Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-04-09

An eccentric old genius, called Barnes, was
employed by farmer living in a town some
six or seven miles westerly from the Penob.
SEQ. river, Me-, to dig q we'll. The soil and sub
stratum being mostly Of sand, Old Barnes, after
having progressed downwards, about forty feet
found one morning, upon gotsg out to work,
that the well had essentially csyed in, 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 astir, he concealed himselfin rank growth
OF burdock by the side of a board renee near
the mouth ofthe well having frat left his frock
and hat upon the windless over the we'll. AT
length, breakfast being ready, boy was dig
patched to call him to bis meal, when 10 and
behold II was seen that Barnes was buried In
the grave dug by his own hands. Tie alarm be
ing given, the family assembled 1t was dec-
ded TO first eat breakfast, and then send for the
coroner, the minister and the children. Such
apathy did not fatter Barnes self esteem
bit, but he waited patiently ,det. mined TO hear
what would be said, and see what was to be
seen.
Presently all parties arrivs ed and began pros
pect1g' the scene of the cstesh ophe, as peo
pie usually do in such cases. At length they
drew togetherlto exchange opinions as to what
should be done. The miuster at once gave
il as HE opinion that they had better level up
up the well and let Barns remain; 'for,' he said
he is now beyond the temptation to sin, and
in the day Of judgment it will make no diff
terence whether he is buried five feet under
ground or fifty, for he is bound to come forth
10 either case.'
The coroner likewise agreed that 1t would
be a needless expense to his family or town to
disnter him when he was effectually buried
and therefore coincided with the minister
His wife thought that as he had 'eft his hat
and frock it would hardly be worth while to
dig him out for the rest OF bis clothes;' and SO
it was settled 10 let him remain. Poor old
Barnes, who had no breakfast, and was .1ot
at all pleased with the result Of the inquest
lay quiet until the shades OF evening stole over
the landscape, when he departed to parts un-
known.
After remaining ineognitO for about three
years, one morning he suddenly appeared
(hatess aud coatless as he wsnt) at the door
OF the farmer for whom he had agreed to di &
the unfortunate we'll. To say that an ava
lanche of questions were rained upsn Kim as
TO his MYSTERIOUS re-appearaace, co., would
convey but = feeble idea of the excitement
which his bodily presence created.
But the old man bore it all quietly, and at
length isformsd them that, on finding himself
buried, he waited Tor them to dig him out,
until his patience was exhausted: when he set
to work to dig himself out, and only the day
before succeeded, for his ideas being some
what confused by the pressure of the earth at
the time he was buried, he had dug very much
at random, and instead Of coming directly to
the surface, he came out in the town of Hold
en-, six miles east of the Penobscot river.
No other explanation was asked for by those
who were so distressed aud sorrowtul over
his supposed final resting place.