davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26

a soft, cold hand grasped mine. At that mo-
ment a tremendous wave broke over US. and
my hold was gone. Something remained in
my hand, which was cut and bleeding. Il
was diamond ring. Il was the work of
second TO clasp it on my finger, and reach out
for the long scarf which now saw drifting
again near me, mixed with thick masses Of
dark hair. 1grasped them once more, and a
girls sweet face rose above the waves, and
lay still and pale on their maddened BOSOM
AT that instant, the other boat was flung with
In few feet of ours, and saw nv grand
father towering in her bow, like the Lord of
the Tempest. He caught glimpse Of the
face have described, and, with one agonized
shrek, and one cry of Florence, my wife I
he sprang into the sea between us. saw
him no more.
Another huge wave swept over us, and we
were driven rods apart in The mids, OF the
deep. lclung to my hold, and felt the strength
of giants.
Luckily, the dark locks and the light scarf
had got twisted about my hands and arms,
and | cried aloud tor help. Burnet came 10
me, and together we drew over the rails the
fairest vision of beauty incarnate on which
my eyes had ever rested, just as our frail
boat was dashed ashore, and crushed to atoms.
A light herer shouted |, when found
myself unhurt upon the beach, with my young
prize clinging to my garments. A lantern
was brought, and its uncertain and gus,y
flicker fell upon the delicate form Of girl,
apparently sixteen years Of age, and upon a
couutenance whose inexpressible and unearth-
ly loveliness gave me a shock like an electric
machine. The horrible night, the storm, the
howl Of the wind, the wres,le of wave and
wreck, OF life and death, all passed away
from before me, and saw one tranquil sun
rise and the still glories Of tropic summer
But pang shot through me like me an iron
bar as heard in fancy that awful cry, Flor
ence, my wife, ringing like knell. She
murmured word or two in some strange
tongue, opened her eyes languidly, and fixing
them on me, said, with foreign accent and a
half smile, Good boy, how strong you are.
You saved me- Then and there became a
gentleman.
My grandfather never reached the land.
Do YOU wish to know now why like dia-
monds, asd why wear two on my righ, hand
Ask Florence, and she will tell you. She
knows, and she is-my wife.
Such are the freaks of fate She was 10
have married nv grandfather, on her arrival
in America. Seven years afterwards she
married me.
Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26

store, and there pommelled BY nv wounded
tormen,or as long as he could safely delay
staunching the deep cut had given him. |
Tough, with hands, feet, head and teeth. My
face was covered with a mixture oftears, dirt
and blood. NY clothes were draggled and
torn upon the rough and filthy floor, and |
howled like a young hyena with rage and
pain. 1t was all in vain. My antagonist was
too much fer me and the assembled company,
though they seemed to enjoy the desperation
with which fought, was yet as well content
ed tha, should get at least what they consid-
cred my deserts.
At the very moment when was being
pitched back into the street in the condition |
have described, tall man, on horseback,
passed leisurely by the door, whom even the
sad plight was in did not prevent me from
Instantly recognizing as my grandfather. At
tracted by the confusion at the door of the
store, he turned his head just in time to see
me fall headlong. In an instant he was on
the ground, and in his arms.
Who dares maltreat this boy 4 he ex-
claimed, advancing iato the centre of the store,
and laying his heavy riding whip with great
deliberation on the counter. Nobody no
body. Tim johnson and me fought; that's
all, said |, with the true shame of street
imp to be under obligations to any protector.
Tim lohnson's bloody visage me, my grand
fathers eye. All, ha = he cried quickly,
with something like halt smile fitting across
his features. Not all on one side, eh I and,
so saying, he caught up his riding-whip, turned
abruptly on his heel, sprang into the saddle
with me still in his arms, and in a few mo-
ments, without one word of comment, lifted
me upon the doorstep of his old mansion
house, and rode carelessly round towards the
stables.
sat down on the threshold, and did not at
tempt to 60 IN. This was partly from the
mortal faintness and dizziness which felt COM
ing over me, and partly from dread of the en-
counter which knew awaited me with my
aunt Deborah. Before me was the wide land
scape, the village, the forests, the harbor, the
long line of beach wave-fonded /; and beyond
the deep dark sea. | knew that all these
were there. but | saw nothing distinctly.
seemed TO be in the centre OF the great Nor
way Maels,rom described in the school geog-
raphy. All things revolved about me-
Blacker and blacker grew every object, and a
thought and terror OF death, sense Of fall
ing, falling through infinite space, and then
entire Inconsistencies.
Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26
Miseellanp.
Asleep on a Rattlesnake Den.

