davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

An OBSTINATE ORoAN.--In a
small church at little village near
Brighton, where the congregation
could not afford to pay an organist,
they recently bought self-acting or
gan, a compact instrument, well suit
ed to the purpose, and constructed to
play forty different tunes. The sex
ton had instructions how to set Il go
ing and how to stop it; but unlortu-
nately he forgot the latter part Of bis
business, and after singing the first
four verses Of hymn before the
sermon, the organ could not be
stopped, and 1t continued playing two
verses more. Then, just as the cler-
gyman completed the words, "Let US
pray the organ clicked, and started
a fresh tune, The minister sat il out
patiently, and then renewed his intro
ductory words, "Let US pray" when
click went the organ again, and start
ed off on another tune. The sexton
and others continued their exertions
to find out the spring, but no man
could put stop TO il; 50 they got
four Of the stouiest meh in the church
to shoulder the perverse instrument,
and they carried il out down the cen
Ter aisle Of the church, playing away
into the church yard, where il con-
tinued clicking ard playing away un-
ill the whole forty tunes were finished.
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

HUMoR OF SOLDIER LIFE.--A
private soldier by the name of Rich
ard Lee, was taken before the magis-
traie of Glasgow for playing cards
during divine service. The account
of il is thus givenin the English jour
nalsi
"a sergeant commanded the SOL
diers at the church, and when the par
son had read the prayers he took the
text. Those who had Bible took il
out, bat this soldier had neither Bible
nor common prayer book but pulling
out a pack Of car1s, he spread them
out before him. He first looked at
one card and then at another. The
sergeant of the company saw him and
said:
Richard, put up the cards; this
is no place for them"
Never mind that" said Richard.
When the service was over, the
constable took Richard prisoner and
brought him before the mayor
Well" says the mayor, a what
have you brought the soldier here
for p
For playing cards in church,
Well, soldier, what have you TO
say for yourselfF'
Much, sir, hope"
"very good; if not, viii punish
you more than ever man was punish
ed"
81 have BEEN, said the soldier,
about six weeks on the march. !
have neither Bible nor common pray
er book. have nothing but q pack
Of cards, and hope TO satisfy your
worship Of the purity Of nv iuten-
figns.s
Then Spreading the cards before
the mayor be began with the ace
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28
SECRECY OF FREEMAsoSRY.-
sa;d Ren;.u,;o Erork

SECRECY OF FRFEMAsoNRY.--
Freemasonry, said Benjamin Frank
lin, | admit has its secrets.
1t has secrets peculiar to itself,
but Of what does this principally
consist 7 They consist of signs and
tokens, which serve as testimonials Of
character and qualifications which are
conferred after due course Of instruc-
ton and examination, they are Of no
small value; they speak universal
language, and are a passport to the
support of the whole world. They
cannot be lost SO long as memory re-
tains its power. Let the possessor
of them be expatriated. shipwrecked
or imprisoned, let him be stripped of
everything he has in the world, still
these credentials remain, and are
available for us as circumstances may
require. The good effects which they
have produced are established by the
incontestible facts Of history. They
have stayed the uplifted hands of the
destroyer; they have subdued the
rancor ofmalevolence,a land broken down
the barrier Of political animosity and
sectional alienation. On the field Of
battle, in the solitudes Of the unculti-
waited forest, or in the busy haunts Of
the crowded city they have made
men Of most hostile feelings, and the
most diversified conditions, rush to
the aid Of each other with special
joy and satisfaction that they have
been able to afford relief to a brother
Mason.
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28
LTor the Manehester journal. /

II may be a proper and even reqi.
site enquiry for every one to make,
what is, or rather what ought TO be
the object and aim Of life The ans
wer Of all would undoubtedly be the
pursuit, or rather the acquisition Of
happiness. But the result of that en-
quiry would doubtless be very yari-
ant by various and different individu-
als, according 10 their different esti-
mates Of what constitutes that great
desideratum, and how II is to be at
tanned. Some seem TO consider that
il consists, and is to be attained only
in the qualification Of the various an
imal appetites and passions. Some
in the requirement and possession of
wealth, and large landed and personal
estates. Others in family distinc-
tons, titles and worldly honors. And
others again in show, parade and
fashionable etiquette, &c. As to the
frs, named, the qualification Of the
appeiites and passions, the enjoyment
is but momentary, and is soon passed
away and besides they are enjoyed
but in common with the brute crea-
ton, and some probably in a less de-
gree az for instance, the swine, al
though they partske Of almost all
kinds Of food, with apparently great
relish, yet some kinds they deyour
mSre voraciously ard with keener APP
peiites. So also Of other animals;
and besides, the indulgence and graf
ifcaiion Of tie other corporeal senses,
sppesiies and passions. As 70 the &C.
quisition and possession Of wealth and
large estates, would merely remark
thai they can be enjoyed but Tor a
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

