- " 1 1 . '- . .. ,- , . - - ,. , - - .. . -"- - ' .1- I .. I.I. , , II I I I 1
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editob and Publisher. ' . ELK COUNTY TIIE REPUBLICAN PARTY. Two Dollars fxk Amruu.
VOL.1. RIDGWAY FA., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1871, " NO. 39.
liOVB AT FIRST SIGUT.
Tho racing river lenped, and snnir
t!ull blithely iu the perfect weather,
All rou id the mountain echoes rang,
Tor blue ond green were glnd together.
This mined oul light from every part,
tnd that with songs of Joy wu thiilJIng ;
But In the holl.w of my heart,
There oched a place that wonted filling.
Before the road and river met,
And Btepplng-Btones are wet and glisten,
I heard a sound ot laughter sweet,
And paused to like it and to listen.
1 heard the ctinnllng waters flow,
The enehnt's note, the bee's low humming-'
Then turned the hedge nnd did not know
ITowcoDld I f that my time was coming.
A sir) upon the highest stone,
Halfdoubtlul of the deed, was standing,
So far the shallow flood hud flown
Beyond the 'rnstomed leap of landing.
She knew not any need of mr,
Vet nie she waited all unweetlng;
She thought not I bad crossed the sea,
Aud half the spheres to give her meeting.
I waded out, her eyes I met,
I wished the moment had been hours;
I took her in my arras, nnd set
Her dainty feet among the flowers.
Tier fellow-malds in copse and lane,
Ah I Btill mvthinks I hear them calling ;
The wind's sort whisper in the plain,
The cushat's eoo, the water's falling.
But now it is a year ago,
And now possession crowns endeavor ;
I took her in my heart to grow
And till tbo hollow place forever.
Jean higelmc.
WHY TOMMY III'r (JO.
A STORY l'OJl WnOMSOEYEB TIIE SHOE
riNCIIES.
lit JOHN N. DICKIE.
" Look here, Betsy," said Daniel Del
ver, as he walked into the kitchen, one
chilly March morning, with a pail of
' - I t .7, , ,
miiK :u eacu nana, " iook lie re, now.
There ib sometbin' up, and no mistake.
That boy, Tommy, has made tracks for
Banbury agin, as sure as shootin' I"
His wife, a neat, bright-eyed, cherry
looking lady yea, a Wy, mind you!
took the milk into the pantry, strained
it, carried it down cellar, returned,
cleared off the breakfast things, set back
the table, and disappeared once more
in the pantry without saying a word.
Mr. Daniel Delver was considerably
surprised. lie had never known his
amiable spouse to observe so strict a
silence at any remark of his since they
had been man and wife. He really
didn't know what to make of it. He
drew a little 1 earer to the stove, rubbed
his hand vigorously, coughed nervously,
and finally made bold to say :
" Why, Be8ty, what's up V
" I was thinking, Daniel, of the day
you and I were married," was the an
swer, in -a subdued voica.
" Is that so '" replied Mr. Delver,
faintly ; " well, I declare !" and he sat
down and glanced around as if he didn't
exactly feel at home.
But matters had not yet come to their
worst. If he hud only known the turn
affairs were about to take, he could have
madfl some sort of preparation ; but as
it was he was totally unprepared. There
fore, when his wife stepped hastily into
the room and threw a pair of plump
arms around his neck, and kissed him
three times, in rapid succession, his as
tonishment knew no bounds. Totally
floored by such .an unusual display of
affection, he could do nothing better
than reiterate his former question :
" Why, Betsy, what's up V"
" Well, I'll you what's up, and that
very quickly,' replied his wife, as she
seated herself on his knee and imprisoned
his brawny hands between both of hers ;
" indeed I will. I'm going to give yon
a regular curtain lecture."
The prisoner began to look decidedly
silly.
" You see, when you said Tommy was
off again I took to thinking of the day
we were married. Don't you remember
a littla remark you made at that time ?"
The prisoner made a movement as if
he would free his hands from their man
acles, and shook his head.
" Well, I do, then. You boasted that
if ever yea were blessed with a son you
should be sure of success in his training ;
for you could never forget, as many do,
that you were once a bay yourself. But
you have forgotten it, and by your
thoughtlessneis and love of self, too,
Daniel you are slowly but surely driv
ing our only child from a home he
dreads to leave, as we to have him go."
This was the first time in her life that
Mrs. Delver h id ventured to talk plainly
to her husband. Tbat they loved each
other there was no doubt whatever. A
more even tempered man than Daniel
Delver never lived, and his wife fully
appreciated it, as any sensible woman
would. But he had one fault a fault
he was not aware of possessing, of source.
