, 1861-11-14
conldn,t find il out.

Mr.. Slocum was not educated in q university,
and his life has been in by-paths and out-of the
way places. His mind is characterized by the
lterGlness rather than the comprehensive grasp
Of great subjects. Mr.. Slocum can, however,
master printed paragraph by dint Of spelling
the hard words in q deliberate manner, and
manages to gain a few ghmpses Of men and
things from bis little rocky farm, through the
medium Of q newspaper. It is qnite edifying to
hear Mr.. SIocum reading the village paper aloud
to his wife after hard days work. A few ev-
enings since, farmer Slocum was reading an ac-
count Of dreadful accident which had happened
at the factory in the next town, and which the
village editor had described in q great many
words.
81 dclare, wife, that was an awful accident
over to the mills" said Mr.. Slocum.
"What was it about, Mr. Slocum2"
"rll read the 'cOuut, wife, then you'll know
all about it."
Mr.. S. began to read:
" Horrible and Fatal Aceident.-It becomes
our melancholy and painful duty to record the
particulars Of an &C ident 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 im.
mortal Shakespeare says, no traveller returns"
e. Du tell" exclaimed Mrs. S.
"David Jones, q workman who has but few
superiors this side Of the city, was superintend-
ing one Of the large drums C'I wonder If twas
a brass drum, such as 'Eblubust IMAM printed
on il" said Mrs Slocum,) when he became en-
tangled. His arm was drawn around the drum,
and finally his whole body was drawn over the
shaft at fearful rate. When his situation was
discovered, he had revolved with immense veloc-
ity about fifteen minutes, bis bead and limbs
striking q large beam q distinct blow at each
revolution. e. Poor creeter, how il must have
hurt him ~ When the machinery had been
stopped, it was found Mr.. Jones's arm and legs
were macerated to jelly; (Well, didn't 1t kill
himi" asked Mrs. S., with much interest y por-
tons of durmeta, corebrunt, and cerebellum, in
confused masses, were scattered about the door
in short, the gates Of eternity had opened upon
him."
Here Mr.. Slocum paused to wipe bis specta.
cles, and the wife seized the opportunity tOpress
the question:
"Was the man killedp
al don't know-haven't come to that place yet
you'll know when I've finished the piece.
Aud Mr.. Slocum continued rea ling;
1t was evident, when the shapeless form was
taken down, that it was no longer tenanted by the
immortal spirit-that the vital spark was extinct"
Was the man killed THAT'S what want TO
come at" said Mrs SlOcum
"Do have little patience, old woman" said
Mr. SlocuTn, eyeing bis better half over his spec.
tacles, al presume We shall come upon it right
away"
And he went on reading: "This fatal casu-
atty has cast a gloom over our village, and we
trust that il will prove 4 warning to all persons
who are called upon to regula e the powerful ma
chinery Of our mills" .-
Now" said Mrs. Slocum, pcrceiving that the
narration was ended, " now should like to know
whether the man was killed or not ?"
Mr. Slocum looked puzzled. He scratched his
head, scrutinizing the article he had been perus-
ing, and took graceful survey Of the paper.
~ declare, wife, said he, it's curious, but re-
ally the paper don't say"