davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24
NO. l3.
From Hours at HOme.I
Dead Letters.


Of all the official work done at Washing
ton, none is regarded with more interest BY
the transient visitor than the Dead Letter
Office Here sit some fifteen or twenty gem
tlemen-for it is fact disgraceful to humanity
that females cannot be employed, so many
obscene letters poison the mails continually
engaged In opening the four or five millions
of letters that annually find their way there.
More than $4,000 letters are daily emptied
on their desks. asking to be opened. When
the letter is found to have valuable contents,
those contents are endorsed upon it, aud the
letter returned to the envelope. A record is
made of all such letters, and they are at once
returned to their writers, without return
postage. So perfect are the arrangement that
it is hardly possible that valuable dead let
ter, which has once reached the office, should
fail of revisiting the writer, if 1t is in the
power of the department, to discover him
During the past year 50 600 letters, enclosing
S142. 234, were received at this Office, and
nearly 10000 of them, containing $3.50 $40,
we're restored to their owners. But besides
these money letters, there were 1000 dead
letters, containing bills of exchange, and other
valuable matter, appraised at over So, ,000,0 600;
over 10000 containing photographs, jewelry,
&c. !; and $1,000 containing stamps and
articles Of small value nearly all of them
were returned to the original writers, and the
reason why any of these letters fail of being
returned is not the fault of the department,
but of the writers, who either send an uusign-
cd letter, or who will subscribe herself, ''your
loving Susie" or ''your affectionute Adie;"
and as Government knows no first names, all
such letters are consigned to the chopping~
box, and then to the paper-mill to re>aPpear
as white paper.
Since writing thus far, I have once more
visited the Dead Letter Office, visit that
always gives pleasure and gratifes curiosity.
Here l saw clerks taking about $500 day
out of the letters so profuseIy scattered over
their desks, and among the various articles
recently taken out of their envelopes, neticed
the following: Slippers valentines, a ducks
head, thermometers, false teeth, pistols, nit
tens, fern leaves false hair, laces paper collars,
epaulets, horns, pipes, watch cases. hoops,
albums, dolls, conc of them two feet high, it
must have required n monster envelope),
butter flies, mats, medicines. silver goblets, of
full size, earrings, butter-k knives. spoons, gold
and silver watches, (very little gold and silver
about them. however,) bells, purses, soap,
sugar, tea, coffee, bows and arrows. books,
pictures, box of cigars bottle of Jamaica
ginger, squirrels tail, prisnrs, combs, ,bOxes,&c
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
On Going to School.

School has begun again. L go to school
every day. They won't let Inc play there
The boys ara not allowed to whisper. don't
whisper more than forty times a day. The
teacher thinks / am very good boy. l
think so, too To be good is not to be found
out Peter Snufflins was very good boy,
because he could whisper without moving his
mouth 1 used to call him Mullins. He has
left school and works in a butcher shop
He's going to take me to the slaughter house
some day.
learn good many good things at school.
Before [ went to school didn't know half as
many tricks as DO now. 1 have learned to
fight. Bill Stu5bs said was a gump. l
said he was another. lie called it 'Swat, y
l gave him two. lie tried to knock me dowr:
and l did tumble. Just then cop came
along. If it hadn't been for that cop I'd
licked Bill. The boys said Bill licked me.
But it wasn't so; slipped down on an orange
peel Besides that, L didn't want to hurt
Bill. 1 like to fight with boys that can lick.
BOYS that can lick me l don't get into muses.
with. 1 amt afraid of Bill Stubbs.
learned some grammar at school, and a
goggerfce. But learned to play marbles a
good deal quicker. Pa says boys ought to
learn only what they have got taste for
I've got taste FOR chewing gum. I've learned
good deal of them.
Ma says that we boys are worked too hard
at school. She says her children shan't study
when they have headache. l often have a
headache when the lessons are hard.
am in class nine, siction O. In few
months 1 go to college. 1 want to go to
college, because the boys there carry canes
and have fun, and don't speak to little boys,
and can go in torchight professions.
I've been to good mauy schools. Some
way change schools very often. The teachers
think change is good for me. Ma says the
schools are very poor, and boys don't learn
much in them. think so too. But know
a great deal after all. 1 want to go in store.
Pa says shall Ma says shant. Ma calls
me her precious darling and says must have
an education. I'd rather have a row boat
I'm sure if had row boat, and went out
every day to the river, L wouldn't have head
aches SO much tell ma that schools are
very bad for the head. l want to ask ma for
an excuse. We have long lesson in COM
pound multiplication to morrow, and my head
begins to feel quite bad am,
john GEORGE WASHINGTON SHRIMP.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24
DEATH of two Centenariang,


