davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
MARIA II. RUSSELL,
NEW YORK POSTOFFICE.

1t was always a drop letter." one Of the
many thousands that found their way
through .he little crevice in tie wall daily,
and no one ever knew who brought it ; al
though, when the regularity of her visits
began To attract attention., the unknown
correspondent was carefully watched Tor
ABOUT the first Friday of every month. But
IT was never known who brought that
strange yellow envelope. nor did any one
ever get Il glimpse of its contents, although
it's outside was examined with curiosity 4
great many times. And the mysterious
letter passed aloug like the thousands of
daily messages of love and hate, of mortifi-
cation and pleasure, of good cheer and
evil biddiug-thc duns, renIittances aud
promises 10 i'ay.
Years passed The delivery clerks were
changed ouc after another some of them
died others were promoted; some went to
other employment; but as each left he
told tiie story of the strange woman to bis
successor as 4 part of Tie instructions OF
the office, and the new clerks soon become
familiar with lie visits as the mouths went
by.
She was often questioned inquisitive
glances were often cast into her face, and
several times she was followed 10y curious
fellows; but no one ever discovered whence
she came or whittier she went.
One C;ty Il new clerk who had conceived
n scheme to discover her identity told her
lie WAS not sure the letter belonged to her,
as he knew other ladies i'll the city OF the
same name, and asked her If there was
not solne one in the neiShborhood whom
she could ca IL To identify her.
Il am IA stranger i'll this part ofthe city,
sir,'' was her quiet, diguified reply, but
have been heie a good many times aud
never before was asked to prove my identi-
ty. Ii it will be any satisfaction 10 You
will descI ibe the appearance oil the letter
expect-but wait; 1 am quite sure it VIII
correspond with this one"-and she took
from Il little reticue she always carried tue
one she had received IA mouth before.
A whole geueration had passed away.
Men and womeu had been born aud buried,
but still the queer letters came, aud were
called for by the queer woman. The clerks
in the posloflce had heard of her from
those VINO had preceded them, and her
mystci ious appearances had gained ro-
nance with age, and strange stories that
had been invented by the clerks long be-
fore werc told of her rs true.
Her face was smooth and round and
placid when she first came, but it3was get
ling wriileIed and her hair was getting
gray. Que time, ouly once for twenty
wears. as nearly as could be remembered,
She failed TO come, and one. two, three
letters were waiting for her IN the pigeon
lrolt The clerk did not advertise them
nor send them to the Dead Letter Office
with the rest, for he knew If Maria Russell
was living she would come for them in
time, aud if she was dead, nothing could
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05

blacksmith, having failed in business, a
friend, to enable him to start again. loaned
him some mon, which a CT editor attached
at the forge. The friendly owner sued in
truver for his iron. Rufus Choate appear
ed for him, and pictured the cruelty of the
sheiilf's proceeding as follows:
''I1e arrested the arm of industry as it
fell towards the anvil he put out the
breath of his bellows he extinguished the
fire upon his hear;lIstone. Like pirates in
a gale at sea, mis- enemies swept everything
by the board, leaving him, gentlemen OF
the jury, not so much-uot so much as
horseshoe to nail upon his doorpost to keep
the witches uff.''
The tears came into the blacksm it'll $
eyes at this affecting description. One of
his friends, noticing them, said TO him,
"Why, Tom, what's :he matter with you !?
What are you blubberIng about?'
81 had no idea" was the reply, in whim-
pering accents, ~ had no idea l had been
so much a-a-a-abuSed -
Nor had he, till Choate told him.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05

DTPHTHERTA AND CVoUP is
more frequently mistaken for group than
for any other disease, and as this is the sea
son when both diseases are prevalent, the
following hints, which are found in an eX-
change. will not prove amiss, as showing
the difference between the two diseases
Group is ushered in by cough /; dip,hcria
by a chill; Group is most frequent when
there is great humidity in the atmosphere
aud east wind. Diptheiia does not depend
upon changes OF the weather. Group is
not contagious; diptheria certainly is.
Group comes on suddenly +; dipthcria may
be tardy. Group is known 10y the croaking
sound diptheria is known by the patches
of membrane ON the throat. Croup must
he relieved. Dipthcria is tardy i'm its res
oution. Group does not affect the system;
diptIieria is very Frustrating. Croup occurs
most frequently in childhood dipthcria
occurs at ali ages. Group is apt to occur
often in the same case diplheria may oc-
cur more than once, but the patient is not
so liable TO a second attack.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
NUMBER 4S.
ENCIAN AToRYt

