davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
Putnam as a Spy.

Among the officers of the Revolutionary
army, none, probably, possessed more orig
inality than General Putnam, who was &C.
centric and fearless, blunt in his manners,
| the daring soldier without the polish of a
gentleman. He might well be called the
Marion of the North, though he disliked
disguise, probably from the tact of his lisp
ing, which was very apt to overthrow any
trickery which he might have in view. At
that time, stronghold called Horseneck,
some miles from New York, was in the
hands of the British. Putnam, with few
sturdy patriots, was lurking in the vicinity,
bent on driving them from the place. Tired
of lurking in ambush, the men began 10 be
impatient, and importuned the General with
the question as TO when they were to have
a bout with the foe. One morning he made
speech something to the following effect,
which convinced them that something was
in the wind: :" Fellows, you have been idle
too long, and so has the ox-team and the
bag OF corn. II ! come back, will let you
know the particulars; if | should not, let
them them have it, by hockey"
He soon afterwards mounted his ox-cart,
dressed as one of the commonest order of
Yankee farmers, and was soon at Bucks
tavern, which was IN possession of the
British troops. No sooner di,' the officers
espy him than they began to question him
as to lis whereabouts, and finding him a
complete simpleton, as they thought, they
hor,p to 1uiz him and thraatanad IN eoizp
his corn and fodder. "How much do you
ask for your whole concern!" asked they
" For mercy's sake, gentlemen" replied the
mock cIodhopper, with the most deplorable
look of entreaty, "only let me off, and you
shall have my hull team and load for moth
ing, and if that don't dew, I'll give my word
I'll return tomorrow. and pay you heartily
for your kindness and condescension."-
"We!l," said they, "we'll take your word.
Leave the team and provender with Us, and
we wont require any bad bail for your ap-
pearance." Putnam gave up The team, and
sauntered about for an hour or so, gaining
all the information he desired. He then
returned to bis men end told them of the
foe, and the plan of attack. The morning
came, and with it sailed out the gallant
hands, and when they surrendered to Cen
eral Putnam, the clodhopper, he sarcasti-
cally remarked. "Gen'lemen, l have kept
my word. told you | would call and pay
you for your kindness and condescension. F"
Revolutionary "reminiscences.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
HOME AND w1rs ON SATURDAY NleHr.


HOME AND Wire ON SATUREAY NIGHT
Happy is the man who has home and a
little angel in it of Saturday night. A
house, no matter how little, provided it will
hold two or SO, no matter how humbly fur
nished, provided there is hope in it let the
winds blow; close the curtainsi
What if they are calico, or plain white,
without border, tassel, or any such thing!
Let the rain come down. heap up the hre'
No matter if you haven't candle to bless
yourself with, for what beautiful light
glowing Goals make, reddening, clouding'
shedding a sunset through the room; JUST
enough to tax BY, not loud, as in the high
way; not rapid, as in the hurrying world,
but softly, whisperingly, with pauses be-
tween, tor the storm without and the
thoughts within to fill up.
Then wheel the sofa round before the fire.
no matter if the sofa is settee, uncushioned
at that, if so be it is just long enough for
two, or say two and half, with the two
and half in it.
Under such circumstances, and at such
time, one can get at least si1ty-nine and
half statute miles nearer "kingdom come''
than any other point in this world laid down
in the "Malte Brun."
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25

DEATH OF Mr.. ROBERT BURNs.-We
Burns, which melancholy event occurred on
the afternoon of Thursday, the 14th inst,
at his residence here. Mr.. Burns was born
at Mauchline, in September. 1876, so that
he had nearly completed his list year. In
several respects, IN point of intellect, the
deceased vas no ordinary man, but vet he
was chiefly remarkable throughout life as
being the eldes son OF Robert Burns. the
national poet Of Scotland. Burns died in
1876, and his eldest boy was nearly ten
years Of age at the time of that premature
decease. Mr. Burns was an accomplished
scholar. Endowed with a prodigious men,
ory and great powers of application, ..he had
amassed vast quantity of knowledge on a
great range of subjects. His enthusiasm in
the acquisition -of information continued to
almost his las days, and for soma years he
hal been almost passionately attached to
the study of the language of the Gaul. In
music he was proficient student, possess
ing both the Sretical aud practical knowl-
edge Of the art. A portion of the fathers
poetic mantle had fallen upon the son, and
IN his earlier years he composed verses of
considerable intrinsic merit His remains
will be laid to-day beside those of his father
in the mausoleum. st. Michael's Churchyard, !,
the vault of which has not been iopenea for
upwards of twenty years.-Dumfries Couri-
er, M0y l9.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
A Remedy for Growers.

