davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18
Sele&t Tale.
FLORENCE ELLsMORE.
CHAPTER I,

CHAPTER I,
i am glad he is gone, for he is insult
erably conceited, said Florence Ellsmore,
to her friend, Lucy Somers, as she heard
the street door close upon a handsome
young man, allired in military undress,
who had moment before left the parlor.
Really Florence, remarked Miss Som
ers, smiling at her friends commentary,
that is rather cavalier observation for
you TO make in reference to gentleman
who is one of your avowed admirers
He is one of my avowed admirers,
replied Florence 'and like the rest of
the category. The admiration, or its avow-
al, is entirely Oh his pant, did not re-
ciprocate ether ~ .r e....
But you allow him to suppose that he
is not utterly Indifferent to you,' said
Miss Somers 'and, making that fact the
basis Of theory, he has sufficient self
esteem.to erect thereon very pretty su-
perstruclure Of mutual and devoted affec-
tion; connubial felicity in perspective,
while Florence Ellsmore and Captain
Brightly occupy The foreground of the fab
ric.' ...,. r.... ... mr.
Fabric, foundation, and all are false,
replied Florence, carelessly and it is
slander for you 10 say that | allow him to
suppose he is not Indifferent to me.
What proof have you to sustain such an
assertion 2 .p ....... ........tl
DO you not frequently accept his in.
vita'ions y asked Miss Somers, Have
you moi promised to accompany him 10
The opera 10 night ! and is he not now on
his way to secure a box for our especial
accommodation ? ''P'"' ."" u 1850.
'And is that all p asked Florence
laughing, Because one allows ones
sell to be prosecuted into accepting an
invitation, therefore the individual tender.
ing the invitation is encouraged 10 believe
that his addresses also are acceptable I!
Truly, Lucy, your ideas are worthy Of the
last century, ouI To- a'fe a'.r .aasHl
asYou know / am country GIRL OBJ
served Miss Somers 'ahd- you must not
be surprised 10 discover that + am some.
what behind the inhabitants Of this great
metropolis in the march Of Improvement
Why. child said Florence, sic | had
not accepted Captain Brightly'sinviiation,
should have been compelled TO accept
the invitation of some one else. have
but choice Of evils, and he is agreeable
by comparison oo;,,~.
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18
CHAPTER II.

Florence Ellsmore was one Of Fortune
spoiled children and like most children
who have been oiled, she was ever
ready to chide the kindness which made
her capricions, Endowed with the nat
ura advantages of person and intellect to
more than ordinary degree, and blessed
with those adyentitous aids, education,
elegance of manners, and proluse wealth,
she appeared to possess every description
of happiness yet she was not happy,
Petied and caressed from her infancy up
wards; by doing parents and partial
friends; she looked upon adulation as her
right, and it was one which was not cal
led into question. Her entrance into gay
and fashionable society formed an era in
the path even of her own rose-strewn ex.
istence. Lovers and aalterers swarmed
around her, and she breathed but The in
cense of admiration. s......., 3.
1t is moi surprising, therefore, that Flor.
ence became somewhat intoxicated with
the pleasing draughts, and Stunned the
avowal fparticular admiration, lest the
empire of general praise mighl thereby
be destroyed. Among those who sought
to win her favor, there was one who en-.
tertained a sincere and devoted attach.
ment for her, and towards whom she was
more attracted than towards any Of her
other suilors. Indeed she loved him
but the spirit ofcoquetry was strong upon
her, and she scarcely admitted the facl
to herself. aA4I'R ri aojs,o,p i;
Davenant Churchill-the gentleman
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18
VOLUME 2,-NUMBER "a.

