5d
A vv
S2
OFFICE
OX THE
pei? annum
CHARACTER IS AS IMPORTANT TO STATES AS IT IS TO INDIVIDUALS, AND THE GLORY OF THE ONE IS THE COMMON PROPERTY OP THE OTHER.
WEST SIDE OF TRADE STREF
KET
IN ADVANCE.
I
t
WJ.iBJ.Yini,!wrouUDPMBBM,fc CHARLOTTE, N. C, TUESDAY, APRIL .17, J 860.
EIGHTH VOLUME NUMBER 409.
1 1
r
l!
I
5
THE
wtn nTn-7i7Tv7 "71"JJ
)PiibIblied every Tuesday,(o)
BY
WILLIAM J. & EDWIN A.
EDITORS AND PROI'RIETOHS
EDWIN A. YATES,
If paid in advance, -$2 00
If paid within 3 months, 2 50
If paid after the expiration of the year, 3 00
t&-Any person sending- ua five kbw subscribers,
accompanied by the advance subscription ($10) will
receive a sixth copy gratis for one year.
Subscribers and others who may wish to send
money to us, can do so by mail, at our risk.
Transient advertisements must be paid for in
advance.
Advertisements not marked on the manuscript
for a specific time, wili be inserted until forbid, and
charged accordingly.
SAMUEL P. SMITH,
Attorney si nd CutiM-lor at Law,
CHARLOTTE, N C,
Will attend promptly and diligently to collecting and
retuitlin-r all chums intrusted to his care.
Special attention given to the writing of Deeds, Con
veyances, Ac.
OFFICE, with Wm. Johnston, Esq.
ggS'Duriiisr h'Mir of business, may be found in the
Court riouax, ilice No. 1, adjoining the clerk's office.
January 10. lHCO
J. A. FOX,
Attorney eft Law,
CHARLOTTE, X. C.
GEXERAL COLLECTING AGENT.
Office at the Court House, 1 door to the left, down stairs.
Win. J. Kerr,
A T T O i: A K V A T L. A ,
CHARLOTTE, N. C,
Will practice in the County and Superior Courts of
Mecklenburg. Union and Cabarrus counties.
Okkice in the Hrawley building opposite Kerr's Hotel.
January 24, 18t;i) " y
J. M. MILLER. M. 1).,
Practitioner of Medicine and Surgery,
May 10th. Office opposite Kerr's Hotel.
IIOBEIIT GttBO.V, M. D.,
ru t(:ririoi:it of ii:iicie
Ojfirt So. 2 Irtrt'ti's corner, CHARLOTTE, N. C.
n December 14, 1859.
J AS. T. DAVIS,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
CHARLOTTE, X. C,
Will practice in the Courts of Mecklenburg and the
adjoining counties.
ITa?" The collection of claims promptly atter dod to.
March 14, 1859 y
POLLoK B. LEE.
WM. II . K E H B .
LEE & KERR.
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW,
AND SOLICITOUS IX CHANCERY,
Memphis, Tennessee.
HaJT Office over the Gayoso Bank, on the Corner of
Main and Madison Streets, ""8
Time of Holding Courts :
Chaxckry 4th Monday in May and Nov.
Cikccit 3d Monday iu Jan., May and September.
Common Law 1st Monday in March. July and Xov'r.
Criminal 2d Monday in February, June and October.
Chittenrkn- Circuit Covkt, Ark. 2d Monday in May
and November.
Jan. 3d, 1860. y
R. W. BECK WITH
lias constantly on hand
WATCHES, JEWELRY, PLATED WARE, &C,
Of the best English and American manufacturers.
Call and examine his stock before purchasing elsewhere.
Wmcii crystals put iu for 25 cents each.
November 8, 1859 y
PEA MEAL.
We keep at our Steam Flouring Mill in this place
Pea Meal for feeding cows and stotk. Also, we have
on hand at all times, Family, Extra, Superfine and
cearse r lour, we warrant our family flour.
Corn ileal and Grits can always be had at the mill.
J. WILKES & CO.
April 19, 1859
The subscriber will pay the highest cash prices for
Beef cattle.
Those having Pork Hoes for sale would do well to
give me a call, as I am desirous of purchasing that
kind of tock.