ABSENCE OF MIND.-The oldest
case of absence Of mind that has
come TO our knowledge for some time
past occurred on Saturday at the
postoffice. 1t was not quite equal to
that Of the gentlemen who, upon ask
ing for his letters, forgot his own
name, and was obliged to start for his
own store TO ascertain it. 1t was,
however, nearly as bad. A merchant
who had lately commenced business
in this city, upon a scale of consider
able magnitude, secured, after some
delay, private box at the postofiiee.
He paid the rental, and was furnished
by the postmaster with the necessary
ticket, upon the production of which
his letters would be delivered. This,
as everybody knows, is the custom at
metropolitan postofiices. The mer-
chant received his ticket and left the
postofice, extremely glad at having
secured a private letter boz.
Next day came a parcel of steamer
letters, filling the box; the same eve
ming there was another batch, and the
next morning the box received such
accessions that il could hold no more.
BY the end Of the third day a basket,
holding near a peck, was filed with
letters for the same merchant. The
clerks wondered that 50 much appar-
emily important correspondence was
not called for, but it was none Of their
business, and as each mail brought
more and more, they were piled upon
the basket.
On Saturday the merchant in per-
son called upon the postmaster He
looked very rueful. By the failnre
Of expected reminances lie had been
very much annoyed in his business
affairs. He had telegraphed to other
cities 10 inquire concerning bis mis-
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

none ol il with - into cur future
life, and whilst here, II time, i is so
sneumbcred with care, perplexity and
anxiety, Tia, Il can afford but lii-
tie enjoyment. The same can be
said also Of the hoasrs, titles and fam
ily distinctions, and besides Of what
worth or value are they, for this life
only, compared % the hOuOrs and dis
tinctions which are 10 be bestowed
and enjoyed more equitably, as well
as enduringly through the long ages
Of eternity, in the life 10 come here
after. As to the qualification Of
pride, in show, dre1s and fashionable
parade, may merely suggest that
none can equal in gaudiness and dis
play the insensible flowers Of the
field, or even the peacock, and other
birds Of the air. | might alss speak
of other sources Of sensual and tenn
poral enjoyment, bu. | deem Il who'll
" unnecessary. as my object and de-
sign is, to point out and refer to what
/ consider as the only source or
means Of enjoying true happiness in
this life, and the preparation therefor
in the life hereafter. In the first
place ] would observe that no happi-
ness can be enjoyed except in COM
munion or community; SO il has been
decreed and pronounced by the Al
mighty, who brought US INTO being,
who said when man was 6tst created
upon the earth, "that il Is not good
that man should be alone That by
the reciprocating Influences Of society
We enjoy all the happiness of which
we are capable, and | may add not
only in this life, but aho in the life
hereafter. But now the question re-
ours, how are we TO csmport ourselves
in society, and in ouT intercourse with
each other, SO as to be productive of
the greatest amount of social happi-
ness and enjoyment The answer
evidently is, that il must be in such
manner as TO elicit mutual friend
ship and esteem, and that by contrib
uting to each Others welfare, so far as
in their power, by acts of kindness,
gentleness and charity, that the wants
of the one may be supplied by the
abundance Of tlp other, and at all
times and on all occasions, to speak
kindly, as wellas to deal kindly with
each other. we nave al longest Dht
a little while 10 remain in this life,
and our wants are limited TO our nee
essary comfortable subsistence and
support, and the surplus Of what we
acquire or posses beyond our actual
needs, we ought freely to dispense to
him who wants Or is destitute Of the
same, and thereby cause double
blessing TO descend upon him who
gives and him who receives, and in
all our intercourse with others in this
life, to follow the directions and in
functions Of our Savior, when upon
the earth, that il to love one another,
and to do good to each other as We
may have occasion, and we shall not
only promote our happiness here but
secure It hereafter. SENEx.
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