at church slt within her pew.
q Pew
But there 1 heard
No pious word
L saw alone her eve of bluei
saw her bow her head so gracious,
o Gtaciousl
The choir sang,
The organ rang
And seemed TO iii the building spacious.
1 could not hear the gospel law,
Law J
Ny future bride
Was 10y my side
I found all else n mighty bore.
And when pcalel forth the organ thunder,
Thunder
/ fixed my ewes
In mute surprise
On her, whose beauty was a wonder.
To me that maiden was most dear,
. Dear
And she was mine,
Joy too divine
For human words to picture here.
Her love seemed like n prayer to bless me,
q bless me
Before she came
My life was tame,
NJ rarest joys could Int Cypress me.
The service done. we sought the shore,
. Shore
And there walked,
And sadly talked
More sadly talked than e'er before
1 thought she was the type of goodness,
. Goodness
But On that day
j heard her say
Plain words, whose very tone was rudeness.
We strayed beyond The tide-mill's dam,
q Dami
She jiIted me,
And now / see
That woman's love is all a sham.
Dining Room Magazine.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
WIDELY DISTRIBUTED ANIaALs.-The

WIDELY DISTRIBUTED ANIMALs.-The
family of rats is found in nearly every
quarter, and ba.s i'm every quarter OF the
globe. Nome of the larger animals are so
widely distributed. Among birds, the
most extensively found are swallows, king
fishers. pigeons, falcons, owls, rails. snipes,
ploverS herons, ducks, gulls, petrels, peli-
cans and grebes. All OF these are found in
each Of Mr.. Wallace's regions, and also in
each of their Subdivisions. Crows and
swifts are universal except in New Zealand
and the cuckoos except ia the north of
North America. Among reptiles, snakes
may be mentioned as nearly cosmopolites,
being found everywhere except in New
Zealand and the tropical islands of the Pa
cific; while geckocs, or wall lizards. are
absent only from the north of North Amer
ica. Toads ara dispersed over the whole
world except Madagascar, New Zealand,
aud the Pacific Islands and frogs have the
same area with the addition Of Madagascar.
-Cham5s-s' Journal
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
OLD ST went to the theatre TO see III,

magician performance the other night
Next day We asked him: did you see
that man handle that money last night ?''
Il did. fer a fact P' ale made II como
and GO in all sorts of way>?'' young
boss, da. mans powerful slick wild sii5er
munney." what do you think OF him,
SIP" dat man he fooled round dar wild
dat munney tell he 'roused up my 'srish-
ions, he did, '-Suspcions of what p;
" Hit teks lots OF practiss fer tn make haf
dollar pear and dis'pear In dat stile.''
''Of Course Oats what makes me hab
n 'spishun dat dat white man wuz one time
de CASHIER oh n freedmeu's bank, an les
want to hannel him few minits, slio's you
born"
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05

the rest of his family. He said he was in
no need of the money, but would like very
much 20 know If the strange correspondents
were his father and sister. He could iden-
tify the writing, he thought, if they would
send him one of the letters.
MIR. RusselPs letter was strongly indorsed
by several prominent residents of Sturgis,
who bore testimony to his good character
and general worthiuess.
Mr. Dallas, the Superintendent of the
Dead Letter Office, replied that while ho
greatly desired to oblige Mr. Russell, it
was not permitted to send any of the letters
out of the Office but if Mr.. Russell was
ever in Washington he would be glad to
give him amy information in his power,
and show him any papers in the depart
ment relating to the case. The law re-
qured that these letters and their contents
DC reclaimed in three years. AT the end
of which time the money enclosures revert
To the Ui.ted States Treasury, from which
they cannot be recovered without special
act of Congress.
On a recent visit to the Dead Letter Of
flce saN the silent, inanimated relics of
this strange mystery. 4 pile of plain, yell
low envelopes, marked with some hierog-
lyphics peculiar to the dead letter men,
! indicating their reference to the booSs of
the bureau. If they could talk what a
strange story they might tell. What a
theme fOI romance ale these dead letters
dead in every respect. Forlurn. too, the
speechless wanderers, with neither their
writer nor their intended recipient To re
! claim them, | opened one Of them-therc
was no date, no signature and written i'll
the centre OF page of blue note paper,
with pale ink, i'll an old fashioned hand
that appeared to have been uncertain with
age, were these few unsuggesive words :
81 enclose ynu the money as usual.
will send more the first Of next MONTH
| Iou need not write.n
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05

This Is the time of year when the
young man with n bundle of mixed candies
sits in the cold extension room, waiting for
his sweet heart, while she stand. ''priinp-
ping before the locking glass in her COM
Portable chamber for three-9narters Of an
hour, utterly ohliviois of the rich coiorins
that the tr'st Herd is putting co her sSsr-
ere rose
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
The DEAD LETTER ROMANCE.
A TRUE STORY.