It was selllshness. Although not a
stingy man in the exact sense of the
word, he evidently considered himself the
fountain- head from which all blessings
emanated, and, as a natural consequence,
bad cauie to the conclusion that profits
must fill the pockets of him who bad to
suffer the loss. But, as we before re
marked, he didn't know that he was self
ish never bad any such idea ; and
when his wife gave a hint to that effect,
his indignation knew no bounds. Spring
ing to his feet, be confronted his jailor
with an angry frown, and the words :
" I'm selfish, am I. Well, well, now,
Bet (he had never nicknamed her be
fore), I think things is cmin' to a pret
ty pats I Where'd you a bin if it hadn't
a been f jr me, I'd like to know r All
yon do is to aok for what store clothes
and other iizins you want, and you git
'em. Whit fills up that bank you're all
the time a drawia' on heyf Is that
there selfishness, as you call it; and
without it we'd all be in the poor-house
to-day."
At this point Mr. Delver called a halt,
and pulling a splinter off a stick of stove
wood in the box at hit feet, begaa pick
ing his teeth quite vigorously. But
seeing his wife would say nothing, he
proceeded with his remarks, but in a
somewhat milder key :
" There s Tommy, now; I've done a
heap lor that boy bunded over pocket
money, fed his company, gave him good
cloth in', with the intention of doin' well
by him when he's tweutyone; but the
Bcatup don't appreciate it no more than
nothia I've done my best, and if he's a
mind to get contrary and want two oars,
ho must row his own boat, that's all, for
I'm get tin' sick of the way things is
goin on, anyhow."
Hera the speaker found some unusual
obstruction between a couple of back
teeth, and proceeded to dislodge it with
all possible despatch.
" But, Daniel," interposed his wife,
why can't you begin to do well by
Tommy now '( You forget that he s
seventeen years old too old to be punish
ed, and old enough to feel a little nat
ural independence. Now, you've done
little more than feed and clothe him
from his babyhood up. Of course you
mean to give him a chance when a little
older ; but, if you keep on at this rate,
he'll never see twenty-ono on this farm.
I've often heard you complain that he
takes no interest in anything either in
stock or the growing; crops. I think
there is good reason, Daniel. You don't
give him an interest in a single thing.
Yes, you did give him a calf once, but
when the butcher came along you sold
it and put the money in your own pock
et. You ltt him drop corn for Mr.
Blake last spring, but it all went toward
paying off a debt you owed that neigh
bor. Tommy's a good, industrious boy,
but you know he's high-strung, and is
bound to learn a trade rather than go
on this way. He may find a place at
Sunbury, I don't know. I do wish the
boy could stay with us, and he will if
we are just a little more liberal toward
him. I think it's all false ccocomy,
Daniel, that mades a parent close in his
dealings with a child, and you'll be
lieve it some day, if not now."
We are happy to state that this good
lady did not conclude her remarks with
the usual flood of tears. She reserved
them for a more suitable occasion, and
went about her work, treading softly,
singing softly, aud glancing softly in
the direction of her husband, who now
stood with one foot on the wood-box,
his elbow on his knee, and his bead bu
ried in his hand.
It hurts poor human nature to be told
the truth in reference to itself. It often
hurts one more to have it told by one
who loves him than by a casual acquain
tance. After a few moments reflection,
however, the afflicted individual puts a
proviso on his former assertion by hop
ing he or she didn't intend to wound his
feelings ; which thought gradnally melts
into the conclusion that the offender may
be about right aft;r all.
Mr. Delver was passing through this
trying ordeal. Of course his wite knew
it, but jaw wouldn't have thought it by
her looks. Bless you 1 she appeared as
unconscious as need be, and didn't seem
the least bit surprised when he straight
ened up and said in his usual tone :
' Well, wife, yon may have hit the
nail on the head, I don't know. Come
to think it over, like enough you have.
I ain't certain as to your hittin' it right
square, but I'm willin' to turn over a
uew leaf by way of experimentin', you
know, with the agreement of batkiu' out
if the thing don't work. How's that'f"
No, it wasn't a silvery laugh. It didn't
sound one particle like " the rippling of
the waves upon the pebbly shore." No,
no. But such a hearty, healthy, con
tagious burst of merriment, that Daniel
laughed quite heartily himself, and was
sorry, when he got through, that it
hadn't lasted longer.
' Why, you odd creature " there were
tears in her eyes, but she'd been laugh
ing, you know " I don't think weVe
got to turn over much of a new leaf. I"
but a strong arm encircled her waist
and drew her into the adjoining room ;
ani there upon the sofa, side by side,
they sat and talked until the old Dutch
clock in the corner coughed eleven times
then Mr. Delver went out to feed his
stock, and his wife to prepare the dinner.