LESSONS or WAR.--A people in ear
nest, smarting with the wounds OF war
and the deeper inficlions Of lreach.
cry, is abroad seeking afior country.
II has been repeating with annual con.
gratulaslons for eighty years the self.
evident truths ofthe documents which
declared its independence now |. dis.
covers that more evidence of il Is need.
ed than successful trading and build
ing can bring, and il sends Ii forth
afresh, with half million Of gli.lerinp
specialities to inforce its doctrines, while
trade, and speculation, and all the am
bitions ofprosperous men, and delicate
ely nuriured lives, and other lives NJ
dearly cherished and nursed 10 malu.
rity, are sent out with an imperative
commission TO buy, Mt all hazards, a
real country. TO exchange what is
precious for the sake Of having final-
ly what we dreamed we had before
The most precious of all earthly
things, n Commonwealth Of God.
Yes, our best things 60, like wads for
guns, to bid our purpose speak more
emphatically, as il expresses the over
ruling inspiration Of the hour.--At-
lantic Monthly.
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

On the 18th Of September the reb-
81 Congress passed military exemp-
ton act, which exempts police for
sections Of country having dense ne
gro population, editors and such help
as they require in their business, EN-.
ployees of transportation and tele-
graph companies, ministers, physic-
ians, shocmakers, tanners, black
smiths, wagon makers, superin-
tendenis and employees on govern
ment works, oVerseers Of plantations,
and one man 10 every 800 head Of
cattle.
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

The Superintendent Of Sunday
school was question his pupils concern.
ing the address made to them during
the previous sessions. "ChiIdren.
what did Mr.. Phonny tell you this
morning?" No answer was made.
"Can't any one tell me what he said ?
Susie, cant you remember2" Susie,
bright little one Of seven years,
arose, and with one finger in her
mouth, bashfully lisped out "PIeathc,
thir, he talked and he talked, ard he
thed ath how be loved nth, and he
talked--and--we all thought he wath
a goin' to thay thumtling, but he
didn't say nothing"
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

A NOVEL WAr or CURING A
BREAcHr HoRsE.- A correspond
enl Of the Iowa Homestead was rid
ing the other day with friend, and
observed that one Of the horses had a
hole in each ear. On inquiring the
cause, lie learned that il was to keep
the horse from jumping. "Why}'
said lie, "a horse don't jump with his
ears "You are mistaken" replied
bis friend; "a horse jumps as much
with his ears as with bis feet. and IN
less be can have free use Of bis ears
be canno. jump" lie ties the two
ears together, and has 10 more trou-
BE with the horse. We give lhis for
what il il worth"
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28
Letter from Washington.
WAsurNaroN, Oct. Is, 1862.

w AsltINbiONt OIt. l1y lohZ.
4NesHa Editors:--Once more in
this eventful epoch, will /, with your
permission, address a few lines to
you, and your readers. From my
present stand point, am not vain
enough 10 suppose that anything from
my poor pen will be Of much interest
to friends at home but nevertheless,
communication from even a poor
soldier may partially interest some.
Some may query as TO why my
communication is dated at this dis
tance from my regiment and to all
such ! will say that | am here in
common with many other soldiers for
the purpose Of recruiting my poor
health.
Since being here what strength i
have had to spare has been devoted
TO visiting the numerous hospitals in
the city and vicinity. And perhaps a
word in regard TO them may not be
void Of interest. In perambulating
the streets Of Washington one can
hardly 60 amiss Of hospital. Very
many of the churches and public
buildings are now used for hospital
purposes, and upon every vacant
square or plot Of ground within the
city is being. or is already erected
substantial barracks for the same pur-
pose-the number in each varying
all the way from one hundred to
twenty-five hundred. ] find the con-
dition Of the inmates as good as ] ex-
pected. although there are now many
faults and errors that should be cor
rected.
think the government is doing all
ii can for the hospital department, but
II Is large machine 10 run, and the
consequence is that errors win exist.
| think there is loo little attention by
the surgeons in charge, paid to the
selection Of ward masters and nurses.
Ia many Of the hospitals there are no
female nurses at all, and ! am salts.
fed that but very small share Of the
soldier nurses are properly qualified
to administer to the wants of their
more unfortunate comrades.
4. a satisfaction, although not a
very pleasant ore, TO 20 among our
sick and wounded and either by word
or deed to conduce to their comfort.
In looking aher the welfare Of
those OF my own company who are
in hospital, / have come in contact
with many others from our own State
who are In like condition. In con-
versalion with different ones, some
thoughts hare arisen 10 my mind,
which woold Ike to suggest to our
friends al home. | am well aware
that the people Of Vermont have been
quite liberal in contributing to the
wants and comforts of their invalid
soldiers ba, ] am afraid many Of their
contributions have taken a wrong
course st lesss, am cons inoed that
bm suall portion a them have
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

