BY MEYERS & MENGEL.
TERMS OF PUBLICATION.
TH BKDVORD GAIRTTB i published every Fri
day morning by MISTERS A M**ann, at $2 00 per
annum, f paid strictly tn advance ; $2.50 if paid
within six months; $3.00 if not paid within six
months All subscription accounts MUST be
settled annually. No paper wi 11 be sent out of
the State unless paid for is ADVASCI. and all such
übscriptioos will invariably bo discontinued at
the expiration of the time for which they are
aid.
All ADVERTISEMENTS for a less terra than
three months TEN CENTS per line for each tn
■ertion. Special notices one-half additional All
resolutions of AssociaUons; communications of
limited or individual interest, and notices of mar
riages and deaths exceeding five lines, ten cents
per line. Editorial notices fifteen cents per line.
All legal Notices of every kind,and Orphans'
Court and Judicial Sales, are required by law
t be published in both papers published in this
place
fjf Ail advertising due after first insertion.
A liberal discount is made to persons advertising
by the quarter, half year, or year, as follows :
3 months. 6 months. 1 year
♦One square - - - $4 50 $6 00 $lO 00
Two squares . - - 600 900 1A 00
Three squares - - - 8 00 12 00 20 00
Quarter column - - 14 00 20 00 35 00
Half column - - - 18 00 25 00 45 00
One column .... 30 00 45 00 80 00
♦One square to oeeupv one inch of space
JOB PRINTING, of every kind, doDe with
neatness and dispatch. TN GAZKTTE OVVICR has
just been refitted with a Power Press and new type,
and everything in the Printing line can be execu
ted in the most artistic manner and at the lowest
rates —TERMS CASH
LP* A! ters should be addressd to
MEYERS A MENGEL,
Publishers
3?ob gritttittfl.
rjlH E BEDFORD GAZETTE
POWER PRESS
PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT,
BEDFORD, PA.
MEYERS & MENGEL
PROPRIETORS.
Having recently made additional im
pruvements t< our office, we are pre
pared to execute all orders for
PLAIN AND FANCY
JOB PRINTING,
With dispatch and in the most
SUPERIOR STYLE.
CIRCULARS, LETTER HEADS, BILL
HEADS, CHECKS, CERTIFICATES,
BLANKS, DEEDS, REGISTERS, RE
CEIPTS, CARDS, HEADINGS, ENVEL
OPES, SHOWBILLS, HANDBILLS, IN
VITATIONS, LAB ELS, ire. if c.
Our facilities for printing
POSTERS, PROGRAMMES, Ac.,
FOR
CONCERTS AND EXHIBITIONS,
ARE UNSURPASSED.
"PUBLIC SALE" BILLS
Printed at short notice.
We can insure complete satisfaction
as to time and priee
rpHE INQUIRER
BOOK STORE,
opposite the Menga! House,
BEDFORD, PA.
The proprietor takes pleasure in offering to the
n" lie the following articles belonging to the
k Business, at CITY RETAIL PRICES:
MISCELLANEOUS BOOKS.
N O V E L 8.
BIBLES, HYMN BOOKS, AC.:
Large Family Bibles,
Small Bibles,
Medium Bibles,
Lutheran Hymn Books.
Methodist Hymn Books,
Smith's Dictionary of the Bible,
History of the Books of the Bible,
Pilgrim's Progress, Ac., he., he.
Episcopal Prayer docks.
Presbyterian Hymn Books,
SCHOOL BOOKS.
TOY BOOKS.
STATIONERY,
Congress, Legal,
Record, Foolscap,
Letter, Congress Letter,
Sermon, Commercial Note,
Ladies' Gilt, Ladies' Ootavo,
Mourning, French Note,
Bath Post. Damask Laid Note,
Cream Laid Note, Envelopes, Ac
WALL PAPER.
Several Hundred Different Figures, the Largest
lot ever brought to Bedford county, for
sale at prices CHEAPER THAN
EVER SOLD in Bedford.
BLANK BOOKS.
Day Books, Ledgers,
Account Books, Cash Books.
Pocket Ledgers, Time Books,
flick Memorandums, Pass Books,
Money Books, Pocket Books,
Rlank Judgment Notes, drafts, receipts, he
INKS AND INKSTANDS.
Barometer Inkstands,
Gutta Percha,
Cocoa, and
Morocco Spring Pocket Inkstands,
Glass and Ordinary Stands for Schools,
Flat Glass Ink Wells and Rack,
Arnold's Writing Fluids,
Hover's Inks,
Carmine Ink*. Purple Inks,
Charlton's fnks,
Eukolon for pasting. Ac.
PENS AND PENCILS.
