m
VOLUME I.
OXFORD, N. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMLER 8, 1875.
NUMBER 49.
From ths Compauion.
BY MATTIE DYER BRITTS.
In a pleasant part of New Jer
sey, near the hanks of the broad,
blue Delaware, a certain road
runs “down country,” ae tlie peo
ple say thoi'eabours. It begins
at Gloucester, on tlie river shore,
•winds out through Westvillc and
Woodbur)^, nine tlirough the lit
tle village of Carpenter’s Liind-
iug, and then on to the southcaKt,
coming out in some unicnown lo
cality beyond the distant horizon.
About half a mile from Cjir-
penter’s Landing, near the pine
■woodii and huckleberry swamps,
its broad red roof plainly visible
from the village hills, stands a
wide old mansion, known for ma-
ny years in that district as the
Murray Homestead.
it is a large building-, tvro sto
ries and a half higli, with abroad
hall running the whole length of
the house. On each side of this
hall are doors admitting to vaid-
ou« rooms, and through it runs
the wide staircase leading to the
Upper chambers.
Linder the stairs is a deep clos
et, provided with a thick door
and a ata-ong, heavy lock, and in
this eloset tlie famOy silvei”,
5 * which was very valuable, was
kept Here, also, Uncle John—
for it is of some relatives of mine
I am writing—kept wliat surplus
money he had in Ins possession.
Perhaps it was not the safest
place in tlie world to keep valua
bles, but everybody about the
house was trusty, the lock very
strong, and tlie key always in
Uncle Jolin’s possession. No
property ever hud been stolen
from the house, and therefore, lie
argued, it was not lUcelv Uiat any
©rer would be'dishonestly taken.
At the time of which 1 write,
besides the family,—^consisting of
Unci© John, Aunt Lizzie, and the
-only son and daughter tlien at
, homo,—there -^^^ere in the house
two honest, faithful serving men.
One of these men was named
Jacob Van Bromp. He was a
German, as his name implies.
■’I'he other was an American, call
ed Dan. li I ever knew his oth
er name, I liave forgotten it.
There was also a young Germfm
girl, natned Bettine Schmtfer.
Bettine was a small, slender
girl, with a pleasant German face,
i*nd an abundance of soft, yellow
hair. Her quick niotions, neat
ways, and cpiiet energy, made
her a groat tavoi’ite with her em
ployers. And witli more than
the heads of the household, too.
There had been rJy glances and
smiles, when it was noticed that
»t-ont Jacob Van Broinp sat eve
ry evening with little Bettine in
her neat kitchen. More than one
remark was dropped about the
future, when Jacob and Bettine
would still bo employed about
the place,—as neither of them
eould bo spai'ed,—but when they
would be settled in the coaey lit
tle tenant-house just across the
garden.
One day uncle had been at
tending to some business in Phil
adelphia, and had received six
teen hundred dollars. He iiiT
tended to leave this money, as he
ought to have done, at one of the
dt\- banks. But finding hiiuseii
away down in South Street, he
looked at his watch, and as he
had only ten minutes in which to
catch the last boat across the riv
er, if he went up town to a bank,
he would lose the boat, and be
obliged to remain all night in the
city.
Besides, Dan with tlie buggy
would meet him at the boat on
the Jei'soy side, and if he failed
to appear, Aunt Lizzie would be
torineuted with anxious fears. It
did not make any dhforence, ho
diought; the money would be
safe at home, and ho would come
to the city again in a day or two.
So away trotted Uncle John to
catch the ferry-boat, with the
money in liis pocket.
Once at home, lie put it into
the locked closet, and thought, as
he did BO, that he ■would go back
to the city the next day and de
posit it in the bank.
The next day there was pleas
ant company at tlie house, and
Uncle John put off his trip to the
city for anoLher day. Jacob and
Dan did go to town wdth the
market-w-sgon and a load of pro
duce, but of coui’&e they could
not take the money.
That night there were a church
fair and supper at Carpenter’s
Landing, ia w’hich Aunt Lizzie
waj3 very much interested. So,
after supper, all the family went
to the vTilage, leaving ozdy Bet
tine at home.
It rras not thought that she^
would be alono, for Jacob and
Diui were expected home with
theii' market wagon every mo
ment, and Bettine Imd their sup-.
per waiting. When the family;
left the house Uncle John did.
not think of the money in the
closet; and it would not have,
made much difference if he had,
for he thought it was safe there.
I said Uncle John had the key in ^
his own possession ; but I did not-
mean that he cai'risd it in his
pocket. He always left it in a
little drawer ia his secj-etary, so
that the silver could be used if it
>vae wanted.
Aunt Lizzie bad put away the
silver plate that had been used
for dinner tliat day, and had put
the closet key in tins drawer.
This Bettine knew. Supper
was waiting, and, as I have said,
site expected Jacob and Dan ev
ery moment. It grev/ dark, ajid
the men did not come. Then
Bettine began to feel anxious;
but it was for them, not for her
self. Tho time passed. It was
almost eight o’clock, and they did
not come. Could they have miss
ed tlie boat ? Perhaps one of tho
horses was lame, and they had
been obliged to walk slo'ivly.
