J
Mi
J -
'o
fiii
H. A. McPIKE, Editor and Publisher.
VOLUME XI.
SE If ADVERTISEMENTS.
AGENTS
WANTED !
TOR PARTICULARS ADDRESS
WILSON SEWING MACHINE CO'Y,
ki Broahitat, N'w York City ;
Chicago, Hi-.; NewOmrAKg, La.;
Or Saw Frawcibco, Cal.
WOXMv FOIl ALL.
In their own localities, canvassing Tor the Fl re
side Visitor (enlarged). Weekly and Monthly.
I.nrrrt Puprr In I he World, with Mam
niith Cliromos Free. Uig Commissions to A vents.
Terms snd Outfit Free. Address P. O. Villi.
IKY, AHjfnta, Maine.
OtrinKXTUl. Notice to A rent!). New Or
(tuns, 14 Stops 120. IS. M, 12, t". , 85. Plane
retail price only I75. Ltulel ft'. Bewtty.
W awl-inglon, J
4 rv Kxtr Fine Mixed Cards, wlh name, 10 cts.,
4U pust paid. L. JON KS 6l CO., Nassau, N. V.
L! fllf TO We!lt Virginia Cheap. Send stamp
nUlTlCw for circular to J. H. Brlstor, Martins
bur. W . Va.
-r2! FANCY CARDS, all New Styles,
with name. IOCbnts, post-paid.
rTfcKl IXIXIJ, Cobleskill, N. Y.
GITI AWAT. A beautiful Imported Chromo
ami 80 Elegant 3lixad Visiting Cards. 26c. 60
f.,r lue., no chrotno. KOYAL CARD CO., Port
L'ydcn, N, Y.
IM.ide from the prescription of one of the rnostein
li:rit physicians in the medical faculty, is now of
terei tn the pul'lle as a radical cure .Consump
tion. Bronchitis. Catarrh, Asthma, fcc
- !.. A lnerems the strength and deep
em the color of the pale Mood. It checks Night
Sweats nit h in a fortnight. It subdues the Ciui.i.s
unit Fever. It diminishes Expectoration. It can
ses rIm and refreshing sleep. It Invigorates the
appetite, and the Invalid trains flesh rapidly.
Pll.wo.. Is beyond comparison the best
remedy known for l oiiinmpllnn and all affec
tions ol the Turoat, Lcwos and I. savors Sys.
lit rat-la from l etters from Pitator of
4 lin relief.
ri'LMONA saved my daughter's life. Rev. E.
Jun , ltm?cn, N. Y.
W e tIis (rod for the benefits we received from
the us- of FL'LUON'A. Kev. P. Warren, Can
ton. IM.
Kvery one who I recommended It to has benefit
ed niiu li by Its use. Kev. C. V. Humphreys, Ra
cine. V is.
i'l L."VMNA may be obtained thro' Drusrglsts,
er nriiers may tie sent to OSCAR tl. MOSKS. Pro
prietor, is iVrtlandt Street, New York. Price,
11 ir bottle, or six bottles for
A circular containing advice for the treatment
cf the diseases above mentioned, certittcities of
mtnj actual cures, and full particulars of cases
urr?tully treated will be sent free to applicants.
ril.JIOSA WILL CCI-H tOXSV.lf I'TIOX.
si iTdiri IIJS SALE.
1)T virtue of n writ of Vend. Export., issued
out of the urt of Common Plas of Cam
bria county and to roe directed, there will be
t posed to public sale, at the Court House In
Ebensburg, on
Saturday, January 5th, 1878,
at I o'clock. 1. 31., the following real estate
to wit:
Ar t. the rierht. title and Interest of Milton Jones.
F..twin Kurkhart and Lemuel Jones, of. In and to
piw or parcel of land situate In Jackson town
e li i J . t :nmt)rlcruny. Pa .bounded and desorlhcd
t'.llows: IteKinni'ng at a beech, on line of tract
In name of Oeorge Jacobus: thence partly by
fai-l tract and partly by tract In the name of Na
thaniel Simpon,;wct "171 porches, more or less,
t-i a post : thence by tract In the name of William
Hall. 'inth 410 perches, more or less, to the orl
li nal lino; thenoe south 6S-$ decrees, eat 20
lruhej ; thenoe east H4 perches ; then.e north 27
porches ; thence sonth 71 ilenrees, east 10 perches;
thence south 39 depress. cast 10 perches; thenoe
Mut h 29 ilcirrens, east 20 perches; thence south 15
lfifri-es. east 10 perches, to a post ; thence east
lurches to an original corner on tract of Robert
Hu-annon ; thence by said tract, north 415 pcreh.s,
more or len. to the place of beginning contain
ing 41 acres and 2 perches, more or lest, having
therein erected a steam sawmill. Alto, all the
ritht, title and interest of Milton Jones. Edwin
liurKhart and I.einu 1 Jones, of. In and to a pieae
"r parcel of land situate in Jackson township.
I'ambria county. Pa., bounded and described as
ioll.iw.; (cif inning at a poot. the north-west
corner of the tra-ct. in the name of John Hucan
n m: thence west, partly by tract In the name of
Nathaniel Simpson and partly by tract in the
same of Joseph Conn, west J92 perehes, more or
loss, to a ost ; thence south 335 perches, more or
loss, to a post ; thence south degrees, east
-114 porches, more or less, to the' corner of the
tract in the name of John Kucannan ; thence
north to the place of beginning containing 457
'res nd 78 perches, more or less. Alto, another
tract with the following description : Kegitininic
at a post situated 3a perches west trom the south
fast corner of the said tract of land; thence north
I-i iler(. weft 10 perches, to a beech: thenee
north as dotcrees. west 20 perches, to a post ; thenee
north 71 decrees, west 10 perches, to a birch:
thence west 7 perches to a iost : thence south 27
perches to a post ; thence eiist 30 parches to the
place ot beginning-containing 3 acres, 146 perches,
ami allowance, more or less. Taken in execulion
an l to he sold at the suit ol Jano Jones.
