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' So, so, Tibs, yon had a dream, eh ! pray tell
it to me. And the Old Boy is dead" at last, and
buried,' said I to him, playfully ; 'dead and bu
ried, emphasizing 'where he did ; ' and so you
think we'll have good-luck to day V
Well, Mr. Sheriff,' answered he, ' I was cum
fably fixed in my room last night 'bout ten
' o'clock, 'dom something for my head for you
know I've been sutferin' de last day or two with
a cold in my head I wouu' a stocking round
my throat--noth n' Letter tor a sore throat than
. that, you know -and Mrs. Higgum. my land
lady, telled me dere was nothing better for me
den a gin punch made hot, and I musn't be ve
ry particular .'bout how much gin I took, only
don't let it bo too' small ; I followel her ad
vice, and I made it good, and hot, and strong
and. emphasized strong;' and I got iu bed
afterward, and I fell asleep sxn, like a gentle
little baby, f did ; and I slept like a top, 1 did ;
' and I dreamed, I did : and '
you .
4 Dou't stop me, Mr. Sheriff; you'll spile it.
-1 can't tell you the dream if you interrupt me.
1 was on a good string, and would let you have
"THiVrir'iP,m'1 mt don'Ldo q :
ag'in ! bless you, don't do that ag'iu.'
I knew that he could not bear to be stopped
iq the recital, yet I was indisposed to hear his
nonsense: nevertheless, as I had given him en
couragement to listen to his drain, it would be
provoking tfee very Old Boy to come forth
i whom he had declared was dead and buried,
and thus ignore the 'morale and the pith of the
dream. " . '. VJ
'I won't interrupt you any further, lis e;
come, go ahead.'
4 Well, as I was baying,' continued he, ' I
dreamed 1 was in a beautiful iinle cottage clus
by a running stream of' water a brook, like,
on'y dere wasn't much water,' a slight allusion?
I thought, to the gin-punch, strong jritb gin,
and very little water, ' and the weather was ve
ry hot,' gin-punch hot, too, 4 and 1 thought I
heerd beautiful music: it wasn't like a band of
musicianers music ; it come over me so dat
when I heeid it fust, it made me all over so hap
py and delighted, dat I ris right up at least, I
tried to; but I couldn't ; the music was so de
lightful it kept m down,' the gin-punch, good
. and strong, kept him down; 'and I iistr ned ;
oh ! it was so 'chanting Hlike, for I couldn't git
j up; and the music it come, and then it went.
- and then it come ag'in ; and then I looked, and
then the pootiest little creturs, female cretur-,
come around me, all dressed up so fine; ami
they danced to the music, nnd they tripped, and
they hopped, and they jumped, and they skip
ped, and dey patted me on de chin and on my
cheeks, anu dey playtd w ith my gray hair, the
little rogues, dey did, and 1 couidu't move a bit,
on'y I kept my eyes and my ears open my eyes
to look at the pooty little people, my ears to
hear the sweet music and I was aggerwated
when I found I couldn't move ; and den dey
would go off from me, and dance, and hop, ski.,
jump, ao graceles-ly,' gracefully ; 'never -,va
sich seed by me afore; and den I seed a oM
an, Quaker-lojMynj man, I thought ; and 1
crpiir'tlKMigat, tihdor his coat,
oo'y de handle was sticking out from under his
. rm, and I didn't tike his looks : he come to de
door of the cottage, and be looked in, and he
said something about ihe little people coming
down with him, but dey wou'dn't heed him ;
and den I think the Quaker-looking man wasn't
so savage-looking; and den he went away; he
didn't like the mu.-ic they was dancing to, tor
he was a Quaker, and on'y liked simple music ;
and den (all de time I was 'parently 'wake) come
other kind of music; it wasn't twet at all ; and
then the little folks who was a dancing, they
changed, it 'peared to m, and dey begin for to
, skimper and jump" onto the others' backs ; and
den the music it clanged worser than it was,
Sidn't soun' like music at all ; and den I feel as
I could move, and I tried, and I did move ; and
what should I see then but the little folks had
changed into a whole batch of cats ; , and thev
skimpered, and they jumped, and. thy mewed,
and their mewing was the horriblest music; aud
I then turned over, and I ris up, and I jumped
up out of the bed, and the whole but three on
eni run away, leaping through the window, up
the chirobley, and out of the door : dem three
what was staying behind was regular mottled
cats ; dey wasn't white, nor was dey black, but
dey was ugly-looking ones, I tell you. So I got
up quick, for de giu-punch made me feel m
good ; and I looked roun' for something to strike
with, and I found the junk-bottle what I had
nay gin in, on the table ; I seized it : and would
you believe it, two of therrJ who seed it, run
way right off, (dey thought it was a gun,)
jumping through the window, and not taking it
genteel at all, by going out ef the door; aud
then there was on'y one left, and he was the ugliest-looking
cat of 'era all ; I thought I should
have a lot of trouble with him. I guess he was
the general of the brigade of cats ; so he 'pear
ed to me ; but thinks I, Who's afeard f I a'n't !
And I moved to the fire place ; the cat he ris
his back, and he began for to sputter and spit;
I got hold of the poker, and I poked right and
left at him; and he warded off once or twice ;
and he ris hisself ag'in; and he mewed loud,
and once ag'in louder; and I lunged him a sure
blow ; and I pierced his flesh ; and I banged
about him nine times, and nine times nine, and
he gin up; he mewed, and sich a mewing! it
died off into nothing, and so did he. And then
I thought the Quaker-man's judgment of the mti
ic must be better than mine ; he thought there
waa no harmony in it, while I (thinking it was
delightful p'rap, jt was owing to the puneh
made strong) wasu't much of a judge of con
cord of sweet sounds, any how. Now," Mr.