There are class of men in every COM
munity who 60 about with vinegar faces,
because somebody feels above them, or be-
cause they are not appreciated as they should
be, and who have constant quarrel with
their destiny. These men usually have
made very grave mistake in the estimate
of their abilities or are unmitigated asses.
In either case they are unfortunate Wher-
eret this feuit-Guding with ,one's condition
or position occurs, there is always want
OF self-respect. If people despise you, do
not tell it all over town. you are smart,
show it. Do something and keep doing
If you are right down clever fellow, wash
the wormwuod off your face, and show your
good will by your good deeds. Then, if
people feel above you,' go stright off, and
feel above them. If they turn up Their
noses because you are mechanic, or farm
er, OF a shop-boy, turn yours notch higher.
If they swell when .they pass you in the
street, swell yourself; and il that does not
fetch them conclude, very good naturedly,
that they are unworthy your acquaintance,
and pity them for missing such capital
chance of getting into good society.
Society never estimates man at what he
imagines himself to be. He must show him
self possessed of selfrespect, independent
energy to will and to do. and good sound
heart. These qualities and self-possession
will put him through Who blames a man
for feeling above those who are mean enough
TO 90 around like babies, telling how people
abuse them and whining because society
will not take them by the collar and drag
them into decency. We are tolerably hum
Bile, IN our way, but we Go feel above such
folks, and respectfully request them not to
speak to US.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
See What YOU are Drinking.

DR.. Hiram Cox, chemical inspector Of al
coho!ic liquors in Cincinnati, states, in an
address to his fell9w-citizens, that during
tive years he has made two hundred and
forty nine inspections of various kinds of
liquors, and has found more than nine-tenths
of limitations, and a great portion of them
pO ison0us coEcoctions OF brandy, he does
not believe there is gallon of pure in
hundred gallons, the mutations having corn
whisky for basis, and various poisonous
acid for the Condiments. OF wines, not a
gallon in athousand.purporting to be sherry,
port, sweet malaga, &c, is pure. but they
are made of water. sulphuric acid, alum,
Guinea pepper, horse-radish, &C.. and many
Of them without single drop OF alcoholic
spirit. DR. Cox warrants there are not ten
gallons of genuine port wine IN Cincinnati! !!
In his inspection OF whisky, ne has found
only from seventeen to twenty per cent. of
alcoholic spirit, when it should have been
:orty-five to fifty, g. some of it contains sui
phurc and enough in quart to eat hole
through a mans stomach
It is said that many fish have been killed
lately in the Sciota river, near Chillicothe,
Ohio, by the drainage from the whiskey dis
tilleries. This did not formerly occur, and
there is nothing in the grain that should
prove fatal to the fish. 1t is no doubt the
effect of strychnine, recently introduced
into the manufacture of whisky. By the
use of a certain quantity of this poison
mixed With tobacco juice, every bushel Of
grain is made to produce five gallons OF
whiskey, while, with an honest dstillation
the product is only half that amount. The
slop from this filthy compound is fouad to
be fatal to the distillery hogs,and chemist,
who carefully apalyzed the whisky, found
that barrel of it contained enough strych-
nine to kill thirty men! So notorious and
alarming has this use of a deadly poison be-
come,,he Ohio Legislature has just passed a
law making i, State Prison offence to use
strychnine in the manufacture OF whisky.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
D THOBURN EDITOR & PROPRIETOR.]
NEW SERIES, VOL. I, NO 26.1