Tfkmsof ?i.r..-One-third of the purchase
money to be p.ii.i when the property Is knocked
"own. and the remaining two-thirds before the
confirmation of the deed.
JOHN RYAN. Sheriff.
Sheriff s Office, F.bensburg. Dec. 10, 1377.
ARMS AT PRIVATE SALE
ies ri hv pnrehArs. and it not sold betore the
u- lr-t or .March next. It will then be rented.
Aiit( , traetnf Im nrnr.d ln,i ailnatAfl n.fltv
. "lair and Cambria counties, containinir 278
i.ir' . " lraPt ' underlaid with coal ot excel,
lent quality, well covered with timber, and has a
"iiroa.i t.uilt to it. ready Tor shipping coal,
ihese lands will be sol I as a whole or divided.
I hese lands will be sold as a whole or
on terms to suit purchasers, or will e
"r Aitoona. cpy property. For further
rJ n or ml.irtM WJI. DKCKl
A"T.23. I877.-Iy. Jlox89,AI
I exchange
Informa-
;er.
, A 1 toon a.
ORKTTO PROPERTY at PRI-
Vat k cat ft.- 1 . 4v.
- - - . wnuii. - 1 tin 11 iincrni ur-ti unrrn
I'T If j f U Inw a .1 .... T
lr J "KOVNIJ. well Improved. In Loretto
ft 7 - 1 v. id riri:icil a VIMUIUIlliiric .11 J
w,r: l7 F,orT 1'wem.ixo II0V8K. Itx:i0 feet.
'rn"axTA"LK n'1 otntr necessary OrTnril.r)
1,1.' 1 "' ,r' also on the premises, which are
r . I'.nr.n .urn; in-i. no wen .B m ui-
1 attorney 1
1,... . PATRICK MEALLY.
Jrctto. Oet. 12, lS77.-3m.
V . -.-...r., nrii ursiifneu hi noici anil
..J5 k nou!,e. "f"1 ny one wishing to secure a
-"J bargain will find it here,
to t h Wl" "0,t on lrina equally satisfactory
no,;," Jjuyehaser. a Klttl or IIS rr.
an 1 iJ . 1 r,1''' nd with a com fortable 1IOUS B
HA UN thereon erected,
en r!'.r.cn1,t",D" of other particulars eall
xL ?T?" MARGARET Wil ELA N,
ov.3o,i-77. Oallltiln.Pa.
JJSTRAY NOTICE. Came to the
to. V''mi,," of tn" "ubscriher, in Croyle
Bi VJ?.P frm t,0De during the month ot July, a
ahnn. H(l. snpponed at that time to be
. old. with tberisrht eareronned and
- 'ruin n th anm. Tk. a. :
"""lerxigne-i offer Rt. private sale
'he f,,,,jniJ. pmpprti,, to wit . A trart of nrt
in ry !er township. Mlaircountv. VA miles from
J1'1 1 yrone, containing ISs acres, well Improved,
v nar 1 hereon all the necessary farm bu.ldfnirs.
1 nis trm will h. i n-i.iaH i.in Mn ,uVAA ..,.
iso. the farm on which I now resble, in Izan
''wn-hip. 3'4 miles from Altoona. Th.s property
'.. mzn smie or cultivation and has a splendid
""ie. I.arn ami other buildings thereon erected.
.....l, e streci, me principal tnor-
ir i"i. V'f ,h ,own- thriving t (rchard of choice
fi., i . 80 ftbindance ol excellent water. For
rriier information call on or address Fr4cis
attorney In fact for
gOTEF. PROPERTY and FARM
t FOIi RALK. Tlio undersigned nffer
4 ,ny' ?ale n liberal terms the well known
fountain House, two dors west of the Pa. R. H.
is wu onronnnoi (iaintztn. This property
MM. .
.,. --"I. proTi property, par charges, anri
uti
im. i ,wTi 'therwlac she will be dlsiose. of
rr, . ?T1!rr.t9- JOHN POREBALOH.
f-j ! rip . Deo. 10, 18T7.-3t.
OUR PREMIUM OFFER
TO SUBSCRIBERS!
A Complete SMITHOGRAPHY Outfit
And a year's, tibsici-lpt Ion lo the
CAMBRIA FREEMAN
FOR ONLY $2.50.
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ASD PROFITABLE,
A BEAUTIFUL AXDL1SHXC PRESEM.
This Is a simple apparatus, which does at once
what would require many years or instruction and
practice to accomplish In the usual way really
enabling persons ot ordinary skill, after a single
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The art or drawing Portraits from small photo
graphs to life size Is so mechanical and easy, every
outline and shade in the copy belnir clearly delin
eated by the instrument Itself, that a successiul
knowledge nay be acquired after one trial.
OTKR 100,.OO SOLD DC KIM, TI1E CETEXMAL.
Artists, Teachers, Ornamental Painters, Marble
Workers, Vnirravers. Milliners ami Areliitem.
will find this labor-saving apparatus Invaluable to
their business. Maps. Photographs, Engravings,
Charts, Ornamental Designs, Monograms. Fancy
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solute accuracy without any measurement.
lrTo the Ladies it Is especially adapted for
stamping fcmbroidery, Uraidlng, and Fancy pat
terns on Cloth, ke.
It Is the best drawing teacher known. Its use.
trains the eve wondertully: best preparation for
free olf-hand drawinir ana sketching trom nature.
Highly recommended by Artists and Teachers
as an excellent means of familiarfzinir children
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it encourages them to hirther efforts by the suc
cess achieved.
-The Complete Outfit comprises the Smltho
irraph. Paints, various Crayons, Holder, Blender,
fenell. Drawing Paper, easy Copies and Illustra
ted Instructions.
r flees bj Mall, rostage Prepaid.
