davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21

book to mark the place, while ne turned
round to buy some usurous bargain.
Some say Tom grew little crack,bra'neo
in older days, and that fancying his end
approaching. he had his horse newly shod
saddled and buried with his feet uppermost,
because that at the last day the world would
be turned upside down, in which case nc
would find his horse ready for mounting
and he was determined at worst to give bis
friend run for it. This, however, is pro;
baby an old wife's fable. IF he really did
take this precaution it was totally snperiui,
ous-at least so says the authentic legend,
which closes the story in the following man.
ner:
One hot afternoon in the dog days ter
rible black thunder gust came up. Iom sat
in his counting house in his white linen cap
and Indian silk morning gown. lie was on
the point of foreclosing mortgage, by
whfctr sro-vvouiii of an I'M
happy speculator, for whom he had express.
ed the greatest friendship. The poor land
iobber begged him to grant few months
indulgence, Tom had grown testy and lrrl-
tated and refused. .....-
"NIy family will be ruined and brought
upon the parish" said the land jobber.
s"Charity begins at home" said Tom. 81 l.
must take care of myself these hard times" !"
"You have made 80 much out Of me" said
he. II hayc not made farthins:"
Just thcn there were three loud knocks at
the street door, He stepped out to see who
was there. a black man with a black
hors,, which stamped and neighed impati-
emily g,
"Tom you arc come for" said the black
fellow grufiy. Tom shrunk back, but too
late. lie had left his little Bible at the
bottom of his coat pocket, and his big Bible
on the desk, buried under the mortgage he
was about to forcclose-never was poor
sinner taken n o:e unaware. The black
man whisked him like child astride the
horse, and away he gallopcd in the midst Of
u thunder storm. :.
Such was the end of Tom Walker and his
ill-gotton wealth.
This story has resolved itself into pro-
verb, and is the origin Of the popular saying
prevalent throughout America, the Devil
and Tom Walker.
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21
A Wonderful Burning Well-Wheret the
Fire Comes From.

The Louisville Cowier-.]oWndI gives an
account of wonderful burning we'll in
Lincoln county, in that State, some SIX
miles east of Crab Orchard, at the base OF
the Cumberland mountains, on the banks OF
q small stream called Dix river. The water
in this we'll is in constant state OF ebullItlon,
and regularly every day, between 4 and 8
o'clock in the afternoon, over1ows. A large
quantity Of gas is liberated, said to be car
burctted hydrogen gas, to which light be-
inc applied, fame sometimes ten or fifteen
feet in height, results. =
Tbe ,Jo,uam tells the following story in
connection with the well I,
In the earlier part of the present century,
when Kentucky, and especially the noun
tain districts, were but sparsely settled, "a man
bv the name of Shanks owned this portion
of Lincoln county in which the well is sit
mated. At that time all the salt used in the
State had to be brought from Louisville, Or
imported from Virginia, at very large ex:
nense. in those days of stage coaches and
covered wagons. Mr.. Shapks had evidence
IF. salt on his land, and determined upon
irving whether he might not find that com
modify by boring in the vicinity of his salt
iicks. He sunk two or three shafts, but un
successfully. when his neighbors began .tt
LAUGH at "oold Shank's folly" He minded
not a whit their jeers, but swore that he
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21
Poetry.
-FEVIsiTING THE BATTLEFIELD.

The 'auttering battle-hags are still,
That dawned above the marching column,
:; :...!.No more these slopes may know the tread
OF heroes footsteps stern and solemn.
No shrickng shell tears thro' the SKY
xWith hclrs wildaccents discord bringing;
'STke l6hs low mounds are green Will, grass
And here and there daisy springinG . =
.s'"re i<7,.:al s..i~.~ ~ -. - ...-s.
Yes. here VIC stood that sultry day
When deaths pale finger marked out often
His DEVILS dance, our comrades sank
Intiic dead sleep no bright dreams soften.
live it over, feeling now
To- - The wild thrill of the battle fever,
-" And in my mind the angry hosts ....
Would seem to keep their feud forever.
Itracc with lingering tread our lines,
Find ont the spot where the uncertain
And awful charge and counter charge
.,,:, &Dispiritcd face and flank and curtain;
s;pi. get a glimpse of poor old Tom
.a.na Whose sabre flashed u ray of glory
..' The orifanc Of war that day
Death his a reward-a sad-sad-story.4
I fancy in our revcrcnt march
When Ito the color ""God has sounded,
NV soul NAV know the warrior dead
1nsranks with angel hosts surrounded.
If comrades true each other know
In that grand muster, it were pleasant
To think the war-worn ranks arc full
And hear the answer. call are present.
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21
"The Devil and Tom Walker"