he knew the water below the dam to be
more expanded and free from rocks. Then
throwing his body suddenly against the
boat, and running along until he was within
few feet of the fall he sprang into it and
passed over with it. A moment or two the
light vessel, as it shot into the air, stood
poised. and then went plunging down.
The fearful leap was made in safety. The
boat struck the smooth waters below, and
glanced out from the whirlpool, bearing it:
living freight uninjured.
which was the coward!' The words
reached the ears of Logan, as he gathered
with the rest of the company, around Will
son and the trembling girls he had so heroi'
cally saved. Fair lips asked the question
One maiden had spoken to another, and in
a little louder voice than she intended.
Not Edward Wilson, said Logan, as he
stepped forward snd grasped the hand Of
him he had wronged and insulted. Not
Edward Wilson, he Is the noblest and the
brayest'
/ Wilson made an effort to reply. But he
was for some moments too much exhausted
to speak. He said at last:
4 only DID what was right. May eve
have courage for that while live.'
Afterward he remarked, when along witt
Logan:
'lt required far greater exercise of cour
age to forbear, when you provoked and in
suited me in the pre- ence OF those who ex'
pected retaliation, than it did to risk my
life at the mill-dam.'
Here is a moral heroism that few can ap.
preciate. And it will usually be found thai
the morally brave man is the quickest to
lose the sense of personal danger wher
others are in danger.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
A Scolding Wife.

Got ascolding wife have you! Well,i =
your own fault, ten to one. Women are
all naturally amiable, and when their temp
ters get crossed it's the men that do it. Jus,
look al yourself as you came home last
night! Slamming doors, and kicking every
thing that laid in the way right and left
because-well you could not tell for the life
of you what it was for. Suppose you'd been
laying your face under embargo all day for
those who cared nothing about you, smiling
and nodding, hemming and hailing. and
wanted you whore you could ENJOY super
lative ill-nature.
No wonder your wife was cross, getting
supper with baby in her arms! Why didn't
you take the baby, and trot it, and please
it!-'RooIn was in confusion'-wby did mt
you put it to rights! You want little
.rest!,-Sc does your wife, and she ge.s
precious little, poor woman. You are at
your shop--walking briskIy through the
sunshine in this bracing Misunderstanding
:he aper-meeting friends and acquaint-
ances-siting costly in the office. She is
at home with clinging arms dragging about
her neck, loving, but still wearisome a;
times. She is dependent upon the call OF
a neighbor for little break up in her mon-
otonous life, or the opening of window
upon stunted yard for what fresh air comes
Wake up, man alive, and look in this matter
Put on your best smiles the moment your
foot touches the door step. Treat the lit
tered room to broad grin And your wife
to kiss. Give the baby some sugar p'ums,
and little Bobby new picture book to busy
his bright eyes with. Tell that poor tired
looking woman that you've brought her a
nice book to read, and that you're going TO
stay at home of evenings. Our word for it,
apologies will be plentiful, supper will come
on like magic, everything will have an extr
touch. At times there will be something
very much like tears in the good womans
eyes, and her voice vii be quite husky
when she asks you if your tea quite suits
you. Of course it will to charm.
1t may be little silent that evening"
You miss the complaining tone.l the scolding
and fault finding; but your loss is her gain;
she is thinking of the long past, bu. con-
siders upon the whole that she is happier
woman tonight than she ever was in her
whole lite tefore.
Give the new plan fair trial. Gradual
ly as YOU return, you will find the house in
perfect order. Old dresses will be remodel
led, and your wife will appear COED as
new. Home will grow more and more
pleasant, and the brightest smile upon your
features during the day will be reflected on
the thought that evening IS coming with its
pleasant chat of your wife and little ones.
Scolding wife indeed! If you imen did as
you should, wouldn't such wife be an an
omaly Boston Olive Branch.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
Western Elouuence.

