Litchfield enquirer., 1841-06-03
THE MIKE APPLE.

es, so that every word ought to be established.
 great many years ago, man by the name of Michael Rood murdered one of his fellow men. Legend says that the murderer was executed and buried in haste in a shal- low hole, amid the solitude of what was then a wilderness in tho town of Lisbon. His un- stoned grave, ever an object of dread to the superstitious around, became still more so when an apple tree was discovered arising from its centre. It was suffered to grow un- mOleSted, no one daring to cut it down.
 At length fruit began to appear in abun- dance on the spreading boughs. was then rumored about the country that the hardened murderer had been seen eating an apple in his cell on the day of execution and the in- ference among the farmers was, that the seeds of that apple had vegetated, with the decay of his body, and that this tree had grown up from them!
 But the most wonderful part of the story is yet to be revealed. When the time came for gathering their fruit, company of sturdy yeomanry repaired with cart and oxen to the tree over the grave of Mich'el Rood.- With all the solemnity of men gathering the bones of their dead, they slowly and reve- rently shook the apples to the ground. One ofthem, striking rock in its fall, was bro ken in pieces and showed to the astounded
  bling drop of human blood! Instantly the old fashioned Barlow jack-knives were in execution, with due reverence, dividing the wondrous fruit when To! it was found that every apple had it's separate blood red spot!
 With appropriate speed the news of the discovery spread through the neighborhood, for many miles around. Hundreds and thousands came to the mysterious apple tree, and each one opened the fruit to see the bloody stain himself Many carried away the seeds and planted them, and from that day to this, "The Mike Apple" as it is call cd, is known through that part of Connecicut where it grows, by the red spot which IS found near its heart.
 The writer of this article has seen the ap- pies and opened and eaten them, within few days past. He can testify to the cor rectness of the description given of them; although he most respectfully declines ex- pressing any opinion as to the legend which nccS1::nis for their origin. This much he saw and knoWs, that every ripe Mlke Ap. ple' he cut in pieces contained a small red spot, as nearly resembling drop of human blood as any thing else possibly can resem- bic it. No matter how white the skln may appear on the outside, or how entirely Tree from the least stain of any color, as soon as you open the apple, and cut in towards the core, you are sure to meet with the mysterl- ous spot of blood.
 We leave it for those skilled in such things to solve the mystery.-N. Y. Mess.
 Laao Sul Interesting to Farmers.-The Buff falo Republican of the 16th inst. states that a farmer from one of the south towns of Erie County, came to that city with load of but ter, which he offered to sell to a grocer.- The grocer on learning that the farmer ask cd one shilling per pound for his butter, by way of bantering him and to reduce his pricc, said he had 500 pounds he would sell for seven cents per pound whereupon the farusr told h@. hs would bnX ii .l esk jjhARfi put it in. Never mind. says the farmer, weigh it and lay it on the fioor-lll carry it away. But, says the grocer, you must take it at the same weight at which purchased it. No, says the countryman, will give you seven cents per pound for your 800 pounds, and here is tender of your money, Cat the same time exhibiting the coin.) But, says the grocer, I'll not sell it in that way. Then you refuse, says the farmer, to fulfil the con- tract? Certainly, says the grocer, 1 refuse store, went home, and cited the grocer to ap- pear before Q justice of the peace in the county, and recovered a judgment against him for the difference between the price he agreed to pay and the actual market value of butter, being about $24. The grocer ap- pealed 10 the county court. where the judg- lnent of the justice of the peace was sustain ed, leaving the grocer to pay the farmer his judgment, and the attorney about $50 beside.
 Dead Letter Ofice.-A writer in the Wor- cester Palladium gives the following account of this department of the General Post Of 1ice:-
 "The dead letter office, in the Post Office Department, is great curiosity. The dead letters are returned to the General Post Of flee, with the quarterly accounts from l3,OOO post offices which now exist. Five clerks are employed in the dead letter office. The envelopes are taken from the packages by one clerk, who ties string round the con- tents and casts them into baskct-the next clerk assorts them and compares them with the post bills-sending the letters 10 another clerk to be opened-on opening, the letters containing no valuable inclosures are de. stroyed. and those which have, are returned to the office where they were mailed, and sent to the owner if found. If not claimed, the money is placed in separate fund, and the account recorded, SO that it can be paid the owner if found. They open about 25O,OOO letters per Quarter-there are now several cart loads in the office unopened. The work of opening and asserting is very tedious and laborious."
 Murder in Missouri.-Mr. Mackay, resid. ing near Clarksville, Pike Co. Mo. was re. gently killed by his own slave, whom he had obtained by marriage, and who disliked to live with him. The St. Louis Republican of the 7th inst. says:-He struck his master over the head with a rail, knocked him down AnA Asa Sou1a bot l,,o:c