Bettine pushed the teapot near
er the fire. Then slio v/out and
locked aU the doors except the
door at the back of the house.
When she returned to tho kitch
en, she put up the curtalua, so
that her lamp might light tho tir
ed men homo,, and then took her
work and sat down to sow.
Prosoutly tho clock struck
eight. Bettine felt really alone,,
and looked out at the window,
black with the darkness outside,
with a sigh. Just then she heard
footsteps upon the kitchen porch.
Bhe sprang up and threw open
the door, eager to welcome tlie
long-cxpeotcd men. Instead, ot
Dan and Jacob, iu walked a tall,
heavily boarded man, who shut
and locked the door, aud spoke to
Bettine, who 8tool trembling with
Burju'isQ aud fear.
“Well, my pretty gal, anybody
home but vem
to home but yon f
“No,” spoke up Bettiije, “but
I exyoct the meu every minum.”
“Thoa 1 must make haeo. 1
see 3*ou’ve got supper ready. 1
haiiit eat a bite to-day, so I’ll
just take gome.”
Bettine, hoping somothing to
eat was ail he wanted, told him
to help himselt, and stood on one
gide ot tlie room, ehaking wiUi
fright while he ate.
Hurriedly eating everything
within bis i*each, the man turned
to her again, and said, roughly,
“Hark ye, ray gal, I don't
want to hurt you; I happen to
know there’s a heap of money
and silver traps in thia her®
hoase^ and that’s what I come for.
Now you jest tell me where they
are, aud 1 won’t hurt you, but I
Imve to if you don’t Gome,
now, tell quick.”
“1 will not P bravely cried
the trembling Betdaej who spoke
English with only the aliglitest
German accent.
“You -won’t?” said the maa,
taking & pisk)l from lus vest
“Looky hero, then, i'll have to
make you. Come, now, you
can’t help yourself, and you can’t
save the things. I don’t want to
hiirt youj but if you won’t tell, as
sure as vou stand there I’ll shoot
you, an
;il then hunt till T find’em!
Oouio, now, I aint fooliu.” Tell
quici;, before some one comos,
and i have to shoot you, anyliowl”
Poor Bettine saw in his eyes
that the ruffian would do as ho
said, so she faltered out, “Tho
things are in tho closet under the
Stab'S, but it’s locked.”
“Where’s the key, then?” de
manded the ruffian.
, Perhaps, thought poor Bettine,
if abo told -wlioro the key was,
aud be went to get the things, the
meu would como before he could
pac/; tliem. How she prayed that
they might come, as she pointed
to tie drawer where tho ^ey was
X'epE.
“Get it!” ordered tho man.
Bettine, not daring to disobey,
went to the drawer and took the
key. The man anatenod it from
her. Then ke gave it back.
“Go aud open the closet I” he
ordered.
Bettine led the way to the
closet. As she put the key in
the lock, a thought struck bor
which thrilled her through and
through. Tlieu came a dizzy,
faint feeling. 0, if she only, on
ly, only, could! If she could
only do what slie dared !
She turned tho key and open
ed tho door.
‘Hold tho light and follow me !’
said tho villain, his oyes gleam
ing as the light fell on tho spark-
Hng, glittering treasures before
him.
But the instant he was fairly
inside the closet, Beltino, qniofe
aa lightning, dropped her lamj), 1
shut the closet door, lorAed it, |
shot the upper mid lower bolts, |
and saiiA:, Ualf-falutiiig, upon the j
fioor.. *
Tire man, hading himself
cauglit, li/re a rat in a trap, threw '
his great stieugtli against tlie
door, raving, cursing, stamping
and A'ic/iing, until, stout as she
Anew tho door to bo, Bettine fear
ed lie would burst it itpen. ^he
dragged herself up, picAed up the
lamp, which liicAdy was neither
broAon nor extinguished, set it on
a chair, and with all her sloiider
might pushed a large old-fashion
ed mahogany diniug-tablo, which
stood near against iho door. Not-
ratisffed with this, she rushed in
to the wood-shed, brouglit the
hoariest sticks aud logs of wood
.she eould carry, and built upon
the heavy table a barricade al
most to the top of the door. Tlien
she dropped upon tho door again,
trombliug with ex.citement and
terror to await tho coming of
some member of tho family.
Fortunately, she did nut -wait
long I Very si on stops and
voices wero heal’d, dins time
Bettine know them. She strug
gled to her feet just as, guided by
tho liglit, Jacob and Dan came to
the back hall door. Daj’tiug to
wards them, she foil, epeochleaa,
into the stout arms of the astonish
ed Jucb !