Sheriff, my conclusion 'bout the dream is this,:
that the last cat, the stubborn cat, was the Old
Boy ; and I fixed his claws, pared his nails, s;if
fened his carcase : he is dead and buried. And
we're goin to have snccessfnl business to-day,
and I shouldn't wonder if it waa in the musical
way. Some folks go by contrarys in dreams
I don't. What do you think of the dream !
- It's surprising a'n't it ! '
It is surprising, said I in answer, determin
ed to humor the old gentleman, very surpris
ing, and very mewtical; too, Tis enunciating
the word mewsical' so as to convey a sort of
SSftB?th6.niU,ic of the gentry; at
he IhlV aV !oaIh!llt hlbe! he!
' Get out f d UP Wi 8udden
So you- believe, Tise,' continued 1, 1 some
thing in the musical way will turn up, and all
will go on harmoniously to day.'
4 Yes, yes, dai I do:' I never felt better and
slicker den now ; ,nd when it comes it fi-ids
me prepared. Believe it will come ? I know it
will ; a'n't my dream a warnin' dat it will come ?'.
Strange that there are people who. so firmly
believe in the reality of dreams, I thought- and
yet tne old man might not be disappointed in
his expectation. And while I was thus cogita
ting, sure enough, the expected writ, being a
writ of replevin in detinet for a piano-forte, rose
wood case, seven octaves, was placed in my
hands the suit being brought by Fritz Von
Ilelfiich, a pianoforte-maker, against Romer
Dayton and Barbara Bayton, his wife.
Counsellor Smallwood, who represented Von
Ilelfrich, was. at the present lime of communi
cation with me, represented by his factotum, or
man-of all-work such as is usually maintained
in some lawyers' offices, to do the 'demanding'
part of the business, atteud and be present at
settlements andnegotialious of claims, and serve
notices in general. This class of very useful
adjuncts of the Jaw ofijjee is usually composed
of young men;' buU.. case in queAio"n"MrqvbispeedTHi8c?5
c it i ? r . . j n I . . .
Smallwood'B factotum was a mark of about five-
and forty, a native of the 'Jim of the say ' withal,
very intelligent, active, and rather disposed, I
must say, to going it blind, and occasionally, bv
the impulsiveness of his character, eettincr a
knock-down or two for his seeming impertinence.
Mr. Smallwood's man's name wa James Largo ;
and about the sheriff's office, as he was Mr.
Smallwood's factotum he. was called 'Largo al
factotum.' It was uudoubledly a very appro
priate designation fr him.
4 Mr. Sheriff,' said he, addressing me, 4 here's
a writ ready lor seivice, Sir. Mis. Bayton, Sir,
has our piano forte, Sir, ro-e-woodcase, Sir, se
ven octavius, Sir beg pardon, Sir, octavos, Sir
she has it, Sir, in her house, beyant Broadwav,
by Wooster-street And will you go now nd
execute the process at once V
'Certainly, Mr. Lago, I am ready, and am at
your seivice on the instaot.'
4 Beg pardon. Sheriff,' replied he, 4 I'm not
jist ready ; only say the word after two hours,
and I will have assisiantsjo accompany you to
take the piano down. Will you be ready by
one o'clock to day ?'
4 Yes, say one o'clock. I will wait for and
meet you here at that hour, Mr. Largo. Be
prompt, though, if you please.'
lie left jne, promiing to see me at the time
apjKiuted.
Now, during the while Largo was e;ikinr,
fr m the time he first addressed me to the end
oftiie conversation between us, Thisov, who
had beeft, seated near me, and from the firsi
, , '" iocs mii
mention tv-Lariroof a Liaho-n t ri.Ivin w -
o l 7 - j u, i ucc
wcod, .even octaves, tlie apM)inted time, hi eyes
glistened, nay, spaikled with pleasure; his
J ' I f'SlCUI j 11 10
louth had a pleasant bow in it ; he smaeked.
I Doll
nis lips
is lips as his ears caught the sounds which
w -e to make his dream a reality, and with that
a-.-Uianee which was now made known to him
by what he heard, he, in a look a id an c-cca-STMeer,
jerii rfght in my ryes, expressed
ail his th-mgbts, at times patting his knees, rub
bing his hands, crossing his legs, rising from his
chair, listening atieniively and closely, lest he
might lo-e a word, until the appointed time, one
o'clock. Was uttered.
4 See, Mr. Sheriff,' said he, 4 the old man a'n't
iu fuol. Why, I have lived a good many years,
and I have dreamed a good many dreams. I
tdd you what would happen, and ha'n't it be
gun f The little creturs in my dream was the
keys; seven i-ctavios is forty-nine on 'em; and
I a'n't sure, but I think there was about as ma
ny f the little crturs.'
'Will you be ready to go with me at one
o'clock, my old friend !' said I to him, 'as I de
sire very much that you should sen the end of
your dream, and what will come of it.'
' Y. u couldn't, keep m away, God bless von.'
One o'clock tame round, and with it punctu
ally came Mr. Largo : but I was sorry to see him
accompanied by almost an army of assistants. I
complained to him, and objepted that so many,
or more than one, or at moot two, should go
with me.
4 You don't wain them, Mr. Sheriff,' said Thi
sox ; ' take an old man's advice; you will get
along a great deal better, if you only take one
beside me and Mr. Factotum.'
At the mention of which word, Mr. Larg..
looked unutterable things at Thisojj, who, per
ceiving the mistake into which bel had fallen,
proceeded very gracefully to ask Mr. Largo's
pardon for misnaming him.
