Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-06-12

MASTER AND SCHoLAR-'' When 1 was
boy" said an old man, ave had a school
master who had an odd way Of catching idle
boys. One day he called out to US:
Boys. must have closer attention to
your books. The first one OF you that sees
another boy idle, l.wish you would inform
me, and I will attend to the case"
q Ah," thought to myself, e there is Joe
Simpson that don't like. I'll watch him
and sec him look off his book, aud immedi-
ately inform the master"
g Indeed" said he, how did YOU know
he was id!e?'
81 saw him." said 7.
You did-and were your eyes on your
book when you saw him ?"
was caught, and never watched for idle
boys again If we are sufficiently watchtul
over. our own conduct we shall find no time
to find fault with the conduct Of others.
"A genius out West, conceiving that a
little powder thrown upon same green wood
would facilitate its burning, directed small
stream from keg upon the smoking pile:
not possessing a hand sufficiently quick TO
cut this off at desirable moment, was blown
into a million pieces. The Coroner reasoned
out the verdict: sit can't be called suicide
because he didn't mean to kill. himself; it
wasn't u visitation of God, because he wasn't
struck by lightning; he didn't die for the
want OF breath, for he hadn't anything left
to breathe with. It's plain he didn't know
what he was about; so [ shall bring in s:[lied
for the a1ont ct co"amon sense
OVER NICE.-Old marin G-was never re-
garded as a paragon Of neatness; and if
cleanliness is next to godliness,' as St. Paul
asserts, it is to be feared that the old lady
never attained to TIE latter state Not only
was she anything but neat herself, but she
showed sovereign contempt for it in Others
Speaking OF neat people one day, she re-
marked that her son Josiah was one of the
most particular men in the world "why,"
SAID she, she threw away a 'rhoic cup Of
coffee the other morning because it had
bed bug in it"
"A little girl, about four years old, few
days ago, made some remark about getting
married. " Why, Etta," said her older sis,
ter, - you shouldn't be thinking about getting
married; you're only four" Etta's face and
p voice at once assumed serious gravity wor
thy OF Judge Pronouncing death sentence
as she responded, Why, Lizzie, I Mouyht
Of 1t srhem I 1cuS ttco"
- A" editor out West, who had served n
jury, says that he is 50 full Of law that it is
hard for him to keep from cheating some.
body.
. a Pittsburger, who has in his possess
sion the cork les captured from Santa Anna
IN the Mexican war, is said to have decided
to return it to the Old soldier.
A 'ssea serpent" twenty feet long and
foot in diameter, was killed about a week
ago in bayou near Memphis He is an
posed TO have come from the lI.s7iss:ppi.
The famous ':Cromwell' sword believed
to.have been used b. the great Protector. was
taken from the Masonic Lodge at til: time
Sherman occupied the city.
- Sea water has curious action on cast
iron, converting it into grey, porous mass,
that grows rapidly hot in contact with air
Some eannons fshed up near Scotland became
SO hot that they could not be touched. :.
"A ease is before a st. Louis court in
vo1ving the question as to whether mans
wife is personal property.
josh Billings thinks there used to lie
more fun in thirty cents, than there is now in
seven dollars a1d half
Some prophets are debating in the Maine
papers whether the end of the world is to
come in 1869 or 1873.
- Interments in Liverpool on Sundays
have been discontinued, on the ground that
their moral influence is bad.
Why are gentlemen's love letters liable
to. go astray? Because they are generally
mis.directed. 's.-.