Everybody has heard and a great many
make use of the expression, The Devil and
Tom Walker" and yet We presume very few
know who Tou Walker WIS, or what rela-
ton between him and the Devil justifies this
frequent association of their names. AS
the most authentic account Of who Tom
Walker was, we give the following interest
ing story by the best writer America pro-
duced, Washington Irving:
STORY OF TIIE LAST CENTURY.
AS Tom waxcd old, however, he grew
thoughtful Having secured the good OF
this world, he began to feel anxious about
the next. lie thought with regret on the
bargain he had made with his black friend,
and put his wits to work to cheat him out
of his conditions. He became, therefore,
all of a sudden, a violent church-goer. He
prayed loudly and strenuously, as if Heaven
were to be carried by force Of lungs. In.
deed, one might always tell when he had
sinned most during the week by the clamor
of his Sunday devotion. The quiet Chris
tians who had been moderately and quietly
travelling Zionward were struck with re,
proach at seeing themselves so suddenly out
stripped in their. career by this new ly made
convert. Tom was rigid in religion as i'll
money matters; he,was.a stern supervisor
and censurer of his neighbors, and seemed
to think every sin to their account became
credit on his page. He even talked o.
the expedicncy of reviving the persecution
of the Quakers and Anabaptists.
Still, in spite of this strenuous attention
to forms, Tom had a-lurking dread that th'
devil, after all, would have his due: Iha
he mi ight not be taken unawares, therefore
it is said that he always carried a small Bl
bic in his pocket. He also had larg
folio Bible in his counting house desk, ant
would be frequently found reading whe'
people called on business; on such occasions
he would lay his green spectacies on tn
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21

Recently mad elephant entered the
Mundia district in India, at the village OF
Tarraj, where he killed woman and child.
He then passed on to other villages, entering
about dozen in succession, frightening the
inhabitants and killing one or two in each
place. The total Of his victims between
January 81 and February 10 was twenty. y.one
persons killed besides several wounded Inc
most horrible and almost incredible clrcum-
stance, however, is that the savage beast was
seen to devour at least five of his victims, at
ter tearing them limb from limb. The brute
is said to be a magnificent creature, with
tusks three feet long. At last accounts he
had been driven out into jungle, whence
it was impossible to dislodge him.
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21
, gentleman the other day, drove his horse

:, A gentleman the other day, drove his horse
ON board the Staten Island ferry boat NORTH
field, but, kept as far from the boiler as posi-
ble thus blocking up. the rear for teams.
After telling him two or three times to move
on without effect, one of the employees took
the horse by the bride and was about to
lead him forward, when up rose the gentle.
man, angrily, and exclaimed "Let 60 that
bride. or Iii make you feel this whip. If
Jake Vanderbilt keeps any blank life insur-
ancc polices on hand, and vii. fill up one in
NV name for s25, 900, I'll take my chances
at not less than 80 feet from tha, boiler, but,
without the collateral, d-n me if I'll bulge
another STEP" And he was as good as his
word, but the deck-hand "budged" him.
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21

'Do you suppose that his majesty will ac-
cept anything from you, as travelling ap-
prentice would? ?" he asked.
"Onc word for all-this time there arc no
charges"
Boshard reported to the king, and the
king sent for the landlord.
"Come, my man, what are your charges
for what we have had ?"
"Nothng, your majesty, nothing at ALL"
".And what is it that makes our landlord
so generous this time ?" :,
'Your pardon, your majesty" cried
Krompelmcir, as he fell on his knees, but
when yoar majesty passed through here be-
fore, Twas head over ears in debt. 1t re-
quircd fifteen hundred guldens to save my
house and business. That is the reason why
l charged you too much ! owe my saliva
ton to your goodness in paying it."
,"Well, Krompelmcir, am glad that l
was able to help you. But you must under
stand that king must not accept anything
without paying for it. So, in order to make
you all r ght again, you shall have fifteen
hundred guldens more: L only make one
condition-don't swindle> any Of my Bava-
rian subjects" ;"
Krompelmeir nevet did His inn always
aftcrward, had the reputation of having the
best and cheapest of everything.
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21
selected SCOTy
AN EXORBITANT BILL.

