Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-12-22

going to start, in consequence of the fire.
man having. neglected to keep up steam,
and ordered a special train at cost of
about forty pounds, which he paid, and
then brought an action for the recovery
of the money and ten pounds additional
for his own loss of two hours time. The
Judge expressed himself astonished
that the company had resisted such a
claim, and the jury gave the plaintiff q
verdict for all he asked. t
q THE village of St Reny, near Metz, was
destroyed during one of the many bloody
battles that took place in the vicinity of
that fortress. An old woman, native of
the place, was found on the ruins Of one
of the houses sobbing frantically, and
vowing by all that was, holy to her that
she would not leave the place. She was
gray haired, and 70 years of age, and SO
some of the Prussian soldiers took pity
on her. They rebuilt the little cottage,
thatched it with straw, gave her some sol
diers' cloaks for bedding, and provided
her with other necessaries as much as was
in their power. Every day she gets rations
taken to her regularly by the enemies Of
her country. Such little traits of humanl
ty give refreshing variety to the many in
cidents of cruelty that are practiced on
both sides.
DEAD LETTER OFFICE--The dead let
ter Office is one of the most curiously in
teresting branches of the government and
the cause of it, or the necessity for such
institutionyis is a mystery. 1t is impossible
almost 70 conceive Of the carelessness, stu
piditys and ignorance by which more than
68,000 letters were intrusted to the post
Office ina single year, for which no desig-
nation could be found, in consequence of
inaccuracies, imperfections, and fatal omis-
sions IN direction-upwardo of 5000 having
no address whatever. And the mystery is
the more remarkable when 1t is considered
that these letters contained money TO the
amount of at least 500, 900, in small sums
generally, and checks, drafts, ETC., to the
amount of $4,000, 600 more. This proper
ty was- of course returned, or most of 1t,
upon Information obtainedIby opening and
examining the, letters at the dead letter
oh1ce
A COOP story is told about an old hunt
er who, used TO trap. about Moosehead
Lake, by the name of Ellis. Bis reputa-
itionas a great bear-hunter extended far
and wide, Several years ago, when bear
skins were very fashionable for sleigh
Crpbes, spoFtsmen about the lake in the fall
would engage one of Ellis; and, as the old
man was poor, would pay for it in advance
He had bargained for one in this way one
year, and whenrhe first snow came, started
off with his gun and soon came upon
Bruins track He ran all day without
overtaking him, but camped upon his
track7that night and early the next morn
ing took up the scent and followed him all
K that day, with notbetter success than upon
the previous day. The third day found his
aged limbs quite stiff and sore; however,
he made another start and ran till well
nigh exhausted, when he came in sight of
Bruin, who had stopped for q few mo-
ments' refreshment, but upon seeing his
pursuer started off again at fun speed. The
old man took aim and fired but Bruin
didn't STOP Feeling too far gone to run
another step, he shouts with all the energy
of despair: You mag run, bltt there amt
a. hair on re that belongs to ye, for Toe sold
your hide and got my pay for 4"