A correspondent of the Missouri Democrat,
writing from Paoli, Kansas Territory, On the
l7lh of June, relates the following incident of
his own personal experiences
On last Sunday evening the air was so be-
wi,chingly balIny, aud tie sky softly veiled
by shadu~y clouds, that was seduced into
heightened stroll along the bluffs, which proud
ly aspire 10 overlook the outrageous woodlands
On the one side, and the sun-lit plains upon the
other, until reached an elevated pinnacle, :,
tall as To command panoramic view, whose
picturesqe and varied beauties ravished all my
senses and lost me in most dreamy reveries.
reclined upon the summit of the rock with
my head upon my hand, until presently, il roll
ed away upon the cushion Of springy moss,
which grew more like an emerald diadem, and
was locked in that strange slumber which
leaves you semi-conscious, and YET Restraints vo-
lition. | had laid thus several minutes, with
my left arm stretched to lis extent, when al the
extremities Of the fingers Of that hand, there
was sensation, new and peculiar that sent
thrill of pleasure 10 the mind and heart, il was
soothing drawing, and agreeably titillaiing, as
it the fingers were dissolving away in de-
lightful selfabsorp,ion. Just then, from this
sor, Of blissful abaudon, was startled by the
report Of a gunsho, within a few PAGES Of me.
sprang to my feet, and with as,onishmeni,
saw my friend Mitchell standing near and ga
zing at me with fixed look of ghastly horror.
Before could inquire what he meant, my at
tention was caught by the sound Of the mos,
shrill, keen, ringing rattle that ever penetrated
human ear !; and ON looking down discovered
huge rattlesnake with CORY head, quivering
and wriihing IN the agonies Of death, and send
ing forth from his erect tail the terrible tocsin
that heard.
From his fearful propinquily began to real
ize my position, 5ut not until | heard an ex-
PLANTATION from NJ. could fully understand and
appreciate its horrors.
He told me that my resting place was the
top Of a a ratilesnake den, and pointed on, the
orihces through which they passed iha, he
was in The habit of coming there on Sunday
evenings to shoot rattlesaake; that when he ap-
preached that evening, and saw me living upon
the den, he supposed had been bitten and
was dead that he crept nearer and saw my
respiration, and knew was alive, but discov-
cred moastrous snake licking my hand and
covering il with Shiny coating, preparatory 10
deglattion that he made slight, involunta-
ry, shuddering exclamation Of My God which
drew the snakes attention and caused him To
,orn his head, when he discharged load oi
buck-sho, into his face and neck, msngling and
tearing them to pieces. and thus saved my life,
He had scarcely told me this, which took but a
moment, when ratlles all around brought us 10
a recollection that we were not yet free from
danger. We saw ten or fifteen large rattle
snakes approaching US from every quarter, with
eyes claring revengefally, barbed tongue
thrus,ing ihrea,eningly and rat,les bounding
alarmingly. They are brave and cannot be in
Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26

When l went down the next morning,
was somewhat relieved 10 learn that my grand
father had left the house on business, TO be
gone for some hours. | ate my breakfast in
silence, and started fer the school-house. To
reach it, it was necessary to pass through the
village. should have stated before, that, on
getting up that morning, found by my bed
side the Sunday suit which l had taken of the
previous night, nv usual clothing having bean
carefully removed from the chamber. At or
binary times, this occurrence would have
been the signal for pitched battle between
me and my aunt Deborah but that morning
felt, for some reason, as though l had walked
in a new world. bu,toned up the long rows
of shiny buttons without one scream or kick
and | was perhaps partly reconciled to the in
nova,ion by the absence Of the abhorred shir,
collar.
On arriving at the edge of the village, | met
two or three boys of my acquaintance, who
cried out, as soon as they saw me, Halo
here's Horace Don. His grandpa has gor
home. o, my see the buttons Don't We
live in big house on the hill nowt' They
pointed at me with derisive laughter, until
was almost bursting with rage. | seized a
large stone from the side of the road, flung il
in among them with all my strength, and
ran down the street at full speed, pursued BY
their yells and shouts.
In the centre of the village was one Of those
variety of grocery stores, so well known in
New England as the main gossiping places Of
your true Yankee town. A miscellaneous
collection of farmers, fishermen, sailors and
loaters-general, were accustomed to haunt its
walls. In this dingy exchange 1 had passed
day after day, and evening after evening
listening, for the most part in silence, TO the
uncouth and oaih-larded wisdom which there
prevailed. There the foundation of my edu
cation was laid. There genuine and heart,
Red Republicanism ruled and swelled. ha,
there learned 10 hate everything loftier thar
myself, whether in manners, gifts or posses
sions.
On the morning in question, l entered th'
store to do some errand for my aunt Deborah
went in somewhat reluctantly, for | felt,
know not why, little like fish out o
water Even at that early hour quite nu
merous collection of the usual visitors wa
there. The moment appeared. a great over
grown boy, in green jacket, who was seate'
on barrel-head near the connter, pulled m,
cap over my eyes as | passed by him, an'
said with horse laugh, Bran fine new gen
'leman come to town. Wonder what tim
us by my gold watch stepped back iron
MS reach my blood boiling in my veins, an
seizing small iron weight that lay on tn
counter, with frantic roar of defiance,
hurled it ssraigh, at my assailant's head.
stopped only long enough to see red bloc
spouting from long cash in his forehead;
then fed into the road like hunted deer.
was pursued, osertaken, dragged back to III
Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26

