davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06
MiSCE LII An Y.
The Travellers Story.

A party of travellers were seated around Il
blazing fire, in tavern upon the Allcghany
mountains. The coach had broken down.
and perforcc we were detained until the next
morning. We had finished IL substantial
Virginia supper, and each one, with his feet
on the fender, and IL cigar in his mouth
ruminating upon the storm without, and the
warm cosy comfort within. Each one in his
turn told story or related an anccdotc and
at last the joke came round to hollow
checked individual, who, until then, had re-
mained silent.
" Gentlemcn,' said he, fixing piercing
gray eye upon one Of the company-a
Spaniard-who uninvitod had drawn his
chair up to the fire, a" some ten years AGO
came near being murdered in this very
house."
At this moment the Spaniard got up and
waa going out of The room, when the nara
tor arose and locking the only door in the
leading him to an old picture surmountcd by
the English coat Of arms, in gilt work, raj,
his finger along the motto;
:" iloni SOFT qui mai y pcnsc.
said, displaying at the same time Il butt end
of large pistol" Evil to him who evil
thinks
The Spaniard smiled, and said he did not
feel we'll, but the stranger sw0re that no man
should leave the room until he had finished
the story. Requesting MS not to be amazed
at his conduct he proceeded
. Some years ago, (Said hc,) 7 was travel
ing over these mountains on horseback and
stopped at this very house. The landlord
was extremely ubscquious in Attending to my
comfort, and, after supper he requested me
to join him in II hottie of wine. Nothing loatb
! consented, and before midnight, four empty
bottles stood on the table end and he was
acquainted with all my business.
" very imprudently remarked in tn,
course OF my conversation, that | had very
large sum of money in my vaisc and he polite.
ly informed me that he would take care of il
TIL morning. Although somewhat intoxi-
Gated, did not approve of leaving it in his
charge. and took my yalisc in my hand, and
retired to bed. After had undrcssed. /
placed my pistols under my pillow, and care
lully, as thought, examined the room.
had laid myself down, and sunk into Il iitluI
sleep
4" suppose it must have been tAgo hour,
after when awoke, and collecting my scat.
tered senses, / cndeavorcd to think what
had been about.
- suddenly | detected noise under my
bed. " hat was my horror when observed a
small piece OF carpet, stretched along my bed
side move as though something was under il
a cold pcrspratiOn started from every pore
hut' thank God had presence Of mind
enough to prepare for the worst Crashing
a pistol IN my right hand, and hiding it under
the bed-clothos ieigned to he asleep.
In an instant afterwards saw II tran door
which had been corecalcd by Il carpet, can.
tloqsly lifted mp, and bcheld my landlord
with dark lantern in his hand directing his
glittering eyes towards me. Still ] niQyed
not; but AS he turned his back to put his
lantern on the floor, fired and
You killed him, did you - shrickcd tho
Spdniard, almost jumping from his scat.
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

" Silence! till have finished 1t - said the
stranger, and again he touched the end of his
weapon. The instant that fired the yil-
liam fell. | started up. and merely pulling
my ovcrcoat on, snatchcd up the lantern thai
he had dropped, and crcpt cautiously down,
with my valisc in my hand. to the stable. 1t
was bright moonlight night. and ] soon
saddlcd my horse. galloped ten miles, when
met II party of wagoners, and in their COM
pany | return to the house but despite our
rigid search, not even as much as the villain S
body could be found. But if | can once put
my hand upon him, if he costs my life, he
shall die the dogs death"
The stranger arose and caught the Spaniard
hv the throat Tearing open his shirt collar,
he showed tho mark Of the wound ON his neck
We need not say any more Three weeks
after that, Joseph Gomez was hanged in the
city of Cumberland, upon his own confession,
he having murdered no less than five travellers
in that very room.
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06
Increased Bank Capital In Vermont.

