davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20
Death Of the Last Pennsylvania
Slave.

We some time siace, noticed that there
was but one slave left in this county, of
the number ~manumitted under the act of
abolishing slavery in Pennsylvania
That the last relic Of the " civilized bar
barism" Of our fathers, is ow'no more
He died on the 5th inst, at a very ad-
vanced age, supposed by many to be the
oldest person in the county. His name
was Abram Kirk, and he was the slave
Of Stephen Porter, of Dunmore township,
by whom he was manumitted. His exact
age is unknown, the slave record Of the
Courtssof Qurter Sessions, in which his
birth and other particulars were no
doubt registered, not being among the
other records of the Office. The index is
there in which it appears that Stephen
Porter had slaves registered in Book No.
l, the missing record referred to. 1t has
been aseertained, however, that Kirk was
over 103 years old when he died, and the
presumption is that he was still of more
advanced age.
He Was in many respects, a remarkable
negro. His memory and indeed alFhis
faculties, were unusually sound to the last,
and he seemed to pass away in the easy
NATURAL dissolution by old age. He could
remember many instances of the Reyolu-
ton, some of which he related with an
interesting minuteness of detail. . One in
particular, which seemed to have made a
deep impression upon his mind, referred
to the Service rendered by Lafayette in
the struggle for American liberty. When
a young man in 1881, he assisted in row.
ing that General and his troops across
the Susquehanah, OF Ball Friar, and was
often heard to relate an incident which
then occurred, and the remark it called
forth from the French patriot. The boat
in which Abram was rowing, having acci.
dentally run on the rocks in the stream,
Lafayette called out to those in charge of
the boat, Don't drown any of my noble
men; l expect to have need for them all
at Yorktown"
This old slave had a scrupulous regard
for honesty and truth. On one occasion,
two or three years ago, he was called up
on to give testimony in a case then trying
in our court. He told a straight forward
story Of what he knew, and all present
were struck with his simplicity Of manner
and evident candor; but the attorney in
terested on the other side felt called upon
to ply the old fellow with a pretty crook
ed examination, which induced the old
negro to think the lawyer was trying to
induce him to depart from the truth-a
conclusion in which he was doubtless not
lar astray. Locking the limb of the law
full in the face, with an earnest gaze, he
said, Do you think | came here to tell a
lief" This satisfied the questioner that
old Abram had told the truth honestly
and would not allow himself to be led
away from it.
This old Africans funeral was largely
attended, for while living he had been
highly respected in the neighborhood, as
an honest and inoffensive man. His re-
mains were inferred on Peen Hill, in Full
ton township, this county.
The last slavel That solitary figure
under the slave States, which we ind in
the census Of Lancaster county, for 1850,
will disappear from the new census
Lancaster Express.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20
A Scene After Battle.

The battle of Slodia, between the Rus.
SLAMS and the King Of Prussia, was warm.
ly contested; and after it was over, a
clergyman went upon the ground, and
afterwards wrote what he saw:
Sat | o'clock the cannonading ceased.
and | went out on foot to Soldin, to learn
in whose favor the battle had turned
Towards evening seven hundred Russian
fugitives came to SoIdin. 1t was a pitt
abfe sight; come holding up their hands,
cursing and swearing; others praying and
praising the King of Prussia, without
hats or Clothes some on foot, others two
on o horse, with their heads and arms tied
up; some dragging along by the stirrups,
and others by the tails of the horses
When the battle was decided, and victory
shouted for the Prussian army, | ventur-
ed to the place where the cannonading
had been. After walking some way, a
Cessack's horse came running full speed
towards me. | mounted him, and on my
way for seven miles on this side of the
field Of battle, | found the dead and
wounded lying on the ground, and sadly
cut to pieces. The further | advanced,
the more / found these poor creatures
heaped one upon another. That sight l
shall never forget. The Cossacks, as soon
as they saw me, cried cut water, dear
sir, waterP Gracious heavens, what a
sight men, women and children, Russians
and Prussians, carriages and horses, oxen,
chests and baggage, all lying one upon
another to the height Of a man seven
villages around me in flames, and the in
either massacred or thrown
the FIRE. The poor wounded soldiers
were still firing at one another in the
greatest evaporation. The field of bat
tie was a plain two and a half miles long,
entirelylcovered width dead and wounded
There was not room to set my foot with.
out treading on some of them. Several
brooks were so filled with Russians. that
they lay heaped upon one another, as
high as ten or twelve feet, and appeared
like hills to the even ground. / could
hardly recover myself .from the fright
occasioned by the miserable outcry Of the
wounded. A noble Prussian officer, who
had lost both legs, cried out to me, sir,
you are q priest, and preach mercy; pray
show some compassion, and despatch me
at once"
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20
A Hard, but True Story.