Gillot's, * Cohen's,
Holiowbusb A Carey**, Payson,
ltunton, and Scribner s Pens,
Clark 's indellible, Faber's Tablet,
Cohen's Eagle,
Office, Faber's
Guttknecht's, Carpenter's Pencils.
PERIODICALS.
Atlantic Monihly,
Harper's Magazine,
Madame Demorest's Mirror of Fashions,
Klectic Magazine,
Godey's Lady's Book,
Galaxy,
Lady's Friend,
Ladies' Repository,
Our Young Folks,
Nick Nax.
Yankee Notions,
Budget of Fun,
Jolly Joker,
Pbanny Pbellow,
Aapincutt * Magazine,
1. Riverside Magazine,
Waverly Mage sine,
Ballon s Magazine,
Gardner's Monthly.
Harper's Weekly,
Frank Leslie's Illustrated,
Chimney Corner,
New York Ledger,
Sew Vork Vcutl,,
'• -flArper's BaSir,
sverj Saturday,
' Living Age,
Putnam's Monthly Magazine,
Arthur's Home Magazine,
Oliver Optic's Boys and Girl's Magazine Ao.
Constantly on naud to accomodate those who want
to purchase living reading mattter-
Only a part of the vast number of articles per
taining tu the Book and Stationery business,
which we *re prepared to sell cheaper than the
cheapest, are above enumerated. Give us a call
We buy and sell for CASH, and by this arrange
ment we expect to sell as cheap as goods of this
class are sold anywhere
jan2S,'yl
ptartltitntmuL
]LLBC T R I C
ii
TELEGRAPH IN CHINA.
THE EAST INDIA TELEGRAPH COMPANY'S
OFFICE,
Nos. 23 & 25 Nassau Street,
NEW YORK
Oreanixed under special charter from the State
of New York.
CAPITAL $6,W0,000
50,000 SHARES, SIOO EACH.
DIRECTORS.
Ho*. ANDREW G. CURTIN, Philadelphia.
PAUL S. FORBES, of Russell Jfc Co., China
FP.ED. BUTTERFIELD, of F. Bu tterfield A C
New York.
ISAAC LITER MORE, Treasurer Michigan Cen
tral Railroad, Boston.
ALEXANDER HOLLAND, Treasurer American
Express Company, New York.
Hon. JAMES NOXON, Syracuse, N. Y.
0. H. PALMER, Treasurer Western Union Tele
graph Company, New I'ork.
FLETCHER WESTRAY, of Westray, Gibbs A
Hardcastle, New York.
NICHOLAS MICKLES, Now York.
OFFICERS.
A. G. CURTIN, President.
N. MICKLES, Vice President.
GEORGE ELLIS (Cashier National Bank Com
monwealth,) Treasurer.
HON. A. K. McCLURE, Philadelphia, Solicitor.
The Chinese Government having (through the
Hon. Anson Burlingame) conceded to this Com
pany the privilege of connecting the great sea
ports of the Empire by submarine electric tele
graph cable, we propose commencing operations
in China, and laying down a line of nine hundred
miles at once, between the following port ?, via :
Population.
Canton 1,000,000
Macoa .• 60! 000
Hong-Kong 250,000
Swatow 200,000
Amoy 250.000
F 00-Chow 1.250.000
Wan-Chu 300,000
Ningpo 400,000
Hang Chean 1,200,000
Shanghai 1,000.000
Total 5,910,000
These port? have a foreign commerce of $900,-
000,000, and an enormous domestic trade, besides
which we have the immense internal commerce of
the Empire, radiating from these points, through
its canals and navigable rivers.
The cable being laid, this company proposes
erecting land lines, and establishing a speedy and
trustworthy means of communication, which must
command there, as everywhere else, the commu
nications of the Governmont, of business, and of :
social life especially in China. She has no postal
system, and her only means now of communicating
information is by couriers on laud, aud by steam- j
ers on water.
The Western World knows that China is a very I
large country, in the main densely peopled; but i
few yet realize that she contains more than a third ,
of the human race. The latest returns made to -
her central authorities foi taxing purposes by the ;
local magistrate make ber population Pour hun
dred and Fourteen, millions, and this is inure |
likely to be under than over the actual aggregate.
Nearly all of these, who are over ten years old,
not only can but do read and write. Iler civili
zation is peculiar, but ber literature is as exten
sive as that of Eurepe, China is a land of teach
ers and traders; and the latter are exceedingly
quick lo avail themselves of every proffered facili
ty for procuring early information. It is observed :
in California that the Chinese make great use of j
the telegraph, though it there transmits messages
in English alone. To-day great numbers of fleet
steamers are owned by Chinese merchants, and j
used by them exclusively for the transmission of 1
early intelligence. If tho telegraph we propose 1
connecting ail their great seaports, were now in '
existence, it is believed that its business would
pay the cost within the first two years of its suc
cessful operation, and would steadily increase
thereafter
No enterprise commends itself as in a greater
degree renumerative to capitalists, and to our
whole people. It is of vast national importance i
commercially, politically anil evangelically.
