The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-05-08
A Capital Story.

Some years since an eccentric old genius nam
ed Barnes, was employed by farmer iNins 10 a
town some six or seven miles westerly from the
Penobscot river, Maine, TO dig well. Tho scll
aud substratum being mostly Of sand old Barnes
after having progressed downward about hriy
feet found onc morning upon going g work that
the well had essentially caycd 10. and was full
nearly to the top. So having the desire which
men have Of knowing what will be said OF them
after they are dead, and no one being yet asiirf
he concealed himself in a rank growth of bur.
docks BY the side Of board fence near the mouth
OF the we'll, having first lefi his frock and hat on
tic windlasa over The wellg Az length breakfast
being ready, boy was dispatched TO --ll hin 70
his meal, when 10! and behold it was seen that
Rarn,s was buried in the grave uhc)nselously
dug by his own hands. Ihe alarm icing given,
and the family assembled, II was decided to first
eat breakfast, and then send for the coroner. the
minister and bis wife aul children. Such apathy
did not aatter Barnas' scll-egeem bit, but he
waited patiently determined to hear what would
be said aud see what was TO be seen.
Presently an parties arrived and began pros
i pectug the scene Of the catastrophe, as people
/ usually do IN such cases. AT hnglh they drew
4 together to eAchangc opinion. as 70 what should
/ be done The minister at once give his opinion
that they had better level up the well and let
Barnes remainj "for," said be che is now be-
yond the Temptation of sin, and in the day Of
judgement it win make no difference whether he
is buried sye feet under ground o. fifty. ior he =
bound to one forth in either case" The coron-
er likewise agreed that It voad be needless ex-
pense to Iris f,mily or the town TO disinter him
when he was efectually buried. and therefore CO.
incided with the minister.
His wife thought as che had left bis hat and
frock II would hardly be worth while 70 dig hin
out for the rest Of his clothes, and so il was de-
eiled TO let lin remain, But poor old Basnest
who had no breakfast, and not at all pie scd viii
the resah Of ,he Inquest, lay quiet until the shade,
Of evening stole over the landscape, when be dc.
parted to parts upsnown. Ai,er remaining ~
seguity for about three years, one morning h'
sudienly appeared (baiess and frook!ess as h'
VENT at tie door of the oil farmer. fof whom he
bal agreed 10 3ig the unfortunate well. To a!
that an avalanche Of questions we're raincd upor
him as to his mysterious re-appesrance, etc
wouH convey bat feeble idea Of the excitement
which bis bo,hly presence created But the olC
man bore it quietly, and at length informed then
that, on finding himself buried, he waited 70 b
du. out sgain, until hi. patience was exhausted
when lie Sc, to work to dls himself out, and had
only ,he day before sycceedel, for. bis IDEAS be-
Ing very rvpch eonfesed. be had Dug very muei
a. random, and instead ofeomiag directly 10 tb'
surface be came oui IN the town of Holden, 81
mi e. east n The peuotscot river
No fartber explanations xereasked for BY 'hos'
who we're 20 distressed aJrd so1Owfal over hiI
supposed fna resiug place.