Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-02-21

Nor score or years ago, writes
correspondent, there resided in Hunts
Vile, Alabama, single gentleman who
had been raised to the desk, and was
consequently au tait in double and single
entries, 'bntvery slow in{every thing else.
He had passed his third decade, was fond
of the girls, aud very much in love with
one of Huntsville's fairest and most nc
con,plished daughters-to her infinite an
uoyance and confusion, as he was unusu-
ally attentive. lie was very amiable,
and, the girls said, very stupid; was their
pet horror, but their standing convenience
in last resorts; and known among them
as 'sCousin T."- One Sabbath morning
number Of bachelors, Cousin e. among.
them, had assembled in the back-room of
Ithe-law Office of one of the number, when
abe following story was told:
In an adjoining county there was a
desperate negro, who had frequently run
off from his master and been as often
captured. The last time'he ran, however,
he provided himself with double bsrrel-
ed shotgun, and swore he would not be
taken alive. His master, knowing his
desperate character, induced several tf
his neighbors to 60 along i'll the search
for him. When they came up with him
he killed two of the party before he was
captured. He was tried, sentenced, and
executed. After the rope was adjusted,
he was asked what made him Kill those
men. and he answered, Nothing at all )"
and refusing to say more, was launched
into eternity. Many good aud reliable
men, whom yon all know, attest that, to
this day, if you pass his grave and ask
What made you kill those meng" he
will answer from the grave, g Nothing at
all !"
"The story was told with gravity
calculated to give it the desired vurisem
6lance; and some expressed astonishment
some doubt, and others cntire ineredulity
Cousin T., meanwhile, was reclining on
the bed. Presently the joke was seen by
one of the party, who burst into hearty
laugh at the "selI," aud was soon joined
by the rest, who detected it almost stimuli
,aneously. Not so Cousin. I. During
the loud and prolonged laugh Cousin I.
maintained more than his usual gravity
When the merriment had subsidized Cou
sin T. spoke, and said he didn't see any
thing in it to laugh at. This, of course,
produced new peals of laughter, until
finally, the joke was fully and fairly ex
planned to him; whereupon he was thrown
into violent and almost interminable
paroxysm of laughter, rolling over and
over on the bed, and refusing to be quiet
ed. Immediately sitter dinner, and before
his inamorate had taken her wonted Siesta
he posted to her house, his heart. dancing
to the hope that this time, at least, he
would be very agreeable to her. With
out preface, and with much solemnity, he
began:
miss s., there is the strangest
thing down in Lauderdalc you ever hearc
of. a negro down there run away from
his master, and when they tried to take
him he killed two of the men, and was
hung for it. And if you go by his'gravt
now, and ask him what made him Hi!
them men, he won't say nothing at all =
Here he burst into a rude laugh
while the lady looked at him in blank
amazement, and quietly remarked that
she saw nothing strange in it whatever
His laugh subsidized into foolish grin
and, covered with confusion, he stam
mered out that he rcckoned he didn't tell
it right, for it seemed mighty funny tc
him; and, taking his hat, he left abruptly
leaving his sweetheart under the full con-
viction that he was not only bore but
q stark fool"