Complete Outfit reduced to 11.25
fmlthoif raph and easy Copies 60
Very fine large Pear Wood Instrument, for
enlarging or reducing, with Brass Wheel
Reversible Tracing point and Holder, beau
tifully polished 2.50
T reeelvad and am dclightedlwlth my Outfit. It
is wonderful. Have already drawn sample por
traits of some of the most prominent men of this
town. N. A, RcBEHTaos, Huntsville, Mo.
.TiiiTipoissi-TJv I3cliinl
Have boldly attempted to take advantage or our
extendi ve and persistent ad vertisinir. Their rough.
Imperfect and worthless Imitations add only to the
intrinsic value of the Smithoirraph. which la now
so widely recosrnlzed as the only absolutely per
fect machine that careful purchasers will have no
other.
We guarantee every Instrument stamped Smiih
otraph Man'f'g Co. to bo perfect. Buy no other,
and in buying don't forget that 50 cents can be
sared on the price by advance paying subscribers
to the Krskm a !t.
P. S. Any infringement on our rights will be
rigorously prosecuted.
Cheapest sxntl J3est I
THE HARRISBURC
DAILY AUD WEEKLY PATRIOT
FORJS78.
To all new subscribers an-l to all present sub
scribers renewing their subscriptions.
THE DAILY PATRIOT
Will be sent at the following rates :
l copy, 1 year, postage prepaid f7 00
2 oopii s (in club), " " 12 oo
5 " " " 27 .SO
!0 " " " " 50 00
1 copy daring the session of the legislature.. 2 00
THE WEEKLY PATRIOT
Will he sent at the following rates :
1 copy. 1 year, postage prepaid 2 00
4 copies, " ' " 0 00
10 " " " 10 00
15 " " M " to and 1 copy
getter-up of club 15 00
25 copies, l year, postage prepaid, and 1 copy to
getter-up of club ' 22 60
All orders must he accompanied by the cash,
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$6.00 WORTH FOR $3.00.
Any person remitting n 3.00 will receive one
copy ol the Weekly Palriot for one year, one
copy ot the Ambkicaw Aoricvi.turist (the lead
Inir attrlcul' ural journal in the United States) for
one year, both poslaze paid, and in addition a
M icroscopc, such as has heretofore been sold for
2.50.
THE PATRIOT BOOK OFFICE.
Having executed the State Printing and Bind
ing for three vears. we are prepared to print and
bind Books. Magazines, Pamphlets, Directories,
etc.. In the best style and at lowest prices. BLANK
BOOKS, such as Dockets, Daybooks. Lkdoers,
and Hotkt. liroiRTTRS a specialty. Old Books re
bound. Especially low rates Tor rcblnding Sun
day School. Libka-kifs. Address
PATRIOT PUBLISHING CO.,
liarrisburg, Ta.
IF YOU WAST TO
1IAVJ: 3IORE FUN
THAN GOING TO A CIRCUS,
Around the Evening Lamp, durintr the coming
winter evenings, be sure and subscribe for tha
Cincinnati
BREAKFAST TABLE.
It will kill the b'nes stone dead, and fill your
home with happy, healthlnl mirth.
It is not a comic paper, full of stale, thin jokes
and conundrums, but a live, fresh, spicy, airy fam
ily Journal, with an original humorous feature
predominant, first-class in every respect, full ol
choice reading for the family circle, pure In tone
and healthlnl in influence. I is articles are copied
all over the country by papers that do not print
rnbblsh. It Is a paper that needs no recommend a.
tlon but to be seen. It is a large, forty-eight col
umn sheet, handsomely printed. Ask your news
dealer for specimen copy, or send Ihree cent stamp
to publication office and it will be sent by return
mail.
The paper Is sent free one year lo all persons
arettinir up clubs of fir- or over, in addition te
cash commissions. Address,
E. P. BROWN ft CO., Publishers.
CisnsiJATi. Ohio.
tW The Breafasit Tabls and the Cambria
Fkfcmax will be furnished at the low price or 3
per year, cash In advance, which Is a reduction or
one dollnr nn the subscription rates of the two
papers conjointly.
ALMOST PERSUADED
TO SHOW OUR WORK FREE!
Your Own Lilfeness,
in India Ink, for One Isollor. Enlarged lYonri
your photograph, or any picture, to size 8x10 Inch
es, with dark gold figured mat. Sent by mail,
with your sniall picture returned. Try one.
Miniature OILPAIN TINC8,
sin l.nlher'si )Mtent Kills ( anvas,
In splendid clasp case. s3 00. Lady Aarents want
ed. Price of larger Paintings-8x10 luches, $10.00;
11x14. 2S 00 : 30x40. $100. Painted from any pic
ture and satisfaction guaranteed. Sent C. O. D.,
if desired. (3TAgents, don't get behind-hand
this time. L. T. LUTHER,
L12-7,'77.-ly.J Corry City, T.
A LEXANDER TAIT, M. D., Pur-
aictAif asd SnROEOjr, St. A nirutitfne, Cam
bria county. Pa. Night calls shonld be made at
the Post-office. f 8-l7,'77.-tf. J
'HE IS A FREEMAN
EBENSBURG,
AN ABORIGINAL CHANT,
"What time the glittering rays of morn,
O'er hill and valley steal
Chief Joseph's sqnaw, with dog and corn,
Prepares the Indian meal.
And if, with wild, rebellions Bhont,
The papoose shall appear,
The chieftain leads the bad child out,
Clutched by the Injiae ear.
The breakfast o'er, the daughter strolls
Down glen and shady dell ;
While gay young braves, from wooden
knolls,
"Look ont for the Injine belle I"
Each stricken brave she trims and leaves
Her coyness to bewail ;
Her dragging blanket stirs the leaves
The well-knowD Iudiau trail.