A SWEET NoIcE.-A sweet voice is irdis-
pensable TO a woman do not think can de-
scribe it. Il eau be aud sometimes is cultiva-
ted. |, is no, Inconsistent with great vivacity.
but is oiien the glft Of the gentle aud unob,ru-
sive. Lopdness or rapidity Is incompatible
with il. Il is low but not gut,aral, deliberate
bu, no, slow. Every syllable is distinctly
heard but they follow each uther like drops from
fountain. Ii is like the cooing Of a dove, not
shrill, nor even clear, bu, uttered with that
subdued aud touching readiness, which every
voice assumes in moments Of deep feeling or
tenderness. II is Curious gift in woman--I
should be won by il more than beauty-more
even than BY talents, were il possible to separ-
ate them. But | never heard deep sweet
voice frum weak woman. Il is The organ Of
strong feeling and Of thoughts which have lain
in the bosom till their sacredness almost bushes
uuerance. Hais.
Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26

An indescribabIe air of health, grace, and self
possession perraded the entire man. Thick
masses of long, light hair fioated negligently
upon his neck, and in or upon his right hand
"a hand the size Of my own.) as it touched the
back of chair near him, flashed something,
knew no, what, except it were imprisoned
tightening. A keen. fierce, resistless point of
intolerahle splendor, which blinded me with
its jagged edge, stabbed me through and
through, and seemed to cut the room into a
thousand pieces, as it shot madly through it.
1t was the diamond OF large finger ring
which my grandfather moved gently up and
down, tapping the chairs beside him.
Having never seen one before, and being
wholly overwhelmed BY the nervous shock
which my grandfather's unexpected appear
ance and behavior gave me, ran into a dark
corner, covered my eyes with my hands, and
set up a stentorian blubber, the mere effect of
uncontrollable excitement. My aunt Deborah,
who had, since the first meeting with my
grandfather, been hiding her embarrassment
under color Of bus,ling preparation for tea, at
once sprung a, me, cuffed me Justify as usual,
with the siereotyped exclamations, Naughty
boy wicked child Don't you see your
grandfather has come home, You shall 60
TO bed this instant, unless you are STILL To
which | answered in the loudest tones,
won't; get away. don't care for HIM
Ny grandfather turned his eyes slowly from
the fire on hearing these words, rose, or, as it
appeared to me then, lowered TO his full pro-
portions, advanced to the corner where was,
and, putting my aunt Deborah calmly aside,
said, with smile whose dewy sweetness en-
veloped me like a soft wind, Horace, 90 to
bed now. We will talk tomorrow | raised
an angry hand to strike him but, as did so,
the something on his finger flashed full in my
eyes again, and burst out once more into a
paroxysm Of tears, My aunt Deborah hustled
me off to bed, and left me alone in the dark
with brain crammed to bursting with new
aud conflicting emotions.
Among the multitude Of thoughts that
crowded my young iancy and SNAPPED them-
selves distinctly into questions, were these =
Why should full grown man kiss any
body; and, above all, my aunt Deborah,
How could fine gentleman have a frame
so powerful and athletict
And what was that inexplicable thing on
his hand which played through me, like the
keen blade of a sword
/ resolved these things for hours in a puz-
zled mind; while among them and above
them fosted dim and bitter CONSCIOUSNESS of
my own newly discovered ignorance, clown
ishness and vulgariiy- The last feeling, re-
member, was dull sense Of aversion towards
him whose presence had revealed 10 my I'M
welcome view, even in moment, my own in
fioi,e in!eriori,y.
Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26

