THE TIM liS, NEW BLOOM FIELD, PA. FEMllJAUY 3' 1860.
A Joking Ghost
WHO among the thirteen young peo
who Infested the Brown family
rnaiiHlon Bt Newport, Rhode Island, on
Oln 1st mas, was responsible for the in
iroduotlon of practical Joking as an ap
troprlnte method of celebrating the
MetiBon Is not certainly known. By
ouie it is asserted that a young broker
from Wall street was the guilty person
while others maintain that the first
practical Joke was played by Miss Mary
thrown and her sister Miss Carrie, and
4helr cousin, Miss Lucy Brown Ketch
?in. Let us be falrnilnded and generous
and assume that the broking Brown was
the first and chief offender. Every one
w ho is familiar with the habits and cus
toms of brokers Is aware that they re
gard practical Jokes, such as hat smash
ing and violent hustling, as the most
brilliant manifestations of wit, aud if
(be young broker In ruestioii did not
play practical jokes on his Brown rela
tives, there Is not the least doubt that he
w as entirely capable of so doing.
The thlrieen young people were of the
usual sexes, and were full of Rplrlts.
They exhausted the most familiar prac
tical jokes, such as sewing up the sleeves
of the young men's night-shirts, aud
.substituting pieces of raw potatoes for
oap In the young ladies' bed-rooms, in
the course of the first two evenings and
on Friday night last it became necessary
to invent some new juke. The youthful
broker prop ped that Chas. W. Brown
it medical student, who subsequently
.proved a bold, bad young man should
lie Induced to put his hat on, and that it
ahould then be smashed over his eyes.
" We do that sort of thing at the hoard
every now and then, you know," said
the broker, "and you've no Idea how
tremendously funny It Is." This plan
however miscarried, for the reason that
no one felt anxious to act as smasher,
fcince Mr. C. W. Brown notoriously car
ried concealed medicines, and was fully
capable of making any one who might
uneilille with his hat an Immediate and
involuintary patient. After much dis
.cussiom it was decided to frighten the
(medical student with a ghost, aud, as a
Vreliminary, all agreed to weaken hie
mind by a prolonged conversation on
ghostly subjects.
In the evening, ghost stories were ac
cordingly told at great length. Nearly
very one professed to have seen or beard
a ghost in peculiarly blood-curdling cir
cumstances, aud even the young broking
person recollected a story of great antiqui
ty, which he related as part of his per
sonal experience. Then Miss Mary
Brown remembered that the room in
which the medical student was to sleep
bad the reputation or being haunted.
Wie said that a ghostly skeleton frequent
ly appeared in it at the dead of night,
and required the unhappy person whom
it might meet to instantly confess his
tins, under some vague but awful peual
ty. The skeleton was believed to have
been formerly the property of a wicked
priest, who had committed suicide In the
room, and it was said to make an annual
appearauce on the 26th of December.
By this time the young ladles had
talked themselves Into a very nervous
tttate, but Mr. Charles W. Brown did not
seem to be in the least degree alarmed.
He said he had been on intimate and
frleudly terms with ghosts during the
greater part of his life, and that he likei
them very much. In fact, he was
anxious to meet the skeleton, and
asserted that If he saw it he should ask
it to go to Philadelphia with him, so
that he could study its bones at his
leisure. At a late hour the thirteen
young people decided to go to bed, and
after biding each other good night, with
.much elaboration, they sought their re
spective rooms.
As soon, however, as Mr. Charles W.
Brown had entered his room, the other
twelve young people noiselessly assem
bled ouiside of his door to ascertain the
success of their joke. Miss Mary Brown,
tier sister and her cousin, had drawn with
phosphorus a magnificent and appaling
skeleton on the wall of the room and
written above the head the legend,
41 Confess your sins." When the niedl
cal student, after consuming what was
thought to be an unnecessary length of
time in preparing for bed, finally put out
his light, the phosphoric ghost shone
brilliantly before his eyes, and he uttered
a yell of the most terrible and, to the
young people outside of his door, delight
ful description.
Then the wicked young student began
ia a loud tone of voice, his confession.'
He confessed that on Wednesday night
he had kissed Miss Mary Brown in the
library, but be. urged upon the ghost, as
an extraordinary circumstance, the fact
that the young lady virtually requested
him to do so, and that be did not see bis
way clear to refuse. Then be confessed
that be had promised to marry Miss Car
. rie BrowD, and that be bad broken bis
promise. tftiil, he claimed that be would
jiot liave been thus far faithless bad be
not seen her in the act of Bitting on the
young broker's lap, and bad she not
subsequently admitted that she bad
Dronilsed to marry that " addle-patod
youth," as the accurately described him.