II.
It was 10 o'clock. Mr. and Mrs. Del
ver had retired an hour ago. But there
was a fire in the Btove, and the coffee
pot on the back part of the same rocked
to and fro in a state of much agitation.
The oven door was ajar, and we discov
er inside a plate of sausage, some fried
potatoes, aud half a miuce pie. We
know it's nince, for we can smell it A
lamp half turned down, stands on the
little pine table just back of a cup and
saucer, a clean plate, a knife and one
fork. Header, there is no use denying
the fact that room was expecting com
pany. It didn't have long to wait. A quick
step on the plank which led from the
gate to the house, a vigorous scraping of
feet on the stone steps, and the abruut
entrance cf the visitor Tommy himself.
There was nothing peculiar in the ap
pearance ot this young gentleman ex
cepting his appetite. That found the lo
cation of the sausage, potatoes, and
mince pie in a twinkling, and in anoth
er twinkling they were npon the table
by the side of the coffee-pot, which had
got there in some mysterious manner we
wot not of. Of course he had on an
overcoat and a hat, but they were not at
all in the way, and so he sat down with
out further parley. In 10 minutes' time
the mince pie bad vanished ; also the po
tatoes, also the sausage. There was
nothing left but coffee. So he replen
ished bis cup, leaned back in his chair,
and glanced languidly around the room.
He didn't glance long he looked. No
wonder, either ; for there, suspended by
a string from the ceiling, was a letter.
Tommy rubbed his eyes, and at last, con
vinced that he was awake, rose to his feet,
clipped the cord, glanced at the super
scription, and found it was addressed to
himself. He scratched his head in a be
wildered manner, and glanced in the di
rection of the lamp. Overjoyed to find
it turned down, he made the matter worse
by producing a blazo which blackened
the chimney in a moment. But be grad
ually got the wick in the proper position
and finding himself by this time relieved
of any undue excitement broke open the
letter. The first thing he found was a
f 10 bill. The next thing he found was
the letter itself. It ran thus :
" JCST BEFORE OOINO TO BED, J
March 10, 18 f
My Bot : We thought you might want
to go on a visit to your Uncle Isaac's
next week, and we inclose ten dollars to
pay expenses. Don't stay a very great
while not more than two or three weeks
for we want you to be here to take
your pick out of those Norman colts.and
to transact a little business in which you
are interested. We shall expect you to
chop wood the rest of the week, Tommy,
and I'll fix up your thirts so that you
can start on the train' Monday morning.
Good night, my own dear boy, and plea
sant dreams. MOTHER."
Tommy came pretty near being thun
derstruck. Ha had never been the pos
sessor of f 10, at one time, in bis whole
life before ; and he gazed at the bill as
siduously for not less than fifteen min
utes. At the expiration of this time he
drew ont his wallet, folded the note care
fully, and laid it as smorthly as possible
in the deepest pocket. He then re-read
the letter, and- taking the lamp in his
hand, went out in the wood-house. After
some considerable fumbling among the
chips, he found an ax. Carefully scru
tinizing the edge, he laid it down, say
ing: " Confound her, she's dull ; but I gness
I can make her do the rest of the week.
One of them colts, hey V" and he Blap
ped his pocket triumphantly ''that's
gay, and no mistake. And there's other
business in which I'm interested, too.
Jolly! but things looks lively, anyhow,"
and the young gentleman slapped his
pocket once more, which act put him
in mind of the ten dollars. So he set
the lamp down on a block of wood, aud,
withdrawing his pocket-book, found the
identical bill safe and sound. He ex
amined it full ten minutes by the watch.
Finally he got back in the kitchen. He
found the letter just where he left it,
and read it once more to see if there was
anything he'd skipped. He then felt
to see if his pocketbook was all right,
and opened it to see if everything was
snug inside. Seeing the ten dollars, he
drew it out, and examined it with great
curiosity for something like five min
utes, then he went to bed.
He arose remarkably early the next
morning earlier than usual, although
he had retired at so late an hour. He
ate breakfast with an appetite, but did
not ventnre any remark in reference to
the letter he had received the night be
fore, lie felt tbat postmasters dis
tributed the mails without regard to
their contents, and concluded to keep
silent. Promptly at 7 he shouldered his
ax and proceeded to the woods, where
he chopped all day with an energy of
purpose perfectly surprising. He worked
just as hard the next day, and the next,
and the next, and the next. But that
was Sunday. Well, he didn't (hop that
day ; but he thought a gcod deal about
making money, and the visit almost at
hand, and that colt, and the 110, and
any amount of other things just as bad,
you know.
