Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-12-02
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE JOURNAL.
Letter from Philipsburg, Pa.
PHlLrpsBuRG PEsS'A, Nov. 30th, l86

! hOtbSA ASAAA L I'LL ISbAhA L c.
PHILIPsBURG PENN =, Nov. Both, 1865.
| DEAR Journal :-Once more excitement is
az par. The carnage of battle awakes the
| stiffness of these beautiful afternoons, and
| anxiousy we await the arrival of the mail to
| know the result Of the game OF BRAGG that
| Gen. Grant is playing in the vicinity Of Chat
| tanooga, Tenn. From the latest tally l have
/ seen, it would appear that L. s. Grant, (sig-
uifcant letters. the two first equally appalling
the last five) wou Id win with an extraordinary
run by his opponent '.a little more grape''
| Bragg. II cold JUe'' happens to make his
| Ginning" in time at Rossylle, it will very
! likely result in an n-iG Vicksburg
victory for the 81 ,Juhnies.' Well, sincerely g,
! all the harm | wish them is hd. both Brag e
/ and LOngstreet lnay be wiped out But, as It
| is, the old flag has gained another bright and
magnificent victory. victory that GER
tanly breaks Ouce more the back bone OF the
rebellion--a break, that brings Jeff 4 co. in
close proximity 10 stretching hemp, and mi
ting the slight fracture that he caused 10 the
spinal column Of the Union nearly three years
ago. The signs of a speedy restoration OF the
Union are plainly visible. The old flag seems
TO leap for JOY and kisses the pure loyal at
I mOsphere with rs mnch delight as though it
never tainted. Glorious flag OF my own,
my own native land May it be the will OF an
All wise, just aud Benefceut God to spare my
! lite that l may again see that dag floating
United States.in all its former glory and mag
nifcence--when ii mag again occupy the most
exalted position Of any flag thai ever waved
beneath the canopy OF heaven-wteG il may
again wave o'er every and be honor
ed and respected in every cline. Well do
remember, when boy, what emotion the
sight of the Stars aud Stripes caused me /; my
young blood seemed TO chill in my veins;
tears, unbiddeu, would roll down my CHEEKS,
and all things earthly shrink into insiguiti-
caIiee 1t the sight Of the Star Spangl1d Ban
aeT.
The National aaG State Sunday was not rs
veil observed 10y our citizeus. as II shonld
have been. The business men on Presqueisle
street, apparently, closed their stores. but
those on North Second street paid no atten-
tis.i to the observance OF the daY | am A.
ware that 1t IS almost impossible to close the
stores eRtirely on thanksgiving day, or any
holiday that comes during the week for the
people from the country, more or less come
IL with marketing trading with the stores &C.
not thinking of the day, anu as a matter of
course lt Won!d not be rightro refuse them
admission. But the merchants are to blame
ioi their coming 10 town that day. If
they would always observe the days set apart
Oy the President or Governor, the country peo-
pie would soon learn to keep the days too; or
at least not come to town To trade on a thanks
giving day. But there is no system about it
all ciosed-the town wear genuine Sunday
appearance-the country people obliged to
go home as they come, butter, eggs. &C, nos
saie-stOrekeepers in Philipsburg getting
good ali OF sudden, and mutteriugs not
loud or deep, perhaps, but continual al the
moral law. Next thanksgiving day comes ;
the country people come to town to enjoy the |
observance OF the occasion, when to their ut
ter astonishment, they find the stores all o. /
that had not worked anv that |
week, now working as busy as p0ssible-men |
whose wives had cut the fire. wood the year /
round, were now swinging the axe with her |
culean efforts, to reduce the .'pile'' before /
sun set, Tor after to-day the implement would |
not receive such lofty aspirations at their |
hands until next thanksgiving day-and, in |
short men who never worked before, take a |
slight, vigorous indulgence tod day. So it |
goes, the country people do not know what to |
expect. from the sMerchant princess but
kno wing their avidity for the 'sroot OF all e.
vii, - they conclude TO cone in on trading
expedition. They arrive, find the shutters
closed, but ''knock and it shall be opened un-
TO thee.'' Well, even this mode of closing
places OF business, closing the shutters and
leaving the door unlocked-is preferable to
throwing open wide the blinds, and display
ing the goods and wares. through those col
ossal windows OF modern Phlipsburg. Every
One must admit that when the stores, saloons,
|
ces, closed, IL wears Sunday look,
ssAnd all the air solemn stiffness holds"
The season of loging has fully commenced.
The contractors have gone to the woods with
heir crews, and many Of them have their
amps built and everything in full operation
or the winters job. The majestic pine for
'sts echoe with the woodman's axe in all di-
The woods seem to be alive with
nen, horses and ''long tailed bavs.'' The
prices have advanced, for quitting in,'' so
'er centum above last season. There will not
'e many logs fioated out of the Moshan1on
ext spring as formerly. The umberrnen are
citing their eyes open TO a matter, that
1oGld have been telling thing fer this coun-
ry, had it happened several years ago-the
uildiug of large Steam Saw mills. The ex-
eriment was never made until year ago.
proved 4 success and Steam Saw mills are
as familiar as Saw logs. This is
ne age of improvement, and there is place
nat The rapid strides of development are
ore plainly witnessed than in this the adop-
I'd home of LERoI.