. J- L. STOUT, Town Butcher.
October 11, 1859.
NKGltOKS WANTED.
I want to buy Negro Boys and Girl from 12 to 18
years old, for which the highest price in cash will be
May 17, 1859 SAML. A. HARRIS.
coTToiTsIw CIS,
nhe,beKl qU;in-,y' T.h V i,uh saw- moveable
chilled ribs and tinned brush, and all other necearr
improvements delivered at nny Railroad station in the
State at $2 per saw. These Gins took the premium at
the S. C. State Fair in 1858 and 18-.9.
Planters wishing to purchase Gins of the snbscirber
will do well to send their orders early, as there is gen
erally a crowd of work late in the season.
L J. M. ELLIOTT,
March 20, I860. 6in Winnsboro, S. C.
ttetition, FARMERS!
The MAGIC PLOW, (patent.
bv J. P. Harris of Mississiimi
r-'i
rour Plows in one. It can be laid five times and sharp
ened twelve times without the aid of a Blacksmith. It I
can be used the whole season without nnv n.Htinnal !
expense For sale at the Hardware Store of Cochrane
March 27, I8S0
f
ANOTHER SOUTHERN MOTEJIEST
CUBAN SEGAK MANUFACTORY.
Segars and Tobacco Leaf direct from Cuba.
JOHN S. WILEY has returned to Charlotte from
Cuba, where he bought a large and varied assortment
of SEGARS, SNUFF, TOBACCO, &c, for this market,
and is now opening some celebrated brands of Segars,
among which may be found the following :
El Rico Habana, Mucha El Littleto,
Concha's Malos, Rio Hor.dro,
Flor del Tnma3, Lasbelas Gnstou.
He manufactures Segars from the best Havana To
bacco; n keeps th best Stnr kinjr and chewing Tobac
co, Lynchbarg and Turkish Brands ; Maccabau, Rap
pee and pure Scotch Snuffs; Powhatan Pipes, snnff
Boxes, Matches. Blacking. Ac; Meershaun Segar Hold
ers and Pipes.
He rcspcrtfullv invites the public to call at the Cu
ban Segar Factory nearly opposite the Mansion House.
January 3, 1810.
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
Implements of my manufacture can be found at the
Hardware Store of COCHRANE & SAMPLE in Char
lotte. Among the various implements for Agricultural
purposes is Westiughouse's combined Thresher and
Winnower. J. H. THOMPSON,
Jan3l,18G0 6m Tyro, Davidson co.
TlHSESUIIYCi TlCIIIi:s.
The subscriber is still Agent for the sale of the
celebrated and much admired combined improved
T'iRESIIER AND WIXXXOWER, manufactured by
Wheeler, Melick & Co., Albany, X. V.
These Machines will thresh and clean from 150 to
250 bushels of wheat per day, with less work and less
waste than any other machines known in North Caro
lina. Prices at the Shop, viz :
Railway Chain Horse Power, $120
Lever, (superior) 100
Improved Combined Thresher and Winnower, 125
Terms cash, or approved note on interest. Warrant
ed to give satisfaction or no sale.
Delivered at any Railroad Depot at the above prices
charges and transportation only to be added.
Addres J. B. TROY, Troy's Store,
March 6, 1860. 3m Montgomery co, N C.
LOWRIE'S
1?
V) Js u !ra Li
I receive all the New Pub
lications as fast as they come for
ward from the Press; and keep
constantly on hand a large lot of
School, Academy and College
TEXT-BOOKS, and many useful
reference and recreative works.
I also keep a very large stock of Stationery, plain
and fancy, llanng made an arrangement with the
Southworth Paper Manufacturing Company, 1 am en
abled to sell paper at the same prices by the whole
sale for which it can be bought ia th Northern cities,
freight added. ' P. J LOWRIE.
Fb. 15, 1860.
HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE
HARTFORD, Conn.
CO.,
Incorporated A. D. 1810. Charter Perpetual.
Authorized capital $1,000,000
Capital paid iu 500,000
Surplus 300,000
ASSETS JANUARY 1, 1859.