The Newcastle,- Ky, Constitutionalist, re-
cords the death of Mrs. Sally Sutherland, at
the residence of her son, in Henry county,
on the Sulphur fork of Drcnnon's Greek,
aged l05 years, six months and two days
Mrs Sutherland was born in South Carolina
on the 10Th of April, 1764, and removed,
while child, with her parents to Virginia,
where she married Mr.. Sutherland, who serv-
cd as a soldier in the revolutionary war
Mrs. Sutherland has distinct recollection of
seeing and conversing with General Wash
ington, and at one time the General drank
water from bucket resting on her head
Mrs Sutherland leaves two children, and q
long line of more distant descendants to
mourn her loss. o.
An old negro woman, known as "Aunt
Sookcy" died few days ago at the residence
of Mr.. W. w. Coombs, of Henry county, at
the advanced aged of ITO years. "'Auut
Sookey" belonged in early life to the Sanford
family, and after the marriage of her young
mistress to Mr.. Coolnbs, became an inmate of
his family, with whom she lived to the time
of her death. Sometime since she was taken
with a fainting fit and fell into the fire, and
was very badly burned, but for which fact
she might have lived for years to come
"Aunt Sooky" had endeared herself to all
who knew her by her faithful and christian
conduct, and was much beloved by those who
were most intimately associated with her.
The family of Mr. Coombs and his immc-
diate descendants will ever hold her memory
dear.-LouiSviie Democrat.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24
RATES OF ADVERTISING. i
Business Men.

While Benjamin Franklin was a printer in
Philadelphia, it seems he published a news
paper. Among other things that received
strong censure at his hands were certain modes
of transacting business by the merchants of
Philadelphia. he handled the knaves In sush
a manner as to arouse their wrath, and
calling meeting among themselves, they
waited upon the sturdy printer, demanding
to know what he meant
"Here," said they, 1--WE have been patroniz-
ing and supporting you, and this is our reward
You must change this mode of doing or we'll
show you that the merchants are power
you may not trife with. Without our pa
trOnage where would you stand I"
"Gentlemen of the merchants Committee"
said the polite printer, 81 am, rs you see,
very busy now; but call at my house this day
for dinner, and [ shall consider the matter
! over with you in friendly manner" The
committee, congratulating themselves that old
Ben was evidently frightened, came to dinner
nothing on the table but mush-made from
ill-grOund corn-and large pitcher of milk.
The merchants committee not being used to
such coarse fare, could do nothing but watch
the healthy printer while he made hearty
meal Rising from the table he addressed
the committee thus:
"Now, gentlemen, he that can live COM
fortably on such food eau live without your
patronage. l shall cease to attack those
practices when you cease to practice them,
and not before. Gentlemen, good night.
And for many year Philadelphia mer-
chants were better and far more honest, owing
to this incident.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24
The Rats in the Mine.

A miner of the Imperial Mine, of Gold
Hill, Nevada, publishes in paper of that To-
cality, the following rat story. He says ::
at is not generally known, except in mining
localities, that rats inhabit the mines but
such, however, is the fact. from the top
ground down to the lowest levels they are to
be found in our mines. Some time since the
Imperial Company stopped work at the lowest
level for several days to repair the shaft just
above it. After resuming work, the carman,
who was the first to go below, went down
alone to run out ore from the chutes, and as
soon as the rats heard the old familiar sound
of the car rumbliEg along the track, they
rushed out from behind the timbers to well
come the presence of man once more. They
ran up to the carmau in squads, climbed all
over him, then down to the station floor again,
and scampered and gamboled around in costa
cies of unmistakable delight. When he
started for the chute again with the car, they
ran following and playing around him, and
when he had filed his car with ore and start
ed back again for the shaft, they sprang upon
the car and ran all over it, and jumped and
leaped as if mad. The carman sat down a
moment to see what they would do, when
they all huddled around and ran, over him
without the slightest apparent fear, and with
out offering to bite him. He did not hurt
any of them, as he said if they could live in
such place he felt in duty bound to let them
have the freedom of the city"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24
Count zinzendorf and the Dove.