ed into a shapeless mass. But he was a
man of HercuIean strength and firm re-
solve, and instantly grasping his knife he
commenced cutting the folds of the hide
GUS serpent, which hissed feariully in his
face Every stroke separated coil. Al
this juncture some wild animal-probably
a cougar-sprang upon him, but luckily
seized that portion Of the serpent contain
ing the head and bore it off instead of our
hero. What deliverance was this
Crosby was 50 terribly excited that he
swooned away, and lay in state Of un-
consciousness he knew not how long.
AS soon as consciousness was partially le-
stored he was aroused by peculiar SEN
sation of indescribable horror, and found
himself encircled by number of small
snakes. lie sprang 10 his ieet, and with
the lerocity ofa madman commenced tear
ing off the Shiny reptiles that had coiled
around him. He threw them from him
right and left, and soon relieved himself
Of such hideous companions. They
hissed and writhed learfully, but he es-
capped without being bitten.
This was dreadful situation to be pla.
ced in, and his escape was miraculous
He was now so overcome by fear and ex'
citement that he was almost hel elpless and
knew not what he was doing. In the
morning he was found wandering about
by his companions, who were searching
for him, wildly staring and furously
throwing his arms in the air. His appear
ance is represented 10 have been piliful il
the extreme, and it was with some diff
Guilty that they succeeded in getting hin
back to the camp. 1t required severa
days before he recovered fairly, when HI
elated the horrible suferings, as detailed
above that he endured that terrible hight
In few weeks he was taken with vi
olent fever, and soon became completed,
deranged, and in his rawlings talked abou
serpents, and wildly threw his arm
around him. He continued raving, 70
several days, when he expired, in tn
most horrid convutions. So ended poo
Crosby's adventures on the Amazon
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18
Living and Means.

The world is full Of people who cunt
imagine why they don't prosper like
their neighbors, when the real obstacle is
not in banks nor. tariffs, in, bad. publie
policy nor hard times, bat in their own
extravaganza and needless oslenlation.
The young mechanic or clerk marTies
and takes house, which he proceeds to
furnish twice as expensively as he call
afford, and then his wife, instead of Ia
king hold to help him TO earn livelihood,
by doing her own work, must have "a
hired servant to help her spend his imi-
ted earnings. Ten years afterwards you
will find him struggling on under dUli-
bic load Of debts aud childe,i, wondering
why the luck was always against him,
while his friends regret his unhappy des-
tuition of financial ability. Had they
from the first been frank aud honest, he
need not have been so unlucky,
Through every grade Of society, this
vice of nordinate expenditure inshuales
itself. The single man, hired out in
the country at ten 10 fifteen dollars per
month, who contrives to dissolve his ten
years earnings in froic and fine clothes;
the clerk who has three or five hundred
dollars, and mells down twenty 10 fifty Of
it in liquor and cigars, are paralleled by
the young merchant, who fills the spa
cious house with costly furniture, gives
dinners, and drives fast horse on the
strength of The profits he expects to real
ize when his goods are all sold and bis
notes all paid. Let a man have genius
for spending, and whether his income is
a dollar day, or dollar minute, il is
equally certain to prove inadequate. If
dining, wining, and party going won't
help him through with it, building, gam.
ing and Specializing will be sure to, The
bouomless pocket will never fill, no
matter how bounteous the stream pouring
into it. The man who does not
save money on six dollars per week,
will not be apt TO on sixty; and he who
does not lay up something in his first
year of independent exeriion, will be
pretty likely 10 wear poor mans hair
into the grave. ..f
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18
CHAPTER III.

