davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09
Colonization.

Eleven hundred and sixty-fve people of
color have applied to the American Coloni-
cation Society for passage to Liberia this fall,
They consist of families Of men, women and
children, "some mechanics, some farmers,
most of them the better class of freedmen,
who can read and write, and are intelligent
and religious" Here then, is the opportu-.
nifty for the true friends of the colored peo-.
pie, in this country, to show their faith by
their works. The American Colonization
Society offers to send these people to the home
of their fathers, to civilize and christianize
Africa, and to secure their own future peace
ana happiness. =. 4,
To furnish a comfortable passage and the.
customary support, house-room, land, &c,
to these people for the first six months after
landing in Liberia, sixty dollars per capita,
or total of forty thousand dollars are wanted.
Who will help to provide for bearing these
people to Africa? There is voice OF Prov
idence in the cry of the descendants of Africa
for help to reach their ancestral land which
the friends of the colored man, to whom God
commits property, will not turn away with
out the best of reasons. He can hope for
but little, if anything, from those who would
keep him here, for purposes of discord and
maschief-but to his best and truest friends
he may turn with the hope that they will
do all for him that they can. Ifthe South
ern people we're able they would be liberal
in their aid to the American Colonization
Society Alec. Gazette. ssi .taem1-95oU
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09
The Little Gun of Tears,

The following beautiful German legend is
told in s'Thorpe's Yule-tide Stories p
1t relates that mother who had lost a
darling little daughter, sorrowed day and
night for her as one without hope, and that
for three days and three nights she neither
ate nor drank anything, but wept in the bit
terness of her soul. The third night, as she
thus sat overcome with sufferings, in the
place where her child had died, her eyes
oathed in tears and faint from grief the
door softly opened, and the mother started,
for before her stood her departed child. 1t
had become heavenly angel, and smiled
swcetly as innocence, and was beautiful like
the blessed 1t had in it's hand small cup
that was almost running over, so full it was.
And the child spoke: "Oh! dearest mother,
weep no more for me; the angel of mourn
ing has collected in this little cup the tears
which you have shed for me. If for me you
shed but one tear more, it will overflow, ]
shall have no more rest in the grave, and
no Joy in heaven. Therefore, 0 dearest
mother s! weep no more for your child for it
is well and happy, and angels are its COM
panions!' It then vanished. The mother
she'd no more tears, that she might not dis
turb her child's JOY in heaven.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09
Sledge.Hammer Preaching.

The most popular Of English preachers is
the celebrated Dr. Spurgeon- celebrated be-
cause of the homely and forcible way he has
of approaching the understanding of his con-
gregation, The following passages occurred
in one of his recent discourses:
A certain tyrant sent for one Of his sub
jects, and said to him; "What is your en-
ployment?' He said: u am blacksmith"
900 home and make me chain of such
length" He went home, it occupied several
months, and he had no wages all the time
that he was making it. Then he brought it
to the monarch, and he said: Go make it
twice as long" He brought it up again, and
the monarch said: go make it longer still )"
Each time he brought it there. was nothing
but the command to make it longer STILL
And when he broughtit up at last the mon
arch said: .sTake it and bind him hand and
foot with it, and cast him into furnace Of
fire." These are the wages for making the
chain Here is meditation for you tonight.
ye servants of the devil. Your master, the
devil, is telling you to make a chain. Some
have been fifty years Welding the links Of the
chain and he says: $50 make it longer. -
Next Sabbath morning you will open that
shop of yours, and pull another link; next
Sabbath you will be drunk. and put another
link; next Monday you will do disbonored
action; and SO you will keep on making fresh
links to this chain, and when you have lived
twenty years more the devil will say: "More
links on still" And then, at last, 1t will be:
s'Take him, and bind him hand and foot, and
cast him into the furnace of fire." ''For the
wages Of sin is death" There is subject
for your meditation. / do not think it will
be sweet, but if God makes it profitable. it
will do you good. You must have strong
medicine sometimes, when the disease is bad.
God apply it to your hearts
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09