Monday morning came at its regular
time, and Tommy was up before day
light. He was somewhat uneasy at the
thought of having to wait until after
breakfast ; but he managed to pass away
the time packing his valise. When the
bell rang, be sat down and drank a cup
of tea, and then got up and put on his
hat. He wasn't hungry, and might
miss the train, and so good-by and he
was off. We would add, in order to pre
vent anxiety, that Tommy didn't miss
the train. He was two hours ahead of
time, and the train itself was one hour
behind. So he had to wait three dismal
hours. But he got away at last, and
was happy.
At the expiration of two weeks he re
turned, and upon being requested to
take his pick of the four colts standing
in the yard, he did so. He selected the
best one. He was then given a half
dozen sheep, one pig, one calf, and an
acre of ground, on which to plant what
he chose, the profits to be his and his
alone. Of conrse it was understood that
he should work for his father, as usual,
but that was a minor consideration. But
at this point of our story Tommy came
out strong. Picture the amazement of
his parents when he told them, with a
knowing wink, that he was going
to set that whole acre out to late cab
bage. Mr. Delver said to his wife :
" Betsy, I wonder if that boy got that
ridiculous idea out of that book on gar
denin' he had here all last weekr' I
know we're close to a good market, but
cabbage never has nor never will head
well on this farm."
Mrs. Delver said to her husband :
Well, Daniel, we'll hope for the best
Cabbages pay well if they do succeed,
aud he will likely get enough off the
land to pay for his labor at least.
But Tommy bought the seed and soon
had thousands of young cabbage plants
in full blast. But they didn't occupy
his time by any means. He suddenly
took to doing a man's work on the farm
a proceeding which filled his father
with delight. Up early in the morning,
until almost dark did he toil steadily
along until the corn was all planted.
Then he prepared his own acre, and by
the last of May was ready to set out his
plants.
At this point he asked his father a
question. It ran something after this
fashion :
" Say, pa, I'd like to hire you to-day
and to-morrow. I want you to help me
set out them cabbsge plants."
Mr. Delver looked somewhat bewild
ered, but finally made bold to ask what
wages he paid.
"I'll give a dollar and a half a day,
and pay in cabbages, or in money when
I market 'enr."
Of course no tane man could refuse
such a generous offer, and they went to
work forthwith. They may have been
engaged a half hour, when two boys
about Tommy's age came into the field
iu their shirt-sleeves and considerably
out of breat h.
" All right, boys," said the gardener,
"all right. There's the plants, and let's
work lively." .
"Do you board those two young gen
tlemen f" asked Tommy's "hired band,"
as the bell rang for dinner.
"No, father?' replied Tommy, with
his first giggle, " they board themselves.
I've paid them off already. Jim gits my
new patent skates, and Charlie, my old
soldier overcoat. If I make well on
these cabbage, I can buy something
better next winter."
Mr. Delver turned pale, and ventured
no further remark.
Fall oame, and Tommy markoted his
crop, which had done quite well. It
brought him (200. His father borrowed
the money and put another f 100 with
it, as a free gift,giving him tea per cent,
on the whole. This was a pretty
good summer's work for a boy seven
teen years old, and Tommy telt very
proud of it rather prouder than he
ought to, I'm afraid.
They say the story writer must in
variably conclude a narrative pleasant
ly, in order to make a good impression.
But we can't do this. Tommy got badly
mixed up as the years rolled away.
What with the stock, tho farm crops,
the rebuilding, the repainting, and reg
ular journeys to a little white cottage a
mile away the residence of a nioe young
lady Tommy became hopelessly in
volved. This, then, is the reason " why Tommy
didn't go."
An Exciting Railroad Race.
The Richfield Springs correspondent
of the Utica Herald tells the following
as having occurred last week :
Four freight cars, heavily laden ;with
lumber and merchandise, had been
brought up to the junction near Cass
ville by a coal train. They were care
lessly uncoupled on a grade of eighty
five feet to the mile, and immediately
began backing toward Utica. They
gained momentum at a fearful rate, and
all efforts to stop them by throwing rails
and other obstructions upon the track
were ineffective. A train had left for
Utica but eight minutes before, and
every one was well aware that the heavy
freight cars would, in a few moments
go crashing into its rear. Fortunately
the engine of the coal train stood on a
switch, and Engineer Ferrell at once
determined to give the flying cars a
chase. All hands mount to the post of
duty, the signal is given, and a fearful
race is begun. There is awful danger
ahead, for if the workmen should have
the rails up, or the flying cars them
selves should leave the track, every man
would be in eternity in an instant. Mile
after mile the chase is kept np, and the
locomotive gains inch by inch.
