davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19
LudicrOus Effect of a Comet.

In the year l112, Mr. Whitson, having cal
cula.ed the return of comet, which was to
make its appearance on the oath of October,
at five minutes past FIVE in the morning, gave
notice to the public according. with this ter
rifying addition-that a total dissolution of
the world by fire was to take place on the
Friday following. The reputation which Mr.
Whitson had long maintained, both as a d.
vine and philosopher, left little or no doubt
with the populace of the truth of his predic-
tiCn. Several ludicrous events now took
place. A number of persons about London
siezed all the barges and beats they could
lay their hands on, on the river Thames, very
nationally concluding that when the confa-
grafton took place there would be the most
safety on the water. a gentleman who had
neglected his family prayers for better than
FIVE years, informed his wife that If was his
intention to resume the laudible practice the
same evening: but his wife, having engaged
ball at her house. persuaded her husband
to put it off till they saw whether they ap-
peared or not. The South Sea stock imme-
diatelv fell TO five per cent, and the Indian TO
one; and captain of a Dutch ship threw all
his powder into the river, that the ship might
not be endangered. The next morning,
however. the comet appeared according to
prediction, and before noon the belief was
universal that the day Of judgment was at
hand.
About this time one hundred and twenty
FIVE olergymen We're ferried over 10 Lambeth,
II was said, TO petition that short prayer
might be planned and ordered, there being
none in the church service for the occasion.
Three maids of honor burnt their collection
of novels and PLAYS and sent to the book
sellers to buy each of them a bible and q
raylor's Holy Living and DYING. The run
upon the bank was so prodigious that all
hands were employ ed in discounting notes
and handing out specie. On Thursday, eonsi-
derably more than 1000 who kept mistresses
were legally married in the face of several
congregations: and, 10 crown all, Sir Gilbert
lTi;chcote, at that time head director of the
bank. issued orders 10 all - fire officers in
London, requiring them TO keep god lsok-
ut, and have particular eye upon the bank
Of England.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19
Arranging Flower Beds.

10 have well tolmed and nicely filed
garden is not enOugh-it must also be nicely
arranged. Nay, the latter is of much more
Importance than the former. 1t is of the
first Importance that the outline of the beds,
and their relation to each other, should be
good; but it is of much greater Importance
that the colors with which they are filled
should either harmonic or contrast with
each other. ColorS are sepas
ated into cool or warm colors. The former
should prevail in gardens laid out on gravel,
which is itself generally warm color. For
instance, in gardens on gravel, gray, lilac
yellow, white, blue, green, &C., should pre-
dominate IN those On grass, purple, pink,
scarlet and orange should prevail. White
however,is equally suitable for gardens of both
descriptions; and unless where the gravel is
very light, is always striking and effective
and nothing can be more chaste and beauti-
ful than beds, broad margins, or lines OF
white, contiguous to grass-it is equally
striking in juxtaposition to bright red gravel.
As practical rule, the most Intense colors
should be placed in the center Of the beds
and the less tints used for contrasting the
rings or edgings. Generally, tos, the small.
er the beds, the more literally may be the in.
tense colors, as scarlet, be introduced, and
rice rerSa.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19

FROM HERE AND THERE was reading
the other day that on the shores of the
Adriatic Sea the wives of fishermen, whose
husbands have gone far off upon the deep,
are in the habit, at eventide, of going down
to the sea-shore, and singing, as female
voices only can, the first stanza of beauti-
ful hymn; after they have sung it they will
listen, till they hear borne by the wind
across the desert sea the second stanza,
sung by their gallant husbands as they are
tossed by the gale upon the waves; and
both sre happy. Perhaps, if We could lis
ten, We too might hear on this desert world
of ours some sound, some whisper, borne
from afar, TO remind rs that there is heaven
and home and when We sing the hymn
upon the shores of the earth, perhaps we
shall hear its sweet echo breaking in music
upon the hands of time, and cheering the
hearts of them that are pilgrims and strsn-
gers, and look for " city that hath founda-
tions."
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19
\ Green Mountain Oddity.

