Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-02

J
/ swered his request thue;
I Can you quit drlnking2"
| For you | can" said Writ
"Well, then" answered the girl, prov,
/ your words by remaining sober for TIVE
years. At the expiration OF that time. 4
you have not failed. I shall be happy to be
| come your wife"
Writ accepted the proposition. vndlcatct
his manhood and married the girl.
MEETING WITH wIRT'S SON.
The author of the "Rrltsh Spy" became
\ one of the best citizens OF Culpepper Courl
House and was widely esteemed Years
afterward, when Colonel Thompson was sec
| retary OF the navy, he needed clerk in hlt
office. Among the applicants was a tall
young man with a modest manner and q
what is your manner" asked Colonel
| Thompson
my name Is Writ"
Writ? Where from?"
Virginia"
,, What was your fathers nnmo?"
"of Culpeppcr Court House,"
Yes. SIR"
why, my boy your father and my father
were old-time friends II William Writ was
good enough for my father, | think his son
| viii be good enough for me. | appoint YOU
to the place"
During Jackson's administration Major
| Broadus, Colonel Thompson's grandfather
! was paymaster at Harper's Ferry. The
matCr was an austere man and handled those
about him without any barney. As a conse-
Cnonce he made enemies and when Jackson
was elected an effort was put on foot--a bit
OF gray in the dawn Of the spoils systemic
have the paymester ou9ted. The latters pol
itics was not made the basis Of the complaint
1t was charged that his harshness untitled
him for the position he held.
who is this Major Broadus?" jackson in
quired. Il will look him up and let you
know"
The president made his inquiries and sub
aequently was called upon by a committee
of the majors enemies. "Old Hickory 81
response to them was 20 follows:
II cannot turn Major Broadus out gentle
men. He was a gallant officer of the Revo-
luton, with General Washington, and has a
right to cuss whoever he pleases."
BoYHoOD RECOLLECTION OF THoMP-
SON.
Old General Stevens survivor of the
revolution, had beautiful home in Culpepper
Court House. His house faced on one of the
main streets of the town. At the side. on 3
street less frequented, was a vine-covered
porch where General Stevens used to sit on
summer afternoons and drink toddy. When
any special friend came by the general in
vlted him in to have some toddy, and as
consequence his special friends were observed
to pass that way very frequently.
The boys of Culpepper Court House, among
come after school in General Stevens eide
street. He was fond Of drilling them in the
military tactics OF the period, emphasizing
his commands with long pawpaw stick.
The generals method of dispensing the
boys when he tired of them was amusing
During the revolution he had led an army
of Virginans against the British at Cam
den s. c., and his soldiers had completely
disgraced him and the state by running
away. To be sure, the same Virginians,
under the same commander, afterward
covered themselves with glory at Kings
mountain, but General Stevens never for
got the South Carolina incident. And so,
when dispensing his boy soldiers, he would
dance about among them nourishng his
pawpaw stick and exclaimiEg:
run, you d little scoundrels; run like
your daddies did at Camden!"
ANECDOTE OF GENERAL LAFAYETTE.
Colonel Thompson remembers General La
fayette perfectly. He saw the great French
man a number of times and recalls circum-
stantially his review of the revolutionary
officers and soldiers at Culpepper Court
House. The colonel, as a boy. stood on the
porch of tavern opposite the spot occu-
pied by Lafayette as the army passed in
front of him.
An affecting incident occurred at this
review, witnessed by Colonel Thompson.
At the battle of Brandywine General La
fayette had been shot through the thigh
luton, had picked the wounded general up
and carried him to the surgeons quarters,
saving his life. Old Billy had often told
the story to his friends at Culpepper Court
House, but they were skeptical and he knew
it. So, on the day Of the review, he de-
clared that he would show them that he
was truthful man.
Colonel Gibson was introducing the men as
they passed by General Lafayette, but old
Billy Foster had instructed that the general
be left to recognize him. Accordingly when
Old Billy stood before the French COM
mander Colonel Gibson was silent and the
two men looked into each others eyes. There
was no sign of recognition in the generals
face Finally Old Bily-he could never talk
without suffering and he was somewhat
nervous on this occasion-sad to the
Frenchman
"W-w-wy g-g-general, d-d-dont you
k-k-know me?"
Lafayette contracted his brows for mo-
ment as he gazed into Old Billy's face. Then,
with the poiteness of his country. he re-
piled:
mo, sir: do not recognize you; once
knew you very we'll, no doubt, but time and
circumstances have effaced your countenance
from my memory"
Old Billy fastened to rejoin:
"H-h-have y-y-you f-forgotten B-B-B-B-
Brandywine?"
The last word illuminated the generals
mind. In a moment he and the private had
their arms around each others necks and
Old Billy's veracity was vindlcated.
-aS