4 1 don't care nothing about it, Mr. Sheriff;
't a'n't none of my business : but take an old
man's advice ; 'oo't you take no one with you
but Mr. Fac Largo, I mean myself, and an
other gentleman ; for it's an old saying that 4 too
many cooks spiles the broth.' '
I thereupon, at the suggestion of Thisox, al
lowed him, Mr. Largo, and one' of the plaintifl's
workmen, to accompany me. Dismissing all the
others, we proceeded to the housa occupied by
the defendants ; and whan I had got within a
block of the place, I taw two or three men on
oue corner of the street, as many on another
corner, several more leisurely walking on one
side of the street, one seated on the stoop of a
house immediately opposite, a number disposed
ofm the various groceries around the neighbor
hood, and to all of whom Mr. Largo gave a nod
or word, speaking first to OLe, to another, and
then to several, which proceeding I intimated to
him wfts out of the order of arrangements I had
k;, r ,i. i . .
made with him. I remonstrate I with him, and
told him that he could not expect me to besuc-
c. ssful in the matter if he persisted in having
such an armv aronn.l .,...1 v u:.
j fwicu u xiiui to
.. t i . . .i . . . J .
waicu ana prevent me piano fiom beiiio- taken
or carried aav previous to bit arrival. Ri.t
the mischief 1 had endeavored and labored to
avoid, had been completed, as I afterwaid learn
ed, nd now it was too late..
r
4 Iey have got a 4 Hessian regiment ' here, I
think,' said Thison to me 4 and you tee if what
I ve said b.ut too many cooks don't spile all,'
' I'm afraid it's done,' said I m Veply.
However, not despairing, I went to the house,
rung the bell, and quietly waited with my as
.stant the anawer to my ummon. Some min
utes elapsed : no .n8wer catne- x nag a
waited : no answer at the door ; but one of the
windows ofthe first floor waa opened, and a
woman looked out and desired to knowtPy busi-
ness. I replied 4 that I wished to see Mrs.
Bayton.'
4 I'm Mrs. Bayton ; what do voh want To say
tome''
My dear madam,' replied I, ' please to open
the door, and allow me to come in your hoe
and 1 will feel most happy to announce my bus-i-ness
to you.' -
' Oh, you can do it as well here,' she replied,
very tan ly, I 'thought ; 'you can tell me just as
w 11 at the window as at the uoo.
'I suppose I can, my dear madam,' leplied I,
4 but it sems to me that it would be more in
accordance with decorum that my business,
which is of a private character, should be com
municated to you in not so public a manner;'
and at the moment'5 relieving myself from the
position into which she had placed me, I asked
her 'if Mr. Bayton, her husband, was in,' pre
ferring always to deal with one of the masculine
gender.
He a'n't in,' replied she, snappishly, 4 and if
he was, he a'n't no body, here. I'm the boss
hete,' laying peculiar stress on the wods 4 CO
body ' and boss.'
"Jjatdegeneral ofde, $&rs Df mydreain,
4 Well, madam,' said I, 4 as Mr. Bayton is
not at home, and as he is no bodu and vou are
j j
the boss, and as you will compel me to make
my business known to you at this place, and in
this way, I now announce to you tha I am the
sheriff, and that a writ of replevin against you,
in which I am commanded to take a piano-forte,
wrongfully detained from Mr. Von Ilelfrich, and
which piano-forte is in your possession ; and I
would respectfully ask you to open the door, to
allow me to come in. i
4 I won't do it.' said she, angrily ; 4 1 knowed ;
you was a officer ; your specs showed it, and
this here company of Dutch pianner forte mak
ers, that has bin hufiing about, and watchin'
my house ail day. No, no, Mr. Sheriff, I a'n't
no thief; I have not stole nothing, and whv
hould my houe be watched ail day J I a'n't
no robber. No, no, you can't come in, and you
sha' n't, unless you break down my door. Open
the door!' continued she, 4 well, would n't you
like to see me do it ?'
' I would indeed, madam : but if you do not,
I shall be compelled to break in.'
' Sa, sa ! phit, phit !' said she, making all sorts
of angry grimaces ; 4 do it !' Sa phit, phit
do it sa, phoo, phoo oo !' and down went
the sash : it rung and jingled so. I thought
every pane ot glass iu it was broken. I
During my colloquy with the lady, Mr. Largo
and Tinsos, who were present, and iu the im- i
mediate hearing of all that was said, suggested '
various remedies. J'msox insisted that the i
Dutch regiment, as he called the innuiiioerable
" ' " ' M .oi :u me Hi II U III f c In Ijiiz I
host oftiie itlMiriiff V u,ttk inn tl. i.l.l i. r,.. !
i '-"' ""vii .uvum ic pit L j
io roufr by Mr. L&rgo ; that Mr. Lnrgu himself!
hull If i cro Willi fliPm trior h& on.l U,...:ir
fj- " - 1 IIV ctuvi tifc rUt2l ill
was lo iU))' 'njergency ; that 't was n't the
,U!?t 'uav ue had faced a
icimian, and that it
was n't goin' to frighten him bekase the woman
was 4 the boss,' and he would any how 'face the
music' Mr. Largo, felt in extreme doubt. He
was very fearful ksU&Iis. liayton should do him
bodily harm ; he thougl t he wou'd go after the j
plaintiff, and get him to capitulate, (to with- j
draw the writ, I supposed he meant, and he did !
mean that.) or otherwise to. attend bluntly up,
aud do as Thisox tecomnieuded : 'face the j
music. ' He could n't think of going away j
with.-the Dutch regiment, as he wanted lo be
present at the end ; and as for sending away
the woik-men, that would n't do, as he desired
and intended to Jiave protection for himself, and
they were here to protect him.'
I saw thatas has been said of a broiled beef
steak, in the words of the immortal bard,
' If 't were done, when 't is done, then 't were well it
were done quickly.'
