Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-02-15

dlrectlug receiver 10 nave the property rcpaireu.
Sccctman ct al. VS.. kIpg ct al; decree OF
reference.
May vs. King ct ux decree Of reference to
Commissioner.
Won Hoffman vs.. Russell decree confirming
action OF Commissioners OF Sale.
Frogs In Dismal swamp.
Alexander Hunter, 10 the course Of an in
tercsting letter to the Forest and Stream, de-
scrptivc of the Dismal Swamp, says:
Frogs(' blooduounds, as the boys call them
lead happy lie here, and die Of old age III
the swamp. They are jovlal set, even il they
have dlscordant voices; they keep late hours,
| and I'll plight they talk, halloo gossip, Whoop,
make stump-speeches, and sing hymns, to their
oWD very great satisfaction, at least until the
| I'VE sma' hours ayont the twal.
| If some wicked fairy of the swamp, or some
Witchiug Circe, vino was wont 10 transform men
into strange shapes like that fascinating aud an
Gent cuqu.t did to Ulysses Argonauta, we're to
suddenly appear to me, and, waving her magic
wand around my head, ask me out of pure po
likeness what animal or shape | would be me-
tamorpboscd into, would unhesitaingly ask
her "ladyship' to turn me ioto frog, which
being done, | would have courtship aud au
| opera every night on my own account two
things 10 this rid that | most delight To-.
On, those frog, Would that could undcr-
stand heir language. They evidently don't
| like to be iotruded upon.
| Many a time when there was nearly silence
! in the swamp, and when sentimental frogs were
gazing at the moon, silent in their reverie,
have buudered into their privacy, and such a
Tremendous uproar would be evoked as would
make me shake in my boots. Tiny voices would
| suu4ak-vixenish voices-shrill voices of wasp
ish Wives-the hoarse, rXpostulatory tones OF
! the old patriarch who resented the iotruSlon-
fierce, abrupt cries of the town. $ guardians, who,
like our own city police, were mad as hornets
at being awakened trum their sleep by uu.
toward commotion-lnd the quiverng voices
OF wandering lovers, who had evidently been
sitting up long after all COED frogs had retired to
rest, and who, no doubt, were afraid that all this
| turmoil would wake the old folks and bring the
house over their ears. A Frenchman would
here be in his element. Such glorious fellows
fully twelve inches loug-:hat could be knock
ell on the head 10 every branch. | skinned a
pair of-(l beg pardon well, dash it all Of
legs, and frying them. found that they We're
dalntier eating than spring chicken.
Some people in the North still wonder why
the South has become Democratic since Graut' S
administration began. and so persstenly con-
tinuss to vote solidly Tor the Democratic ticket
How could it he otherwise when such poems
as the following are rccited 10 the Metropolitan
Church in Washington, and arc received with
applause
RECONSTRUCTION.
By L. T. TOWNSEND, D. D. OF BOSTON.
Is seen black and caIloused hand;
1t seizsS quick and filings abroad
A fire brand.
Lurid skies appear; at morn, at eve the same;
Roofs OF city and of village are "a an;
Cleaning brands aud cleaning eyes terrific
glare;
Ashes 10 the sunny South are everywhere.
Is seen hand Of darker shade;
1t sczas quick and Yields 10 might
crimson blade.
Women mad with dread, and with dishcvclcd
hair,
Screech murder the bloody hand does not
furbcar
Deeply orapcd and crimsoncd now is all that's
fair;
Hush the mangled corse Is lying everywhere
Der the sunny land descends a heightened
night;
Tempest, cloud, and darkness thickIy shroud
the light.
Nights must have an end The sun at length
does rise;
Other scenes and visions gayy greet mine
eyes:
Gleciul children, homes aud lands enchanting
fair
Freedmen are enlightened, honored freemen
there:
lis DOW another race; forgotten are the dead
Blessed is the suouy South; but fifty years
are f.d.
Mr.. Spurgeon, in recent address on open
air preaching, made lh: following remarks -
Gle had known preachers whose manner was
simply exccrabe. Some men closed their As,
and from their action it would appear as if
they were going to give some one a black eye.
Some men could not preach unless they chop
ped and sawed the air; and he had seen men
preach with their hands behind them lifting
up ihcr coat tails. Some preachers initiated
others, SO that some who heard them would
say, That's like Spu &c ~, and of others they
would say, That's like Moody He recou-
mcuded them by no meaus to initiate Anybody,
but to be themselves. Preaching oukeys
would not do. they must be preaching ueu.
He would not have any minister OF Christ be
so erotrsque that he took away the attention of
his hearers from his subject ADD drew it upon
himself. Then, they should regulate their