The Legislature at it's recent session
chartered six new banks with the following
capital AT Northfcld, 800, ,000-Jamaica
500, ,O00-Bradford, 100000 - Royalton
800, ,O00-Watcrbury 800, ,00O--Spring
field, S50,000 The Banks of Rutland, St
Adams, Vergenncs and Montpelier were re.
chartered, ,--giving Rutland an additional
capital of 81 $50, ,000-St Adams, 800, 900
and ycrgcnnes S5O,0OO. The Bank of Bran
don receives an addition to its capital Of S25,
900. Making total increase of Bank Capt.
tai in the State Of $4,000 ! and all this
too; with the general banking law of 1851 un-
repealed. This will do pretty well for De-
mocratc Legislature.
Whole number of Banks now chartered in
the State--thirtv-nine Total amqHns OF
capital-S3,7S9,O0 200.
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06
FOOTSTEPS OF ANGELS.

by LoNGfELLow.
When the hours of day are numbered
And the voices Of the ui,lt
wake thc bctt"r sph' tlIat SlunpCrtu,
To holy calm delight
,,,
'1, 'n' r,c"i'iH '"'"t' "'c "s"tc'i
Shadows from the fitrul firclitht
Dance upon the parlor wall.
Ihrn the form "f the departed
The beloved. the truc-hcnrtod
Come to visit me once more.
lie, the young and strong, who cherished
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06
Reading 10, Winter EVENINGS.

1t is not only pleasant, during these long
cold evenings, with book in hand to recall
from the past old authors and their works, and
to minglc in the company of the creations OF
their great minds, but it is also delightful to
fill the soul with those great thoughts which
are among the intellectual treasures Of the
world. In the works of the old English wri-
tiers one meets with depth and richness Of
thought expressed in style of majesty which
causes what they say to raise the admiration
to the highest pitch. One may lose himself
with Hobbs, with Hume. and other Scottish
mctaphysicians, who, by the way, are lshma-
elites all--cach has his own theory to sustain
and fights Justify against all others. One can
accompany Raleigh to to the Tower. and there
see him working on his great history. The
old poets afford more exquisite society
Shakespeare by himself is incxhauStblc. \
lover Of poetry finds it almost as difficult to
grow weary Shakespeare as christian does
to grow weary Of the Bible. The hiographcrs,
the historians. the iictioniSts, and the philos-
ophcrs have all contributed to our libraries
" books that are books" As we turn over
their various pages, they communicate to us
both pleasure and profit Of the highest order
il is among minds OF this order that one can
hold communion through the long winter c,c-
nings Of winter, and while the wind howls
without ana groanS through every crcyicc, he
can find delightful pastmc for his hours, and
feel. that, however long and drcary the night
is without, within his own study it has been
full Of the radiance and beauty Of high emo
bling thought.
How great rriyaiion it is to be destitute
Of Il love of books Could they. who do not
read, by any means form conception Of the
pleasure which books afford, they would have
deep source Of regret in their hearts. But
when a man does not understand that he is
losing he cannot he made to comprehend in
what his loss consists; 50 those. who do not
appreciate ihc pleasures Of reading, cannot
possibly form an estimate Of the happiness
which books confer on others. We're not this
the case, it is hardly suppoScahlc that they
who are not readers would be willing to re-
main 50 even for one short day. They would
hasten TO repair 50 sad defect in thoir r"-
ture hy striving 10 ongrait nn0n it love of
reading. They would do all IN their power
to overcome their natural deficiency, and
would studionsly cndcavor to find c6mran-
onship for their leisure hours in the works
which afford delight to all cultivated minds
-LOuiSriHc JourHdI.
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

How TO SALT PoRK 50 AS TO KEFr-Cut
your pork up. the sides clear of the ribs. six
inches wide; let it lie over night. Next day
salt as follows; Sprinkle the bottom of the
barrel well with coarse salt-Turk $ Island
or some other good kind put in Il layer of
meat set On edge, packed as close together as
possible; then another layer CT salt, ard SO
on till your meat is all in the barrel. Then
take common eastern or lake salt as it is called.
and make brine as strong rs 1t can he made ;
let it stand two or thrcA days and then pour
off the clear brine, and put it on the meat.
and it is safe. Keep it under brine by placing
IL weight on it, Ona hushel Of coarse salt is
enuuan for tie sifc laelt D. 81. ,1ol logs.
After trying almost all methods to keep
smoked hams, without success, have for the
last four years kept them with complete sue
cess, by the following plan Put II layer OF
fine charcoal, then layer of hams, then char
coal. and so on. No bugs. nor skippcrs, nor
mould, ever touch them. Keep in II dry and
cool place, and they will keep perfectly sweet,
il in good order when put down.-Prair'c
Farmer.
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