1t was very long ago-as far back as 1885,
If the old clerks in the New York Post
Office remember correctly that she first
began to come to the gcpeail delivery
window-a modest, paiu-ciad lady, with :.
sweet, sober face, and gentle manner.
She was as regular as the moon, and like
the moon came monthly, generally on the
first Saturday of each mouth, and always
found a letter awaiting her, folded in the
same sort ola envelope; always addressed
i'll the same cramped, angular hand, TO
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
UTOR'S NOT7CE-

.at.1n. ~ vi bEEJ. BYERs, decd.
j sr Witt On The estate of Benia min
. il7- h7., l'"nsaip, Cambria county.
: ls..e.L granted 10 the pndersiTne,I
"a gB,rs.. 1i' persons indebted no sad
I Z ,i-.I-. must Ne made iorfh will. nd
ssriy yrr,t.,eS INST the same will present
'''o1,si for settlement :
sos, ~O'IN 5. GCKIERNAN.
, .-- Execu or.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
NnTICE

q. s.'...e,t .,. OF MICHAEL FoKD, deed.
z. l,,s ~ ,,.,..,lra1i,on On the estate Of Mt
..- lsg.....- tflls. q township. Cambria
.--. 3D. 's.-.- 'ten Issued to the under
F,-r &C., '''- y. notifying all persons
,tar- ~ mat payment mus be
q Fan. a. 10 'lH Those having claims
'.-- .4..r, ,- ll'isuIt their own Interests
y. w ne properly authenticated
-l.-s =. '' BEARER. Administrator.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05

TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTIoN. A
in this vicinity went to Philadelphia and
put MP at a hotel, and while resting after
tea i'll the reception room, overheard two
gentlemen conyeIsng i'll regard to a trial
then i'll progress before one Of the courts of
that city. Our ncighbor learned from this
conversation that 4 man had obtaiued
money upon his wifs's property. the wife
giving mortgage. The money was spent
in dissipation, the wife became a Iavinp
maniac, and was confined in the asylunl
where she now is the husband died, and
that the childi en- uf this unfortunate couple
were furnished with a guardian by the
court, who was maintaining the suit then
being tried, against the holder of the mort
gage on the ground that the wife was not
of legal age when the instrument was exc
cuted. The gentleman then recolected
that a niece of his, who left this vicinity
when child, had married n man of the
same name the one mentioned as having
squandered his wife's patrimony, and con-
cluded to investigate. He made his way
TO the court house on the following morn
ing, and to his intense surprise and graft
hcation was the very person needed to
establish, to n certainty, the age of the un-
fortunate woman, and save to her worse
than orphaned children property valued at
50, 800. Did the God of the fatherless and
the orphan, the friend aud heIpmate os the
poor and oppressed, direct our neighbor TO
the city of Philadelphia and cause him to
appear at the proper time, or was il chance
blind chance ?-AuRcy Luntindry.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
TORS NOTJCF

: 5-ea ,,,.,.HN ~, JOHN BRADLEY, dec'd.
tN s'A.ei iotters testnUnen,a,v on
2 Nmlri, bradley, late OF Allegheny
.4I'. 'Aty deceased. the undcr-
!, % ns.., tr9a ~ pc sons fndebted TO
!. y claim. payneet without DELAY. and
'-.iy 49, = .einst the same should Dre.
jgliatei or settlenrnt.
=! Two m - RY MANSFIELD,
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05

s,.qrs. ~ pa y De. AttorRey-at-Law,
"'IrOa HIso soMoe on Centre street,
street. tauH.2TT2sl
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
2JLCTI0N NOTICF TLe

e. .r.. f. .'"iurcexiStiug beI ween
y .r.-... .Ne mercantile business was
art. r- Nstni on the first day Of
- avs .''"s aud other accounts Of
-... .esa ir.t in tie hands of'fbe
ssl ' can he found az the Fhens
2 y where All inicbtcd are re-
.l..t. -.N q, delay aud settling the
ssa.us' them.
81 UFL BAXTER,
~. De-, So. W II. ). BAXTER.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
48T%:
Il H E
WEEKLY POST
The GREATEST POLITICAL CRISIS

