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"iKlrl AN INDEPENDENT EAMILY NEWSPAPER.
Vol. VI. Now Bloomfleld, TPa.t Tuesday, October 8, 1872. ISo. 41.
IS PUBLKHKD EVERT TUESDAY MOBNINO, BT
FEANK M03JTIMEB & CO.,
At New Bloomfleld, Terry Co., Ta.
Being provided with Steam Power, anil large
Cylinder and Job-Presst. we are prepared
to do nil kind of Job-Printing In
good style and at Low Prices.
ADVEBTI8INO BATES I
TraruUni tt Cents per line Tor one Insertion.
19 " " ' twolnsertlons
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Bnslness Notices In Local Column 10 Cents
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YEARLY ADVERTISEMENTS.
One Inch one year
"Two Inches "
1 10,00
8 18.U0
VFor longer yearly adv'ts terms will be given
upon application.
So as near Eight as you Can.
The world stretches widely before you,
A field for your muscle and brain j
And though clouds may often float o'er you,
And often come tempests and rain,
But fearless of storms which o'ertake you
Push forward through all like a man
Good fortune will never forsake you,
If you do as near right as you can.
Remember, tho will to do rightly,
If used, will evil confound j
Live dally by conscience, that nightly,
lour sleep may be peaceful and sound,
In contests of right never waver
Lot honesty shape every plan,
And life will of Paradise savor,
If you do as near right as you can.
Though foes' darkest scandal may speed,
And strive with their shrewdest of tact,
To Injure your fame, never heed, v
But Justly and honestly act t
And ask of the Rulor of Heaven
To save your fair name as a man,
And all that you auk will be given,
If you do as near right as you can.
My Watch and Chain.
IT was in tho your 1847 when a small
forco was left to bold Pueblo, that for
tune cast my lot to remain there for garri
son duty, while the army marched away
to deeds of valor and glory. I well remem
ber bow sadly we watched the long blue
lines disappear ou the road that leads to
tbe capital, and bow we deprecated the ne
cessity that compelled us to stay behind to
keep tbe rear open for our advancing com
rades. We bad no idea thou that we should
have plenty of fighting on our hands, and be
forced to stand a siege that at one time
looked as if it would be terminated by tbe
beavy body of Mexican troops (that sur
rounded ub) swarming over our hastily
erected breastworks.
For some time, after tbe departure of
Geueral Scott we bad matters pretty much
our own way, and were apparently on good
terms with tbe populace. ' Many , little
courtesies were constantly passing between
us, and we began to congratulate ourselves
on our comfortable situation, when a rumor
ran through the garrison that a very largo
cavalry force of the enemy bad appeared in
a town to tho southward, some fourteen
miles distant. No one could tell from
whence tbe report emanated, and tbe fact
that our spies (and we bad an efficient
corps in our pay), had given the Colonel
commanding no suok information, caused
us, after a few days bad elapsed, to doubt
tbe rumor, and ultimately to banish it from
our mludH. Bo we resigned ourselves to
security, and went ou with "kino and
raonte," smoking cigarettes and drinking
" pulque, H with as little concern as if we
bad been at home in one of our own cities.
I had been sick with a low typo of fever
at Vera Cruz, when I arrived in Puebla I
bad permission to live for a while at a pri
vate bouse instead of joining niess and tak
ing quarters in barracks.
The woman at whose house I made my
temporary borne, was named Garcia, and
bad a husband at the time serving In the
Mexican ranks; but I was not aware of the
fact Senora Garcia bad two daughters,
Antonio, tbe eldest, was about' sixteen
years, and Carmen, the youngest, was six. ,
She also bod a nephew (on her husband's
side) named Angol,who lived in hor family.
This young boy was apparently twelve
years old, and quite an intelligent lad.
It didn't take me long to make myself at
tome, and I think I bod tbe good w ill of
tbe family to the very last. Indeed, a far
as related to Antonia, she gave me the
most ample proof of her disinterested
fri endship.