Cash on hand and in Bank
Cash in hand of Agents and in transit,
Real Estate unencumbered (cash value)
Bills receivable, amply secured
2,404 Shares Bank Stock in Hartford,
2,200 " " " New York,
710 " " " Boston,
$43,455 22
54,827 09
15,000 00
73,174 55
230,413 00
197,750 00
74,620 00
, 10,000 00
74,245 00
16,250 00
14,035 00
$803,769 86
100 shares Bank of the State of Missouri,
State and city Bonds, 6 per cents,
Rail Road Stocks,
United States' Treasury Notes,
DIRECTORS.
Charles Boswell,
Henry Keney,
Calvin Day,
II. Huntington,
Albert Day,
Job Allyn,
John P. Brace,
Charles J. Russ.
James Good via,
Timo. C. Allyn, Secretary, H. Hcntixgtox, President.
C. C. Lyman, Attistant Secy. Wm. N. Bowers, Actuary.
This old and reliable company, established for near
ly fifty years, continues to Insure against loss or dam
age by Fire on dwellings, furniture, warehouses, stores,
merchandise, mills, manufactories, and most other
kinds of property, on its usual satisfactory terms.
Particular attention given toi nsuring Farm Property,
consisting of Dwellings, Barns and Out-buildings con
nected, and Furniture, Live Stock, Hay, Grain, Farming
Utensils, &c. contained in the same, lor a term of three
to five years at loir rates of premium.
Applications for Insurance may be made to the un
dersigned, the duly authorized Agent for Charlotte and
vicinity.
Losses equitably adjusted at this Agency, and paid
immediately, upon satisfactory proofs, in funds current
in the citic of A'etc York or Botton, as the assured may
prefer.
E. NYE HUTCHISON,
Jane 28, 1859. y Agent at Charlotte.
FOUNDED 1852. CHARTERED 1854.
Located corner of Baltimore and Charles streets,
BALTIMORE, Md.
The largest, most elegantly furnished, and popular
Commercial College in the United States.
Students in attendance from nearly every State in the
Union.
Every young man should write immediately for oae
of those large and beautiful Ornamental Circulars, re
presenting the exterior and interior view of the Balti
more Commercial College, Penmanship, &c, which
will be sent by return mail, free of charge, with Cata
logue containing list of students, terms of tuition, opin
ions of the Press on our new system of Book-keeping, &c.
Facclty.
E. K. LOSIER, Principal Lecturer on the Science of
Accounts, Business, Customs, etc.
J. M. PHILLIPS, Professor of Book-Keeping and com
mercial calculations.
H. II. DAVIES. Associate Professor of Book-Keeping.
X. C. JOHXSOX, Professor of Penmanship.
S. T. WILLIAMS. Esq. Mercantile Law.
REV. E. Y. REESE. D. D., commercial Ethics.
Tbcstees.
Hon John P Kennedy, Hon Joshua Vansant,
Hon Thomas Swann, Wm H Keighler, Esq.
Jacob Trust, Esq. William Knabe, Esq.
The time usuallr required to complete the full
course, from eight to twelve weeks.
Large circulars and catalogues stating terms, &c,
sent bv mail free of charge. Address
E. K. LOSIER, Baltimore, Md.
May 10, 1S59 y-pd
WHEAT!
The subscriber is prepared to purchase the new
CrOt Of Wheat at ltiphact marl-ot nrii ttafTr.ra '
will find it to their advantage to call at the CHAR
LOTTE STEAM MILLS before telling.
JXO. WILKES.
July 26, 185S tf
A PROBLEM.
A horse in the midst of a meadow, suppose
Made fast to a stake by a line from his nose
How long must the line be. that feeding all round
Will permit him to graze just an acre of ground ?
ANSWER.
It's a very plain case, if you'll only "suppose,"
That it's just seven feet from his tail to his nose
The line will be thn (the rule cannot fail)
About seven fert less than if tied to his tail.
Leap Year. A correspondent sends us the
following lines on leap year :
Then let us nerve our bashful hearts,
And quell each timid doubt,
And raise our drooping hopes, and smooth
Our wrinkled feature out;
And write thereon, in letters plain,
That those may read who run
"Proposals thankfully received
Till eighteen sixty-one."
Happiness must arise from our own temper
and action and not immediately from any extern
al condition.
Money f Want, and MONEY I must
have ! fDo you owe Jonas Rudasill?