LxTThe stock of this Company has been un
qualifiedly recommended to capitalists and busi- j
ness men, as a desirable investment by editorial
articles in the New York Herald, Tribune, j
World, Times, Post, Express, Independent, and
in the Philadelphia North American, Press, j
Ledger, Inquirer, Age, Bulletin and Telegraph.
Shares of this company, to a limited number, j
may be obtained at SSO each, $lO payable down, j
sls on the Ist of November, and $25 payable in j
monthly instalments of $2.50 each, commencing
December 1, 1868, on application to
DREXEL A CO.,
34 South Third Street,
PHILADELPHIA.
Bkares can be obtained in Bedford by applica
tion to Roed k Schell, Bankers, who are author
ized to receive subscriptions, and can give all ne
cessary information on the subject. sept2syl
I
" combine style with neatness of fit.
A nd moderate prices with the hest worimawekip.
JONES' ONE PRICE CLOTHING HOUSE
604 MARKET STREET,
GEO. W. NIEMANN. PHILADELPHIA
[*eplt,'oß,yl ]
jgUY YOUR NOTIONS
of
dec 4 R W BERKSTRESSER.
P. SPIDEL,
HOUSE PAINTER AND PAPER
BEDFORD FA.
AU Kinds of Painting, Graining, Paper- bangs
ing, Ao., done at the shortest notioe.
Orders sol iw ted.
*pr23ia3,
T)RINTERS' INK ha*made many a
X husineas man rich We ask fo ate try it in j
the -olumni of fit Gasxr *■
Ytoofland's Column.
you ALL
UAV R TTKARI> or
HOQFLAND'S GERMAN BITTERS,
ASD
IIOOFLAND'S GERMAN TONIC.
Prepared by Dr. 0. M. Jackson. Philadelphia.
Their introduction into this country from Ger
many occurred in
1825.
THEY CURED YOUR
FATHERS AND MOTHERS,
And vill core you and your children. They are
entirely different from-j -w-the many preparations
now in the country ca! |— I led Bittors or Tonics.
They are no tavern-*-J_preparatin, or any
thing like one ; but good, honest, reliable medi
cines They are
The greatest known remedies for
Liver Complaint,
DYSPEPSIA,
Nervous Debility,
JAUNDICE,
Diseases of the Kidneys,
ERUPTIONS OF THE SKIN,
and all Diseases arising from a Disordered Liver,
stomach, or
IMPURITY OF THE BLOOD.
Constipation, Flatulence, Inward Piles, Fullnes
of Blood to the Head, Acidity of the Stomach,
Nausea, Heartburn, Disgust for Food. Full
ness or Weight in the Stomach, Sour Eruc
tations, Sinking or Flattering at the
Pit of the Stomach, Swimming of the
Head. Hurried or Difficult Breathing,
Fluttering at the ... Heart, Choking or
Suffocating Sensa I I tions when in a Lying
Posture, Dimness of *—7 Vision. Dots or Webs
before the sight, Dull Pain in the Head, Defi
ciency of Perspiration. Yellowness of the Skin
and Eyes, Pain in the Side, Back, Chest,
Limbs, etc., Sudden Flushes of Heat,
Burning in the Flesh. Constant Imagi
nings of Evil and Great Depression of Spirits.
All these indicate diseases of the Liver or Di
gestive Organs, combined with impure blood.
HOOFLAND'S GERMAN BITTERS
is entirely vegetable and contains no liquor. It
is a compound of Fluid Extracts. The Roots,
Herbs, and Barks from which theso extracts are
made, are gathered in Germany. All the medi
cinal virtueus are ex \ traded from them by
a scientific Chemist, fl I These extracts are
then forwarded to this V-F country to be used ex
pressly for the manutacture of these Bitters.
There is no alcoholic substance of any kind used
in compounding the Bitters, hence it is the only
Bitter? that can be used in cases where alcoholic
stimulants are not advisable.
HOOFLAND'S GERMAN TONIC
is a combination of all the ingredients of the Bit
ters, with riTRE Santa Cruz Rum, Orange, etc. It
is used for the same disease? as the Bitters, in case
where some pure alcoholic stimulus is required.
