davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-02
a0a lza


week. Now I'll see him to-day. and oct
the situation for You, if you like"
The boys whole face frightened up
oh l shall be 50 glad of it, Mrs Beach.
And see here, Joseph, I'm going to mar
Ket and perhaps we can find something
nice for little Mary The lady relnem-
bered that Joseph's mother, though poor
ssamstress, was proud woman, and felt
this would be delicate way of presenting
her gift.
so she found some delicious pears and
grapes and nice chicken to make some
broth Tor Mary, who she learned was i'll
with fever, before she proceeded to do her
OWL markeing But d mas pifp tls1t
The lady did not see Joseph as he sni-'@.'>'
into the chamber where little Marv ~
moaning weariIy on her bed. while her
mother sat stitching busily in one corner.
and held up the chicken aud the fruit. cry
ing, Good news Good news! I've cot
all these things for Mary and a place at
two dollars week 2
U! how little Mary's hot fingers closed
over the bunches of white grapes, while
the sewing dropped from her mothers fin
gers, as the tears ran down her cheeks.
1t was evening, and Mrs. Beach sat in
the library absorbed in some new book.when
she heard her husbands step in the hail.
Though the morning had been pleasant the
afternoon was cloudy, and the day had
gone down in low, sullen penetrating
rain.
Now, Mrs. Beach loved her husband
with the love of true wife, but he was not
demonstrative man, and the first beauty
and poetry of their married life had settled,
down into a somewhat bare, every day,
matter-of-fact existence But her heart was
warm to-night-warm with the good deeds
OF the day, and remembering the revolution
OF the morning, she threw down her book
and ran down stairs.
Henry, dear said the soft voice, has the
rain wet you at all |? Let me take of. your
coat for YOU
Thank you, Mary 1 don't think I'm
any wise injured, but you may help me,
just for the pleasure of it." and stood still
while she removed the heavy coat, with all
that softness of touch and movement which
belongs to woman. She hung it up, and
then her husband drew her to his heart
with all the old loves tenderness.
And there was music in Mrs. Beach's
heart as she went up stairs-music to the
words, Eyes open! eyes openr
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-02

"Why am There on this dark, suspicious
street so late at night Z Have / been
dreaming, or is it all real Yes,it is real
ity; yonder is the Church steeple and here
is the cemetery beneath whose turf lie the
remains Of my nurse, my father, my moth
cr-all gone, aud am alone, stricken BY
the harsh rod Of poverty, oppression, injus-
tice and persecution.
- ALAS why am cast out on the street
] at an hour when feeble nature shrinks frem
the darkness, to wander around this sacred
home Of the dead, as if knocking the mys-
tic signal for admittance into the. dread
Lodge Of Mortality Why AMI thus
lpmeless and bouselessz -helpl pless.viegifh
q oFoppressions Turned off to mingIe with the
disgraced and be branded an outcast? |
remember now because was poor and
friendless, and because | had paid her nv
last penny, my heartless landlady, whom
alone | had looked to as friend, thrust
me from her door, and branded my char
acter with an epithet of shame a
mocking sneer she bid me 90 seek ma kvinq
dnaong-Oh Father in Heaven, be nv
protector and preserve me in this hour of
trial, of misery, of danger. Thou knowest,
Father, that1 am weak and tempted, be
Thou my guide and comforter. Thou
knowest its feeble resolves. While | kneel
i'll sound of my mothers sacred dust, bear
me assuring witness that | am free from
shame. And aveaage, o. Lord, ayenge the
anguish my helpless soul now writhes un-
der-dUenge the wrongs [ have suffered
from the hands of the wicked, help me to
friends and protection, and save me from
the blasting curse of infamy and shame"
Thus prayed in the bitterness of mental
agony, Ella Hamilton; and as the wild
notes of her grief rang out on the midnight
air, the occasional passer-by paused mo-
ment and listened to her piercing lament.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-02
AN orrcAsT's MUSINGS.

