POST
FliMUhed tvery Thuredat Evening by
JIBIMIAH CBOTJSB, Prop'-.
Term of Subscription,
TWO fcOLLARS PER ANNUM. Pay
able vithin lis months, or 2.5oifnot
putt! within the tear. No paper din
continued until all arrearage are
faid unleat at the option of the pub
ieher. .- Subscription! outside- of the county
PAYABLH . lit ADVANCI.
StsTTersona lifting and tiling paper
ddressed to other become su&cribers,
'nd are liahle for the price of the paper,
a a
A W. POTTER,
ATTOTtXET 'AT LAW.
Setinsgrove P .
Offer kl professional service te tb
public. All Itf 1 boeiae entrust' to hit
ear will receive trompt attention. Offie
one door above th Saw Laihtraa Cburek
July, tb '72.
. r P. CltOXMILLErt,
ATTOBXET AT T.AW.
Middloburg, Pa.,
Offer Mi professional service U lh pub
lie. Collection and all other prof ealooat
hitatna animated t hi eara will reeelve
prompt attention. Jaa I, 'OTtf
C. SIMPSON. "
ATTORN ET AT t AW.
Sclinagrove Pn.,
Ollere bin profaaeloBal service la tb pnb
II. All buelnee entrusted U hi tear
will b aronpllr attended lo.
, fJan. 17. '67H
Jw. KNiarrT.
. AT TOUXET at law.
Freeborg Pa.,
direr bl rroreioal service to tae puo
lis. Alt buiinei entrusted te bi ear
will be promptly attended to.
Jaa 17,87tl
WM.VAN GEZER,
AXTOBNO AT LAW,
LoVisburg Pa.,
Offer M profeiiloaal eervloe to a pub
lie. Colleotlooe and all other Pteleeeioa
at badaee entrusted t hi tare will re
elv prompt attention.
GEO F.MILLER,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
Lewisburg ta
Offer hi ProfeistoBal eervlc I tb pub
lie. Collection and all other professions
all buiinee entrusted to hi car will re
celve prompt attention. Jan. 8, 'U7l
M.LINN, A. II. PILL
e (Saoeesenro to. T. fcJ. at. Linn,)
AT'lOHNaVS AT LAW, Lewisburg, Pa.
Offer their profetaiooal ervice to tb
puhllo. Cullecllon and all other pro
fessional buiinee ntrueted la ibeir ear
ill recelveproaiptelUnt Ion. Jan. 8, '87tf
CHARLES IIOWER,
ATTORN ET AT LAW,
Selinsgrova Pa.,
Offer VeprnfeloBlervlee to tb pub
tie. Cnlleotlon andallolber profesaiona
wuelaea entrusted to hi ear will re
ceive prompt attentioa. Office two door
north of tb Kevaloae Hotel, f Jeit 5, '67
IIIDII ALC.SBAW.
oaAca Ai.tsmir.
S. ALLEMAN & SON.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW.
HtilnHRrrov ln.
Ail prnfeeMonel biuinee and collecting
eeiraeted t their ear will be promptly
aliened lo. Ca be eoneulied In Eiilieb
or Oernaa. Office, Marke. Square.
I, N. MYEIL, " "
, X ATTORNEI k CfinSElCR XT LAW
Midillohurg Snyder County Ponn'a
Office a few door Kent of the P. O. on
Mnln el reel. Consultation in Knjrlitli
and German Unguege. 8ep.'B7t
II. II. UKIMM,
Attorney & Gounccllor
A T'LA W,
Office N. E, Cor Maiket & Water St'e
Freeburar, Pcna'a.
Comul atioa la both Eoglieb and German
Lngui. uec. v.tr.
HOVER & BAKER
UT - SEWING MACHINE
Perioa in need of a good and durable
Eewiag Maebln oo b aeoBimodta at
reaeonabl prioee ty ceiling on bam
en, Favt, Agent, 8liasgroee.
f Jan. 2468
DR. J. Y. SHIN DEL,
8DRQE0N AND PHYSICIAN.
Middleburj? Pa.,
Offer hit profetelonal eereleee lo tb oil-
lien f Mlddleaurg and vioinity.
(Mareb 31, '67
JOUN K. HUGHES, Eaq.,
(JUSTICE OF THE PEACE,
Peno Twp., Snyder Co. Pa
F. VAN BUSKIRK,
8UR0ICAL MECHANICAL DENTIST
SolinsgroT Penn.
YH. WAGNER, Esq.,
e . JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. -laokeoa
Township, SnyderCo. Pa.,
Will attend to all buslnee eatrueted to
hit ear and on th moet reasonahl
tern, . March 12, 18if
Dtt J V KANAWEL.. '
CeNtretllle, Bnyder C., Pa.
