day. The
general happened to be placed near cut
glass goblet, and says he:
Ladies, in compliance with the day we
celebrate. / offer the compliments of the
season. This mantling nectar says he,
- bushes like woman and glistens like her
orbs. Let us pray that in the coming
twelve months, the stars and stripes will be
re.estabIsAad. and the negro removed from
the map"
He also said Hic, my boy and one of the
ladies wanted to know what that means.
l told her that He was a Latin term
from Cicero de Offiti', and meant Hi jdc, T.
Here lies.
''Oh ~ says she, g te- he-he -
On reaching the sidewalk this time, my
boy, the general clasped my hand warmly,
and said he'd never forget me. He said |
was his dear friend and must not leave him
and / said l wouldn't.
We then called at house where the la
dies all smiled upon us, and remarked that we
cral raised glass, and says he;
'.Ge.yurls, am an old man but you are
the compliments of the season. You are
blushng like the wine glass, and also your
sparkiles. On another New Years day,
let our banner-certainly. let us all do it.
And the negro slavery, blot out the map"
As he uttered these feeling words, my boy,
he bowed to me and kissed my. hand. After
he which he looked severely at his pocket
handkerchief, and tried to leave the room
by the way of the fire place.
l asked him if he hadn't better tai ke some
soda and he said that if would come and
live with him he would tell me- how he came
to get married. He said be loved me.
Shortly after this, we called at a residence
where the ladies all looked very happy. and
said that it was very fine day.
The general threw all the strength of his
face into one eye, and says he:
Ladies, we are compl'm'ns, and you are
negroes on the map. This year=-pardon
me, l should introintcrror- -oduce my two
friends who is drunk-this wear | say, our
country may be hap"
Here the general turned suddenly to me
with tears in his eyes, and asked me to
promise that would never leave him. He
said that l was gen INN, and ought to
give up drinking. conducted him tender
ly to the hall. where he embraced me pas
sionarely, and invited me to call and see
him.
As soon as he had E,ade few remarks
to lamp post, requesting it to call at Will
laras as it went home, and tell his wife that
he was we'll / took his arm and we moved
on at right angles.
1t is worthy of remark. that at our next
calling place the ladies all beamed with JOY.
and told us that it was delightful day
The general took looking glass for win
dow, and stood still before it until tapped
him on the shoulder.
q D'you zee that drunken fool standing
there in the street ~ says he, pointing to
the mirror, :. It's Lord Lyons, s'drunk a
fool"
told him that he saw only his own figure
in the glass; and he said that be would see
me safe home if | would go right away
CHANGING at the moment to catch sight of a
wine glass, my boy, he walked toward it in
circle, and hastily filed the outside of it
from an empty decanter. Then balancing
himself on one foot, and placing his Olsen
gagged hand on pyramid of blanc mango,
to support himself, he said impressive
ly:
Ladies and gentle'lemons, the army
will move on the first of May and, ="
Here the general went down under the
L