"What can it be so late ?-yes thetown
clock has struck eleven! o! mercy, can
it be that | am wandering along this gay,
deserted street alone, homeless and friend
less, so late at night! Where am |, and
where am going! This is a city-yes,
this is Eighth Street; for there is the
Church steeple, and yonder the stone wall
of the cemetery. All me, within that sa
cred enclosure and underneath its grassy
turf rests the loved form of my mother-a
father too lies there, who | have heard say
was rich. They rest there in quiet and
peace, while their daughter wanders away
without where to lay her head. They were
rich, while | am poor. How is it This
is strange world. The picture of my
fathers face is blotted on memory's scroll ;
; memory was too feeble-too fragile to re-
tain the glimpse of him given my infant
eyes. But, Oh! my mother She was
good and kind; dim recollection paints
her as of angel form and angel face, and ii
; is written on the leaf of the heart like g
loved and cherished vision. All it is in.
:, dellibly fixed here where my timid heart
now trembes so fearfully between fainting
hope and gathering fear. And, Oh! sucl
smiles as she gave to me, her only babe
They beamed on my face like gloriou
- sunspot, and my little heart was glad.
y have never seen such smiles since. The
died when she died, were buried when sh
was buried and went to Heaven, frol
- whence they came, when she went up wit
her angels
"Ah! mother in Heaven, It's well yc
know not of the trials and misery of yo1
:. poor daughter l rejoice that therein yC
~ ~ are ignorant. Sweet be thy sleep of deaf
~ ~ All wealthy father, little do you know
'o the poverty and suferings of the infant "
once loved. All faithful nurse, you W
An bore with my crossness when child, tt
-, directed my steps along the paths of gl
~ hood, and counseled me in the days OF ht
denism, tear would dim your deep b
eve il you knew that her you once lov
roamed the dark street with heavy he;
But the angel came, and you left the VIC
for better land-a pure home of b
where sorrow never cometh,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-02

old Clutch say z"
."He looked right at me and told me to
60 to the devil"
eWhat did you do ~
Il came to you, of course"
I "What will you do now n
"Stay with him.
@With who 4"
"Stop, Crocus, your wit is intolerable.
You don't feel as | feel. No money to be
borrowed and unless / get money | am a
hopeless bankrupt. The very thought of
the news going out that Ketchem and Skin
en- have failed will run me mad"
"Wouldn't another Hamilton estate be a
glory-send just in this extremity 2"
"Crocus, don't mention that Hamilton
transaction to me again; would to Heaven
that with some magic power, | could wipe
the deed from the page of memory. That
was but little better than robbery-indeed
it aoas robbery for helpless orphan was
wronged out Of her just dues-an orphan
child around whose heart there PLAYED
kindred blood to mine. Her wealth was
snatched from her by these hands, Crocus,
and while she hassbeen writhing under the
stinging curse of bitter poverty, my wife
and daughters have been rioting in the lux
uries of foolish and sinful extravaganza.
This is one of the darkest pages in my his
tory, and would gladly change its sombre
colorlngs for sunny picture Of peace by
an honest restoration but alas five hun
dred can never be made cancel a debt of
seventy thousand Crocus, you have been
faithful and prudent clerk, and to your
caution | am debtor; for to you alone is
known the secrets of that Hamilton affair.
and hadyou blabbed them, long before this
| should have been dragged to the bar of
Justice, and restoration forced from my
guilty hands; but the evil day draweth nigh
that shall publish my knavery and my
tamily's folly. Crocus, do you remain in
the oftice-we can do nothing, it seems
we cannot borrow--already our best friends
begin to suspicion us-soon it will 90 forth
that our house has failed, and ali honest
mems tongues will hiss out the blistering
stigma that Manuel Ketchem was a thief.
l must go away. Tell those who call for
me that | am out"
And Ketchem left the office VERY much
ct way to enjoy quiet smoke.
His first visitor was Eaton, who rushed
into the office in great haste, his sable face
shade darker than usual.
"Wha's Massa Ketchem? Wha's Masss
Ketchem ?"
"Gone out" said Crocus. "What
wrong now"
40 Lor'! O Lor'y!! I Ijes knowed
would turn so Missus Ketchem am werr.
wexed, an de two Misses all runnin ava
in tears !"
"Umph."
"An' they all worked wrong since
went home an tell 'em what he say-de
; cry an cry-scold an scold-storm al
storm, till b'lieve dey goin' to die rigl
out in fits, an tell me to make haste al
i run an bring Massa Ketchem to 'em.-
Wha you say he is ?"
He has gone out, and will not be hon
! until tea"
e 90 Lor' dey will cry 'emsels all away
"Umph !"
at is case of sorrow for sartain."
y Crocus mods and puffs his segar, as {
ton goes out to return home with the new
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-02