A snort time since, IN a neighborhood
not very far hence, a death bed incident
occurred, wherein the serious and solemn
with the ludicrous and comical, were so
seriously and yet ludicrously mixed to-
gether, that We are tempted to tell the
story, though at the risk of being charg.
ed with making light Of solemn events"
We will not allow cur pen to vary a
single shade from the facts as they &C.
CURED, except by using fictitious for real
names.
Uncle Billy Higgins, an old man of four
score years. who had lived a worlding's
life, was brought to his death bed, and
apparently still in an unregenerated state.
His neighbors, hearing that he was sink
ing fast, and could live but a few hours,
called on him, one after another, and paid
him their farewell respects. Among these
and one of the last that saw the old
man allve-was a very clever and re-
spectacle old gentleman by the name of
Timothy Bugbee. When Mr.. B. entered
the room, the dying man was lying in a
seemingly unconscious state, having for
several hours previously ceased TO recoe.
nlze the most familiar Of his old friends.
With a woful c~ountenance, Mr.. Bugbee
approached the bedside, the others in the
room reverentially standing back as the
two old men met. After gazing for a
time at his old friend, Mr.. B.with a trem-
bling voices and in a half s~mothered whis.
per, spoke: " Uncle Billy, do yeu know
me T With an effort the dying mans
eyes turned upward till they rested upon
the face Of his visitor. There was a tre-
NOR OF the countenance-a struggle to
speak. Kno0 you ? Why yes,-do you
thsnk In a caused fool ? It's old Tim Bug
Gee $ The mixed expressions Of counte-
nance that succeeded among the visitors,
may not be described. "Old Tim Bug
bee withdrew.-Medino Tribune.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20
A Strange Death.

A German woman, supposed to be dead,
was laid out at Baltimore on Thursday night.
About 6 o'clock yesterday morning her hus-
band heard some one. calling from the room
where her body lay, and on opening the door
she called and asked why her child, which was
crying in another room was not Quoted. He
was greatly alarmed, and called for the in
mates to assist him in removing all traces Of
the preparations made after the supposed
death. She talked to those around her, and
drank some wine, a cup Of tea and a glass Of
water. She had o vague idea of what was
going on while they We're laying her out, but
had not the power to move or speak, and af-
ter returning to consciousness asked her hus-
band what they had been doing with her after
she fell asleep. She seemed much better than
she had been for some days, but about 5
o'clock she died. There were MANY. however.
who would not believe that she had really ex-
PRED, and the superstitious were in a high
state Of excitement.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20
A Great but Melancholy Truth.

In the Europe of the nineteenth cen
fury, the incompatible wealth that flows
from the bounty Of heaven during the
revolving seasons Of the year, and is
elaborated from the earth by the cease
less toll Of millions Of men that wealth
which is wrought out by human labor and
ingenuity, in conjunction with the great
agencies Of nature-hre, water, wind
and steam,-and whose aggregates are
amply sufficient to give comfort and com
petence to every human being, and the
Joys Of lobe S4H the sacredfinauences of
the domestic circle to every family that
wealth, by force of unjust laws and insti
~tutions, is Glched from the producer, and
gathered into vast masses, to give power,
and luxury, and aggrandisement to a few
OF production there is no end Of distri-
button there is no beginning. Nine hun
dred and n~inety-nine children of the same
common Father suffer from destitution,
that the thousandth may revel in super
fuiJies. A thousand cottages shrink into
meanness and want, to swell the dimen-
sions Of a single palace. The tables of a
thousand families Of the industrious poor
waste away into drought and barrenness,
that one board may be laden with sur
feits. AS yet, the great truth has scarce
ly dawned upon the mind of theorist or
speculator-that the political application
of doing as you would be done by, is to
give to every man entire equality before
the law, and then to leave his fortunes
and his successes to depend upon his own
exartionS-
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20
Remarkable Fountain in Florida

