Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, December 04, 1861, Image 1

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BY S J". ROW;
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1861.
VOL. a-NO, 14.
tflfi JL1IEEICAW aOL.
Our hearts are with onr native land,
Oursong is forherrftory ;
l!er warrior's wreath 1 in our hand,
Our lips breathe oot her story.
Her lofty hills W9
. Are shining bright before us ; .
'Abd like rainbow sign is seen
Her proud flag waving o 'er us.
And there are smiles upon our lips,
For those who meet herfoeraen,
For glory's star knows no eclipse
When smiled upon by woman. '
For those who brave the mighty deep,
And scorn the threat of danger, - -We're
smiles to cheer and tears to weep
For every ocean ranger.
Our hearts are with our native land,
Our songs are for her freedom ;
Our prayers are for the gallant band
Who strike where honor leads them.
We lore the taintless air we breathe,
'Tis freedom's endless dower ;
'We'll twine for him an endless wreath,
Who scorns a tyrant's power.
They tell of France's beauties fair,
. . Of Italy's proud daughters,
vf Scotland's lasse. England's fair.
tf nymph's of Shannon's waters;
We need not boast their haughty charms,
Though lords around them hover.
Our glory lies in freedom's arms
A freeman for a lorer.
SETPI STARK,
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN SHARP-SHOOTER.
BT HARRY HAZEL.
" 'It'sno use forking 'beout it, dad, I'm goin
to fire Into the enemy. The Union is in dan
ger Varmont is in danger, and Ilardscrable
in particular is in danger, and I am bound to
go.' That is wot I told tho old man, Mister
Officer, and that's wot I tell you. If you wont
'list me, I'll find oat another 'crutin station,
darned quick."
This speech of a hard-fisted, yonng Green
Mountain Boy, with a rifle in his hand, was not
long since made to an officer of a recruiting
station in Montpelier, Vt., who interposed
some objections to the stout lad's enlisting,
to-wit : that his visual organs presented a
strong case of strabismus, that his body was
slightly angular, that his style of speech and
manner rather shocked the eyes of the gentle
manly, college-cultivated lieutenant, who had
thrown down Blackbtone, Kent, Coke, and
other law commentators for a sword and epau
lets ; and also because tho applicant was in
curably left handed.
"How old are you 1" asked the lieutenant.
Twenty last grass."
"What has been your business ?"
"Cuttin' logs, and bhootin' b'ars in winter,
and dririn' cattle and mowin' grass in sum
mer." "Shooting bears, eh ?"
Teas, shootin' b'ars." '
"Then I suppose you would take aim at a
tree in one direction, and bit the bear in an
other," said tho officer derisively. "I am
afraid, in battle you would be much less dan
gerous in the enemy's ranks than in ours."
"I know that I'm a little cock-eyed, Mister
Officer, but I've fotched many at bar a more
than a hundred rods, and at turkey shoots
they alias try to caount me aout."
'Count you out what do jou mean by
that"
"Waall,T ain't so profertable to the turkey
match-makers as some o' the rest ot 'era for
when I git this 'ere rifle of dad's on one of the
birds, you can reckon he is mine,"
"Are yon also a good shot with the mus
ket f"
"Don't know nothiu' beout .that kind of
shootin' irons"
"But ours is an infantry company, and we
use smooth bores," suggested the officer.
"Waall, Captin, if yeou don't calkilate to
0 to kill, I am not your man. If yeou dew,
you'd better take me and my bar-killer."
"Oh, it's impossible that you should appear
in onr iantts with a dark barreled weapon.
You must leave that weapon behind."
"Can't dew it, Captain. Whar the bar-kil-ler
goes, there I goes. Never go nowhere
without it. You see its a sure thing."
"I have no evidenco of it beyond your
word," said the officer, beginning to be inter
ested in the somewhat uncouth individual.
"But I'll put your shooting skill to the test,
and if you can make three as good shots as
three sharp shooters in my corps, I'll engage
to enlist you, bar-killer and all."
"Give us your fist for that, Mister Officer,"
returned the raw recruit, extending bis rough,
tan-browned, and freckled hand. "II you've
got three men in your corps that kin out-shoot
Seth Stark, I'll go bum again, aud help dad
kerry on the farm."
The match was forthwith got up and three
privates of the Ethan Allen Hangers were se
lected for the trial. Each of them was famed
a a sharp-shooter, and particularly well skill
ed in the use of the rifle.
