Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-06-04
Mr.. john Fleece's Reply 10 Mai. G.
g. Breeds Library Auecdare


@. Breeds Library Anecdote.
Among the many Don Daots anC
side-splitting stories told last weel
at the banquet of the old M. G. 81
Railroad reunionists, none perhap.
was more heartily enjoyed than the
one told, in his incompatible ano
matchless manner, by Major Breed
of Mr.. John FIecce's voluminous
library. 1t would be utter folly foi
any other person in the world to
attempt to recount it as told by
Major Breed. We will only state
the main point, in order that Mr..
Fleece's poetical response may be
understood and appreciated. II
/ seems that i'll the construction OF
the road it became necessary for
Major Breed to move down to Pal
myra, and he took Mr.. John Fleece
along with him as assistant. Oh
course their leisure moments spent
there were dull and lonesome, hav-
ing no society, and they naturally
spent most of their unoccupied time
in reading. Their books were very
limited, there being only one or
two in the house, and these belong
ing to Major Breed. AS the Major
had provided the books, and every
thing else pertaining to their COM
fort, Mr.. Fleece thought it no more
than right that he should add to the
library. So he told the Major that
he had a splendid library in Clarks-
vile, and if he would furnish pass,
he would come up and bring it
down for their use. Major Breed
was Overjoyed at the thought, and
readily did so. Fleece came to
GAINESVILLE, stayed four or five
days, and finally wrote the Major
he would be down with the library
on certain boat. Major Breed
watched eagerly and anxiously for
the coming of Fleece and his libra
ry, and finally heard the whistle of
the steamer and sent wagon and
team to the river to haul up the IL
brary. After a long delay, the
Major, standing afar off, saw Fleece
come putting up the embankment.
AS Fleece approached, of course, the
library was earnestly enquired
after, when 10! and behold, he
pulled one book from under each
arm and mournfully said: "This is
it," The two books were volume of
Shakespeare and Webster's pocket
dictionary. A mammoth library. 1t
has been one Of the Majors stand
ing jokes for years, and he tells it
with infinite gusto. Fleece denies
the soft impeachment, and the
other night, at the banquet, put his
denial in rhyme, as follows
Before the war, my friends, I was but a
youth,
And, uneorrupted by the world, loved and
spoke the truth.
knew no guile, suspected none, was free
and open-hearted,
This you VIII please bear in mind, for now
my stOry's started.
Though young, 1 then held Offce-assistant
engineer
On your road, and with man whom now
see here.
His place was higher than my own. Our
division then extended
From here along the Cumberland and at
Palmyra ended.
At P. we had an office, which, though not
complete,
Was very nicely furnished-pleasant, snug
and neat,
And my roommate and myselfquite readi-
ly agreed
That all our Office needed was something
more to read;
For if I'm not mistaken, and trust deal
in facts,
The only book my roommate had was the
poems of John q. Sax;
And these he read from morn till night, 1t
seemed to me pity,
For twas plain to every one, my friend was
growing witty,
And truth and justice, once held dear, no
longer was regarded
If, perchance, his witty jokes were in the
least retarded,
And thus it happened, my dear friends, this
Fleece's library" tale,
Which was started by my friend, and
which now bewail--
A Shakespeare and pocket dictionary
these two constituted
All the books that possessed, at least twas
so reputed,
All of which 1 here deny. Now listen to
the facts:
Fleece had his trunk well filled with books,
his friend had J. q. Sax.
My witty friend is here tonight in all his
pristine glory,
Cooked and primed and ready now to repeat
his story.
You've heard it oft, at least 1 have, hence
there is no need
That should now repeat 1t here, for there
stands Mr.. Breed,
Who, though: my former roommate, and
ought to be my friend,
Is doubtless still determined this story shall
not end,
For, although he sent me free pass DER
his road,
And thus some little kindness to n friend is
showed,
Still, upon this very pass-and in his own
handwrite-
1 find the word Library" as read to you
tonight,
And still, to cap the climax, your invitation
committee,
Upon your humble servant, seems to have
no pity,
For they write a private note: "don't you
fail to bring
Your books along when You come up; twill
be the very thing"
Now, my friends, this story is growing very
old,
I heard it twenty years ago, and was COM
pletely sold,
I've often tried my very best, did all could
to stop it,
But, strange to say, it will rise up as often
as drop it.
I've burned my books and married, and
raised family,
And still hear this story about my ''libra-
ry."
THE Assessors books recently re-
turned to the Sheriff of Todd county,
KY, shows 2,l21 white voters, 300
colored voters, 2OS, OO7 acres of land
valued at 81, All, $50; mules 2,19O,