ABOVE HIS BUSINESS is serious evil
that many young man has fallen into, to
be above his business A person learns
trade and he is too proud to work at it, and
he must go shop-keeping, or street-loafng,
Or turn politician Fool If he cannot make
living at his trade, we are sure that he can
not in any other way. And then young men
brought up to shop-keeping must buy farms,
or houses, or some other foolish thing they
know nothing about, and what is the result
Head over heels in debt and certain failure.
Multitudes have been ruined by being above
their business, and branching out into what
they knew nothing about There is no trou-
BILE about young men who do not feel their
Importance, and who are willing to work at
their trades or professions till they get a lit
tie before hand. With small capital to fall
back upon, they can feel like venturing into
other business by this time they will
have formed habits that will be likely to keep
them straight Those who succeed best in
life are men who stick to business and make
money before they buy farms, or houses, and
commence specializing. Look at your sue
cessful men and you will see where lies the
secret Of success. You will find they never
were above their business, and never paid for
the doing Of job which they could just as
we'll do themselves. Of this we are sure if
all men are prompt and punctual stick to
their business, and not be too proud, they
will eventually succeed and become indepen-
dent. -Lymchburg Neacs. -
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09
A Noble Boy.

i. The following incident, in the fatal COLI
sion of the Niagara with the Postboy, on the
Mississippi, was related to me by an eye
witness f+.,o..,
The two steamers struck, and the Niagara
Immediately careened and began to sink
The widest CONSERVATION was at once uni-
versal. Ladies rushed to-and-fro with pier
cling screams, imploling the men to help them
But no means seemed at hand, and each
sought his individual rescue.
At this fearful moment, negro boy-one
of the crew-was seen quietly flashing long
and stout rope around his body, at the other
end tying a stick of wood in its centre.
Instantly, with this apparatus, he threw
himself into the river. Turning upon his
back, the stick drifted to the ropes end and
calling upon two ladies who stood on the edge
of the boat-one with child in her arms
he urged them to spring, and catch either
end Of the stick Horrow-stricken, they
hesitated. The negro lay calmly on the
waves, and, in tones of confidence, told them
it was their only hope, insisting that he would
carry them safely to the shore. For anoth-
er instant they hesitated; but gathering
courage from his self possession, and reafi-
zing that it was their last moment, they took
the leap, and both succeeded in grasping the
stick. Turning quickly, to prevent their
selling him, the heroic fellow struck out,
with strong muscles, for the land. The rapid
current was wcll-nigh resistless; but he
wrestled manfully with his burden. The
energy Of despair kept them to their hold,
and at length their feet touched bottom
Both ladies with the clinging little one, were
saved Many witnessed this feat. 1t ex-
hibited not only cool, unparalleled bravery,
but was wholly disinterested, as both ladies
were strangers. 1t should be added, that
the boy left his own trunk, with his best
clothing, and three hundred dollars in mon
ey. to sink with the wreck.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09

A SCENE was witnessed recently on the
Rappahannoek, which, doubtless, is often to
be repeated in Virginia. One hundred and
fifty negroes, male and female, old and young
were brought back to their old homes along
the river, from which they had either been
taken by the Federals, or else had gone in
search of liberty and happiness during the
war Whether they obtained either or both
eff the latter much to be desired acquisitions
by their flight or forcible emigration is great
ly to be questioned. From the EXPLANATIONS
of joy, their evident happiness at returning
to their homes, the homes Of their servitude,
the community of their former masters, we
are inclined to think they did not. The Bal
timore boat brought them and their luggage,
larger than that Of Confederate Division,
and transportation was furnished them by the
United States Government. 1t seems that
they had been working a United States farm
up the Patuxent river in Prince George
county, Maryland. The farm belonged to a
Mr.. Forrest, but owing to little difficulty
Mr.. Forrest, had not occupied it for some
time past. The President, not liking this
style of things and anxious in the words of
the hymn to ''let pardoned rebel live" re-
stored Mr.. Forrest to his own, and the Freed
mans Bureau having no further use for the
negroes especially as winter was coming on +,
sent them back to their old homes for their
impoverished former owners to take care of.
They were landed along the river at differ
ent points, some eighty or ninety being put
off at Tappahannock.-Alen. Gazette.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09