The boxes of the opera presented a
rich array of beauty ; but Florence Ellis.
more, with her exquisitely chiseIled Gre
clan features, her graceful form, and her
glossy raven hair, in heavy ringlets,
adorned but by simple flower, outshone
all others and left no room for rivalry.
A happy man was Captain Brightly
that night, with two such fair creatures in
charge, the one Florence, and the other
Lucy, pretty blonde, with luxuriant
golden turls. Nor was he allowed alone
to mOnopoise the smiles of the damsels
he had escorted, Other young men proud
of their acquaintance, and glad Of the OPP
portunily, crowded into their box, and
filled up the intervals between The music
with pleasant conversation and witty an.
ecdole. No one, to have looked upon
Florence as she sal there, the observed
of all observers and the centre of attrac.
ton, would have supposed that she had
ever experienced the heartache, or that
she was not, as she appeared 10 be, the
gayest Of the gay.
The curtain had just fallen on the sec.
ond act of The opera, and Florence was
laughing at some extravagant compliment
thai had been paid her, when Miss Som
ers, who had been reconnitering the house
through her opera glass directed her at.
tention to a tall, fne-looking man in a
box Immediately opposite theirs. lsnoI
that Davenant Churchill, Florence 2 she
asked. He is stating at ts as if he
certainly thinks he has the right of ac'
quaintanship'' .. ..t
Florence started at the mention of that
name, and turned in the direction indica.
ted, A moments glance was sufficient
for the gentleman's gaze met hers, and
the inclination of studied coIdness was
given by none other than the individual
in question. Florence instantly recog'
nized The features of Davenant Churchill
and she thought his counlenance grave,
more in sorrow than in anger She
blushed deeply as she returned his saluta-
ton, and murmured in reply to Lucy
Somers, 1t is Mr.. Churchill; though
this is the first intimation have had Of
his return ...........U.s.ta..
He only arrived yesterday remarked
Captain Brightly : and | am somewha,
surprised to see him here for it is said
that he is particularly staid, and mixes
not in the amusemenls of meaner mortals.
Florence made some Indifferent obser-
valion. and then became suddenly and
obstinalely thoughtful. The gentleman
in vain attempted to revive her mirlh ;
and, failing in that, they left her with
Captain Brightly only for an attendant.
The third act had scarcely commenced,
when Florence mentioned to Lucy tha,
she felt slightly indisposed, and requested
Captain Brightly to see if the carriage
was in waiting. .aH --.t q. j
Why, Florence said Miss Somers
as they rose to retire, what has caused
your sudden indisposition Is it because
Mr.. Haughton has not made his appear
ance to night z Nd4 wa.aaN.
His absence is a disappointment,
said Florence, smiling. but it is an
agreeable one. l cannot endure that
walking epitome of pride. ames, 4dl
.'Or has it,'asked Lucy, holding up
her fan, archly, been caused by the sud-
den and unexpected appearance of Dave
inant Churchill ? ri.
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18
A Ball Room Joke.

The "interrupted' correspondence of
of the New York Tribune gives the fol-
lowing as the experience of an unsophis-
ticaled yonth at Washington some time
ago.
This was my first enterance into fash
ionable life, a. one of Monsieur Bodisco's S
birthnight balls. The world then saw a
youth fresh from college. Oh, ever
memorable night! was under the care
of Senator -. AS we entered the
house, two tall specimens of humanity,
dressed very like MALTA generals met us
at the door. Thinking them distinguish
ed people bowed low and solemnly.
They stared and bowed. The scene was
impressive. Go on said my com pau.
ion, the Senator before mentioned; don't
be salauming to these fellows they are
servants-give them your cloak The
information was useful but unpleasant.
hurried on, pulling off my cloak as
went. Just within the first door of the
drawing room stood fat oily gentleman,
bowling also but not magniicently gotten
up as my first acquaintanees. Certain
of my game now, in the most superb
style, threw over him my cloak and hur.
ried on. Senator - pulled me back,
and to the astonished little fellow, now
struggling from under my broadcloalh,
| was presented. had nearly smothered
the Russian Minister, who, however,
laughed merirly at the mistake. ...
My endorser, the grave Srnator, became
evidently alarmed. He hardly knew wha
l would accomplish next, and left me soon
as he possibly could, to my fate. wan.
dered about rather disconsolate. The
lights, music, dancing, fun and laughter,
were all charming for awhile, but L knew
no one, and after an hours looking on,
hunted up my friend the Senator, and beg.
ged him to introduce me to some of the
young ladies. He hesitated a moment
and then consented, and | was led up ant
presented to magnificent creature | hat
long looked upon with silent admiration
Miss W was seated in an easy non
chalent manner, conversing with a circle
of gentlemen, and favored me with gra.
cious nod. As l stood wondering whether
this was to be the end of my introduction,
moustached dandy came between us
and said "Miss W, permit me 10 re.
late the Joke of the season. To my hor-
ror he began the story Of the cloak. My
first impulse was to knock him down,
my second to run away; on my third ! &C.
ted. Interrupting the exquisite, said :
Begging your pardon, sir, but Miss
W, am the only person who can dc
justice to that joke "-and continuing
related it, without sparing myself
She laughed heartily, as did the circle,
and rising from her chair took my arm
saying. kindly, that | must be cared for
for | should murder some one. With .
grace and kindness l shall never forget
she placed me at ease. '- h'e'" 2'af5''
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18