A target, representing an Indian chief, was
placed at one hundred rods distant; at the ap
pointed time, the three already recruited ranger-
and Seth Stark took their positions in front
the company of Rangers to witness the ap
parently unequal contest. . The two men were
detailed to stand within six rods on either side
t the painted Indian, to make a record of
ach successive shot, and before they left the
rwki their comrads made many good-natured
hut slightly satirical remarks at the expense ol
toe cross-eyed volunteer.
"Bill Barton, be keerfu! where you stand
ben that fellow blazes away," said a ranger
o oDo of (he target ujarfcerg . tne safest place
I be behind it."
"Better get under the bank, Bill there's no
calculating where his bullets may strike,"
M,d another. . ; .... -
"I think the only sure place is in the rear
' the lrecch,"said a third. -
Almost every one of the corps volunteered
Jocuse opinion in reference to the crooked
fJd, crooked-formed and otherwise crooked
"woodsman, some of which reached the
" of Seth who, suddenly facing the com
j"y, while they were at ease, and pricking
S his ears said ; "Perhaps as haow some on
J would like to bet a sum on them 'ere three
P-8hooter ?" and pulled out from his ca
rious looking pocket a greasy wallet, which
eetned rather plethoric of bapk. bills, consid-
1D8 the coarse, Aedy gear of the rifleman. '
J anythiog from a sheet of ginger
"eta to a tew dollar bill that I'll take the con
rifl 0ut ' 'ou 7oar harp shooters at a
'oe-shootinY wraslin', huggin' or a' reg'Iar
il?Mideown and drae eout fig"" ' ' '
U bet jou a dollar jou don't bit the board
once out of three times," said one of the
rangers.
'Done I'll take that bet. and double the
stakes," replied Seth, drawing forth a ono
dollar note and placing it - in the bands of the
orderly sergeant, while the ranger did like
wise. "I'll go you five that you will be beaten at
every round," said another ranger.
"Plank your suet-skin," said Seth.
"I'll lay a five that you don't put a single
shot within the outer circle of the bull's eye,"
offered a third.
"Waall, I don't mind taking that bet tew,"
said Seth producing the money.
; "I'll go fifty ceuts you don't hit the bull's
eye once, "said a more cautious member of the
Ethan Allen corps.
'Plank your money, gen tleman I'm good
for a dozen or tew more just sich wagers
hev 'em all down, Mister Sergeant, so there
canU be no mistake."
Seth's invitation was responded to by nearly
half the members of the company and on fig
uring up the aggregate of all the stakes, it a-
mouuted to nearly two hundred dollars, but at
each successive wager the chances of his win
ning were made much smaller, as the last one
required him to hit the bull's eye twice out
of three rounds, and to beat the three antago
nists.
"Naow, gentlemen," said Seth, "I just
want to make one more bet. I'll lay ten dol
lars, that I'll hit the bull's eye three times,
pervidin' that the winner shall go over to the
tavern and spend the stakes in treatin' the
company."
"I'll take that wager,", said the captain of
tne rangers, stepping forward and depositing
the stakes, "and if you win I shall not only
disburse in the manner you suggest, but re
ceive you in the corps, and furnish you with a
uniform free of expense."
. "Good on your bead, Captin, said Seth
"and if I don't win, I'll be raound to-morrow
and stand treat agin."
The three sharp-shooters suggested the idea
of having a rest for their rifles, as the range
was long, and the slightest variation of the
aim would carry the shot wide of the mark,
but Seth argued against it, and appealed to
the cojntuander.
"You see, captin," said he, "it's all very
wcH at a turkey shoot, but it won't do in the
woods, when the bears and wolves are abcout;
and I kinder guess twouldn't do on the battle,
field less every soldier could kerry a nigger as
they do at the South, to use as a rest for their
shootin' irons.
This argument prevailed, and he decided
that the shots should be made off hand, and
that ten seconds should bo allowed in taking
aim, after the piece was at the shoulder.
. The Indian chief was painted- in. gaudy col
ors, size of life, and the bull's eye was placed
on the left side, in the region of the heart,
with three circles drawn around it, and it was
understood that from tho center, of the bull's
eye each shot should be measured. The
sharpshooters and the backwoodsman drew
lots for the first fire, which fell to the former,
who took his position, and in a ready and a
droit manner opened the coutest, and his shot
together with the others were as follows, ac
cording to the report of the target markers :
Ranger No. 1. Two inches from tho outer
circle, grazing the left arm.