A YorNG IDEA" The other day DR.. SIS
three children. while playing in the nursery,
decided to have railroad orcurSion. So they
all mounted up into the crib aud commenced
rocking at fuH speed. After while it was
proposed to have an accident, thinking sup
pose, it would be questionable to travel far
without one. So they all took hold and
tipped the crib over by main force, and little
Mary broke her arm short off.
Miss B went to sec her, and was pity
ing her very much with her helpless and
bandaged arm, when Mary said
We'll, if | ever get well, III cue the com
pany for SO 900 damages | think that will
be enough, for father thinks it amt any
great affair, after ALL
This is the best sarcasm 'on the present
state of railroads that know Of.
She is the same little young one, (sevcn
years old, who said of her little brother Joe,
who is great tcazc, that she wished our
Heavenly Father either hadn't made her or
her brother .Joe-it didn't make any difference
which, ''-PrOr. Jour.
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

APPEARANCES ARE SOMETIMES DEcElTfrL -
Mrs s., who, it seems, has recently moved
into our city, and whose means are not very
i'm; ted, after waiting during the ten days past g.
in vain, for a pleasant afternoon, to make some
purchases for a poor niece who was soon to
leave her for California, ordered her carriage,
and attired in her stormy day clothing-(al-
belt Mrs. S. is in no-wise particular about
show)-told her driver to convey her to some
extensive dry goods store. The driver hauled
up in front of retail house, Mrs. 5. alightcd
and entered, and was told by the first attend
ant she met, that the hanncls, cottons, etc,
were at the farther end of the counter. Mrs.
5. selected. one after the other, the many ar
ticles which she desired, and was looking for
something else, when the proprietor, (ior At
was he who waiting on hcr) says
" Madam, you are picking out a great many
goods fear these things come to more than
you expect. I'm afraid you are not able to
pay fofall you have selected" Well, sir"
said Mrs. s., "perhaps can't; won't you
add up the amounts" No sooner said than
done. '' 1t is $37 81, madam" "Well, "
said Mrs. s., g don't believe | can afford 10
take them. Good morning, sir,,.' The
manner of Mrs S. caused the dealer to suspect
that he had been a little too fast "madam, :"
said he, " sha mt lend you an umbrella -
Gt was raining Iast.) ono, thank you,'
said Mrs. s., my carriage rs at The door.-
Commonwealth
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

~ BACEING Our. - A man in Ontario
county, named Adam Datcr, having publish
ed in the Messenger caution not to trust his
wife, backs down in that paper of this week
as follows:
" The matter now amcably adjusted and
regret and rescind all past grievances, which
are very wrong, as being against one of the
most prudent, economical, Industrious and
exemplary women that eyer blessed man
through life"
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

n Thirteen years sihce, in the vicinity Of
Pittshurg, n man, who was involved in some
difficulty, suddenly disappeared, and the citi.
zens supposing that he had drowned himself,
dragged the river to find his body. A few
days since. in taking of the dccaycd roof of II
country church, Il skeleton was found in tho
loft, lying under handkerchief attached to,
the raiter. Examination of the handkerchief
resulted in finding his name, and thus solving
thirtecn-ycar mystcry--hc had committed
suicide
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

WoMI:N AND SLAyES.-'rEc TribUnc copies
with appreciation f'om the Una Il comparison
Of the condition of women at the North with
chat Of negro slaves ut the South, in which it
is represented that they are very much alike.
If the Tribanc should ever convince ANYBODY
that this view is correct, the back inference
would be very natural, viz that If the wives
and daug ghtcrs ut our tirc-sdcs are very
much III the condition Of the southern slaves,
then the southern slaves must be very much
in the connition of the aforesaid wives
and daughters, and not 50 very much to be
piticd after all Chronicle.
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06
POE L IL Y
FOR THE FREE PRESS.
THE MUSIC OF HEAVEN

THE MUSIC OF HEAVEN.
There's Music in the upper Heavens.
The choral notes that swell,
Are swectcr, fuller, richer far
Than human tongues can tell,
Where rings the gush of golden harps,
Aud heavenly lutcs are swept,
To tell the matchlcss love of Him,
Who o'cr lost world wept.
The gliding rush of countless wings,
BON, IA the swelling breeze.
That watts the rustling music by,
Amid cmbowcring trees
The echo of the myriad feet,
That fall on pavcments fair
OF glttcring, dazzling gold that CLEANS
In untold brightness there,
The music of the pearly gates,
When back by angels flung,
Admitting there ransomed soul,
Their sinless band among:
The silvcry sound that's yelling up,
Where flows the stream of life
The rusting of the emerald leaf,
With healing virtues rife.
And then the tide of melody
That swclls and bursts, when rings
The New Song in that far off world,
Its thrilling rapture brings.
But awcd, we may not note its power,
Its depths we cannot sound,
Unfathomcd, fathomlcss, it rolls
In glorious might around.
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

