Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1866-05-04
A Capital Story.

some years since an cccentric old genius.
named Barnes. wss employed BY a farmer
iiying IN town some six or seven miles
westerly from ihe Pcnobsoot river. Maine.
90 O L vel. The soil and substraiurn be-
irg mostly q sand. old Barnes after having
progressed dovuward about forty feet.
found one morning upon going 20 work that
the vel had essentially caved IN. and Va
fuh nearly % the top. 80. having the de-
sire ullch men have of kno~inr whai vii
be said OF them after they are dead. and no
one being yet astir. be concealed himself I'm
rank growth Of burdocks by the side Of
board fence near the mouth Of the vel.
having frst lcs BIS frock and hat on the
~indias' over the weH. At length break
iast being ready. boy vas dispatched 10
cal him O. his meal. whcn 70 and behold
u was seen that Barnes was buried IN IN.
grave unconciously dag BY his own hands
The alarm being given. and the family as
ssmbied. IL was decided 70 first eat break
fast. and then send for the corsaer. the.
minister. and his wife and children. such
apathy did not aat'er Barnes seifestecm
Bat. bui be waited patiently. determined
20 bear what would be SAID and see What
vas % be seen.
Presently al parties arrived and began
e" prospecting the scene Of the catastrophe.
A. j. usual IN such cases At length ther
drew together 70 exchange opinions A. 10
ELat slould b. done. The minister A.
once gave has opinion that they bad better
level up the sell and let Barnes remain.
d" for. said be " De- j. now beyond the
temptation of SIN. aad ia the day Of iuds-
ment q will make no difference whether b.
- buried Eve feet under grouud or 6hv.
Tor b. is bognd 10 come forth IN either
case The coroner likewise agreed tLat
% woail be an expense O. his family or The
iosn % disis,er b. "a uLcn BE- was 20 feet
uaily buried. ani therefore eoincided wiih
iL- minister.
HIS vile thought that a. 90 be hal lcit his
bar and frook it wouli hardly be worth
While % dig ban oct Tor the rest of his
clothes. and 80 it was decided 20 let bim
remain. But poor old Barnes. who had
hal no breakfast. aud AS not Al all pleas.
"a with the result Of the inquest. lay quiet
until he shades Of evening stole over the
landsoaPe. when be departed 70 parts un.
known. After remaining iucognito sor
about three years. one morning be sudden
ly appeared (hailess aaa irock less as be
wcn) to The old farmer. FOR whom &c had
agreed 90 Dig the unfortunate well. To
say that an asalanche Of questions were
rainct upon BIN a. % his mysf crious reap
Pearance. etc. would convey but a feeble
idea ot fhe excitement which bis bodily
prr,ence created. Bat. tbe oil nan bore
o. Iaietiy. and a. length informed them ihai
on fudius himseif bgried. be waited 20 te
dag out again. until bis patience was ex-
hausted. when be se; % work 90 dig himself
ouf. aai had only fhe day before saccced-
81. fr. h.s ideas beng very much coaias-
cd. De bal dug very much AZ random. and
instead % coming directly o. tbe surface.
b. came oai in tbe town Of Iiollen. SIX
miles easi of the Penobscot river.
No further exp.anations we're asked f8r
hy those Who we're 80 distressed anI .or-
rosfal over BIS Supposed fuaI resting
place.