davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21
IRAsBURGH, VERMONT, FRIDAY. JULY 2l, 1865

ers were first discovered, standing near
together; and giving some low, rapid
orders to his companions, Mr.. Belcher
and the two others fired together, with
such precision of aim that each of the
brothers dropped to the earth. Seeing
this, and being terribly surprised to find
three rifles doing duty where they had
supposed there was only one, the other
three men discharged their pieces at the
window from which the powder.smoke
was issuing, and then, mounting the two
horses in terrified haste rode swiftly away,
leaving their companions to their fate.
Our friends in the house now rallied
forth, extinguished the flames, and ex-
amined the wounded assailants, only one
of whom. the youngest was found to be
alive. He was taken into the dwelling
and cared for; but his wound was mortal,
and h died before morning. Thus
miserably perished all the males of that
wicked family.
The affair caused considerable excite
ment in that section of the country but
an investigation by the authorities, ended
in justification of Mr.. Belcher and his
friends and very few, even Of the tories,
pitied the deceased, or cared TO have
them back in the community they had SO
often outraged and disgraced.
Neither Mr.. Belcher nor his family
were ever molested again, and he lived
to see his sons return in triumph from a
war which laid the foundation for The
final freedom Of all mankind.
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

INSPECTING A LUNATIC AsYLUM.-l
don't know what they call these mer
who inspect the lunatic asylums-wheth-
er commissioners, inspectors or lunatiC
officers, or what; but | heard a good sto-
ry about one the other day. lie, the
government inspector, (et me say in
spector, or shall not be able to get on, }
went down 10 the lunatic asylum to in
spect, report, or whatever may be the
term for it. He was very tall fellow,
with sandy whiskers, this official. He
saw the medical superintendent and said
81 don't wish to 90 over the asylum in
the usual way, but to mingle with the
patients as if | were a-an officer, sur
geon, or even one of themselves. By so
doing l shall be able to judge of their in
teIlectual state, and of their progress in
the direction of sanity"
with pleasure" said the doctor; "it
is Saturday, and we always have dance
on Saturday night. If you go into the
ballroom, as we cali it, you will see them
dancing and talking without reserve"
"Would it be objectional if I-a-was
to dance with them 2" asked the official,
"Not at all" was the reply.
The official walked into the ball room,
and selecting the prettiest girl he saw
for partner, was soon keeping up a very
animated conversation with ber.
In the course of the evening he said
to the doctor
"Do you know that girl in the white
dress, with blue spots, is very curious
case I've been talking to her, and j
cannot for the life and soul of me, discov-
er in what direction her mental malady
lies. Of course, l saw at once she was
mad-saw it in the odd looks of her eyes.
She kept looking at me oddly. i asked
her if she did not think she was the
Queen of England, or whether she had
not been robbed of large fortune by the
volunteer movement, or Jilted by the
Prince of Wales, and tried to ind out
the cause of her lunacy, but / could not,
she was too artful,'
"Very likely" answered the doctor.
"You see she is not patient; she is one
of the housemaids, and as sane as you
are"
Meantime the pretty housemaid went
to all her fellow servants, and said:
"Have you seen the new patient! He's
been dancing with me. A fine tall man
and beautiful whiskers but as mad as
march hare. He asked if | wasn't the
Queen of England; if volunteer
hadn't robbed me of large fortune, and
whether the Prince of Wales did not
want to marry me. He is mad. Isn't
it pity-such young, fine young man y
London Paper.
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

Mr.. LINCOLN AND JEFF. DAVIS
The New York correspondent of the
London Spectator asks in his last letter
"Was there ever a more striking con-
trast than that between the close of the
public careers Of the two foremost men
in this conflict? One, careless of life, and
dying upon the summit of success, mourn
ed by great nation and eliciting un-
precedented respect and sympathy from
all Christendom the other, having led
his followers to destruction, arrested as
he 'skedaddled' across cornfield, to save
his neck, in his wife's petticoats." The
Spectator adds, editorially: "This Re
public, which was supposed to be absorb
ed in trade and agriculture, enervated by
wealth and prosperity, incapable of the
efforts and sacrifices which are required
for war-this Republic has already shown
itself upon battle>felds the rival of the
Republics of Rome and Greece. Like
the Grecian Republics, it has already
had its two Nervic wars-its Persian
and its Peloponesian war. The war Of
1T74 to 1882, which created its national
ity, and the war of 1861 to 1865, which
has put an end to slavery, has engraved
its name in the first class among the rec
ords Of martial glory. That is enough
for it. God grant it may be able to stop
without going further in its career Of
blood and danger" J" .ft
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