You will bear in mind that these remedies are en
tirely different from any others advertised for the
eure of the diseases named, these being scientific
preparations of medicinal extracts, while the oth
ers are mere decoctions of rum in some form. The
TONIC is decidedly one of the most pleasant and
agreeable remedies ever offered to the public. Its
taste is exquisite. It is a pleasure to take it, while
its lifs-giving, exhilarating, and medicinal quali
ties have caused it to be known as the greatest of
all tonics.
DEBILITY.
There is no medicine equal to Iloofiand's Ger
man Bitters or Tonic w q in cases of Debility.
They impart a tone and vigor to the whole
system, strengthen A the appetite, cause an
enjoyment of the food, euable the gtoraach to di
gest it, purify the blood, give a good, sound,
healthy complexion, eradicate the yellow tinge
from the eye. impart a bloom to the cheeks, and
change the patient from a short-breathed, emaci
ated, weak, and nervous invalid, to a full-faced,
stout, and vigorous person.
Weak ami Delicate Children are
made strong by using the Bitters or Tonic. In
fact, they are Family Medicines. They can be
administered with perfect ?afety to a child three
months old, the uiost delicate female, or a man of
ninety.
These remedies are the hest
Blood Purifiers
ever known and will cure all diseases resulting
from bad bload. Keep yjur blood pure; keep
your Liver in order, •*- keep your digestive
organs in a sound, I healthy condition, by
the use of these reme -I_J dies, and no diseases
will ever assail you. The best ruen in thecountry
recommend them. If years of honest reputation
go for anything, you must try these preparations.
FROM HON. GEO. W. WOODWARD,
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylva
nia.
PHILADCLPHIA, March 10, 1867.
I find that "Hoofiand's German Bitters"' is not
an intoxicating beverage, but is a good tonic, use
ful in disorders of the digestive organs, and of
great benefit in cases of debility and want of ner
vous action in the system.
Yours Truly,
GEO. W. WOODWARD.
FROM HON. JAMES TAOMPSON.
Judge of the Supreme Conrt of Pennsylvania.
Phii. AOBLPUta, April 28, 1866
I consider -'Hoofiand's German Bitters'" a valua
ble medicine in case . of attaaks of Indiges
tion or Dyspepsia. I \ can certify this from
my experience of it. J. A. Yours, with respect.
JAMES THOMPSON.
FROM REV. JOSEPH H. KENNARD. D D.,
Pastor of the Tenth Baptist Church, Philadelphia.
DR. JACKSOS — DEAR SIR: — I have been fre
quently requested to connect my name with rec
ommendations of different kinds of medicines, but
regarding the piactice as out of my appropriate
sphere, Ihave in all cases declined, but with a
clear proof in various instances, and particularly
in inv own family, of the usefulness of Dr. Hoof
land s German Bitters, I depart for once from
my usual course, to express my full conviction
that for general debility of the system, and es
pecially Tor f.iver Com -y plaint, it is a safe
and valuable prepara {V! tion. In some cases
it may fail, bnt usual -i-a ly, I doubt not, it
will be very beneficial to those who suffer from the
above causes. Yours, very respectfully,
J H KENNARD,
Eigth, below Coates Street.
CAUTION.
Hoofiand's German Remedies are counterfeited.
The Genuine have the signature of C. M. JACK
SON on the front of the outside wrapper of each
bottle, and the name of the article blown in each
bottle. AH others are counterfeit.
Price of the Bitters, $1 per bottle;
Or, a half dozen for $5.
Price of the Tonic, $1 50 per bottle;
Or, a half dozen for $7 511,
Tho tonic is put up in quart bottles.
Recollect that It is Dr. Hoofiand's German
Remedies that are so universally used aud so
highly recommended ; and do -\\om the
Druggist to induce | |you to take anything
else that he may sayJL/ig just as good. be.
cause he makes a larger profit on it. These Rerae
aics will he sent by efores*to any locality upon
application to the
PRINCIPAL OFFICE,
JVt tho German Medicine Store.
No. 631 ARCII STREET. PJ^U.ULp+i*.
Oil AS. M. EVANS,
PROPRIETOR.
Finuerly 0. M JAORSON * Co,
These Remedies are for sale by UrnggUts, Store
keepers and Medicine Dealers everywhere.
Da not forget to examine the artiolthj/ou bug
m order to get the genuine.
may'6Bjl
BEDFORD, PA., FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 28, 1869.
RK.nOCKATIt' PRIMARY F.I.K<TIOXN.
