davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19
The Mechanic.

Sparks ye are, artizans Of the earth, from
the great anvil that six thousand years ago,
rang with the giant strokes of Tubal Cain.
Sparks that will transmit, their light
through all time, and CLEAN. heaTenward
from the shores of eternity. srs -
The ant and little bees build their homes
themselves-toil and labor are their portion,
and what little creature is there of the in
sect world that bears better name among
the ease-loving sons Of earth than they2
Mankind is prone to praise in others what
they do not themselves practice, but practi
cling it themselves they praise not others,
but their own humble selves, and so it is in
regard to labor, they like to see others work
and toll for their daily bread, but do not
! like to do it themselves, nor have the praise
Of working for living. Thlfe drones,
the dust that floats upon thessSof labor,
and shifted by their own worthlessnesa from
one place to another, until the gaudy glitter,
borrowed from the reflection of their own
wealth, becomes the means whereby they
are hurled from existence-from memory
itself. &.
And the artizan, does he-hve for the pres-
ent or for the futuref
Or does death, when he grasps him, pail
him forever from the recollection of the liv-
ling, and leave but blank space in the fire.
side circle for sorrow to occupy until filed
fby another! q.
F. The answer is plain, The mechanic leaves
his impe6t upon the age in which he lives
and Time MARKS his history assh guide fol
tue future. A palace is drawn upon pa
| per, a mere pencil sketch. 1t is passed te
the n,echanic,--W Weeks, months, perhaps
i yeara roll by; and the pencil structure g
| the Brain Sbecomesa n reality, lifting its mar
tble 'swalls and lofty towers TO- the sky, ans
u from its. .domes, the astisan loots down ana
then passes o. alhy3t1 vague. and in
distinct yst naassiEe IN conception, snt
1whst isitfs ''"'i . ,'%'
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19
MISCELLANY.
Gen. jackson and the Clerk.

Many of our readers will recognize the
point of the following joke, which we
heard related long time ago." but which
va never saw in print.
While General jackson was President
Of the United States, he was tormentcd day
after day, by importunate visitors, (as most
Chief Magistrates of this "great country
are") whom he did not care to see--and in
consequence gave strict directions to the
messenger at the door, to admit only GER
tain persons on particular day, when he
was moro busy with State affairs than usual
In spite of the peremptory orders, how
ever, the attendant bolted into his apart
ment during the afternoon, and informed
the General that person was outside
whom he could not control, and who claim
ed to see him-orders or no orders.
II won't submit to this annoyance" ex-
claimed the old gentleman, ncrvously.
"Who is ita"
Don't know, sir"
Don't know i What is his name?"
His name9 Beg pardon, sir-it is n
woman"
"A woman Show her in, James,
show her in" said the President, wiping his
face, and the next moment there entered
the Generals apartment a neatly clad fe-
male, of past the middle age. who advanced
courteously towards the old gentleman, and
accepted the chair proffered to Her.
"Be seated, madam" he said.
"Thank yon," replied the lady, throwing
aside her veil, and revealing handsome
face to her entertainer.
any mission hitber to-day, General
continued the fair speaker, is novel one,
and you can aid me, perhaps"
Madam" said the General, command
me-" .'.;.S ~
aesYou are very kind sir. 1 am poor
woman, Genera, ,--"
&1 Poverty is no crime, madam"
No, SIR but I have little family to
care for-i am widow, sir; and a.Glerk
employed in one of the departments oil
your administration is indebted to me for
board to a4considerable amount, which |
cannok coHect. j need the money sadlv
and COME TO- ask TIA portion of his paw can.
not be stopped, from time to time, until this
claim. Of nine IAN honest one, Gencral-
Of which he had the full value, shall b
cancelled. .ssrssa:s - sz. -. S {.
aI really Madam--that VI have n.
control Chat way, What is the amount o
the bilH 80. I: . q e 7. Z! s 81
aseventy dollars, siir---here it's, itis.
pqsEzactly see Apd his salary, mad
1t i saidto be txslye hundred dolla,
sssand nMst 81 psy 81 81 bossd billl e E
J. ss yosf 49,, Ay, has been standin
- r,nnnthe5 asnsSd 81 M.ThfaaA Saps hence
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19

