davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11

THE KEY-NoTE.-Nothing is more
unaccountable than the spell that often
turks in spoken word. A thought may
be present to the mind, so distinctly that
no utterance could make it more so; and
two minds may be conscious of the same
thought, in which one or both take the
profoundest interest, but as Iolg as it re-
mains unspoken, their familiar talk flows
quietly over the hidden idea, rs rivulet
may sparkle and dimple over something
hidden in its bed. But speak the word !:
and it is like bringing up drowned
body out of the deepest pool of the rivu-
let, which has been aware of the horrible
secret sll along. in spite of its smiling
-surface-H Hawthorne.
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11
A PERFECTLY CorPETENT WITNESS

A PERFECTLY CoTPETENT WITNESS.
A lad day or two since was called to
the stand in the Common Pleas Court,
whose tender years raised doubts as to
his competency as witness by not I'M
Outstanding the nature and obligations of
an oath. The first question put was.
Are you the son of the plaintiff? The
little fellow crossing bis legs and deliber,
ately putting about half paper Of tobac-
co into his mouth, with the utmost sang
troid replied Well, it's so reported
He testified.
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11
MARRIAGE AMONG TAH
DEgUS ES.

Their women are generally very beau
tifsI, being fairer than the other 'nhao-
itapts of Lebanon, and they are d'st'n-
pushed by the most lovely dark blue
ewes, lone raven tresses and teeth ol pear
" wilderness. The men generally marry
ct from sixteen to eighteen years OF age;
thew take but one wife, and always choose
partners from their own tribe. Inc
bride is generally from thirteen to TOUR
teen years old. Three days before tus
wedding, the bridegroom accompanied
by his male friends, goes to the house o.
his intended, and demands her IN d ioFHi<
al manner from the hands of her father
who formally gives his consent. hey
then agree upon the smount OF dowry
which the husband shall settle upon his
wife, The bride is led forth for mo-
ment closely yelled, accompanied by heF
mother, who vouches for the purity ana
honor Of her daughter.
The bride then presents her husband
with the kahdiar, or dagger, which serves
at the same time to show the projections
she expects 10 receive from him, or as an
instrument OF punishment, should the de-
claration of Ter mother be false, or
should she subsequently orsss her mar.
riage VOWS. The bride, attended by the
women. spends the day gaily in the bath:
while the bridegroom and his friends
amuse Themselves with horsemanship. or
in drinking coffee and smoking chiboukx
at the house ofthe brides father. This
continues for two days; on the third the
bride is conducted, With consi.,eral,la
ceremony, to the Louise of the brideoroo,n
closely covered with red, gold spanesd
vail, which in the nuptaiI chamber he re.
moves and presents her with the tantoor.
This he places upon her head, where IL
remains both night and day, while life
remains.
The Lrdse possesses absolute power tn
divorce his wife, first paying the stipu.
lated dowry. Nevertheless, divorces arc
exceedingly rare, and they seldom take
place at all except for very serious causes.
Ii woman is guilty of conjugal infideli-
ty, (Which is extremely uncolnmon.) she
always pays the penalty with her life.
The husband sends his wife back I, her
fathers house, with the khaniar which ba
had received on bis marriage, but with
cut the sheath. This notifies her d;s.
grace to her family. The disgrace does
not attach itself to her husband. but to
the relatives of tho wife, and can only be
washed out with her blood. Tho father
sits IN solemn judgement over tho wife,
at her husbands house, and if the evil
dencs is sufficient her doom is pronoun-
ced. A fathers love is of no avail. q
moths's shrieks cannot stay the hand that
strikes, nor sisters tears mitigate the
punishment. The cxecutioner, generally
the eldest brother, sewers her head from,
her body, and the tanto r. with lock of
her hair stepped in blood, sent to her hus-
band, testified that the deed has been nc
complishsd.-zWo Years IN Syria.
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11
Cops CoNTRIvANcE FOR CHILDREN.

