Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-01-17

ssWe looked about us, but could not see
either any rock or any tree that would an
swer for that purpose Our one-armed
friend, however, quietly paced off two hun
dred PAGES, and then pulling down his wool
en- cap over his ears, and Strengthening up
the top, so as to make it regular cone ter
minating in tuft, he stood upright and as i'm
movable as rock The other slowly rails
ed his gun, appeared to take careful aim,
and fired
"Whereupon the target came walking
quietly towards us, and showed us, without
any emotion, where the bullet had cut away
part of the woolen tuft.
{" 'Adesso, va tu fratello mettermi la mer-
ca me- Cnow, 60 you, brother to make
target for me.)
'sThe other went off to the same distance
and turned his back to us !; then taking off
his 6e,retto, (cap, he placed his feet about
yard apart, and turning the cap upside
down, held it so that the tuft just appeared
between his legs.
''In spite of our conviction that IL lNomco
must be as good shot as the other, we
could not repress thrill of horror at the
thought of a man with whom we had just
broken bread being exposed to such terri
BILE danger.
but the one-armed bandit was just as
calm and collected as he was while munch-
ing our provisions. Supporting his gun on
the stump of his left arm, he pointed it first
to the ground raising it gradually, so as to
get the true line of aim, he touched the trig-
ger.
cas- we saw the wool fly from the tuft,
we all breathed more freely, and saw with
pleasure the second target come towards us
as composedly as the first
s'There was no more shooting after that !;
for no one cared to measure himself with
such marksmen, and it requires men of this
temper to manage 'branco di banditi.'
''Some of these chiefs are indeed men o.
riginally of estimable character, whom the
uncomfortable expressions of bad govern
ment have driven to the mountains, and
there is among them generally a rude sense
of honor, so that he who drank of the same
cup with them is not only safe from all
wrong on their part, but may count upon
their friendly offices with others.
''Not long g after the shooting match, we
came as near the village. where we were
making 'villegiatura,' as it was perhaps
acholesonae for our friends to come. Here
the chief stopped, and as he courteously lif-
ted his cap from his head, I thought they
might still wish to levy tribute upon us,
and that it would be wiser to forestall their
wishes than to wait for their demands.
"'Are you in want of any money, my
friend p
'Oh, no, Signor. You have given us
powder and tobacco, the two things most
difficult for us to obtain, and we thank you.
We are sorry that we cannot accompany you
any further; but if you should be stopped
Or interfered with at any time, either by
day Or by night, among these mountains,
just say Qaying his hand upon his breast
that Lu Zu Pepe (Uncle Joe) is your friend,
and no man will harm you
eve babe each other friendly 'adieu,
and parted in peace.
Il have but to add that Lu Zu Pepe' is
the country italian for 10 Zio Giuseppe.
The terms of Uncle and Aunt are applied
to almost every man and woman in the vii
lagos, and we had already heard of 'Lu Zu
Pepe' as the most resolute and renowned a.
mong the bandits of these mountains >"
WHAT HOPE DID-It stole on it's pinions
to the bed of disease, and the sufferers frow1
became a smile-thc emblem of peace and
love.
It went to the house of mourning, anc
from the lips of sorrow there came sweet
and cheerful songs.
1t laid its head upon the arm of the poor
which stretched forth at the command O
unholy impulses, and saved it from disgrace
and ruin.
1t dwelt like living thing in the bosom
of the mother, whose son tarried long afte1
the promised time of his coming, and savee
her from desolation and the 'care that kill
eth"
It lowered about the head of the you'll
who had become the Ishmael of society, anC
led him on to works which even his enemies
praised.
It snatched maiden from the jaws o.
death, and went with an old man to heaven
No hope! my good brother. Have it
beckon it to your side. Wrestle with it
that it may not depart. It may repay you1
pains. Life is hard enough at best, bu
hope shall lead you over its mountains, ano
sustain you amid it's pillows. Part with al
besides keep thy hope.
Mirth is like flash of lightning, tha
breaks through gleam Of clouds, and gilt
ters for moment cheerfulness keeps up {
kind of daylight in the mind and fills it with
a steady and perpetual serenity.
Books are masters who instruct us with
out rods or ferules; without word or anger
without bread or money. If you approach
them, they are not asleep; if you seek them
they do not hide; if you blunder, they az