Ranger No. 2. Ball struck within one inck
of the inner circle to the right a fatal shot.
Ranger No. 3. Put a half moon in tlo
bull's eye fatal. "
Seth Stark Shot perforated the center of
the bull's eye.
There was considerable huzzaing at the re
sult of the round, especially among the spec
tators, and those of tho rangers who had not
risked any of their iunds on the result.
On the second rouud the three rangers were
scored as having made better shots than be
fore but no score for the young backwoodsman.
It was now the better's turn to huzza, al
though several of them had lost by Seth's first
shot.
The third lound resulted even better for the
rangers than either of the others and the score
was brought in accordingly ; but there appear
ing no score for the . would-be-recruit, the
shouting was terrible, and many rude jests
were made at Seth's expense.
"Mougbtyou not as well wait till the umpires
have decided, before you larf at a feller ?" e
jacnlated Seth. "I've seen many a turkey
trial decided agin scorers."
"Why you don't suppose you've hit the tar
get but once V asked a ranger who had a V
staked on the result. "Mebbe I don't suppose
so, and mebbo I do," replied Seth.
"I'll go you ten to oue," said the confident
soldier.
"Take my advice and dou't you dew it" an
swered Seth.
"Oh, ho ! don't dare, eh ? Can't go one a
gainst ten ?" ejaculated the fellow.
"Waall,yeou kin put up as many tens as you
please, and if I can't kiver 'em, why yeou kin
pick up your change agin."
"Try him ! try him ! bo's only coming the
brag game ?" said several ot the ranger's com
rades. -
"I'll go my pile on that," said the confident
one, and he forthwith produced sixty dollars,
which Seth covered with only six ; but then it
must bo remembered that odds were terribly
against him inasmuch as the scorcer's report,
if confirmed, would ot course give me Biases
to his antagonist.
The umpires, consisting of an officer of the
company, who had no special interest in the
'result, and two civilians, who were experts in
toe sports or rine snooting, lonuwuu nntu
the target and examined the several hits, and
on comparing them with the record of the
scorers it appeared there was no mistake.
"That hit in the bull's ye," remarked one
of the civil umpires, "is a magnificent shot,
but how so small a slug as that greeny's rifle
carries could make so large orifice as that, is
quite a mystery to me."
"I agree with you," said the other civillian.
"It is a remarkable perforation, certainly,"
added -the officer of the rangers, examining
the hole with scrutiny, and then turning the
target around they were struck with the fact
that the shot of the smallest bored rifle bad
really pierced much the largest bole through
the board.
"See here too," he continued, finding the
corresponding bole in the trunk of the tree a
gainst which the counterfeit semblance' of the
savage chieftain bad rested, can it be possible
that two bullets have passed through this ori
fice ?"' - ; .-: .-. . - . - -
The suggestion was improbable, but some
what startling. It was again xamined with
keener scrutiny than before ; and for the pur
pose of solving the least doubt in the matter,
it was agreed to cut around the corresponding
perforation In the tree, and to the depth ot
the spot where the bullet had lodged. . A car
penter was forthwith sent for with instructions
to bring the proper tools for the job. In a few
minntes one was produced, and he went , to
work with a morticing chisel and mallet, un
der direction of the umpires, and after toiling
some ten or fifteen minutes he removed a cube
of wood from the tree of about five inches in
depth, which on being split open carefully,
three slugs pressed firmly against each other,
with but little variation from a true line, were
taken therefrom, to the wonder and surprise
of .the umpires. The doubt was solved. Seth
Stark's bullets had traversed the same line, aud
had lodged together. . ' . . - .
The huzzas and a laugh were now upon our
side, but the contest was so complete and de
cided the victory so complete that even
those who lost money in the result, joined
with the others in reudering all homage to the
eccentric backwoodsman. Seth was forthwith
enrolled in the ranks of the company, and
though be appeared very awkward at the first
in the ranks he is fast acquiring the positions
and bearing of a well drilled soldier. The
greatest difficulty be has to encounter is bis
left handedness, while his crooked eye only
troubles bis drill officer.
"Eyes front" appeared always "eyes left,"
"eyes right" always seem to be "eyes front."
The Ethan Allen Guards have been recently
mustered into the service of Uncle Sam ; and
if they ever get into an engagement, woe be
to the rebels who become targets of Seth Stark,
tho Green Mountain Sharp Shooter..