A Black Hill's miner, scalped and dead,
Upon the ground is found ;
Grim sneaks the chief : "There's been, I'm
afraid.
An Indian snmmer's aronnd."
What time he rlietb forth to shoot,
II is favorite horse the dapple is ;
And when he wants a little fruit,
Goes where the Iudianapolis.
When finished are his warlike tasks
With brazen incongruity
For overcoats and food he asks,
With charming Indiannity.
At night, before his bed he'l! seek,
With countenance forlorn,
He takes his scalping knife, and eke
He trims the Indian corn.
Burlington TTaxcJceye.
THE BATTLE OFSAN JACINTO.
THE STRIKING BTOUT OF W. W. FAT WHAT
ONE OF THE SURVIVORS SAW THERE,
ASD WHAT HE 8AW AFTERWARD.
It was at the battle of Sao Jacinto that
the rifle came to my notice. We Texans,
Laving gained advantage over the Mexicans
who first discharge had been aimed too
high rushed on while our enemies paused
tgeleload their guns. Each man reserved his
fire for some individual, so that the strug
gle was less a battle than a successtiou of
duels. Without bayonets, we broke our
rifles against their heads, and, with pistol
or bowie-knife in hand, trampled down the
dying men, plunging our blades into the
breasts of the few who opposed us, into
the backs of those who fled.
We were still full of memories of the
Alamo. Never could we forget how the
Mexicans bad slaughtered every human be
ing within its walls, save tbiee a woman,
a child and a negro and afterward burned
the bleeding bodies in one horrible pile.
The war cry of our band had been :
"Fight for your lives, and remember the
Alamo :" and the poor Mexicaus,wli3 were,
after all, but the slaves of a bloodthirsty
tyrant, thought of it also, and moaned, as
they fell : "Me no Alamo ! Me no Alamo I"
hoping to establish a claim for mercy, on
the plea that they had no hand in that hor
ble affair.
In the midst of this conflict I saw ray
college chum, Howard Rath bone, in instant
peril. I rushed to his aid. Having broken
li is gun over the head of one Mexican, he
found himself beset by. another, who cried
out that he would avenge his brother's
blood. As tbey grappled, tbe Mexican tried
to use his rifle as my chum had his. It was
in vain. Howard was the stronger. In a
few moments be gained possession of the
other's weapon, and struck him a blinding
blow. Then, his hands being free, he drew
his bowie-knife and plunged it into the
Mexican's heart. Meanwhile" the savage
tide of fighting men poured past. This was
a little conflict by itself. Hardly any one
noticed it, there were so many others. But
as he fell, tbe dying Mexican clutched the
cloth of the soldier s coat in the grip of
death, aud dragged him down upon his
breast, where for a moment he lay as one
who had case himself upon the breast of a
friend. Only a moment; but ere be had
freed himself these words had been hissed
into his ears .
"I curse the gun! May it prove the curse
of your life 1"
As the Texan struggled to his feet,
wrenching the dead clutch from his jacket,
he felt inclined to cast the rifle upon tbe
ground. At that moment it was too neces
sary to bun. 1 he next he was a tiger
again, beset by other tigers.
"Me no Alamo !" moaned a bleeding
Mexican.
He struck him down.
"Mother 1" cried a boy. into whose breast
he had plunged his blade.
For answer he drove his iron heel into the
face that was hardly more than a child's.
Seventeen years had passsed since the
battle of San Jacinto, when I went to the
house of my former chum to see hisdaugb
ler marry, cjoon came tiie rustic supper
the music ol two riddles, dancing, and
pleuly of drinking too much by far, but
it waa tbe custom of the country. At last
the bridegroom s father, standing beside
the father of the bride, glanced up at the
rifle hanging over the chimney-piece.
"Some of the relicsof your fighting times,
I reckon," said he.
"Yes," said Rathbone, "yes I took that
from a Mexican rascal at San Jacinto."
"Well, well," said the other, regarding
the weapon with curiosity. "Sort of sin
gular looking, ain't it ? I never saw a Mex
ican rifle before. Cau't see much of it uow
it's so high up."
He had bee drinking a good deal and
was in high spirits. The same might have
been said of the old soldier.
"I'll have it down," said be, "and let
yon see it."
He mounted on a chair and took the
weapon in his hands, ibe thongs by which
it was slung remaining on their nails.
"Here you are, friend," said he. "And
now you've got in your band a rifle that
may have been tbe death of many a brave
fellow at I he Alamo. It's seventeen years
since it was in anybody's hands, and its last
shot,wnyhap, was fired as a kind of salute
to my girl, your boy's bride, who came inlo
the world on that day, her mother not
knowing whether she was a widow or not.
Eh, mother?"
"Ah ! that's a day to remember," said
the wife.
"Pa has got his gun down," cried the
bride. "Sara, I never saw the gun down
before."
As she spoke the other man gave the rifle
back into Rath bone's hands, and he stood
holding it.
"You don't dare to shoot me," eried the
bride. "Ah ! pa, you're not as brave as
you used to be. You don't dare aim at
me.
"Yes, bboot us," laughed half a dozeu
-WHOM THE TRUTH MAKES FREE, AND ALL
PA., FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1873.
wild Texan girls. "Shoot us shoot us
shoot us I"
"Then I will, my pretty robins." cried
the father. "One, two, three fly away or
I fire 1"
He aimed the weapon that had hung use
less on the wall for seventeen years the gnn
tbe jiexican had cursed at his daughter.
It was just as safe a thing to do, in one's
opinion, as if it had been a broomstick.
"Who's afraid?" cried the girl.
"Now then, one, two, three," caid the
soldier. "Bang 1"
As he uttered the childish imitation of
tbe sound of firearms, it was drowned in a
real explosion. The gun went off, and the
bride dropped to the floor with a scream.