At last the fugitives are overtaken;
the critical moment has come. A mis
take and all is over; the flying cars will
only be hastened in their flight by the
collision. But the fireman and brake
man are reaching down from the rear of
the tender, one with the draw-bar and
one with the coupling-pin. The cars
touch ; the draw-bar, skilfully guided,
enters the socket, and the pin drops to
its place ! The danger is over, the speed
gradually checked, and in a few minutes
the engine and the rescued cars are
again climbing the grade to Cassville.
The deed of the engineer and his faith
ful assistants was one of true blue hero
ism, and will long be remembered by
these in the crowded passenger train
which was but a few hundred feet in
advance of them, and whose lives they
saved at the imminent risk of their
own.
A Solar Explonlon.
On the 7th of last September Prof.
Young, of Dartmouth College, was ex
amining by means of his spectroscope,
an enormous flame or hydrogen cloud on
the eastern border of the sun; it was
formed of nearly horizontal filaments,
with its lower surface 15,000 miles above
the visible border of the sun, to which it
was connected by three or four bright
vertical columns. The length of this
cloud was 100,000 miles, and its vertical
thickness 04,000 miles.
It had presented this form and these
dimensions at the noon of the preceding
day. He left the telescope at 12:30 p.
M., and on returning in less than half an
hour he was surprised to find that dur
ing that interval the whole thing had
been literally torn to shreds by some in
conceivable uprush from beneath." In
place, he says, of the quiet cloud I
had left, the cloud, if I may use the ex
pression, was filled with air debris, a
mass of detached, vertical, fusiform fila
ments. When I first looked, some of
them had reached a height of nearly 100,
000 miles, and while I watched them they
rose with a motion almost imperceptible
to the eye, until in ten minutes the up
permost were more than 200,000 miles
above the solar surface.
As the filaments rose they gradually
faded away like a dissolving cloud, and
at 1:15 p. M., only a few flimsy wisps,
with some lighter ttreamere, low down
near the chromosphere, remained to mark
the place: But in the mean while the
little " thunder-head " before alluded to,
had grown and developed wonderfully
into a masjof rolling and ever-changing
flame, to speak according to appearance.
First it was crowded down, as it were,
along the solar surface ; later it rose al
most pyramidally 00,000 miles in height ;
then its summit was drawn out into long
filaments and threads, which were most
curiously rolled backward and down
ward, like the volutes of an Ionio capi
tal, and finally it faded away, and by
2:30 r. M. had vanished like the other.
Whether the fine aurora borealis which
succceeded in the evening was really the
earth's response (he refers to the sup-
Sosed physical connection between the
isturbauce of the earth's magnetism and
changes in the atmosphere of the sun)
to this magnificent outburst of the sun
is perhaps uncertain, but the coincidence
is at least suggestive, and may easily be
come something more, if, as I somewhat
confidently expect to learn, the Green
wich magnetic record indicatee a distur
bance precisely simultaneous with the
solar explosion. Albany Evening Journal
The Yassar College griddle measures
ten feet by eight, and can carry . five
hundred cakes at a time.
Death of an Old Filibuster.
The Louisville Courier-Journal pub
lishes the following sketch of the adven
tures of a once celebrated character, now
about departing :
A letter announoes the impending
death of Colonel Jack Allen, at Bright
Star, Hopkins county, Texas. He was
widely known in toe ttoutnwest. in
his young manhood he had the misfor
tune to slay a man in Shelbv countv.
but the jury adjudged it a clear case of
self-defense, and he was acquitted.
Shortly afterwards he left for Missouri,
and, with a single companion, made his
way through the Indian Territory and
thenoe into Texas. That people were
then at war with the Mexicans. He
was with Sam Houston at the battle of
San Jacinto, which ended the war. He
returned home and engaged in farming ;
but when the war broke ont on the Rio
Grande Allen raised a cavalry company,
and was with General Humphrey Mar
shall's regiment at Buena Vista.
The conclusion of the Mexican war
let loose a stt of restless men eager for
any warlike enterprise. The acquisi
tion of Cuba attracted their attention,
as it did indeed many leading men in
the South. Jack Allen was of course
among the number. He raised a band
of men in Kentucky, and was promi
nent among those who composed what
may be called the " first Cuban expedi
tion." Sailing from a Southern port in
a small vessel by orders to aot in concert
with the Creoles of Cuba, who were said
to be ready to revslt, the " filibusters,"
as they were termed, proceeded to the
Island of Contoy, near the coBt of Yu
catan. A sojourn of three weeks with
exposure disgusted the men, until orders
were given to leave, when their spirits
revived. The vessel made its way to
Cardenas, on the northern part of the
island, where they were landed. Their
rebel friends, to their chagrin, informed
them that their force was too small to
throw the island into revolution, and
declined to give any assistance. The
authorities had been advised of the
plans of the filibusters, and had a force
close at hand to meet them. They
charged on the filibusters, who gallantly
repulsed the assault and, knowing dis
cretion to be the better part of valor,
retired to their little vessel. Allen
fought bravely in this fight The fili
busters then headed for Key West, and
when within a few miles of that place,
discovered the Spanish man-of-war Pit
arro bearing down on them under a full
head of steam. She approached near
enough to fire a few shots at the vessel,
but the boys escaped and scattered over
the place.