A Thrilling Prophect. In last February
Alabama seceded! That brave old man, Sen
ator Clemens, who had, until then breasted all
the storms of wild fanaticism, and clung to the
flag of our Union, yielded to the popular
clamor, and unsheathed his sword in a cause
he hated, and one he knew could not succeed,
lie wrote the following to a friend :
"We are out ; we have bid adieu to the Stars
and Stripes, and abandoned the high privilege
of calling ourselves American citizens. I am
not ashamed to confess that I could not re
strain my tears when the old banner, which I
have followed through so many dangers, was
torn down, aud the flag of Alabama was raised
in its place. I cannot restrain them now
when I am writing ; but the deed is done a
new era has dawned, and all that I can promise
is that no efiort shall be spared on my part to
prevent it from becoming an era ot disgrace.
If we are not involved in war we soon will be.
There is no hope of peaee ; and he is but little bet
ter than a madman who dreams of. long exemp
tion from invasion. I shall meet it when it
comes as a soldier should, and fight through
it as long as a hope remains. When every
thing is lost, as I fear, it man be, unless wiser
counsels should prevail than those which have
heretofore directed us, I shall drag my body
to the nearest battle-field, and lay down a life
which has lost its value."
How swiftly has his prediction been veri
fied! Ere the echo of his voice, pleading to
the fanatics to "stop !" bad died away, the
cry ran out, to arms ! A State then prosper
ous is now bankrupt ; all the horrors of war is
upon them, business ruined, and in addition to
the restless nights they pass for fear of a ser
vile insurrection, they will wake some morning
and hear the roar of Federal cannon at Mobile.
The battle field will be near to the home of
benator Clemens, and unless some unseen
hand shields him, his prophecy will be fulfill
ed to the letter !
A Good One. The Cincinnati Prass tells
the following good 'un, of Mrs. Jessie Benton
Fremont, whilst on her recent visit to the
Capital, to ferret out the origin of the hostili
ty which bad manifested itself toward her
husband. At one of the interviews with the
President, Mr. Blair, sr., father of Frank P.
Blair, was present. Mr. Blair turned to Mrs.
Fremont and said, .
"Mrs. Fremont, allow me to say to you, that
in my judgment, madam, your proper place is
at the bead of your husbands household st St.
Louis, and this intermeddling with the affairs
of State is, to say the least of it, in very bad
taste on your part. And in conclusion, I wish
you to understand that here is where we make
men and unmake them."
"Mr. Blair, permit me to say to you. that
I have seen some men of your making, and if
they are the best you can do, I advise you to
quit tho business."
France for the Union. Says the Baltimore
Patriot : We learn that the son of a distinguish
ed citizen of Baltimore, in the French Army,
writes to bis father that the French Ministers
at a recent meeting voted unanimously not to
recognize the independence of the Southern
Confederacy. He also stated that he knew of
private Individuals in France who would lend
the United States Government $50,000,000 if
it was needed. The feeling was general in fa
vor of standing by the old Union, and give her
funds to its support. France was always true
to the United States and always will be.
A Prophecy Fclfilled. The Boston Tran
script recalls the fact that when the Union
Committee from Boston visited Wbashington
last January, Mr. Mason, in reply to the wish
expressed that he might ag-ain visit that city,
said : "I shall not go to Boston again except
as an ambassador." His prophecy is fulfilled
in a way be did not expect. lie goes as an
ambassador shorn of his plames and the butt
of ridicule, like the jackdaw that was stripped
of the peacock's feathers.
One of the most extraordinary salt wells on
record , perhaps, is now in operation at Wells
ville,Ohio. The well was sunk in anticipation
of finding oil, but when' at a depth of 480
feet the borers struck a vein ot gas which
burst forth with such violence as to eject all
the tools used in boring, together with 200
feet of pipe which had been previously intro
duced. The boring had developed a very
strong vein of salt water, which yields a barrel
of salt an hour. '"' .
"Always gay," is a soldier's life: A Volun
teer's recent letter says ; "My wife came on
to see me at oar camp. Thank Heavens she
brought needles and thread with her. ; My rag
Ian was nearly played out ; my pants bad been
drilled to death ; I have been walking in my
bootlegs for three weeks. I wish my . wife
was a shoemaker. The boys will soon have
their new harness. We are as happy as bob
tail borsca in By-time." ' .
THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANIST.
A LEGEND Of THE RHINE.
"Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood."
Years and years ago, at a grand old cathedral
overlooking the Rhine, thete appeared a mys
terious organist. The great composer who
had played the organ so long had suddenly
died, and everybody from the king to the
peasant, was wondering who could be found to
fill his place, when one bright Sabbath morn,
as the sexton entered the church, be saw a
stranger sitting at the crape shrouded organ.
He was a tall, graceful man, with a pale but
strikingly handsome face, great black, melan
choly eyes, and hair like the raven's wing for
gloss and color, sweeping in dark waves over
his shoulders. He did not seem to notice tho
sexton, but went on playing, and such music
as be drew from the instrument no words of
mine can describe. The astonished listener
declared that the organ seemed to have grown
human that it wailed and sighed and clam
ored, as if a tortured human heart were throb
bing through its pipes. When the music at
length ceased,the sexton hasted to the stranger
and said
"Pray, who are you, sir ?"
"Do not ask my name," he replied ; "1 have
heard that you are in want of an organist, and
came here on trial."
You'll be sure to get the place," the sexton
exclaimed. "Why, you surpass him that's
dead and gone, sir !" -
"No, no ; you overrate me," resumed the
stranger, with a sad smile ; and then, as if
disinclined to conversation, he turned from
old Hans, and began to play again. Aud now
the music changed from a sorrowful strain to
a grand preon, and the mysterious organist '
'-Looking upward full of grace,
Prayed till from a happy place.
God's glory smote him on the face,"
and his countenance seemed not unlike that of
St. Michael, as portrayed by Guido.
Lost in the harmonies which swelled around
him, he sat with his "far-seeing" gaze fixed
on the distant sky, a glimpse of which he had
caught through an open window, when there
was a stir about the church door, and a royal
party came sweeping in. Among them might
be seen a young girl with a wealth of golden
hair, eyes like the violet in hue, and lips like
wild cherries. This was the Princess Eliza
beth, and all eyes turned to her, as she seated
herself in the velvet cushioned pew appropria
ted to the court. The mysterious organist
fixed his gaze upon her and went on playing.
No sooner had the music reached her ears,
than she started, as if a ghost bad crossed her
path. The bloom faded from her cheek, her
lip quivered, her whole frame grew tremulous.
At last her eyes met those of the organist in a
long, long.y earning look, and then the melody
lost its joyous notes, and the organ once more
wailed and sighed and clamored.
"By my faith," whispered the King to his
daughter, "this organist has a master-band
Hark ye,child,he shall play at your wedding !"
Tho pale lips of the Princess parted, but
she could not speak she was dum: with
grief. Like one in a painful dream, she saw
the pale man at the oigan, and heard the
melody which filled , the vast edifice. Aye,
full well she knew who he was, and wbv the
instrument seemed breathing out the agony of
a tortured heart.
When the service was over, and tho royal
party had left the cathedral, ho stole away as
mysteriously as he had come. He was not
seen again by the sexton till the vesper hour.
and then he appeared in the organ loft and
commenced his task. As be played, a veiled
nguru glided in, and knelt near a side -shrine
There she remained till the worshippers had
dispersed, when the sexton touched her on the
shoulder and said
"Madam, everybody has gone but you and
me, and I wish to close the doors."
"I am not ready lo go yet," was the reply ;
"leave me leave me."
The sexton drew back into a shadowy niche,
and watched and listened. The mysterious
organist still kept his post, but his head was
bowed upon the instrument, and he could not
see the lone devotee. At length she rose from
the aisle, and moving to the organ loft, paused
beside the musician.
"Bertram," she murmured.
Quick as thought the organist raised his
head. There, with the light of a lamp suspend
ed to the arch above falling full upon her,
stood the Princess who had graced the royal
pew that day. The court dress of velvet,with
its soft ermine trimmings, the tiara, the neck
lace, the bracelets, had been exchanged for a
grey serge robe, nnd a long, thick veil, which
was now pushed back from the fair, girlish
face. ;
"Oh ! Elizabeth, Elizabeth !" exclaimed the
organist, and be sank at her feet, and gazed
wistfully into her troubled eyes.
"Why are you here, Bertram 1" asked the
Princess. v
"I came to bid you farewell, and at I dared
not venture into the palace, I gained access
to the cathadral by bribing the bellringer, and
having taken the vacant seat of the dead organ
ist, let my music breathe out the adieu I could
not trust my lips to utter."