If so, comelwnd pay him. He has many drafts upon
him every day for lumber and labor. These are cash
articles. MJ-n can't work without eating flour, bacon,
lard, ic, ari1 cash articles. I cannot do work without
lumber; and have to pay for what I get, en delivery.
I have large amounts due me for work done; some have
been due fot a long time, and I now most positively say
those accounts must be closed.
I still continue to carry on the business at my old
stand, and have for sale Sash Doors, Blinds, &c, and
can manufacture auyihing in that line to order at short
notice. Order3 respectfully solicited, and I promise to
sell cheap for cash as I have alwars done, and for cash
onlv. JOXAS RUDASILL.
March 27, 1860
PROVISIONS.
The subscriber keeps always on hand Corn Meal,
Flour, Dried Fruit, Eggs, &c. Also, Tobacco, Snuff,
Segars, &c &c, which he will sell at the lowest prices
for cash. M. S. OZMENT,
Feb 28th. Second door above the Jail.
CLOTH L (J MANUFACTORY,
AT THE
E3 IV3L" P O R.ITJ lEUE
OF
FILLIPS, SPRINGS & CO.
E have found it NECESSARY TO ADD A
Merchant Tailoring1 Department
To our large and extensive Ready-made Clothing House,
and we respectfully invite our Friends and Patrons to
call and examine our Stock of
- FRENCH,
ENGLISH,
AND GERMAN
Cloths,
Black, French and German DOESKIX CASSIMERES,
French, English and American FANCY CASSIMERES.
A beautiful lot of FINE SILK VESTIXGS, Black
and Colored. All of which have just been received, and
are of the latest styles. A good Stock of
Rock Island Cassimeres
kept constantly on hand.
We have secured the services of Mr D. L. REA, as
Cutter, who is well known as a master of the art.
Orders from a distance solicited.
StSf Call and see us.
E. FULLIXGS,
JXO. M. SPRIXGS,
JXO. . HEATH.
Feb. 21, 1860. tf
NOTICE.
My Horse, Young Brimmer, can be found the present
season, on Mondays and Tuesdays at E. P. Blankin
shipp's, near Wrights Ferry; Wednesdays, at R. W.
McDowell's, near the Yorkville road; Thursdays, at
J. B. Stewart's, six miles from Charlotte on the Provi
dence road; and on Fridays and Saturdays, at W. P.
Robinson's, near Morrow's Turnout. Persons can call
and judge for themselves of the qualities of this Horse.
A. E. GORDON.
March 27, 1860. 6t-pd
MRS. WINSL0W,
An experienced Nurse and Female Physician, presents
to the attention of mothers, her
SOOTHING SIRUP,
For Children Teething,
which greatly facilitates the process of teething, by
softening the gums, reducing all inflamation will allay
all pain and spasmodic action, and is
Sure lu Regulate llie Bowels.
Depend upou it, mothers, it will give rest to yourselves,
and relief and health to your infants.
We have put up and sold this article for OYer ten
years, and can say, in confidence and tbcth, of it,
what we have ne ver been able to
say of any other
ER IIAS IT FAILED,
STANCE, TO EF-
when timely
did we know an-
MRS.
WIN SLOWS
SOOTI11XO
SYRUP.
medicine nev-
13 A SINGLE IN
FECT a CUUE,
u 8 e d. Never
instance of dis-
satisfaction by any one who used it,
On the contrary,
all are delighted with its operations, and speak in
terms of commendation of its magical enects and medi
cal virtues. We speak in this matter " What we do
know," after ten years' experience, and pledge our repu
tation for the fulfillment of what we here declare. In
almost every instance where the infant is suffering from
pain and exhaustion, relief wili be found in fifteen or
twenty minutes after the syrup is administered.
This valuable preparation is the prescription of one
of the most EXPERIEXCED and SKILLFUL NURSES
in New England, and has been used with never-failing
success in thousands of cases.
It not only relieves the child from pain, but invigor
ates the stomach and bowels, corrects acidity, and
gives tone and energy to the whole system. It will al
most instantly relieve Grii'ino in the Bowels, and
wind colic, and overcomes con
vulsions, which, FOR if not speedily
remedied. end in Call LD REX death. We be
lieve it the best Teething and SUREST
REMEDY IX- T H E WORLD,
in all cases of Dysentery and Diarrhoea in Children,
whether it arises from teething, or from any other cause.