Offer hi profeeeional lervioe t the
fanno. w.on
GRAYBILL k Co..
WaoLBiAta Oattaae in
WOOD AND WILLOW WABB
Oil Cloth, Wiadow Sbadea, Droma, Mala,
uruthee Cotton Lap, Orala Daga, T.j
Mela, Ruoket. Twin, Wioke, Ao.
". AM Market Bireet, fblladelphla.
'b. 7, '67
B T. PARKS,
e irriiuvtr at i.iv t
DISTRICT ATTORNT,
VIDDLBBCRO, SNYDER COUNTY, Pa
0 Hob la Court Hiuee. fgeat.lS. '67tf
B. SELUEIMEU, -
DKALEB IW .
HARDWARE,
W 1 - ,
Til 15
ron, Nails,
I Ctesl, Leather,
I Paints, Oils,
Moves ti Tlmycre,
MARtUT ITREBT.
-- b, wvH
s
If
VOL. 11.
FAIRMOUNT HOUSE.
' REA THE DEPOT,
IIllllotmrfr JLa..
GEORGE GUYER, PnopaiRTOR
Thl bona I 1b elote preilmltyto Ihe
depot and ha lately been rebuilt and re
fitted. Room eommodioue the table well
supplied with tb beat th market afford
e.d term moderate.
B
ROWN HOUSE
PAXTONVILI.E, (Bearer Statloa,
BENUI UbFEK, froprtelor.
The an1er.lee4 adnnti thte method nt Inform
In tbe patille the! ke hae opened a hotel at the
above named plami, en the roat from MkMIe
bare; to lleaeertown, ant thet be te prepared te
entertain lee puouo wua nr.i eiaspacrniemmia
tlont. UE.fRY BNrKR.
April , IRI.
"YALKER HOUSE,
!McC tiro City Iix.
NICHOLAS SIMON, Proprietor,
Thli a new boo, newly furnlebed and
le now epoa lo tbe traveling publi. It la
located near the drpoU No effort will be
epared by the proprietor t make lhtay
t at gueai pieaeaat ana agreeable.
D
AVIS HOUSE
At the Mifflin. Centra. Hurbnrt k trf.Utnwe
R. K. In pot, eoroer ot Water and Itoroa ate.,
Lovltown
Qeorge flory ft Son, Proprietor.
BaDrOpen Day and Night for the accom
modation of traveler. A (rat elan Re-
taurant I attached to th betel, wbrr
Mea'i at all hour can be bad. Temea
reatcnable. 0,43-lf
B
UMOARDNER noTTSE,
(Oppoelt Keadlag Kallroa Depot)
Iln.riisbitrpr ln..,
B. &A1VDXS, Proprietor.
a-FrefT effnrt nereMar to tnenra th enm
fort ofote will be mule. Tbe honnhai Kmd
eewlj rentted. (oetll.lS7Uf
JNION" HOUSE,
MMiDetmr. Fl
DAVIS BBXJIZJ3XIUL, Frop'r.
Accommodation good and obarge mod
erate. Hpeoial accommodation for drov
ere. A share ef tb publio patronage I
eolioited. D. KER9TETER-
April 6, 1871
LLEOHENY HOl'BE.
Xot. 811 A 811 Market Slrcrt,
(Abov Kiflklh,)
PlllI,AItELPIlA.
V. lleclc, Irpriotor.
Term $1 00 Per Day. Jict3.
CBNTREVILLE HOTEL,
(Late Mrs. Wearer's.)
:enterTiie inner c.. Pa.
FETEK HARTM Art, Proprietor.
This toniroetahtlstiod anil well knowa hotal
haelns; been purohasml by the anrter.tuned, to
ilette a share of tbe pnhlli- pat ronaee.
April, t, U71.
J THOMPSON BAKER,
Attornoy-at-Law,
(Lewieburg, Union Co., Pa.
BfiTOan be consulted in tbe English and
German Unftuaf ee.jaj.
OFFICE Market bireet, oppotil Walls
Srailb h. Co Store 8 49v
JOHN n. ARNOL
Attorney txt Livv,
MIDDLEDCDO, PA.
Profeeeional btielaess entrusted to hi ear
w.'!. be promptly attended lo. Feb 9,71
gAMUEL II. OUWIG,
Attorney-at-Law,
OFFICE, Tit WALNUT STREET,
raiLADBtraia.
B
J. WILLIAMS, Jr.
MitirAOTva a or.