A low moan was bis only answer, and he
continued
"You are to be married on the morrow.".
"Yes," sobbed the girl. "Oh, Bertram,
what a trial it will be to stand at yonder altar,
and take npon me vows which will doom me to
a living death !" , .'
"Think of me," rejoined the organist.
"Tour royal father requested me to play at
the wedding, and I have promised to be here.
If I were your equal I cou Id be the bridegroom
instead of the organist, but a poor musician
must give up !" ' - "
' "It is like rending soul and body asunder to
part with you," said the girl. ' "To-night I
may tell you this tell yon how- fondly I love
you, but in a few hoars it will be a sin ! Go,
go, and God bless you f" ' !
She waived him from her, as if she would
banish him while she had the strength to do
so, and he how was it with him ! He rose to
leave her, then came back, held her to bis
heart in a long embrace, and with a half
smothered farewell left her. ' "
. The next morning dawned in . cloudless
splendor, and at an early hour the cathedral
was .thrown open,: and the sexton bejran to
prepare for the brilliant wedding. Flame
colored flowers nodded by the wayside, flame
colored leaves came rushing down from the
trees and lay In light heaps npon the ground ;
the ripe wheat waved like a golden Bea, and
berries drooped in red and purple clusters
over the rocks along the Rhine.:,'. - : v .
At length the palace-gates .were unclosed
and the royal party appeared, escorting the
Princess Elizabeth to the cathedral where her
ni arriage was to be solemnized. It was a brave
pageant ; far brighter than the untwined foli
age and blossoms were the tufts of plumes
which floated from stately beads,and the festal
robes that streamed down over the housing of
the superb steeds. But the Princess.mounted
on a snow-white velvet, looking pale and sad ;
and when, on nearing the church, she heard a
gush ot organ-music, which, tho' jnbilant in
sound, struck on her ear like a funeral knell,
she trembled, and would have fallen to the
earth had not a page supported her. A few
moments afterwards she entered the cathedral.
There, with his retinue, stood the royal bride
groom, whom she had never before seen. But
her glance roved from bim to the organ-loft,
where she had expected to see the mysterious
organist. He was gone, and she was obliged
to return the graceful bow of the King, to
whom she had been betrothed, from motives
of policy. Mechanically she nelt at his side
on the altar stone mechanically listened to
the service and made the responses. Then
her bnsband drew her to bim in a convulsive
embrace, and whispered
"Elizabeth, my Queed, my wife, look up !"
Trembling in every limb, she obeyed. Why
did those dark eyes thrill her so 7 Why did
that smile bring a glow to her cheek ? Ah !
though the King wore the royal pcrple, and
many a jeweled order glittering on his breast,
he seemed the same humble person who had
been employed to tench her organ music, and
bad taught her the lore of love.
"Elizabeth," murmured the monarch, "Ber
tram Hoffman, the mysterious organist, and
King Oscar are one ! Forgive my stratagem,
I wished to marry you, but I would not drag
to the altar an unwilling bride. Your father
was in the secret."
While tears of Joy rained from her blue
eyos, the new-mado Queen returned her hus
band's fond kiss, and for once two hearts were
made happy by a royal marriage.
How the Spinning Jesnt Received its
Name. The following beautiful anecdote is
related of Uargreavos, the inventor of the
Spinning Jenny t "The invention bad long
engaged his attention, when one day he was
observed to drop suddenly upon his knees and
roll on the stone floor at full length. He lay
with his face toward the floor, and made lines
and circles with burnt stick. Then he sat
upon a chair and placed his head between his
bands, his elbows upon his knees, and gazed
intently on the floor ; then he sprang to bis
feet and replied to some feeble questions of
bis wife who had not risen since the day she
gave birth to a little stranger by a loud as
surance that he had it ; and taking her in bis
sturdy arms in the blankets, the baby in her
arms, be lifted her out and held her over the
black drawings. These be explained, and she
joined a small, hopeful laugh, with bis high
toned assurance that she should never again
"play" and have his loom standing for want
of weft. She asked some questions, which he
answered after seating her in the armchair,
by laying ber spinning wheel on its back, the
horizontal spindle vertically, while be made
the wheel revolve, and drew a roving of cotton
from the spindle into an attenuated thread.