Cops CoNTRIvANcE FOR CHILDREN.
Then, too, beng fathers and mother S
has wonderful influence: it is one of
Co.'s contrivances IN behalf OF little chill
dren. He takes care that there shall be
a blessed Inconsistency between a faith
er's head and mothers heart, between
fathers creed and fathers love: and
50 through Gods love to them, and their
! arents' love surrounding them, the little
ones get chanc, for Joyous childhood,
unless in the midst Of very unhappy out
ward circumstances.
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11

lard TO SUIT.-Pitts is shafp man,
man OF business tact And when pitts
gees into store to trade, lie always gots
the lowest cash price, and he saws:
"Well, Iii look about, and if | don't
find any thing that suits me better, Iii
call and take this
Pitts like all fast men, is partnl 10 *o.
men, and young oncs in particu!ar.-
Now quite lately, PITS said to himself
"Im getting rather long in years, and I'll
get married" His business qualities
wouldn't let him wait, so off he travels,
and calls on lady friend, opening the
conversation By rcmarkng that he would
like to know what she thought about HE
getting married.
"Oh. Mr.. Pitts, that is m affair in
which am not SO very greatly interested,
and prefer to leave it with your
SELF
But says Pitts, ''you are interested,
and my dear girl, will you marty
meg.
The young lady bIushcd very red, hes
1tated, and finally, as Pitts WAS very we'll
to do III the world, and morally, financa-
lily aud politically Of good standing in SOC
iety, She accepted him. Whereupou the
matter of-faet Pitts responded.
"Well, well; I'll look about, aud if
don't find anybody that suits me better
than You, III come back.
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11

In literature, as in morals, there are
certain taste and grace, which confer dig
nifty on moderate requirements; and there
are a negligence and grossness that DIS
gust. even when accompanied with insoti
tsstable superiority. 4
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11

The repose of the passions must not
imply their staguation. They must
reuse themselves at last and go forth,
though it be only to bear a burden and
be baff1ed by defeat. Successful or not,
thsir duty is in the struggle. The strtg-
gle Itself is the life.
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11

one chlid-a noDlo poV. bIeSt their union
and to this child my lonely heart chung
with all the tenacity of woman's love.
had two offers of marriage from wor.
thy men, but l did not accept either; be-
cause simple heart, like mine, can know
but on love.
Ten years after his marriage, Wolf
gang was seized with a fatal illness. |
stood by his bedside through it all: and
when he died his head rested upon my
breast. His last word was spoken to me
his last sigh l alone listened to--Hil-
dred was almost frantic at her loss; and
from that time forth she faded, until with
tie coming winter we folded her pale
hands away and left her to sleep by the
side of the husband she SO well loved.
h | took Hugh her child home with me;
and in his care found some solace for my
loneliness. A year passed thus and one
day there came news of Paul Raven
woods d cath.
The very same day letter was bro't
me by the mail toy, marked With for
eign post-mark. opened it and read !:
Miss Faith Milburn-Many years ago
Iloved pure ana guiIoless girl; she was
taken from me by death on the very eve
ming set apart for our marriage. L tho't
could love no more; but when | saw
your sister Hdred, l thought my lost
Tnez restored to me-. The faces seemed
to me one and the same. [ loved again
Il sought TO make the second love mine
i was disappointed. But that love
never died in my breast; it burnt fercer
and fercer even to the last, which is al
most here, I treated you with cruelty
l would now, as my life is ending, make
an atouement. l have no living relative
in the wide world to whom to bequeath
my extensive possessions. have made
a will giving all to YOU'D sister,
When you have done with it bestow it
upon her child!
PAUL RAvENwooD."
The letter had told the truth. A few
DAYS afterward, | was called upon by the
executor Of Mr.. Ravenwood who read
me the will, which, after being proved
ard accepted at the Probate Courts, put
me in possession of the vast estate Of
Paul Kayenwood.
I removed with Hugh to Gyve Cot
tage for the place was dear to me from
the associations cliagiug around it; and
here I have lived ever since. I am veal
thy, but | make no use Of my income for
myself than for our necessities-
It MI goes to the poor seamstresses whom
I can seek out from the neighboring vii
loges.
lam an old woman now, aud it will
not be long ere my noble Hugh enters
into tho ownership Of the patrimony be-
queathed to him by his mothers lover.
And this is all my little history
Reader, adeu.
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11
gflftte0 Galt.
A STORY OF SIMPLE LIFE.