EvEReREENs FOR W1NTER-A process has
been discovered by which beautiful show of
evergrcens may be obtained for the parlor
during the winter. We give it for the ben
eft of our lady readers, who are inseparably
associated in our mind with flowers, and all
the beautiful objects on earth
i" If geranium branches taken from luxu-
RANT and healthy trees, just before the win
ter sets in, be cut as slips and immersed in
soap water, they will, after dropping few
days, shed their leaves, put forth fresh ones,
and continue in the finest vigor all winter.
By placing a number Of bottles thus filed in
flower basket, with moss to conceal the bot
tie, show of evergreen is easily secured for
the winter. All the different varieties of the
plant being used, the various shapes and col
or of the leaves blend into beautiful effect
They require no fresh water"
The plan is simple, easily put into prac-
tice, and is said to be successful.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09
A wonderful Railroad Invention.

The London Herald says: 1t is a curious
fact that for the lact four years an invention
which may prove one Of the most useful as
well as the most wonderful of this wonder
working age, has been on view within an
hours drive of Paris. The general public
are at this moment unaware that at La Jou-
chere, close to the pretty village of Couginal,
they have an opportunity of witnessing ev-
cry Sunday the extraordinary sight of a
railway train ascending steep gradient
without the aid of steam, and the carriages of
which are destitute of wheels.
This invention is due to French engi-
neer, NJ L. D. Girard. 1t is founded on
new application of an old principal, viz ::
That layer of water introduced between
two metal surfaces, enables them 10 glide on
each other with as little friction as slab of
ice on the polished surface of frozen lake.
NJ Girard has conceived the idea of apply
ing this principal to locomotion, and the ex-
pertinent he has been carrying on for the
last four years successfully demonstrates that
it is applicable to the propelling of railway
trains. In his system wheels are dispensed
with, and there can be no doubt that were
his invention applied to ordinary railways,
an engine which is now able to draw a train
weighing, say 500 tons, at the rate of TWEEN
ty miles an hour, would, with the same ex-
penditure of fuel, be; able to draw double the
weight at double the speed. NJ. Girard,
however, proposes to discard team as mo-
tive power. Thiseis the weak part of his in
yention-the value of which consists in the
substitution of sledge carriages, instead Of
carriages on wheels. These carriages are
fitted on slides, which fit upon rails of a pc
culiar construction by simply turning a
cock, stream Of water is introduced be-
tween the slide and the rail, and gentle
motive power being applied, the carriage
mounted on the slide, shoots forward with a
speed which has really no limit beyond the
considerations of safety.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09

DIVISION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF
KENTUCKY. The Synod of the Presbyterian
Church of Kentucky met at Henderson on
Wednesday last. In accordance with the!
directions of the General Assembly at its re-
cent session in ST. Louis, the stated clerk in
calling the roll refused to call the name of
any minister or elder who signed the Decla-
ration and Testimony, which has been the
theme of so many acrimonious discussions
dnring the past year. Rev. DR.. Breck, up
on whom, as Moderator of the last Synod,
devolved the duty of organizing the body,
ordered the stated clerk to call the names of
all the constituent members of the Synod.
This he refused to do, and those who sus-
tanned him and the General Assembly then
declared the Synod dissolved, and withdrew
from the sitting body aud organized another
Synod, which adjourned, to meet in Licking
ton on the Goth of November. The Synod
presided over by Mr.. Breck was then or
ganized and proceeded to business. Both
bodies claim to be the rightful and legal
Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Ken
lucky. Centre College, at Danyille, be-
longs to the Synod, and both bodies have
elected trustees to that institution. -Morys-
uUe (Ky.) Eagle, October 10. .vst -od.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09
PRospECT1yE HOG CRop IN THE WEST.