A bullet had entered her temple. She was
dead when tbey lifted her in their arms. It
was plain that, seventeen years before, the
Mexican who had owned it bad not fired
after reloading. His dying words had been
fulfilled. His gun bad proved a curse to
its captor. But how ?
I am not willing to admit supernatural
agency. I maiutain the gun exploded in
accordance with the !aws of loading and of
friction. If men wonld only try to trace
mysterious events to their souice, supersti
tion would soon cease. For one, I believe
nothing ever occurred which could not be
explained. That this Is not the common
opinion, tbe narrator is well aware.
But amid all bis agony and remorse, my
old chum persisted in one statement: He
had not pulled the trigger. Those who bad
watched him closely, veterans expert in the
use of firearms, declared that he had not
that the rifle seemed to Are itself off. All
that tbe father could say was : "The gun
is cursed. The devil of a Mexican cursed
the gun."
To comfort him, we all agreed it was so.
Indeed, I am not sure but they all thought
it. Inwardly, I resolved to ferret out the
mystery.
Tbe horrible accident nearly broke his
heart. He had been a fine-looking, up
right, middle-aged man when his daugh
ter's wedding day dawned ; when be
arose from the bed on which a long and
terrible illness laid him, he was bent like
a patriarch of ninety, and his hair, from
being brown and rich, was thin and white
as snow.
As for the gun the Mexican had cursed,
tbe soldier bad never seen it since tbat day.
Strong iu her tenderness for the father,
even in her grief for her child, the mother
had overcome her horror of the dreadful
thing, and had carried it to tbe great gar
ret. There she hid it in a lumber closet,
so that it might not trouble her unhappy
husband should his eyes ever look upon the
things of this world again. He had never
asked about it : he believed it bad been de
stroyed. He did not know that the powder
horn and the shot-bag bung beside it.
Again I was making my annual visit at
the old homestead. It was a warm day,
and my former chum had been a-field since
dawn. At noon his job was done, and the
boys who had toiled with him followed him
home, full of glee that their woik was over.
"I shall take a nap, lads," he said, after
dinner. "As for you, you can do the same if
you like, or yon might go fishing. There's
plenty of trout in the kill, I'm told."
And as the boys both cried aloud that
fishing was their choice, their father smiled
upon them.
"Whatever troubles we've had, mother,"
he said, "we've two fine boys."
And he went to take his nap with a
lighter heart than he had often had since
tbe fatal marriage day.
But when he had fallen asleep be began
to dream strange, troubled dreams. He
was at tbe battle of San Jacinto, and the
Mexican's lips were at his ear.
"I cursed the gun." He heard again :
"May it prove a curse to you."
Other guns were firing all about them ;
be heard the noise, he smelt the smoke.
Suddenly he awoke the noise of the report
of firearms was actually iu his ears and he
detected the odor of gunpowder.
He saw his wife ou her knees in the mid
dle of the room.
What has happened?" be cried.
"I do not know," sobbed the poor wo
man. "I heard a noise I am frightened !"
Then tbey rushed together to the garret
whence came a somid of groans.
Meanwhile I had heard the boys go past
my room and up the garret stairs, probably
in search of fishing tackle. I called them
back.
"Be careful, boys," I cautioned them,
"about the lumber closet. There is an old
gun in it that may be loaded. Don't go
near it."
"All right," said Chatlie. "Come on,
Will."
Feeling I had done my duty, I settled
back to finish au article for the Mercury.
They went up stairs.
"Fishing is all very well," said the elder,
"but I'd like shooting tetter. What a pity
father won't let us have guus."
He crossed the garret aud opened the
door of the lumber closet.
"Yes, there the old thing is. I don't be
lieve it's loaded. What if it is ? Reckon
I know bow to manage a gun 1"
"Let's take it on the sly," said his
brother. "Let it out of the window, and
I'll carry it to the woods. There is the
powder-flask and bullet-pouch, too. We
can get some caps at the store, Charlie."
"A good idea," said Charlie, advancing
toward the closet from which his brother
came, trailing the gun after him. Neither
of them guessed it was the wespoo that
had caused their sisters death. "Let's
have it, Will," said be, and took it. Sud
denly there was a fl isli, a report, and a
horrible scream from the little fellow, who
fell forward on his face at the feet of the
elder. His prostrate form was what bis
wretched parents saw as we three rushed
into tbe old garret.
The other boy stood utterly unable to
move, clutching the weapon that had caus
ed all this.
"May God have mercy on ns. it is the
cursed rifle again 1" cried tbe father.
Then the boy found woior.
"I swear I did not. load it!" he said. "I
swear I did not touch the trigger !"
And still his brother lay dead at his feet.
On the night before, I had seen a sight
that might have prophesied this tragedy.
Would heaven I had told of it !
The kitchen clock was striking eleven.
In a country house like that people go ear
ly to bed. The family had been asleep an
hour. I was reading, but paused to listen
t the striking of the loud-mouthed clock.
At it ceased, I fancied I beard a footfall
upon the stairs. I opened tbe door.
Slowly the noise came nearer. It bad the
sound that can come only from a bare foot.
The next second I saw my host, Rathbone,
approaching me.
ARE 8LAVE8 BEfllDE."
"You'll catch cold, old fellow," said I.
"Pnt nn ennr enat "
To my surprise he answered not at all,
but came slowly on.
Then I saw, for the first time, a som
nambulist. For a moment I hesitated whether to
awake him. He was easily mortified ; and
my catching him in such a plight would
prove disagreeable to ns both. So I simply
followed hi:n.
He went on, past my door, and up tbe
stairs. At the garret entrance he stopped
a second, then lifted the latch and entered.
I was close behind.
Without the least hesitation be advanced
to the lumber closet. I did not know the
old rifle was there, and again I followed.
The moonlight, streaming in through the
chinks in tbe eaves and one broken window,
made the dreary place quite light.
He turned the wooden button of the
closet door, and drew out a powder born.