REAL ELoQUENcE.-There are no
people in the world with whom eloquence
is so universal as with the Irish. When
Leigh Ritchie was travelling in Ireland,
he passed a man who was a painful
spectacle of pallor, squalor, and ragged
ness. His heart smote him as be passed,
and he turned back.
III you are in want" said Richie,
with degree of peeyishness, "Why don't
you beg ?" 5s s.ai a. haa rs
"Sure, it is begging hard l am, your
honor"
"You didn't say a word"
"Of course not, your honor: but see
how The skin is spakin through the holes
10, me trowsers, and the bones crying out
through me skinl Look at me sunken
cheeks, and the famine that is starin me
in the eyes Man alive isn't il begging
| am with thousand tongues ?"
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

| A RAILROAD RoMANCE.-The Nash.
vile Union vouches for the truth of the
following story. One morning in May
the train for Louisville bore an unwonted
number of elegant women and nicely
dressed men, the latter including a large
sprinkling Of Uncle Sans pets with
shoulder straps. On one of the seats was
married lady, in fine health, with spark
ling eyes and vivacious spirits. She was
accompanied by a little daughter and a
colored "lady" with the baby. Behind
the lady sat young Lieutenant dressed
TO kill, and anxious tor love adventure.
He scraped acquaintance with the lady
by attention to her children, and soon
they were on very pleasant terms. The
Lieutenant felt that he had made an i'm
preston and showed it by hiS actions,
while the lady was apparently pleased
with b e r casual acquaintance. Soon
matters reached a climax, which is thus
told:
by and by the train approached the
tunnel at Muldrough Hill. The gay and
festive Lieutenant leaned owe r and
whispered in the lady's ear. 1t was no.
ticed that she appeared as thunder-sruck,
and her eyes Immediately after famed
with indignation. A moment more and
smile lighted up her features. What
changes ! That smile, it was not of pleas
ure, but was sinister. 1t was unper-
ceived by the Lieutenant. She made
him a reply, which rejoiced him appar-
emily very much.
For the understanding properly OF the
narrative-this DER true tale-w.e must
tell the reader what was whispered and
what was replied. Whispered the Lieu
tenant, i mean to kiss you when we get
into the tunnelv Replied the lady, 1T
will be dark-who will see it p Into
earth's bowels-into the tunnel-ran the
cars. Lady and colored nurse quickly
changed seats. Gay Lieutenant threw
his arms around the lady sable, pressed
her cheek to his, and fast and furious
rained kisses on her lips, In few mo-
ments the train came out into broad day
light; gay Lieutenant beiogged. Jane,
said the white lady, what have you been
doing?'
Responded colored lady, Nothing 7
Yes you have said the white lady, not
in under tone, but in voice that attracted
the attention of all in the car; See how
your collar is rumpled and your bonnet
Mashed Jane, poor colored beauty,
hung her head moment, the observed
ofall Observers and then turning around
to the Lieutenant, replied, 'This man hug
ged and kissed me IN the tunneLP Loud
and long was the laugh that followed
among the passengers. The white lady
enjoyed the joke amazingly. Lieutenant
looked like "a sheep-stealing dog, left the
car and was seen no more during the
trip"
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21
The Laughing Jackass.