Ihnt ever threatened our institutions is now
ui'"l us, and as the liberties OF the peopIe de-
Dend upon tree, untrammcled and out spnken
NcwSpHper Press it is to the interest of all that
lhey sustain and support it and ar the sIme
iitne put thenseiyesin in possession OF that know
Ieu1e ol men and current events. 50 essential
10 Intelligent action on the part of free men
exercising the inestimable blessing of the eIec-
tive franchise. .-.-. .
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
AMONG THELEADING FEATURES

Tbat e viii lay before its readers may be enuIn-
eraled:
L. All the current news OF the day from all quar-
teTSo OF the world, by mail and telegraph, care
luily condensed, arranged and edited
IL. Full reports OF the proceedings of CONGRESS
Win Special Cerrespcndence from the Nation
al CapitaI; iuil Legislative Reports. and the
most complete presentation of all the Gu rrcnt
events IN connection W tn the great Presiden-
t.al StrrSgie which has been transit erred 10
tine halls Of Congress
III Corre Sp0ndence from various pon Is. and from
Local C"rrcspcndont in PenUsy ylvania. Ohio
anu elsewhere, on matters of local news and
local interest.
~ Inolce Literary matter for the home circle
a9d nres de. anu all thaJ class Of topics so es-
sential 20 the instruction anu amusement OF
the household.
V. The Iatest fullest and most relf,bIe Market
reports from all the commercial cent res white
aSpeclal feature VIII he made OF the 1.-Two Stock
harhets. in which every farmer is Interested
W. Editorials on every subject of interest that
may trlhSp.re, as wei! rs many other features
suggested by events as they occur.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
~. 90. v. OATMAN. Auditor.
J.t0R'S NOTICE TLe mn.

|--.-.r - L. DC llii-
having been appointed Au-
common Pleas Of Cambria
.ls iuui iu The hands OF r II.
b s..- % ,iE'. g. X ZhHM as shown
N'. account. hereby gives no.
Il.... H.s ohIce in E5ensburg. on
'l.v .'l Iay ut JANUARY next. at
.ani 20 the lu'Ies of his said
r-..r.-.l .Hl where all parties having
R .zr, -- ~ present them, or be debnr-
7 10 ul said fund
flr, Do, s., -, y. KERR, Auditor.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
-TII0E'S NOTICE.-On Dec

'LVE|S NUTICE-On Dec.
a-t o.. motion of 4. V. Barker.
,--..- Court Of Cambria County ap-
.-s...F' -uei auditor. TO repOr. distrf-
I'D thc luuIs Oh Charles lux
.. ,N- ret. estate OF Lewis Ben
s.--- SHOWN uy his hrst account. }
OF. Fir;ies entitled 20 receive the
-rtys gwen 10 all paroles in
-- e.. '-l N..rui t1 rue duties OF sail
ly-.-. ~ ..ltn n Ehcnshurg on TUrs-
''i'. lsI7- az O'Clock. p. NJ.
.s .-ls- attend. or be debarred
.0. .a.! .guI
80. F-1. ". OATNAN. Aujftor
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-01-05

IouisiAsAs Two Legislature ~.
semblcd IN New Orleans, lait Mon
dag. Tic doors ond wiadows. "
Tho slale'houso were barr cadeJ
and police and mililia stationed In
md around the building, so tbat no
ono vas admitted cEcDplsllosc hay
log certificates from the Infamous
Roiurnil g Board Consequently the
Democratic members wclo refused
admittnrcc and went to st. Patrick
hall, on Camp street and organized,
after filing their protest against the
usurpations Of the Radicals. There
were no demonstrations made by the
Democrats, and everything is going
along quietly.
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-01-05
STATE NEWS,