A sheriff's officer was sent to exc
cute a writ against a Quaker. On
arriving at the house he saw the
Quaker's wife, who, in reply to the
inquiry whether her husband was a,
home, answered IN THE affirmative, at
the same time requesting him TO be
seated, and her husband would
speedily see him, The bfTieer waited
patiently for some time. but the fair
Qnakeress coming into the room, he
reminded her Of her promise, that he
should see her hu band. aNay,
friend, promised that he should see
thee. lie has seen thee. He did
not like thy looks, therefore be
avoided thee, and has tft the house
by another path"
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

sing letters, and had received for ans.
wer that something was wrong IN
Philadelphia; that the letters were
dolly mailed, and If stolen, we're sto-
leo frsm the Philadelphia postofIlce.
A brief inquiry soon set matters
right. The merchant entirely forget.
ting that be had secured a private
letter box, had been inquiring three
times day as the general delivery
there. When the merchant under.
stood matters, and received his accu.
mulated bundle Of correspondence, be
freely acknowledged bis singular IN.
adyertance. The case would scarce.
" be credible were Il not oommuni-
Gated by the parties concerned. In
the present instance the merchant
was seriously embarrassed in the
transaction Of his business by the
non-arrival Of mercantile letters, and
yet forgot that be had made special
arrangement at the postotIice for a
private letter box, and that no letters
Tor him should be delivered 10 any
one, except bearing the ticket ac-
companying the transfer of the box.
That ticket the merchant found pre-
cisely where he had placed it at the
time Of making the forgotten arrange
nent.--Phiiadelphia Gazette.
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

that there is but one God. When !
see The deuce i reminds me Of Father
as.9 Scr. When | zee the tray Il re-
minds me Of Father, Son and Holy
Ghost. When / see the four, Il re.
minds me Of the four Evangelists tha,
I preaohed-Maithew, Marx, Luke and
John. When | see the Eve, il re-
minds me OF the FIVE wise virgins that
trimmed their lamps. There were
ten, but FIVE we're wise and FIVE we're
foolish and were shut out. When |
see the six, II reminds me that in six
days the Lord made heaven and earth.
When I see the seven, II reminds me
that on the seventh day God rested
from the great work he had made, and
hallowed il. When / see the eight,
II reminds me Of the eight righteous
persons that we're saved when God
destroyed the world, viz. Noah and
his wife, his three sons and their
wives. When | see the nine, it re-
minds me Of the nine lepers that we're
cleansed by our Savior When | see
the ten, il reminds me Of the ten com
mandments which God handed down
TO Moses on the tables of stone.--
When see the king, il reminds me
of the great king of heaven, which is
God Almighty. When | see the
queen, il reminds me Of the queen Of
Sheba who visited Solomon, for she
was the wise woman, as he was a man.
She brought with her fifty boys and
fifty girls, all dressed in boys apparel,
for king Solomon TO tell which were
boys and which were girls, King
Solomon sent for water for them to
wash; the girls washed TO the elbows,
and the boys to the wrists, SO king
Solomon told by that"
" Well, said the Mayor, you have
given a description Of all the cards in
the peck except one"
"What is that p
"The knave," said the mayor.
IL will give your honor a descrip-
ton of that, too, if you will not be an
cry"
i will not" said the mayor, "if
you do not term me to be the knave.'
"Well," said the soldier, " the great
est knave that l know of is the con-
stable that brought me here"
"I do not know" said the mayor,
" il he is the greatest knave, but ]
know he is the greatest fool"
"When ] count how may spots in
a pack Of cards, find three hundred
and sixty-fve--as many days as there
are in year. When / count the
number of cards in a pack, ! nnd
there are nty-two--the number Of
weeks there are in year; and find
four suits-the number OF weeks in
month. find there are twelve pic
ture cards in pack, representing the
number of months in a year; and on
counting the tricks, i find thirteen
the number of weeks in a quarter.
So you see, sir, a pack of cards
serves for a bible, almanac, and COM
mon prayer book.
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