The following is said to be not burles-
que. but part of real speech in cr:minal |
trial out Vest
My speech may not Gerry it, but it runs
throu Oh all the law, that heresay evidence is
not to be received How erroneous is we'll
illustrated by the. .anecdote of the King of
Siam and the, Dutch ambassador. The am-
bassador called upon the King,told him that
in his country water congealed so that ele-
plants could walk over it. 'Oh.' says the
King OF Siam, Il don't believe acord Of it
Now | was wiling tina: you should look at
and inspect that physiognomy, LPointing ia
prisoners face of most vilainous express
sion, I and it will compare with any coun-
tenance around. Take for instance the
Prosecuting Attorney. Nth that elongated
face of his, ,cith that FErLocK OF HAIR, hang
ino ouer his bronzed counienance LIKE WILD
ASS SWEEPING OVER THE PLAINS OF MEXICO,
amid the loud DIAPAsJNs of heavens artillery,
and it won't compare with the prisoners
Don't it 60 with ERREsistable force! could
any man be so fool-hardy [thump,] as to
suppose that he would go and say that
(thump,l he stole that coat! Would he get
down into a cabin, plunder coat and pants,
ihumpl could it be possible!
The Prosecuting Attorney has peculiar
faculty OF preaching sermon at the open
ing and delivering lecture at the close.
This prisoner may have had an ingenious
method of getting this coat-there may have
been concoction, a union of Joint efforts, a
cooperation, combination among them to
put this upon defendant. 1t will require
tact, it will require skill. it will be like d
man at sea for life and thrown overheard 10
prove that this coat was worth one cent.
You can't but acguit defendant
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25

A WONDERFUL ANIMAL annexed
description OF the Rhinorceros by "show-
man" is very much liko the bombastic and
incoDgruous nonsense in which tha, class in-
dulge.
"Mr. Snowman, what is thatl" That, my
dear, is the Rinocercrow. He is causing
German or Dutch relative to the Unicorn.
He was born on the desert of Sary Anne,
and ted on bamboo and missionaries. He
is very gorgeous. and never leaves home
unless he moves, in which scass he goes
somewhere else, unless he is overtskan by
the dark He was brought to this country
much against his own will, which accounts
for his low spirits, when he is msisncholy
and detected. He is now very aged, al
though he has been the youngest specimen
OF animated nature in the world"
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25

MRs. PARTINGroN's OPISIoS OF GENIUS.
al don't know what you mean by genius"
said Mrs Partington with animation, while
speaking OF the merits of a tyro' who had
lust given evidence of wonderful ability by
improvis;ng, ostensibly, poem before the
institute Of which he was member. 81
don't know what you mean BY genius IT he
hasn't got it, FOR didn't he impoverish poet
nv before the Literary Destitute, should
like to know, and receive lots of reprobs-
ticu for it from people who know what
good poetry isl" There was triumph in the
tone Of her voice, ard though her antago-
mist smiled, she evidently had him because
be made no further remark, except to re-
quest her to compel Ike to discontinue
blowing beans at him, as several had come
in rather close proximity TO his nose. Iks
said he was blowing them at Lon.-Ere-
piRS GGssiLs.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25

THE -HIxDoo WHO HAD BEEN MAIHIED
IwicE.--lt is read in the Bibliotheque
OrisntaLe, that poor HiHdoo, having been
released from the cares this world, pre-
sented himself at the gate of Brahma's par
adse.
'Have you been through purgstorsl" ask
cd the god
"No! but have been married.
"Come in then; it is althe same"
At this same moment arrived another
mar, just defunct, who begged of Brabma
TO be permitted to go in also.
SOFTLY softly: Have you been through
purgatofy!"
"No! but what of thatt Did yon not adm it
a moment ago, one who hVd not been there
more than %
"Certainly; but he has been married"
''MarreO! who are you talking to! have
been maraied f,Oice."
"Oh, pshawrreplies Brahma, "get away!
Paradise is no place for fools."s
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25