PROSPECTIVE Hoe CRop IN THE WEsT.-
Messrs Henry Milwark s Co., Of Chicago,
have been making inquiries at the leading
packing places in the interior regarding the
stock Of provisions on hand and the prospects
of the coming hog crop From twenty pla-
ces they are informed that the crop Of hogs
will be about the same as it was last year;
twenty-six places report that it viii be more;
nine places twenty per cent. more; six
places thirty-three per cent. more, and FIVE
places twenty per cent. more. At sixty-one
places no stock Of old meat is reported. At
seven places very light stock. The only
important places outside of this city, St. Louis
and Chicago, where any stock is reported, is
Lafayette, Ind; where 5000 barrels pork
are reported. At St. Louis there is stock on
hand to last till the middle of November -
There have been no contracts worthy Of notice
made for hogs, Farmers ask S. to SO gross
chiefly S. to 50, but packers ideas are far
below these rates.-Camcinnati Price Car-
rent
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09

A PRAYING LUNATIc IN RAILWAY CAR
R1AeE.-At Hanwell, England, recently a
young lady was put in train alone to 60 to
London. As the train was on the point Of
starting gentleman rushed up and got in.
Shortly after the train had started, the gen
tleman jumped up and exclaimed: This
carriage is too heavy, and it must be tighten
ed and straightway his carpet bag disap-
peared out of the window. He sits still few
minutes, when he begins again, and this time
his coat and waistcoat followed his bag.
After little while he said g Let us pray
for the Duke of Gloucester" Down they go
on their knees, the poor girl, only seventeen,
to do anything but obey. When that was
done, they prayed for the Duke Of York,
and then for another-in fact through a
whole string of dukes then they sat down,
the young lady frightened out Of her senses
After a few minutes he begins again: 1t
won't do; can't stand it; the train is too
heavy either you or must get out; don't
want to, SO you must CO."
The girl, in despair, says: &C But we have
not prayed for the Duke of Northumber-
land"
"Ah, no more we have not"
Down they 60 on their knees, when, luck
lily, the train stopped at station, and the
young lady called the guard, when it was
discovered that the gentleman was lunatic
escaped from Hanwell.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09
A Good Story.

From Ohio comes capital temperance sto-
ry. Judge Quay, the temperance lecturer,
in some Of his efforts there, got off the fol-
lowing:
All of those who in youth acquire habit
of drinking whiskey, at forty years Of age
will be total abstainers or lrunkards, No
one can use whskey for years in moderation.
If there is person in the audience before me
whose own experience disputes this let him
make it known | will account for it, or ac-
knowledge that [ am mistaken.
A tall, large man arose and, folding his
arms in dignifed manner across his breast,
said:
II offer myself as one whose own expert
ence contradicts your statement
g Are you moderate drinker?" said the
Judge
Il ann
How long have you drank in modera-
ton 2"
Forty years"
"And were never intoxicated 7"
Never"
Well,' remarked the Judge, scanning
his subject close from head to foot, ''yours
is singular case, yet I think it is easily ac-
counted for; [ am reminded by it Of little
story. A colored man, with loaf of bread
and flask of whiskey, sat down to dine by
the bank Of a clear stream. In breaking the
bread some Of the crumbs dropped into the
water. These were eagerly seized and eat
en- by the fish. That circumstance suggest
ed to the darkey the idea Of dipping the
bread in the whisFey and feeding it to them.
He tried it. It worked well. Some Of the
fish ate of it, became drunk, and foated help
less on the water. In this way he easily
caught great number But in the stream
was large fish very unlike the rest. 1t par
took freely of the bread and whiskey, but
with noperceptible effect 1t was shy of ev-
cry effort of the darkey to take it.
"He resolved to have it at all hazards,
| that he might learn it's name and nature. He
procured net, and after much effort caught
it, carried it to eolored neighbor, and asked
his opinion of the matter. The other sur
veyed the wonder moment, and then SAID I:
Sambo, understands dis case. Dat fish
is mullethead. It hain't got any brains. .
g In other Words" added the Judge. calico
hol affects only the brain, and, Of course,
those having none may drink without inju-
ryp'
The storm of laughter that followed drove
the moderate drinker suddenly from the
house.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09