Then be brought out a bag of shot. And
then the fatal gun.
At once I remembered it. Who, indeed,
that had ever seeu it could forget the heav
ily chased mountings of silver, the gro
tesquely carved butt, the enormous barrel?
With the recollection there flashed upon
me such a horror as I had never felt.
Still, I was powerless to move. I tried
to cry out. My tongue refused,
At last I found utterance. But in tbe
brief moment I bad thought of the conse
quences that must follow my awakint? him.
Here, evidently, was the precious secret
kept so long the clue to bis daughter's
death. No doubt the gun had been ioaded
before the fatal bridal day, in tbe same
manner, and by the same man. in the same
condition of somnambulism, as I saw it
was being loaded now. The father was
unconscious that be waB really the murder
er of his daughter. He knew the gun had
gone off in his hand, but ascribed it to the
Mexican's curse. Vhy should I undeceive
him ? Had he not sorrow enough ? So I
let him be. Shuddering I saw him ram
home the charge and then pnt the rifle back.
Was I not right ? Is there any event so
seemingly supernatural, so clothed in mys
tery, that chance cannot make it plain as
any page of Nature's laws ?
The old rifle is mine. It is gleaming at
me even now.
A. FEARFUL SITING.
PERILOUS ADVENTURE IN A COAL MINE.
The "shaftmen" at our collieries, says
Chambers' Journal, are selected for their
physical strength and pluck, in addition to
the skill and practical knowledge required
for their particular work. The incident
we are about to relate will show bow
severely the former of these qualifications
may at times he tested.
The work of these men is confined to the
shaft of the pit, and consists tnairjly in
repairing the "tubbing" or lining of the
shaft, stopping leaks, or removing any ob
stiuctions interfering with the free passage
of the cages up and down the pit. The
coal-pit at N has a double shaft, divi
ded by a "bratticing," or wooden parti
tion. These divisions we will call A and
B. Two cages (the vehicles of transport
up and down tbe pit) ascend and descend
alternately in shaft A. At a certain point
the shaft is widened to allow the cages to
pass each other, and their simultaneous ar
rival at this point is insured by the arrange
ment of the wire ropes on the winding
wheels over the pit-mouth. The oscilla
tion of the cages is guarded against bv
wooden guiders running down each side of
the shatt, which ht into grooves in the
sides of the cages.
Ou one occasion, during a severe frost,
these guiders had become coated with ice.
and thus their free passage in the grooves
of tbe cages was interfered with. Before
this obstruction was discovered, the engine
having been set in motion, the downward
cage, which, foitunately, was empty at the
time, stuck fast In tbe shaft before arriving
at me pasting point. I ue asceudmg cage.
whose only occupant was a small boy re
turning to "bank," proceeding on its up
ward course, crashed into the downward
cage in the nan ow par of the shaft, where,
of course, there. was only a single passage.
Though the shock was something terrific,
the steel rope was not broken, as the engine
man, whose lesponsible position entails he
greatest presence of mind and watchful
ness, had stopped the engine on the first
indication of an unusual tremor in the rope.
Yet such was the violence of the meeting,
that both cages, though strongly construct
ed of iron, were bent and broken in fact,
rendered useless by being thus jammed
together in a narrow space. The gieatest
anxiety was felt as to the fate of the boy,
as it was seen that eveu if he bad escaped
with his life after such a severe crash, bis
rescue would be a work of great danger
and difficulty.
We may imagine the horror of the poor
little fellow while suspended in tbe sbat
rered cage over a gulf some four hundred
feet deep, both cages firmly wedged in the
shaft, aud the ropes rendered useless for
any means of descent to the scene of the
catastrophe. 1 he readiest way of approach
seemed to be by shaft B, the position of
which we have indicated above. Down this,
then, a shaft-maw, whom we will call John
son, ascended in a cage until he anived at
an opening in tbe brattice-work, by which
he could enier shaft A. He found himself
(as he supposed) at a point a little above
where the accident had occurred, and this
conclusion he came to from seeing two ropes
leading downward, which be naturally took
to be those by which tbo cages were sus
pended. Under this impression he formed
tbe idea of sliding down one of tbe ropes.
with a view of liberating, if possible, the
entangled cages and securing the safety of
the unfortunate boy. The hardy fellow was
60on gliding through the darkness on bit
brave and dangerous errand. He bad de
KCended about fortv feet when, to his hor
rnr and amazement, his course was sudden
ly checked by a bend in the rope, aud the
teirible discovery flashed upon him that be
tea$ rusptnded m the loop of the tlack rope,
which here took a return couise to the top
of the downward cage.
It will be understood that when tbe de
sceuding cage struck upon the runners as
tbe rope continued to unwind from the
pully il hnng down in a loop, descending
lower and lower, until toe engine was
stopped by the meeting of the cages. Th is
loop, or "bight," was naturally mistaken
by Johnson for tbe txeo rope, and he did
not discover it until he fouud himself in
tbe feat fnl situation described, that be had
entered the brattice into shaft A below.
instead of above, where the cages were
fixed. There he hung then over a yawn
ing abvss manv fathoms Aman rlouui rwtir.
aoove by the locked cages all below look
ing dark and horrible.
None, of course, knew his danger ; his
hands were chilled by the freezing rope ;
his arms, already fully exercised, began to
ache and stiffen with the strain and intense
cold, added to the bewildering sense of
hopeless peril. Good need there was then
that piuck and endurance be found in tbe
shaft man I His square, sturdy frame and
unflinching spirit were now in on their
trial. Had bis presence of mind gone or
his nerve failed, he must have been para
lyzed with fear, lost his hold, and been
dashed into an unrecognizable mass.