"Our fortune is made," he said speaking of
his drawings on the floor. "What will you
call it?" asked his wife. "Call it ? What
can we call it alter but thyself, Jenny J They
called thee 'Spinning Jenny' afore I had thee,
because thou beat every lass in Stanbil Moor
at the wheel. What if we call it Spinning
JeDny 1"
Curing Hams. At a late Fair of the Mary
land State Agricultural Society, the first pre
mium was awarded for haras cured thus ; To
150 lbs. of ham, take 1 oz saltpetre, four
quarts of fine salt, with enough molasses to
make a paste ; rub well on the flesh side ; let
it he for four weeks: then hang and smoke.
Two days before removing from the smoke
house, paint with black pepper and vinegar,
after which, bag them.
Some Threshing. A farmer having a son
in Camp Randall at Madison, Wis., wrote an
urgent request to the young man to come home
and help bim do his threshing. Said young
man replied :
Dear Father : I can't go home at present.
I should be very glad to help you, but Uncle
Sam has got a dd sight bigger job of threshing
on hand than you hare, and I m bound lo see him
out of the woods first."
Large Contract. Col. Henry Wilson, of
Massachusetts, has a contract for making one
million pairs of army shoes. . Twenty-five
cents a pair, we are told, says the Bo?ton Post,
by those who are familiar with the modus oper
andi of giving out contracts, is a small sum to
make on a pair that sells for $2,25. This
leaves the Colonel the snug little sum of two
hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars !
Capture or the Pirate Beacregard. A
despatch from New York, dated Nov. 26tb,
says that the steamship George Peabody arrived
from Key West, reports that the pirate Beaure
gard has been captured by the gun boat G. W.
Anderson, of Boston, with twenty-seven prison
ers and one long pivot gun on the deck. The
pirate was laying at Key West
"Facts are stuborn things," said a lawyer to
a female witness. "Yes sir and so are women,"
she replied ; "and if you get anything out of
me just let me know it." "You'll be com
mitted for coutempt," said the lawyer, Very
well," said she, I shall sufier justly, for I feel
the utmost contempt for every lawyer present."
'. On the person of . James Brown,- who was
arrested at Boston recently as a traitor, was
found a letter from William L. Yancy, in
England, to his son in Alabama, in which he
speaks discouragingly of the prospects of a
recognition of the rebels by the European
powers. ; " ' .. ;
A letter has been received in Baltimore,
from an officer in the French army, which
states that the French Ministry, at a recent
meeting, voted unanimously not to recognize
the Independence of the bogus Southern Con
federacy. - " : - r t : - ' .
The Rebels own the i loss, iu the Belmont
fignt, of 261 killed, 427 wounded, and 278
missing. Gen. Grant reports onr loss 85 killed,
and 150 wounded,andabout 150 missing.
.. ? Experience is the most eloquent of preach
ers, bat she never has a large congregation. '
THE JOURNAL.
. THE FLAG OF 0TJR COUHTBY.
An address, delivered before the Pennville Lyce
um on the evening of the 23d November, 1361,
by John Russell.
Ladies and Gentlemen : Having been cho
sen to address you this evening, I shall en
deavor to respond briefly. The subjwet, The
Flag of our Country, was snggested to me by ,
a friend, and accepted as appropriate, with
but one discouraging thought, i. e. that your
bumble speaker is incapable of doing justice "
to a theme so dignified and important as this is. .
At the present time the present Critical .
roemont when scores of thousands of our citi
zens are called forth from their families and
friends, to defend that Flag which we are ,
proud to say has protected our institutions so',
long, is it any wonder that that Flag holds a
place so dear in every loyal American heart,
whether native born or adopted. -
"The Flag of our Country!" It is the em
blem of the liberties aud institutions of the
American people. The banner which has so
proudly floated over sea and land for nearly a
century which has visited the ports of every
civilized natioo upon the globe, and has been
respected by them which has soared aloft
like the American eagle, the strongest and! fho
boldest of the feathered tribe, which is emble
matical of the greatness and power of our gov
ernment. The banner under which our coun
try baa grown up, prospered and spread its be
nign influence from the Atlantic to the Pacific
over such a vast area of territory, that it
seemed as though the whole we'sfefn hemi-"
sphere was destined to be included in its folds.
It is the emblem of the asylum for the op
pressed from foreign lands. In short, the em
blem of the home of the brave and the land of
the free ; and which, until recently, bid fair
to be the honor and pride of the wor'ld, and
under wbose mantle, nations yet unborn might
repose in perfect safety.
