The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-25

| Dy every pOSSIU1o ueaauS " get MIN TO
talk, or at least to give some tokens of
sympathy; but this strange being re-
manned not only dumb, but as cold
and insensensible as block Of mar
BILE. The wandering priest now left
his charge to the care of his family,
and soon quilted Lierganes gen
eral impression being that the youth
Ehad, through his long residence in the
sea. lost AIs intellect, and with it all
recollection of his early years.
1t is very natural to suppose that
the news of Francisc6's return should
produce a great sensation in the neigh
borhood. People of all ranks hocked
to see this extraordinary parsonage;
indeed, several yrandees invited him
to spend Il few days ct their castles, in
order to observe him more minutely.
Here he was closely examined. and
many men Of the highest character
asserted that his back and some Other
parts of his body were covered with
scales somewhat similar to those of a
lsh; whilst other individuals. who saw
hlm a few Years subsequently, treated
this part of the story as Il fable. AS
regards the rest cf his person-he was
SIX feet in height, neither particularly
thin nor stout; his figure was ::wk-
ward; the hair of hi, head WIS O.: :,
reddish linsc, and quite short. ;It.
had no color iii TIL" face; aid his nails
were entirely destroyed, rs il the salt
water had corroded tucm lie coul,;
not endure Shoes. Hld always went
barefooted. ii clothes We're given l,i,n.
he.wonld wear them; if not, il. woull
go with perfect indifference without
them. And the same as regarded his
food: whatever was placed before Linn
he etc without cyincing thc slightest
preference for one dish ever another:
and II his mother neglected. to provide
him With meat, lie never asked torany.
Occasionally he would utter a few
words, bnt without any collere,rcy.
evidently meaning nothing hy these
sounds. lie could lind his way pep
tectly to places witt. which he had
been previously. acquainted; and his
employment consisted in
carrying letters about the neishbor-
mood. Hence we may conclude, that
although he never replied to ANY cues
tons that were pus to him. he Iully
the orders he received. lie
was even conscientious iii the DISCHARGE
III these commissions, and tho: s,..,>!. J,
,ould always rely upon lis pu2ctua!ify.
Once he WAS dispatched with Il letter
from 1Ierganes to 5antander. 4. broad
sheet of water, trarcrsed by a. ferry
boat, interrupts the way between these
TWO towns; and on the present occa-
'lon the Terry boat w;s; missing, whore
apon he immediately, without renec-
ION, walked into the water, and SWAN
lcross to the opposite shore, arriving
1t Sant;.nuer in a very wet con,!iti;,n:
out on being questioned as to what
lad occurred, he gave no answer, and
without saying Il word. delivered the
etter correctly and then returned to
Lierganes
His relations never Thought Of find |
ns any steady employment for him
again, as ne appear>1 totallynnflt' for
even the most ordinary pursuit. III
his way, without speaking, and appa- !
emily without thinking, he confirmed i
or nine long years to live under his /;
mothers roof. Both she and n.r /
riends had grown quite accustomed !
% his odd ways, and he gradually sunk
nto obscurity. Suddenly. however, |
le again disappeared from the village, /
ind nothing WAS ever afterwards heard ,
If him. Some fishermen pretended to |
lave seen figure bearing a strong
resemblance to him in the harbor OF
Austurias; but this news YVES never
.onirmed, and no trace Of the missing
francisco was ever found The. pro I,
oablllty is, that he again betook him
elf to the sea, notwithstanding that
lis youthful ardor Tor the water had
ocng vanished, and that he had, ever
since his capture at Cadiz, evinced the
most perfect Indifference TO everything
around him. Tieck, who has care.
Iynlly examined this strange history,
thus concludes his account of it:
That the captured man was the lo3- !