Taking a narrow path, | crossed thro'
some dense underwood. and all at once [
stood on the banks Of the Wakulla Spring.
There was a basin of water one hundred
yards in diameter, almost circular. The
thick bushes were almost growing to the
waters edge, and bowling their heads un-
der the unrippled surface. | stepped into
a skiff and pushed off. Some immense
fishes attracted my attention, and | seized
a spear to strike them. The boatmen
laughed, and asked me how far below the
surface I supposed they were? | an
swered about four feet. He assured me
they were at least twenty from me, and it
was SO. The water is OF the most mar
velous transparency. | dropped an ordi-
nary pin in the water, forty feet deep,
and saw its head with perfect distinetness
as it lay on the bottom. AS we approach
ed the center, | noticed a jaggish, gray
ish limestone rock beneath us, pierced
with holes ; one seemed to look into un,
fathomable depths. The boat moved
slowly on, and now we hung trembling
over the edge Of the sunken cliff, and far
below it lay a dark, yawning, unfathom-
able abyss. From its gorge comes forth,
with immense velocity, a living river.
Pushing on just beyond its mouth. |
dropped a ten-cent piece into the water.
which is there one hundred and ninety
feet in depth, and | clearly saw it shining
on the bottom. This seems Incredible
| think the water possessed a magnifying
power. | am confident that the piece
could not have been seen SO distinctly
from a tower one hundred and ninety
feet high. We rowed on toward the
north side, and suddenly we perceived in
the water the fish which were darting
hither and thither, the long flexible roots
and the wild luxuriant grass on the bot
tom, all arrayed in the most beautiful
prismatic hues. The gentle swell coca
stoned by the boat gave to the whole an
undulating motion. Deathlike stiffness
reigRed around, and a more fairy scene |
never beheld.
So great is the quantity of water here
poured forth, that it forms a river of it..
self, large enough to float fat boats with
The planter who lives here has
thus transported his cotton to st. Marks.
Near the fountain we saw some of the re-
mains of a mastodon which had been
taken from it. The triangular bone be-
low the knee measured six inches on each
side. Almost the entire skeleton has
been tent to Barnum's Museum.
The Indian name of the fountain is
beautifully significant. Wakulla means
Tbs Mystery 1t is said that the Span
lsh discoveries sprang into it with almost
frantic JOY s~upposing that they had dis
covered the long sought "Fons Juyentis,r
or fountain of youth, which should reiu
yenate them after their exhausting mar
ches aud battles.-Bauou's Pictorial.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

ngl A couple of idle fellows strOlred
into the solored church at Hartford, a
few evenings since, to enjoy the fun, but
when the colored minister rose ut to
preach, before announcing his text, he
leaned forward on the pulpit, and lcok-
ing slowly around on his congregation
" Bredren," says he, at length, May the
Lor' have mercy on all de scoffers."
Long pause.) MAY de Lor' have mer-
cy on all de laughers." Solemn pause.)
& May de Lor' have mercy on de tive pea,
nut eaters down by de door," The two
young men did not wait for the benedic-
ton.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

~ William Maginn tells a capital
story of the origin of the Welsh language.
1t was to this effect. When the tower of
Babel was being built, the workman al.
spoke one tongue. Just 1T that very in.
slant when the I" confusion +" occurred. a
mason, trowel in hand, called for a brick.
The assistant was SO long in handing it
to him that he inccnsistently flew into a
towering passion, and discharged from
said towel a quantity of mortar, which
entered the others windpipe just as he
was stammerlng out an excuse. The air,
rushing through the pOultice-like mixture.
caused a spluttering and gurgling, which
blending with the %half-formed words. be.
came the language ever since known as
the Welsh.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20
Our strap 8ook
Our Daughters Leave Us"

