Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-15
~PATRIARca on smELRY.
A Gloomy Reeluse BlOtted from
the World and Buried in the
Lonely Bottoms Of shelby
COunfy-His story.

ASoo AOhhoA Aauio npcOiiutu Vi u
A.. genus homo has just been discovere
! in the eastern part of this county. II
+ is q bona fde hermit. A gentlema
9 in whose %veracity we have entire cor
! 6dence gave a LEDGER man a littl
sketch Of the old recluse and his mod
Of life, which cannot fail to be of in
/ terest.
About two weeks ago, while hunt
ing along a gloomy creek bottom, b
heard a peculiar noise in the heay
brush near him, and, turning, say
what he conceived to be
WILD ANIMAL
Of some kind. Raising his gun, ht
was in the act of pulling trigger, wher
the object turned, and he beheld 1
human face. A few steps further
and the hero of this sketch hal
emerged into full view frightening oul
informant about as much as if he had
been really a wild varmint. He was
old and wrinkled aud gray. His en-
tire face, with the exception of the
forehead and a small part under the
eyes, was overgrown with hair, white
as driven snow, which fell in a heavy
mass nearly to his waist, His body
was covered with an old red
WOODEN JACKET,
and on his legs he wore a pair of deer
skin breeches. His feet were incased
ip moccasins, but his head had no
covering but nature's-a heavy suit of
long white hair, clustering in curls
about his shoulders. His aspect was
truly terrible, and made more so by a
formidable looking weapon he carried
wei his shoulder.
Our informant took all this in in
much less time than has been taken
to tell it. He began to feel his hair
rise on end, and, mastered by the
magic of fear, dropped his gun, and
falling upon his knees, turned the
whites of his eyes outward and awaited
developments,
THE STRANGE BEING
walked close up to him, and bending
over until his lips touched the ear of
the suppliant, screamed:
"Begonel Turn thy steps away
from the abode of the Patriarch Of
Shelby"
BY one ofthose strange and unac-
Oountable freaks Of human nature,
our informant instantly recovered his
wonted composure, and broke out into
a hearty laugh. The ludicrous aspect
of the old man, his tragic manner and
the utter righteousness of the whole
affair struck him SO forcibly, that
scream after scream Of laughter con-
vulsed him, and rising, he grasped the
old fellows hand and shouted:
PATRIARCH OF SHELBY,
who art thou?"
Base worldlingl" said the old pa
triarch, jerking away his hand, BE
WareI'
"But be sensible" plead our in
formant.
MY name is blotted from the
worlds directory. Seek not to find it"
ANY kin to old Rip?"
"Begonel"
Cant ! take word to to your
friends ?"
Friends there are nome. Said |
not l was buried from the world p
but you must have lived In the
world at some time you must have
formed some ties"
Shattered is every link that binds
me to man, and turned to ashes every
hope. Leave me Oh, leave me
alone in my sorrow. For forty
years | have not spoken with man nor
woman, and now,-and now, oh -"
and a tear slowly crept from the old
mans eye, followed by another and
another, until overcome by recollec-
lions Of the past, he broke into a tor
rent Of grief.
For awhile he was uneonsolable, but
our informant by virtue of soothing
at last Gained him and sue
ceeded in gaining his confidence.
The old fellows story was a pitiful
one.
HIS STORY.
In early life he was a promising
young lawyer in this state. With
youth came love, and his life was as
as a golden dream, until a rival
appeared upon the scene. His love
grew impatient and he besought the
of his affection for n decided
answer. A trysting.place was agreed
upon where he was to hear his fate.
The time came, and with throbbing
heart he took the shortest way through
a strip Of wild woods toward the old
knarled tree where he expected to
find his lady-love. Suddenly making
turn in the path, however, he beheld
a sight that stopped the beating Of his
heart. Standing nearly in front Of
him, with her head resting upon the
Of his rival, and her lips i'm
messed with the daw of kisees stood