VEIHSTIAN BUNDS,
AND
Window Shades,
For Stores Churches, Private Dwell
ings, Offices, Ao,
No. 16 JV. Sixth Street,
PHILDELPIIIA,
N. D. Repairing promptly attended to
utica
- roaaiaat.v Wooo A Mam.
STITIOtm 1 rORTULE
The Beat A Xoet CowibIsU .
la uaaariet,
. Theee ftaetaes bava alwaya melatshisl the veey
hhiheet etaaoaia of aaeelleaia. We make the
meswAitu al aataa. sWla aa4 Saw atllle
eemliltr. TTe have thelaneet aad moat eempleea
werae or the klad ea the eoaalsv, wttb aaeeaeaavy
apectally eilspt.il ta tap wash. '
We ua snasianUy la aeeesea hi Be mbsie ee?
PneHaM, wktao r NraM a ttrmj UsmK prisaa
aad ea tha aksrtsst aeeiaa. We balht Kuriaaa
ep.al.llr oaaeaeal t wiaee. aew mue, una atiua,
x aaaarwa, Outtoa Waa, Ttseiihiea aaa aUetaasa
W ajeaow'uSidtag tb
tar Saw Mill, the beat aad I
laawauil
Wernahe the Wiaah ilen af aVwlPBeemttaa
aaeatal leatare a our bnrtnsm. Beat aa samliB
fgiaolateaatki siest aeliw.
Oar aim la atteaaaTts te faralah the beet ma
esjlaerr ta Ue maree. aad wee ahwiawty aa
ejuaM beaatr uf W-, eeaaaaw aaaeWaaawa
Bafc (Malar eaaerwe La. -
utica eTrAn rvzir.z pp.
. hW : . .. ,
. . .J . .. Ji .
aveatsa.
B.I J
mam
Steam Engines.
a
htddlebprq, shydeb county, pa.,
l'ootry
Vn DKR Til BTARB.
BT I. BBIBBAR IMITa,
Lt changing fortnn emil or ffewa,
Let winde blow fair or III.
Th thoughtful man he eome Inn f Heads
Whose aapeoie charm him at 111.
Ia whatsoever land he dwells
Where 'r bi footsteps elray
Theee faithful follower si ill are there
Te toll upon hi way.
They have a word ef hamaa ipeeob,
No voli of leader lone,
Yet since Creation' mora they've bad
A language all their ewa.
Aeboral eirala a haimony
8 rich, in grand, to tweet.
It bide the puli.ee of lb world
To rhjrtbmia cadence beau
Th tuneful wind that rise and fall,
Tb tide that ebb and flow,
Th leaeon which, ta varying round,
Forever eome and go
Theee, and the tehdef human heart
With alt It hope and fears,
MoT to the same great lawa which rule
Thi mutio ef tb sphere.
Age ago, ta shepherd swatot
On lonely hill at night,
8oft meeeagee of comfort cam
Dorn on these wave of Light.
Age ago, tb eorrowing man
Who wuke to waicb and grieve,
Found ajrmpaihy and aolnoe wet
In Ibeee pale orb of Ere.
For tbea, through all th fields of space,
Aad through ibe boundless air.
Floated that wondrous harmony
Which aileooed grief and eare.
And dill tb maglo uuaio eome
From III far source oa high,
Bringing lo sad and troubled aoula
Bweel bopee that oaonol die.
Ob, etars t en near to IToaven'a bright gate
In trembling joy ye gleam.
Can ye not aend some ray from thenc
To light thi earthly dream f
Not for lh splendor or lb blis
Of Paradlee we pray,
But that it leader peace aad lor
May reaah ue, day by day.
low I Became a Hero.
It ia acknowledged by all who
know me that I am a hero. It wan a
great relief to me when the fact was
ascertained, for it gave me a confi
dence in myself that I did not btifore
pouaosa. I had long doubtod wheth
er that idnntitv known la ita fullowu
ua Edward Brandon wnn a brave man
or a coward, but in my first battle mandur of our troop, and a dim con
the doubt was removed, the matter soioumiess that he said aomothing iu
made clear, the fact of m bmvnrv . loud, hurried t.me. And I romeuj.
waa established, numbers witnessed
it, and the general made it publio.
Let me call the details, and see
what claim I have to tho honorablo
distinction.
A private in a battalion of cavalry.
flanking the right of a column of in
fantry and quietly watching tho
dense bodies of the enemy as they
steadily moved up into position for
opening the terrible conflict, their
bnght arms glittering and flashing
in tbe unclouded rays of a clear
morning sun, I had not the rospon-
sibility of command to distract my
thoughts from the consideration of
personal - danger, and I remember
calculating the chances of my being
one of the first victims when the
black-mouthed batteries of the foe
should belch forth their mossengers
of death. Thoiurh 1 sat quite firm
and still, I felt very ill at ease, and
looking around npon my comrades,
I saw many a pale face and quivering
lip, which convinced roe their
thoughts and feolintrs were similar
to mine.