Cruelty to animals is always the sign of
mean and little mind, whereas we invariably
find great men distinguished by their hu-
manity.
remember having read, some time ago,
beautiful story OF Count ZinzondOrf when
boy He did, as dare say you know, great
deal of good in the world. =
One day, when he was playing with his
hoop near the banks of n deep river which
flowed outside tho walls of the castle where
he lived, he espied dove struggling in the
water. BY some means the poor little crea-
turc had fallen into the river and was unable
to escape. The little count Immediately roll
led large washing tub, which had been left
near, TO the waters edge, jumped into it, and
though generally very timid on the water, by
thu aid Of a stick he managed to steor himself
across the river to the place where the dove
lay floating and struggling. With the bird in
his arms, he guided the tub back, aud got
safely to land After warming his little cap.
tive teudegly in his bosom, the boy ran with
it into the wood and set it free. His mother,
who had watched the whole transaction, in
trembling anxiety for his safety from the bed
room window, now came out.
"But were you not afraid p she asked.
ayes, was rather" answered the little boy;
"but | could not bear that it should die so
you know, mother, its little ones might have
been watching for it to come home p
Plea for the Dumb Creation.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24
Ancient Cities.

1t is we'll known that great cities once stood
in some portions of our distant territories
which arc now little better than bowling will
derncsses. Evidences of this are coming to
light daily, and among the latest and most
circumstantial may be placed the following
which is now going the rounds of the press ::
I" Extensive ruins in Arizona, it is reported,
have been discovered recently by party of
surveyors engaged in exploring the country,
for railroad purposes. The ruins extend for
miles along the little Colorado river. Some
of the walls of the buildings are yet in their
places, and stand six or eight feet high
The streets may be traced for miles The
ground is strewn with broken crockery-ware
The party found some nearly whole vessels of
curious form. The ware seems to be of
different quality, and finer than that found at
most of the ruins in Arizona. Many of the
walls of the buildings were put upin work
manlike manner To all appearances, here
once stood city of many thousand inhabi>
tants On the east bank are the ruins of a
large structure or castle, covering several
acres of ground. Some of the walls are yet
standing to the height of twenty or thirty
feet"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24
Another Florida War.

Since Ponce de Leon first planted foot upon
the peninsular State of the Gulf, and chris
tened it .'Fiorida," from the beauty and fra
GRANGE of its flowers, such a squabble was
never known there as is now iE progress be-
tween brace of Wisconsin carpet baggers,
who have recently drifted hence and taken
possession of the two principal offices of the
State Billy Bowlegs and his Seminoles at
one time disturbed the peace and dignity of
that small Commonwealth by raising war;
whoop among its orange groves, but the re-
construction farce now playing out there beats
the Bowlegs war, all hollow.
Mr. Reed, of Wisconsin, went to Florida
after the war as postofice agent, and got
himself elected "Governor." MIR. Gleason,
also from Wisconsin, where he was lumber
man, also went to Florida, and got himself
elected Lieutenant Governor. Strangers in
strange land, and having nice, soft thing
of it, one would have supposed the Wiscon-
sinners would have dwelt together in har-
mony. But alas for the vanity of human
expectations They fell out, drew pistols,
and threatened one another with extermina-
ton and impeachment.
1t appears that the ConSttooshun confers
upon the Governor the whole patronage of
the State, with enormous salaries. In the
distribution of this patronage Reed offended
Gleason whereupon the latter, through one
jenkins (whererbouts not probably
from Wisconsin,, had Reed impcached, with
view to the succession. The phraseolosy
of the impeachment articles is forcible, rather
than elegant Tho parties knew each other
at home, and had no difficulty in selecting
proper descriptive epithets. In one of the
articles the Governor is accused of being a
liar; in another, of being thief Tho Gov
ernor retorcd upon Gleason by calling him
"another," and putting him under arrest
How this dogfght will end, and which dog
will get the bone of contention (the Cover
norship), we do not know or care.
Florida is a forcible illustration of the
beauties of reconstruction, With carpet bag
Governor and Lieutenant Governor, negro
Secretary of State and mongrel legislature,
what more could be expected
To such a feast as this the Moral Idea party
invites Virginia = Winchester Times.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24

