Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-06-20
Obeyiug Orders.

Soil of the South.
Obeying Orders.
The oldest inhabitant" perfectly remembers the
Widow Trotter, who used, many years ago, to occu-
Ply small wooden house away down in Hanover
street, in what close proximity to Salutation
Alley. WE'LL this widow blessed with son,
who like Goldsmith and many other men distinguish
ed in after life, was the Ounce of his class. Nume-
rous were the foggings which his stupidity brought
upon him. and the road to knowledge was with him
truly vale of tears
One day he came home, as usual, with red eyes
and hands.
80, you blockhead " screamed his mother-she
was bit of virago Mrs Trotter was" you've ben
gettin another ickn know
80, yes" replied young Mr.. Trotter & that's one
Nv the reglar exercises-hckin me. AFTER I've
licked Trotter, says the master, I'll hear the 'rth-
metic class But mother, to change the subject as
the criminal said when he found the judge getting
personal, is there emmy arrant do for you p
Yes grumbled the widow; d" only you're so
eternal slow about anything you undertake go
get pitcher of water, and be four years about it,
will yea
Bob Trotter took the pitcher, and wendell his way
in the direction of the street pump; but he hadn't
got fur, when he encountered his friend Joe Buffer,
the mate of a vessel, issuing from his house, and
dragging heavy sea-chest along after him
Come, Bob" said Joe, & bear a hand and help
me down the Long Wharf with this
"Well, so | would said Bob 4" only you see
mother sent me after pitcher of water.
"What do you care for your mother-she don't
care for you. Come along
"Well,' said Bob, first let me hide the pitcher
where can find it again.
With these words he slowed away his earthen- ware
under ght of stone steps, and accompanied his
friend aboard ship. The pilot urging the cap
tain to cast off and take advantage Of the wind and
tide but the captain was awaiting the arrival of
boy who had shipped the day before, and wishing
good to his eyes for the delay he had occasoned
At last he turned to Bob, and said
What do you say, youngster, to shipping with
me ! III treat you WELL and give you ten dollars
month";
Il should like to 60" said Bob hesitatingly, I" but
my mother -.'
''Hang your mother" said the Captain "She'n
be glad to get rid of you. Come, will you go?
q haint got no clOthes.''
''Heres chest full. The other chap was just
your size and they'll fit you to T."
G I'll go''
Cast off that line there! shouted the captain :;
and the ship fell off with the tide and was soon stan
ding down the bay with fair wind, and every stitch
of canvass set She was bound for the Northwest
via Canton, and back again, which was then called
a double voyage, and usually occupies about four
years.
In the meanwhile the non-appearance of Bob,
seriously alarmed his mother. night passed, and
the town crier called into requisition a week
when she gave him up, had note read for her in
meeting, and went into mourning.
Just four years after the occurrence, the ship got
back in port: and Bob and his friend were paid off
The wages OF the widows amounted to Just
four hundred and eighty dollars, and he found on
squarng his accounts with the captain, that his ad
vances had amounted to the odd tens and four hun
dred dollars clear were the fruits of his long
cruise.
As he walked in the direction of his mothers
house, in company with Joe, he scanned with Gu
rous eye the houses, the shops and the people that
he passed. Nothing appears changed the signs
Indicate an unchanging hospitality on the part of
the same landlord, the same lamps were standing
at the same corners-it if he had been gone
only a day. With the old sights and sounds, Bob's
old feelings revived and he almost dreaded to see
debouching from some alley. detachment of boys
sent by his ancient enemy, the school master, to
know why he had been playing truant, and to car
ry him to receive the customary walloping.
When he near home, he said
Joe wonder if anybody's found that old pitch
err"
He stopped down, thurst his arms under the stone
steps and withdrew the Identical piece of earthen
ware he had deposited there just four years ago
Having rnsed and filled it at the pump, he walked
into his mothers house. and found her seated in her
accustomed armchair She looked at him for
minute, recognized him. screamed and exclaim-
ed -
"Why, Bob! where have you been What have
you been doing?
{" Gettin that pitcher of water answered Bob
setting it on the table, Il always obey orders-you
told me to be four years about it, andI was'
To DESTROY CocKRoACHEs.--Mr Downing. the
celebrated Editor of the HorticuturiSt says that he
has tried the following and found it perfectly eec
tual:
If your correspondents will try the following SIM
pie plan, | will warrant them that every beetle and
cockroach will shortly disappear and that the kitch
will not again be infested Add about tea
spoonful of powdered arsenic to about tablespoon
full of mashed boiled potatoes; rub and mix them
well together, and then crumble abouta third of it,
every night at bedtime, about the kitchen hearth
it will be eaten up or nearly So by the following
morning The creature is very fond of potatoes, and
devours them greedily, crawls again into its hole
and perishes. | had occasion to have some altera-
tions made in the kitchen stove six months after
pursued this plan, and found hundreds of wings and
dried mummies of defunct cockroaches. Their dis
appearance was not attended with the slightest per-
ceptible smell; and though five years have elapsed
not one has again been in my kitchen. In put
ting it into practice any remaining crumbs should
be sweptup the next morning.
O'BRIEN MEAGHER.-A letter from Van Dieman's
Land states that Smith OBrien has become
tlemans family in the colony, and that Mr. Mea CHER
bout to the monoony of convict life by taking un-
to himself wife, in the shape of Miss Bennett farmers
dams