Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-03-21
NO. 30.
COULDN'T FIND II OUT.

MIR. SLocUM was not educated in q uniyer-
sity, and bis life hss=b been N by paths and
out-oi-the-wsy places. His mind is charac-
terized by the literalness rather than the COM
prehensive grasp of great subjects Mr. So.
cum can, however, master a printed para
graph by dint of spelling the hard words in
deliberate manner, and manages 10 gain
lew glimpses Of men and things from his lit
tie rocky farm, through the medium of 4 vii
lage newspaper. 1t is quite edifying to hear
Mr.: Sloeum reading the village paper aloud
to bis wife aftera hard days work. A few
evenings since, farmer Slocum was readine
an account of dreadful accident which had
happened ST the factory in the next town, and
which the village editor had described in
great many words.
i declare wife, that was an awful accident
over to the mills said Mr. Slccum.
What was it about, Mr.. Slocum?
III read the count wife, then you'll know
all about it,
Mr.. s. began 10 read: n
Horrible and Fatal AccidezL-It ttcomes
our melancholy and painful duty to record
the particulars of an accident that occurred
at the lower mill, in this village, yesterday
afternoon, by which human being IN the
prime Of life was hurried to that bourne from
which, as the immortal Shakespeare says no
traveller returns
Du tell exclaimed Mrs. 81 Mr. David
Jones workman, who has few superiors this
side OF the city, was experimenting one of
the large drums, { Il wonder If twas a brass
drum, such as has Epluribust Unum' .prin-
ted on il, said Mrs. Sloeum, when he became
entangied. His arm was drawn around the
drum, and finally his whole body Was drawn
over the shaft at fearsst rate When his
situation was discosersd he had rurolyed
with immense velocity about fifteen minutes.
his head and limbs striking aaree Beam :
distinct blow at each revuluson' fsPoor
cretur, how it must have hart himP When
the machinery had been stopped, il was found
that Mr. Jones's arm and legs were raacera-
ted to jelly; ('Well, didn't Il XII him y por-
tons OF the duramater, cerebrnm and csrs-
bellum, in confused masses, were seattere6
about the fioor-in short, the gates Of eterui-
ty had opened upon him.
Here Mr.. Slocum paused to wipe his spec
tacies, and the wife seized the opportunity to
press the question. ~
Was the man kiIledY
don't know-haEen't come to that placs
yet-youn know when Eve fnishai ths
piece And Mr. Slocum continued reading
1t was evident when the shapeies,, form
was taken down that it was no longer tenant
ed by the immortal spirit-that tia vital
spark was extinct =. -
Was the man killed Sthat's what . want
TO come Atr said Mrs. Slocum.
Do have a little patience, sId woman said
Mr. Slocum, eyeing his bsttsr half over his
spectacles, 1 presume we shall come upon il
right away. And he went on reading
Ibis fatal casualty has cast gloom over our
vliiage, and we trust that il Will prove n
warning to all persons who are called upon
70 regulate the powerful machinery Of our
Now, said Mrs. 'Slocum, perceivinr the
narration was ended, now Ishould Ike 10
know whether the nan was killed OF not p
Mr.. Slocum looked puzzled He scratched
his head, scrutinized the article he had been
perusing, and took graceful suryey of the
paper.
declare, wiSe,' said he, SIS curious. bs,s
really the papsr don't say.