davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

BY J. II. GREEN.

L'f3 is strange, and subject to more chan
ses than any other thing known to man
In mankind, boh mental and physical, it
pl,ys an inexplicable part. The spring
time Of life (man's infancy. is like the month
of May to the rosebud-fuil, flush, tender,
beautiful his summer is that of blooming
youth, from his eighteenth to his twenty
sixth year. These years may be compared
to the months Of June, July and August, in
which time the rose dofIs its velvet leaves,
and the bud, with the seed, take the form of
the autumn fruit. From this time, and for
ward fourteen years, an average of mankind
stands well to compare with the autumnal,
months, September, October, November
Then his b'ood is ripe and seasoned; 10 in
crease or diminish weakens or stitfens hi,
frame; his sincws are unwieldy, his flesh
cumbersome; the elasticity of every nerve
becomes still less, until even his vanity and
wish to conceal makes it a selr-eyident fact
that the cooling blasts of December have
impaired q wintry sensation within his
whole nature, "As lengthning shadows DER
the mead prOclaims tie close of day." do
these fasten upon man the solemn fact that
after tae maridian Of life his shadows grow
longer until they are enshrouded in the dark
leaden vale of eternity. The seasons of life
are fraught with useful morals. In them
we have true copy penciled by natures
fngcr-a copy which time can never change,
a copy which no mechanism or art can imi-
tate living copy which, like the evil deeds
of man and the dark river of death, flow on
until blotted out in eternity. The mysteries
of life, how wonderful, To think life ever
growing old, yet ever young; ever dying,
ever being born. Cut down and destroyed
by accident, by pestilenoe, by famine, by
violence; preying rernorselessly and insa-
tiably upon itself, yet multiplying and ex-
tending still, filling every spot of earth on
which it once obtained footing. So delicate,
SO feeble, 50 dependent on fostering circum-
stances and the kindly care of nature, yet so
IN ariably endowed as with Supernatural
power: like spirits of tbs air which yield to
every touch, and seem to elude our force;
Absisting by means impalpable to our prop
er svses. yet welding powers which the
mightiest agencies obey. Weakest and the
strongest of the things that God has made,
Life is heir of death, and yet is conqueror,
victim and victor at the same time. All l!v-.
ing things succumb to deaths assauit-life
smiles at his impotence, ana makes the grave
her cradle.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

1t was a bright moonlight night, when q
large party came to assist Mr. Harrington in
husk;ng his corn. The unhusked corn lay
in large heaps in the meadow near the barn.
Little circles were formed so that converSa-
tion and husking might go on at the same
time. The gathering was social as well as
an industrial one.
There was one man not possessed Of the
ordinary power of mind, who was always
present on such occasions. He never Joined
any circle, or engaged in conversation with
any one. He would take his place at the
heap at distance from, and out of sight of
the rest, and strip the hu>ks from the corn
with great diligence and perseverance.
During the evening, discussion arose as
to the relative distance at which cannon and
thunder could be heard. 1t was quite earn
estly debated, as questions which are inca
pable of being settled often are One, in-
deed, suggested that they should not at.
tempt 10 decide the question till they had
compared the sound of a thirty-two pound
shot, with thirty-two pound thunderbolt;
but his sugge stion did not receive any atten-
| tion
| 1t was finally agreed to leave the decision
ofthe question to Nat Miller. Accordingly
/ he was called from his retirel nook, and the
question was stated to him !: "could cannon
or thunder be heard the farthests'
He preserved a grave silenee for moment
or two, and then answered: "It all de-
pendS on how the Lord has mind to thun-
1 der. He can thunder s. loud that the dead
in their graves shall hear it and come to life.
! There shall be resurrection unto life, and
resurrection unto condemnation" He left
/ them and returned to his secluded plac, and
resumed his work Some remark was made
about his odity, but he seemed to have car
! ried away with him the desire for conversa-
/ tim they husked or in silence, for the most
I part, till the time came for them to 70 home.
There was one in whose ears the phrase
"a resurrection unto condemnation" seemed
/ to be constantly repealed At first II did
not trouble him. The resurrection was so
far of, that it was matter of little interest
to him. But the word condemnation arrest
ed his attention. lie triel to divert his
mind from it by the con sideration that con-
'demnation after the resurrection was great
way off, and need not occasion immediate
fear. Then he thought of the words of
Christ: He that believeth not i condemn.
ed already" He went home With the
thought that he was already condemned
burthe led his soul The thought introduced
other solemn thoughts which added TO his
burthen. His burthen was not removed till
he exercised faith in Christ. The words Of
a man of defect i've mind led TO the conyer-
sion of a soul Have any words of the read
er, though of a sound mini. led TIA similar
results
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02
The Two Swallows.