We would say to every mother who has a child suffer
ing from any of the foregoing complaints Do not let
Torn prejudices, nor the prejudices of others, stand
between you and your suffering child, and the relief
that will be sure yes. absolutely sure to follow the
use of this medicine, if timely used. Full directions
for using will accompany each bottle. None gennine
unless the fac-slmile of CURTIS & PERKIXS, New
York, is on the outside wrapper.
Sold by Druggists throughout the world.
Principal Office, 13 Cedar street, N. Y.
Price only 25 cents per Bottle. "S
For sale by E. NYE HUTCHISON CO., and by
F. SCARR.
March 20, 1860. 7
THE DIFFERENCE
No party, which distrusts the intelligence and
good sense of the masses, and which relies upou
humbuggery, can hope for permanent success
among the free and intelligent people. The peo
ple are honest in their political sentiments, and
they are sensible with it a fact, by-the by, which
the opponents of democracy always peem to over
look. The ad vaforetnites, in North Carolina, con
found the question of free suffrage with their new
hebby, and boast that ad valorem will be as popu
lar in our State as was free-suffrage. In this cal
culation they will find themselves sadly disappoint
ed. There is a vast difference between the two
questions. Free-suffrage violated no solemn com
promises between the two sections of the State
it neither increased nor diminished the number of
Eepresentatives in the Legislature, nor did it af
fect, injuriously, any person, class or section of
North Carolina j but simply removed an odious
restrcition, and placed all free white men on an
equality at the ballot box.
But how is it with ad valorem, or the proposed
clange of our revenue system? It strikes at the
very foundation of the peace and quiet of our peo
ple it appeals to the non-slaveholder as against
th slaveholder it proposes to tax everything
alike, regardless of its character or protection it
wiE introduce the tax-officer into the private af
fairs of every man's family it will reach not only
infant negroes, but the stock, such as horses, cat
tle, hogs, sheep, and in fact everything now ex
empt from taxation it will violate plighted faith
tear to pieces the Constitution of our fathers,
and disturb the basis of representation now so
happily acquiesced in by our people it will throw
the lurden of the present-debt of the State up on a
different class of persons and a different species of
property, from that contemplated when the1 debt
was incurred it will, if the basis of representation
is not changed, destroy the influence of the West
in the Senate: and if the basis is changed, will be
an act of gross injustice to the East it has already
been hailed by the Abolitionists as the ''irrepressi
ble conflict" in the South, and is in fine a most,
unfortunate issue to be made in any Southern State
at the present time.
The Democratic party, of North Carolina, in
solemn Convention have met this new ixsue in that
bold, patriotic manner, becoming the great nation
al party of the country. They have met and set
their face against it in a determined manner, and
its fate maybe considered as irrecoverably sealed.
Eal. Press
Curious Accident. The
Wilmington
jour
nal of the 9th gives the particulars of
accident.
On Sund .-.y morning the 8th, an inquest was
held over the body of a young man named Jos. S.
Canady, who accidentally stabbed himself on Satur
day evening: The evidence before the jury was
that the deceased quit work about 4 o'clock, stat
ing that he was going to purchase a dagger with
which to kill a dog; after buying the dagger, he
went back to the shop, and then started for his
boarding house. On the way he met a young man
with whom he boarded, Mr By id. Canady drew
his dagger and, uttering the words "Lay on Mac
duff," struck himself in the left breast, the dagger
entering 2 J or 3 inches. About this time he reach
ed MrByrd, who remarked to him that he had
stabbed himself. Canady said he had not, but on
looking at his breast perceived the blood, when he
exclaimed " Good Lord !" and died immediately.
It is supposed that when he struck himself with
the dagger, he thought or intended to do so with
the handle, as he had often done before, being in
the habit of repeating the above and other quota
tions from Shakspeare. The verdict of the jury
was "accidental stabbing."
THE GREATEST DUEL ON RECORD.
