The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-14
SLEEPY CnEEx's HIs1ox1o O
a Wise and Oracuiar bird or Houorsd
Memory IN tho larhseI State.

A Wise and Oracuiar bird or Houor.d
Memory In tho larhseI State.
SOUTHERN PINES. n. c., Feb. l2.-"Ever since
the war up to two years ago." said q Northern
man now a resident of North Carolina, people
who lived within reasonable distance Of Charley
Smiths farm at Sleepy Greek did not think they
had done their entire duty as Southern citizens
II they failed to mako tho pilgrimage at least
once a year to that place to do homage TO a re-
markable goose living there. That goose not
only was an heirloom in the Sleepy Creek Smith
family. but it also held a unique place In the
unwritten history OF the war.
For eighty years that goose had boon on the
farm, handed down from sire to son. II was
originally n wild goose. which some ancestor Of
Charley smith had shot out of a flock of honkers
passinG over That locality, way back In 1918. IL
came down, with q. broken wing. II wan gath
cred up and cared for, got well. took It's place
among the other fowls on tho farm. and never
showed any disposition To resume a Wild life. In
fact, II seemed to disapprove so much OF geese
leading a wild life ,hR, Il did It's best to decrease
by acting as u voluntary deeoy whom they were
ddss,m~Ss To OYER and u hSnkod many a one
t6rso gsnera'ions OF Sleepy S"p crs.s sn%sIltfhass
and the family gun. Many tales are told OF tho
prspR@ and an t of the sn SsrN,,i ESHss sbi Gs i, TTssS1taer
watchful guardian of the smith premises; how
farmers ploughed. planted and harvested ac-
cording TO the prognostications OF Its voice and
actions; how many times IL saved bulldogs
from burning by giving timely alarm I'm the
dead OF night. and how no chicken, pig or sheen
thief, either two or four legged. had disturbed
the Hooks or pens or pastures OF the Smith farm
since that goose had assumed charge OF things.
1t ~ believed by many that the goose was
orig lnally u Union goose, for IL Ia remembered
that II became morose and respondent when The
Secession Convention was called TO meet at
Aiken, >. g.. and that II cheored up and lab
berel the loudest kind OF goose talk all through
one DAY when the news came that North Caro-
INA had voted against seeding; h.t when at
last the tide or war forced the State to Join It's
fortunes with it's sister Southern States the
Eoose's actions indicated that IL had succumbed
10 the inevitable and become q. stanch and
enthusiastic u rebel as the South boas'ed. The
southern newspapers, especially late In tn.
war. were wont TO print news OF Com
iedernte successes in the field. tho popu.
lar Joy over which was frequently turned
TO- Erlef when the true result OF the en-.
ghgements was known. but II is related that
the Sleepy Greek Smith family seldom Joined in
any OF these iejoicings. Their behavior on m re
than me occasion led to strong suspicion that
they " re- isloyRl to tho cause, and things we're
tending toward unpleasantness for them, whom
th"y made. convincing explanation that their
snow or grief over reported Confederate yicto.
r,es was In reality proof OF their loyalty. Then
they and their wonderful goose came TO be- par.
tlculhrly honored, and no reported Victories
were thereafter celebrated In that locality until
people had hrst visited the oracle at Slespy
creek: Ths oracle WAS the goose. The smith
iam,y had noticed early that when certain
confederate victories we're reported In the news.
sssoded BY Itself In silence, 90 much 90 thnt