She was a frank, free girl, without a par
ticle of prudery in her nature. She one
day laughingly warned me not to full in
love with her, as she was destined for con
vent life.
"I should have taken the veil ere this,"
she remarked; " but this unhappy war of
yours determined me to stay with my
mother until peace comes then I must leave
them all."
" But why do you adopt this life, de you
prefer it?" I asked.
" I cannot say that it is my choice," she
replied; " but then you see I made a vow
when in great peril, and I must keep it."
" Oh I is that it ?" I answered. " Now,
it seems to me that you propose doing a
very foolish thing, and one, too, that there
is neither merit nor necessity for perform
ing." " Ah, Scnor, you are mistaken," sho re
plied, "a vow is a vow; if I was wrong in
making it, who shall absolve me ? No, I
mustkoepmy promise. Sanctissima Maria!
what miserablo creatures we should be if
we all mode vows and never fulfilled
them."
" I don't say that we Bbould make pro
mises to break them," I answered, "but
only this, when one, through terror or fa
naticism, or anything that momentarily
excites the mind, makes a rash or hasty
vow, it is sometimes better to break it than
perform it. Your own heart will tell yoa
so, though you will not admit it."
" It tells me no such a thing," she re
plied; "if you were a Catholio you would
not reason as you do."
" What does that signify?" I answered,
" What's the use of calling names ? I be
lieve in the Trinity as well as yourself. I'm
a Christian, and when at home go to
church and try to behave myself. To bo
sure my religion don't call upon me to bind
myself with vows, nor hold me to them if
I made them, but if I did I don't think I
should keep them if I mado improper ones,
and I imagine I should be nono tho worse
for it."
.Sho shook her hoad incroduously, and
then changed the conversation.
A few days aftewards Angel Garcia
came in the house with his face palo.
" What's the matter, Angel?" we all
criod out it once.
The poor boy was so ngitatod that bo
could not reply immediately, but after a
few moments staged thnt be had soon some
American soldiers shot down by Moxicaus
outside tbe city limits, whore they bad been
straying.
Putting on my bat I went out on the
piazza, but no one seemed to have heard of
the affair. I, thorefore, returned to the
house and requested Angel to show mo the
spot To tell the truth, I did not believe a
word of the story, but thought that the boy
bad magnified the occurrence be profess
ed to lave seen.
"Don't go, Senor," he exclaimed, "you
bad better stay bore." ,
"If you are afraid, I'll go myself," I an
swered, looking at bim reproachfully.
" I'm not afraid," be replied, "though I
don't wish to be shot or see you killed
either."
" Perhaps you bad better not go out,
Senor," said Antonia; " bo content and re
main where you are."
" To show you bow little I credit what
Angel has seen," I replied, " I here bestow
this upon you if I do not return," and I
took the gold watch from my pocket and
threw the chain over her neck.
" I will pray for you," she said as, I
turned away from the house. "Angel
don't leave the Senor," she cried.
After some twenty minutes walk wo came
to the open country, and Angel pointed a
little way ahead, remarking, That's the
place, though I don't soe any one now."i
Scarcely had be uttered these words, ere
I felt my arms pinioned from behind, ; and
I was a prisoner. In an instant there were
a dozen lancers by . my side. Tbey bad
been secreted in the bushes, while their
horses were concealed iu a hollow near by.
Angel, poor boy, flod weeping plteously,
while my captors proceeded to bind my
hands, and placing me on a horse bore roe
away. :,','
I was fortunate in fulling into the baud
of Captain Vasquez, an unusually humane
Mexican, or I should probably have been
traveling on foot tied to tbe tail of ono of
the horses. . After a littlo,the Captain him
self rode up 'beside me and entered into
conversation.
" You are an officer?" he said, glanclpg
at my blue blouse which was devoid of
boulder-straps.
