unexpected loss of his youngest daughter, who was his constant companion, confiden tial friend, and helper. From the time of her death, a marked change resulted in Wirt's character. He lost much of that playfulness and genial good humor, which had been such prominent traits from his childhood. In his early manhood, this jovial disposition came near resulting disastrously for his future happiness. He had been pay ing attentions to the lady whom he after wards married. Her father, Colonel Gamble, a critical gentleman, desired to keep the suitor upon a term of probation before giving his assent to the marriage. One summer morn ing, at sunrise, the old gentleman, while pursuing his walk, happened to pass near Wirt's office. It chanced that Wirt, with other choice spirits, was passing the night in merriment and had not yet retired. Colonel Gamble opened the door without warning, and with amazement beheld his intended son-in-law clad in a light wrapper, brandish ing a poker in one hand, his arm thrust through the handle of a sheet iron blower for a shield, and with a tin wash basin on his head, for a helmet, loudly declaiming FalstafFs onset upon the thieves. Colonel Gamble gravely bowed and withdrew, leav ing the young suitor in anything but a tran quil state of mind. So long as health remained, his buoyancy of spirits was one of his most prominent characteristics. He often amused himself and his family by dancing and singing about the house like a madman. His private letters abound with laughable situations, witty retorts or humorous expressions. He was frequently addressed, in the letters of his friends, as " ^uc-loving Wirt," as a tribute to his mirthful disposition. His quick wit and ready ingenuity may be judged from an incident occurring during the prog ress of a trial at Richmond. Two eminent lawyers, Wickham and Hay, were engaged in trying the case, and the former in his argument had reduced his adversary to two
alternatives, either of which was disastrous to his cause. Mr. Hay was notorious for his quick temper, and Wickham's dilemma did not conduce to his good humor. A Mr. Warden, known to the bar as "Jock," quietly remarked of Wickham, "Take care of him! he has hay on his horn." Wirt, sitting near by, overheard the jest and in stantly threw it into the form of the follow ing epigram : — "Wickham was tossing Hay in court, On a dilemma's horns for sport : Jock, rich in wit and Latin, too, Cries, " Habet foenuni in comu!" His effervescent humor and fascinating manners made him a universal favorite with his acquaintances. In private discourse, he dealt with every kind of amusing topic, and his keen sense of the ridiculous gave a sprightliness and charm to his conversation which none could withstand. On one occa sion, out of pure love of fun, Mr. Wirt so delightfully entertained a company, to which he had been invited for a ten o'clock supper, that the entire night was spent in humorous and grave discussion until the entrance of the servant to throw open the blinds apprised the company that it was broad daylight. All, except Wirt, were amazed to find they had consumed the entire night listening to his conversation, To his friends, Mr. Wirt was sincerely devoted and not many men have attained such distinction as his, and at the same time have made so few enemies. His letters, which are exceedingly numerous, overflow with hearty "appreciation and unfeigned af fection. The friendships of his youth were those of his declining years, and he never tired of quoting those lines, as appropriate to the journey of himself and his friends down the hill of life : — "Still hand in hand we'd go, And sleep thegither at the foot." His extensive practice and multitudinous cares did not prevent him from offering the