concerning whom Lucy Somers inquired,
was person who might have been loved,
even by woman as capricious as Flor
ence Ellsmore; for his manners, person
education, family, and fortune, all COM
bned TO render him athactive,-We have
said that he loved Florence. He did
sionately-absorbingly, as man sci
dom loves but he was too proud tc
pamper to every idle whim, and had too
much self-respect to allow himself 10 be
classed with bevy of expscants. He
thought he was not distateiul to her, ant
he offered her his heart and hand. HI
wrlthed under an equiVocal rejection
which seemed 10 expect further wOolng
but he offered no remonslrance. Bury
ing his feelings in the recesscs of his own
heart, he find forgetfuIness by exploring
the wonders of foreign lands
1t was not until the certainty Of his loss
was manifest that Floronce Ellsmore be.
came conscious of the real state of hel
own feelings, and convinced that her hap
piness depended as much upon him a:
she was satisfied that his did upon her;
yet it was TOO late to recall what ha(
been done; and she had, besides, the bit
ter reflection that she was herself lht
architect of her own misery. Her secret
however, she locked in her own breas.
and breathed it not to a soul. She con
tnued to be as brilliant in society as ever
but it was for the double purpose of ob
tanning oblivion for herself, and avertin.
the inquisitive glance of prying
world. Even her most intimate friend
Lucy Somers, did not more than guess a
the existance of an incipient attachm ent
and when, during her visits TO Florence
she alluded to Ddvenant Churchill, sh,
uttered more random observations, with
out conceiving remotely how far Floren
ce's feelings were committed.
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18

CoULDN'T MAKE UP HIS MIND. No
one can know what he is capable Of do
ing till he tries. Thousands live, die
and leave the world, at last, without &C.
complishing one good or great action, not
for want of talent, but for want of decis.
ION. When we meet with man who is
never deciding, but always delaying to
make up his mind, somehow or other we
get the impression that he has little or no
mind to make up.
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18

The manner of conferring an obligation
obliges more than the matter. The Count
de Scissors, prince ofthe blood, being re-
quested by gentleman to give him one
half of the ground rents Of an estate hel
had bought, which he held Of the count,
that prince said to him, "That half is no
longer mine" The gentleman, thinking
he had, given it to another, was lnodeatly
retiring when the count explained himself;
"That half IL no longer mine, since you
have taken the troubleto askifor II bat
since you do not ask the other half, II ID
mine, and ! give you all" Z, .sgl l,,,sa 4
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18
4oettrg>
LOCKS OF HAIR.

YOU'VE often heard inc promise, Fred,
One day to tell you where ..
And from what treasure heads shred
These treasured locks of hair,
Well, now the time has come at last,
d, Your birth day festival
Has blithely come and swiftly pass'd,
And you shall know them all. u.
Twelve years have feeted since | how'd
In fearless grief my knee ''.'.
Beside our dying sire, and vow'd
A parents care for thee; ... ....
Ard remember how you tried;
Till even the menials wtpt,
To wake our father when he died,
And said "he only slept" . .,..
This short curl'd lock, halfdark, half gray
Clipt it from lis brow,
I've kept it sacred till to-day,
We will divide it now; ....
And when you look upon it, Fred,
Still think you hear the voice
That with its dying accents said,
"My Father, bless my boys!''
This raven braid belonged to one
You never knew, my brother;
She only bless'd her newborn SON.
And died-our sained motherl
She left us--but with us she left, ..
A fairer, Lenderer flower;
But, like plant Of sun bereft,
She wihered from that hour
Springs buds, around our mothers torub.
Came just in time TO wave;
We saw the flowers of autumn bloom
Upon our sisters grave.
My boy, your tears are falling fast
On yonder golden rress,
1t is relic, and the last, .
Of her lost loveliness.
And this long waven, silken curl,
Ah that you must not share
ou never knew that angel.girl Co..
Who gave that auburn hair,
My beautiful! my blessed one
And she, too, passed away;
l strove to breathe, "Thy will be done
Built was hard to say. ...
Oh by how weak and frail thing .
May the hearts depths be stirr'd;
How close and long will memory cling
To one light look or word
And are not these slight locks with more
Of spiritmean ing fraught,
Than all the mystic, lettered lore
.. That sages ever taught
Well they are happy now, dear boy
Their ransomed souls are free;
They feel no mole earlh's hollow joy,
Aud real misery.
Our barks are struggling slow to shore,
BY storm aud tempest driven
But they have passed life's ocean DER,
And anchor'd safe in heaven.
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18