lawless, ragged and rude, and his own little
pig that would have made them barrel Of
pork, had it been attended to and fed, grew
poorer and poorer, until at last, it died Of
starvation.
The following, from the Ciucinatti Com
mercial will further illustrate these remarks
IN more practical manner:
On Wednesday evening some scholars
from the Mt. Auburn school were attracted
to an alley by the dismal groans of a respect,
able and rather dignified negro, apparently
aged slxty-vc or seventy years. The white
grave blossoms on the black mans head
were stained and clotted with blood
from two or three gashes on the forehead
and skull, having the appearance of club
wounds. Water was brought to the sufferer
and when sufficiently recovered, he confessed
to being runaway slave from Kentucky.
Tic had escaped across the river with three
daughters, the youngest being fourteen,
whom he was anxious to educate in free
State or in Canada. The party had safely
proceeded as far as the foot Of Sycamore
Hill, when he was suddenly attacked by a
gang OF rowolies, probably from this side of
the river, Knocked down, cut and beaten,
and left senseless Oh the ground, where he
was found by the children. When the old
man came to himself he found that his
daughters had been kidnapped His own
pockets had also been rifed of six dollars in
silver! twas ncarl y dark when the party
was attacked, so that the wrctched African
Is not able to identify the scoundrcls; hc is
only certain that none of them were Of the
vicinity OF his masters estate. They were
probably either hired bulies from rum-holes
and brothcls, or fellows of like character,
who Stole the negroes and hurried them
across the river for sale, or for an an,icipa-
ted reward. We learn that reward of one
thousand dollars had been offered for the
fug't,ves. They were from lexington
~. Y. Duy Book.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19

were plenty, and the old cat grew fat7 and
honest together. Even the mice grew fat
and oily and the old tabby would make a
hearty supper on two of them, and then
he down and snooze with the pleasing con
ISOLATION of knowing that when she awoke
there would be few moro of the same sort.
And again: When was a beer guzzler.
mother cried, father cried, Bill cried, Mol
cried, and the cat cried. But when T
signed the pledge, father sung, Bill sung,
Mol sung and Bet sung, and bought a
new trying-pan, and put nice piece of
bect-steak in it, and placed it on the fife,
and that sung and that's the kind of sing.
ing for the working man.
And third: the difference between
Smith drunk and Smith sober is this -
smith drunk was rummy, ragged and riot
ous.Smith sober is joyous, jovial and iolly.
Smith drunk was suffering, stupid and
staggering; Smith sober, is cool, clear.
headed and cautious. Smith drunk was
SICK sore, and sorry; Smith sober is hear
tty healthy and happy. Smith drunk was
iii-read, ill-bred, and ill-led Smith sober ia
wellsaved, well-behavcd and well-shaved."
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19

His note, sir? 1t wouldn't be wortl
the paper on which it was written; he paw.
no one dollar voluntarily"
"But he will give you his notc-wil he
not, MADAME"
go yes, lie would be glad to have a res
plte that way, for a month, no doubt"
| "Thats right then. Go to him and OBJ
tain his note, at thirty days from to-day :
give him a receipt in full, and como to me
this evening""
The lady departed, called upon the young
lark, and dunned him for the amount-at
which he only smilcd-and finally asked
him to give her his note for it.
"To be sure," said he, with chuckle
| give note-sart'n-and much good NAV
IL do you, num-"
you'll pay it when it falls due. wont
you?" said the lady.
80, certainly" was the reply. And in
Inc evening she again repaired to the White
House with the note. The President put his
broad endorsement on the back, and direct
ca her to obtain the cash upon it at the
Bank ''
In due time notice was sent to the clerk
that note signed by him will be due ON a
particular day, which hc was requested to
pay.
AT first John could not conceive the
source from whence the demand could come.
and supposing that it had been left for col
lection, was half resolved to take no notice of
it. But as he passed down the avenue, the
unpaid board bill suddenly entered his head.
"Who has been foolish enough to help
the old woman in this business, l wonder
said John to himself. "l'lI 20 and see. It's
a huinbug, [ know; but Ia like to know
If she's really fooled any body with that
bit OF paper! and entering the bank,
he asked the teller for the note which had
been left there for collection against him.
1t was discounted" said the teller.
"Discounted! who in the world will dis
count my motel" said John, amazed.
"Any body, with such IL hacker as you've
got on this"
"Backer! Me-backcr-who.
"Here's the note; you can sce," said the
teller. handing him the document, and on
which John recognized the bold signature
of the President Of the United States.
"Sold, truly!" exclaimed John, with u
hysteric gasp, and drawing forth the mo-
ney-for he saw through the management
at a glance.
The note was paid, of course, and justice
was awarded to the spcndthrift at once.
On the next morning lie found upon his
desk note which contained the following
entertaining bit of personal Intelligence:
SIR-A change has been made in your
office. | am directed by the President to
inform you that your services will no long
er be needed in this department.
Yours, &c,
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19