Agreeably to the provisions of the
Rules for the Government of the Dem
j ocratie Party of Bedford County, adop
ted by tho Democratic County Com
mittee, Feb. 20, ISO!), the Democrat
! ic voters of Bedford County will assem
ble at the polling places in the several
election districts, mi SATURDAY,
MAY 29, and vote by ballot
for the choice of Candidates for the sev
eral offices to be filled at the next Gen
eral Election, and, also, for two Inspec
tors and one Judge for each polling
place who shall hold the primary Elec
tion for the next year. The Vigilance
Cominitte now in existence shall hold
this election, and in districts which
have 110 such Committees, the Demo
cratic voters present at the jKilling
place at the time herein fixed for the
opening of the polls, shall elect two In
spectors and one Judge to hold the e
lection. The polls in the townships
shall be open from nine o'clock a. to.
until G o'clock p. m., those in the bor
oughs from 1 o'clock p. m. until 6 o'-
clock p. m. An accurrate list of the
names of all persons voting shall be
kept and a correct and full return of
all the votes cast for the several persons
voted for shall be made out, and both
the list and returns shall be certified
over the signature of at least two of
the election officers to be correct and
true. After the counting of the ballots,
and the proper certification of the re
turns, the list of voters and the return
of votes for the several candidates, shall
be sealed up by the Inspectors and de
livered to the Judge, who shall place
the sealed return in the hands of the
Chairman of the County Committe,
at a meeting of the Judges from each
polling-place, to be held at the Court
House, in Bedford, on TUESDAY,
JUNE 1, at one o'clock, p. m. A'l per
sons entitled to vote at the election for
Representatives in the Legislature and
pledging themselves to vote the whole
Democratic ticket at the next General
Election, will be. permitted to vote at
this election.
J. W. DICKERSON,
Ch'n Dein. Co. Com.
lIOI'.NE ASK i'AKH.
Manngemenl of Cows. —A cow newly
come in should not drink cold water
in cold weather, but moderately warm
slop. Calves intended for raising,
should bo taken from the cow within
a few days, and they will be less liable
to suck when they are old. Feed them
first on new milk, taking eare that all
changes are gradual, by adding only a
portion at first.
Ilearty eaters are desirable for cows,
and may usually be selected while
calves.—A dainty calf will bo a dainty
cow.
Heifers dried up too early after
Calving, will always run ury about the
same time in after years—therefore be
careful to milk closely the first year,
until about six weeks before calving.
Spring cows should come in while
they are yet fed on hay, and before
they are turned to grass, which will
be more likely to prevent caked bag
and milk fever..
Feed dry cows well; give them a
daily feed of meal of some kind, corn
meal and wheat bran, or corn ureal and
oil cake, or some other milk-produc
ing or fattening diet. You will get it
all back when you begin to milk.
Your cattle should never stop grow
ing until they come to full maturity.
They will surely stop and thenceforth
have thatstunted, weakly look so com
mon among "scrubs" unless they are
sheltered and so well fed that they do
not lose flesh.
How to Cure a Felon.—A physician
in Moore's Rural New Yorker, has no
confidence in any of the "sure cures for
a felon," which are so abundant, and
of which everybody recommends. He
says:—
"The true treatment is go at once to
your surgeon, before the felon is twen
ty-four hours old, and let him open the
finger down to the bone and out to the
end, supposing the finger to be the seat
of the affection. This lets the impris
oned blood out and relieves the pain
at once. Then poultice for a day or
two, and the finger will he well and
not deformed or injured. This is the
"short, sharp and decisive" plan, be
sides being the most merciful and least
painful."
Itemedy for Summer complaint.—A
correspondent of the Scien/ijie Ameri
can states that a tea made of the seeds
of the Sunflower, roasted like eotfee
berries, are an admirable remedy for
all species of summer complaint. A
half pint of the seed is sufficient, It
should be remembered, however, that
serious results often follow the too
sudden stoppage of diarrhoea by astrin
gents, and with this, as all remedies of
a similar nature, caution should be
used.
A Cure for Ear-Ache.— There is
scarcely any ache to which children
are subject, so bad to bear and so diffi
cult to cure as ear-ache. But there is a
remedy uever known to fail, I'akp a
bit of cotton batting, put upon it a
pinch of black pepper, gather it up and
tie it, dip it in sweet oil, and insert it
in the ear. Put a flannel bandage ov
er the head to keep it warm. It will
give immediate relief,
IJoiv (a (Joan Oil Cloth.— To ruin
them—clean them with hot water or
eoop suds, and leave them half wiped,
and they will look very bright whilp
wet, and very dingy and dirty when
dry, and soon crack and peal off. But
if you wish to preserve them and have
them look new and nice, mM\
with soft flannel and lake warm w-ater,
and wipe, thain thoroughly dry. If
you want them talook extra nice, n\
ter they are dry, drop a ffi-V npounfu's
pf milk over them aud rub with a
amail dry cloth.