"I am," I roplled, "but was not on daty
when you captured me. I have been sick,
and was recruiting my health before rejoin
ing my regiment, which is with tbe main
body of the army.
" I'm sorry I had to take you if you are
an invalid," bo returned, "but we want
some Information as to what is going on
among your folks there," pointing back to
tho city. " Let me give you a little bit of
advice. You will bo taken before Goneral
Rea before long. I advise you to answer
bis questions promptly for it may go worse
with you if you hesitate."
" Thank you, " I replied, " for your Inti
mation, but I shall reply to nothing that
may prejudice the cause of my country
men." "As you plcaso," he answered, and
touching his horse with bis spur be rode to
the head of his command.
The sun was setting when we baited be
fore a few houses at the outskirts of a vil
lage I was immediately taken before a
fat, swarthy ofllcor, who announced hira
solf as Goneral Iiea.
" How many troops have you in Puebla?"
ho askod in a stern tone.
"I don't know," I replied.
" What 1" he demanded, raising his
voice, " you don't know ? Come, sir, I've
no time to waste; tell me at once, how
largo the American force is in Puebla."'
" I really cannot tell you," I answered,
"for I do not know."
"How many piecos of light artillory
have they ?" he continued.
"I am an infantry ofllcor," I replied,
" and dont know anything about it."
" Don't know again," he said, making a
memorandum with a pencil.
" Do they expect reinforcements ? If so,
whon?"
" I decline to answer that question," I
replied.
"Yodo?he exclaimed. "Suppose I
shoot you ?"
" I shall endeavor to meet my fate as a
brave soldier," 1 answered.
Hero Captain Vasquez, who was present,
stoppod to the General's side, and whisper
ed something, I only caught the words
" an invalid ofllcor," but I kuow he was
speaking in my behalf.
"Take him away," said the General.
I arose and was conducted out by a
couple of soldiers and thrust into a small
room, scarcely five feet square, and lighted
by an aperture only large enough to admit
my hand. I soon saw that the place, was
used as a prison, and a sentinel was lazily
sitting before the door with his sabre dang
ling between his hocla. f Ho asked me for
some tobacco. . Tbe door being opened, I
was rudely shoved into this hole, contain
ing only a rough bench and a brown pitch
er, half full of , stale water. For ten
days I livod in this vile bovel, feeding upon
a scanty supply of black beans and tor
tillas or corn cakes, and I was never per
mitted to go outside my prison except upon
cases of uecesHity, when I was always at
tended by a couple of soldiers. '
It was growing late in the afternoon one
day, when, as I was peeping out the aper
ture that served for a window, I saw a
young man (as I supposed) talking to somo
soldiers directly in front of my den. Tbe
most remarkable thing about bim was a
gold chain which be wore. I was confident
it was the one I had bandod Antonia the
day of my capture. As I gazed I got a
better view of the young man's face, when
to my astonishment, I became satisfied
that it was Antonia Garoia herself in male
attire. A thousand thoughts passed through
my brain in that moment. Had she come
there to effect my release, or to denounce
me? This last could not be, for sho was
too good to Injure even on enemy ; besides,
she was in disguise. I called to tho guard
outside aud asked bim the time of day.
"A quarter to six," he replied, and then
commenced smoking a corn-shuck segar as
he paced to and fro on bis post.
At lost it grew dark, and the lights be
gan to shine outside my prison. . I was al
lowed none to cheor my gloomy hours, so I
throw myself upon a bench which answered
the purpose of a couch, and began to think
of home aud kindred. My confinement
was making me weak and morose, fori
was far from being strong when they oap
tured me,
While stretched upon my bench, the
door of my prison suddonly turned upon
its binges, and admitted a figure and theu
closed again. '
" Speak low," she said, for it was An
tonia, " for, I can only remain bere a mo
ment ; my father is now on guard at your
door, that is the way I got in bere. 1 I can
release you, but before doing so, I wished
to ' obtain your consent to what I propose.