I was appiehensive that unless I moved wiih
alertness, great danger was to bo expected, ai.d
every moment lost was adding to the difficulties
f access. It would n't do to speculate, so at
once, and without farther thought, I directed
Mr. Laigo, as he was of no earthly use to me,
to go and get an axe. With this, I intended to
cm down the door, or break it in. 'Quick!
haste, speed, Largo -quick.' Thison, mean
while, stood close by me, knowing full well what
was coming ; for he had wi;nesd and was a
sharer with me in many an expedition similar
to the one we were now engaged in. When he
heard the order for the axe, his eyes distend, d ;
he took off his hat, biushed through his hair
with his hands, and with his fingers put up the
top-knot and arranged it to his notion: a fav.r-
ite operation of his when he proposed coming j
the bald agle, or, as he expressed it, 'something j
ticklish was going ou or coming off;' 4 All i
eady,' said he to me ; 4 wanting for orders ' '
ana De buttoned up his coat.
I mounted the stoop of Mrs. Dayton's door
way, and proceeded, according to antique cus
tom in our department, but upon what author
ity I never could learn, to read a proclamation
thrice; the puiport of which was, that I had a
writ in my hands, commanding me to make de
livery of a chattel to the plaintiff, and pn claim
ing that unless the door was opend to me, so
that I could take the piano-forte, I should force
my way by breaking down any barrier that im
peded my pa sage. The proclamation was mad
once, and I was on tip toe of auxiety for the re
turn of Largo with the axe but he didn't come
when I heard a noise proceeding from Mrs.
Bay ton's house, similar to ten thousand knocks
8&1T of C1,ine gongs. First, it
kounaea down ainoncr (lit. k.,
thon
treble, then tenor, as the piping of a piccto ;
then down low, and a reverberating, coutiuuous
sound ; and a continued striking, hammering
"vuuumg, uasi.mg, as though scores of d'rv
if ,1 i . r J
or tne Ltavv and Rtrfn .,i .
i ere 81 one ume
erg-ged on as many instruments nH oanU ,.iaw.
i"g a different tune; it was any thing but '"a
Concoid of sweet sounds.' '
Dat was the sort of Mnsie I heard in ray
dream, the last of it,' observed Thison to me.
4 Why does Largo stay away so long !' I said
to Triisox.
4 1 don't know,' replied he tremblingly.
Down came those thundering blows again, at
which he started, and the sweat came streaming
down his furrowed cheeks; he closed up tome,
and. I made proclamation again. Still those'
knocks,, those -forceful blows that made every
thing ring ; the echo of the sounds interrupted
by yet more blows, and whiz-z-z, bang, boong,
bing, ting, brong, ti-lip, U-lip, fizz, bang, swosh,'
kerool and then a terrible crash like the sound
of thunder reverberating; and then again the
piping notes of the piccolo, and yet again, blow
for blow, knock, knock, blow for knock; as
though the piano-forte was being exercised with
a ' coal-man's attachments,'' or there were two
or more pair of arms wielding weapons of des
truction upon a doomed instrument.
4 Where is Largo f where can he stay !' said
I, in such great anxiety of maimer, thatTnisoN,
desirous of putting an end tothe question, as
well as of Laroro too, in this affair, strained his
eyes by looking up and down the street, at last
descried him coming leisurely 'toward us, and
beckoned to him : 4 Hurry, hurry !' ' i
And still the strokes, knocks, blows, continu
ed ; still the sounds of the notes seemingly strik
ing against each other, bong te ling, bosh, cring,
swosh, boong th-z z z wang. 'the cadence of the
notes being harsh ; and still that booming and
hissing, that dashing, crushing, toppling, as of
houses falling down ; now among the bass notes,
then among the treble, then tenor, and now a
mong them all ; and then4as of some thing snap
ping whiz-te-ling J boong, bosh-te-long ! a-
' mid which I heirdTisK bidding Largatohjiriyhe men he had brought with him, that I
IateJ4i !"tirConJ4 take-away the, case, but a to the other
And Largo then came and produced, as the
result of his journey, the smallest size of a hat
ehet, and he handed it to me; and then the
noise, the blows, the knocks, all ceased, and I
made proclamation yet again : and then the
door was opened to me from the inside.
4 1 think,' said Tise to me, 4 that. Largo must
be a lath-boy ; I'm swon, if he a'n't bin gittin'
a lath-halehejt the cursed fool ! if he'd hurried
never mipd !' and the old man continued
muttering about too many cooks.
4 The best I could get, and the only one at
that,' said he in reply to Thison's observation.
There being now no objection nor obstruc
tion to my entrance, I walked in the house, and
then to the room w hich had contained the arti
cle I was in quest of; when Mrs. Bayton, see
ing Largo, raised a heavy wood-cutter's axe,
and slung it around, and made a desperate at
tack on him : fortunately for bim, I saw the axe
raised, and the blow aimed : I seized her arm,
and the- instrument of destruction fell at ray
feet, as he for the first time was made aware of
his perilous position.
4 Dangerous woman, that,' observed Thisox ;
who was then engaged, with all of u, looking
at the ruin strewed around us.
4 And dangerous women, I think,' said Largo ;
4 there appears to be two axes, and there could
n't have been so many blows, nor so much dam
age, in the fhort time I was away, by one alone.'
' No, nor there would neither been any dam
age at all done, if you had n't showed your ugly
face here,' tartly replied Mrs. Bayton, walking
up to him and shaking her fist at him : 4 Who
are you ? what are you ? Oh, if I w as only a
man !'