The following story of the two sw allows
is vouchcd for by the Sacramento Bee. We
suppose those who can't swallow it, may
"match it and take it -
Two Swallows, in looking about for place
to build their nest, discovered cosy little
nook in the rear part Of the cabin of the
steamer Young America, which was lying
moored to the old hulk at the foot of X. ST.,
and forthwith commenced their abors ; the
female flying to and fro, carrying straws and
sticks and feathers to the male bird, stand
ing like master workman, overseeing the
job, and lending his aid in placing and
completing the tiny homestead. The first
laid, and the happy birds rested from their
labors that night, and finished it, perhaps,
in their dreams. The next morning, bright
and early, they were again at their work as
busy as sailors but, alas the hour of seven
came the steamers whistle sounded, and
away went the steamer, nest and all, en- route
for Marysville. The frightened birds chrped,
cliattered, and flew back and forth, but the
captain never needed their cry. On went
the boat, and away went their new made
home. 1t was clear case of squatterism,
but they were sensible birds, and new they
would be ''plucked" if they went to law, SO
they quietly submitted to their hard fate,
and after following the steamer as far as the
Sacromento bridge, they returned to the old
hulk. That was sad day for the little
couple, and what thoughts crowded on their
little hearts He only knows who "holds the
sparrows up r-...... .... ..a..
The next day came, and with it they saw
the steamer come back to the landing. and
the nest they had partly built still undis-
turbed. With merry chirpings of delight
they began again their task, only to be again
anguished on the morrow by the departure
Of the steamer, and gladdened on the sue
ceeding day by its return. Thus it was con-
tinued with them for nearly fortnight, and
the nest is not yet completed. They are
kept in a constant futter of hope and fear,
and labor and loss but they do not despair;
nor have they sought another and more Sc
cure place for their domicile. But, strange
to say, they have actually learned to recog-
nize the steamer, and watch for her coming,
and meet her at the bridge above the city,
to welcome her back to her old moorings.
How it will be when the nest is finished and
the eggs are laid, and the time comes for the
regular trips-whether the mother will cling
to the homestead and take the voyage to
Marysville, and the father accompany her,
travelling backward and forward as dead
heads, or whether theirs will be broken up
by the 'irrepressible'' divorce and desertion,
as hundreds of other families have been in
California, we shall wait to see.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

REMAINS OF AN ANCIENT MoSsrER.-In
the National Democrat, published in Rapides
Parish, we find the following:
Our friend, B. Malletret, has disentomhed
the remains of some gigantic antedeluvian
monster. We visited him on Tuesday, when
he had succeeded in taking out the upper
jaw and head Of some animal bearing some
resemblance to the elephant two tusks,
about four feet in length, were taken out
with the jaw and head. From the position
of the remains they had accidently been
scattered, as the balance fthe bones are not
yet found The spot in which these re-
mains were found is just few hundred
yards above the lower falls, ten feet from the
present hight ofwater, and on the Alexan-
dra side.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02
How 10 Heal a Longing for Di-
yOrce.