NJ O. Railroad. The receipts Of the N.
n Railroad. for the four months ending
Novsmber lst, reached $1S1, ,024, being an
;,erease of s22, TIT, over the receipts for
be same period last year.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-02

JOHN NEwLAND MAFFITT, with all his
eccentricities, was one of the most eloquent
pulpit orators of his day. His imaginative
powers have been seldom equaled, and his
command of language was wonderful
His written style, however, will not bear
the severity Of criticism. 1t is overloaded
with ornament. Occasionally, as in this
handsome tribute to
MORAL EXCELLENCE,
his sentiments, unobscured by the gorge
business oftheir drapery, are worthy of pre-
servation for their intrinsic beauty and
truthfulness:
wide and far-reaching as is the triumph
of genius and art, the triumph of moral ex-
cellence is more enduring; its empire
more undisputed its Immortality more
certain. The great Luther, who grayed
the deep lines of the Reformation upon the
tablet of the sixteenth century, and bade
the clock of eternity pause until ne had
snotched the century with the impress O
his master mind he was theman! Around
his brow the honors cluster that belong to
him who hews an age into a shape OF mora
beauty, and fashions a hinge fragment o
time after the great model of eternity. Tc
express the moral grandeur Of these mer
/ "a Luther-a Phidias, and Praxlteles
and Thorswalsden might carve; ia
nbael. David, and West might pant
They only fashion blocks and breathe beau
tv into tabLeaur he was the creator OF an
aoe he rolled back the dial of the dark
years of the world, and wound up estiny
to a brighter course.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-02
"You are a fool"
1eThev said son

"You are fool"
'They said so"
swell 60 and try again. Go to old
Clutch around the corner and talk ginger
ly TO him."
Crocus went away as bid and soon re-
turned.
@What news now, Crocusl What did
old Clutch say n
.@He looked right at me and told me to
90 to the devil"
"What did you doly
Il came to you, of course" -
:, "What will you do now n
"Stay with him."
tsIVifb ,,fbnQ0
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-02
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
KETCHEM AND SKlNE NJ,
THE PINCHPENNY BROKERS'.
BY WILL: wILLowILL.

[coNr1NUED FROM LAST WEEK.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-03-11
The American Navy

1t appears from the Navy Register, vol
ume of one hundred and thirty y-six pages, just ls
sued, that there are now upon the active ser
vice list GA Captains, (when in command OF
squadrons to be denominated flag ofleers) vi
Commanders, 40 Surgeons and "a Pursers,
ranking with Commanders, 27 Surgeons, and
80 Pursers ranking with Lieutenants 3ll Lieu
tenants 43 Passed assistant Surgeons, "a Chap
lains, - Professors of Mathematics, "a Maste
in the Line of Promotion, and "a Passed Mid.
shipmen. There are 80 Midshipmen arranged
according to their merit as graduates OF the Ma
val Academy-and there appears to be l45 now
at school and on probation in Annapolis, divided
into four classes There are in the service 3e
boatswains, 40 gunners 4S carpenters, and ~
sailmakers In the Engineers department there
are II chief engineers "a first assistants, 2O Sec
ond assistants, 80 third assistants-ln all 96.-
We have ten permanent navy agents within the
United States, and one temporary at London
Barring Brothers L Co., and we have at home
and abroad, 13 naval storekeepers. We have
eight naval constructors stationed at the several
wards. hemp agent in Kentucky, coal agents in
PENNSYLVANIA and Maryland, and agents for the
preservation of live oak and other timber in
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi
Within the past year there have been II resig-
nations, % deaths, and dismlssals
Our Navy appears to consist OF 10 ships ol
the line, 13 frigates, 10 sloopso brigs 1C
schooners, screw steamers of the first class,
of the second class, 2 of the third class, side
wheel steamers of the first class, side wheel Of
the second class, 5 of the third class, 8 steam.
tenders and store ships
The Home Squadron is composed of the frig.
ate Wabash and sloops Saratoga and Cyane; the
Pacific SQUADRON of frigate Independence sloops
St Mary's, John Adams Decatur and steamer
Massachusetts, the Mediterranean Squadron o.
steam frigate Susquehanna, frgate Congress and
sloop Constellation the Brazil Squadron of frig
ate St Lawrence and sloops Germantown and
Falmouth; the African Squadron OF sloops James
town and St. Louis and brig Dolphin the East
india Souadron of steam trigate San Jacinto and
sloons Portsmouth aud Levant. On the Lake:
we haye-tbe little steamer Michigan, with the
Formidable armament of one gun The steamer
Merrimac seems to be on special service and moi
of the Mediterranean Squadron. Store ship Sup
ply is absent after cGnaets and the Release is alb
sent after sugar cane.
On the Reserved List there are 80 Captains
30 Commanders, 63 Lieutenants, II Masters anc
. passed Midship pmen. Under the late law o
Congress these may have an opportunity to ap
near before the Court which will organize al
washington on the goth, composed of Captains
Tovallefte Stringham and McCluney, and show
conse if thew can, why they should not have
been removed from the active list by the late
Retiring Board.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-03-11