Also. Mr. Charles w. urown, wnois un-
doubtedlv a lineal descendant of Ana
nlas, further confessed that be meant no
barm when he kissed Miss Ketchum In
the vestibule of the church on Christmas
morning, and that he would never do so
again.
By this time the young people outside
of the door bad fled. The three young
idles whose names bad been mentioned
n the Medical student's confession,
wept, indignant tears, and protested
that the " wretch" knew that be was
telling lies; while the otheryoung ladles
said they Imped that such was the case,
but thut Mr. Brown did seem very
earnest and sincere In what he said.
The next morning no questions were
asked of that depraved young man, and
n the course of the day nearly every
one of the thirteen young people said
they had received letters which would
oblige them to go borne immediately.
As a practical joke, the Illuminated
skeleton was not, perhaps, strikingly
successful, but it is the opinion of Mr.
Charles V. Brown that no further at
tempts to play practical jokes on him
will be made, and that be has fully
repaid the ingenious inventor of the
ghost.
... .
What a Kentucklan Knows About Root.
"W
HOA-EP I Here I am again,
with another load of yer rued-
erclne stuff," bawled out a long, lean,
lank Kentucklan the other day, as be
pulled up his team in front of one of
Cincinnati's large drug manufactories.
' I want all the money yer got in yer
Btore this time fur this load of roots,"
said he to the propritt ir, as the latter
stepped out on the sidewalk. "What
have you got "i"' asked the drug man.
Oh, a lot of sang, wahoo and May
apple root," replied the Kentuchian, as
he commenced throwing off sack after
sack of the valuable load. A Cincinnati
Star reporter happened to be passing at
the time, and overheard the conversa
tion. He stopped and inquired of the
man from over the river" what he
expected to get for his load. " Some
where in the neighborhood of alwut a
hundred an' fifty," replied be. " It
takes you about half your lifetime to get
a load like that, don't It V " asked our
young man., " Now, look a here, young
man, are ye kiddin', or have ye never
bin out In the country anyV" Do ye
s'pose I'd gether roots half my natural
life fur a hundred and fifty V"
The reporter didn't suppose he would,
but still he was under the impression it
must take a long while to gather togeth
er as large aquantity of roots as be bad
in bis wagon.
" What do you get for different kinds
of roots V" asked the reporter.
"Bay, young man, I want ter git this
yer wagon onloaded some time to-day,
an' ye'd obleege me by not botherin'
me no more at present. If ye'U go over
In that er tavern across the road an'
wait tbar about twenty minutes fur me,
I'll be thar, an' will answer any ques
tion ye want to ax me."
The reporter went, and in the appoint
ed time was met by the man from Ken
tucky, who, as he entered the saloon ,
tucked a large roll of bank-notes down
his pants pocket. He sat down at a
table opposite the reporter, and in an
swer to the Iatter'a questions as to what
kind of roots he brought to market and
tbe price he got for them, be gave the
Information desired about as follows :
Roots ain't nigh so plentiful as they
used to be. I know the time when I
could gather a wagon-load like I just
fetched in, In a day, but now it takeB
considerable longer than that, an' then
prices are not nigh so good as they bave
bin. There's sang (ginseng), that I
used ter git $1.80 a pound fur,only brings
me $1 a pound now, and thet's fur the
very be6t. What Is it used fur t Why,
the biggest part of -It goes to China, to
purify queensware with. Bang won't
bear cultivation at all. It baa seed every
year. A curious thing about sang is
that cows won't tech it. They'll eat
weeds off all round it, but they let the
sang alone. Sang is mighty scarce. I
bring in considerable Indian arrow or
wahoo root. There's a big demand fur
it, but still I cau't git over ten cents a
pound fur it. That's the stuff they make
ager medercine of. It's the best ager
cure known.
Then there's May apple root. It only
brings three cents a pound. That's
what the mandrake pills is made of.
The roots is ground up into a Hour and
rolled inter pills. I've fetched in enough
May apples this fall ter keep the United
States surplled with pills fur tbe next
ten years.
Prickly ash I also bring in. It ain't
very plentiful. The roots bring twelve
cents a pound. It is used in makiu'
medicine for tbe rheumatism.