A FAcr.-While very respectable mer-
chant no, twenty miles from this city, a few
evenings since was advocating the present liq-
uor law, democrat charged him with having
incurred lis penalties To an extent sufficient to
send him to Jail during his natural life. The
merchant denied The charge, but plead guilty
to selling number of DR.. Richardson bitters.
The democrat read The clause Of the law which
declares that the tern intoxicating liquors
used in this act, means ana includes erery hgiad
preparation that ,rin produce intoaimfion -
Our friend the merchant caved in. The next
day DIR. Richardson hiue5s were carefully
boxed up with pious oath against Neal Dow
and the intensified liquor Law. The jails in
Maine would not hold the respectable mer-
chants and druggists who have thus uncon-
sciouslv violaled the intensified Maine law
Indeed, il is almost impossible to sell any liq-
uid medicinal preparation without incnrring its
Draco-like penalties. Belfast Journal.
Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26
The Sulphuric Mines in Iceland,

Some sharp climbing up the mountain, near
ly Thousand feet, brought me TO the sulphur
mines--a scene shall never forget literal
pool OF fire and birthstone Had Mii.n ever
visited the sulphur mountains OF Iceland,
could have forgiven him his description Of the
internal regions Here was lHtle hollow
scooped out Of the side of the mountain and
all over and through it yellow sulphur, burn
ing hillocks Of stone and clay, and sitting sui
phurous smoke. The surface. too, was semi
hquid-in fact, as near literal lake of fire
and birthstone as this world probably shows.
The earth itself here was principally 6ne
pink or aesh-cciored clay and all over this
could see holes communicating with the
mighty laboratory of nature below and a.
steam and smoke came out Of these holes, the
fine PARTICLES Of sulphur seemed to be brought
up TO the surface. The clayey grcSnd where
the sulphur lay was in most places soft, and
could not be walked over without the greatest
danger OF sinking down through it, perhaps
into the fiery depths in the bowels Of the noun
tsi'. Indeed, it possesses kind of horrible
;ni fascinating interest. Around the edges
and in certain places the soil is hard, and some
stones are seen where one can go in safety.
BY having couple OF boards, man might
walk all over the ground. In some places,
the sulphur was foot thick, and as it gath
cred il seemed to consolidate, and found |
could break up large pieces beautifully crys-
talized. This sulphur appeared about as pure
as the sulphur sold in The shops, but not as
dense. Ii had not half that strong odor thar
sulphur md birthstone have in prepared
state. These mines showed signs that they
had been worked, as some bits of boards aud
plank lay about, and there were some paths TO
be seen. The sulphur is taken off the sur
face, and then the ground is left for two or
three years for 1t to collect again. Sulphur
is 50 cheap, aGd these mines are 50 far from
seaport, Hayne6ord, some twenty miles, being
the nearest, and roads and means of transport
are so scanty, that gathering is not very prof
table nor carried on to great extent. There
are other sulphur mines in the North: some
productive ones near kravia mountain, on the
shores Of Mount Lake Myvain.-Rdnablcs IN
Ice ednd.
Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26