Mr. bartholomew was accounted BY his
nelshbors a man Of eccentricitie,, some of
which. as his farm Joined nv fathers. | had
in my childhood many opportunities of wit
Messing In spring near his house he kept
some fishes. which were trained TO come at
his call to be fed. His cows were also train
ed TO come at his call, whenever he took his
stand at his back door and repeated their
names. His having he was accustomed to
do with his own unaided hands. Sometimes
ne would cut and put up, in compact and
well trimed cocks. nearly his whole crop be-
fore moving any part of it. This done, he
would tie up cock at time, and carry it
upon his back TO his stack, for his hay was
too remote from his dwelling to be conveyed
thither with his facilities of transportation :;
he returned for another and another to the
end of his labor. When his stack became
too high for him to place his hay upon it
while standing on the ground, he used lad
der. When his hay was all gathered, and
MS stack completed, he was accustomed to
60 TO the mountain and bring thence back
Load of white birch bark, with which he roof
Ell it over. 1t used to be said that on one
occasion, when he saw shower approac hing,
he hastened TO his house, brought his wife's
umbrella, and stuck it in the top of his newly
finished stack. He had a peculiar aversion
to being dependent on others for aught that
he could accomplish unaided. As an illus
tration, the following incident may be men,
toned. On one occasion, my father with
several men were at work in field adjoining
the meadow of Mr. Bartholomew, in which
nearly his whole crop of hay was ready for
the stack. As our team was standing unem-
plOyed, my father said to Mr. Bartholomew.
who vas carting his hay alter his fashion
upon his own back: My team is standing
idle, and if you please, one of my men NAV
go over with it and help move his hay. 1t
will save You much time and labor" "No,
l thank you" was his reply, g shall accom-
plish it myself very comfortably. History
of CornraU, VI.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19
Brave Conduct of q Vermont Soldier.

we have seen private letter which states
that Robert COHey, Co. K, 4th VT, at the
battle OF Fredericksburg, exhibited conspic-
uous eolness and bravery. He took two
swords, one from Captain, and one from
Lieutenant, of the 5lst n. c. regiment.
Alone he captured seven repel prisoners and
took them to the rear. He ordered q rebel
Maj to surrender, but the Maj attempted to
escape by running. He soon brought him
up standing by charging bayonet when the
rebel tried to shoot him with his revolver.
but Coffey was too quick for him shooting
the rebel through the head and killing him
instantly. The rebel Capt from whom he
afterward took the sword saw Cofey when
he tins summarily disposed of the rebel MAJ
and called to some of his men to shoot him,
and three of them fired but fortunately miss
ed him. COfey immediately sprung toward
the Capt and told him. unless he ordered his
men not to shoot he would kill him on the
spot. The terrified Capt gave the order and
directed his Lieut. to come in and surrender
himself, which he did bringing FIVE rebels
with him, they all surrendering themselves
to CoHey. No Federal soldier was near
Cofey during this encounter except the first
Lieut., and single-handed, he accomplished
the brilliant result. The Col. of the regiment
very properly thanked him for his bravery
Montpelier Freeman.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19

The BLIND Man HAPPY.-In a journal
of tour through Scotland, by Rev S. Sim
con, Of Cambridge, We have the following
passage: "Went 10 see Lady Rosas
grounds. Here, also, 1 saw blind men,
weaving May l never forget the following
fact: One Of the blind, men, on being in
terrogated with respect to his knowledge of
spiritual things, answered: Il never saw
till was blind nor did / ever know con-
tentment when had my eyesight, as l do
now that have lost it; can truly affirm,
though few know how to credit me, that l
would on no account change my present
situation and eircumsta noes with any that I
ever enjoyed before i was blind He had
enjoyed eyesishr till twenty-five. and had
been blind about three years. My soul was
much affected and comforted with his deo-
laration. Surely, there is a reality in reE-
gion ~
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19

SEcRETs.-We must regard every mat
ter as an entrusted secret, which We believe
the person concerned would wish to be
considered as SUCH Nay, further still We
must consider all circumstances as secrets
entrusted, which would bring scandal upon
another if told, and which it is not our
certain duty to discuss, and that in our own
person and to his face. The divine rule Of
doing as You would be done by, is never
better put to the test than in matters of good
and evil speaking. We may sophisticate
with ourselves upon the manner in which We
would wish to be treated under many circum-
stances; but everybody recoils instinctivelv
from the thought of being spoken i'll of in hi,
absence.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19
RATHER ROMANTIC Ponnino the nues