List or AGENTS

Mho aTs sulhesfned b. feselvs subscriptions
giFs rses.pta As9 transact oshsF bpsinest 10 be
~ n lbs 1os RAAt
AniaKsau, Dawn cK0rrT.
ksa Afsimetoa, EpwAKp Ari4swoETH.
Nsst Ariagfof. Il, r. Hrsp.
uaFaNs. s Fl HsaGMF
East Dorset SragHFs GEorr.
fan4groys. c. Z. krsp, SEiAH WAKAEH.
Sogrt finfesi ioHS reKy1s.
feaasilis. A. 2 CHAnAs,
rowaai, LrsAs Nu5cH.
Rapet, JasEs Z. MccAd-
last Rupert. A. II. nxsio.
faHAesianA. y. q, bAoas.
Sasdzais. ". q. FAnxKR.
Jaansics, II. n. WHKaEH.
Agenn fes osnsF iscslltlcs wIll Be given here
aftef.
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

BY steamboat explosion on q wss-
tern ritter, passenger was thrown
unlmrt into the water, and ut once
struck for Tie shore, blowing like
porpoise. lie reached the bank al
most exhausted, and was caught by
byaander, and drawn out painting.
q Well, old fellow" said his friend,
g had a pretty bard time, ehy7 "Ye
yc', pretty hard conslderin' Wasn't
doing il for myself, though was a
workin' for ono o them insurance.
companies 10 New York. Got a pol
ley On nay life, and wanted 10 save
EN-. / didn't care"
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28

stA& 80 ~ y
we're iniensleJ. | DO not know whers
tbs sanitary ssores frsm our State
have been sent bot Of this / sn con
vinoed, that bat portion Of them
have gone into the hands Of our Yer.
mont committee.
would say that 10 future all con-
tribu,ions whose donors are desirous
that they go direct to the needs Of
our own men, should be directed to
Stephen Prentice or w. r. Hall,
they being the more active members
Of our committee here.
All packages or boxes had, for
economy's sake, better be forwarded
from New York here through the
Hope Government Dispatch Ex-
press Company, and to all that
wish to pay the bill through, ] would
say that seventy cents per hundred
pounds defray all expenses from New
York here.
The articles most needed are shirts,
drawers, towels, handkerchief, socks,
either wooden or cotton, and slippers
if possible with leather soles. In
point Of ea,ables nothing is more pal
atable than preserved or dried fruits
Of the various kinds. Apple jelly
or sauce in connection with hospital
fare is considered quite a luxury, and
if properly put up in kegs or tin
cans, can be very safely sent hither.
IF it may not be considered amiss,
lei me here drop hint in behalf of
our more fortunate soldiers who have
thus far withstood the shock OF dis
ease and "rebel lead"
Inasmuch as dame nature has
bounteously supplied our State with
fruit, if you should, after remember
ing the more needy, chance TO find a
surplus Of the dried article on hand
package Of few pounds to com.
pany donated by town or neighbor-
hood, would be most gratefully re-
ceived and the donors kindly remem-
bered.
Since being here it has been my
good fortune TO frequently meet my
friend the former editor of the Jour
nal, and it does me good to know that
one Of his unllinching loyalty has
been favored with the pleasant posi-
ton which he occupies; and it is my
heartfelt wish that more Of his stamp
might occupy the places Of those WHO
| have reason to believe at heart are
in rebellion against the very govern
ment that gives them their daily
bread.
Since being in the army it has been
my fortune TO be isolated from the
body Of the soldiers from our State;
but OF late ! have been gladdened by
seeing three thousand patriotic Green
Mountain Boys, and amongst them
were a goodly number of my own
personal friends.
When looked upon by an impartial
eye ! am sure they suffer nothing
when compared with the best regi-
ments from any other state. Fearing
my communication is now altogether
too long when compared with the
quality, ! will close here.
Yours, O. IL.
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-28
The Manchester Journal.
FualisHEDF FvFET TUESDAY NoExna

s"tsE svn ma Esrnsea sFOsa