But brave little Bettine did not
faiut. Very soon sho told kca’
story. Leaving Jacob to guard
Bottino aud her prisoiior, Dan
mounted a swift horse and rode
to the Yillau© for Mr. Murray and
the officers. In a very short
time, though It soemodlong to the
watchora, the whole famly return
ed. Bottine’s barricade was taken
down. The villain knew that
resistance would beuseloasagainst
so largo a number of inon, and
when tho door was opoued allow
ed himself to be secured. It ia
enough to say of him thatho w'as
taken unxt day to tlie citv, found
to be an old offender, and sent to
meet the imuishmout due hia
field of labor.
It is a pDasant fact to the
lashionablo ladies of Europe and
America, as >veU a» to the poor
pearl-divers, tliat tho supplies ot*
the unrivaled Aripo pearl have
boon resumed. They ar® far
more beautiful in hue and luKtr©,
and larger in &izo,, than tho pearls
gleaned from any other seas.
Like diamonds, rubies ami
emeiaids, pearls differ very wide
ly iu jirice ; the qualities atfecting
ttieir ja'ice being size, shape, and
purit}- and brillancy of lustre.
Seed peoi'ls, dull in huo and
round in shape, are cheap ; on the
othei’ hand, there exists in Europ©
—perhaps set in some imperial or
joyal crown^—a pearl about two
iiiclios and a half long and tliree-
quaj'tors of an inch wide, pear or
tear shaped, which was sold for
iio|less a sum tlian five hundred
and fifty thousand dollars. A
pear-sliaped pearl of good kistrei
cost.8 in Lomioii fifty dollars- if it
weighs over eighty grains, and
twenty dollars it below fifty
gi'nins.
It may be added that the color
of pearls, whicJi are pink, black
and gray, us well as white,, does
not greatly affect their value.
Great nicety and delicacy a*©
reijuired in boring this frail and
delicate gem. The Hiivdoos are
the most skilful in the •work. It
U said that tliere are only three
men in London who are abled to
perform it. The hole drilled iu
the pearl is so very sraall that
haiuaii hair passed through it,
grazes each side of it.
manv crimes.
Of our br\ve little Bettluo, I
can say that no daughter of the
liouse was made more of or more
pelted than she; and she Ivad tho
modesty aud good souse to appre
ciate and be grateful for it, ■with
out being spoiled by it.
The men had been detained in
Philadelphia because one of the
horses had been taAon m k. In
tho spring, when Ik'ttine and
Jacob wero married, Uncle John
made them a propent of a cosy
little house, and the lot on whicrli
it stood, saying that Bottiuo’s
com-ago had saved him'so much
more than tho worth of it, that it
tvas only' what she well deserved.
Aud the last I heard of Jacob
and Bettine Van Bromp, they
vrere still liviag there, happy,
thrifty and industrious.
Fc&rls aE34 Feaii ®'is2;a'5g'.
The beat pearls in tho w rid
are tboae found in the oyster
banks of Ceylon. Up to within
a few months, however, the bus
iness of pearl-diving at Ceyh n
had coaged for a long period. Jn
tho year 1864, the oysters which
bore this gem in their many-color
ed sheila suddenly disappeared ;
and they did not return to r}u>
old honae of tho pearl fisherv an-
til t''e summer of the present ■ ar.
Tbo divers had to .sock a live
lihood elsewhere, either in their
occupation of pearl-getting in tl e
waters of Bahrein, Tuticorln, or
the West Indies or in some other
Interisstlso Facts.—Hats so*
common now, were first invented
in 1-104. A^g'bra was first intro-
(lure^l in England by the Sara
cens iu 1412. Paper nrade of
linen rags was the piTidnetioa of
iho year 1417.. To England is.
accorded tiie h u or of the iiiven-
t onand use (£ the musket,, m
1421. A very useful,, if not ta.
great invention,, was that of
pumps, 1111425.. Diamonds weren
first cut and polished in J-439. Iru.
1441 printing was. in-vented by
Faust„a German.. Moat peraoiisare
familiar with the traditional, letter®
carved on the bark ot a tree, the)
embr3’o types tliat were designed
to merge into the grand’art wliiclr
is so proliffc in practical benefits:
to the entire human race. Eng--
hind was slow to seize upon fuis.
new discovery, and it not.
until 1474, a lapse of thirty-fchre©;
years, that the art of printing was;
introduced iato'that countiy by
Oaxtoii.. As a natural sequenc©-
engraving on w®/id followed in
1460, and engraving ©a- coppeir
iu 1480,.
A Sweet TEiicEK.—No trait of
character is more valuable in wo
man than a sweet temper.. HomO)
can never be made happy witk-
out it.. It is like a flbvver that
s]>rings up iu our pathway,, reviv
ing and cheering us. Let a man
go lioiue at night wearied by the^
toils of tho day, and how sooth--
ing is a word ;iiciated'by a good,
disposition ! It is aunsliine fall
ing on 1 is i G«.rt.. Study, thou,,
to acquire ami retain a sweet tem-f
porit is more valuable tham
gold; it captivates more thart
beauty and retains all Berimesai
aud power.