"There is a better life than have known
4 surer, purer, sweeter life than this;
There is another, celestial zone,
Where shall know Of bliss"
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11

WHY is a man climbing up Mount We
slvius like an Irishman who wishes to
kiss his sv eetheart? Because he wants
to get at the mouth Of the 'tcratur."
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11

Love can excnse anything except mean
ness; but meanness kills love, and erIp-
pIes even natural affection.
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11

When women begin to count their ad-
mirers, it isn't apt to take them long to do
it.
The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11

PREFERs SEwAnD TO BATEs.-The
Atlanta (Ga.) Southern Confelcracy. an
ultra Pro-Slasery fire-eatins organ, saws;
We would thousand times rather ace
VIM. FL. Seward the next President of
the United States, than Edward Bates
So far as the question of Slavery is con-
cerned, they are identical in principle; ,
while Seward is bold, eloquent and abld
statesman, with world reputation,
the Missouri reprobate is political fossil,
with not the first element of statesman
slip in his composition; yet lie has ali
the elements of strength claimed for him
by the New York Tribune. He is a
Southern man by birth, living in Slave
State, and holding to the principle of the
Wilmot proyiso with regard to Slavery
in the Territories. This is the cardinal
principle of Black Republicanism-"op-
position to the extension Of Slavery In
the Territories" We come, then, to the
conclusion that the Black Republican
nomination for tie Presidency lies be-
tween VIM. H. Seward and Edward
Bates; the latter has tho inside track. But
give US the able and distinguished Black
Republican Senator ten times over, be;
fore The skulking Missouri apostats.
M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-20
SuGGringS i'm Kansns--An Appeal
for Help

DR.. W. II. Grimes, late OF Yellow
Springs, who is DOW at Atchison,
Kansas, gives very doleful account
of the present condition OF the people
there, and makes an appeal in their
behalf which should no, fall on leaden
ears. His letter, dated on the 9th
inst, thus presents the case:
You who reside in the great State
of Ohio, and are blessed by continued
uniailing crops OF her beautiful soil,
can have but little conception of the
actual state OF suffering now to be en-
dured by the furnishing people in
many parts of the Territory. was
told this morning, by seemingly hon.
est and intelligent man, who resides
two huudred miles in the interior that
there are forty families in his neighbor.
hood who were now subsisting on
acoyna oad parOhea corn, and must
do so until he and his friends can re.
turn from this point with provisions to
relieve theirsutierings.
In a ride OF three miles this morn.
ing ! met, and saw encamped, fifty
four wagons aud teams from all parts
of the Territory, all coming to this
point for relief. Could you have seen
the haggard looks OF the drivers; seen
the tattered condition Of their gar,
monts, yOu would have q faint idea of
what mus! be the condition Of those
they have left at home.
have conversed with very many
persons from different parts Of Kansas,
and the tale of woe is the same; fam.
inc, gaunt and hungry, staring them
in the face. That is the state otthings
now; what must it b. before spring ?
Families who have heretofore lived in
attluence and plenty have been by
this unprecedented drouth reduced to
beggary. This is no exaggeration -
These people must be supported from
other localities, or die ofhunger before
spring. Where are they to look for
succor
Many Of these sufferers are from
Ohio. Willnct glorious Ohio respond
to this cry for help, and that speedily,
delay will be death to many Of the
people.
M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-20
RepuhIicnn OpposltioD TO n CONF


promise OF our National Difficulties.
The Washington correspondent of
the Columbus Jouaai, the central
orgad Of Governor Chase and Of Ohio
Republicans, thus ventiates his spite
toward lI"-, Republicans in Congress
who are willing to make some con.
cessjons to aid in saving the Union.
lie says:
Tile Connecticut Senators finally
got upon their kr-es before the slave
power. They were scared, without
any doubt, Mr. Dixon especially
conceded everything to the slave code
gentlemen Of the slave States, Both
OF these Republican Senators seemed
to b. willing to concede any thing to
save the Union.'
"The feeling among the Repnbi.
can Senators is very strong Oh the
subject. They are deeply gricved at
the course pursued by the Connect.
cut Senators.
The course pursued by Messrs.
Dixon and Foster indicates that some
sort Of a compromise can be passed
through Congress, and | fear some
thing as bad in its character as a Con
stitutional amendment, which requires
Il two.third vote. The non.slavehold.
ing States are greatly alarmed at the
prospect before them, and are getting
."'eak kneed. So look out for treach.
cry The great majority Of the party
in Congress, however, stand firm rs
the everlasting hills, and it is safe to
say that majority Of the Republicans
will never cousent to compromise ol
principles"
M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-20