II has for some time been. a question
of great interest whether COL Benton
would accept the nomination Of his party
for Governor of Missouri, and canvass
the State. We learn positively from the
Benton mo delegation that he has con-
sented to accept, and is arranging his ap.
pointments preparatory to going through
the State. This fact may be set down
among the events of the times.
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18

T In all contests the guilty have
the superiority, in one respect, over the
innocent--for the guilty will make use
of base means 10 attack, of which the
innocent cannot avail themselves to
repsl.
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18

uvA MAN is a.bru.ss,o be Jealous Of
good woman---a fool to be jealous OF . :
worthless one--but double fool 10 cut
his own throat for either ofthsm.
True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-18

'Mr, Churchill is nothing to me- re-
piled Florence, with constrained indilTer-
ence = and am even less than that to
him. r.
Florence, your words and your coun.
tenance arc strangely at variance remar-
ked Lucy, fnlIy = and there is a mys.
terry in their tceping. You must make
me your confdante, Or ....
i viii, rePlied Florence, hastily buI
not now; Captain Brightly has returned.
The captain entered, and announced
that the carriage was ready; and, after the
delay of a few moments, the ladies' were
driven home. ..
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-18

connection with the family from which sprung the
Republican candidate for President. either immedi
ate or remotef II not, that Fremont family refer
red to, can be traced out and separated from The
one now prominently before the public From all
accounts, the family from which originated the can.
didate was not so obscure that it cannot be trac-
ed for it bad friends 80 look after and educate the
orphan boy, after bis father died. So also can the
other family, of the elopement and fight TO Cana
da, be traced, for that appears to have moved in
the higher walks Of life, and was associated with
the first families" of the South. There can be no
very difficult task to trace and hunt up both of
these families, if in fact there be two make no
charge on this point for ! am not yet in possess
sion of sufficient positive proof to do so, but sim
ply give these singular facts and circumstances,
and others better prepared and better situated and
located, and more interested 10 the question, may
investigate them and enIighteu the public upon
them. Hoping to see full and candid iuvestga-
ton drop the subject for the present, and leave
in in other hands. Yours, ~
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-18
Gen. Haskell I'm the Field

la our column Of speaking appointments
viii be found list put forth by Haskell
Wherever he goes large crowds will Gock
to hear him. The plough and the work
shop will be deserted for a day, for the
humblest in the land has heard the story OF
his witching eloquence. 1t is not invidious
20 say that as a profound and philosophic
discourser upon politics, and an orator in
the highest significance of the term, he has
hardly peer and certainly no superior in
too country. Since the day Of the lament
ed Prentiss we have heard no man that
could so stir the soul. His canvass will
exert a powerful influence on the result
in this State. "0ne blast upon his bugle
horn, were worth thousand men"
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-18
Han Lain ;. Hrinn.

The last number Of the Columbia lfir-
ror comes to us with an extended sketch OF
Judge Brieu's efforts at Williamsport on
last Saturday, and at Columbia on Satur-
day night. From its description OF the
former, which is elaborate, it was an Her
calean elfort,-such thunder as James IL.
Thomas has not often heard. We wish
that the Judge could be heard in every
county IN the State.
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-18
Desirable CITY Residence for Sale.

INHE undersigned offers for sale his residence -
the Tn Ward Of Nashville, the side Of Hass
Maple Street, ard South of the Murfeesboro Turn Efsu
pike. The dwelling is a substantial two story brick
building (nearly containing ten rooms with porches,
kitchen, smoke house. store and servants rooms &c
Asplendd Csten 10 feet in diameter and Is feet deep
attached in Of the building with Cutters which ill It,
with little attention, afording constant supply OF good
water at all times Besides there is the lot quite
Der Of young ruit trees Of the best quality having been
eced with great and bearing fruit, also large
and commOdOus Vegetable Garden the whole containing
acres all Of which will be sold together divided
purchasers may desire.
Such opportunity to good home and extensive
adjacent grounds is rarely offered within the city limits and
will sell on accommodating terms, have determined TO
FOR particulars enquire OF A. Nelson City Collector O. W.
Nance, City Surveyor, myself generally at homo
early in the morning and late in the evening, when will be
pleased to show the premises to any who may call
anime for themselves. Also several lots Of land the
mouth Of Browns Creek containing from II
the lot. Possession given Immediately.
augl6-deo6wlm. VIM. L. NANCE.