1t is well known that the birds Of Au-
stralia differ from those in Europe or
America being more nearly assimilated
to the last geological epoch than our
own. The following sketch of curious
specimen is given by Rev. Mr.. Wander
kiste:
The alcedo gigantia Of ornithologists is
no other than the "gobera" of the blacks,
and the "laughing jackass' of the colon
lists. He is dull looking bird, who sits
crowded up and hitched together on the
limb of tree, or the top Of fence, or
almost anywhere. He looks as if he
might be able to move just fast enough
to distance the sloth or tortoise; but
things are not always just as They appear.
Only let worm, or a scorpion, or CEN
tipede, or snake be near, and the eye
will have enough to do to follow his ar
row-like course as he darts like streak
of lightning on bis prey. His plumage
is owI-like, dusky olive-brown and dirty
white. He looks like one Of the drudges
of creation, class by no means to be de-
spised. Many glorious-hued bird, that
gracefully wheels its airy course in the
Australian wids, we'll nigh dazzling the
eye with the gorgeousness Of its plumage,
would, il birds could speak, have brief,
er tale of useful work to tell than the
ugly, dull, drudge>looking, discordant'
voiced "laughing jackass."
When full grown, this remarkable
bird attains some eighteen inches in
length, and is as thick in body as a quar-
Ter grown fowl. His bill is of very great
length, and breadth, and strength; and
as a weapon both Of defence and of Of
fence well knows be how to use it. Con-
fidence achieves great triumphs, and util-
ity in an eminent degree. All day long,
when man is at his plough, he takes his
seat on some neighboring stump, and
makes his repast on whatever may turn
up, just moving out of the way OF the
ploughshare, varying the scene by pounc-
ing upon some snake. Snakes are to-
Jack what turtle and venison are to the
gourmand. Many settlers life has be
saved. He not only follows man all the
day long at his work, but he rouses him
ere sunrise to bis work, by most remark
able laughing and chatting, ascending
the gamut rapidly, and ending with
grand flourish, not unlike the wild rat
tling laugh of human being, though far
sharper and far louder. Again, when
the sun has set, the same boisterous laugh
is heard. Then the stars peep out, and
the howl Of the wild dog bays the moon
from the ranges of the distant mountains.
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21
From the Californian.
The Aged Stranger.
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR.

An INCIDENT OF TIE WAR;
81 was with Grant'--the stranger said
Said the farmer "Say no more,
But rest thee here at my cottage porch,
For thy feet are weary and sore
81 was with Grant"--the stranger said;
Said the farmer "Nay, no more
Iprithee sit at my frugal board,
Go And eat of my humble store.
''How fares my boy--my soldier boy,
Of the old Ninth Army Corps -
/ warrant he bore hun CALAMITY
In the smoke and the battles roar ~
az know him not" said the aged man,
"And, as remarked before,
was with Grant"-"Nay, nay, I know"
Said the farmer, "say no more;
He fell in battle--I see, alas
Thou'dst smooth these tidings DER
Nay; speak the truth, whatever it be
Though 1t rend my bosom's core.
How fell he-with face to the foe,
Upholding the flag he bore
o, say not that my boy disgraced
The uniform that he wore!"
~ can not tell said the aged man,
"And should have remarked, before,
That was with Grant-in Illinois,
Some three years before the war;"
Then the farmer spake him never a word,
But beat with his fist full sore
That aged man who had worked for Grant
Some three years before the war;
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES
Pat Casey made big strike in Colorado
and Immediately began to call himself
"Patrick d. Casey, aisquire." An old
acquaintance came along and, "How are
ye, Pat p was the salutation, in the old
familiar way.
Pat was rich now, and "couldn't see
it." and this was bis reply:
"Bedad. sir, yer mighty fray, sir J Pat
is it now :? III be afther lettin' ye know,
sir, that me name is p. d. Casey, sir,
and if we've ony business, sir, its myself
as has an office in Central, sir, and me
office hours are from p. Nj. in the fore
noon ill A. M. in the afthernoon, sir
Ye can call on me clerks, sir. Dye mind
that 2"
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21
VOLUME lO---NUMBER 80.
The "Old Sixth Corps. "

God bless our noble army
The hearts are strong and brave
That have willing come our standard
From treason's grasp to save;
But from the Western Prairie
To Atlantic's rocky shore,
The truest, noblest hearts of all
Are in the "old Sixth Corps"
Then, ere we part tonight, boys,
Well sing one song the more,
With chorus swelling loud and clear,
God bless the "old Sixth Corps
In the thickest of the battle, .
When the cannon's fiery breath
Smites many strong heart pressing
On to victory or death
The foremost In the conflict,
The last to say 'tis Ger
Who know not what it is to yield
You'll find the "old Sixth Corps"
There's many brave man lying
Where he nobly fought and fell;
There's many mother signing
For the sons she loved so well;
And the Southern winds are breathing
A requiem where they lie
o, the gallant followers of the cross
Are not afraid to die
Our truest, brayest heart is gone,
And we remember well
The bitter anguish Of that day
When noble Sedgwick fell
But there is still another left
To lead us to the fight,
And with hearty three times three
Wen cheer our gallant Wright!
Then on still onward will we press,
TIL treason's voice is still,
And proudly wave the "stripes and stars"
On every Southern hill,
Wen struggle till our flag is safe
And honored as before;
And men in future years shall say,
"God bless the Old Sixth Corps!"
Then ere We part tonight, boys,
... Wen sing one song the mere,
With chorus swelling loud and clear,
., ..... "God bless the Old Sixth Corps =
...tr a. MoLLrE.
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