That when those for whom it is built those
who live, love and pass from life to death
within ITS walls, shall have been forgotten,
he vii! be remembered, for his name is carved
upon its table. W.
X Yes, he will be remembered, and the time
Will come when labor, and labor alone. will
bc the guarantee Of honesty, virtue and great
hess labor, whether with the pen, plough
or at The smoking forge, is all the same.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19
Dogs, Versus Negroes.

A dog with tin kettle tied to his tail
came running and yelping down the street
scared nearly to death.-For protection, he
lodged into marble yard, but the owner
Of the yard kicked him out, and away he
went "ky ye, ky ye," out of sight.-The
next day the owner OF the marble yard bought
dog which turned out to be the identical
cur that had the kettle to his talk The
first time the neighbor's boys saw him in the
street, they caught him and tied another
kettle to him. Away he sped for the
marble yard, where the owner, instead of
kicking him, went up to him gently, patted
him on the head, and relieved him from the
kettle. Itsoon became known about the
village, that this dog had master, and ev-
er after he was permitted to go and come,
when and where he pleased without molest-
alton.
Moral.-All dogs should have masters,
not because dogs without masters deserve
to have tin kettles tied to their tails, but be-
cause boys will tie tin kettles to dogs tails
that don't have masters. So people will
abuse negroes that don't have masters, and
therefore all negroes should have masters.
We might 60 on with this table and tell
how there was a crazy man in the village
who went about trying to persuade the people
that "every dog must have his day." which
meant that dogs should not be tied up, but
left to 60 and come as they pleased.
He was told that the boys would tie tin
kettles to their tales and frighten them to
death if they were not kept at home. This
ho would not believe and pointed to the
fact that boys did not tic tin kettles to pigs
tails assproof that they would not to dogs
Blu" ," said the dog owners, "there is 8
difference between adog and q hog-a'
much difference as between negro and {
white man. q g; ~ p :: ~. =. i
4 still, the erssy man went abort lecturinf
on the freedom Of dogs, and wrote long es
says y show thu .hsy were 10 good as hog
4 and ought TO have fhes ssus Gesesdoin. .ant H
privileges. Hs made himself aoxcsed laul,
unhappy abont ths'Sonditson of. die poo q.
fdogs and saiasd quits s saistufibsncs asd bs
came sy ti6ak sso & sSS III Sis;cSbon, Il I 8
4 The time aud money that he spent III thi
icauae, nearly ruined himi hia fsuily. erg.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19
What I Have Seen.

I've OFT IN passing through this world,
Seen men of strange repulsive mould,
And wondered oft why they should seem
so dead and scnseless drear and cold.
ave often fingered on their look,
And mourned. alas, their gloomy fatel
And tried to know, instinctively,
What brings this wretched saddencd state.
I've often soen the cherries look,
And marked the cold repulsive eve,
And seen within the frigid soul,
A mystery deep that brings sigh.
know not whore the wrong doth rest,
Nor can we tell for all is sin,
But once the soul is dead to good.
Has naught on earth to Joy within.
Oil cold phlegmatic creature man,
Can life nor JOY within you start4
Shall gloom DER shroud your brightsomc way
And nothing ope to cheer your hearth
cannot feel that life is sweet,
To you who grope in sullcn gloom;
How can you make this earth q hell?
AS dismal rs the darksome tomb1
Has satan fixed his hand on thee
And marked thee with his vile impress!
Or has the world to you grown cold,
And oil around is drearness
Methinks this life is hard at best,
And none, alas, should dare repine!
Our days are few, and numbered too,
And to our fate we should resign.
I've seen the rich man in his hall,
Arrnyed in all his splendor there,
And yet, forsootb I've often traced,
The marks of deep and dirk despair.
This mighty nature man has got,
1t is problem strange to me,
Oh, would that some power had
To prove this dark deep mystery.
Our mortal ken, SO finite here,
We cannot grasp the hidden cause,
The veil that shrouds our visual range
Is spann'd with Gods eternal laws
Deep mystery then is man to nc
A Biped Of tho strangest mould,
His ways are ways of heavness.
And yet the tale is half untold.
M- Carmel, AugMst, 4th, 1854.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19
New Cotton.

