The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1857-11-06
From tho North Fairfield Gilu,ts
Auto biography Of a Quarter.

/ first saw the light Of day in the city
lof Philadelphia, about tho commence
nent of the year 1888, and liko an oeoa-
sional production Of the human family. ] h
was the largest when FIRST born, for at
that time was n fifty ceot piece.
NV Unole sam" vas my iather-a
freak Of nature that does sometimes occur \
uow-adays, and asile from che above
lnimed peculiari,ies. there oas nolhingat
tending the circumstances Of birth that
was unusual. save. as [ after learned. that
[ was motherless The Grst rcoolleolions
Of my youth were embittered by this sad /
truth.
( was not remarkable for any particular !
preoocily, but was pronounced brilliant /
and beautiful by all that saw mo-was |
datlered and oourted by the eulire popu
lace. In circulating round" l found a
Cow Of my specie(s,) J from an older one
Of which learned that | was slave This
vas confirmed by my own observation
e and made me unhappy for a time, bat ]
soon discovered that l possessed more
: power over my masters than they could
e POSSIBLY exercise over me.
= Aftor visiting many places OF note and
. interest in my native city, aud for the most
! part sustaining a good moral character
s / was sent by my master TO Washington
s City, Here, for tho FIRST time ia my life.
began to get into bad company. The first
l. act Of my life that gave me compunotions
+ Of conscience was the part | played 10
9 the Collins Appropriation Bill / assisted
! to furnish the champagne that "log roll
r ed" that infamous swindle through Con.
n gross. While performing many disrepu
J. table acts Of similar nature, for all Of
y which have most sincerely repenloj. /
+ formed the acquaintance Of one Frank
's Pierce, formerly third rate lawyer Of
II New Hampshire. and lately supposed to
Il bo President Of the United States but in
IS reality an agent Of the South American
g Slavery Extension Souiety--had spree
I one night with Douglas and "a lot more
ID fellers," in honor of the final passage ol
n the Repeal Of the Missouri Compromise,
n and SO far lost my solf-rospeot by such
be association as TO be found IN company with
I'd Congressmen- assisting them at the gam.
to ing table--mamuding around the city
tn nights, and not unfrequently, like them
O. getting so oulrngeously sight as not {
u be able to do duty next day.
's- After pursuing this prohigate course o
life for time fell into tho hands Of m,
ol- esteemed friend. Tom Benton, who, afle
os- giving me some good advice about bcin
M caught in bad company, sent me on a mis-
he sion to the west, the nature OF which
he was not informed at the time, but sur
ic- posed il related to the grea. Pacific Raj
IN road scheme.
g a According to tho great Statesman's dc
ip- sires, took passage in the cars one pleas
ng ant spring morning FOR tho Tar west, an
Tor in a short time was whizzing over plai
vim and dell with almost lightning speed
on what seemed strange TO me was that m
oite fellow passengers were consNnly gruml
- ling about our slow progression my ov
airy part thought fifty miles an hour ia
'es, enough.
ma We got along safely enough, howovc
end until we came TO high emblnkmer
can when sud 'enly tho incessant din OF ro
to ing wheels and the mad snortng Of Il
ear ''exoiled animal ahead" was put TO an ot
we by collision with a similar ''mad inlat
i've alton" and we were al rolled promisc
TO- ously down the embahkmout together.
'NN hllnOuIu hbuelble VI " Altuieuuul
ore shock, soon asoertaiued that l hal T
cir ceyed no personal injury, but on lookii
on around, creationl what a sight AS
in usual in such cases, all That was discern
,re- bic was as an abundance Of stoves mo
ing around in various directions, aud
heterogeneous mass Of human flesh ~
bones, with only here and there an int
vidual that was able to assume the pc
azy pendicuar position,
Allow me here to express the opini
ing that Railroad riding is rather an unoe
tain business whore the engine. engine
OF and conductor are all under full head
pay steam
But to return TO tho scene Of disast
ose A countryman near by came to tho "r
o'ts; cue, /" but tho horrorof the scene we'll nj
unnamed him. As he passed along a
IN q viewed the scene Of death, pallor ov
spread his countenance, and his suieriI
hout seemed intense; but presently amo
the the rubbish he espied my fair proportio
aud Immediately eight was in his eye
II 20 smile lt up his countenanoe and an
Iclamation something like GOD SEN
hnst broke from his lips and in another nom
s.s. ]
'hl- by reason Of a sudden transfer TO his
ions; paeious pocket, where / spent the rema
der Of the day in company with an
rry, a empty wallet, iack-kuifs, aud an en-
attn; nous plug Of tobacco. BAIL
Ill, Having failed TO accomplish my miss
oxen by reason Of this disaster. remained
.,,. this rural Obstruction some time ard eng
'''u,' ed in the laudable employment Of buy
n'oS' pins, needles, snuff, tea and sugar for
OLD ladies, calicces aud ribbons for
w girls, aud straw hats and stand up col
for the boys, until one day came
-. the possession OF a nervous old genlleI
NOR WHO had the tooth-ache, and he paid
IN TO over to dentist for "services render
ed IN upon the refractory tooth.
to De Hero my individual calamites re
TO dc commenced; for the uufeeling wieldei
Iound the forcAps clipped OF poriioe Of
T. aat perfect proportions, and ! became
20 pryed Of one-half my original size
value, TO which referred IN The prev
AL. artH hoo