' Indeed, we wouldn't know what to except in
that alternative,' replied Largo; 4 you have ac
complished such unparalled feats to day. If you
had been any thing else, I don't know but you
would have sw allowed the instrument at a single
gulp, and perhaps the sheriff and his posse too !
Thison here came to me, and observed :
' Tiano forte rose-wood seven octavios, forty
nine little creturs ; axe two axes three axes ;
three mottled cats, two women, and factotum
music my dream is all out.'
4 Yes, yes, my old friend,' said I, 'it is out ; it
is broken up. Is this your promised success in
the dream ? is this ail smooth ? 4 Gad, I think
it is any thing else but smooth successful !'
4See, Mr. Sheriff,' continued he, anxious to con
vince me of the potency of his forewarnings and
dreams, 'it would ha' bin, but that cussed '
4 Stop now, Thison ; Tise, no more for the
present, but let us look at the damage and ruin
befor; us.'
4 Yes, look! ha! ha!' bellowed out Mrs.
Bayton ; 4 and had n't your friend, the lawver's
tool, better look too? It's glorious; ha! ha!'
and she seemed wild with fury and passion,
when she thought of Largo.
4 I'm blamed if she has n't spiled that inster
ment ; she has knocked it all to pieces,' said
Thison ; and then the old man muttered some
thing about 4 a Dutch regiment hatchet lath
hatchet lath-boy ; fool dream forty-nine
seven octavios.'
There the remains of the instrument wefe :
the cover had been broken in seven pieces ; the
keys all brokeu asunder; the case had innum
berable gashes in it, wide-gaping ; the legs cut
and hacked all over; here a forceful stroke had
been dealt, and these constant and continued
blows had broken all the interior arrangements
of the instrument. The strings were all cut, and
hanging out of what was once a piano-forte ; the
cover or top was strewed in pieces on the floor,
and every part of die piano liable to destruction
by blows, was damaged, nay, destroyed -heaped
up in the centre of the room. Mrs. Bayton
mounted the pile, the axe still in her hands,
standing confessedly there as the genius of des
truction. . It almost palls my senses now, to
think of it.
4 Mrs. Bayton,' said I, addressing her, 4 at
what time will your husband come home ?
4 What do you want with him ?' she asked.
4 1 desire to serve him with a copy of the
summons in the suit'
' 4 Leave his copy, as well as mine, with me ;
it's all t.e same.'
4 Mrs. Bayton, I take the liberty to say to you
that I think you have acted in this matter very
strangely, very perversely ; and I think that
when you are cool, and come to look at it in
your moments of calm and quiet, I am convin
ced that you will agree with me.'
'To you, Mr. Sheriff, I would have acted en
tirely different, if you had n't come with that
lawyer's man, that Mr. Largo ; he set a pack of
people to watch my house. I a'n't no thief no
robber I'm a houest woman. I bought the
pianner honestly ; I paid for it in money and
goods; and if the man I bought it of did n't
come honestly by it, that a'n't my fault, is it?'
4 It is not your fault, but it is your misfor
tune,' I replied. 'It is a pity you hate dam- ,
aged and broken the instrument,, and made it
the wreck it is; as, in its present condition, it is !
worthless, and how you will lose the piano-forte ;
as by your own act it has been destroyed. Pity,
that you acted without thought'
' We 'd better come alone, had n't we, Mr.
Sheriff?' Baid Thison. 'If he,' pointing to
Largo, 4 had taken on old man's advice too
many cooks beside, my dream would n't a
busted seven octavios, forty-nine creturs axe,
axes, hatchet, lath hatchet, lath-boy confound
him, mp dream's busted on his account !'
4 Well, I don't care again,' " continoed Mrs.
Bayton ; 4 let him go on, and get a judgment.
if he can ! If he does, I s'pose I shall have to
pay for the planner, that's all ; so there's no
use making a fuss about it It's done, and can't
be helped now,' u
I perceived a tear gathering in her eye, and
now I was satisfied that she regretted her hasty
act; impelled by passion as it war. ,
4 1 am going,' said Tise ; 4 time we were all
off,' continued he. 4 You had better not come
at all with your " Dutch regiment,' addressing
Largo;' you spiled all. You bu-ted my dream.
Too many cooks forty-nine lathboys seven
axes three octavios.'
' Mr. Largo,' said I to that worthy, not at all
pleased with the issue of ibis affair, and Leliev
ing, with my old assistant, that he was the cause
of the failure I had met with, in not getting the
piano-forte, 'what shall I do with this 4 wreck
of njatte.' and this damaged case ?'
;?He answered roe, after consultation with one
part oi me umage,-ne uiraexr-in'iio"tMwe:a-
thing to do w ith it ; ' I might leave it if I chose,
but that the plaintiff would not take it.'
4 And you want me to take this case, this
shell!'
4 Yes,' he replied. 4 Take it; and I think it
is a very hard shell for you to take, after your
rich anticipations of a successful day, suggested
by your old friend's dream.'
I directed Thison to superintend the removal
of the remains, which he did to the satisfaction
of every body, Mrs. Bay ton included, who, when
she came to ponder on the 'events of the day,
and the terrible anger she had shown, was glad
to see the evidence of her passion removed.
Thison observed to me, when the work was all
accomplished, 'that Mrs. Bayton was n't a bad
woman, only she got in a towerin' pas-don when
she seed Largo fidgetting about. Me aud you
could get along very well with her. But a' n't
she a player on that insterment !' and he gig
gled. ' She played on it wid two axes and tour
hands. Gosh ! fiist I seen the lightnin' and
then I heard the thunder, and then thunder aud
lightnin' get mixed ; then the Utile light notes
at the top, and then the big heavy notes at the
bottom ; and then the case : what a swashing.
smashin' bustn' ! I think,' continued he, a
laugh and a loud 4 ha ! ha !' preceding, 4 I think
she's a thunderin' musician ; that is, she don't
play so fine, but then, it's so strong, very strong,
it fetched me off my feet a good many limes. I
tell you, she's a rouser.'