RATHER RoMAN1lc.-"Po Popping the ques-
ton" in Peru, is very romantic. The suite,
appears, on the appointed evening, with
galy dressed troubadour, under the balcony
OF his beloved. The singer steps before her
nower-bedecked windows, and sings her beau.
l4es' IN the name of her lover. He compares
hef SIZE to that Of palm tree, her lips to
TWO gushing rose-buds, and her womanly
form 10 that of the dove. With assumed
Aarsnness the lady asks the lover: "Who
are you, and what do you want?9" He an.
s"eFd' with ardent confidence: "The dove
20 adore! The stars live in the harmony
OF love- and Why should not we, too, love
sach other'' Then the proud beauty gives
herseii away she takes her Aower-wreath
from her hair, and throws it down to her
lover promising to be his forever.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19
ODDS AND ENDS,

young man in Gloucester, who prided
himself On his well-dressed appearance,
mounted hogshead filled with blnbber, one
fine day last week, to get better view of
the beautiful harbor. But-alas for fine plu-
mage he lost his balance and went in up
TO his neck in the sweet-seented liquid with
in. He was soon rescued from his sorry
predicament, and taken aside and wrung out,
but the hard-hearted owner of the blubber
had the etfrontery to demand p cents for
the oil he had soaked up in his clothes. He
sadly paid the usual admittance fee to see
the elephant, and left in the full realization
Of the fact that be had seen il.
A good old Massachusetts, deacon once
said: There is a great deal of Christianity
in watering trough by the roadside" True:
furnished with pure water, it is merciful and
charitable to man and beast-especially if
with it You put a cup for the man.
A Scotch paper speaks of a fox having
been seen trying to spring steel trap by
means of stick that he carried in his mouth.
W. knew a fox once that took a well-pole
from the well and pushed turkey of from
the lower limb Of tree with it, and put the
pole back in its place. At least, he got the
turkey, and the pole was found all right in
the morning.
RECEIPTS THAT NEVER FAIL.-7o DESTROY
rats.-Cateh them, one by one, and fatten
their heads in lemon-squeezer.
To Kill eoekroaches.-Get pair of heavy
boots, then catch your reaches, put them in
a barrel, and then get in yourself and dance.
To Kill bedbugs.-Chain their hinds legs
to tree, then 20 round in front and make
mouths at them.
To catch mice.-On going to bed put
crumbs of cheese in your mouth, and lie with
it open, and when mouse's whiskers tickle
your throat, bite.
When Sheriden, found drunk in a coal
hole, and questioned as to his name, replied,
that his name was WHEREFORE" be did a
sufficiently impudent thing; but it wasn't a
touch to the etfrontery of Senator c. Tor
some other mani who, being picked out of
a street ditch by a watchman, and told to
give his name, replied in a gutter-al voice
"Don't you see I'm Sewer'd?"
$50 You are going to buy SCHOOL," said
young lady to her maiden aunt. We'll,
for my part, sooner than do that l would
marry widower with nine children" a
would prefer that myself" was The quiet re-
ply; i" but where is the widower? ?"
In tie churchyard of FrOdsham,In Cheshire
is the following ludicrous epitaph:
Here lies l.
Jonathan Fry
Killed BY a sky
Rocket IN my eye
Socket.
The right man in the right place hus-
bssd at home in the evening.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19
Hospital Car and the Sanitary Com
mission.

After every great battle, the compassionate
heart of the community has been shocked at
the recital of the sutferings of the wounded
while being transported on platforms, or in
uncovered cars. exposed to heat. cold. or rain
and to the misery of shiftings and joliings
The most vivid imaginations could not fill
the picture with details more ghastly than
those familiar to every one who has been
near battlefield. During the campaign on
the Peninsula, it was as bad as could be
since that time we have seen gradual anne
lioration, as one improvement after another
has been adopted.
After the Fredericksburg fight, the poor
fellows were carried as carefully as was pos
sible with the ordinary means of tranSporta-
ton. But now, that most efficient care tax
en- of the wounded man, and guardian of
mis- comfort, the sanitary commission has
had fitted up hospital car, which appears
to combine every improvement that can be
desired. The car has been turned over to
the Surgeon General, who has signitied his
approval of the plan, and has ordered the
immediate construction of three others on
the same design.
1t resembles in general appearance the Or
dinary sleeping car, but the berths are SIM
ply the field stretchers, which are brought
in with their loads, which are suspended by
strong India-rubber loops, from pegs in the
sides of upright stanchions.
Thus badly wounded or very sick man
need not be removed from tn e stretchers in
which he is brought from the field until he
arrives at the place of destination. The
great advantages of this can hardly be ap-
appreciated except by surgeons. The stretch
ers are hung in three tiers, and as their han
dies overlap, no room is lost
Thus thirty beds may be suspended in a
ear of ordinary size. There are also twelve
folding chairs provided, which may be set in
the passage-ways if required, and used for
the accommodation of the least feeble. The
windows in the roof open both ways, so as
to secure ample ventilation. a speaking
tube conveys messages from the surgeon, at
one end, to his assistant, at the other A
complete little cooking apparatus is fitted up
in the usual small apartment in the corner
of the car; and there, too, is arranged, with
marvellous economy of space, an assortment
of every thing likely to be needed for the
nourishment or medicament of the sufferers.
This part was arranged by an old sailor,
who kr.ew the value of square inch. There
is bed also for the surgeon in charge, and
under it drawers for extra clothing. Nor
must We omit the mention of bed of India
rubber over the springs to deaden every
shock; nor that the trucks can be made to
fit road of any guage. The entire equip
ment of the car is SO simple, and yet so COM
plete, and will accomplish SO much at SO
slight an outlay, that the country is again
put deeply in debt to the Sanitary Com mis-
sion. To them alone is due all the credit of
the contrivance, and it will remain another
proof of the untiring zeal of that most ex-
| cellent association.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19