The year following (1851.) the filibus
ters were again at work under Lopez,
and Jack Allen was with them. He
raised several hundred men in Kentucky,
and took thm to New Orleans. Lopez,
with the lamented Major Wm. Critten
den, had also left for the island. Their
fate is known. Crittenden's little band
of fifty men was captured, and with him
self shot and Lopez was garroted. In
the meanwhile the Kentuckians in New
Orleans besought the Cuban Aid Socie
ty fer transportation, but in vain.
When the fate of the expedition was
known, the filibusters in New Orleans
disbanded, and Allen and others returned
to Kentucky. Sevaral expeditions of a
similar character were projected between
that time and the year 1856 by General
Goicduria, with Colonel Allen as one of
the leaders, but all of them failed.
General Walker and his filibusters,
however, had met with more success in
Nicaragua, and Jack Allen determined
to join him. He chartered the steamer
Sultana, and left the Portland wharf
May 21, 1850, with nearly two hundred
men, for this expedition. Few, alas!
were destined to return. Half of the
number reached Granada, where Allen
was appointed Colonel of the regiment.
He subsequently returned to Kentucky
on the plea of ill-health. He believed
the cause of Walker was lost ; and while
here he arranged with Goioouria for
another Cuban expedition, embracing
the enlistment of his own men in Nicara-
fua, but who were restrained therefrom
y force. Goicouria was to send a ves
sel to San Juan del Norte to bring away
me men.
General Lockridge, who was subse
quently the commander on San Juan
River, was in the secret. Allen returned
to Nicaragua, but a successful operation
of the Costa Ricans, in capturing from
Walker the steamships on Lake Nicara
gua, defeated tbe Allen-Uoicouna de
scent on Cuba. Colonel Allen left Nica
ragua in October, 1850, and came heme.
He lived in quiet on his farm in Shelbv
county from that time until the inaugur
etion of the late civil war, when he es
poused the causa ot the Confederates.
He was the leader of several hundred
men, who left Kentucky in September,
1861. He served in the Confederate
army for a short time and then retired,
remaining South, however, until-hostilities
ceased, when he again returned
home and resumed his agricultural pur
suits. He went to Texas some months
since, but with what particular object
we are not aavisea.
New Tanning Material.
A citizen of Vermont has made a dis
covery in tanning leather, which he
claims will revolutionize tbe business,
The material he uses is dye from forest
leaves. He has been experimenting
with leaves for the past two months,
and the result is said to be entirely sat
isfactory. One ton of leaves will tan as
much leather as five cords of hemlock
bark, and will do the work in one-half
the time. By mixing the leaves and
bark iu equal proportions, one-fourth of
the time is saved. Tbe leatber tanned
by this process is smoother, more flexi
ble, and yet retains tbe strength of the
raw hide in a greater degree than that
tanded Dy bark.
A Chicago boot-black recently ap
peared in Detroit nnd bouirht k tflfWl
lot, for which be paid in fractional cur
rency, mainly of the denomination of
ten cents, and which it took three hours
to count He is only eleven years old,
and says he made this money in boot-
Diacung in tore years. .
The Sin of Borrowing.Trouble,
Sueh a habit of mind and heart is
wrong, because it cuts one into a des
pondency that ill fits him for duty. I
planted two rose-bushes in my garden :
th9 one thrived beautifully, the other
perished. I found the dead one on the
shady Bide of the house. Our disposi
tions, like our plants,need sunshine.
Expectancy of repulse is the cause of
many secular and religious failures. Fear
of bankruptcy has uptorn many a fine
business, and sent tbe man dodging
anions: the note shavers. Fear of slan
der and abuse has often invited all the
long-beaked vultures of back-biting.
lg,Many of the misfortunes of life, like
hyenas, flee if you courageously meet
them. How poorly prepared for relig
ious duty is a man who sits down under
the gloom of expected misfortune. If he
Erays, he says, " I do not think I shall
e answered." If be give, he says, " I
expect they will steal the money." Helen
Chalmers told me that her father, Tho
mas Chalmers, in the darkest hour of the
history of the Free Church of Scotland,
and when the woes cf the land seemed
to weigh upon his heart, said to his chil
dren, " Come, let us go out and play ball
or fly kite," and the only difficulty in the
piay was tnat tbe ebildren could not
keep up with their father. The Mo
Cheynes and the Summerfields of the
lburch who did the most good, culti
vated sunlight Away with the hor
rors! They distil poison; they dig
graves ; ana it they could climb so high,
they would drown the rejoicings of hea
ven with sobs and wailing. DeWitt
l aimage.