Bishop Burnett, in the record of his OBJ
servations in Italy and Switzerland, stated
that in Berne they had novel method of
dealing with natr;mo ial tlispntant+. Di-
vorces We're freely granted, but first the ap
plicant must go through the following test !:
A small room was prepared, in which the
husband and wife were put--the door being
closed, to remain so for six weeks. exccnt Il
should be set in motion by the urgent re-
quest of the welded pair. There were in
the room one stool, one plate, one spoon,
a unity of all the requisites, and the solitary
bed was Of such dimensions, that if they
should chose to use it together they must
needs lie very close together OF one thing,
and one only, there was duplicate and
that was little treatise on the duties of hus
bands and wives toward each other. No
visitor was permitted to go near them and
they had only glimpse at intervals of the
grim face Of the janitor as he pushed their
focd through hole in the door, The Bish-
op states that the test was attended by the
most wholesome results. In most cases the
parties were excellent friends in a few days;
and very few could stand out for more than
fortnight Another very gratifying cir
cumstance was, that they had scarcely on
record, a case in which,a second application
was made by persons who had already gone
through the ordeal.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

mo, thou art not my first love,
/ loved before we met,
And the memory Of that early dream
Doth lingcr bout me yet;
But then, thou art my last love,
The dearest and the best
My heart but shed its outer leaves
To give thee all the rest"
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02


Coon ADvIcE.--Those who wish to do
good, but hesitate to do it, would do well to
read the following. The reason may be sug-
gested to them by the perusal:
Do not delude yourself with the idea that
you can please everybody. Who ever knew
anybody that was worth anything that had
nobody to find fault with hlm? Yo would
have to do evil in many cases to please the
evil; fatter some to crafty their pride; in
dulge the selfish; submit to the tyranncal !;
be tool for the ambitious; and be careful
not to have anything as good as those who
desire to have everything superior to their
neighbors. Ifyou are public man, should
you be diligent, you must expect to have
many secretly dislike you and talk against
you, for your success; and if you accom-
plish little, though many show themselves
friendly, it often leaks out that some who
appear pleasant to you can do thus because
they do not fear your rivalry-they may
smile upon you outwardly, and yet enter
tain contempt for your inefiiciency. Always
do that which is right, be dilgent, do the
most you can, pay no regard to fault finders,
and you will find as many friends as any
sensible man would desire
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02
Blue Eyes Behind a Veil.

Mr. Edge was late Mt breakfast-that
little disposed to be cross-which was
likewise nothing new-so he retired behind
his newspaper and devoured his eggs and
toast'without vouchsafing any reply save un-
social lnoneysyllables to the gentle remarks
ofthe fresh looking little lady opposite, to
wit: Mrs. Edge. But she was gathering to-
gether her forces for the grand final on
slought, and when at length Mr.. Edge had
gone down to the last paragraph and laid
aside the reading sheet, it come
"Dear, didn't you say you were goin, to
leave me hundred dollars for my furs to-
day?"
"What furs?" (rather shortly it was spo-
ken.)
"Those new sables, dear; my old affairs
are getting shockingly shabby, and really
think"
"Oh, pshaw what's the use of being 50
extravagant? haven't any money Just now
to lay out in useless folIies. The old flrs
are good enough for any sensible woman to
wear.'
Mrs. Edge-good, meek little soul that
she was relapsed into obedient silence
she only sighed soft, inward sigh, and
presently began new track.
"Henry, will you go with me to my ants
to-night9"
''Can't you 60 alone?'
"Alone! How would it look ?" Mrs
Edges temper--for she had one, though il
didn't very often parade itself-was fairly
reused. "You are so neslectful of those
little attentions you used to pay me--you
never walk with me, nor pick up my hand
kerchief, nor notice my dress, as you once
did"
swell, fellow cant be forever waiting
upon the women, can he?" growled Nj.
Edge.
"You could be polite enough to Miss Wal
tiers last night, whenyou never thought t.
ask me if | wanted anything, though yol
knew perfectly well that had headache
don't believe you care so much for me as
you used to do?"
And Mrs. Edge looked extremely pretty
with tears in her blue eyes and quiver on
her round, rosy lips.
'Pshaw!' said the husband, peevishly.-
snow, don't be silly, Maria!"
"And in the ears yesterday, you neve
asked me if was warm enough, or put my
shawl round me, while Mr. Brown was S,
affectionate to his wife. 1t was mortifyin,
enough Henry.
II didn't know women were such fools,
said Mr.. Edge, sternly. as he drew on hi
overcoat to escape the tempest which h
saw rapidly impending. ''Am the sort 0
man to make a ninny of myself doing III
polite to any female creature? Did you eve
know me to be conscious whether woma,
had shwal on or swallow tail coat ?H
Maria relapsed the blue eyes behind a lit
tie pocket handkerchief and Henry. the say
age, banged the door loud enough to Civ
Betty in the kitchen a nervous sta,t.
Raining again l do believe We are 60
ing to have second edition of the Delnge,'
said Mr.. Edge to himself that evening as h
ensconced his six feet iniquity in the soutl
west corner Of a car at the State House. G
ahed, conductr, can't you? What are yo
waiting for? Don't you see we're full, an
IT'S dark already?'
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