long and diligently under that learned lawyer
Giovanni Andreas, who, though little Of
stature was great in renown, and by his con-
temporaries was called the archdoctor, the
light of the world. Under him he had
studied, sitting on the same bench with Pc
trarch and also under his daughter, Novella
who would often lecture to the scholars when
her father was otherwise engaged, placing
herself behind small curtain, lest her beauty
should divert their thoughts precaution, in
this instance, at least, unnecessary, Lorenzo
having lost his heart to another.
To him she flies in her necessity but OF
what assistance can he be? He has Just
taken his place at the bar, but he has never
spoken; and how stand up alone, unpracticed
and unprepared as he is, against an array
that would alarm the most experienced?
Were as mighty as am weak said he,
my fears for you would make me nothing.
But will be there, Gianetta and may the
Friend of the friendless give me strength in
that hour. Even now my heart fails me
but, come what will, while l have a loaf to
share, you and your mother shall never want.
| will beg throgh the world for You.
The day arrives, and the court assemblies
The claim is stated, and the evidence given.
And now the defense is called for, but none
is made, not syllable is uttered; and after
pause and consultation of some minutes,
the judges are preceding to give judgment,
silence having been proclaimed in the court,
when Lorenzo rises and thus addresses
them -
Reverend signors, young as l am, may l
venture to speak before you? Iwould speak
in behalf of one who has none else to help
her: and | will not keep you long. Much
has been said-much on the sacred nature of
the obligation, and we acknowledge it in its
full force. Let it be fulfilled, and to the last
letter. 1t is what We solicit, what we re-
quire. But to whom is the bag of gold TO be
delivered? What says the bond Not to
one-not to two-but to three. Let the
three stand forth and claim it."
From tha day. for who can doubt the
issue y none were sought, none employed,
but the subtle, the eloquent Lorenzo.
Wealth followed fame nor need We help
our readers to infer how soon he sat at his
marriage-feast, or who sat beside him.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19
WEIGH THE MEANING OF YGJ-p Wo

WEIGH THE MEANING or YOUR WoRDs.
are to nouns what pepp.r s,I,
mustard, vinegar, sugar, molasses, butter
and other codments are to the food vs 90,
very good in moderation and when appro-
prlately applied. But when language is ov-
er-seasoned with them, or they are inaptly
used' the dish of words is spoiled. Some
people nave a way of cooking up their
speeches and writings with preposterous ad-
Jectlves, with the idea that profusion of
these attributi,es lends strength to their ar
guments, while in reality it weakens them.
AS people We are given to this sin against
taste. Sometimes we kill the favor of
vigorous substantive with heap of unsuita-
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19

bic pretxes, as vulgar cook might destroy
the natural SAVIOR of beefsteak with an ava
lanche of onions.
Thus it is not an uncommon thing to hear
such phrases as elegant weather." awful
funny" powerful pretty ~.monstrous po,
lite," lovely pickles" beautiful medicine,
/" ridiculous (meaning outrageous) conduct,
" magnificent potatoes" &c., &c. 1t is a
great thing always to drop the right word
into the right place. Words are things
Weigh their meaning before you use them
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19

"This medicine" said DR. Squills, latter
having been taken for few days, will pro-
duce the change desired" What" ex-
claimed the thunder-struck patient, "you
don't say so doctor ?" " It's fact, sir" said
the doctor " the science of medicine has
now reached" "Well," said the patient,
interrupting him, " it is wonderful If you'd
said postage stamps doctor, wouldn't have
said anything; but the desired change doc.
tor, it seems impossible"
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19
Home in Heaven.