UoRsE THIEF SENTENCED TO DE HUNG.-
At last, one horse thief has been sentenced
to death in Virginia. At the present quar-
teriy term of the court of Chesterfield county,
a true bill was found against John Mccall,
who stole horse from MIR. Wells, of said
county, in September last, and carried the
animal to King William county. where he
had been in the habit of visiting, probably
on the same business. Mr.. Ambers conduct
ed the prosecution, and Mr.. White appeared
for the defendant.
The prisoner was found guilty and sem
fenced to be hung On the 18th day of De-
cember next. A motion was made for new
trial, but refused.
This is the first sentence of death that has
been passed upon a person found guilty of
horse stealing, under the laws of Virginia,
and it will at least serve as warning against
the visits of horse thieves 10 Chesterfield
county. We have sometimes thought if the
sevcrest penalty of the law were visited upon
some of these gentry, the crime OF horse steal
ing would become much less popular and tre-
uuent.-P Petersburg Mder.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24

AS a preliminary measure to enhance
the dignity Of the Presidential Office, the New
York Times proposes that Congress at their
next session, shall increase the Presidents
salary from S25, 900 to 100000 per annum.
The Times argues that the former sum is alto
gether too small to support General Grant in
proper style, and enable him to meet his ne.
ccssary expenditures as Chief Executive of
the Nation. We agree with the Times. BY
all means let us supply the means to enable
our Nations Chief to live as magniicentty
as any of the Old World crowned heads
Let US have no mean Imperialism. The peo-
pie will groan under the taxes, but "let us
have peace. ."-Richmon9 Enquirer.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24
correspondence of the Baltimore Gazette.l
Ondits in Washington.
IWAsu1NGrev, November 16, 1868

WASHINGTON, November 10, loOo.
The several members of the Cabinet are
not only busy lin the preparation Of their an
nual reports, but also in perfecting their ar
rangements for private life. Secretary Nc
Culoch goes to Europe to take charge of
branch of Jay Cookies bank to be establish-
ed in London. Mr. Seward having Gban-
doned all hope of being retained as premier
under the next administration, retires to Au-
burn on the 4th of March next to enjoy his
otiunt Gun, diynitdtc. Secretary Welles says
he shall Welcome the day that relieves him of
the Navy Department and allows his return
to the land of steady habits. Secretary
Browning returns to his home in Illinois, up
on his retirement, and will not hold over the
thirty days allowed him under the civil ten
ure bill. Postmaster General Randall has
temporarily engaged the furnished residence
Of Perry Fuller, in the abseuce'of that gen.
tleman, and Attorney General Evarts has an
eve On the Senatorial succession in New
York.
The Hon. II. V. Miller, Senator elect from
Georgia, in letter to friend in tl.is city,
says 81 placed myself in opposition to
nearly all my friends by frankly accepting
the terms rendered in the reconstruction acts.
It speaks well for their generosity and toler-
ance, and is not little gratifying to me, that
while | actively and openly opposed them, l
retained their confidence; and they very well
understand that WILL as citizen as a
Senator, offer no factious opposition to Gene
raj Grants administration. On the contra
ry, so far as is consistent with my duty to
the country, and my obligations TO the Con-
stitution, will sustain it."
President johnson expresses establishment
at the amount Of paper and ink wasted upon
specuIations over what Minister johnson
will or will not do in England regarding the
Alabama claims and other questions at issue
lie remarked to a gentleman to>day that it
seemed to be forgotten that Mr.. johnson
went to England under instructions from his
Government, and that he is not there to pur-
sue any ''after dinner" impulses, even II he
we're so disposed The President expresses
entire confidence in the prudence and ability
of our new minister, and doubts not he will
strictly follow out his letter of instructions,
regardless of British dinners and newspaper
paragraphs.
The two houses of Congress are rapidly un>
dergoiug the usual process of cleansing, pre-
paratory to the approaching session, and ev-
erything will be placed in winter trim. New
carpets are being laid throughout the build
ing. II.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24
POETICAL.
WORRYING AND WAITING.
BY ADAH 1sAAcs MESKEN.