An old Mississippian furnishes the following to
the Woodville (Miss ) Republican:
The famous duel in which forty or more gentle
men were engaged, in 1828, is still remembered in
Natchez. Col. Jim Bowie, the fanions fighter and
inventor of the knife which bears his name, used
to spend a great deal of his time in Natchea. He
was challenged by a gentleman of Alexandria, La.,
whose friends, to the number of twenty or more,
accompanied him to Natchez to see fair play, know
ing Bowie was a desperate man, and had his own
friends about him. All parties went upon the field
The combatants took their places in the centre,
separated from their friends in the rear, or enough
not to endanger them with their balls Behold
the battle array thus: Twenty armed Louisianians
fifty yards behind their champion and his seconds
and surgeon, and opposite them, as far behind
Bowie and his seconds and surgeon, twenty armed
Mississippians. Behold the heights of Natchez
thronged with spectators, and a steamer in the riv
er rounded to, its decks black with passeugers,
watching with deep interest the scene. The plan
of fight was to exchange shots twice with pistols,
and to close with knives, Bowie being armed with
his own terrible weapon. At the first fire both
parties escaped. At the second the Louisianian
was too quick and took advantage of Bowie, who
waited the word. At this Bowie's second cried
"foul play!" and shot the Louisianian dead.
The second of the latter instantly killed the slayer
of his principal. Bowie drove his knife into this
man. The surgeons now crossed blades, while,
with loud battle cries, came on the two parties of
friends, the light of battle in their eyes. In a
moment the whole number were engaged in a fear
less conflict. Dirks, pistols and kuives were used
with fatal effect, until one party drove the other
from the field. I do not know how many were
killed and wounded in all. but it was a dreadful
slaughter. Bowie fought like a lion, but fell cov
ered with wounds. For months he lingered at the
Mansion House before he fully recovered.
NOTICE.
Bids will be received by the subscribers until the
first Saturday in May. for building a Church at Cas
tania Grove, Gaston county, X. C. Dimensions 34 by
40 feet. Specifications can be seen by calling on the
Committee at or near Castainia Grove.
J AS. ABERXATHY,
JXO. R. JOHXSTOX,
S. X. JOHXSTOX,
W. J. XAXCE,
J. F. BLACK,
April 3, 1860. 4t Committee.
HOW GODFREY HORTON CHOSE HIS
WIFE.
"Godfrey, old boy," said Henry Clayton, as he
tilted back his chair, and put his feet on the man
tlepiece, "when is the wedding to be?"
"Whose wedding?"
"Miss Laura Somers, or Jenny, which is it?"
"I do not know, I am sure."
"Now don't be mysterious, Godfieyj you know
you are a most constant visitor and all 'our set' are
talking about the match. Don't pretend you have
not selected one of the sisters." ,5
How do you know either of theta wifl "6ave me?'
Don't be absurd old boy. Yctr, young, hand
some, talented, and with a large fortune, need not
be over bashful. Come, be frank which is the fa
vorite sister?" 1
'Well, frankly then, I cannot tell you. I have
visited the family for several months, as you know,
but I cannot decide. Laura is certainly the hand
somest, with her flashing black eyes and queenly
manner; but Jenny seems, though the youngest,
to be the most womanly and useful of the two.
Yet, I cannot be sure of that. My entrance is the
signal for cordial welcome and smiles, and, let me
call at what time I will, they are always dressed,
and apparently disengaged. To be sure, I always
in the morning have to wait some time before
Laura is visible."
'Pop in unexpectedly and notice the internal
economy.'
'How can I? A card at the door will put any
lady on her guard or even the notice of a gentle
man visitor.'
'Go there in disguise. As a washerwoman, for
instance.'
'Good! I will.'
'Go there as a washerwoman?' cried Clayton.
'Not exactly, but I will obtain admittance to a
morning's privacy.'
'Well let me know the result.'
Laura and Jenny Somers were the only children
of a widower, who, although -in moderase circum
stances, moved in very fashionable society. At
the period of my shoct sketch, he was about to
supply the lamented Mrs Somers place, after near
ly ten years mourning, and, although a kind, in
dulgent'parent. had no objection to his daughteis'
marriage, and indeed, had told them so. Laura,
whose h'gh spirits resented the probable supremacy
of a step mother, had already selected Godfrey Hor-
ton as her tutuie husoana; and Jenny, who was
younger and gentler in spirit, tried to conquer a
carefully concealed preference for the same pur
pose. All his attentions were ascribed by her to a
brotherly regard, though every act of kindness or
courtesy touched her very heart.