The Paris correspondent of the New York
times tells story which serves to show the
rapid manner in which the Russian govern
ment does an act of justice. Eighteen months
ago, Miss Ward, of one of our Southern States,
was married at Florence to Polish count
After residing with her three weeks, he took
French leave, taking bis wife's jewels. He
left letter stating that the marriage was inval-
id, from the fact that no Russian subject, could
be legally married except by the Greek service.
Of course the lady was in great CONSERVATION,
and the time of the coronation of the Gar she
with her mother went to St. Petersburg. Mr..
Sala, the principle writer for Dickens House
hold Words, drew up petition for her to the
Russian government, and it was presented by
Mr.. Seymour the American minister. The case
was laid before the emperor, and an order was
issued to the Russian minister at Naples where
the count was living, for his arrest. He was
seized by the Neapolitan police, at the expense
of Russia, carried to Warsaw, where the lady
and her friends were waiting, marched into the
church by posse of policemen, and there was
compelled to stand up before the altar and be
married in due form. His wife, the countess
turned to him as soon as the ceremony was over
made a formal bow, and babe him adieu forev-
er. The count was then sent to Siberia, his
property contiscated, his wife retaining one third
by law. The family Immediately left for Italy,
where they are spending the winter.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-03-11
POETRY.
The Widow to the Bride.


The Widow to the Bride.
al SAW thee welded, lady,
At the altars holy side,
As with roses mid thy shining hair,
Thou stood'st happy bride;
The soft light o'er that joyous band,
A tender radiance shed,
While priestly word and marrisge-ring,
Proclaimed thee duly wed
~ saw thee welded, lady,
With the love-light on thy brow,
And heard thy low-breathed whisper
OF the holy marriage vow;
And by the quick pulsation
In my bosom'S inmost core,
knew thy heart was throbbng
As it ne 'er had throbbed before.
al saw thee welded, lady,
And my thoughts went rowing back
To bridal day which long ago,
Illumed life's sunny track;
When like thyself, vowed to love,
Through veal and wo, for life,
And with the golden circlet claimed,
That sweetest nams-G acye!
ooh marvel not, if mid the smiles
That graced thy nuptial hour,
Mine ewes were wet with bitter tears,
Which fell like summer shower;
1t was not envy of thy lot,
Nor sorrow at thy bliss;
would not that thy cup ofjoy
One shining drop should miss.
"But Oh twas memory, MnMoRYs power,
Which thus my spirit bowed;
knelt again as once | knelt,
And vowed as once vowed;
NethOught | stood as thou didst stand,
The loved one by my side;
Then looked upon my darkened robes,
The widowed, not the bride
"Yet, lady, though my heart was sad,
And sad il oft must be,
Heavens best and holiest benson
'Twouid still call down on thee.
Joy to the bride Loves brightest wreath
For thee may true love twlne,
And be thy welded life as blest,
And oh less brief than mine"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-03-11
A DARING Fox.-The Illinois Emporium tells