Why could we not advance T Why
must tee remain there, like so fnanv
statues, and let the iron hail strike us,
ith all our cold, shuddering reflec
tions npon us f Oh, for action ac
tion of some kind to ward off the
thoughts that trere secretly making
us tremble like cowards 1 Were ice
cowards T Should tee break and run
at the first sight of blood T There
teas no telling, for tee whs re yetas un
tried soldiers an,d scarcely a roan
among us had the right to say that
he could stand fire. Hote was it
with veterans f Did they foel as tee
felt while waiting for a battle to be
gin t
Tbe suspense iras au ful and every
minute made it worse. Why did
not one side or the other fire, and
break the paralizing dread f But no.
Marching, marching, moving hero,
there and yonder, all except our col
umn, which hadjgot into position too
soon, and must note trait idly for the
dread messenger of destruction, like
so many sheep in the butcher's pen.
Gradually the whole field bogan to
settle dotrn into a death -like quiet,
and at lost the two armies stood pas
si very face to face, watching each oth
er in that ominous silenoe trhich
precedes the bursting of the tempest
And then I would have given half
my life, whatever that might be, to
have been safe at home. Bo much
for that courage which men noio ap
plaud, and which is said to have won
me such honorable distinction.
From mv nbsition on elevated
ground I could see the headquarters
of the oppressing army, with mount
ed officer prancing and curvetting
aronnd a centre, which t knew to be
the ommandor-in chiof the . single
human being who was to direct that
host amid the roar, and rush, and
oarnaffe so soon to be. Ah, cool
alio old be the brain and great the
skill of bim who is the thinking
principal of such ft ' mighty mass
wboee will may be toe late ol nun-
drads, perhaps of thousands, per
haps of a nation itselL
There was now a deep and awful
Uenoe of perhaps a minute, as if
each fMkminamdey dreadaj to ba the
nt to opoo tie wed. of dxibr wdWhaa I ts towssoloujlf acUaf Uu
if-
then there waa a single flash, a single
roll of smoke, a single heavy boom,
and the signal of deadly strife had
been given from the cannon's mouth.
Then came the united roar of more
then twontr battories all along the
line, to which our batteries, gave the
answering roar, and in an instant the
missiles of death had passed from
foe to foe, and the torrible battle had
begun.
Five, ten, filecn minutes pasnod,
with the ground fairly trembling un
der the roar of cannon, and still tliure
was nothing for me to do but sit on
my horse, look down upon a cloud of
smoke, listen to tho sounds of strife,
and calculate the chancf s of being
suddenly hurled into feternity with
every breath I drew. At first the
balls wont wide of tho plait ion I oo
eupiod, and men fell a a distance,
but gradually the strife, drew nearer
and still nearer, till at) length the
balls began to sing aitfttnd us, and
the heavy smoke rolled! Up to enve
lope us in its aulphuions folds.
Now the roar of cannon J the rattle of
musketry, the shouts, thriuks and
(rroansof the combatants, madd a
horrid din in the extra of oue who,
with nothing to do, wished himsolf a
thousand miles away frotn that place.
Why were we kept idle, to be shot at
like so many dumb targets T Oc
casionally, as the smoke lifted, I
could see cavalry chargiug and in
fantry advancing and firing, and I
envied thoHe whit, while doomed to
face tho danger, hod some action for
tho body as well as tho mind. If we
nvist romain in tint horrible locality
(and I oonfoss I thought seriously of
the cliancos of running away,) in the
name of fortune lot us have action of
some kind.
'Well, Palmer, what do you think
of thist" I said turning to tho man
on my left
His lips opened for a reply, but
none ever camo. A cannon ball nam
ed through his breast, and ho full
over against me, bis lifeblood stain
ing my garments. I ultored an in-
voluutary cry of horror, and clung to
my saddle "with everything ewiui-
ming around me.
W bile thus I sat, sick, faint and
dizzy, I have a dim recollection of
seeing an oflicor tLwu tip to tho coin-
i b,!r hottring the trords i
Wo mu-t tako vonder battery.