Longfeflow's pen picture of the ever
prevalent and natural inclination Ut tht
far flower to leave father and mother
aud cleaye unto u husband, is beautiful
and truthful
" thus II Is our daughters leave u.s.
Those We lase, and those who love Us!
just when they haze learned to help US,
Comes a youth NTH Haunting feathers,
With his luge Of reeds. a stranger
Wandcrs piping through the village,
Dcckons to the faiFest maiden,
And she follows where he leads her,
Leaving all things for the strangerFt
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

A PETRIFYING 5TRRAM.-There is a lit
tie stream which empties into Shasta Val
ley, California, about twenty miles west
of the great. butte, which possesses the
singular property ofincrusting everything
which falls into It's waters with a com
plete coat Of. stone. Flowers. leaves,
grass, pine buds, and things of that sort,
will become completely enameled in the
course Of a week OF SO, retaining in the
process their natural form.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20


MAGNIFIoENTLY SoLD.-No medical So
ciety could be imposed on as once was the
London Medical Society. They we're au-
chemically informed that a sailor had
broken his leg, and it had been cured in
three days by the application of tar and
oakum. They Immediately broke the
legs of such animals as they could get,
bandaging them with tar and oakum, but
the legs did not get we'll; and they want
ed to break some mans leg to test their
wonderful cure. Finally, they wrote to
their informant to learn if they had used
the right kind of tar and oakum, and in
correct portions. He assured them that
all was right, and added in a postscript,
that the leg being Of yood, tar and oakum
was probably as good as anything they
could have used.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

ANEcDoTE OF HENRY CLAY.-The great
statesman and orator was travelling m
where out West, and put up for the might
at a country tavern. mime host" in
looking over the register, discovered the
name Of Henfy Clay. There was but
!" Clay" Could it be possible that he
had this distinguished man under his
root. He was astonished, delighted. Next
morning, as soon as the g great man ap-
peared, the admirable Boniface hustled
forward, and made his rude bow.
Mr.. Clay, I believe, sir p"
That is my name,' said the gentle
mar in his affable tone.
Mr.. Clay, the Congressman 2"
"Yes sir"
"Well, sir, I've heerd of you, and |
thought I'd just ask if you would't give
me and my old woman a little speech be-
fore you go 2"
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20
Our Sunbeam.
BY MRS. HARRIET $, HANEY.

B MRS. HARRIET $. HANEY.
On our path there is dancing
A joyous sunbeam;
Der our hearts ever glancing
Its own sunny CLEAN.
It giveth new lightness
To life's darker hours,
1t addeth new brightness
To life's fairest flowers.
1t cometh in gladness
To bless and to cheer;
1t wileth of sadness,
1t drieth each tear;
With a holier tie
It bindeth to earth,
Yet pointeth on High
As the home of its birth.
OH a gladness it bringeth
Like Heavens own light,
And its sunshine it 6ingeth
As joyous and bright
Our spirits it flleth
With meekness and prayer,
And each murmuring stilleth
By its presence so fair.
1t giveth revealings
All holy and pure,
And the fountain of feeling
1t openeth, is sure.
OH a wellspring of hope
And a sunbeam o fjoy,
To our heart and path,
Is our bright Baby Boy!
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20
A Battle Song for Hungary.

Our Fatherland's in danger!
Arouse from hill and vale,
From rocky steep and forest shade,
With helm, and plume, and mail;
The %tyrant's heel is on our soil,
His hordes are on our plain,
OH drive these thirsty ~blood-hounds back
Into their homes again.
The shouts of gathering legions
The whispering breezes bear,
And splintering lance, and bugle horn,
Break on the startled air;
But we will hush the battle drum
Awhile, and bend the knee,
And ask that He will make US strong,
And set our Country freel
Our cause is just and holy
We strike for home and hearth;
Around us lie the sacred graves
Of those who gave us birth.
And shall the Cossack clown and slave
With rude aud reckless tread,
Insult the living In their homes,
And tralnple on the deadl
The time for might and power,
To bind the despot's chains
Is gone! and Freedoms altar fires
Are blazing on our plains;
And by their pure and dazzling glare
Wen arm us for the fray;
While crown and sceptle, throne and king,
Forever pass away.
To armsl then proudly gather
From mountain, stream, and crag,
And, like a rainbow in the sky,
Unfurled our stainless flag.
he foe is up but we'll not fear
The tyrant's cursed band,
For We viii pray to God above,
To a V our Father-land.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

SUBLIME DESCRIPTION OF AN ESCAPE
FROM A MAD BULL.-Thc bull roared like
the rolling thunder, and | ran like the
nlmble lightning; and springing over the
fence with the swiftness Of a star falling
from the hrmarent, | tore my trousers
asunder with a crash as loud as if the
globe had been shivered by q comet.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20
Bear One Another's Burdens.
BY wM. R.