The landlord of the tavern in the little
III town of Lambach, in Bavaria, was evidently
IN q strait lie had entertained guests who
bad failed to pay their bills. and had just
:. been, badly swindlcd by one man whom he
regarded as his best friend. The consc-
quencc was that he found himself deeply in
debt and nearly at the end Of his rope. He
stood in front of the inn one day, his eyes
cast down, gloomily contemplating the un-
pleasant situation, and unable to find any
-" way out of his difficulties All at o ice his
:, attention was attracted, and, looking up, he
saw man in uniform riding toward the
house. ....-
II declare that is the. royal courier" he
excIaim., The rider soon came up, and an
nounced that the king woult pass through
town that night on his way to Vienna, and
.thatthe landlord must have his inn ready to
receive him. ~
-,s .t'Is it really fact that his majesty is 60
-"'" ingSto spend the night with me ?" asked
Krompelmeif, unable to believe his good
+. fortune. ~.
'. "Just as I have told ,you," was the an
swer; "get your house in order to accom-
."modate him." and then the courier rode off.
The landlord looked after the cloud of
edast a loig time, completely ly overcome at
the intelligence But he soon found his
customary good humor, and, having forti-
fled himself with drink, went to work to
get the house in order.
"a goldfish has come into my net" he
--.i said to himself; "thc king shall be enter
taiucd we'll entertained-but he must pay
ti)r it,
AS evening approached, and the regular
customers came struggling in, he told each OF
- them that his majesty, Max Joseph, was
.,tr going to stop at the inn over night on his
-, way to Vienna upon each occasion Of tell
ing this, of course, the health Of the king
>"' had to be drank, so that he was fully illumi.
mated by the time his royal guest and suite
s>' made their appearance. He would run
;'':' from the kitchen and the several parts Of
- ). the house, with the double purposes Of re,
III, :, ceiying the king, for whom he had neat
5~i. speech prepared, and having the inn in per
feet order. -,
,sss AT length a cloud of dust indicated tha
,,4. sthe royal party approached hrompelmei
was ready with his whole force, and receiv
ed the king with appropriate bows ant
''''' ,35scrapings. He then led him up stairs int
>, the : parlor, where the dinner had beel
served for the occasion, and then, for tn
first time, he recalled tho fact that he hat
F,,.. forgotten all about the speech which he in
tended to make.
'''A "a After dinner the king took walk, bu
se", soon returned and went to bed, as he had t
.,..i. rise early the next morning to resume hi
Journey. The landlord was sitting in tn
AIT Sbar-room below, when Boshard, the king
chamberlain, came in and asked for the bill
Krompelmeir jumped mp, and in lou
,yoiceaexclaimed .a
aFifteen hundred guldens, sir, is certainl
e., not too large a sum for a king to pa
when he has the whole house and all that
go. haye at his command. You yourself mus
admit as much;" r......
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21