~ NEhCHANT, correspondent OF the
New Orleans Picayune, notices the an
nouncement Of the receipt of two bales Of
new cotton from Texas, and says -" Ac.
cor'llng to the samples exhibited, the quail
ty Is very inferior, and the cotton evidently
picked before being fully matured." The
bales, he says, instead Of being of the rcg1-
lar weight, arc only bags Of about $50
pounds, and he complains that planters
should thus, as in the instance alluded to,
have their names "postcd off in the news
papers" misunderstanding their own inter
ests, and doing injury to ,hc whole trade.
What has become Of all the "smart plant
crs" Of Georgia, who used to be so anxious to
see their names in the newspapers in connec-
ton with the first bale Of me.y Cotton"
Have they learned a little more sensc2 II
SO, it is only sustaining the reputation that
Georgians enjoy abroad for "sharpness" "
The man who is guilty of such folly, as hur-
rying and driving to get the first bale Of
new cotton to market, to have the fact her
aided through the press, has about as COM
prehcnsive and correct an idea of his true
interest, as the planter who buys for his ne
groes poor or damaged Bacon, land gives
them small supply Of thaD and inferior
clothing, blankets and shoes, because they
arc low priced. He does not reflect that to
have healthy, vigorous man of the greatest
physical power OF which his frame is capa-
BILE, enjoying good health, and living to a
good old age, you must not only give him
good, sound food, but an abundant supply,
and keep him well and comfortably clad for
all weather-with good sleeping apartments,
! that he may rest comfortably and sleep sound
ly, and thus be enabled to endure greater
amount Of labor with less fatigue. A negro
thus cared for, enjoys better health, and per-
forms his duties with cheerfulness, while
those who are poorly fed, worse clad, and
severely driven, (and there are such,) are
often diseased, generally short-lived, and al
ways require to be driven to the performance
OF their duties.
| If there be among our thousands of read
ers, one man The does not deserve the name
of many who pursues this unwise policy in
the management of his slaves, we invoke
him to resolve from this day forward to give
his negroes, always an abundant supply OF
the best and soundest food-(aever bug
poor 6aeon,) give them good, comfortable
clothing and shoes, and large, heavy blank
cts that will keep them warm and dry-in
short, see that they are we'll cared for and
made comfortable in every particular, and
never require4smuch of them-then you
may expect tohave healthy, vigorous, long.
lived slaves, who will perform their duties
with alacrity and cheerfulness, and you will
be more thrifty, wiser and happier man
and better Christian tfan you ever can be
under your stinting, balf-starving, halEcloth
ing and ovcr-driving policy Chonicle and
Sentinel
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19
Secretary.

John Small retired to private life at once,
and thenceforth found it convenient to live
on a much smaller allowance than twelve
hundred year.-Rockiand County Jour-
nal
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19

ONLY SIxTEEN--The census takers found
great difficulty in ascertaining the ages of
the girls, large majority Of them being on
ly sixteen. In one family in q neighboring
county, there were found twelve girlS between
sixteen and eign Teen years Of age.s 80 z
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19

WoMAs'a Riaars. w hatsfef Msy be
said Sof wom6n ssrightto vote and lsgislats,
tbsir right TO- dor arhis is bounced to
Be unquesti ionable. go is.'.t: Ls.t.
Le pionnier de l'Assomption. (Napoleonville [La.]) 1850-185?, 1854-02-19

a tire part. Dc chaqnc %lucarnc du ba-
mcnt on yoyait sortir des hommes avec
de wastes cruches d'eau qnils precipl-
talent sur Ia partie embsasee.
On s'cst rcndu bient6t maitrc du ten
ct au lieu dun grand %tlnistrc a dtp'orcr
nous n'avons qua Eairc mention dune
yiye alcrte. Lie fcu ssetait Communlque
par la cheminec dc la cuisine, ct Fon nc
pcut accuser In malyeiIIance.
Nous rcmercions NJ. IINOssIER DIES
details quill nous "A %lournis ayec tant do
elegance a &C .ujct. u
Le pionnier de l'Assomption. (Napoleonville [La.]) 1850-185?, 1854-02-19
FAXES,