THE STEREoscoPE.-Sir David Brewster
inquiring into the history of the sterescope,
finds that its fundamental principal was well
known cyen to Euclid; that it was distinctly
described by Galen 1900 years ago; and that
Galambatista Porta had, in 1899, given such
complete drawing of the two seperate pic
lures as seen by each eye, and of the COM
bined picture placed between them, that we
recognize in it not only the principle but
the construction of the stereoscope.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

Time does take the buckram out of q man
and the self-sutiiciency with which We begin
lif, leaves us as we advance into the deeper
waters of existence. John Wesley says
"When was young, was sure Of every
thing; in few years, having been mis- aken
a thousand times, ! was not half SO sure Of
most things as was before. At present |
am hardly sure of anything but What Goi
reveal d to man,
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02
MANY MANSIONS.
BY MRS. PARMLEE.

There are dwellings in the country,
There are dwellings low and wide,
In the shadow of the mountains,
By the mill streams rapid tide;
Where the chestnut boughs o'ershadow,
The broad and dropping caves.
And the western wind comes freshly
Through the rustling of the leaves.
know those pleasant dwellings,
For i was country child,
And plucked the purple berries
Far up the mountain wild.
And chased the lowing cattle
Along their homeward way,
But never asked If childhood
And home would last alway.
There are dwellings in the city,
There dwellings fair and tall
Where bread the light is dancing
Along the pictured wall; "
And out through crimson curtains
When the passers linger long
To hear the children's laughter
And the maiden's evening song.
/ know those stately dwellings,
For one called my home
And paced my gorgeous chambers ...
Where thought no care could come,
And laughed a low sweet laughter
To the baby at my breast, .
For thought my gods were garnered
And my soul could take her rest.
There are dwellings in the alleys .a....s.
Where the poor and wretched meet,
And the shout and song ring wildly -
Up from the crowded street.
Where the air is foul with odors
And the heart within US dies,
As we hear the mockng laughter
And the children's bitter cries.
know those wretched dwellings,
For there / toll and pray,
For the children's bread know not
Where to seek the coming day;
1t Is hard to dwell with sorrow,
And harder still with crime
Bot ask no murmring question
have learned to bide my time.
There are dwellings fair and stately,
Beyond all mortal sight,
Where the walls are built of fiasper,
And the floors as sapphire bright;
Where the doors are always open,
Andthe angels come and go,
And VIC hear amongst them voices
We are almost sure we know.
know those stately mansions
For my Father owns them ALL
And am only waiting
To hear his welcome call.
shall lay down at the threshold
The burden of my care,
For shall go home at evening,
But shall find 1t morning there.
Sing Sing Republican
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

Diptheria is decimating the children in
the neishborhood of Hamilton, C. w,
and is also very fatal in Oneida county, n
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

The common opinion is, that we should
take good care of children at all seasons of
the year, but it is well enough in winter to
let them slide.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

The new year, may it prove happy and
profitable one to all our patrons. is the wish
Of the COURIER.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

Among the advertisements in late Lon
don paper, we read that .'two sisters want
Washing
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