"What? You pretend to ask fifteen hund-
red guldens? You must be drunk or mad.
The king would think it a pretty thing if
I paid so outrageous bill"
II tell you," said the landlord in despair,
~ can't make the bill any cheaper, and do
myself, my family, and my busine S justice.
Everybody knows how good and generous
the king himselfis, but his attendants are
evidently good deal closer in their dealings
with poor people" =
"That's enough. I'll inform the king of
your outrageous demands. The idea of
asking fifteen hundred guldens for dinner
and sleeping for four persons. 1t is simply
unheard off,
With these words Bosharl left the bar
room. slamming the door after him in a
threatening manner. The king was already
asleep, however. and the chamberlain had
to nurse his wrath until the next day.
-Il.s king, -roso-enrly --rr%t morning "rd
watched the peasants going to market with
the greatest satisfaction. The king was al
wavs in a good humor, as he was constantly
doing good, but this morning was particularly
pleasant because Of the simple surroundings
"Wcll, what's the news" he asked, us
Boshard came into his room.
"The fellow that keeps this inn, your
majesty, has the impudence to demand tt-
teen hundred guldens for dining and sleep
ing four persons.
The king laughed, laid his hand on Bo-
shard's shoulder, and quietly said, "Well,
pay him, Boshard."
s;But, your majesty, the bill is outrageous
Il never heard of such extortion." .
''Ncver mind pay him. have slept un-
usually well in his house"
"You see," said Krompclmeir, as he re-
ccived his money. "the king still remains
the king" He stood at the gate and wish
cd the party happy journey, and the king
replied: .....
sGood-bye, my dear fellow"
A few weeks after, Max Joseph returned
from his visit to Vienna, and insisted that
the journey should be arranged so as to
stop over to Kron,pelmeirs inn. Every
thing was prepared for him again in the
best of style "This time it will cost. Us
more" grumbled Boshard at the thought of
paying the bills, and so lie told the retinue
and the servants to eat and drink all they
could. The servants improved the opportu-
as to the drinking-and
they were at it till late in the night.
The next morning, Boshard went to the
landlord, almost afraid to ask the amount Of
the bill. When the question was put, how
ever. Krompelmeir replied:
'ITis gracious majesty and his attendants
do not owe me anything"
It was Boshard's turn to be ashamed at
having given the servants SO much license
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21

All Transient Advertisements will be charged
ONE DOLLAR per Square for the first and SEVEN
Ty-rIvE CENTS per Square for each subsequent
insertion. Ill H.
Advertisements in the Local column will be
clsTaed TWENTY CENTS per Line,
rSs- Transient Advertisements must be paio
for in advance.
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21
AND THE DoSDnoLDER.

On his bonds NolhlNu'
Now, poor man, read the above, and not
only read it but study it closely. Then, on
election day next fall, get out your sons and
sons sons, and all your neishbors and
friends whom you can influence, lead them
to the polls and have every mothers SON Of
them put in Republican ticket You can
not do better if you like to be taxed heavily
in order that bondholders may have an easy
time of it and pay no taxes. Don't make
mistake and vote the Democratic ticket, for
YOU would be working for your own inter
t ests, and you mustn't do that, you know,
for that wouldn't be patriotic.
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21
Miscellany.
About Taxes.

The justice of Radical taxation is shown
by the following. A gentleman previously
engaged in commerce, who understands the
subject, h,s taken the trouble to compute
for the Cincinnati Enquirer what the duties
arc upon few leading articles:
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21

The following striking coincidence In
reference to the terms of the first five Prosi-
dents of the United States is, to say the least,
singular, and may not be very generally
known:
Washington's term of office expired in
the 66th year of his age. 81
John Adams term expired in the 66th
year of his age. 49,,
JefFerson's term expired in the Goth year
of his age. ,,,
Madison's term expired in the Goth year
of his age.
MIonroe's term expired in the Goth year
of his age. =,
Had John Quincy Adams been elected
for second term of office, that would have
expired in the Goth year of his age.
Jackson had plurality OF votes in 1874,
had he been elected, his term of Office would
have expired in the 66th year of his age.
A mechanic in New Orleans constructed a
safe. which he declared to be burglar proof
To convince the incrcdulous of the fact he
placed a one thousand dollar bill in his pock-
ct, had himself locked i'll the safe, and de-
clared that he would give the money to the
man that unlocked the door. All the black
smiths and burglars in the State have been
boring and beating'at the safe for week,
and the man is in there yet. he whls-
pered through, the kcybole that he will make
the reward ten thousand dollars if somebody
will get him out. Fears are entertained
that the whole thing will have to be melted
down in blast furnace before he is released
and efforts are made to pass in throug h the
kcyholc fire proof jacket to protect the in
ventor while the iron is melting. r..
"I fear," said country minister to his
flock, "when explained to you in my last
charity sermon that philanthrophy was the
love Of our species, you must have mlsunacr'
stood me to say specie, which may account to-
the smallness of the collection. You will
prove, hope, by your present contribution
that you are no longer laboring under tn
same mistake" a."
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21
would sink one more shaft; if he bored clear

you'd sink one more shaft, if he bored clear
dirough into - ~.
Sure enough, after borihg%to quite a
&pth, his drill fellthrough, the drilling
shaft was blown some distance in the air by
scaping gas, which ignited from fire near,
aid in an indescribably short space of time
all the underground, the trees near by, and
even the surface of the river itself formed
oHe broad sheet. of fame. Oil flowed out
with the gas, which accounted for the 'rivss
of fire." but all this to the spectators was in
cdnprehcnsible, and general stampede
frbh the country round about resulted. Old
Shsnks has been as good as his word. He
had bored clear through into hell, and his
naghbors fed from the vicinity as from
pesilence, leaving growing crops, houses.
prqperty of all sorts behind in the general
terror. After lapse of years the vicinity
was again settled, but the well now inspires
wDnder in: place of the pristine fright.
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21