' But, Thison, how about the dream ? Suc
cess smooth no ups or downs!'
' It 'ud been all right, if it was n't for that axe
that Largo, I rm-an ; he would fetch the
Dutch regiment ; and what good did it do him ?
None. If my dream is busted, 1 heaid the same
kind of music to-day that I heard la.t night in
my dream; and that's something toward the
dream coming true !'
COMMUNICATION
For the Southern Weekly Post.
SOUTHERN LITERATURE ;
Ol'B WANT OF THE PR0FER KIND.
Messks. Editors : There is p no more lauda
ble enterprise than the one in which you, as
editors of a Southern literary paper, aie engaged.
I have been an attentive reader of your paper
for'a considerable time, and have had the best
of -opportunities of becoming ihoroughly ac
quainted with its character, the sentiments of its
editors, particularly, your feelings in regard to
the sectional questions which have so often
threatened the best interests of our common
country, and while I have been pleased at the
enterprise, well pleased at the manner in which
you, gentlemen, have conducted thw"I,st," I
must say, that I have been surprised that more
of the fine talent which is given, as it were, to
Northern publishers, could not be used to build
up a paper in the South, even in our own State.
I am astonished that men who profess to have
such strong prejudices against a fanaticism that
they help to keep alive, should be found caier
ing for the amusement and profit of Northern
men. I am surprised to see youpg men and la
dies of genius seeking notoriety among the
Northern Presses, giving their contributions to
Northern publishers, while, papers al the South,
friendly to our institutions, and every way' meri
torious, must languish for the want of support
and proper contributions.
Virginia bas taken a start in this matter and
I hope she will never flag. Tennessee also pub
lishes some excellent monthlies, so does S. Caro
lina and many others, of the Southern States,
and yet, these are not encouraged as they should
be by writers. Our men of literary tastes aud
pursuits, as s6on as they gain the least notorie
ty, seek a place in some Northern magazine or
newspaper, forgetting that beside their produc
tions may stand the productions of a vile disu
nionist and fanatic
But monthlies are not what wo need. We
need weekly news-papers devoted entirely tore
fined literature, papers to whose columns we can
safely invite ourwives, our sons and our daugh
ters, without feeling, that, in so doing, we place
in their hands a poison, a reptile.
Then, the question arises, how shall this thing
be accomplished !' How shall we secure such a
paper? Can the South afford it? To these
questions I answer, 1st, such a reult can be ac
complished by refusing to patronize Northern
journals, and 2nd, by patronizing our own jour
nals, which will make the answer to the 3rd in
terrogatory an easy matter. But it may be ur
ged that we have not the talent for keeping up
such a paper as the 44 Saturday Evening Post,"
MacMakins Courier," &c. I assert thai we
have, and that many, very many of the best
stories of the age, are the productions of South
ern writers. That we have the means, none ill
deny.
We will venture the assertion, that half the
money, spent yearly by Southerners for aboli
tion sheets, would support a good literary, fami
ly newspaper in each Southern State. How
much better it would be for us, if this were not
the case f There are nearly one hundred thou
sand voters in North-Carolina, and supposing
every tenth man to have daughters who are fond
of reading, (and this is a very low estimate,)
there are ten thousand men in this State, alone,
r who are now subscribing for Northern newspa
pers at a cost of not less than twenty-five thou
sand dollars,- for their chiid.eu to read. Did
you ever think of this ? See what a revenue y ou
are paying to the p'ibliheis at the North.
-Twenty five thousand doilars spent in this State
for a similar purpose would enable a man to
publish a paper not inferior in any respect to
the best literary journal in the Union. Why
not spend it here ? Why not give it to an eili
tor whij0e,ay.mpatiiies are wiih us aud whose
interests are our own ? Besides the amount we
should save'as a State, it would open a way to
bring out the latent genius which now lies dor
mant among us. The writers we have among
us would find an opening for their productions,
and others whose minds have been trained for
the higheif attainments in literary science, would
have a field for their improvement. In your
own city Jives a iudy whose ability for writing
is not surpassed by but few, and whose produc
tiuns.m a Southern journal would ptovc far more
edifying han when read in a Northern paper or
magazine : J mean '4 Tenclla," the compiler of
' Caiolma Carols." And there are many others
who should contribute to our own papers, that
we ujighl be able to present to our oivn people.
I i. - . -T v tJ . .... t . t
AWtlfiund us. I hope to see
FSSrtled with origiuafsb'erby
onA ; mL:A
the
ern writers, and a greater interest manifested
among our people upon this subject than ever,
heretofore, in N. C.
WILLIAM D. COOKE, 7
JAMES A. WADDELL, M. D. f ed,tos.
RALEIGH, OCT. 27, 1855.
Terms TWO DOIXAitS PEE ANNUM, in Advance.
CLUB PRICES:
Three Copies, S5 full price,." $6,
Eight Copies, 12 " - 16,
Tea Copies,. 15 " ' 20
Twenty Copies, 20; " 40'
(Payment in all cases in advance.)
1& Where a club of eight, ten or twenty subacribersis
sent, the person making up the club will be entitled to a
copy extra.
53r Postmnsters are authorized to act as Afenttor
the Southern Weekly Post.
Ma. H. P. Douthtt is onr authored agent for the
States ol Alabama Mississippi and Tennessee
JUDGE RUFFIN'S ADDRESS-EXTRACTS.