Barsaparilla root is used In makin'
blood purifier. It is tolerable plentiful,
and is worth five cents a pound.
Burdock root is used for the same
purpose that sarsaparllll root Is. It only
brings four cents a pound.
Then there Is elecampane root.' It Is
used In syrups fur the consumption.
It's mighty suaroe, though, an' fetches
ten cents a pound.
Yaller root, which Is also known as
' Golden Seal,' Is a scarce article now-a-days.
It's worth seven cents a pound.
It Is used fur makln' washes fur sore
eyes an' mouth.
Burwane root is also used in makln'
medicine. It's bard to git and brings
eight cents a pound.
Butternut bark I fetch In considerable
of, but the price on it ain't very high.
Sometimes it brings as high as three and
four cents. That's what yer physioin'
pills Is made of. J 1st bile It down till It
gits thick, like a paste, an' then roll
into yer pills. It is also used fur dyeing
purposes.
Hoarhound Is an berb, an' Is used in
makln' cough syrup. It brings eight
cents a pound, although It is plentiful.
Borne places It grows so thick yer can
mow It with a scythe. Don't take no
time to git a hundred pound of It.
Another herb Is lobelia,' and I git ten
cents a pound fur It, but the price is
falling. Lobelia is what Ipecac is made
of. If yer ever want to get rid of what's
inside of yer, jlst make a tea of lobelia
leaves, an' I'll bet my team of bosses out
there It'll accommodate yer.
I forgot to tell yer a funny thlwgabout
gatherin' butternut bark. If yer peal
the bark down it'll physic yer when
made Inter pills, but If yer peal it up-it'll
omit yer sure as I'm a sittin' at this
table.
I brought lu a good many Indian
turnips this fall and got eight cents a
pound fur 'em. They are used in cough
medicines.
Bilkweed root is used in nger medi
cine, but it Is scarce In my part of the
country. It is worth ten cents a pound.
Pennyroyal an' peppermint brings ten
cents a pound, but when dry it takes a
heap to make a pound. The oil of
pennyroyal is extracted in a still. The
Shakers up here In Warren county,
Ohio, have regular stills for making the
extracts. There are a good many kinds
of bark used. There's white oak bark,
best thing in the world to check the
bowels, when it is made into a syrup.
Yellow poplar bark used with wild
cherry bark, prickly ash, dogwood bark
and wahoo is good for the consumption.
I know a mau that bad the consump
tion for sis years that it cured. Slippery
elm bark is ground up and used for
poultices. Good to take out fever. It's
worth ten cents a pound.
Then there's elder bark. Take it,
beeswax, mutton taller and a little rosin
and it makes the best kind of a salve for
fresh cuts. Bone set, is an herb that
grows about three feet high, with leaves
of a milky color. It generally grows in
old pastures. It is used for colds and is
worth six cents a pound. Old field
balsam looks a good deal like bone set,
only it don't grow so high. It is used
for the same purpose. I've sold lots of
catnip to these druggists, but what it is
used fur more than ter nourish young
babies with I don't know. I sell these
fellers here all sorts of roots and herbs,
even to mullin and plantain leaves,
which they make salve out of. . Why,
even these old gympsum weeds bring
three cents a pound, and even sunflower
seeds. Why, a couple of years ago I
sold two bushels of sunflower seeds fur
$21. They buy pumpkin and watermel
on seeds also ter make kidney medicine
out of. But look a here, young man,
I've set here and talked long enough
ter ye. Suppose yer treat an' I'll go.
The reporter treated and, lu answer
to the question of bow much time he
put in gathering roots and herbs, the
Kentucklan replied that be put in very
little: that he bad a houseful of small
children who dua the roots out of the
woods and all that he did was to clean,
sort and dry, and haul them to market,
The Widows' Fund.
A minister aged 73, a bachelor, was on
bis death-bed. For the last twenty years
he had had as a housekeeper a steady,
sensible woman, who served him hon
estly, tended blm like a daughter during
bis illness, and for whom he had quite a
fatherly regard. She was 45 years old,
and be was poor and had nothing to
leave her. Finally he thought of a plan
and calling her one day, said :
" Of course you are aware that there
is a Ministers' Widows' Fund and so if
the husband dies, his widow will have
an annuity during her life. Now suppose
you marry me ; although I am almost at
death's door you will be amply provided
for in the future. Will you consent to
thlsy"
" Master dear, you must be doting I
What would people say r"
" I was never more serious in my life,
Mary ; and I am sure people will say we
have both acted wisely in this matter,
Take till this evening to think it over
and then bring me your answer."
