Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-01
"reminiscences of the Private Life OF Gen
1i& Albert Sidney Johnston ii.-'t4
BY REV. EDWARD F0NTAINE
No. 2.
HIS EQuANIMITY.

| have said that he had at all tunes
perfect selfcontrol / will mention some
Instances in which | saw his power of
selfgovernment severely tried; but his
temper stood the various tests admirably
was once fishing with him in the Col
orado river A large bass seized his
hook, and it required all his skill to. reel
him to the surface of the wafer with a
small silk line. After contestgof sew
eral minutes with the powerful fish, he
succeeded in bringing his fine proper
tions in full view; but just as he was
about landing him, with sharp strain
upon bis rod, be gave an Indignant
flounce, and disappeared in the clear
depths of the stream, leaving the snapt
line tangled fast to willow limb high
above the head of the disappointed Gen
eral. He gave it gentle pull; but find
ing it hung fast, he walked up the bank
and cut q pole with hook to it, and
pulled down the limb very cautiously
and then sat to work very deliberately to
untangle the Gordian knot into which
he, the bass, and the limb together had
tied the line. After the patient labor of
at least half an hour, he succeeded in
righting his tackle, put on another hook
and minnow, and threw out " TO tempt
another bite. In the meantime watched
his motions, very much amused at the
mishap, but said nothing he made no
exclamation of impatience, and exhib-
tied no emotion. | then remarked:
General, although yon are not mem
Der of the church, | believe you are a
better Christian than myself in one re-
spect-you are more patient. If old
Isaak Walton himself had lost that fish
after such tussle, and lost his hook
with him, and tied up his tackle in that
way, he might not have cursed the fish or
his luck, but / think he would have said
something spiteful, and have felt little
blasphemous He replied, Il have
long since learned, Sir, by experience,
that its best never to.get excited about
anything; for in fit of excitement, very
sensible men are apt to do or say some
thing rash or foolish, for which they may
have to repent in II cooler moment
He had a very valuable Newfoundland
dog, which was very great favorite with
the family. He guarded little Sidney,
McClung and Bette, his three youngest
children, in their rambles about his
premises, and / think he sometimes
pulled the little girl in toy carriage.
But the dog one day went into the lot of
mean neighbor to play with eur of
low degree proper dog for a master
as mean and worthless as himself This
man, who had been kindly treated by the
General and his family, but who envied
and hated him with that sort of malice
which the base and vulgar generally
cherish towards the noble and refined,
to distress the children, or show his
spite against the distinguished neigh
bors, or from the promptings of some
dirty motive which is only understood
by the devils that got into
the swine of Genessarat, or by
those who are instigated by them,
threw a piece of meat poisoned with |
to the dog, which came home |
aud in few minutes died with convul- |
sions, in the presence Of the children |
and their parents The little children |
wept bitterly the loss of their favo1te,
and Mrs Johnston shed tears The /
General was deeply distressed. but SAID
nothing in anger. Some one present de- 1
clared that the villain who committed the
deed ought to be prosecuted or shot He
replied that if he sued or killed him, It
would make the man no better, aud 1t
would do himself aud his family no
be would be compelled To en-
iure the outrage, as there was no redress
for it The dog was dead, aud nothing
could restore him 10 hie, aud he hoped
hat his family would bear their loss with
fofiiiude -JdcksOn ClarioH.3 =. a A