Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-27

; departure from Savannah, that may ex.
, plain to you my singular conduct, and ash
!, your forgiveness of It. l will do so If you
will not expose my true character until ]
J shall have left the city,"
This they promised. any name, then, y
continued he, sis Edward Brace, Of Rich.
mond county. Humor has been my beset-
ting sin from my youth up. 1t has sunk me
far below the station TO which my native
gifts entitled me. 1t has robbed me of the
respect Of all my acquaintances; and, what
Is mach more TO be regretted, the esteem Of
some ofmy best and most indulgent friends.
All this 1 have long known; and have q
thousand times deplored, and as often re-
solved to conquer, my selfdestroying pro-
pensity. But so deeply Is 1t wrought into
my nature, so completely and indissolubly
interviewer is it with every fibre and fla
ment of my being, that have found it i'm
possible for me to subdue It. Being on my
first visit TO Savannah, unknowing and un-
known, could not forego the opportunity
which it furnished of gratifying my ungov-
ernable proclivity. All the extravagsnces
which you have seen have been in SUBJ
servience to it."
He then explained the cause ofhis troub-
ling the kind lady before him to give him
his meals at bis room, and the strange con-
duct Of Monsieur Sancric; at which they
both laughed heartily. He referred them
to me for confirmation Of what be had told
them. Having gone TINS far, continued he,
81 must sustain nv character until to-mor
row, when shall leave Savannah"
Having now two more TO enjoy bis hum
our with him and myself, he let himself
loose that night among the boarders with
all his strength, and never did see two
mortals laugh as did Mr.. and Mrs. Blank.
| Far as have extended this sketch, can
not close without exhibiting Ned in one
new scene, in which accident placed him
before he left Savannah.
About two O'Clock on the morning Of our
departure, the town was alarmed by the
| cry of fire.. Ned got up before me, and
taking one of NV boots from the door and
putting one Of bis in its place, he marched
down to the front door with odd boots. On
coming out and finding what had been
done, knew that Ned could not have lefE
the house, for it was impossible for him to
wear my boot. Twas about descending the
stairs, when he called to me from the front
| door; and said the servant had mixed our
boots, and that he brought down one Of
| mine. When l reached the front deor, /
L H6u dlu MI duU uAIos ot0Llh buCI q
| all the inmates of the house having left it,
who designed to leave it, but Ned and my
self.
| holding my boot in bis hand, and having
his own on his leg.
| "How can l leave you," said l, sunless
you'll give me my boot ?" This he did not
| seem to hear.
''Do run, gentlemen" said Mrs. Blank
| greatly alarmed, "Mr. Brace, you've got Mr..
Halls boot; give it to bim."
ain minute, madam" said he, seeming
to be beside himself. A second after, how
ever, all was explained to me. He designed
to have my company to the fire, and his
own fun before he went.
Aman came posting along In great alarm,
and crying 'fire" loudly.
"Mister, mister" said Ned, jumping out
CT the house.
Sir" said the man, stopping and putting
awfully.
"Have you seen Mr.. Peleg Q. G. Stone
along where you've been? inquired Ned,
with anxious solicitude.
"D-n Mr.. Peleg @. G. Stone," said the
STRANGER. "What chance have of seeing
anybody, hopping up at two O'Clock in the
morning, and the town a-fire " aud on he
went.
Thus did be amuse himself, with various
questions and remarks to four or five pas
sengers, until even Mrs. Blank forgot, for
while, that the town was in flames. The
last object Of bis sport was a woman,
who came along exclsiming, "Oh, it's Mr..
Dalby's house; Pm sure it is Mr.. Dalby's
house !" Two gentlemen assured her that
the fire was far beyond Mr.. Dalby's house;
but still she went on with her EXPLANATIONS.
When she had passed the door about ten
steps, Ned permitted me to cover my frozen
foot with my boot, and we moved on to-
wards the fire. We soon overlook the wo-
man just mentioned, who had become some
what pacifed. As Ned came alongside Of
her, without seeming to notice her, he oh
served, "Poor Daily, l see his house is
gone"
81 said So" she screamed out; 81 knew
it !" and on she went, screaming ten times
louder than before.
As soon as we reached the fire, gentle
man in military. dress rode up and ordered
Ned into the line to hand buckets, Ned
stepped in, and the first bucket that was
handed to him, he raised it very deliberately
to his mouth and began to drink. In few
seconds, al on Ned's right were overbur-
dened with buckets, and calling loudly for
relief, while those on his left were unem-
ployed. Terrible was the cursing and clam
our and twenty voices at once ordered Ned
out of the line. Ned stepped out, and along
came the Ilan on horseback, and ordered
him in again.
captain, said Ned, 81 am so thirsty that
can 90 nothing until get some water,
and they will not let me drink in the line."
"Well," said the captain, 'step in, and III
see that you get drink"
Ned stepped in again, and receiving the |
first bucket began TO raise it to bis lips very |
slowly, when some one ballooed TO him to |
pass on the bucket, and he brought it down |
again and handed it on.
"Why didn't you drink?" said the cap |
tain.
"Why don't you see they won't let me?"
said Ned.
"Don't mind what they say; drink, and |
then go on with your work."
Ned took the next bucket, and commence |
ed raising it as before, when some one again |
ordered him to pass on the bucket.
"There," said Ned, turning to the captain, |
with the bucket half raised, ''you hear |
that?"
"Why, blast your eyes," said the captain,
"whAt do you stop for? Drink on and have |
done with it,"
Ned raised the bucket to his lips and |
drank, or pretended to drink, until horse |
might have been satisfied.
saint you done ?" said the captain, gen.
eral mutiny and complaint beginning to pre-
vail in the line.
"Why, ha'n't you drank enough ?" said
the captain, becoming extremely impatient. |
"Most, " said Ned, letting out along breath,
and still holding the bucket near his lips.
"Zounds and blood cried the captain,
'clear yourself; you'll drink an eDgineful
of water"
Ned left the ranks and went to his lodgings |
and the rising sun found US on our way
homeward. HALL.
A MARBLE statute of Ethan Allen is to
be placed on the summit of granite shaft |