Why should we weep at earthly grief,
Or pine for earthly JOY
The sharpest SORROWS here are brief,
The sweetest pleasures cloy.
At most, but tiny sails we are
Across the ocean driven,
And though we wander long and far,
Our only port is Heaven.
We seek for gold, but soon as won,
We yield our parting breath;
We strive for fame, when scarce begun
The race is stopped by death.
Why arewe born if such is life:
Know then, the boon is given
That YOU and I. by earnest strife
Nay win home in Heaven.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19
SWIFT OPPORTUNITY.

A thousand years a poor man watched
Before the gate of paradise:
But while one little nap he snatched.
1t oped and shut, All was he wise:
-Ayer's Oriental Poetry.
Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1863-01-14

The Washington ChrOniese tfornsyl
says that the retrogate movement Of the
array ssprovsa that vigorous policy has
at last been inaagurated, and that tho
country may confidently look for early
and favorable results" +
Ii Ia in this cold bloodsd way thas .
semi- of6ciaI organ OF the administrator
noeka At the national grisf oysr nation
al humiliatioa .,. /
Are the feelings Of the people, 90 vol n
their intelligence, to be essrnally trafes
With thus? IT,.
Had thia aatrap Of tho palace noshing
haE a aippaus remark, upon an even
which has sent fifteen thousand gallani
nan TO bloody graves, aud plunged thou
sands Of Northern families into mourn
ingf - .
Equally cold bloodsd and unfseling l.
the following from the fadepsadsas o.
to-day, 8 Journal edited DE it Fsasm
bsEed) by psofsssed minister OF Hod
"ksfser wall tonight hstsls, although vi
have failed 10 gain what We aimed 1t, VI
have lost nothing nothing beyond hos
Of doubly preciona lives, which wsse no
bly, devoted and hraxsly givsa for tbs de-
liversBee Of their country. Let Us thanl
God that we have them TO give, - "
have plenty more in reserve TO give, /
needed"
II there is any manliuess in the Abo
htiouist who penned this paragraph
he viii forthwith step forward, naske
in hand, himself. 1t is eowasdics, in it
most revolving ahape, to be thus puahin
on sn'E friends and neighbors to DANCE
and death, Tin order that aboliionisE
may flourish while ones self remAin q
home, safe from all harm.
Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1863-01-14

ILLsoEs DKAocRACY on TIE PEEsI.
DxKT's PRocLAAASlox.-Below are the
resolutions adopted as shs nesting Of the
Democratic members Of the Illinois
Legislature o. tuesday last.
5 Ths. meeting was large, enthusiastic,
and harmonious, the resolutions heiag
uaaniously adopted: ii
Rssogvsd, That the emancipation pFoe-
lgxnakion Of the Pxasidens of the United
States 10 al anwaEranssa In military %
In slsil Law; . gigantic usnrpation, 81
ones converting the war, pFofsssedly com
manssd By the administrations faF the vim
dication Of the authority Of the soastita,
ton, into crusade for the sudden, IN
conditional, aaa violent liberation oil
three millions Of negro slaYesy--a result
which would not ealy be q total subver'
sion Of the Federal Union, bat fevoiu,
sson in the special oTganissaion Of tn
Esoasharn States sha immediate and re-
mose, the present and fax-rsashing COZ
sequences OF which cannot be contain
plated without the most dismal forebod
Ing of horror and dismay. The proels
masiaa invpkes sayxils insurssSaion, .
an slemsna in the emancipation exuzad
la means Of warfare ths inhum&nit
and diahaaism pl which are without ex
iampla ia. siyilisad warfare, and whis
we aanonuse, and which the eiviIiss
world will dsnounes, ~ an inefaeeshl
, Idisgraes 20 The Americas name 81
The snsssing was addressed By Co
Rlehardsoas q, I. Asrrisk, Judge Ma
shall, W. g. Cloudy and |. n. Morris, VII
,, wess enthusiastically sppl&aasd throaSa
osas,8 SITS E2Etjf F# gE5@ I#z q