Let ovory man do bis duty. For
ward 1 charge 1"
Tbs bugle soundod, and somehow
I fouod my boisa io motion, with my
eoinriide riding bo.-i lo me. On w
went, faster, snd funtor, and through
smoko and flume, amid a ooDruod
rour of firearms aud human voioo,
till down went my hore, pitching
me clean over hit head into the arm
of a man, who urtppted ni by tbe
throat, aud eprinniqjr back struck at
me with s sabre Intliootively I
parried the blow, and then somehow
getting the impression that if 1 did
not kill him he would kill ma, I out
him down. Then there was a rub
and a wblre around ue that did
not understand, and somebody elso
seemed trying to take my life. Of
courso it was my duty to defend my
self at well as I could, sad I remem
ber striking out with my ssbro right
sad left, though with what effeot J
really did not koow.
However in something like a min
ute or o, fouod myielf standing all
alone, just in front of a large cannon
with several persons lighting near me
eooie mono tod and somo on foot. One
of the mouoted men looked lilt my
captain, and with a vague idea that
I ought to aaaist him, I was movioft
toward him, when ft sodden blow
on lbs haad sent mo reeling sgainst
tbe cannon, aod 1 fell down under it.
Though partially stunned, I wa
not deprlvod of ray sontes. snd
might easily have got op snd contin
ued tbe fiiiht, but it occurred to mo
tbat I was safer where I was ; that
had a rather providentiul escape, and
so I coooluded to lie there for awhile,
more especially as I believed I could
meet my malicious charge of eowart
ioe with the bold assertion that my
wound bad for tbs time deprived me
of consciousness,
io a minute or two the gun was
surrounded by my eomratUa, aod then
nine hearty cheers rent the air.
"Bravely dont, my galliot fellows,"
aid tbe voice of our commander, ' the
battery is ours, but. alas, with tbe
loss of some of the noblest spirits tbat
ever went into battle. Le them be
taken up and carried baok t tome of
ibcm may yat bo caved. Poor Bran
don, I shall never forget him J tb
first upon th onemy, he fought with
s valor seldom equaled. With bi
bone shot from under him, bs en
gaged in a bind-to-bsod enoounter,
and slew three desperate fellows be
fore ha wis overpowered. Ah ! my
hesrt swells with pride at I ha thought
that I command each man 1 Let tbe
memory of tbe dead be honored."
. . Was be In earnest, or jest f I sax
ioiuly listened for tbe laugh, bat son
same. Could it be poiaible tbat be
bad mistakes ms for a bero me, who
dad blundered through nil bed
done, and got out of the way at tb
esrliesl possible moment r no, no.
Alresdy I wa doubtleai the batt of
my esptain and comrade.
"Ah, bsre be la I bars U Bradonl"
exclaimed twe or three voloes, and
immediately a doxon bao asststad
me out from under the tannoa, and
ooacratulatioM poured io tpos m
till I ws more sompletsly bewildered
. ...
February 19, 1874.
pari ol a daring hero.
Such, tbea, wis my first glorious
exploit, with tho exact amount of
credit that ounbt lo attach to It, but
which I thick will keep to myself,
notwithstanding I bar rocorrfacf it
In, my Journal. Wbut bunineas ba
the critical publio with motive T
Facts have mule me A hero in pit
of myself, and let th feote stand a
other hire recorded I tie to.
In a few minute another order
called my corps away to soother
charge, but I, not being mounted,
couM not sccompny thrtn. So I alar
led off nfoot toward that part of the
Bold wbithor perceived some men
carrying off tho wouotled. Before J
got half way thore, ono of the enemy'
burse came prancing down toward
ino, and with a sudden apring caught
it. jviog mounted, I was ri ling
away fail as I could, when a body
of cavalry came thundering atotif,
with lbs bagl souodiog a charge. I
would have given tlit-se foe qjp n a wido
botth, but, unfortunately, my eon.
founded fool of a borso would not let
me. Taking th bit io his teeth, lie
ruabed directly la among thorn, and
I bring a good doul excited and con
lined, thought I was now obliged to
fUbt, whotbor I would or not. Had it
occurred to m that I could surrender
myself a priaooor of war, I should
questionably bave done o at onno,
but instead oflhi J begso to hy
about me right and left, with no par
ticular design in viow, except il
might bs to get away s quiukly is
I could. Surely they muni huvo
thought mo either a madman or s
fool, to contend single banded with
such odds, and they treated me so
cordiagly. Sabres flushed, blow
foil, and soon, with a brolton arm and
a broken bead, 1 dropped from my
horse, to have tbo littlo snnae I pos
seted trampled out of ie on tbo
ground.