It was the morning after a large hall, and the
sisters were in the breakfast room together. Laura,
her glossy black hair pushed negligently off her
face, with the rough tumbled braids of last evening
elaborate coiffure gathered loosely into a comb,
wearing a soiled wrapper, torn stockings, and pre
senting a rather alarming contrast to the bril'a'it
bail-roinn ceffe, was lounging on a sofa. Jenny, in
a neat morning dress, with a large gingham apron,
little white collar, and hair smoothly brushed into
a neat knot was washing the breakfast dishes.
'There is an old man at the door with some arti
ficial flowers,' said the servant opening the dining
room door, 'will you see him?"
'No-,' said Jenny.
Yes,' cried Laura, "Send him up.'
The servant departed to obey the last order.
In a few moments the old man came in. He
was poorly clad, with a coarse blue cloak, which
was much too large for him. His hair was white,
and he wore a heard of the same snowy hue.
Making a low bow, he placed the basket he carried
on a table, and opened it.
'I have a bunch of blue flowers here," he said,
taking them from the basket; "that will just suit
your golden hair, Miss," and he held them before
Jenny.
'It was my sister who wished to look at your
flowers," said Jenny quietly.
'Yes bring them here," was Laura's imperious
command.
The old man's eye followed Jenny, as she
washed, wiped, and put away the dishes, swept the
room, and dusted it, and then sat down beside
Laura, who was still looking over the basket.
'See, Jenny, this scarlet bunch. ' Will it not be
lovely, with a few dark leaves, to wear with my
new s'vJk?,'
'But,' whispered Jenny, 'you can't afford it just
now.
'Yes I can.'
terday.'
Father gave me some money yes-
'To pay the last dry goods bill." .
Well, I can have that carried to my private ac
count." 'O! Laura, I hate to hear you talk of that pri
vate account. It
father.'
seems so much like cheating
t t -
'Nonsense! It will stand till I am marriedand
then I can easily save it out of my house-keeping
money.'
I should not wish to marry in debt,' said Jenny.
The old peddler looked earnestly at the two sis
ters. 'You had better take this blue bunch, Miss,' he
said to Jenny. 'If it ain't convenient to pay now,
I will call again
No, I shall not take them.'
They are very becoming, Miss. Look in this
glass.'
They were becoming, mixing with the glossy
golden hair, and setting off Jenny's dazzling
complexion.
'I wish my hair was light,' said Laura: 'I should
like to wear blue. Godfrey Horton said last night
th?t forget-me-nots were his favorite flowers.'
Jenny colored, and placing the bunch again in
the basket, said 'Come Laura, decide. You are
keeping one waiting whose time probably is valuable;
then; passing a chair, she added. "Be seated sir,
you look tired."
I am tired, indeed,' was the reply.
'I will take the scarlet bunch, and red camelins,
and this white cluster," said Laura.
But sister, you cannot afford it.'
'Yes I can Godfrey Horton is rich.'
The old man bit his lip.
Think,' said Jenny in a low tone, If yon love
him, how much it will grieve him if he should
discover this deceit.'
'Nonsense! Well I'll tell yon how to remedy it.
Lend me some money out of the housekeeping
funds.' ;
So,' thought the old man, 'she is house-keeper.
Miss Laura always gave me to understand that was
her post.
Laura! Steal from my father?' . ,
Then don't preach.'
Miss Jenny,' said a servant, entering at that
moment, 'the dinner has come.'
Jenny left the room; and Laura still turned over
the gay flowers, while the old man pointed out
their various beauties, his eye iu the meantime,
running over the disordered- baus shabby, dress, .
and lazy position, whilst be mentally contrasted
them with Jenny's neat attire.
'Not decided yet?' said Jenny, returning after a
short absence.
No. Come here.'
I can't! Father has sent home a calf's head
and I am afraid to trust it entirely to Margaret. I
must superintend the dinner, make a pudding, and
the parlors must be dusted and there is my white
mulle to be finished."
'Before I would be the drudge you are!' cried
Laura.
Drudge! nonsense! I have plenty of time left
for enjoyment, and father cannot have a comforta
ble house if some one does not superintend these
things. When I marry, you may doit,' and she
laughed merrily.