A DISMAL PRosPEor FOR THE HAT
TIERS or New YoRK.--In order to give
an idea Of the sad change that has ta-
ken place in many Of our manulactur.
ing establishments, since the election
Of Lincoln Says the N. Y. Ncws), one
may only walk through the streets, at
any time, and see the large number of
idle mechanics who stand around the
street corners, with their hands in
their pockets, their countenances be-
traying their unhappy condition.
But, perhaps, there is no department
O, industry in this city which has suf
tered so much as the hatters. In
Prentice's hat mandatory, in Ray.
mond street, where, before The election,
upward Of one Thousand handa were
employed, most Of them men, az sala.
rieS varying from Sc to SIS week,
and about four hundred girls, who av-
eragod 81 per week, there are now but
forty at work, those having beer EN-,
.ployed by the year.
Mr.. Prentice, before the election,
had $4,000 worth Of goods manufac.
tured for the Southern trade, having
received orders therefor: bat imme.
diately after tue election these orders
were countermanded, and the conse
quonce is that the market is now oyer
stocked.
In order to remedy in some manner
this sad state of things, Mr.. Prentice
few weeks since took back large
number on half-pay, but has since
been obliged to discharge them.
Ames q Moulton, hat manufactur
ers, in Williamsburg, contribute,
$500 Tor TIE relief Of those discharged
at Preniice's factory. Crediiable t,
the mer employed there, each one con
tributes SO u week, and the foreman
| SO, to ard those who have lost thei
means Of livelihood by the sectiona
triumph of Black Republicani5m.
M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-20
MoARTHUR ::
INC Crieis Id IIle Union.

Siuce uuI last. wO are sorry TO say,
little has been done to raise our hopes of
an amicable settlement ofthe difficult
ties which threaten to sunder the I'm.
ion. L! is now very evident that three
or four Of the Cotton States will at.
tempt to seccde, leaving the border
slave States to compromise upon such
terms us will warrant the seeding
States in returning to the Union, The
Committee OF SO appointed in the
House-every one Of fwhom are South
rons or Ropubicans-will not arrive
at any definite compromise for some
time. Indeed it has already been de.
serted us hopeless concern by several
Southern members, who have signed
the manifesto which we publish else
where.
Col. Anderson, in command Of Fort
Moultrie, it is said, has demanded 4
reinforcement and the Administration
has refused to grant it. Gen. Cass
thcreupon resigned his Office as Sec.
retary of State.
M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-20

CHANGES IN THE CABINET. T.--Secre
retary Cass has resigned, and, it is
said, has written a letter giving the
reason for the step. The cause was a
difference with the President in re.
gard to the propriety Of sending rein,
iorcements to the United States garri.
son at Fort Moultrie, Charleston
Mr.. Cass was in favor Of it. Attor-
ney.General Black will take General
Cass' place in the department of State,
and Edward NJ. Stanton, an eminent
lawyer OF Washington, formerly OF
Pittsbnrg, will act as Attorney Gen.
eral.-Cjn. Eng
M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-20

SUFFERING AT NEW YORK The
large number Of poor men thrown "ut
OF employment in New Iorh by the
present unfortunate condition of the
country is exciting much attention and
commisseraton in thar city. A let.
ter from that place says:
There is some talk about the May
or sending special message TO the
Common Council, recommending
measures of relief for the mechanics
and aborers out Of work, il not ont Of
food. There is also a deep feeling OF
resentment in this city toward the Re
publicans, who are accused as the an.
thors Of all the troubles that have
come upon the country. and as the
men who have taken the bread out OF
the mouths Of women and Children
This feeling does not appear on the
surface uf things, but Us soon as the
waters are stirred it will ouze up and
lead to fresh trouble. In the course
OF the week there viii probably be an
effort made by the Union and couser-
vAtive men OF all parties to ger mp a
demonstration in favor Of conciliation
and compromise, but its success is
doubtful, few believing that it wiII do
any good in the present position ofai
fairs.
M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-20