But self-preservation is a potent law, and
working in such a spirit be framed a des
perate plan for a struggle for lire. Tbe
guiders running down the inside of the
shaft are fastened ou to the cross-beams
about six feet apart. Johnson hoped that
if he could reach one of these he might ob
tain footing whereon to rest, and by tbeir
means clamber up to tbe opening, in the
brattice work. How to reach tkem was
the next question tbat flashed lightning
like through his brain. This he essayed
to do by causing tbe rope to oscillate from
side to side, hoping thus to bring himself
within reach of one of tbe cross-beams.
And now commenced a fearful tieing.
Gaiuing a lodgment with one knee in the
loop, be set the rope swinging by the mo
tion of his body, grasping out wildly with
one hand each time he approached the
side of the 6b, a ft. Once, twice, thrice 1 he
felt the cold icy face of the "tubbing," but
as Vet nothim? but Slimv htiarHn mat hia
grasp, affording no moie bold than the
assy siae ot an iceberg.
At last he touched a cross beam. In vrliich
his iron muscles, now fully roused to their
work, held on like a vice. He soon found
looting on tbe beam below, and then lec
tins BO the t re 1C. herons rone, rested in
comparative security before beginning the
perilous ascent, w ith lucredible endur
ance of nerve and muscle he clambered up
ward alongside the guider, by tbe aid of
the cross-beams, and by thrusting his
hands through tbe crevices of the timber.
in mis manner ne reached the opening
nto shaft B. where the eacrn in w-lWIi l
had descended was waitinc. Chilled.
cramped and frozen, and barely able to
give tbe signal he was drawn to tbe pit
mouth prostrate and exhausted, Tbe boy
was rescueu uunurt by a man being lower
ed to the tOD of the eacrea in Kim ft A
Johnson suffered no ill consequences, and
though a hero abovo many known to fame
- . i , ... . .
ne situ pursues uis uaray task as a sbaus
man ; while beneath the homely exterior
still lives the nlock and sinew of iron that
did not fail him even in his Fearfal Siring.
"Somebody Else." A lad v was walk
ing quietly along the city street, not lone
ago, when the door of a bouse flew open, a
boy shot out with a whoop like a wild In
dian. Once on tlfe pavement he danced a
sort of double-sbuflle all around a curb
stone, and then raced down tbe street in
great hasce, for it was evident, by the books
under bis arm, he was going to school.
The lady was thinking what thoughtless,
noisy creatures healthy boys always are,
wnen a lew yards betore her she saw some
thing yellow lying on the stones. Coming
nearer she fancied it was a pine shaving,
and looked after tbe boy again. She saw
him suddenly stop short in a crowd of peo
ple at a crossing, and come back as fast as
be had gone, so that just before she reach
ed the shaving he did aud picked up, not
a shaving at all, but a long, slimy banana
skin. Flinging it into a refuse barrel, he
only waited longenough to say, "Somebody
might have slipped on it," and u off
again.
It was a little thing to do ; but that one
glance of the boy's clear, gray eyes, and
this simple, earnest sentence, made tbe
lady's heart very warm towards the noisy
fellow. He had slipped himself : be wac
far past the danger, aud when one is in a
hurry, it is a great bother to go twice over
the same ground, but the "someboay else"
might &iip, and so for the sake of this un
known somebody the hurrying boy came
back, and may be saved the life or limbs of
a feeble old man, or a tender little child
He might have said, "I cau't wait to go
back. It is none of my doing, and so it is
none of my business ;" but he made it his
business, and in this showed a trait of
character which promised well for the fu
ture. There is nothing nobler on earth
than this taking care that "somebody else"
shall not suffer needlessly. Tbe child who
grows up with such a spirit always active
in him, may make his home like a heaven
upon earth ; and he will never know what
it is to be unloved or friendless,
The Sistine Madonna. The Dresrlon
gallery is the finest collection notth of th
Alps. The Sistine Madonna alone is
enough to make a gallery famous. It is
the most celebrated picture iu the world
It has been reproduced so often in copies,
engravings, chronios and photographs that
it would be difficult to find a person who
is not familiar with the conception the
Holy Virgin, with the child Jesus in her
arms, standing on the clouds, St. Sixtnson
her left, below, look me up adoringly, St.
Barbaia on her right, with her face turned
toward the spectator, and beneath two lit
tle cherubs leaning over a railing repre
sented near the frame. 1 he pose and ac
tion of the figures, especially of the Virgin,
are admirable : the expression sweet, pure
and rapt. Raphael was in the best peiiod
of his short life when he paiuted this pic
ture, and taken altogether the dignity of
tbe subject, the beauty of the coloring, tbe
symmetry of the composition, and the soul
which his genius here best displays it is
worthy of its fame. Properly it occupies a
room by itself, and the ai t lover, who re
turns to it again and agaiu, finds that it
daily increases its hold upon bis imagina
tion. The picture is about eight feet seven
inches high and six feet four niches w,de.
It was carefully restored iu 1816.
Here is a Baltimore tramp's story: "At
ferry ville I went to a house with a brick
in my hand and asked the lady if she would
please be so kind as to put sotne.buller on it.
The request excited her curiosity, and she
asked: 'Why do you want to put butter on
a brick? I told her I was going to eat it
Surely, she sad, 'you are not. so hungry
as to eat a buttered brick ? Come into the
house and I'll give you food. I bagged a
square meal, for which I had set so slick a
trap. Iu the western section or the btate I
asked at a house for something to eat, and
on being refused begged for a looking-glass,
whieNof course excited inquiry, and when
J I replied that I wanted to see myself starv
ing to death, it brought what I was after."
Terms, S2 per year. In advance.
NUMBER 48.
A Department Romance.
Posted ronaDirnniiisl v .11 .Irmrr fh rnrrl.
dors of the Interior Department is the fol
low mg :
There are no vacancies) In this department.