'As if I should not uiarry first!' said Laura. .
There, I have chosen all I want.'
'Shall I call again for the change?' said the ped
ler. 'I shall be hap; y to put the Misses Somen
on my list of customers.'
Yes, call again.'
So the peddler took up his basket, walked home
threw aside his wig, beard, and disguise and
wrote an offer of his hand and heart to Jenny
Somers, which was accepted.
Laura Somers has two sources of profound
speculation. One is, 'Why did Godfrey Horton
propose to Jenny instead of me?' The other 'I
wonder why that old man never culled to be paid
for those exquisite flowers?'
THE HUMAN H&.ND.
Issuing from the wrist is that wonderful organ
the human hand. "In a French book, intend
ed," gays Sir Charles Bell, "to teach young people
philosophy, the pupil asks why the fingers are not
of equal length? 'J he master makes the scholar
grasp a ball of ivory to show him that the points
of the fingers arc then equal! It would have been
better had he closed the fingers upon the palm,
and theyi asked whether oruot they corresponded,
'i. his difference in the length of the fingers, serves
a thousand purposes as in holding a rod, a sword,
a hammer, a pen, a pencil, or engraving tool, in all ,
which a secure hold and freedom of motion are
admirable." On the length, strength, and per
fectly tree movements of the thumb depends, more
over, the power of the human hand. To the thumb
indeed, has been given a Bpecial name ("potlex,"
from a Latin verb meaning to be able, strong,
mighty) because of its stretigth a strength that
is necessary to the power of the hand, being equal
to that of all the fingers. Without the fleshy ball
of the thumb, the power of the fingers would be
of no avail, and accordingly the large ball formed
by the muscles of the thumb is the special work of
the human hand, aud particularly that of a clever
workman. The loss of the thumb amounts to the
hand. Conscripts unwilling to serve in the array
of France, have been known to disable themselves
effectually by cutting off the thumb of the right
hand. '1 he loss of both thumbs would reduce a
luau to a miserable dependence.
An "Able" Editor. Every judicious and ob
servant man will concur in the following views, pre
sented by the editor of one of the beat conducted
journals in the Old Dominion, the Alexandria Gazette-:
Many people estimate the ability of a newspaper
and the industry and talents of its editor, by the
quantity of editorial matter which it contains. It
is comparatively an easy tusk for a frothy writer to
pour out daily, columns of words words, upon any
and all subjects. His ideas may flow in "one weak
washy, everlasting flood," and his command of lan
guage may enable him to string them togethQlike
bunches of onions, and yet his paper may be a mea
ger and poor concern. But what is the labor and
the toil of such a man who displays his "leaded
matter" ever so largely, to that imposed on the ju
dicious, well informed editor, who exercises his vo
cation with an hourly consciousness of its responsi
bilities and devotes himself to the conduct of his
paper with the same care and assiduity that a sensi
ble lawyer bestows upon a suit, or a humane physi
cian upon a patient, without regard to show or dis-
play! Indeed, the mere writing part of editing a
paper is but a small portion of the work- The in
dustry is not even shown there. The care, the time
employed in selecting, is far more important; and
the tact of a good editor is better shown by his
selections than anything else; and that we all know
is half the buttle. But as we have said, an editor
ought to be estimated, and his labors understood
aud appreciated, by the general conduct of his pa
per its temper its uniform, consistent course
its principles its aims its manliness its dig
nity its propriety. To preserve these as .. they
should be preserved, is enough to occupy fully the
time and attention of any man. If to this H added
the general supervision of the newspaper establish
ment, which most editors have to encounter, the
wonder is how they can find time or room to write
at all.
"Pap, I planted some . potatoes in our garden-"
said one of the smart youths of this generation to
his father one day, "aud what do yon think cams
up
V
"Why, potatoes, of course," repliod pap.
"No, siree. There came np a drove of hogs
and eat 'em all."
The old man "gin in." - '
QUERY FOR LAWYERS,
If, in a shindy or a rout, ,
John Doe should tear a piece from out
Jack Ro6'i unmentionables,
Query : In such a case as this,
What coarse would each pursue f .
Should Jack John sue
For a breach of the peace
Or for a piece of the breeches?
sir