Not having sufficient space for the insertion
of the excellent address of Judge Riiffin at the
Jate Fair, entire, we have clipped from it several
extracts which will be found worthy of an at
tentive perusal. The first portion presents a
faithful and pleasing portraiture of the advan
tages of soil and climate which the people of
our State enjoy :
"The profits nnd the comforts of agriculture de
pend mainly on climate, soil, labor, and the facili
ties for disposing of surpluses of production. The
two first, climaie- and soil, should be congenial to
ptoducts requisite for the sustenance of the hus
bandman himself, iind in demand for others who
cannot produce for themselves. In both points
North Carolina is highly blessed. In her position
on the globe she occupies that temperate and h;ip-
py mean, which is conducive to he.dih and thi vig
orous exertion of the faculties and energies of body
and mind, .in employments tending more than all
others to the hospitalities and charities of life and
the other virtues of the heart, and wmYh consti- j
tutes a climate,ithat, in unison w ith her fertile soil,
yields abundantly to the diligent tiller nearly all
the necessaries and many of the luxuries required
by man. We do not work barely to maintain life ;
but, beyond that, to realise gains that may be em
ployed in the addition of other things productive
of the elevation and refinement of civilized man.
Our winters, by their duration and-rigor, do not
confine us long within doors, nor cause us to con
sume the productions oi our labor during the other
parts of the year ; but we are abie to prosecute
our field operations and comfortably pursue our
productive employments throughout the four, sea
sons. Though not of such extent of latitude as
thereby to create much variety of climate, and con
sequently of production ; yet, the dimensions of
North Carolina east iind west supply that deficien
cy in a rem; rk.ible cjegree. The proximity to the
ocean of her eastern coast, and the difference iu
elevation between that and the mountains of the
west, with the gradations in the intermediate re
gionsroduces a diversity of genial climate which
gives to North Carolina, in herself, the advantages
of many countries conjoinily. By nature, too, her
soil was as diversified and as excellent as her cli
mate. The rich alluvial of the cast, the extended
and extremely fertile ' vallies of the many long
streanifi -the Roanoke, the Tar, the Neuse, the
Cape Fear, the Yadkin and Peedee, the Catawba,
and other rivers, which appear upon our map, be
sides those of smaller streams, almost numberless,
all, at a moderate expense of care and labor, return
large yields of nearly every grain and other pro
duction fit for food. Rice, maize, wheat, rye, bar
ley, oats, the pea, the potato of each kind, besides
an endless variety of other sorts, vegetables, and
fruits, are found abundantly therein; while higher
up the country, in addition, the grasses grow so
readily and luxuriantly an to afford not little plots
on the moist bottoms of brooks, but extensive pas
tures and magnificent meadows tp the mountain
tops. Then, there are the great articles of cotton
and tobacco, so extensively used and in such great
and increasing demand to one or the o her of
which tl.e greater part of the State is eminently
suited. Of fruits, melons of every kind and of the
best qualities, apples, peaches, pears, cherries,
nectarines and apricots flourish almost everywhere,
as do also the smaller, but most valuable kinds, an
the strawbei ry, the raspberry, gooseber-, currants,
and, above all, our native grapes, the sweet and
prolific Scuppernong and the rich Catawba, which
mature well, besides some of foreign origin. When
to these are added the fish, with which ou- eastern
waters abound through the year, but are alive iu
the spring our naval stores and lumber, onr
marls, our minerals, gold, silver, copper, and espe
cially the extensive nJ rich deposits of iron ore,
and the coals, one may confidently ak, is there
any other country which contains or produces more
or a greater diversity of things to sustain life or to
bring money ? And then let me enquire of you,
North Carolinians, what better country do you
want than your own ? I hold it is good enough
too good, I am tempted: to say, for sinful man. It
requires only to be dressed and tilled to gire near
ly all we want on earth, and much for our fellow
man less happily situated. There may at seme
time be a stint below our usual abundance : but
we need never fear a famine here while we work.
Indeed, that calamity can hardly befdl a country
where maize which we call Indian corn grows
to perfection. There is no record of a dearth, ap
proaching famine, where the principal crop waa
maize, as it ia here. Our climate and soil are so
congenial to the other cereals, that a failure of that
crop from an nnpropitious season is necessarily
perceived in time to provide the others, or some of
them, as a substitute."
Judge R. next proceeds to di
lscuss the char.
acter of the labor we f.mr.l,, ,i P
7 r "U 01 coursp ,
of cour
or.. I
it Kaq ri rirr nrvnn artstiAt r .
-r e commend W,
calm, judicial, and truly philosophical as well '
Viii lovictu v v j bijr; km II1PF 4i
and imitation of others
- "Moderation in the
punishment of depend
IS ffmnrif1 in nntn-nfk nnH nni,,.i S
, ,JUSI excessive j
barbarous crueltv is not to Ka r. i.- ' 1Q
the con rary.
Tl. l
r-ou.nea, but a
quite
IIU II1UUL milt w-v L- .
;t..o i 1 .1 ... . . ,r 1
....... WI10 ImH Ik., T
.o .... m.gii me w lioerness, and leisl it.'ri r ,
by inspiration, understood this better than .K ?
who paint us so frightfully, ithont knowin- n H
about us. In treating of the different de
homic.de, he had regard to the known mo,
the human heart, and thereon founded the rn2 f
tion, that .the slaying 0f a Mave by ,he lj b
by misadventure, " because he ilt hs ffl0, ' T' 18
less it should be rebuked by such excess iVhei
gree or duration of the intiiction as to nv.k , "
'die under his hand," and thus evin 2 d?