Now, seriously, thi is all I person
ally koow of tbe battle in which it is
said I distinguished, if not immortal
ised myself by prodigies of valor, for
the next 1 rrmember N of Coding my
self among tho wotiudod, under tho
care of my surgeon, who informed
mo that the enemy had boon defeat
e-1, and wo hod won a great victory,
llo fvirteajr said that my nume was in
everybody's mouth, from tho general
down, and though a few of tho more
prudent were disposed to cciihiu'o
my rashness, yot all conciii-rod i n
pronouncing mo a hero worthy of tho
palmiest lay of Sparta.
Though exoessivuly polo from the
loss of blood,. I know tliat somo
must have found its way to ray
checks as I humbly confessed that
my last Quixotic chargo wan all the
work of an uniuanagablo h.irse, but,
to my snrpriHo. tho doctor affected.
not to boliove mo, and declared that
true merit was always modest
After that I told otl.ers the same
truthful story, with the same result,
but now I do not repeat it any more,
finding it a very pleasant thing to bt
a distinguished hero, with a some
what lucrative promotion as my re
ward.
TlleS U K HOI NK.
No well apjiointcd farm should be
destitute of its ice house, any more
than of its barn or wood-house. No
elaborate or costly building is uoeded
for this use s no largo expense need
be incurred in making tho inclosuro.
or filling it with ice. borne hints re
garding construction, though old
may be of use to those wishing to
build. First good drainage must be
secured without giving the air access
to tho ice throur'U the drain. If the
soil is porous, or gravelly, no artificial
drainage is required. At is not ea
seutiol that the ice bo stored under
ground, as it keeps quite as well
above the surface. Double walls are
not necessary, but in small houses
are porhaps safest The ico should
be compactly packed and inclosed
with packed sawdust, or tan bark, on
all sides, and on the top to tho depth
of at least twelve inches. This pack
ing is the great preservation of the
ice. Ventilation must be given from
top of the ico. With theso principles
in view, it is easy for a novice to build
an ice-house. It is well to bear in
mind that the largor the body of ice
stored the better it will keep t no
farm, ice house, should be loss than
twelve feet souare on tha inside, and
eight foet high. A few square rods of
toe will S'lfliee to fill an ordinary
house, and the depth of water need
not be more than throe loet. it is
seasonable now to build ice houses
and we hope none of our readers,
who, in tbe past summer have- vainly
wished for a sunc-lv of ice. will no?
lect to provide for the future.- Jut.
Rural UiMite.
A Dodoi or thi Doctors. Often
times doctors advertise their immemc
practioe by having somo one to call
them out of cuurcn during sermon
time. It was cruel on ft certain dis
ciple of Esculapius who once got
enough at this little game.
'Doctor 1 doctor I called ft young
urchin, sticking his head into a
church door ouo morning just before
prayer time.
. . . .. . .... AM . , ,
-Weil, wno is sic now i mquu-eu
the sexton. -
'No one, as I know on, answered
the innocent youth, loud enough to
be heard all over the church, "but
the doctor gave me aten-oout shinny
if I'd call him out of church during
sermon time."
The only serious countenance in
that church dnrintr the nrayar that
ioUowsd, was thatoi doctor.
NO. 47
Remarkable and tlarrlblo Htatarjr af a
Wild llaraaa Family.
TcwKHMtsorx, Pem-., Jan. IS, 1871
William Parks, aged abont twenty
one years, has been lodged in jail at
this place for repealed attompts to
take the life of his father, Stephen
Wells Parks, of tho town ot Mouroe.
this county. This brings into promi
nonce the history of the Parks family
known as tho 'Wild Family of Mon
roe,' wluch, without exceeding the
bounds of trnth in the toast, is one
of the most singnlar on record.
In the fall of 1S71 a party from
PitUton, Luzerno County, were hunt
ing in the mountains of this comity.
In a wild, lonely spot, miles from
any habitation, one of them, hearing
a rustling in tho leaves and bushes
on ono side of him, was astounded to
soo a young woman, porfeetly tittdu,
dijrgiug nutong tho leaves, apparent
ly for beech nuts. She was on her
hands and kuees, and was not awaro
of tho huutur's proacn-o for some
time. When she saw him she utter
ed a a harsh cry and started o'X like
I a doer through the wood and was
soon out of sight. Determmod. if
possible, to find out something more
in regard to this singular apparition,
tho huuter smmonod his companions
together, told thuni what ho had seen
un-fn'1 proposed that they follow in tho
direction Hhohad taken, and endeavor
to learn where sho camo from
Tho party walked for ahmt a mile j live 1 alone in tho mountains with hit
through tho woods and camo to ai wild, tiuito, idiotic children. Ifht
small clearing' In onoooruer of this 'had occasion to go away ho alw.tvs
clearing was a miscrablo hovel, builti tiod Kill up in tho house with' a
of logs and with a roof of straw. ! strong rope, for fear ho might kill
They went toward it Before they I Mel vnuv Parks said ho found them,
reached it the girl who had been a great, bur den, and their caro inter
seen by their companion came out of feared with his Htudies. Surround
the door, and following after her was o I by wretchedness and filth, the fa
ab y, aleo entirely naked. They j tlmr of these hruteliko offsprings had
jumped about the door ns if playing, learned tho Bible almoxt by heart,
on till fours, j ick ing up something; being able to repeat wholo chapter
from tho ground occasionally and! at will from anv portion of it Ha
eating it The hunters stood for a
moment speechless with surpriso at
tho most singular spectacle, and then!
