Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-08-22
How "Col. Spicer'. came to leave the
"White Sulphur" for the cold

Nh Dear Gazette:
It pains US, inconceivably, to have to record
the terrible grief to which our old friend "Col.
Nicholas Spioer' recently came at the Green
brier White Sulphur" and the unceremobious
manner in which he was forced to leave that
resort of fashion. for the more quiet and less
ostentatious accommodations OF the "SWeet."
The "Col.," who has never been in robust
health, and whose nerves have never entirely
regained their equilibrium since 'Tor6crc' and
his horsemen rode through upper Fauquier,
determiped to snatch few weeks from the
labors of his profession, during the present
summer. and spend them at the 'Greenbricr
White. 80
His selection Of summer retreat vas
made, not on account of the gaity and fashion
and expense of the place-not because Jtn
Davis, Bob Lee, Malone or 'Phiny hlagoole'
we're to be there, not On account OF the roman
ticnesS of the spot, or grandeur OF the noun
tain scsne,y-but wholly and simply Tor his
health. The "Col." required change--he
stood in need Ct the waters-his liver had be
come congested-his digestion was bad-hls
skin had grown tight upon him, like the bark
to tree-or, in other words, lie had become
"hide bound" and it was absolutely necessary
that something should be DONE, or he might
reasonably calculate, in very short time, upon
being called upon to pay the debt which we
all owe, one which cannot be stayed ~ any
legislative enactment or passage OF Home
stead exemptions.
The Col" at last packed his traps and ar
| rived safe and sound, with a whole skin, though
| f;oht one. at his journeys end, and was aot
| ted TO No. $751; to which is attached delightful
| yerandab, and upon which the ''Col. Was III
| the habit of sitting, sometime, before retiring
| m his couch, pensively engaged with his
thoughts and pipe, and doubtless looking back
through the long vista of years, when VIM. >.
Porter. Works tall son." was at the head OF
the "Old Spirit of the Times" and before it
passed into the hands OF Grants right bower,
George Wilkes, the blackboard, and when he,
"Col Spicer. carl Benson "O!d Domln
| ion" and scores of other worthless, were con
sidered valuable and entertaining contributors
| to that admirable sheet, Ny dear "Gazctte'
| how these reflections dc sometimes phi y the very
ID with man, especially at this t'n1e' With
southern man and southern gentleman, but
| zee shall not muse with the Go, tut shall
hasten on to tell of the terrible Calamity "hich
| befell him upon the night preceding the last
! fancv and masquerade ball at the "Wfi;c Sui.
phur.
| The "Col" had retired, as was his wont, to
this verandah, adjoining his room, aud was
quietly and pcnsvciy sitting, enjoying his pipe,
| about . 0 clock in the morning, Occasionally dl
rcctiog his attention 10 the cOmmo!on ard bus
lie incident 10 fresh arrivals watering place,
and calmly observing the servants as they were
ushrring the new guests into their rooms, car
rying the baggage, &C., &c.
| A gentleman and his baggage was ct last
shown into No. $50, alter which ne went dcwn
to the reception ROOM returning, in a few mo.
mcnts with six weeks obi BABY, and seeing
light burning in jG2, he naturally supposed it
to he his room ard very quietly Wa king IN, dc
posied tie little Sleeping treasure. between
the sheets, upon the Coils bed.
| Alter "Uol. Spicer" had finished his pipe.
and his musings and reflections had c)me to an
end for the night he walked into his room, Tor
the purpose Of retiring, and when he had dis
robcd, and adjusted his nightcop, u habit, still
rcligiousIy observed by all true born native Vlr-
einians-hc quietly walked to his bed and turn.
| ing down the "cover," discovered, for the first
time, the slumbcrirg and innocent baby. Ills first
| Impulse was 10 rush 10 the door and exlmin:
the number upon it, believing that lie had it.
advertenty gotten into some lady's bed cham
Der, but finding the No. all right his confusion
and tire idation became awful, and tranicaily
| rushing out into the passage, with the persp,
| ration standing 10 beads upon his ''wrink led
brow" he commenced calling at the top of his
voice, FIR the old coIored woman who waited"
upon that floor, and who was lovingly and at.
tectionateiy denoDinated mother -"moth
er, mother, ''tor Gods sake, ''n,othcr" come
quick. TheoId lady soon camo ''hobbling in,"
as fast as the dccrepitude OF pair OF cd black
walnut legs would allow her, exc aiming,
''marster, ''marster," what is il? Whore is it2
Is it snake or cut tailed lizard? For de
Lord S sake tell me 1chdt is de- NATTER. The
Coz with his eyes almost set" in bis head,
| like dying calf, walked her straight to the
bed, and pointing out the poor little innocent,
unconscious sleeping babe, euquired of her,
with almost bated breath, oh mother what
| does it mean? Whose is it? Where, in Gods
name, did it come from? The Old lady, who
was. at first, as much in the dark as the Gel"
After closely examining the title occupant of
the bed at last exclaimed, "Do Lord bless its
precious little soul " "Ifdy mother has for
saken de, and dy earthly father has dsoTncd
de, me and dy Heavenly Father will take kerc
of de-" oh marster Co.." did not believe
you was man OF dat SORT, to turn again your
own flesh and blood ''de same mouth, de
same nose, de same eyes, de same everything
| "Why" mother what on Garth do you mean %
Il take heaven to witness that never saw or
heard Of the thing until this moment, aud /
| beg of you, Tor Gods sake-bandiDg her 4
uuuuIcu OUlldT W lCmUSC IL DIS
possible-take it away-anywhere on Gods
| earth, just so you take it out OF this room-and
oh 1 beg and inplore you never, under any
| circumstances to nlenton it-tor never, in my
lille did have such az accident 10 happen to
me before, and if any of my Fauquier friends
should ever hear Of it, | shall be obliged, in my
| old days. to forSakc my homo and doubtless
end my days in some foreign elmo. just as
| the Sol" had arrived at this point 10 his
pathetic appeal, the true owner OF the child ap
peared upon the stage, who d going this time
properly into $50 ard missing the baby, came
into 562 and this mystery explained" The
revulsion in the feelings of the &C.," were
most wonderful, and grasping the stranger by
the hand, he exclaimed, in that impassioned
style peculiar to himself, ''Sir, though per-
feet stranger to me, whilst | have travelled
from Main to the Rio Grandee. from the cold
and bleak mountains of Vermont to the Sa-
vapabs of Georgia, where the myrtle aud the
liz, RI tho,