ETERNITY TY.-'ETEkNIrY has no orey hairs,
The flowers fade, the heart withers, man
grows old ard dies; the world lies down in
thesepulcher of ages, but time writes no
wrinkles on the brow of eternity.
Eternity. Stupendous thought, The
ever-present, unborn, undecaying, and un.
dyng-,he endless chain, composing the
life of God--the golden thread, entwining
the deStinies of the universe.
Earth has its beauties, but time shrouds
them for the grave; its honors, they are but
the sunshine of an hour; its palaces, they
are but as the guided sepulchers; its pos
sessions, they are toys of changing fortunes;
its pleasures, they are but bursting bubbles.
Not so in the untried bourne.
In the dwelling of the Almighty can come
no footsteps of decay. Its day will know
no darkening-eternal splendors forbid the
approach of night. Its fountains will never
fail-they are fresh from the eternal throne.
Its glory viii never wane, for there is the
eVer-present God. Its harmonies willnever
cease; exhaustless love supplies the song.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
Selections from Henry Ward Beech
er's Sermons.

God pardons like mother who kisses the
offence into everlasting forgetfuness.
Do the best you can where you are, and
when that is exhausted, God will open a
door for you, and voice will call Come up
hither, into higher sphere.''
A mans conscience should ever go with
him like an atmosphere o: life. Many men
cutting this way and that in the world; but
oheathe it, and keep it very soft aid quiel
when il is turned within.
Go to God whenever you have done wrong
God never says, with scowl, here comes
that lIRping sinner again. The path of the
sinner back to God is brighter every steI
he takes up to the smile of the face, ant
the touch of the hand-and that is saliva
ton.
When Christianity is fruitful of specula
tion and barren of good conduct, infidel
always abound.
A grindstone that has no grit in it, how
long would it take to make an axe sharp!-
And affairs that had no pinch in them, how
long would they take to make man.
The way to cure Intitelity in another il
TO be Christian one's-self.
God is served not by single denominations
but by all Christians, of all ages.
Religion it is the bread of life. ! wisl
we appreciated more livingly the force o
such expressions. Why! remember whel
| was boy, could not wait till | wa
dressed in the morning, but ran and cut
slice from the loaf, and al! around the loai
too, in order to keep me till breakfast, an,
at breafast-if diligence earned wages,
should have been ve.l paid; and then
could not wait till diuner, but had TO .ea
again, and again before tea, and then at tea
and lucky if did not eat again, after that
1t was bread, bread all the time, which
ate and lived on, and got strength FROM
And SO Religion is THE BREAD OF LIFE
You make it the cake. You put it away il
your cupboards, and never nave it but whe
you have company, and then you cut it u
into little pieces, and pass it around on you
best plates, instead of using it as bread, t
be eaten every day and every hour.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
MARGARET WINTHROP.

MY GooD WIFE: Although I wrote to
thee last week, yet having 50 fit an oppor'
tunity, must write to thee again. for do
esteem one little, sweet, short letter OF
thine-such a. the last was--to be worthy
two OF three from me.
| began this letter yesterday at tN Q
o'clock, thinking to have been at large, but
was so taken up by company and business
as could get but hither by this morning -
Ii grieves me that | have not liberty to
make better expressions of my love to thee,
who art more dear to me than all earthly
things; but will endeavor that my prayers
may supply the defect of my pen, which will
be OF use to us both, inasmuch as the favor
and blessing of God is better than all things
besides.
know thou lookest for troubles here
and when one affection is over to meet with
another; but remember our Savior tells US
"Be of good comfort; have overcome the
world" Therefore, my good vile, raise up
thy heart, and be not 6smayed tthe crosses
thou meetest with in family affairs, or other.
wise; but still fly to Him who will take uF
thy burden for thee. Go thou on chesrfully
in obedier ce to his holy will, in the course
be hath set thee. Peace shall come.
commend thee aud all Jhlnc 10 The grac lou.
pi ote ction and blessing Of the Lord.
Farewell. my good wife. kiss and love
thee with the Kind S affection, aud rest Thy
iath,u. husba d, JoHS WISrHRrP
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25

GFThe sporting men of New York have
long been in the habit of training and COM
pairing their horses on the Union course,
each Sunday, and last Sabbath while this
"sport" was going on two valuable trotters
came into collision, occasiouing the instant
death of one worth $500, some severe brui-
ses TO the other worth twice as much, and
personal injuries TO both the drivers. The
dead and wounded horses were dragged of,
and tho "sport" was continued as i: moth
ing had happened.