approached nearer. 1 nay were noon
secu by tho wild buiugs for wild:
tliny suroly wero wuo at one ran
swiftly off aud hid in the woods.
Coining up to the door of the hut,
tho hunters lookod in. On a bench.
in mo inuiiiie oi inu room, but, on oiii
man reading from a large book, which
. It A ,.
rested on his knees. His clothing
was scant ana ra'guu, ana eviacnuy
made by himself. A long white
beard reached noarly to his waist and
like his hair, was matted aud un
kempt Thoro was no furniture iu
tbo room, except the bench. In one
cornor somo straw was scattered
about ss if for a bod. The bare
ground foruiod tho floor. Near one
end of the room a holo was dug, in I
which thoro was a fire. Ovor this
was an iron kettle, in which soma- enterprise, nnd leased his unfortu
thing was boiling. Every thing bo nate offspring for tho purpjse. Ho
tokened the most abject wretched-accompanied the exhibition, "loctur-
ucss, tilth and dirt wero on ever side. I
Tho old mau arose when the
strangers camo to tho door. Ho was
bulow medium height and had a
sharp, bright eye and intelligent face,
llo invited tho gentlemen into his
house, and asked them, in polite
terms the nature of their errand. 1
Tho hunters wero at a loss at first to
explain, but finally told the old man
what they had soon iu tho woods and
about his door, and expressed a
curiosity to kuow who and what tho
strange Imiugs were
Tho old man laughed and said :
"Those aro tny children, William
and Molvina brother nnd sister.
They appoar peculiar to strangers,
no doubt but I'm itsu l to 'cut
Clothes are not of much account :
anyhow, hero in tho woods.
The old man then steppe I to the
door aud gave a peculiar shout Very
soon his children were secu tocmergo!
from the woods aud come stoalthilv
toward tho house, gesticulating and
chattering a strange gibberish, and
now and then laughing idiotically. 1
They came near enough to nfford I
a sufficient scrutiny. Both wero well
fonnod with the exception of tho low.
or limbs, which were distorted. The
girl's foco, although lacking any sigu
of intelligence was not uuprepos
acssing. The boy's features were re
pulsive. Their heads were small,
the forehoods, sloping far back.
Long, matted hair huug from their
heads, and their skin was nearly block
with dirt aud exposure. While the
strangers Were looking at them the
boy with no apparent provocation,
struck bis sister a ulow iu the face,
ttering a peculiar cry. riho ran
across tho clearing and tho boy fol
lowed her, seizing a stick that lay ou
the ground. Their father started
after them, shouting, "Let here alone
Dill I Let her alone, I say I " "Bill
did uot catch his sister, however.
and ran off in another direction. The
old man returned to his guests, who
could not repress their astonishment
and disgust but solicited an expla
nation of the extraordinary and al
most incredible scenes wluch they
behold
The old man, without any hesita
tion, told them tho history of himsolf
and his wild children. Ilia name, he
said, waa Stephen Wells Parks. He
was born in Lusorne eounty, Penn
sylvania, and waa fifty yeara of aga
lion be was twenty five years of age
he married, and moved, with his wife,
to the farm where the hunters found
him. His wife's health, he said, was
poor, and her mind very week. Hia
daughter Melvina was born iu 185t).
She never bad any care from her
mother after she could wa'k, and no
clothing except cloth- wrapped
boat 1m wnea it ooli. WiUiftasj
AdvortlNtnir Itaiiau
On column one year, , V).00
One-half, column, one year, 80.00
One-fourth column, one year, 15.00
One square (10 line)l insertion 7fl
livery additional Insertion, 60
Professional and UttsineHS card ef
not more than 5 line, per year, 8.00
Auditor, Executor, Administrator
and Aaaignee Notices, 150
Editorial notice per line, 13
All advertisement for a shorter pe
riod thnn one year sro pnvshle at the
time they are ordered, and if not paid
the peraon ordering them will be hold
reoi)Mille for the money.