In the evening she told him she "would
take him." In ten days after they were
married, and three days later the old
man died ! but his widow still enjoys
her ebare of the Widows' Fund."
BEALIN1.
FlntlltiQ "Girl" In the Bible.
AN ENGLISH TOWN missionary, a
short time ago, related a remarkable
incident. There was a lodging house in
bis district, which he bad long desired
to enter, but was deterred from so doing
by a friend, who feared that bis life
would be endangered. lie becuuie at
length so uneasy that he determined to
risk all consequences aud try to gain ad
mission. So one day he gave a somewhat
timid knock at the door, In responseto
which a coarse volcfe roared out, "Who's
there V" and at the same moment a vi
cious looking woman opened the door
and ordered the man of God away.
"Let him come in, and see what ho Is
and what he wants," growled out the
same voice. The missionary walked In.
and bowing politely to tile rough look
ing man whom he had Just heard speak,
said :
I have been visiting most of the
bouses In tills neighborhood to read with
the people and talk about good things
I bave passed your door as long as I feel
I ought, for 1 wish to talk with you aud
your lodgers."
"Are you what is called the town mis
sionary 5"'
"I am, sir," was the reply.
"Well, then," said the nerve looking
man, "sit down and hear what I am go
ing to say. J will ask you question
out ef the B-ible. If you answer me
right, you may call at this house, and
read and pray with us or our lodgers as
ofteu aeyou like: If you do not answer
right, we will tear your clothes o-ff your
back and tumble you neck and heels In
to the street. Now what do yo say to
that V for I am a dim of my wovd."
The missionary was perplexed, but at
length quietly said:
"I wllltry."
"Well, then," said the mau, "here
goes, is tne woru girl in any . jrt oi
the Bible ? if so where is-It to be found,
and how often Y That 1 my question."
"Well, sir, the word girl is in the Bi
ble, but ony once, and may be foid in
the words of the prophet Joel, Hi, S.
The words are, "And seld the gkil for
wine, that they might drink."
Well," replied the man; "I'm. dead
beat: I durst to have bet five pounds
yen could not have told."
And I could) not have tld yesterday,"
said the visitor. "For several day I
have been praying that tbe Lord weuM
open me a way into this house, and this
very morning, when reading the Script
ures in my faaiily, 1 ww surprised to
find the word girl, and god tbe Concord
ance to see if it occurred' again T and
found it did not. And, now sir, 1 be
lieve that God did know, and.does ksovr
what will come to pass ad surely His
hand is in this for my probation, and
your good."
What Have You to Show For It T
This is the question propounded by
some newspaper correspondent, who
proceeds to elucidate in this wise :
A young man eommences at the age
of 20 vears to driiak, and frora 20 to 23,
drinks but one class of bee a day,
worth 5 cents a glass; at 23 h will bave
sDcnt $54.75 : from 23 to 25, two glasses
a day, he will have spent $73:; from 25
to 30. three classr s a day, $213.75 ; from
30 to 85. four classes a day, $550.25. By
this time he will have spent in all the
sum of $1,222.7
Now. If another vounff man commen
s at 20, and instead of spending the
inonev named for beer eacn year, puis it
out at 7 per cent, interest, without any
savings but this beer money, be wouiu
be worth at the age of 40 years, $2,280,
having saved his money, his character,
his health, and perhaps his soul.
Now. if vou have been paying out
your money for beer what bave you to
show for it r Are you any better, ricner,
hannler for It V Are vou any healthier
than your total abstaining friends? Has
your beer drinking given you any better
notation In society r Are you any better
for it in any way 'i Does your drinking
help you to lay up anything or any sort
to offset the bank account you would
have had if you had paid your beer-
money to tne casnier r vjt uo you
hppr.il rlnklnir to lav UD
anything for yourself or your family in
.. - . . i I J.l..t..J
tne future r it bo, wum ia n r
When you make a bargain, there are
alwavs two values. You pay your
mnnfv fur a imlr of shoes and you have
the shoes to buow for it, and you can
wear them while you areearnlng money
in hi,.. mnrA' 1ml. when vou have naiii
.,.. rannav fnr r cliLDH of beer, and
swallowed it, what bave you to show for
It r Ten cuances 10 one iu umura vuu
thirsty for another glass, and another,
and you get the headache or a stupid
fuJlmiliukitfiP nnt. hpln VOIir work.
and perhaps some other bad things not
worth paying lor; rjum you uave auy
good thing to show for It, what is it 5"
l'urtiona ur.ii hn.vA not vpt ilrank
J " - ""- -J a
enough to count up much ; if so. now
is tbe time to forestall tbe cost and make
your bargain. Will you pay out your
mniiAv f..i lippr nnil Ioka It nr will VOU
lay it out so that you have something to
snow ror it r .