The Washington correspondent of
tho Philadelphia Inquirer, Republi,
can paper, says:
"No step has yet been made toward
settlement. There are but 9 Senators
on the Republican side Of the Cham.
Der WHO evince any generous disposi.
ton toward conciliation. These are
Dixon, OF Connecticut, and Anthony,
of Rhode Island. On the extreme
Southern side, Benjamin, Of louisa
ma appears to be the only one dispos,
ed to entertain proposals otsettlement.
Senator Davis, of Mississippi, evinces
some feeling Of reluctance at quitting
the Union, and seems, at heart TO re.
gtet the step which his section and
himself are about to take. lie, I be.
LieUe, could Save this Union. He is
the only man who could assume to
speak for other States than his own,
and he has lofty courage that would
dare to do it, if he could be inspired
to take it in hand
M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-20

NEGROES IN SEARCH OF A Roosr--
FIRST ERCrr, Of "lIoNE,T OLD AHE's"
ELEcrIoN.-Tao Cleveland Hsy0id of
Tuesday says:
Deputy Marshal Lawrence reports
that on the train coming up from Cn-
cinuati yesterday were some eighty
free negroes, who, finding the South
getting rather hot Tor them, even at
this cold mont OF the year, have
gathered ~ thpir traps and household
pepNus, and are now about 10 colo.
nize themselves upon the North
They were pointed, naturally enough,
to Oherlin, the Mecca Of the black
man in this part OF the country, where
it is to he hoped they will stick them
selves down, as our watch.hUusc and
prison, and lanes and by.palhs are
quite lull enough Of them already
Quite a pleasant prospect before us
undcr the reign Of Odd Abe" The
Republic ms will be likely to have a
majority in the Reserve after few
months Of the negro colonization
among Us.
M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-20
Report frOm the Macarthur Union
school for the Month ending November

We are happy to be able to present
a better state of things in at least two
departments of the school, this month,
than We could last month. The High
ard Intermediate schools show n low
er per cent, Of absence, and all the
schools a less number of tardy marks.
They are both, however, too high yet,
That no one will deny. But how do
you propose to correct it! asks some
one. We answer: let every parent do
his duty. See that his children are
not permitted to stay away from school
for any cause, save sickness, or some.
thing equally unavoidable. But if
parents will not take sufficient
interest in the matter to insure reg
ular and prompt attendance Of their
children, let the Board Of Education
adopt such regulations as will secure
the desired result.
! desire especially to call the atten.
ton Of parents to tue number Of tardy
MARKS; which, in one month, has
amoWted to 43S excused and not cx.
cused. Now | claim that every scho.
lar can be in his Or her place at the
proper time, if there is only a desire
aud asteyminati0a to 10 so.
"Where there's u will there's al.
ways Il way is not any more true in
Other matters, than in matters per-
ialing to school. Iu order that all
may understand the matter fully, |
will explain what we mean by tardi.
ness or tardy marks. The bell is
ruDg twenty minutes before the time
for school to commence. Promptly
al lIe Time, the roll is called, and all
wao are not present to answer to their
names are marked as being tardy,
which is simply dot in the proper
plice opposite their names; if, howey.
er, they do not come at all, the dot is
chiuged to a line. 1t is very annoy.
inh as every one must admit, to Eaye
the scholars coming in after the exer.
ciees Of the school have commenced.
70 say nothing about the formation of
bad habits.
| do hope that all concerned will
hko that degree of interest in the.mat
ter which they ough to take.
p. SPAHR, Sapf.
M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-20

The SENTIMENT OF A PATRIoTIc
STATESMAN Mr.. Douglas made a
few remarks in the Senate lately, in
which he said:
~ am ready to act with any body
who looks TO the settlement Of this
question or that will preserve the Con.
stitution. (Applauss.) | trust We
may lay aside all petty grievances,
feuds and jealousieS, and look to oul
country, and not our party, on this
occasion. (Applause.) | desire tc
hear no words of a party nature Will,
discussing question upon which the
fate Of the country depends. Gap
plause) (Here the Vice. President
was Obliged to enforce the rules of de-
corum.)
M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-20
0PAccording to the N. Y Timel

UPAccording to the N. Y. Times,
Republican paper, which gives as
its data the census Of 1850. the South
lost 1,011 slaves by the operation of
the underground railroad that year
The Times expresses the opinion that
the number of runsways has increased
at least fifty per cent, making the
number 1 800 for a single year, which
at an average of $1,000 each, would
be worth 81, 100000! The remark of
Senator Pugh, that the South had not
lost 100000 worth Of slaves, is gross.
y erroneous.
c~~~~D~~~-~~o-~~~-~~-~~
0Flt is the work of philosopher
to be every day subduing his passions
and laying aside his preiudices.