1 A I
was born two years afterward, and
was treatod in tho same way. Parka
and his wifo lclievod that it was use
less to clothe their children out in
tho wilderness whore they lived.
Neither of the children over spoke ft
word beyond their strange gibberish,
which they apparently understood.
They ran wild in the woods, living
on roots, booch nuts, berries, and
sometime killing aud oatinff snakes
and toads. Walking so much on
their hands an 1 knoos, hunting their
food, Occasioned tho distortion of
their logs. Mulvina had always boen
ofadocilo, irontle dispu-utiou, and
easily managed.
ilhara was qiulo the contrary.
He was vicious and ugly from the
time ho could croep, and, at the time
the hunters discovered the familr.
was getting quite unmanageable.
The "farm" was used merely to
raise enough potatoes aud pumpkins
to furnish food for tho mother and
father. Tho children seldom atoat
homo, and slept ia the woods whou
the weather was not too cold
sometimes being gone for days at
tiuio.
In 1807 tho wifo of Purksleft him,
stating as a reason that "Bill" wan
Kettiug so unmanageable and ugly
that she was afraid of him. She took
with her another child a baby, and
had never retunie l Up lo the tima
ol tue viHit ot tlio liuntcrs I'arks lia I
wns also versed in history and math
rmaticM, mid had invented a system
of short hand writing, which ho usod
t with wonderful dextortty. He ex
diluted specimens of penmanship ex
oo n ted by hiiuHelf which were really
elegant. Ho also recited selections
from ShakcHpcaru iu A itvinnor that
astonished his hearers, llo said hit
... .' ... .
regreiioa nis wile s aosenco very
; much, as it prevented him from in
vesicating an important etvmolosri-
col tiieory of ms.
Tho hunters ! ft, finding it difficult
to credit ewn what they had soon
and beard. When tho new of tho
existence of the "wild family" bo
catno known tho "farm" wasbosiegod
with callers, nnd two enterprising in
dividuals conceived the idea of soenr-
in tlio family
"wild muses'
un.l oxhibitiug the
nlxiut tho country.
'Parks was willing t engage in the
ing"moit tho circumstances attend
ing the lives of Ins children anil him
self. Tho "mutes" were taken about
tho country for a few weeks, but the
speculation proved a failure, and
they were returned to tho wilder
ness, liemovod from restraint the
tore to pieces the clothing that had
been placed upon them as soon as
they rcaehod homo
After the first excitement created
by the discovery of the family had
died away they were forgotten. Tho
arrest and iucuiveratiou of one of
them has agaiu bro't them forward,
and revealed a still moro sickening
chapter iu their history.
Parks, tho father, savs that after
their return home from the exhibition
tour Bill became more and more viv
jlent in his temper, lie made several
deadly assaults on both his sister and
father. A few mouths after their re
turu Melviua gave birth to a child.
This child she ami Bill killed in tha
woods and toro it to pieces. Not long
afterward Bill attacked his sister and
killed her witu au old knife that
Parks usod to cut up pumpkins with.
Parks buried his daughter and over
since that time has lived iu deadly
tear oi ins son.
One day last week ho attacked his
father, knocking him down with a
club. The old man got away from
him, however, aud came to this plaua
for an officer to arrest hiiu. Two
mun went to Park's place, aud suc
ceeded after a strugglo in CApturin
him. They put a suit of clothes on
him and brought hiiu to Tuukhan
nock, aud lodged hiiu in jaiL -As
soou as he was placed ia tha oell he
tore off his clothing, and is now per
fectly naked- Hundreds' hftf flock
ed to tbe jail to soo htto. Parka
soon afterwards returned home, and
is now liviug eutirelywrtoue, and pro -bably
finds amnio time for his stud
ios. 1'ho wild, muto, manioc son
will doubtlesai bo sent to tho insane
asylum to spepd tha rest of his days.
It sooras luorydiblo that in this en
lightened ago, within the sound, as it
were, of the church bolls of a popu
lous town, such a case of utter de
pravity and wretchedness could ex
ist But the above are tho facts,
which can bo substantiated by pluutj
of reliable witnesses.
Hkrs is a Boston boy's ootnpoeN
tion ou "The Horse i"
"The horse ia the moat Useful ani
mal in the world. So is the eow. I
ouoe had thirteen docks and two waa
drakes aud ft Skunk killed onet bo
smelt OrfuL I knew boy which had
7 chickens but his father would ftot
let bun keep them and no be
M Bat
In nit
mad and so be bored a . bole
motheca wash tub. I wish I bad a
horoe. Umil$ lZ2rpa4