To PREVENT SHIPPERS IN HAMs.-In a
communication to the Cotton Planter, Mr..
W. Melville, says: "There il, according to
my experience, nothing easier than to avoid
the skipper and all worms and bugs that
usually infect and often destroy so much ba-
con. 1t is simply tokeep your smoke house
dark, and the moth that deposits the egg
will never enter it. For the past twenty.
five years have attended to this, and new
er have had my bacon troubled with any
insect. have now hanging in my smoke
house, hams one, two and three years old,
and the Oldest are as free from insects as
when first hung up. | am not aware of
other causes for the exemption of my bacon
from insects, but simply from the fact tEat
my smokehouse is always kept dark. Be
fore adopting this plan, | had tried many
experiments, but always without success or
with injury to the flavor of my bacon.
smoke with green hickory, this is important,
as the flavor of bacon is often utterly destroy
ed by smokingit with improper wood"
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

Heated stones, or old castings, thrown in
to water will heat it quicker than it can be
het in kettles. Remember this when you
kill your pork.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

Kind words and gentle actions should be
part Of the study of every household.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

A young girl generally loses her freshness
by mingling with fashionable society, as a
bright stream does by mingling with the
sea-
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

1t is easier to praise poverty than bear
Il.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02

CHARLESTON, S. c., Dec 20-The Con.
vention.rc-assembled at IL o'clock this MORN
ing, prayer was offered up, asking the pro-
tection Of God, over Southern coufederacy.
Mr., Spain ofIercls resolution that the Gov.
Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-04-20

SOUTHERN RIeHTs' HOME GUARD.-At a
meeting held at Fisher & Logan's, 81 Beal
street-pursuant TO a call in the APPEAL Of
the 18th instsnt-for the purpose Of organiz-
ing a Home Guard, on motion, Mr.. B. Call
was called to the chair and Mr.. P. Conlon
appointed secretary. The object Of the meet
ing was explained by the chair, after which
several members came forward and enrolled
their names. The meeting was eloquehtly ad-
dressed by Cspt. Kelly ard Mr.. J. Logan in
viudlcation Of southern rights. A committee
was appointed to select a suitable place 70
meet on Monday evening for the purpose Of a
more thorough organization and election Of
officers. After which the meeting adjourned.
P. CoELoN, Secretary.
Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-04-20

MoUETED RIFLEMEN At a meeting Of the
Mounted Rifemen held last evening at the Of
fee OF Dr.. 5. White, on Court street, the fol-
lowing resolutions were read and unanimously
adopted
Resolpsd, That the object Of this meeting is
to organize a company Of mounted rifles, to
consist Of sixty or more able-bodied men, who
are willing to serve in defense Of the city Of
Memphis and surrounding country from north
ern invasion.
RcsoIucd, That ia consideration Of the scare
Ity Of arms aud munitions for Quitting such
companies, except upon an Independent basis,
we resolve that each man furnish bis own
horse, arms aHd clothes, and otherwise place
himself upon a good and substantial war
footing.
Resolved, That the President appoint a con.
mittee TO draft a constitution and bylaws.
Also, a committee to inquire into the best arms
to be had at present, and a drill room.
The Committee was appointed to inquire as
to The best arms and drill room, and also to
draft a constitution AMI bylaws.
Meeting adjourned tin u o'clock, at the
SANE place this evening. All are invited 10
attend. W. T. QUrlBY, Pres't.
I. DEF. MORGAN, Sec'y.
Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-04-20
NOTICE.

The undersigned propose to raise an indie
pendent military company, composed Of from
fifty to ssventy-6Vs in number, to be styled
"Ths Tennessee Rife Rangers" Able bodied
men, with some experience in hOrssmanship,
will find, in this company, an opportunity Of
rendering the most important service in the
cause Of the South, against the h~irsllngs and
yandals Of the North. For the purpose Of or
ganization and the acceptance Of members, a
meeting will be held at the law office John +.
Sale, oser tie post Office, on Monday evening
| next, at u O'Clock. ]. C. WILLIAMS,
JSo. F.. SALE,
MOgEs WHTTE.