Look on that form, once fit for the sculptor
Look on that cheek, where the roses have died
Working and waiting have robbed from The artist
All that his marble can show for his pride.
Statue-like sitting
Alone, in the fitting,
And wind-ha united shadows that people her earth
God protect all Cf US
God shelter all OF US
From the reproach OF such things on the carthi
All the day long and all through the cold midnight
Sill the hot needle she wearily plies.
Haggard and white as the ghost OF spurned one,
Sewing white robes for the chosen ones eyes
Lost in her sorrow,
But for the morrow
Phantom like speaking in every stitch.
God protect all of US
God shelter all of US
From the curse born with each sigh for the rich!
Low burns the lamp. Fly swifter thou needle.
S~ifter thou asp for the breast of the poor
Else the pale light will be stolen by pity,
Ere of the vital life thou hast made sure;
Dying and living
All the night, giving
Barely the life that goes out with the thread.
God protect all of US
God shelter all OF u.s.
From her fast glance as she follows the dead!
What if The morning finds her still bearing
AlIthe SOULS load of merciless lot;
Fate will not tighten a grain of the burden
While the poor bearer by man Is IUrgo:,
Sewing and signing
Sewing and dying
What to such life is day or two more?
God protect all of US
God shelter all of US
From the new day's lease Uf woe to the poor
Hasten ye winds! and yield her the mercy,
Lying in sleep on your purified breath:
Yield her the mercy, enfoldlng blessing,
Yield her the mercy, whose sgnet is death;
In her toll stopping,
See her work dropping,
Fate thou art merciful! Life! thou art done!
God protect all of US
God shelter all of us-
From the hcart-breaking, aud yet living on!
Winds that have smitcd her tell ye the story
OF the young life of the needle that bIed?
Making. its bridge over deaths souud;css waters,
Out of u swaying and soul-cutting thread.
Over it going,
All the world knowing,
Thousands have trod it, foot bleeding, before
God protect all OF us-
God shelter all of us
Should che look back from the opposite shore!
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24

- The New York Sun, probably the most
candid and fairest paper in the service of the
Radical party, in the whole Union, thus ''gives
up the ghost on the question of negro suffrage
in the South
'.Thc developments of the Presidential
election indicate that in the long run the DEM
ocratic party will gain more than their oPpo-
nents from the negro vote of the South. The
truth is, that as the hands of the Republican
party, as it has been regarded by some, negro
suffrage will prove failure"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24
That was modesty worthy of eternal

= That was modesty worthy Of eternal
praise, of Godfry of Boillion. By the uni
versaI consent of the whole army he was
saIuted king Of Jerusalem, upon taking it out
of the hands of the Saracens. There was
also for him crown Of gold, sparkling with
jewels, to be set upon his head; but he put
it by, saying, 'it was most unfit for hun, who
was a mortal man, servant, and sinner, to
be crowned with gems aud gold, where Christ,
the Son of God, who made heaven and earth,
was crowned with thorns."
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24

a dispatch from Louisville says: "Gen.
Henry F. Read, of this city, on Monday,
walked into the law Office of Major Buck Al
len, with note, stating that his life was a
failure, laid down on lounge, and shot him
self through the head with Derringer pis-
tol. Pecunary embarrassment was the main
reason for the act. He was lawyer by pro-
fession, and was generally loved and respect
ed. He represented Kentucky in the Con-
federate Congress He gained the title of
brigadier- general in the Mexican war"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24

The executors of the late Thaddeus
Stevens, after a careful examination into the
condition. of his property, report that his per-
sonalty will be about equal to the task of pay
ing his debts, and that his real estate amounts
to about seventy-fve thousand dollars. This
will enable ''Mrs Smith" to live comfortably,
and afford his relations a handsome surplus.