WttJI.i.WS WORK.
Darning iittie stockings
For restless idle feft;
Washing little l'aees,
To keep them fresb and sweet;
Hearing bible lessons,
Teaching catechism.
Praying for salvation,
From heresy and schism,
Woman's work.
Sewing on the bottom,
Overseeing rations.
Soothing with a kind word
Other lamentations,
Guiding clumsey Bridgets,
Coaxing sullen c<x k-.
Entertaining company
And reading recent books,
Woman's work.
Burying out of sight
Uer own unbealiug smarts;
Letting in the sunshine
On other clouded hearts;
Binding up the wounded,
Uealing of the sick,
Bravely marching onward
Through dangers dark and thick,
Woman's work.
Loading little children
And blessing manhood's years;
Showing to the sinful
How God's forgiveness cheers;
Scattering sweet roses
Along anothor's path ;
Smiting by the wayside,
Content with what sue hath,
Woman's work.
LotliDg fall her own tears
V\ here only God can tee ;
Wiping off another's
With tender sympathy ;
Learning by experience.
Teaching by example;
Yearning for the gateway,
Goldon, pearly, ample,
Woman's work.
At last cometh silence —
A day of sweet repose ;
Her locks smoothly braided,
Upon her breast a rose ;
Lashes resting gently
Upon the marble ekeek ;
A look of blessed peace
Upon her forehead meek.
The hands softly folded,
The kindly pulses still;
The cold lips know no smile,
The noble heart no thrill ;
Her pillow needs no smoothing,
She crareth for no care—
Lore's tendcrest entreaty
Wakas no responses there.
A grave in the valley,
Tears, bitter sobs, regret;
Another lesson taught,
That life may not forget;
A face forever hidden,
A race forever run ;
''Dust to dust," the preacher saith,
And woman's work is done.
JV. O. Picayune
THE NKEI.ETOX JIAX'O.
Yielding to a miserable habit bad
ruined me. It had blasted my pros
pects, destroyed by business, alienated
my friends, and brought mc down to
the lowest point of existence. The
habit had altogether overcome me. I n
vain I struggled against it. The im
ploring looks ami words of my wife;
the sight of my wan faced and emaci
ated children turning their eyes to me,
the author at once of their being and of
their .misery; the spectacle of the
proud home and broad lauds, onee
mine, but now in Lite hands of stran
gers—all ihese, which might well havu
slung to madness or driven to despair
a less degraded being, reached me not,
nor affected me in the depth of my deg
radation. I had reached a point at
which no motive that might be urged
could any longer affect me.
One evening I was sitting in my
miserable home. The children were
asleep in bed. They had cried them
selves to sleep in hunger. My wife
sat opposite me 011 the other side of
the wretched fire-place stitching some
rags of clothing. I was sullen and si
lent.
At last I feit a craving for the stimu
lous that now was necessary for my
life. Rising, I walked up to a cupboard
where it was kept. My wife knew
well my intention. She followed me
with her eyes.
I went there desperate and care
less—only eager for the gratification of
my appetite.
I reached forth my hand trembling
ly seized the bottle, and was about
raising it to my Hps.
But at that very instant, just as the
bottle touched my lips, I felt a terri
ble sensation. It was as though some
one hail grasped my throat.
"Wife!" I cried in a deep fierce
voice, "Hag! do you dare?" and turn
ing, with clenched fist, I struck at
what I supposed was my wife, For I
thought she was trying in a violent
way in desperation to keep me from
drink.
But to my surprise I saw my wife
sitting by the fire plaoo with her work
in her hand, looking at me in wonder.
It could not have been her evident
ly-
A terrible feeling passed through me.
Shudderingly I raised my hand to feel
what was at my throat, or if there was
anything at all which seemed to be
grasping me so tightly.
Horror of horrors!
As I raised my hand I felt the up-,
mistakable outline of a bouy thumb
and bony fingers pressed against my
fiesh, It was a skeleton hand! that
clutched me by the throat.
My hand fell down powerless by my
side; the bottle crashed on tUe floor.
My children at the noise, and
Wife aud children all stared at me with
white faces,
There I trembling in every limb
stood, transfixed with terror, the awful
feeling of the supernatural now fully
possessing me. I drew away my body,
but my head was still held by the
same dread and invisible power. X
could not WOVO that,
yuspeakable horror filled me. None
but those who have experienced some*
thing like this krrow what (t fi m have
such The body seems paraly
sed, while tfiemindsoeiusto be endow
ed with extraordinary gnl
thus possesses new cajuuuUcH fur suffer,
I n g>
Hut at last I felt the grasp relax. 1
staggered hack, the grasp ceased alto
gether and I drew off to anotiier cor
ner of the room endeavoring to go as
far as possible from the place where
this myterfnus thing had seized me.