Is it any wonder then, that when the dark
and gloomy clouds of civil strife and internal
discord are threatening to rend in twain that
glorious ensign of our greatness and power
when rebel heads are plotting and rebel hands
are working for its annihilation, I say, fs it
any wonder, under these circumstances", that
every true American arid patriot feels a deep
anxiety for "the Flag of our Country" that
every person of whatever sex or condition that
has arrived at the years of reflection, and in
whose veins one drop of loyal blood is cours
ing, should be arroused to a sense of the con
dition of our country, concerned lor the pres
ervation of its institutions and its laws, and be
willing, yes anxious to lend a helping hard to
the cause upon which rests all our liberties.
To aid in some way or manner in crushing the
rebellion which threatens the fives of so many
devoted sons of patriotic sires ; which dooms
the principles, upon which those liberties are
based, that lie at the foundation of onr gov
ernment, and guarantees the noble right to tho
exercise of the elective franchiso to every
freeman, without respect to rank or condition,
and guards all our lights w-ith a scrupulous re
gard to justice and honor. Granting to every
supposed criminal the sacred privilege of a
trial by jury, in ordef that while the guilty
may be brought to condign punishment, the
Innocent may not sutler from an unjust charge.
Ours is a model Government. Sorrowful the
thought that it should be overtnrown. Surely
none but traitors of tho deepest and most
damning dye would desire the Conjugation of
so deplorable a scene. True, monarChs would
rejoice, and despots and tyrants would be jubi
lant in declaring to tho world that onr expe
riment of a Regublican government had failed
that our boast, that the people are capable
of self government, was a farce, and that
henceforth kings and potentates might rest
securely npon their gorgeous thrones, at the
expense of a submissive people. But, where
is the man or woman , who; has" lived in our
favored land, and enjoyed its blessings, who
would wish to see sach a retrogade movement,
as that this great wealthy and prosperous na
fiotr shonld be tbrnst back a whole century
into the very chains which our fathers fought
to break, and that too, to gratify tho mad am
bition of the leaders of a sectional strife ? If
such persons still linger npon out soil, it is
time they would seek a government more con
genial to their taste, and not remain where
they are a clog to the wheels of the progres
sive ear of universal liberty.
"Tbe Flag of onf Country !" The flag that
was insulted on the morning of the 12th of
April last, by the openirg of the bombard
ment of Fort Sumter, which was hauled down
(not surrendered) on the 13th, and saluted by
50 guns on the 14th, and brought triumphantly
away. . Tbat flag once 'more floats in tbe
breeze npon tbe soil of tbat treason enrsed
State, South Carolina. "At half past two
o'clock p.m., of the 7th Inst., the American
ensign was hoisted1 npon tbe flag-star! of Fort
Walker, and at sun-risu on the 8th on that of
Fort Beauregard, at Port Royal, S, C." Less
than seven months.have elapsed to bring about
this change. This State, deeper in the guilt
than any other, because first to rebel, seems at
last about to feel the weight of the responsi
bility which she so justly deserves to bear,not
withstanding the strategy nsed toward off the
blow and cause it to fall npon her less guilty
Bisters. May we not from tbiacircumstance
indulge the hope, that this" treat victory,
achieved' at so small a cost of life, at least will
be the forerunner of a succession of like vic
tories, to be continued, nntil rebellion ceases
and rebels no longer strut defiantly over any
portion of onr vast domain. Would' that this
might be the case, and would' thar it might be
soon. "May the Union army move steadily on
ward to certain victory. May it triumph over
all opposition and teach the rebels the lesson,
that while tbe government does not desire
their subjugation,-the army has determined to
snbdue them at whatever cost, and establish
the fact that the Union still lives; th& the
Constitution exists; that the lawr will ho en
forced, and' that it is a dangerous" heresy to
promulgate a contrary doctrine. In conclu
sion then, I would say to tbe soldiers, as if
they were present, '
March on, then; ye noble; starlwart Freemen ;
, Proud to meet your country's direst foes j
Fearless as the sturdy, sun-tanned seaman, .
Who braves tbe briny ocean's saddest woes.
Let nothing check yoa in your bold career,
Nor canse yoHinyonrrlghteous course to lag ;
In fighting for the rights you hold so dear, .
Yon r fighting for yonr Country's glorious
A good man is kinder tolls enemy ibaabod
men are to their friends.
i
II