A DARING Fox-The Illinois Emporium tells
the following rather foxy story:
"a gentleman residing in Scott county, (Mo.,)
informs us that while he was leisurely riding a.
long the banks of the Mississippi last week, with
half dozen favorite chickens thrown across his
saddle bow, large fox emerged from the woods
and impudently followed him. Thinking Rey-
nard would lay himself liable to capture in ma
king off with them, he tossed the shanghais from
his horse. They had not struck the ground be-
fore the fox had seized them. Our friend threw
himself from his horse, but before he had clev-
erly alighted, the fox with all six of the fowls,
was several feet out in the Mississippi, padding
with an industry worthy of the occasion, for the
opposite bank of the river. Alter offering his
kingdom for gun, about dozen times, our
friend bestrode his nag and pushed onward, feel
ing very much like he had been abominably
Sold"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-03-11
NO. XIV.
d the Serpent into blissful and unsuspecting

|
Eden.
! We might enlarge on our hypothesis, aud
bring forward our instances to prove that even
where there is some degree of affinity between
two races, occupying the same territory, there
has seldom, if ever been political Union, or civil
amalgamation, how much less then, are these to
be expected where there is none? We are chary,
and justly so, of admitting foreigners to partci-
patton in our inherent rights and established
prerogatives and to some Of us at least, 1t Is ap-
parent we have already been too liberal OF our
national immunties to those who in all but po-
tical constitution we might hail as brethren,for
they resemble us in form, and complexion; IN
moral aptitude and intellectual endowment, and
doubtless owe their origin to the same parent
stock. But can we say the same OF those 1t is
now proposed TO advance to the dignity OF fel-
lowship with freemen; to association with us IN
the cares of State and the responsibilities OF
government; with whom we could form no So
cial alliance that would be violation, not only
of our own proper prejudice, but presumptuous
to that wisdom which created every living thing
after its kind" and assigned to each its station,
its purpose and enjoyment: endowing each, at
the same time. with capacities for its sphere OF
action, beyond which it rarely proceeds without
detriment to itself,or injury to Others The frog,
in the fable, aspiring to emulate the majesty or
the OK, burst in the effort, and paid dearly for
its temerity, and SO may it be with the subjects
of philanthropy at variance with natures wise
and plain intentions, who, encouraged to trans
gress her provident decree, may discover TOO
late, that the same self-protecting policy OF the
white man that has driven the Red to the utter
most limits of his, once, own continent, with the
Ocean as his next, and final alternative, may
deem it expedient, on the failure of q rash ex-
pertinent, which has never yet proved propitious,
to send the less homogeneous Black to bear him
company. W. b. b.
Ellendale, Va.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-03-11

THE GREAT Snow SToRM-lnteresting Facts.
Lieut.. Maury, of the National Observatory,
states that he has ascertained that the great
snow storm of January 18th was a thousand
miles wide In communication to the Secre-
tary of the Navy he says the storm commenced
simultaneously in Virginia and North Carolina,
and marched against the wind into the New
England States From BERTHE county North
Carolina, to Washington the course of the storm
was due north h,and the time three or four hours.
From Washington to New York it was about
fourteen hours on the march, with furious gale
right in its teeth thence to Boston it flew at
railway speed making the distance in six hours;
and thence it arrived at Portland, Maine, at IL
P. NJ. of the 18th thus making its march in the
"wind's eve" from North Carolina to Maine in
about twenty-six hours.
If the system of daily weather reports through
the telegraph which you have recommended for
the Observatory had been established, New York
and our shipping ports might have had from
eighteen to twenty-four hours warning in ad-
vance of this storm; the industrial pursuits Of
the country and the convenience of the public,
as well as the shipping interest, might all have
had the benefit of such foreknowledge; for the
telegraph, the press and the mails can outstrip
the wind, and spread the news of its coming
faster than it can run.
Are you aware that at this season of the year
che average number of shipwrecks is about one
American vessel for every eight hours, and that
the total value of the losses at sea for the month
of January is set down at something like four
millions of dollars
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-03-11
SIR1enrNG IN NEBRAsKA.-A correspondent o
L C1i L.

the Cleveland Plaindeaer writes
''My attention was attracted this morning by
two comfortable frame houses moving through
our streets upon runners, and drawn by -four
horses each. Stove-pipes protruded through the
roof, indicating coziness and comfort within
Windows adorned the sides,an tiny iclcles tllt'
tered in the sunlight, pendant from the caves
Upon inquiry we learned that these houses con-
tanned the family of an old acquaintance, Hon
Isaac Parrish, formerly of Ohio, who is moving
from his home in Iowa to new one at the town
of De Soto in this territory"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-03-11

mand for walking millinery blocks, that few
years hence you will only see bevy OF fading
spinsters, where you had hoped TO see your
grand children at play; you wondering mean
while, if the matrimonial market Yiil ever rise
so high as that they may yet become merchant
able articles