Boon my wife and children turned
away, the former to work, the latter
to sleep. They knew not what it was
that affected me, but concluded that it
was some pain arising from sickness or
sudden faintness. I did not speak a
word but resumed my former seat.
And now,gradually, my craving re
turned. Yet how could 1 satisfy it ?
My bottle was broken. And it lay in
fragments on the floor. All my liquor
was gone. What was I to do? The
craving became irresistuble. 1 had to
yield.
So I took my hat, fumbled in my
pockets and found a few cents, and ta
king an old bottle that lay in the cor
ner, 1 went forth into the darkness.
It was not without some feeling of
trepidation that I entered the dark
passage-way. Fearless the same Thing
ofllorror might return agitated me.
But I passed on unharmed, reached my
old resort where I laid my bottle on
the counter. The clerk soon filled it.
With an irresistable impulse I clutch
ed the bottle and rushe forth to drink
the liquor.
I hurried off for a little distance and
came to the head of a wharf. Here un
able any longer to resist my craving
I pulled out the cork so as to drink.
It was very dark. No one was near
me. In the distance rose the low hum
of the city; out in the harbor might be
heard the noise of sailors and boatmen,
i had a general idea of this as I stood
there, though all my thoughts were
concentrated on the bottle. At last I
raised it to my mouth.
Scarce had the bottle touched my
lips when again I experienced that
terrible felling.
My throat was seized ; this time more
violently, more fiercely, as if by some j
power which had already warned me, !
and was enraged at having to repeat
the warning. My throat was com
pressed painfully in that fierce grip;
there was anger in it. A thrill of lior- ;
ror shot through me. Again the hot- |
tie fell from my trembling hands and j
was crushed to fragments upon the |
stone pavement. Again I raised uiy
hands to my throat, though in deadly
fear; but the motion was mechanical—
a natural and involuntary effort to tear
away the thing that seized my throat,—
to free myself from the pain and horror
of that mysterious grasp. Again I \
raised my hands, and again I felt
there under my touch, plain and un
mistakable, the long, hard, bony hand j
which 1 had felt before. One touch !
t
was enough. My hands fell down. I
tried to shriek, but in vain, 1 grasped !
for breath, and thought that I would !
be sulfonated.
But at length the grasp slowly and
unwillingly relaxed. I breathed more
freely. At length the touch was no
longer felt.
I paced the streets for a long time.
At first every vestige of my appetite
had been driven away by the horror of
that moment. As time passed it be
gan to return. Once more I felt the
craving. True, the fear of another at
tack was strong, and for a long time
deterred me; but at last the craving
grew too strong for the fear.
Nerving myself up to a desperate
pitch of resolution, I returned back to
the shop where I had first purchased
the liquor.
"See here!" I cried, "I'm crazy for a
drink. I broke that bottle! Give me
a glass, for God's sake —only one
glass!"
Something in my face seemed to ex
cite the man's commiseration. He
poured out a glass for me in silence.
With trembling eagerness I reached
out my hand to seize it. With tiem
bling hand I raised it toward my lips.
The grateful fumes already entered my
nostrils. My lips already touched the
edge of the glass.
Suddenly my throat was seized with
a tremendious grasp.
it was as though the power which
w is tormenting me had become enrag
ed by my repeated acts of opposition,
and Wished now by this final act to re
duce me to subjection forever.
It was as if this power was using
with me the means of coercing which
one uses with a dog, viz: beat him for
each offence, and each time harder un
til he is cured.
This time the grasp was terrible, it
was fiercer than ever; quick, impetu
ous.
In that dread grasp my breath ceas
ed.
I struggled. My senses reeled. 1
raised my hands in my despair. I felt
again the bony fingers. I moved my
hands along the bouy arms.
In my madness 1 struggled. I
struck out my fists wildly. They struck
agaiust what seemed bony fibs.
The time during which I struggled
seen\ed endless. The horror that was
on me cannot be told.
At last all sense left me.
When I revived I found myself ly
ing on a rude bench in the bar. It was
early dawn. No one was near. All
my bones ached. 1 rose up confusedly,
not knowing at first where I was, but
soon the terrific event which had over
powered me came to my memory.
I rose to my feet, and tried to get
out. The noise that I made awaked
some one inside. lie called out to
me:
"Hallow there! Are you off?"
"Yes," J said.
"Wait, I'll let you out."
He appeared iu a short time,
"You had a bad turn," said he, not
unkindly. "You'd better take care of
yourself, and not be out at nights."
I thanked hitu and left.
