The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-11-21

) himself To Sleep About mldngntt ne was
aroused by the rush of feet up the stairs, and
in IA few moments the room was filled with
men. who began to undress as soon as they
entered, and appropriated the various beds;
one man was left out and coming to the side
of the bed, he said addressing himselfto the
Bishop, "well stranger / am going to turn
in with you.n The Bishop merely looked up
and said "you cannot come here, sir. ''Oh !!
there's two to that. I'm coming" You can
not come here sir" "You do not mean it,
am coming" accompanied by volley OF
oaths You cannot come here, sir" was still
the quiet answer to this. The man began to
faIter, evidently not liking the appearance of
determination the Others called out not to
quarrel with the fellow, they would settle
with him in the morning, and they would
make room for him in one of the other
beds.
Early in the morning. while they were in
their drunken slumbers, he was up and away
steaming up the river On reaching Little
Rock he met some old friends, and in chan
cling to mention this, they told him men had
been killed in that house for much less, and
they considered it wonderful escape. One
asked did the fellow see those boots s"z
" Yes they were at the side of the bed."-
I" All I! that accounts for it; he concluded any
man who wore such boots and such coat,
and was so quiet must be armed to the teeth
and was certain if he had touched the bed he
would have been shot" The Bishops igno-
rance of the risk run saved him, but his con-
stitutional bravery never allowed him to hes
itate II oment for fear ofconsequences.
The following occurrence shows his readi-
ness in danger. He was riding on the Dor
ders of the Indian Territory (where at that
time it was almost as much as a mans life
was worth. to ride a fine horse so numerous
were the horse-thieves and murderers) when
ON solitary part of the road he saw two
men coming towards him; from their man.
ner he knew even from distance what they
WERE He took his resolution, kept the in
side Of the road. and looked firmly at them
as they approached, taking no other notice
of them. they passed quietly. nodding as
they did so, which salutation he of course re-
turned Had he shown the slightest appre-
hension or timidity, his life would have been
worthless, but they could not imagine that
any one who held his own SO securely, was
not armed and prepared to defend his
own.
He was always genial and agreeable in
conversation; as Il friend and companion he
had not his equal-his manner had an indies
cribable charm, while at the same time it
was commanding; the secret seemed to be
that he made others realize that he did not
think of himself Several anecdotes are re-
lated of the effect of his manner upon 9th
erS.
A short time since. friend met Mr. Nc
Macken, of Mississippi, who was speaking to
4 L.
truth of story often repeated at the South
west, that at least twenty years ago, upon
McMackens addressing him at his table US
General. and being corrected and told it was
Bishop Polk, replied 81 knew he was COM
handing officer in the department to which
he belonged"
As an instance of his READINGS in converse
ton. He was once at church where he
heard a brother bishop preach, the subject of
the discourse being principally the travels of
the writer in Europe. AS they were coming
out ofthe building friend remarked to the
Bishop of Louisiana. do you call that the
Gospel?" To which Bishop Polk replied
"Oh no! that is the Acts of the Apostles"
While stationed Columbus. KY, he met
the Federal General Buford under flag of
truce, the rendezvous taking place on board
st, amer in the river General Buford said
he had toast to propose which all could
drink, and then gave the memory of George
Washington Cen Polk drank it, adding
"the first Rebel"
As an illustration of the piety and earnest
ness of his character. as well as the charm of
his manner. after having in the course of his
travels stayed at the house of gentleman,
previously unknown to him. as the Bishop
drove from the gate his host remarked. Il
now realize what the apostle meant when he
said some have entertained angels una
wares"
Only the Sunday previous 10 his death stop
ping at Il poor cabin he sat drying himself
by the fire. Children all loved him instinct
lively; a little girl OF two, far from clean, APP
preached him he took her on his knee and
began singing to her some nursery song
she smiled up in his face and he said to one
OF his aids, & / wonder if the mother would
he offended if | washed this child's face, l do
so love to kiss the innocents"
He being dead, yet speaketh" The me-
mory of his single minded devotion to God
and to his duty will never he forgotten by
those who knew him. He impressed himself
in the most remarkable manner on the PEG
pie with whom he was brought into actual
contact; while under his immediate influence
he carried them along with him, and many
remarks unheeded at the time, have since his
departure been recalled with delight, and are
treasured as an incentive to the performance
of the duties of life. The writer has frequent
ly been told within the past year. that his
bright, living example while connected with
the army, had far more effect upon the men
by whom he was surrounded, than many SER
mons which they had heard from him in days
of peace, and the wonderful growth of the
Church, in Louisiana, since the close of the
war proves conclusively that he neither lived
nor died in vain.