To-morrow night there will be a sergeant
on duty bere, and I will arrange it so that
there will be a horse in waiting for your
escape. To be brief, this sergeant of whom
I speak will set you free, if I give him your
watch and chain. Do you consent? Act
as you please, and don't let me influence
you. If you had taken Angel's advice and
mine, you would not now be here."
I grasped her by the band aud told her
that I would freely give what sho proposed
and even more.
"It's enough," she replied. "I don't
know at what hour you will get clear, but
my father is going to desert, and be will
accompany you, and may the saints aid
you."
She shook the door, which was immedi
ately opened, and I was alouo.
Oh, bow sweet is the boon of freedom to
one debarred from its blessed privilege I I
slept but little that night, and the next day
feigned being ill. The doctor came to me,
but be proscribed nothing, and loft me
with the remark that I would be soon bet
ter. How wearily dragged those hours
along as I watched the blue sky from my
peep-hole. Evening came at last, then it
grew dark and got late. 1 beard the senti
nels cry "Alorto," and then I knew that
the night was well advanced, I could seo
the stars twinkle through my prison win
dow, and tho clang of my guardian's sabre
every little while came to my car. Bud.
denly tho door oponcd wido and a man
spoke in a low voice.
"Quick, Senor, follow me."
I spiang out into the night and ran after
him as fast as 1 could. We did not halt
until we came to the end of the ' village.
There we found a couple of horses in wait
ing. Without an instant's hesitation I
jumped into the saddle, and my companion
did the sumo, when we set oft' upon a bard
gallop.
"This is dangerous work," be said, as
we tore along the road. " If they should
miss us our lives would not be worth a
'claco."'
"How far is Puebla off?" I asked, after
we bad been riding for a long time.
" Scarcely more thau a league," he an
swered, r
Just theu there came a sound from the
rear that mado me shudder. It was a dull
rattling noiso, accompanied by a distant
shout. .
" Heavens I" I criod, " we are pursued."
My companion uttered something thnt
sounded like an oath. - Faster and faster
wo urged our beasts, whilo nearer and
nearer came the clatter in, our rear. At
last our pursuers wore close upon us. I
struck the rowels doeper into the flanks of
my jaded steod. Daylight was just break
ing, and in tbe gray morning mist 1 saw
the steeples of Puebla rise before my eyes.
I turned my bend backwards ; at . least a
score of horsemen were on our path, and
hardly more than a quarter of a mile dis
tant. It was at this moment the horse of
my companion foil. .
"Fly !" exolalmed Autonia'a father, "I
can save myself yet," and be bounded off
among some bushes and was bidden from
my sight.
It happened that there was a small party
of dragoons just entering the city by an
other road, ' which brought them in the
rear of my pursuers. As soon as they
caught sight of the Mexicans they uttered
a wild shout and dashed for them, sabre in
band. ' '
Now it was the turn of the enomy to fly ;
they had accidentally been caught in a nice
trap. Scattering in disorder, they at
tempted to gain the mountains, but the
d ragoons were on their heels, cutting them
down with their long sabres. I turned
and rode back, joining my countrymen.
The first person I encountered was my old
comrade, Captain Burns.
" Hullo I" be cried, " that's what's the
matter, bey I By George, we thought you
were shot long ago," aud he caught me by
the baud. "There's two of them," be
said, pointing to a couple of Mexicans
whom the dragoons had slain.
One of them had a sorgoant's chevrons on
his sloeves, and I don't know what promp
ted mo, but I Jumped from my horse and
turned him over as bo was lying on bis
face. I bad no soonor done so than I es
pied my chain glittering under his shirt.
"I'll take this," I aid, and slipping
it off bis neck, I found my watch at the
end. " Bo It's you, my fine sergeant," I
soliloquised. " Not content with your
bribe, you ' must needs betray me. Well
your work Is about done. '
I then recounted to Burn how my escape
bad been effected.