TIE REBELS CHEER FEDERAL SOLDIER. 9
AT recent tournament in Tuscumbia,
Alabama, the prize was won by an ex-oficer
of the Federal army The Huntsville hide
pendent thus describes the manner in which
his victory was received: The thickest ice
must melt Cheer after cheer burst forth
for the knighly victor. The judges, the
president, General Forrest, and X. OF =.
said hurrah for him and took him by the
hands. The silver spurs were his-there
was not dissenting voice. And just here
we have the pleasure of recording an inn
promptu act by the off-hand knight which
does credit to the heart. Through General
Forrest he announced to the crowd that the
spurs were offered as present to the assoc
citation for the cause of sculpture to the Con-
federate dead. Well done, son of the North
You fought for your side in the war, We for
ours. You arc q peace man now, and no
one can say you have not acted the gentle
man throughout, and at times when ones
patience would be sorely tried. fia
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09
A MACHINE TO PREVENT RAILROAD A,

A MACHINE TO PREVENT RAILROAD AccI-
DENTS. The New York News has beeen
shown machine, invented by Mr.. P. e.
Milligan, by the application Of which to
bridges, culverts, trestlework, etc., the en-
gineer as Mr.. Milligan claims, "can see at
a glance, as he approaches each and every
bridge, culvert, etc : First whether there
has been freshet, and how high the water
has been. Secondly-whethcr the track has
settled from its proper or sound position
and, if so, how much it had gone down.
And thirdly-if the bridge or culvert, etc,
be burnt down or swept entirely away. The
absence Of the lamps is proof positive that
they are gone, and calls on the engineer to
stop his train"
The inventor is a civil engineer, de-
signer Of railrca1 machinery, and practical
mechanic.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09

SIGNS OF A HARD WINTER.--The phenom-
ena which usually presago, according to the
notions of the observant in such matters, the
approach of hard winter, are becoming very
marked as the season progresses. Hives are
overlooking with honey, the husks Of corn
are declared to be of extra thickness, and
the furs of animals are pronounced exceed
ingly rich and heavy. 1t is observed, too.
that the squirrels are making arrangements
on an increased scale for the stsrage OF
nuts
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09
THE Cnops. The Commissioner of the

THE Crops. The Commissioner of the
Agricultural Department, in his last month
ly report just published, states that the corn
crop is the largest ever previously reported
that the decrease in the wheat crop-con-
siderable in the South-is compensated by
the superior quality Of the grain-and that,
after all, in the whole country it exceeds by
several millions of bushels that of 1865
the yield of oats is extraordinary, and the
quality excellent, and that hay is less in
quantity than in the previous year. but better
in quality,
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09
Poetry.
BUILDING ON THE SAND.
BY ELIZA COOK.

IT'S well to WOO, tbs well to wed,
For so the world hath done
Since myrtles grew and roses blew,
And morning brought the sun.
But have care, ye young and fair,
Be sure you pledge with truth;
Be certain that your love will wear
Beyond thy days of youth
For if You have not heart for heart,
AS well as hand for hand,
You'll find you've played the unwise part,
And "built upon the sand"
Tis we'll to save It's we'll to have
A goodly store Of gold,
And hold enough Of shining stuff,
For charity is cold.
But place not all your hope and trust
In what the deep mine brings;
We cannot live on yellow dust
Unmixed with purer things.
And he who piles up wealth alone
Will often have to stand
Beside his coffer-chest, and own
Tis "built upon the sand"
IT'S good to speak in kindly guise,
And soothe where'er we can;
Fair speech shall blind the human mind,
And love link man to man.
But stop not at the gentle words;
Let deeds with language dwell
The one who pities starving birds,
Should scatter seeds as we'll,
The mercy that is warm and true
Must lend a helping hand,
For those that talk, yet fail to do,
But build upon the sand"
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-09
An ex-rebel in Washington writes to

An ex-rebel in Washington writes to the
editor Of the Mobile Advertiser, who sought
his opinion of national affairs, as follows -
"Politics Bless your soul, I have not
read newspaper for eighteen months. I
am not citizen, and don't trouble myself
about such things. There'n be h-ll to pay
soon but it's none Of my funeral: I, having
died very dead, and buried year and hall
ago"