Bear n another's burden
And the law of love fulfill,
For all who dwell beneath the sky
Remain thy brethren still;
Some tread the thorny path of life,
Bowed down by many a care;
In.loye. compassion, and in faith
Thy brothers burden share.
He may not hive the strength of soul
To battle LIES rough storm,
Yet eyer to his fellow man
His heart beat fond and warm;
Remember e'er the golden rule,
Each others burdens bear,
And with a spirit kind and true,
Thy brothers sorrows share.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

HssA- " Dad, Why don't YOU take Il rilc
~ The cara solnr day = lake u rlde in
the cars = Why / haint gut time, m,
Soy Got time Thunder / jou cau 90
ahy"lsr M the cars quicker than YOU
can stay at home
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

PRAYER.-Bowed knees and beautiful
words cannot make a prayer, but earnest
desires from a heart bowed by love, in
spired by Gods Holy Spirit, and thirsting
for God-the living Goodwill do it any
where, or in any place, at any time.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

ass- A colored woman was called to
testify IN a court in Worcester, Mass, III
a trial OF damages by a collision OF tvs 0
carriages on The highway. 10 the qucs-
lion whether one OF the .parties Was in.
toxicatvd, she answered that she did NOT
know, but I" he went as though he had a
Dill OF sale on both sides of the road.p
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

U Widowsl poor thingsl for the
best wife in the world may be a widow,
and no fault Of hers-are subject to ali
manner of rude jokes. Samuel Weller
was positively savage on EN-. and the old
satarists are as fierce as dickens. A
Western writer defines q widow as % one
who knows what's what, and desires fur.
Their information on the subject" Saucy
observation.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20
The Village Blacksmith.

BY H. W. LoNdFELLow.
Under a spreading chestnut tree,
The village smithy stands;
The smith a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands,
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.
His hair is crisp and black and long,
His face is like the tan,
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns whate'er he can,
And looks the whole world in the face,
For he owes not any man.
Week out, week in, from morn till night
You can hear his bellows blow
You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,
With measured beat and slow,
Like a sexton ringing the old kirk chimes,
When the evening sun is low.
And children coming home from school,
Look in at the open door;
They love to see the flaming forge,
And hear the bellows roar,
And catch the burning sparks that fly
Like chaff from a threshing floor.
He goes on Sunday to the church,
And sits among his boys;
He hears the parson pray and Preach
He hears his daughters voice,
Singing in the village choir,
And it makes his heart rejoice.
1t sounds to him like a mothers voice,
Singing in Paradise!
He needs must think of her once more.
How III the grove she lies;
And with his hard rough hand he wines
A tear from out his eyes.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Onward through life he goes;
Each morning sees some task begun,
Each evening sees it close
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a nights repo8c.
Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend.
For the lesson thou hast taught;
Thus at the flaming forge of life,
Our fortunes must be wrought
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
Each burning deed and thought.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

U "Squibbs wants to know if doc
tors, by looking at the tongue of a wagon
can tell what ails it.-Eachange.
!. Persons who are not doctors can often
tell by listening to a wdg2iin' tongue, what
ails its owner.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

O=' Mother, this book tells about the
angry waves of the ocean. Now, what
makes the ocean get angry 2"
because it has been crossed so often.
my son."
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

sss- am % going to do for you
what the devil never did by you n'said a
quaint parson. in his yaledictorYs address
to Ibis flock, that is, I shall leave
you"
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

DGg- Flowers are the alphabet of an
gels, wherewith they write on hills and
plains the mysterious truth.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20

gS~"What was the use of the eclipse?"
asked a young lady. 'Oh. it gave the
sun time for rejection" replied a wag.