The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-04-12

Y SIS it boy?" anxiousIy asked old grand
dad Clarkson, now inhis one hundred ant
first year, as he toddled into the house o
John Clarkson the third, one mornin,
about year after Sally had become hi
wife.
YES, and he'sa regular buster, grandpa,
answered the happy father.
"Name him John-John the fourth,
said John Clarkson, Sr.
81 won't do it, we've had Johns enough
in the family"
Family the devil, you can't have enough
Name em all John. Its the best name
yet. Name him John say"
''Nary time. I'm going to givc him G
big name"
big name? Johns the biggest name
in the book. Name him John and he'll
have the clock when I'm dead and gone. y
"But I won't though Durn your old
clock. I'm going to call him Napoleon
Caesar Wellington Clarkson," said John
the third
SEQ to the devil with him, then, he
shan't have the clock and won't own him"
said the old man, as he slammed the door
and left the place in rage.
The old man never recovered from the
shock, but died soon after of broken
heart; aged one hundred and one years, two
months and nine da
Two years elapsed when John Clarkson,
Jr. was called to meet his father in the
''sweet by and by" The funeral feast was
hardly finished, when second son was
born to the only remaining John Clarkson,
and was called Hamilton Cornwallace,
Bruce Clarkson. Two years more and
Frelinghuysen Clay Scott made his debut
to the Clarkson household, and tho follow
ing year was born Resaca della Palma Rim
gold Taylor Clarkson. Then occurred all
interval of some years without any addition
to the family. Everything went on smooth
ly, and John Clarkson was happy man
a kind and loving husband, an affectionate
father. His home was picture of plenty,
contentment and peace, and SO it remain
ed up to the breaking out of the
late war. John was in no way anxious for
a military reputation, consequently took no
part in the unpleasantness which followed |
but contented himself by remaining at
home and occasionally reading a newspaper
account of a fearful battle in which he was |
and was consequently uuharmed. Occa- |
sionally he would visit the swamp for few |
days to look after stray stock and these
visits usually occurred during the time con-
script officers were known to be in the
Yet, notwithstanding his |
aversion to fighting, himself, he was a firm
advocate of prosecuting the war, and urged
all young men to sacrifice their lives, if
necessary, for the glory and independence
of their country, and only regretted that
his own sons were not old enough to vindi-
cate their country's cause at the mouth of
the enemy's cannon, for he well knew they
would equal, if not eclipse the fame of their
o be brave And when at last, Lee sur
then did Clarksons spirit show to
he best advantage, he not only denounced
lin as a coward, but a traitor. The war
vas ended and the niggers free. John had
ost his, and went to work with his boys to
make crop. He and the boys soon fell
'ut Napoleon Caesar took whipping, and
reported to his Ma. Sally's tem~
Ter got the better of her Judgment, and for
he first time in her life, she laid violent
ands on her husband. He retaliated, and
skirmish ensued-casualties, trifing, one
lack eye and the loss of handful of hair, |
Missing one-Welling had fled the field, t
nd bivouacked away from home. He was
BON followed by CORVALLIS Bruce and
esaca de la Palma, under the escort OF u
Scott, who were soon pub $
shed as deserters t
Next morning, the drum beat for roll-call
ally and John answered to their names, h
nd John sat down on the doorstep, while I
ally went to getting breakfast. After Il
lille John entered the house, and taking
is new double barrel shot gun off the
ooks, proceeded to load it with powder and
1ck shot. To the casual observer, he
emed to be perfectly cool, as he count a,
out sixteen blue whistlers to each Z
lrrel, but one who knew him well would ni
I'VE seen a devil incarnate in his every AZ
owe. The man was mad, and madness
it'll him meant danger. Having finished G
aiding the gun, he stepped fearlessly out y, =,
to the yard with it resting across his N
oulder 'Sally, good bye; hate to leave al
~, but it's better for us both, he said, Il
oking towards the kitchen. sally, I'm Il, -
ling to leave you, he continued. a,
s'where you going TOP asked Sally, IN I'll
appish voice, as she appeared, frying pan tL
hand, at the kitchen door. g. g.
"Going going to kill myself, blubbered
hr. &c
"Oh, said Sally, 81 thought you might al
going to town, wanted to send for some u %
hacker" u
''You may miss me when I'm gone, con- v,
lued John. X
Good bye, said Sally as she disappear W
within the kitchen. .,
John had nothing more TO say, but cross Sc
the yard towards the horse-lot, the back "
which WAS covered with a thicket of tall "
eds. Entering these weeds, he paused ~.
4 looked towards the house. lie had a.
ped she would run screaming after him, pl