Vicksburg Herald: Ben. Fortenberrv
late Sherrff OF Marion county, IN tti
State, has been sentenced to the pepi
tent ,ry for tso years upon a charge o
official larceny. He is one OF Grant,
loyal lambs.
Captain W. II. Hardy, of Meridian.
has been declared 'Loj guilty" of the
charge that he tried TO brlbe II yonng
man to procure a certain paper relating
to the great atson case Of Meridian.
Messrs. J. L. McCaskil, A. J. Nc
Lanrin aud Pat Henry, all lawyers, Of
Brandon, have been arrested by u U. S
Marshal for COT spiracy III iniim'dating
u coIored individual named S. J.. Ireland
duril g the late campaign. They gave
oond each IN the sun OF $4,000 to ap.
pear wien wanted.
Nicksburg Herald: Col. Charles r.
Jordan, of West Point, died on Monday
last. He was Uuited States Marshal
uuder the Pierce Admiuistra ion, served
IN the State Senate from Oktlbbeha
county, aud during the late war VS.
LleutenAnt-Coloue OF the 35th MISS
sippl regiment of volunteers.
NAtchez Democrat; The beard of su-
pervi8or3 Of Jefferson county, Mics, at
a meeting held last week, fixed the pa,
of teachers in the public schools OF the
county at forty dollars per month where
the average attendance is twenty-five
schotal S, and seven ceuts q day for each
and every puyil over twenty-five.
Y cisbury Herald: Ger. Chalmers
will undoubtedly represent this dl =
trict in the next Congress. Inc fol-
dispatch will be inter- sting
reading to Joho r. Lynch, cjlored: "a
resolution offered by Frey, of Maine, in
the National House, for a committee OF
into the election in the sixth
Congressional District of Mississippi,
faited."
B.%ookhaven Ledger: There are ihe
.strungest specimens of petrifation found
Mr.. Hamilton Smiths place, seven
miles east of here, that has ever betn
witnessed 10y any one. He brought CO..
Deason some samples last Tuesdly, AID
hey can be seen at the postotfic. One
s a perfect bundle bee nest, one a
leer's heart, one the left side of a hogs
lead, and another the ink in which the
sud9eon OF a mill or gin rune. All of
,hese are solid rock, and as heavy as the
flint. Here We have fesn, bone,
wood and the humble nest, a turned to
Ock. Mr.. Smith is one of the Very
'est farmers in the county, and Lone
more reliable.
Brookhaven Ledger: An amusing trial
gas up before Justice L. l.. Bowen last
saturday, Three gentlemen were ar
upon Il charge of drcoying Il
Dung lady under Is years of age from
le residence of her father. One of the
entlemen aspired to the husban1>hip
the young lady, but she
70 the Old f~oiks~s
was cay
Il roof beforS
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-01-05
PA r EtN TnS.


In connection with the Scientific American.
Messrs. Mum & Co., are solicitors of American
and Foreign Patents, and have the ltrges'
establishment in the world. More than 81 goo
app ications have been made for y t.nts
through their agency.
Patents areIohtained on the hest terms. mod
els of new inventions aud sketches examined,
and advice free. A special n.tice j. made in
the Scientific American of all inventions pat
e"ted through this agency, with the name and
r"sidence of the pHteutee. Patents are often
sold in part or whole, to persons attracted'So
the invention hv srch notice. A pamphlet.
containing fill directions = obtaining patents
fee The Scientific American Reference
Book, a volume bound in' Goth and gilt. con
the Prten'5Lnws. census Of the United
States .%an1,Ii2 cugraviug5 of mechanical move
m0nts Price 81 cents.
AdIess for the paper, or concerning patents
MUM & CO II Ia k Row, Now Y"~k.
Corucr L and 7th streets, Wash
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The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-01-05

Mr.. TILDEN retired from the
Gabernatorial chair of New York
on Monday last, and Lucius Robin
son, his successor, was installed.
Gov. Tildcn, in retiring, made a
short and concise address, eompli-
menting Gov. Robinson upon his
election, and gave a brief synopsis
OF the changes he had effected since
he first went into the office.
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-01-05
THE TWO SIDES IN LOUISIANA.

Both parties in Louisiana have
submitted their briefs to the Senate
committee, and the public can now
judge between them. What is the
Republican case ? They charged
their opponents with producing a
reign Of terror in the State, by
whippings, assassinations, murders,
massacres, threats, mutilations
beatings, etc. SO that moro than
twenty thousand Republican voters
were prevented from voting the
Republican ticket, and most Of
them from voting at all. The in
quiry at once arises, why is it that
VIC first hear Of this reign Of blood
after the election? II Republican
voters were being beaten and mur-
dered by the thousand why did not
Governor Kellogg interfere to pro-
tect them? He has the power to
appoint an unlimited number OF
subordinates 10 guard his voters,
and the soScalled laws of Louisiana
give him authority really despotic.
Why did he not use it, if he knew
violence was being employed
parry of its control of
Why did he not call for
Governor Kellogg, il
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-01-05

A MOVEMENT has been started in
Washington to aid General Wade
Hampton, whose devotion to duty
and his people, brought the torch
of tie incenaiary around him to
swallow up what was left from the
wreck of war. Hon. George Ban
croft, the historian, started it with
500; Mr.. w. w. Corcoran fol-
lowed with $1,000, and Columbus
Alexander, 800.
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-01-05

The Supreme Court at WaShiDg>
ton a few days since approved the
decision Of the United tales Cir.
cult Court for the District of Louis.
Jana in the Mrs. Myra C. Gaines
case, which was an action to make
the sureties of the city of New Orr
leans responsible for the amount o
judgment against the city.