Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-10-01
condensed as closely as the Importance of

and his wife was woman. That wife ha(
a mother and that mother also was wo
i man, the complainant in this case, Mrs
Ward. And that mother knew her daugh
ter's husband was poor, but, as some moth
ers naturally are. she was anxious to have
her daughter married, and to facilitate
matters as far as possible she loaned the
newly married couple mattress-the iden
tical mattress named in the warrant-tc
sleep on, else they would have been com
PEELED to sleep without a mattress, or ever
a feather bed. After lapse OF six years
the honeymoon and the romance of young
married life having worn of-thongh al
the time the couple slept on the same mat
tress-the wife abandoned the husband
and net the husband the wife. The unin
terested creature, with the assistance oil
her mother, quietly removed the dearly
priced mattress from her husbands prem
ises ty the back way, and did not forget in
her flight to take with her other household
effects, the husband being absent. The
beloved mattress was secretly taken to a
neighbours house and there left. The
neighbor thought the action suspicious end
for fear of harm to herself removed it from
the honse and concealed it beneath some
bushes in rear of her premises: mean
while the wife and mother sat down at the
mothers honse to think. Tho husband
erewhile returned home; wife, mattress
and other effects were gone. He discov
cred their loss, instituted a search; he went
to the neighbours; there he spied the dar-
ling, lost mattress; he seized it with triumph;
he took it home and slept on it and dream
ed of his wife without hope. Morning
dawned and the mother in law heard of the
recapture: brilliant idea seized her; she
went for the officer and Melton was indict-
Ell for stealing the borrowed mattress.
Here were facts; here were revelations;
here were COMMISSIONS for the Judge. Bat
with Characteristic readiness he cut the
Gordian knot, sent the husband home
blew away with the breath of Judicial de
cision the foul asperslon on his character;
restored to the mother in Jaw the never to-
am, I'll thank you for the fees in this
case" The prosecuting party when de-
feate1 must pay the costs.
And here ends the story of the stolen-
borrowed mattress that once was loaned to
a newly married couple
For the Journal.
county Historical Society"
At a meeting of citizens held at Rocky
Point some time since, we were requested
to prepare an address urging the forma-
ton Of county Historical Society, and
in compliance with the wishes of that
meeting, have the honor of submitting to
the public the following
ADDRESS.
Too much stress cannot be laid on the
benefits accrning from Historical Socie-
ties. They exercise important Influences
in every aspect i'll which they can be
really to be digested by the future his
torian, and truth il disc, aged from the
miats in which envy and pre- udice enyel0p
it, Prominent among the considerations
ISOLATION, is a landuble desire to preserve
tn e names Of those sons of New Hanover,
who, in their day and generation, have
upheld the honor of their country by deeds
of herOism and fortitade.
The objects of the Society will he to col
lect auch traditions as relate to the early
history of this section, to examine into
the origin OF the various names which our
ancestors gave to the different points of
interest In the country, To cOllata all facts
that may enlighten rs on past events, ami
finally, to preserve for the benefit Of pos
terity some accounts of our distinguished
citizens whose lives have illustrated the
character and genius of their country
men.
If our efforts were to cease here we
wonld have field full of subjects worthy
of investigation buta duty almost sacred
requires Ia to enlarge the scope of our I'M
dertaking. A due regard for the truth of
history demands that We should collect,
for preservation, such Incidents of the late
war as affect the reputation of our citi-
zens.
Ii the issues of the war had been deci-
ded in our favor our bravest and best
wonld have received the rich reward of
imperishab'e renOwn. And because the
paeans of victory were denied us, shall we
cease to regard them as worthy of the high
est honor Their public acts, as we'll rs
their private lives, have been creditable |
alike to themselves and to their native
country. Their conduct in the former no
less than their bearing in tho field may
we'll evoke for them the applause of pos
terity. Their deeds of daring, their pa
tient endurance under the most trying cir
their hot patriotism and ad-
spirit of self sacrifice merit fame
that should live forever in the hearts of
their people. Wherever virtue is cherish
ed, and heroism is regarded as worthy OF
their names should be house
hold words synonymous with honor and
And in particular should we, of
New Hanover, use every effort to rescue
from oblivion the fame of these citizens,
whose devotion to principle and love of
country lend additional lustre to
The glory of our section. The
children of the Cape Fear should
IL