The boy s,irs. Deborah, said my grand
father, putting down long spy-glass, and
coming towards the bed.
Upon j, lay a pallid child, who stretched
out from the clothes two thin hands sprinkled
with warts, and half opened two very wild and
sunken eyes. Water said 1, (for it was
I,) in whisper. My grandfather passed his
hand over my forehead. Something in it
burnt me. looked for coal of fire, and as
looked, myriads of suubeams passed into me,
and closed my eyes in half Inconsistencies
again.
Do you know me, Horacer said my
grandfather. The depth and sweetness of the
tone brought me once more from the land OF
dreams, where, on the very edge Of that other
land from which no traveller returns, l had
been wandering for some weeks in raging
brain fever Yes | answered 'languidly,
and tried to turn over in bed. But my
strength had vanished, and only my head
obeyed my will. As that turned on the pill
low, thousand rockets were suddenly loos-
ened in my brain, and the whole solar system
came tumbling about my ears. Lights Of
crimson, blue and purple danced around me in
swarms, and through all, and brighter than
all, not moving, but still, not twinkling like a
star, but fixed like planet, sailed into the re
splendent haven oi my fevered fancy, the one
fierce effulgence which my grandfather had
mastered and chained to his right hand. Lit
tie by little, these brilliant images retired,
and fell into profound and refreshing sleep.
When awoke, my aunt Deborah was stand
ing by the bed. She gave me some nourish-
ment, and told me in her dry way that there
was no danger of my dying now; and that il
lay quietly for few days, l should be out
of doors again.
The prophecy was realized. | rapidly re-
covered and in three days from my return 10
consciousness, was able to sit at the east
window of the great chamber where my sick
bed was, and gaze out upon the sea. A
dreary prospect it was in those December
DAYS; vet less dreary to me than the little vii
lage, part of which was likewise visible, and
4 from which | recoiled as from a den of wild
beasts.
considered it very strange that my grand
father did not come in TO see me but the
thought of him raised such cemmotion in my
weak brain, that on the whole, | was glad to
have him stay away. Child as was, knew,
or rather felt, that in him great luminary
had risen upon me, but whether it portended
good or evil, life or death, was hidden from
nv eyes, Either was little beast, $50
thought sometimes or else this strong, beau
tiful being was great devil. He had mag
netic power over me, and ] could not tel
whether wanted to strike him dead before
me, or to put my head on his breast, my arms
round his neck, and SO love him like woman
and worship him as god.
In week was nearly as well as ever +; but
had not returned to school. strolled among
the out-buildings and fields. and sometimes a:
far as the sea-beach, without companion ant
desolste at heart. | had conceived suddet
aversion to my old life Of ignorance, dirt, ant
clownishness, and, at the same time, has
discovered that was fit for no other. IL
Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26
BATH, THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 26, 1855

short had reached one of those points in life
known as the parting of the ways.
Every day after dinner | lay down little
while on my bed in the east chamber. Aud
every day my grandfather came up there, too.
But he took no notice of me whatever. In
deed, neither at these nor any other times did
he ever speak to me, except the most casual
word. And never addressed him. When
he came into my room, he used to seat himself
at the east window, with his back to the bed,
and gaze, motionless as statute, on the dis
tant sea line. He always had a spy-glass in
his hand. but | never saw him use it. When
had become sufficiently rested, used to rise
softly and creep stealthily down stairs.
One day asked my aunt Deborah what my
grandfather did up stairs by the window.
had vague notion that he might be taking
some astronomical observation. l remem-
bered that sea captain from the village once
came over 10 our house for THAT purpose, be-
cause. he said. there was a good horizon. l
had watched him at that very window taking
sight with complicated-looking brass instru-
mcnt, for which | now imagined the spy-glass
might be substitute. When [ asked nv
aunt Deborah about it, to my surprise she
turned upon me with an air of curiosity, and
made me describe all my grandia,her's mo-
iions- saw from her inquiring and eager
manner that | was really telling her news, and
that she was good deal excited about it,
So things went on for nearly week.
Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26

Inundated. and will die over The dead body of
their companions sooner than desert il. We
Knew the indomiiahle character OF our enemy.
and NJ, and ], with his donb,e-barreled Gun.
and nv sticks and stones. faught our way out
as best ~e could. You may imagine that nv
nerves we're slightly aci,aicd that evening, aud
that dreamed of snakes that night, N. has
KILLED one hundred and seven Of thcm-the larp-
est OF which had twen,y-six rar,les. lie says
the f"dians, who have been ir the habis as
hunting them for many years, have killed much
older ones, aud have slain thousands.
Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26

MEAr FLv.-The large, buzzing meat-fy,
named Musos (CalFphoro) ronitoriG, is of
blue-bIack color. with broad, dark-blue. and
hairy hind body. II is found all summer about
slaugh,er-huuses, butchers stalls and pantries,
which ii frequents for the purpose of laying its
eggs on meat. The eggs are cummonly called
ay-blows, they hatch in two or three hours az
ter they are laid, and the maRgots produced
from them come TO their growth in three or
ioar days, after which they creep away into
some dark crevice OF burruw in the ground, il
they can get at 1t turn to egg-shaped poI a, and
come ou, as flies in few days more or they
remain unchanged through the winter, if they
have been hatched late in the summer.
smaller fiy. OF brilliant, blue-green color,
with black legs, also lays its eggs On meat,
hut more often On dead animals in the helds.--
Pennsylvania Farm Journal.