South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-06-11
Miscella neous.


who has sung songs in Washington.
fNin love with pretty young girl
young enough to be his grand daugh-
ter, but old enough, in mind, to be his
mother.
She was rather surprised at the old
fellows paying his addresses to her,
but being fond Of a joke, she encour-
aged them to some extent. 4
The bach elor brought her variety
of presents-some expensive-some O.
therwise-but all of them indicating
little or no TASTE. Among others, one
evening he brought Maria very pretty
musical box. She was sensible and
intellectual gill, and upon the music
box being presented to her, she could
not help showing a sarcastic leer at
the ends of her black eye, and round
the edges Of her lovely little MOUTH
Maria set it agoing on the table. II
played merrily its sets of tunes.
"Mr. Smith, J" said Maria, "it sounds
low--it is not loud enough"
"Not loud enough-my love--put it
on something hollow, and the notes
will sound much louder"
ado you think SO Z" said Maria.
"Certainly, love ~ said Mr.. Wild
'4s,uer Smith.
Maria, with an arch look, that spoke
volumes, took up the box-re-set the
tune--and placed it plump on the FORE
head Of her devoted admirer. The
family circle around father, mother,
Ellen, Jane, Matilda, Rosa, Tom, Pc
ter, Harry, Harriet, Charles, and
Ann, all burst into laugh at this sal
ly of Maria's. MIR. Whoever Smith
found out what was meant by "some-
thing hollow" He took up his hat,
bid 'good evening" and that was the
last Maria saw Of her lover.
"The old, fusty fellow !! l am glad
he's gone" said Maria, tossing her
head directly N. N. EN-. Y. Herald
SINGULAR INSTANCES OF SUDDEN DEATH.
p The following instances of sudden
death, one from puncture of the spine,
and the other from the accidental pene-
tration of the corner of the eye by a
sharp instrument is related in the Lon
don Metropolitan by that notable person.
age John Ketch, who has been enlight-
ming the world by history of his Life,
Opinions. and Adventures.
A drunken coal.heaver fell from a
wagon going up Ludgate Hill. He
was covered with mud, and appeared
TO be hurt and two others laid him
upon a shutter, g. took him to ST. Bar
tholomew's Hospital. He was strip
ped, and the surgeon examined him,
but no injury could be discovered still
he said he could not rise up in his bed.
Mr.. Abernethy happened to come in
shortly forwards, when the case was
shown to him, but he could make no.
thing Of it. 'Let him. said this great
surgeon, she washed thoroughly clean
and send for the barber and have that
beard taken off, which appears to be
of a months GROWTH About an hour
after this, as was relating to the sur
geon the manner in which he fell from
the wagon, message was brought
that the man had instantaneously, while
he was undergoing the operation Of
shaving, given up the ghost. We all
Immediately repaired to the spot,
where laid the man half shaved, but
quite dead. The barber said he ap-
peared TO be well, and was talking to
him one instant, and the next was q
dead man. Il had hold Of him. said
he, 'by the nose, and did but turn bis
head very gently to use the razor when
he without breathing or a sigh went
ch.' Abernelhy turned TO his Young
students, and told them this was case
for study, saying, There was a cause
for this mans death that the following
morning lie would open the body and
find II out. 'Dut,' added he, 'think Of
the case, and before make the exam
ination, ,el me each Of you, your O.
pinion, what it is that has SO suddenly
deprived him Of life.' One of the stu
dents said, | think vertebral bone il
fractured, and tina. as the barber turn.
ed his head to shave him, splinter
penetrated the spinal chord 'Yot
have it, cried Abernetby, 'turn hin
Up and we will see.' They immediate
ly cot down the back, and discovered
small piece of fractured bone, no
bigger than the half pin, which ha'
penetrated The spine; then taking thl
corpse by the nose, they observed, a
they turned the head one way. tn