Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-12-08
Misttl1aNfaMs.
THE MAN IN RED. =
BIT ". o. EATON.
diFrom the New York Nercury.1 af

| E'''''. 800 BY ". O.. EATON.
,rr ~ From the New York Nercury.l aal ac.
| REpDER than the sun whose fiery face was
just pecping over the fresh Green hills Of
Chrstianville, advanced scarlet figure slowly
ialohg tic min toad leading Into the heart of
the town. 81. leI .r... .. ra-.f., .t..s
| An honest dog first saw il and batked at it
A bull9ck in a neighboring pasture shook his
head angril5 at the filming hue and strut
ting bantam in the road, also observing its
approach, watched it With jealous eye and
crowed repeated defiance. .1,,' 7oi mu. .sn ~
I An inhabitant, crossing the road to get her
mornings milk, paased halfway and stared,
and called several hcigtbtts to share her Gu
riosits aha help her see it. " +" ~, ;-,..,.. ''
! As the blbod-tea objest dfe# nearer, it.
prused; as thet had wisely c5njectured., to be
nothing but imam; but he l*as incased in an
etitife suit of red flannel; and not only were
his eoekaj trowscrs, wastcoat, shirt. coat,
necktie, aid zap Of this ruddy material, but
he had red bundle under his arm, that also,
perhaps, contained more red flannel. What
could this rhbitiha ihystety mean? Whence
CAVE the glowing travelerY Who is this pic
Eturesque man :? - ..' ,-' -.
I Ht #as bat a very Small voting man, with
4 ffoirhfal face, Which was ndt red; but pale,
and thin like His slender body He was evi-
IDENTIFY hot III jdks-liis gfavt;" detected visage
forbdding the idea that lie had heard a joke
Jfcf 1 f,ttpisht. 81 extraordinary Vas the
fabric and color Of his garb, however; that
when he reached the witnesses of his drfital
In -Ghristianville, they put a, variety Of ques.
tions to him, but only succeeded III clciting
from his taciturnity that he was q poor young
man IN search of something I'd do, and that his
name was Philip Tillawillygin Why he wore
such sanguine habiiments he #oHld not say.
Anxious to know what he had in his bundle,
thej asked ifHe HAD anything to sell, but hug
ging ii tighHy.lhe said ~ iain7,r1 si 81
|, "No, nothing but this labor; and he had
no money to buy, though he believed If he
gotta chance in store he could buy and sell
with the best man" y. ..-.. .l .'.' '.. ~
| This seemed as sanguihe as lis dress, and
impressed them SO favdrably tlidt he was in
vited in to take some breakfast, ard aftcrwdrd
received such directiotis as led to his employ
ment in store before sundown
| His red clothes attracted gehefal notice
| lthfodghout the day, but. he Invariably refused
! to give any information about it: ALL cotld
| see that it was red fantie. and new, and that
was all they knew. 1t was eAbested that lie
Would change it for faors sdmbre dyes t5-mor-
row, but lie did not ara the storekeepcr,
finding that he Was becoming the object Of
! general sport, particularly amorg urchins.
who saluted him with variety of nicknauies, i
s,,ch as lobster. beefsteake, radish, live beet;
| frebrahd, advised him to put on other. than
such conspicuous clothing: wi .'-.7 .. 81 .'.',
/ To this Ne steadily objected, still refusing
to give any reason, and at the end of the week
the mortified employer felt compelled to part
with him, though his services had been much
valued, For the same reason he lost several
other situations, TO- which BY turns he had
been recounhiehdcd for his good qualities, and
lie finally took up his abode on large farm,
working as common laborcr. where critical
eyes could but seldom see and annoy him. -
I, Sti,l he had made an indelibe impression
upon the minds Of the people of the town, and
his mystery was the towu-talk. SO much 50
that the sight of anything red suggested him
and their inquisiti3e imaghations kept fever
ishly full Of the q Man ia Red" as he was
generally calfed few teing able to pronorrce
the name. Of Philip Tillawillygin correctly
| Notwithstanding that he was mainly out Of
sight ON workdays, he was in no danger Of
being forgotten even in the minds of the least
| iinaammable, hfr lie was sure to- BE seen at
church every Sunday, attending meekly to
the services, while lie refreshed their memo
ries. lis color strongly contrasting with sh.
black around him. .--,y. ,.., -., s., +.
The preacher wss much Interested iH his
1 eehfs but frery deyotee, and always took him
fendetly hy the hand, and With Pardonable
flint at his Uniform, called him his .httle sol
der Of the Cross. Piors oid ladies were mueh
intiamed with him, he was sdck mild and
scrious-minded youth. Young ladies, too,
had kind of passion for him, for be was
rather good-loeking, though grave and always
bin red flannel !; and in consideration Of his red
! flannel it was that the beaux Of the village
we're not jealous Of him.. L was kind OF
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