Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-27
NASHVILLE UNION AND AMERICAN SUNDAY APRIL a. 1878


other half, turned the head of my barkeep
err, crazsd all my servants, and run nv wifi
right stark, staring, rsving mad; man wh,
is perfect clown in his manners, and who
have no doubt. will, in the end, prove :.
be horse-thief."
Much occurred between the landlord ant
his lady in relation to Ned which we must
OF necessity, omit. Suffice it say, that heI
assiduities to Ned, her unexplained sympa,
thies for him, her often-repeated desire.
to become better acquainted with him, con.
spring with one or two short interviews
which her husband saw between her and
Ned (and which consisted Of nothing more
than expressions of regret on his part at the
trouble he was giving the family, and assur-
ances on hers that it was no trouble at al),
began to bring upon the landlord the hus-
bands worst calamity. This she soon OBJ
served; and, considering her duty to her
husband as Of paramount obligation, she
gave him an explanation that was entirely
satisfactory. She told him that Ned was q
man Of refined feelings and highly Guilt
waited mind, but that, in his infancy his
mother had forced him to eat different
kinds of diet together, until she had pro-
duced IN him vitiated and uncomfortable
4 @pHSeAeSt UAASu 10 was AOM SOAotA oAaCu W
indulge, as the drunkard does his, or be
miserable. As the good man was prepared
to believe any story OF icon1on's folly, he
was satisfied.
This being the Sabbath, at the usual hour
| Ned went to church, and selected for his
morning service one of those churches in
which the pews are free, and in which the
hymn is given out, and sung by the congre-
CATION, a half recitative.
Ned entered the church in as fast walk
as he could possibly assume; proceeded
about half down the aisle, and popped
had been shot. The more thoughtless of
graver peeped up slyly, but solemely at
him.
The pastor rose, and, before giving out
the hymn, observed that singing was part
of the service in which he thought the whole
congregation ought to join. Thus saying,
he gave out the first lines of the hymn. As
soon as the tune was raised, Ned struck in,
with one OF the loudest, hoarsest, and most
discordant voices that ever annoyed solemn
assembly.
81 would Observe" said the preacher,
before giving out the next two lines, "that
there are some persons who have not the
gift of singing; such, of course, are not ex-
pected to sing" Ned took the hint and sang
no more; but his entrance into church and
his entrance into the hymn had already dis
persed the solemnity of three-ffths of the
congregation.
As soon as the pastor commenced bis
sermon, Ned opened his eyes, threw back
his head, dropped his under jaw, and sur
rendered himself to the most intense inter-
est. The preacher was an Indifferent one;
and by as much as he became dull and in
siDid, by so much did Ned become absorb
ed in the discourse. And yet it was impos-
sible for the incest observer to detect any
thing in his looks or manner short of the
most solemn devotion. The effect which
his conduct had upon the congregation, and
their subsequent remarks, Lust be left to
the Imagination of the reader. give but
one remark: "Bless that good man Vino
came in the church so QUICK" said VEN
cradle matron as she left the church door,
show he was affected by the sar7eent."
Ned went to church no more on that day.
About four O'Clock in the afternoon, while
he was standing at the tavern door, a fu-
neral procession passed by, at the foot of
which, and si.g,y, walked one of the small
est men ever saw. As soon as he came
opposite the door, Ned stepped oat and
joined him with great solemnity. The con-
trast between the two was ludicrously strik-
ing, and the little mans looks and uneasi-
ness plainly showed that be felt it. How
ever, he soon became reconciled to it. They
proceeded but little way before Ned in
quired of bis companion who was dead.
"Mr. Noah Bills" said the little man.
"Nan?" said Ned, raising his hand to bis
ear in token of deafness, and bending bis
head to the speaker.
"Mr. Noah Bills, 4" repeated the little man,
loud enough to disturb the two couple i'm
mediately before him.
Mrs. Noel's Bill" said Ned, with morti-
fcation and astonishment. "Do the white
persons pay such respect to niggers in Sa-
vannah? I shan'n't do it." So saying, be
left the procession.
Then the little man was at first consider
ably nettled; but, upon being left to his
own reflections, he got into an uncontrol-
able fit of laughter, as did the couple imme
diately in lvance of him, who overheard
Ned's remark. The procession now exhib-
tied most Notifying spectacle: the head
Of it in morning and in tears, and the foot
of it convulsed with laughter.
On Monday Ned employed himself in
disposing of the business which brought
him to Savannah, and saw but little Of him;
but l could not step into the street without
hearing of him. All talked about him,
and hardly any two agreed about his char
acter.
On Tuesday he visited the market, and
set it all in astonishLlent or laughter. He
wanted to buy something Of everybody,
and some of everything; but could not
agree upon the terms of a trade, because
he always wanted his articles in such por-
tons and numbers as no one would sell, or
upon conditions to which no one would
submit. To give s single example: he
besest an old negro woman to sell him the
the half Of living chicken.
"Do my good mamma, sell it to me-"
said he; ''my wife is very sick, and is long
ing for chicken pie, and this is all the money
1 have" (holding out twelve and half cents
in silver) sand its just what half chicken
comes to at your own price,"
xxi, Nasal how gwiue cut live chicken
in two?"
81 don't want you to cut it in two alive;
kill it, clean it, and then divide it,"
"Name o. Godl what sort o. chance got
to clean chicken in de markethouse Whay
de water for scall um and wash um?"
"Don't scald it all; just pick it So"
"Ech-ech! Fodder fly all ober de buck
era-man meat, he come bang me TO- true.
No, massa, 1 mighty sorry for your wife,
but no Guilty chicken open."
In the afternoon Ned entered the dining
room Of the tavern, and who should be find
there but Aonsieu Sancric, Of oyster-house
memory. He and the tavern keeper were
alone. With the first glimpse Of Ned Gle
diable," exclaimed the Frenchmsn, "here
my broder Ichbod' gain !" and away he
went.
"Mr. Sancric!" said the landlord, calling
to him as if to tell him something just
thought of, and following him out, 'what
did you say that mans name is ?"
"He name Monsieur Snotborg."
"Why, that can't be his name, for it be-
gins with B. or an r. Where is be from?"
"From Sand Creek"
"Where did you know him?"
"Begar, me nebber did know him." Here
Ned sauntered in sight of the Frenchman,