" Wherefore do you spend your money
for that which is not bread, and your
labor io r ioat wniou suuaweiu uuv r
SUNDAY
COUGH
8Y1WPI
50 Years Uefore the Public !
Pronounced by all to be the most Pleasant
and elllcaclous remedy now In use, for tbe
cure of Coughs, Colds, I'roup, Ilnnrseness,
Tickling sensation of tbe Throat, Whooping
Con (b, etc. Over a million bottles sold
wilbln tbe last reir years. It gives re Her
wherever used, and has the power to impart
benefit that cannot be bad from the cough
mixtures now in use. Bold by all Druggists at
25 cents per bottle.
SELLERS' LIVER FILLS
are also highly recommended for curing liver
complaint, constipation, Bick-bcadachee, fever
and ague, and all diseases of tbe stomach and
liver. 8olii;by all by all Druggists at 25 cents
per box. 40 ly
R. E. SELLERS A CO., PMtsburg.Pa.
J. M. Gravis.
J. II. Girvih
J.M. GIRVIN &S0N.,
LOUR, GRAIN, SEED & PRODUCE
Commission Merchants,
So. 64 Mouth ('ny, St
BALTIMORE, MD.
We will day strict attention to the sale of all
kinds nf Country Produce aud remit the amounts
promptly. 4ftlyr.
i. jn. UlltVlff K DUfl,
JUSSER & ALLEN
CENTRAL STORE
NEWPORT, PENIi'A.
Mow Oder the public
A KARK AN1 ELEGANT ASSORTMENT Of
DRESS GOODS
Consisting sf ' shades suitable for tbe season
BLACK ALPACCAS
ANI
Mourning Go&cls
A SPECIALITY
BLEACHED AND UNBLIRACHEI
MUSLINS,
AT VARIOUS PRICES)
A.N ESlI,KS3SELKCTION OF SKINTS!
We seM and do beep a good qiullly of
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS.
And everything under the fcoad of
GROCERIES!
Machine seedles and oil for J4 makes
Machines.
To be conWiteed that our gcds are
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST,
13 TO CALL AND EXAMINX STOCK.
No trouble to show goods.
Bon't forget th
CENTRAL STORE,
Newport, Perry Cwmty, Pa.
DRUGS.
DRUQS.
JACOB STRICKLER,
(SueesAor to Dr. M.B. Btrickler)
PHARMACIST,
NEW BLOOUFIELD, PENJi'A.
HAVING succeeded th late firm of lit. M. B.
Btrickler In the Drug Business at his 8tor-rom,
on MAIN STREET, two doors East ot tne Big
Spring, I will endeavor to make It In every way
worthy the patronage of the public.
Personal and strict attention AT A Li TIMES
given to the compounding and dispensing Physi
cians' presclptlons, ho as to Insure accttraey and
guard agalust accidenU.
REAR IN MIX1
that my stock has been recently selected and car
taken to bave everythinK cf the BUST (QUALI
TY. The public may rest assured that ALL. med
icines that leave my store shall be as represented,
-PURE and UNADULTERATED.
I HATE CONSTANTLY aX HAND
HAIR Olt and POMADES
HAIR, TOOTH and NAIL-BRUSHES.
BURGEONS. TOILET, and
CARRIAGE SPONGES.
PUPK BOXES, TOILET POWDERS.
CASTILE and FANCY SOAPS.
PERFUMERY OF ALL KINDS,
Together with Fresh and Genuine Patent Medi
etnas of every description.
ALSO, .
Segars, Tobacco, School Books, &c.
ORANGES, LEMONS & BANANAS,
In season.
Pure Wiues and Liquors for Medicinal
I'urposes.
Tcrnm, Strlotly Cnsli,
By strict attention to business. I hope to merit
the couildeuce aud favor of the public.
JACOB ST&ICKLKB.Ph.lG.
April 39, 1379.