A
pplicants cannot be wen. Applications la
rit
itlng win be received and placed ou file for
ure examination.
called the attention nf that wnMa
rut
clerk, who was showing me around and
g
iving me lessons in uivii Service rteform,
to
iu is notice ana remarked :
"I suppose this is another device got up
deceive the iwnnU
to
"Yes it serves the nurrtnsA nf ilscclrlnir
applicants to a limited extent, but It was
ungiuauj gyi op lor me oenent oi oue per
son alone. The history of that notice is
somewhat romantic, and would be a good
6Ut
tujeci lor a 'yaller kiver. "
I unred him to rive me thst ntorv li!h
, . . . i- - w .
e did in nearly the following language :
"Some Vears im there waa vminir florlr
occupying a desk near the entrance to the
uuuuiug. ue was rainer reckless in Iiii
character, fond of a joke, and loved an ad
yentnre better than he loved wine, which
is saying a good deal. Oue day a young
girl, well dressed and aged about sixteen,
entered his room and asked if he was fwpm.
tary of the Interior. He saw at a glance
that 6he was a sitnple-miuded country girl,
and wondering what she could want with
tbe Secretarv. determine,! tn find nni oil
about it, and promptly replied in the affirm
ative, one uiereupou told him tbat she bad
recently been left an orphan and among
siruiigers : mat uer lamer s estate, which
was considerable before tbe war, bad been
swept awav : and that aim wa Mnniiooa
and obliged to suppott herself. She had
nuuu cuuuuuu a jo wrote a lair nana, and
bearing that situations in the departments
were freauentlv rilled bv larliea k)- l.ari
termined to apply for one herself.
i ne clerk ascertained that she Lad no
backine. but that in her cimnli.itv nf wniA
bad come here thinking that no6uch thing
waa necessary. lie tbereunoii riecMeH
DOn a line of action, inf.imnna in ilui,
and disastrous in its consequences. Still
carrying the idea that he was the Secretary
he ascertained her stoDninir nlace. anri
Creed to consider lier i.rlic inn a in s4 utalt
that evening to inform her of the result.
f T. .1.- . . a a
ue bjso cauiionea ner, on some specious
cretext. against talk in t with nther nn
subject of her business. He called at tbe
time appointed, aud, telling her tbat there
were no vacancies at present, advised her
to take lodgings somewhere and wait,
promising her the first place when a vacan.
cy occurred. She took his advice, aud the
result can ea6i1v be imagined. It ih
old, old story. Of course she never got the
situation promised, but was put off from
day to day and month to mouth on various
pretexts, until finally, by a change of ad
ministration, he lost his own situation.
UverwLelmed by the loss of his posi
on and the ennsciousneu nf tha i,r...
of his conduct toward tbe poor girl, he
snranK irora telling uer the truth: and
fearing tbe consequences if his guilt should
become k
crime by still further deception. To this
ena ue wrote uer a note, telling ber tbat
he had been suddenly called to Europe on
important business connected with his de
partment, but that he bad left orders to
have a place riven her as soon a
occurred ; that in the meantime she could
always ten wneiner a situation was open
to her by looking at the notice posted on
the wall in the department. Tbat night
he got several copies of the above notice
piuueu anu surreptitiously posted them no.
"Filled with grief at his sudden depart
ure, and filled with a foreboding of im.
pending evil, she wended her way to the
department on her first visit of reconnois
sance. She saw the notices ; and. over
come with despondency, she for the first
time ventured to disobey the instruct inn.
she bad received. Entering the office
where she first met her deceiver, mouths
before, she inquired for the Secretary of
mc iu tenor, cue was snown to Lie room
and there the whole secret came out. The
scene in tbat office, when the kind-hearted
Secretary revealed the truth, can never be
described. Suffice it to sav. .he w. .
j , u-
ducted from that room utterly broken in
raiua ana neaun. i ne secretary provided
for her immediate necessities, and called
the attention of some charitable ladies to
her case. For weeks she lay hovering on
the brink of the grave with a brain fever,
and when she arose her mind was gone
and her hair was gray, ner betrayer was
traced out and forced to contribute to her
support, but for tbe sake of bis family the
whole matter was kept from publicity.
When she was able to go about an attempt
was made to change her abode aud sur
roundings, but she resisted the attempt
with terrible energy, believiug, as she did,
that her lover would one day return. She
clung to this hallucination to tbe last, and
every day at the hour of noon she visited
the depaitment and read the notice, and
findiug 'no vacancies' turned away with
a sigh and ret timed to her room. Once
the notices weie taken down, but she be
came so demonstrative iu her joyful antici
pation ofobtaiuing the prom ised place that
they were immediately replaced. As I
said before, the histoiy of the case was
kept a profound seciet, and but two or
three who from day to day saw tbe pale,
wan faco appear with the reguliuity of the
sun, knew or could fathom the sad history
of that blighted life ; and of the thousands
who carelessly read the words of tbat oo
tice, few are aware that it bad its origin in
tbe perfidy and treachery of man tbat its
letters are written in the heart's blood of a
confiding aud betrayed woman."
Here the old man blew his now, bade
me good-bye. and was a'oont turning ewav
when I detained him with :
"One moment before you go what be
came ot the girl?"
She faded away that is all. Her vis
i s towards the last liecame less frequent,
and finally ceased altogether. In a few
days those entrusted wi It her secret were
notified and we follewed her to ber grave.
I tell you," continued the old man, !
haye attended a great many funerals in
my time, but I never attended one so sad
as this. Her bettaier still lives a lesi-
dent of Detroit, I believe and it is to be
bojied, for the credit of bmuanity, is a
prey to lemorse for the part he took in
blighting the life of as beautiful a till as
ever nveu. i neie mat. is m never
told this Ktory before, aud you are welcome
to it. You are a literal y man, and bv add
ing a little to it jou. could make quite a
story out of It."
But I am not ambitions in that line, and
prefer to give the plain atory in the simple
language used by le department relic
lViif?7i Vvrre-pohtUM Detroit se-au,
V
nn