Alexandria Gazette

A RECRUIT FOR THE ARMY.

The facetious Editor of the Montgomery (Ala.) Journal, the author of "Daddy Biggs," the "Census Taker," and other most humorous sketches, and who now throws out more wit than any other member of the fraternity with whom we are acquainted, gives us in his last, among other good things, the following account of one of the economical purchases of the government, for the Army of Occupation:

"Some week or two since, a Chambers friend of ours hearing that the Quartermaster of the Georgia Regiment was purchasing mules for the Government, at Columbus, at fair prices, took down a small lot which were taken. One of them is an animal of great age and as respectable as venerable. He had been, time out of mind, in the family of his late owner, who could hardly restrain his tears at parting from him. But the "Government" fancied him, and offered $60 for him; and as he was of no earthly use to any body but the "Government," our friend felt compelled to sever the ties which had existed for twenty-five years, between himself and his long-eared servant. But he is anxious that the old fellow shall be properly treated. For a year or two he has done nothing but run in the pasture and teach the colts the proprieties of life; and too sudden a return to hard labor, at his age, might prove destructive to a constitution already impaired. He was originally a mouse-colored mule, but the hand of time has transformed his coat to a sober grey. We commend this "patriarch of the herd" to the tender attention of the Government's agents on the Rio Grande, assuring them an honester or an older mule is not to be found in Mexico."—Montgomery [Ala.] Journal.