THE PULPIT AND THE PEw-"Where
do you 60 to church, Mr.. Gage y | ask
ed Of friend, not of my own denomina,
tion, who had recently removed TO the
city.
mot where you expected, I'll venture
to say" was the reply.
"Ahl how is that?"
an tell you. You have so often spok,
en- of the Rev. Mr.. Smith. as the ablest
man in the Orthodox line here, that |
am sure you counted me as a hearer at
Bateman Street; aud so fully intended
to be-"
"And are you not ?" "
"No; l 60 to Hews' Chapel; Mr..
Brown is my minister"
"James Brown suits you better than
Mr.. Smith Why, he can't hold candle
to him in preachingp
"He has not Mr.. Smiths fine classical
education, / know he is inferior to him
in oratory; he lacks the iinshed grace
of manner which distinguishes your fa-
vorite but he breaches the gospel as
clearly and forcibly; and then | can
pray with him so much better than with
the other"
"What do you mean by your last re-
mark p
"Just this, my friend. Mr.. Smiths
prayers are too eloquent, and | may add,
too elegant for me. His thoughts are so
sublime, his arrangement of them so
artistic, and his periods so beautifully
rounded, that he attracts my attention to
himself, instead of bearing my desires to
heaven. Mr.. Brown is the reverse Of
all this. In language as plain and un-
studied as childs, he lays bare the heart
of a guilty, helpless, needy sinner before
the plying eyes of compassionate
Father and loving Saviour. l feel
the condition which he expresses so
simply; see the listening ear and the
beckoning hand Of mercy; and my de-
sires spring up to the Almighty Helper
so warmly and so earnestly, that ! can
scarcely realize, when the prayer is end
ed, that another's words have borne my
petition for me. 1t is great thing to
me to have my hear! 60 up in the pray
ers of the sanctuary, as well as in those
of the closet" ..........
"You are right, friend Gage, though !
never thought Of it before"
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

U RoUGH. WITTY AND YET TRUE.--
The following which we learn. not by
telegraph, is witty, and witbal, true =
General Kelley, recently captured
along with General Crook, by sudden
dash Of the Confsderates into Cumber-
land, Maryland, was engaged to be mar
ried TO lady of that place. The next
evening after the capture, she sung at a
tdbleau the song
-e1b "He kissed me when he left me-"
whereupon soldier in the audience ex-
claimed loud enough to be heard by those
around bin, "Thal's a whopper; he
, hadn't even time to PIT has boots on"
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

DR.. Nicaner Needham lived near the
center of Shoreham. One afternoon in
haying time Joles Ormsbee went to the
house of the Doctor, but as he was in the
field for load Of hay, Ormsbee waited
till the Doctor drove into the barn yard.
A heavy shower was close at hand, and
the Doctor requested Ormsbee to go up
into the loft over the cattle shed and NOV
away the hay, as he was afraid a part Of
the load would get wet. Ormsbee went
up and as the other commenced pitching
the hay, Ormsbee asked "Where shall |
throw the hay ?" The Doctor replied,
"Anywhere,-back as far as you can, on
ly get it out of the way as fast as | throw
il in." The load was thrown off very
quick, and as quickly taken out Of the
way, bat no sooner done than tremen-
dous heavy shower commenced, which
poured down for some time. When the
shower had ended, the Doctor went
around in view of the back side of the
shed and saw about half of bis load of
hay lying there, it having been thrown,
by Ormsbee, out through an opening on
that side, and had lain through the shows
er. Those acquainted with DR.. Need
ham may we'll imagine that he swore
some to Ormsbee on that occasion, while
Ormsbee's reason given for doing so was,
You told me to throw the hay as far
back as | could, so l threw part of it
through the window opening ! | had not
time to throw it all out p Vermont
Record
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