Brlgham Young's Family.
Among the moBt in teres tins sishts to
be seen at the theatre in Salt Lake City
is the young army of Youngs, the Pro
phet's progeny, who generally occupy
me Dencnes along one side ot tbe par
quet Boys and girls, young men and
young women, apparently without num
ber, ranging in years from seven to
twenty, play and sport with each other
like so many kittens. Finer or health
ies specimens of humanity you cannot
find anywhere. The male portion are
strong, healthy and robust : the females
very womanly looking, with clear com
plexions and bright eves. Tbev have all
splendid teeth and beautiful heads of
bair. Tbe girls are very roguish, and
are not at all averse to leveling their
opera-glasses upon any handsome and
noted Gentile who may be present.
They seem to appreciate return glances,
ana tnen laugn and giggle over tbe fun
like a lot cf school girls. Getting a full
view of the family of the Prouhet. and
disseoting them mentally, morally, and
physically, the unprejudiced thinker
cannot agree with those philosophers
who assert that the offspring of poly
gamic marriages are weak and puny
creatures. That such may be the case
in some instances may be true ; but in
no sense can it apply to the Young tain
ily.
Eccentricities about Coffins.
The man who can have bis coffin made
while alive must look at death t)hilo
sophically. We hear of a case in point
in Person county. Mr. Richard Hargis,
who lives near Bradsher's store, thirty
odd years ago, turned out a sassafras
tree to grow, for the purpose of making
himself a coffin, and about twelve months
ago the old man had it cut down and
got some one in Roxborough to make
his coffin out ef it. The old chaD occa
sionally gets in it and stretches himself
out by way of showing his neighbors a
" good fit" He paid the maker of the
coffin in wheat, so he is one living man
who will have no fuss over his grave
about the coffin when dead. This re
minds us of an old coon in Murfreesboro,
N. O., who had a coffin cast of iron be
fore the war. He had his crave duer.
also, andjwalled up with brick with a
magnificent tombstone, setting forth his
name, date of birth, and fixing his death
" somewhere about the year 1861." But
he was alive and kicking in 18C8. The
old chap kept his oast-iron coffin in his
corn-crib, and used to shell corn in it
The crib needed no lock at night for von
couldn't get a negro to go near it after
dark. UilUboro Mo. Ltader.
A Whirlwind of Flaming Clouds.
The Green Bay (Wis.) Advocate' t
strange statement: xne cooler-beaded
survivors of the great fires at Peshtiaro
and other points agree in the statement
tbat tbe tire did not come npon them
generally from burning trees and other
objects to the windward, but the first no
tice they had of it was a whirlwind of
flame, in great clouds, from above the
tops of the trees, which fell upon and
enveloped everything. The atmosphere
seemed one of fire. The poor people in
haled it, or the intensely hot air, and fell
down dead. This is verified by the-appearance
of many of the corpses. They
were found dead in the roads and open
spaces, where there were no visible marks
of fire near by, with not a trace of burn
ing upon their bodies or clothing. At
Sugar Bush, which is a clearing four
miles wide at some points, corpses were
found iu the open road, between fences
which were only slightly burned. No
mark of fire was upon them, but they
lay there as if asleep. This seems to ex
plain why so many were killed in com
pact masses. Fenoes and cleared fields
were burned in spots, and elsewhere not
touched. Fish were killed in the
streams.
The Old Colony Railroad in Massa
chusetts in 1863 gave a free pass to all
who would build houses in the village
of Wollaston Heights. The result has
been that the paying passengers from
that station to and from Boston are
more than ten times as many now as
three years ago. -
For the first time in the history of
Massachusetts a German has been
elected a member of the House of Rep
resentatives. They have had English
men, Irishmen, and Scotchmen, but Mr.
Bartholomta, from Boston, is. the first
German elevated to legislative honors.
MJSCELLAEXOCS ITEHS.
Railways are Dublio benefactors, in
deed. They teach every man to know
his own station, and to stop there.
A man reading a newspaper in a bar
room, a day or two since, asked another :
"What's the Bohemian Diet, about
which we hear so much of late V" "Free
lunches," was the ready reply.
A Danbury, Conn., school-boy dis
turbed the symmetry of a family heir
loom by sawing on tbe top ol bis great
grandmother's bed-posts for a set of
croquet balls. And the night he did it
be slept very warm.