CHANCE FOR SPINsTEEs.-The Mel
bourne Argus says: "In this. the richest colony
IN the world, the males outnumber the females
to the enormous extent of about 81 600 Think
Of that fair ladies Ia husband to be chosen
from among desOate surplus of fifty seven
thousand"
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

THE RAILROAD WAR. They have one paper
and manly stand in regard to the gauge war.
The Constitution wishes the gauge between
Ohio and New York broken at Erie, but siys
1.-The East, the great West, portions of our
own State, our own Executive and Legislative
power, with public opinion ali over the land,
are against us. We are fighting an unequal
battle and must be vanquishcd. The break of
gauge of itself is a nuisance. 1t is Il tax on
every passenger and every pound of freight
that passes over the road The controlling
power in the road exists abroad, and though
we are not, and never were, responsible for
the break, it will eventually be changed
We have an offer to change it--aa considcra-
ticn which, if carried out in good faith, all
or nearly ALL agree is sufficient. In the alb
sence of anything better, we say accept it.
Let New York and the West whirl their
tide of human life through our place if they
choose, without Cursing us at every change.
Let ny put our shoulder to the wheel improve
the advap ptages which nature has given US i'll
stead of irittering away our strength and
means in vain endeayors to acquire unnatural
ones Let us forget the past, If possible,
build the Erie City, Sunhury and Erie, and
Pittsburgh roads, and we can then snap our
fingers at our abusive ncighbors, and defy
the inland commercial world. Eric then, in
stead of being the way station, the watering
post, the target for the ridiculc and abuse of
every traveller that comes this way, as she is
now, would assume the proud position OF
prosperity to which she is by nature entitled,
and become an ornament and an honor to the
Keystone State"
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

EILIor's INDIAN BlDLE.- The following
occurs in the opening chapter of Nonantun'
and Natick" There is something sad in the
simple statement
d" Three miles off. on one of the shelves in
the College Library at Cambridge, is Il dark,
ancient book, thick apd square, and an odd
book. as if it did not belong to the present
generation of books. And it does not. 1t
was made for a people who have passed away
from the earth, anl no living man can now
read and understand it. is title is: Ma
musse W Wunneetupanatamw Up Bihlum God
Naneeswe Nukkono Testament kah wonk
Wusku Testament
All passed away and no living man can
read the book But the eternal record bears
witness of the fruit that has grown from that
seed, planted with SO much care and watered
with ceaselcss olctude--Proridence Jour.
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

A REGULAR LoNnqN PARTICrLAR.LQn-
don papers received by the last arrival, contain
accounts of fog SO dense that complete
stagnation of business throughout the thor
oughfares was caused. In addition to the
loss of seven lives at Stunbridge, by drowning,
were run over and killed in London, and the
following particulars ares given:
SThc different omnibuses on the several
lines were for some time obliged to be preceded
by men carrying lighted links, but al length
the vehicles were obliged to stop altogether,
ami L., that ",c,rIo t'Ir greatest confusion was
created, SO that it was Il work of no little
danger for Il pedestrian to cross any of the
roads The different vessels proceeding on
the river with the tide had to be moorcd in
the roads above bridge the watcrmcn and
lightermen. however, in several instances,
being unable to see the buoys, had no altcrna-
tive left but to allow their craft to drift along
with the tide, and several vcss Is We're driven
against the piles Of the bridges, and it il
c."r"l ihnt s.inu Of tho wut"rn,n,. hH - met
with watcry graves. The greatest care was
obliged to be taken by the officials of the rail.
way companies in starting the trains, and al
SO in seeing that the London tcrmini were
kept clear for the expected incoming trains.
At daybrcak on Wednesday morning the fog
still continued to hang over the metropolis,
and it became LGn'cr ae the hours advanced.
until by o'clock the whole of London was
envclopcd in such cloud of darkness that
traffic on the railways and the Thames was
almost at standstil. and business in the
different shops and elsewhere could only be
carried on by the aid Of gas light"
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