pl.ne was a pretence, and the killing of dJ,n ,
malignity or wanton brutality, t a , . "m
one if our experience is not i r-ecord.-
the d.une statute. The same mo.iv, indue,
master s be observant of the hi,h
of his slaves; ,0 care for them, and ,d
them ; to restrain them from K,ai,,i . "Jr
lo 'J ' moderate, though stdyibor
onr!Z 'hl,j'b:ibiZ
the slavehold.ng portion oT the count r. i 5
to he deduced fr.., . : . "J'P'nly
our slave population beyond the ratio of natural
increase in the population of any chelation -which
could only arise from theHabundant supply
of 'he necessaries and comforts of life, and a co'.
tented state of mind. ; -
" But the interest of the owner is not'the only
security 10 the slave for humane treatment ; there
is a stronger tie between them. Often horn o the
same plantation, and bred together, .they-hav,
perfect knowledge of each other, and a mutual at
tachment. Protection and provision are the office,
of the master, and in return the slave yields devo
ted obedience and fidelity or service; so that they
seldom part but from necessity. The comfort
cheerfulness, and happiness of the slave should be'
and generally is, the,study of the master; and. ev-'
ery Christian master rej ices over the soul of his'
slave saved, as of a brother, and allows of his at
tendance on the ministry of God's w ord and sacra
ments, in any church of his choice in his vicinity
Thercnndition of a slave denies to him, indeed, op
portunities of education sufficient for searching U,e
Scriptures for himself, and working thereout his
own conversion ; but God forbid that should be
necessary to salvation ! It is not ; for to the poor
and the unlettered the Christian graces are prom
ised and given in an especial manner, becajjse they
have less pride of intellect, more simplicity 0f
faiih, and more eingleoesa of heart; and among
the slaves of this country there are many exero".
plary Christians. Indeed, slavery in America has
not only done more for the civilization and enjoy
ments of the yifiican race than all other cause's
but it has brought more of them into the Christian
fold than all the, missions to that benighted conli.
nent from the Advent to this day have, or, proba
bly, those for centuries to come yould, excepting
only the recent Colonies of blacks' on the western
coast of Africa, by which one may hope and believe
that under divine direction the lights of civilization'
and the knowledge of the true God may be reflec
ted back on that whole land. Such are some of
the beneficial effects on that race of their connex
ion with us. Upon the slaveholder the impressions
are not less distinctly duralde, n- t W. Wi.ettcial.
He is habitually a m.-;n of employment. As in
military life, he must train his troop to their du
nes, ay out ineir hoik, ana Mipenntei (t its exe
cution ; nd by a mild and just, though tin u dis
cipline, reward and punish according to their de
serts; and he must never fail-in sympathy with
them in regard to innocent enjoyments at p oper
times, and their needs in bickness and in health
Sometimes matters, very trivial in themselves, have
exceedingly great effect in improving the slave and
uniting him to his owner. I know a eiiticiran,
one of the most succes.-ful pi a iterr, who pr"oW
a marked change for the betier among hit !-'es,
by the small boon of a elieap looking glass '.r eich
of their quarters. Another bound his oeunbto
-
him by a devo ed afteetion, l y joinit g wi.h sol
emnity in their processions at the burial of their
dead, in a yrave yard, which he had protected by
a plain post and. plank enclosure.
"It is a great error in those who do not know
our slavery, to confound authority in the private
relations, though it be that of a slaveowner! with
the absolute pow er of a prince on a throne. A po
litical despot is separated from his subject. Ho
knows them not, nor loves them. He sympathises;
with none of them, but their positions and ft-elings
are in constant hostility. But authority in domes
tic life, though not necessarily, is naturally cousi
djjrale, mild, easy to be entreated, and tends to 10
elevation in sentiment in the superior which gen
erates a humane tenderness for those in his power,
and renders him regardful alike of the duty and the
dignity of his position. It is only When the au'
thority is disputed and resisted, that a conflict oc
curs ; and the slaves, if kept to thernsehes, un
prompted from without, will seldom give occasion
in that way for rigor."
The following paragraph contains a just tri
bute to the memory of a great and good man :
"On the remaining point, on which the interests
of agriculture, and, indeed, of all other employ
ments deend namely, the facility of transportv
t tion, I have to offer to all North Carolinians heart
felt congratulations. The carriage of bulky
cheap articles long distances in wagon3 0,et
roads, was a great draw-back on life profit of capi
tal and labor for a long time here." Some relief ia
particular parts of the State was derived from en
the imperfect improvement made in the natation
for boats on a few of our rivers. But it was far
below tha w.n. 1 j .j. tUa nonnlr: and
t - . . iTuum it 1 Hi uiiutti.ua u. viio t I
afterwards resort was had to Railroads. The won
ders worked by steam, and railways are indeed as
tonishing throughout tne world. In no part-of it
can they be more requisite or beneficial thnn in
this State, the extent of which and the want of
navigable waters at only a'short distance from the
sea, rendered them indispensible. Every one, there
fore, ought to commend the legislative policy u
providing them, and in extending them from tin
to tinn as the funds of the State may b tow
adequate. It will not, I trust, be going out 0
way, while on this subject, to say a word in honor
of the memory of a great and good man, whofir81
presented the utility and construction of Railro5
to the notice and patronage of this State; I alluce
to the Rev. Dr. Joseph Caldwell, the lalje erain'
nnd zealous president of the University. Upw,arfl
of thirty years ajo he visited Europe on the borf
ness of the college, and there saw such roads 10
use : nnd noon afer his return, I remember,
published a series of fssays tinder the signature
Carlton," in a newipaper printed in this ci y e
plaining the practicability of their construction
earnestly urging a central one from Buncombe
Beaufort. The nov.dly of the subject ana v
dread of the expca.se, operating upon timid con
els, prevented his suggestion from being '
adopted. But it is honorable to his sagacity,
at the late session of the legislature t-harps
granted for completing a line of Railroad on