"You are fortunate," Le remarked;
"You certainly have obtained your free-,
dom cheaply."
As we rode into Puebla, I stopped a mo
ment at Senora Garcia's house. The family
were all up, aud the father was eating
beans and drinking chocolate.
"I got in ahead of you, Senor," he coolly
remarked, as bo shovelled in bis breakfast.
"Come in come In," they all called
out.
" Not now, I thank you," I replied ;
" I'll take up my quarters with the troops
but I will see you every day or two."
"What's that you have about your
neek?" asked Antonia.
"My chain, of course," I answered,
" and the watch is hero, too."
"Why how is that?" asked her father ;
" I thought Sergeant Torres had it."
"8ohe did," I replied, "but, you see,
he is lying out there on the road, aud I saw
from the way he was taking his rest that be
wouldn't need it any longer, bo I took pos
session of it myself."
"Ah, mo 1" returned Garcia, "he pro
mised to sell it to me if I would send him
twonty dollars, and I was going to ask
you for tho monoy, seeing that I set you
free."
"You shall have the money, my man,"
I replied, " but I reckon I'll keep the watch
myself."
How It Is Done.
Tho manner in which the promise of
"no political assessment"" is carried out
is well told by the following communication
from a clerk at Washington.
"Just before tho Maine election the as
sessor called me aside, and showing mo a
paper headed as a subscription list, and
bearing a roster of all the officers of our de
partment with certain nmoun ts opposite to
their names, according to the salaries they
received, said: "Mr. , you are ex
pected to contribute $20 this month for
election expenses in Maine."
Now, why Bhould anybody "expect"
any such unreasonable thing? I hadn't
signed the list, although my name was
there as a "contributor," nor had I au
thorized anybody to sign it for me. The
assessor said that It was "expected," and
of what avail would be a reference to Web
ster or Worcester for the true meaning of
these words, "expect" and "contribute?"
So I reminded him that I had contributed
over $20 for the North Carolina eloction
and for the election in Vermont, and that
$40 dollars was roally more than I could
spare, whilo my salary was so small and
family so lurge. His answer might seem
cruel to somo, but to me who beard it so
often, it was merely monotonous. He said:
"The State Committee make the demand,
not I. So, if you cannot spare the money,
there are plenty of others who will be glad
to take your place and spare it." That is
the knock-down argument with us poor
clerks, so I "contributed." In conse
quence of this last "contribution" my chil
dren will have to do without thoir winter
shoes until December next, when I hope
to get a full month's pay, and I will have
to put off purchasing my winter's coal until
November, and trust to Providence to keep
us from shivering to death in tho mean
time. A Puzzle for Surgeons.
Andrew Truitt, a colored man at work,
for Hev. T. P. McColley, in South Milford,
Del., met witli a serious accident on Satur
day last. . He was riding a young horse,
which reared with him, and falling back
ward caught his ankle under the withers,
tearing the astragaloid bone from its con
nection with the Joint, forcing it completely
through tho skin to the itn.or side of the
ankle.
A singular fact in connection with tho
accident is, that though the bone and liga
ments were torn entirely away, opening a
frightful wound under the maleolua to the
joint, the fibula was not injured au acci-
dont which has been pronounced Impossible
by surgical authors, owing to the peculiar
anatomy of the parts.
Knew hli Place.
A crave-dicurer walkiuor iuto the t.r.
of Windsor, the other day, chanced to turn
aud noticed two doctors walking behind
him. Ho stopped till the; passed, and
followed on behind them. " And why ia
this?" sold they. " I know my place in
this procession, " snid be.
1ST Georgia has a bale and heartv citizen
who has been struck by thirty-two niiimia
balls, one mortar shell, one sharpnol, one
tnroo-incu oulcal, stiuck by lightning,
bitten by a rattlesnake, nud chased bv &
mad dog.