Judge Bingham reaches this conclu-
sion 10 bis great argument in the assassin
alton cases, "lhat Jefferson Davis is as
clearly proven guilty of this conspiracy
as is John Wilks Booth, by whose hand
Jefferson Davis inflicted the m ortal
wound upon Abraham Lincoln"
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

In Bath, New York, dwelling house
was burned, on one of the shade trees 10
front of which robin had built her nest.
While the flames we're in progress the
mother few back and forth, calling ber
little brood, in the liveliest distress
But when all proved unavailing, she took
her place on the nest and persisted in the
flames with the young.
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21
Anecdotes.

Joles Ormsbee of Shoreham, was a
very eccentric man aud so fond of sport
that what was sport TO him was far diff
ferent to the other parties. On one oc-
casion he met a member of the Congre-
gational Church and said to him,-"DO
you allow quarreling and fighting among
the members of your church p The 9TH
er replied "No." Ormsbee said "If you
do not, | will tell you of case that you
bad better attend to soon, and il is your
brother G. and wife. / was going past
their house the other morning, very early,
and was astonished to see them pulling
hair like fury, and thought | would re-
port the case to some brother, so that a
labor might be commenced if thought
best. "Now," says Ormsbee, "if you com
mence labor with that Brother and
Sister, and they deny what | have told
you, just call on me and will testify to
the truth OF my statement" The labor
was commenced,-the accused denied the
truth of Ormsbee's statement; and the
one officiating went to the informer with
their denial.
Ormsbee told him 10 60 ahead with the
labor, and if the parties continued their
denial, when the matter came before the
church, just call on him and he would
su5stantiate his statement. The labor
went on through all the stages until the
matter came before the Church, when
Ormsbee was called upon as witness,
and the parties interrogated in his pres
ence,--both ofthem still persisting in their
denial of the charges preferred against
them. The witness being questioned,
said to the accused, "Do you recollect
that as l was passing your house one cold
morning in the fore-part of winter, hog
had Just been killed and scalded, and that
both Of you were pulling the hair off with
all your might ?' 80, yes!" they both
replied quickly. WELL" replied the
hard joker, sail said in the first place
was, that saw you pulling hair like fury.
| did not tell the good Brother that saw
you quarreling or fghting,-I only asked
him whether those things were allowed
in the church, and if they were not he
had better attend to your case, for | bad
seen you pulling bair like fury "
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

A SAD CAsE.-Mr, John Cole of Wal
den was in town Wednesday. Young
Cole had both eyes shot out at the last
battle before Petersburgh, a ball entering
the left temple and passing right through
his head. Of all the sad cases we have
heard of in this cruel war, young Coles
seems the hardest. He was a member
of Co. A, 10Th regiment, and be speaks
in high terms of bis former captain, the
late f. B. Frost Caledonian. v5
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

Tell the truth, but not too much of it.
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

Good manners are part Of good NOR
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

Emery s. Wilder, returned soldier
of Co. X, 9th Regt., was drugged and
robbed of bis money on Friday the Esd,
at drinking hole 10 Brattleboro.
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

A SMART OLD LADY.-Mrs. Moses
Hubbard, of Wheeloek, aged 80 years,
wove, on the lst day of this month, two
and half yards Of linen, double work,
in two and half hours. She belongs to
generation when women we're made
"'pon honor" She tarries 10 this gen.
Grafton as an example of what women
used to be- Vermont Union.
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

Abner Niles, of the 9th Vermont regs,
iment, belonging in Bakersfield, was
killed on Friday last while standing on
the top of a car as the train which con-
veye1 the 9Th regiment, was passing over
Hammon Bridge, in Pitsford. His head
struck the bridge. 7sa
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

MORE VT. TRooPs CoMING.-The
War Department, it is announced, has
decided to muster ont the remainder of
the Army Of the Potomac at ONCE
Dispatches received by Maj. Austine
state that the %, Sd and 4th VT. regi-
ments have received orders to be MUSTER
ed out, and expect to start for Vermont
soon. t-t -..T
Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21

AURIFERoUs.-Co Considerable gold is
found in Stockbridge and Bethel. in the
Locust Creek and White River Valleys,
the men at work averaging about four
dollars per day. About four hundred
dollars had been washed out up to week
before last.