SPIRITUALrsM.-Wc have never professcd
much faith in spiritual manifestations but
an experiment has come to our knowledge by
which disbclicvcr was convinced Of their
truth; and. if the story is true we confess
ourselves Il little staggered hy an experiment
50 " ssaltl!uo' 10 th' Individual on whom it
was performed. We will tell the story as
near as we can remember it.
a young man about eighteen years of age,
whose father has recently - left the farm -
called on medium, stating that his father
had promised to hold communication with
HIM after he reached thc upper spheres he
informed the medium, however, that he didn t
exactly believe in the " rappings."
The spirit of the old gentleman. (whp, by
the way, had been somewhat severe in matters
of disciplnc,) was called up, and held some
conversation with his boy. But the messa ges
were not at all convincing. and the Young
man would not believe that his father had
anything to do with them.
"Wcll," says the medium, "what can your
father do to remove your doubts.'
If he will perform some act which is
characteristic Of him, and without any drec-
tion as to what it shall be, shall believe
there is something in it,"
Every we'll ~ sail the medium, "we wait
for some manifestation from the spirit land -
This no sooncr said than (as the story goes)
IA table walked up to the young man, and
without much ceremony kicked HIM on tile
room
&" Hold on stop him :" exclaimed the ter
rified youth Z" 1hat's the old man. I6e-
Hcre IN the rappingS -
Our hero never since had desire to stir up
the old gentleman -LVnn Neps.
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

A LEGAL DECISION on Posi- Routes During
the late suit before the United States District
Court for an injunction to restrain the people
of Erie from removing the railroads from
their streets, the counsel for the railroads laid
great stress upon the argument that Congress
had legalized their construction by making
them post routes, Judge Irwin, the Pitts
burgh Gazette says, overruled the objection,
pronouncing it of no force or effect. The
Postmaster General could have his resort to
the Railroad Company, which had contracted
to carry the mails, hut the act of Congress
would not mend II dcIect in a road "N''t wit
out 81 arter, oi in violation OF is provisions,
This is the first decision on the suhject.-AE
bany Knickerbockcr..
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

AL Is VANITY. - Frederick There,
now, how very provoking I've left the Prayer
Books at home !"
Maria "Well, dear, never mind but do
tell me, IS my boaa,. ,fr@gh' ~ Pvncl,
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

The privilege of yearly advertisers is strictly
imitcd to their own mme iatc and regular business;
and the business of an advertising firm is not con-
sdcrcd as including that of its individual members
~ Advertisements should be marked the number
of weeks to be Observation-Disclosures they will be con-
tinued till forbid-or at thc option of the publisher
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

PARAGUAy.-Mr. Hopkins, the u. S. Consul
at Paraguay, having been able to carry up the
Constitution steamer under the American ilag.
with the goods and effects of the American
Paraguay Company, favorably succeeded in
charenng the u. :. steamer Fanny, recently
from the Coast of Africa, and proceeded up
with large amount pf freight and pas
sengers on iIe lst of October last. We are
Informed hat all the materials Of printing
office, from James Conner g. Sons of this city.
were sold by Mr.. Hopkins 20 Gen. Urquiza,
President, &C. at EHtre Rios, aud at a hand
some profit Gen, Urquzn will give the world
IN print, now, his views and ideas respecting
the Argentine Confederation. " L. T. ErpresS.
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06
nnnnnh Lord knows. Whom they w0rkcd, "a

enough. Lord knows, when they worked, ia
rather they'd been on somebody else than on
me. When they work. what's in 'em has got
to work, too-and goodness gracious bless me,
was not 50 fond of work as to want to do all
the hard work that men have to do. Let en-
wear the trowscrs-thcy ought to wear the
trowsers. If was yonng and handsome again,
I wouldn't think Of wearing 'em. don do
much now-knt littlc-don't mind knit
ting But suppose wore trowscrs : I'D have
to work harder than | do now-and I'm sure,
don't want anything else hanging to my
skirts-no, trowscrs no, skirts II won +
Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06

Here Aunt Polly's soliloquy was BROUGHT
to ii close bv an uneN pccted exhaustion OF yarn
She was slrIris3d wjion sho found she had
knit oycs 't hall IL finger. ''--Lodies' Ne,cSpd-