Notice is hereby given to all Ia payers
OF the parish of Assumption, that the uIldorsi-
sned Assessor ST said parish, has this day de.
posted with the Recorder of the parish OF
Assumption, the Roll OF Assessment for the
year 1853.
Notice is further given to all whom it NAY
concern, to make their objections If any they
have to said tableau within thirty days from,
date. en@ @staav r.s.
Parish of Assumption, feb nth 1854. ~
ALFRED TETE.
% Assessor.
Le pionnier de l'Assomption. (Napoleonville [La.]) 1850-185?, 1854-02-19

Santa Anna soft I'm grand capitaine
MATS il yanne v]ilainie dc plus sous tout
celia. Nj. Paino a .une place de $l.O0O
par m, nm autre des colloboratcurs jonit
dc $4,000 d'emolurncnts. denx autres
sont des colonies en- service actlt, ct &c
sont qucIques droIes .qul convoitlsal"nt
ces places ct ces gros-salaires qni SC sont
fats les deIateurs dun livrc inolieusif ct
qui est peut 6trc trop partial.
Je suis, monsieur a bout dc mes nou-
vclles ct de mon papier, ct TAI honneur
d'Gtrc otrc serv!teur, y.
Le pionnier de l'Assomption. (Napoleonville [La.]) 1850-185?, 1854-02-19
ALERTE.

Msrdi dernier, le Saminaire de rAs,
sonption q failli devenir Ia proie dc.
ihamrnes. Les cris .au fen" jctes d'abord
par q marchand qui s'est lie premier
aperfa Dc l'incendie, SC cont propages
ave rapidit6 OF bient6t tous les braves
habitants du voisinage etaient sur ie lieu
. danger. lie Ecu 81 repandait sur Ia
toiture de l'edifce lorsque les secoars
ont arrives. Il stait temp. encore, on en-
Le pionnier de l'Assomption. (Napoleonville [La.]) 1850-185?, 1854-02-19
ANNOUNCES.
VENTE A L'ENCAN,

lie Samedi Is Mars 1864, d 10 heures an
~rlatin, il sera vendu par A. i. Hickman. sba.
ri ct enc %anteur, dams ct pour la paroisse AS
somption, dams le village de Paincourtyille
en- cette parcisse, les prophecies ci-apres az
critics, appartenant b Ia comrnun atte M; !,
existe entire Marie Refine Landry ct SON anopy
Simon Slmonaux, SAVIOR:
10. Une habitation situee en- cette naro;sse
sur la rive gauche du Ba you Pierre Part. me
surant 90 arpents de superficie pins GU moins
bornee en- haut par terre de Valcour porcba
ct en- has par terre de Theodule Outlet. aims,
que les batisses ct authorizations at,i q, az.
pendent.
20. Une negresse nominee Betsev, agee de
3D. ans, bonnie enisiniere ct blanchisseuse. ayec
ses 4 enfants, NOMINEES Augustin, 6 ans Up
FRANCOIS, 4 ans liz, Prosper, 2 ans ct 0 mos
ct Celestln de s%jours.
Tcfmcs ct conditions
Ihabitation ct les e~sclaves paya bic nm
tiers en- mars 1855. I'm tiers en- mars 1856 etIe
dernier tiers Ell mars 1857, en- billets canton.
mes d Ia satisfaction du vcndeur, portant int.
ret q raison de hut pour cent par an. 4 part;r
DIES eeheances. avec h~ypotheqne ct priyiIsga
du yendeur Jtlsqu'au parfait Placement
Les actes de yente seront aux frais tas
quereurs. ]
Assumption, lie Is favrier 1854.
A. L. HICKMAN.
- Sheriff ct Eneantrer.
sH + EaZ