"A REVEREND ScoUNDREL-About two
years ago there came into the town of Ghent,
Kentucky, one Sanford, introducing him
self as a Methodist preacher. lie made
friends rap;e4,, Il as soon installed pas
tor of church. His wife, a retiring, aim
liable lady, soon made host of friends
Things went swimmingly for several months,
and Sanford gained the confidence of every
body. One day in january last, an evil
thought came into his mind, and he forged
the name of friend to check for 81 800,
and obtained the money, and the next Sun.
day the Rev. Mr.. Sanford was not in the
pulpit. =,
Inquiries resulted in learning that he had
suddenly disappeared. And at the same
time lady of his congregation had also dis
appeared. The matter blew over, and San
ford was, in measure, forgotten, when sud
denly the the missing lady appeared on the
scene, and conveyed the intelligence that
the minister had deserted her in Indiana.
Officers on going to Indiana got on his track
at Seymour and traced him to Vincennes,
where he passed himself as doctor, and
had married and deserted woman there al
so. His scene was next discovered at Fort
WAYNE, where he was lecturing on phre-
nology and mesmerism, and had mesmerized
one lady out of $500. Indiana officers are
now after him. #
The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-21

HARD WoRK.-All classes Of MEN COM
plain of g hard work" The carpenter thinks
it "too bad'' that he-is obliged to work 50
hard for a living, while his neighbor, the
physician, can ride in his carriage to attend
patients, or leisurely deal out medicine In
his office.
The physician thinks it hard work to be
in readiness to obey calls at all hours Of the
day and night; to travel in cold and heat,
through wind and storms, and not even pc
allowed one hour in the twenty-four which
he can positively call his own time. He en-
yies his friend the carpenter, who, when the
days work is done, can return to his family
and rest in peace.
The blacksmith feels that hard lot in
life has fallen to him, as he strikes at the
anvil, through the long day, while on the
opposite side of the street. his neighbor,
the lawyer, seems to be called to the per-
formance Of no hardsr--rorl than writing at
his table, or reading of his law books.
But the lawyer, as his glance falls upon
the blacksmith, thinks Of the years spent in
study to fit him for the profession, OF other
years of strenuous mental exertion and con-
slant application to gain reputation, OF the
still incessant toll necessary to attain it, OF
frequent unavoidable contact with most har-
dened Williams, of the revolving relations OF
crime he is compelled to hear, of the hun
dreds. of, suffering, innocent victims who.
plead with him to succor them from power
ful oppressors,- but whom he cannot aid
With sigh he turns away fr6in theGwhist.
ling, singing, jolly-faced and hrawmy-armed
blacksmith, and feels it harder work to-
hammer and weld the iron, and blow the
bellows of. the law in such manner as shall
always keep the fires Of his reputation burn
ing before the world. ~ < .s7't-s< =;
1y So it is, in the various branches OF trade,
and in all professions. Each is apt to think
his neighbor's light work compared to the,
duties incumbent upon him to perform. But
it is not so. The merchant and the1nechan-
ic, the clergyman and the farmer, have all
work to do, either mental or physical OF.
equal importance to the body polite, and
requiring equal exertions. This grumblingg
about hard work is of no benefit to us, but
decidedly foolish and wicked.s2 'f'',ssSe - :.
We are made to work. God constituted
us with bones; sinews, strength, and inaeve-
ry way, by mental and physical endowment,
adapted us for the performance of labor
Labor is called worship; and whether in the
mental or physical sphere of action, he. who
labors most perseveringiy, the most unmur.
muringly, the most efficiently forthe good OF
himself and welfare of his fellow-men, must
be accounted the most faithful. and accepta-
bic worshipper, =. = -