Whoa i reached the house my wife
\yaked up and looked half fearful at
me, Amazement came over her face
&s she that I was sober, I kissed
VOL. 64.-.—WHOLE No. 5,452.
iier ami sat down in silene;.
She looked al me in wonaer. Tears
fell from her eyes. She said nothing-,
hut I saw that she was praying.
As soon as the . hops were opened I
went and managed to procure some
food which I brought to the room. I
then left to go to my employment.
Through the day I felt an incessant
craving, but my horror was so great
that I would far rather have cut my
throat than risked having that hand
there again.
As the days passed the horror re
mained undiminished. It was simply
impossible for me to seek for intoxicat
ing drink. I dared not.
My wife said nothing. 1 saw, how
ever, by her soft eyes, the gentle joy of
her face, and the sweet loving smile
with which she welcomed me hotne,
how deeply this change in me affected
her.
Weeks passed and grad a ly the crav
ing lessened. Yet so vivid was the re
membrance of that dread experienceof
mine that my horror remained fresh
and unabated. To relapse was impos
sible. 1 dared not.
Thus forced to be sober, my circum
stances improved rapidly. There was
no longer any danger of want. Com
f >rt came, and peace, and hoj>e, and
pure domestic joy.
Remorse for the sufferings which I
had caused to my sweet wife made me
more eager to make amends for the
past, that so I might efface better me
mories from her mind. The revul
sion of feeling was so great for her
that she forgot that I had ever been
other than kind. I made no parade of
reform. I made no promises and no
vow. Nor did she ever allude to the
change. She showed her joy in her
face and manner. She accepted the
change when it came and rejoiced in it.
I still felt au anxious desire to get to
the bottom of this mystery, and once I
told the whole story to my medical
man.
He was not at all surprised.
Doctors never are. Nor are Doc
tors ever at a loss to account for any
thing.
"Pooh," said he indifferently.—
"That's common enough. It was
mania a potu. The brain, you know,
becomes congested, and you see and
feel devils and skeletons. Cases like
yours are common enough.
To me, however, my case seemed
very uncommon, but whether it be so
or not my case has resulted in my sal
vation. And never will cease, even
amidst my horror, to be grateful to
tnat Power which came down clothed
in terror to snatch me from ruin with
that Skeleton Hand.
WISHES OF -LADIES. —.First a hus
band ; second, a fortune; third, a baby ;
fourth, a trip to France ; fifth, a bet
ter-looking dress than any of her
neighbors ; sixth, to be well buttered
with flattery ; seventh, to have noth
ing to do in particular; eighth, to be
handsome ; ninth, to be thought well
of; tenth, to make a sensation, elev
enth, to attend weddings; twelfth, to
be always be considered under thirty.
THERE is a house in Halem, Massa
chusetts, so infested with mosquitos
this winter, that it is really uncom
fortable to remain there in the eve
ning, althougn the windows have been
left open for hours to freeze up these
pests.
A lady having accidentally broken a
smelling bottle, her husband, who was
very petulant, said to her : 'I declare,
my dear, everything that belongs to
you is more or less broken.' 'True,'
replied the lady, 'for even you are a
little cracked.'
A lady was urged by her triends to
marry a widower, and as an argument
they spoke ol his two beautiful chil
dren. "Children," replied the lady,
"are like toothpicks. A person wants
her own."
A revivalist encountering an Afri
can, asked him: "My good man, have
you found the Lord ?" To which Ham
bo replied in a surprised manner :
"Golly, massa, am de Lord lost?"
AN irritable man, on Christmas,
having been disappointed in his boots,
threatened to chew up the shoemaker,
but compromised by drinking a cob
bler.
"Don't you go out too often with
your wife, or you'll get talked about, '
was the advice of a friend to an Aniei
ican gentleman in Paris.
An old lady hearing somebody say
that the mails were very irregular,
said : "It was just so in my young
days—no trusting auy of 'em."
Mr. Short says the only thing he
can pay these times is his addresses to
the ladies and these he never allows
to get over-due.
A Kentucky father keeps his daugh
ter chained to a log in order to prevent
her marrying contrary to his wishes.
Mankin<fshouid learn"temperance
from the moon—the fuller she gels the
smaller her horns become.
The man who wrote, "I'm saddest
when I sing," was a fool to .sing much.
The most startling essay on Man—A
woman's attempt to marry him.
When is a lawyer like a donkey ?
When he is drawing a conveyance.
'These notes enliven me,'as the gen
tleman said on receiving a remittance.
What land, of all the lauds of the
earth, do lovers like the best? Lap
land.
As every thread of gold is valuable,
so is every minute of time.
As long as the miser lives, his mon
ey chest is sure to be heir tight.