A new style of obtituary item brief
but to the point has been invented
thus: "John Smith, of New York, re
volver ;" "G. Jenkins, of Philadelphia,
third-story window;" "Ann Jones, of
New Jersey, laudanum."
An enterprising resident of Detroit is
taking orders for the delivery of buck-
wbeat cakes to families. Tbe cakes are
to be delivered before breakfast and are
to be furnished cheaper than they can
be manufactured at home.
A Berkshire papa put it thus to his
daughter's beau: "Jim, if you want
Lou you can have her ; but I don't want
you hanging around unless you mean
business. If you intend to marry her,
hurry up, for I can't be kept awake
nights muoh longer."
A gentleman engaged in ivestigating -
the charges of carelessness against the
workmen in tbe Scranton mines, found
afterward that, during the investigation,
he had been given an open keg of
powder to sit on, while he held a lighted
candle in his hand.
An exchange spoke of an eminent
citizen as " a noble old burgher, proudly
loving his native State ;" which neat
little compliment came from the com-
Eositor's hands reading, "a nobby old
urglar, prowling around in a naked
state."
Professor Henry says that the observa
tions of the Smithsonian Instiution,
which extend over a period of twenty
years, have as yet failed to confirm the
popular belief that the removal of the
forests and the cultivation of the soil
tend to diminish the amount of rain
fall. The latest feature in steam, as far as
its appliance to industrial pursuits is
concerned, is its employment in assist
ing trk TnalzA find nhirta- A firm in Tlnl-
timore have now in operation fifty sew
ing machines that are worked by steam,
and it is described as a curious sight to
witness girls seated at the machines,
with no other duty to perform but to
thread needles and guide the muslin.
By this new system it is stated a Bhirt
can be made entire in fifty-five min
utes. The Supreme Court of Iowa has re
cently decided that the law requiring
punctual attendance at school is for the
pupil, and must be enforced. Of tardi
ness, the Court says : "The good of the
whole school cannot be sacrificed for the
advantage of the pupil who happens to
have an unreasonable father, and, as
the law now is, no other means can be
devised for enforcing regular and
prompt attendance than the penalty of
expulsion."
A story is told of two travellers whj
were assigned to the Bame bedroom in
a crowded hotel. Before retiring one
of them knelt down to pray, and con
fessed a long catalogue of sins. On
rising from bis knees he saw his fellow
traveller, valise in hand, going out of
the door, and exclaimed : " What's the
matter r What's up r" " Oh, nothing,"
was the reply ; " only I'm not going to
risk myself with such a scamp as you
confess yourself to be."
Professor Hayden, Chief of the Geol
ogical Survey of the Territories, reports
many interesting and curious facts
about that ' wonder-land," the valley of
the Upper Yellowstone River and
Lake. Among other facts he states that
the geological formation of the valley is
wholly volcanic, and that it contains
between one thousand and fifteen hun
dred hot springs. The " Grant" geyser
throws a column of hot water eight feet
in diameter to a height of over two hun
dred feet at regular intervals of thirty
two hours.
They are again agitating the distilla
tion of SDirtts from the Barbaee of cities.
Alchohol, it is well known, can be dis
tilled from anything that ferments, no
matter whether the fermenting matter
be a loaf of unbaked bread or a reeking
garbage vessel. In this process the gar
bage is gathered from the houses of citi
zens, dumped into water-tight vats,
boiled for several hours, the grease ia
carefully skimmed off for soap-making'
purposes, and the pulpy mass fermented
and distilled. The refuse goes to the
cornfield, the peach orchard, or the vine
yard. A barrel of garbage yields three
pounds of soap grease and four gallons
of proof spirits. The philosophical and
chemical mind may know that whiskey
distilled from garbage is as pure and
cleanly as that which comes from corn ;
but for a steady beverage the ordinary
drunkard will doubtless prefer sound
Bourbon or Old Rye.
A distinguished ex-Governor of Ohio,
famous for story telling, relates that on
one occasion, while addressing a temper
ance meeting at Georgetown, District of
Columbia, and depicting the misery
caused by indulging too frequently in
the flowing bowl, his attention was at
tracted to the sobs of a disconsolate and
seedy looking individual in the rear part
of the room; On going to th? person and
interrogating him, he was told the. usual ;
tale of woe: among other sad incident
that during his career of vice he bad
buried three wives. The Governor.hav
iog buried a few wives of his own, sym
pathized deeply with the inebriate, and
consoled him as much as was in his
power. Said he, u The Lord has indeed
afflicted you." The mourner bobbin gly
replied, " Yes, yes, he has," and pausing
a moment, and wiping hia nose, he con
tinued, " But I dou't think the Lord got
much ahead of me, for as fast as he took
one away I took another."