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'I
VOLUME II.
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CONCORD, N. C, SATURDAY MORNiNd, SEPTEMBER 1 1855.
'i
NUMBER 2$
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''' . ! TIIE .. . ..."
' COIfCOBD WEEKLY GAZETTE.
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Now fiction's grorea we tread, where young
, , , ' romance,
Laps the glad senses in her sweetest trance."
OF
A TALK OF
TH.
v
On the afternoon of tLe 23d of June 1789
a large mob gathered around the blazing
j palace of the Count St Aimer, in raris, all
Bj-med, and obstinately determined to pre
ven.t any one endeavoriog to 'atop the 50n
"ftagrationj '. Shouts succeeded shouts, aa
the burning rafters) one by one ell in, and
it was not j until the entire building was
level with the ground that they dispersed.
. Ia the Kue SL Josephs' but a few rods
fi otn this scone of outrage, was the ! work-
hop of rjerne.AIartel, the gunsmith b(
Paris. It was a low, ten foot building,
with nothing remarkable enough in its ex
terior to recommend it to notice, save the
fact ofj to low and mean a building being
aituated o near the pj'ncefj palace of the
proud and haughty St Aimer, the faoiite
of the. King. . '
Ou the aftei noon which is referred to
. heedlesa f the tumult without, Pierre and
his apprentice Atoine, were quietly at work
in the little hop. Government had em.
ployed, him to furnish a stand of arms with
in a ceitain peiiod, and upon this work he
was tion eagagodr
" pvery shout of the mob was distinctly
heard by ' the gunsmith, still his hammer
rung upon the anvil, as if he wished its
cliukingj might drown the uproar ; hut
from the frequent glances which the ap
prentice cast toward the window, it was err
ident that he at least had rather be at lib-
crtv to
work.
' Your
oin the crowd than to remain at
mind - is absent, boy, said Martel,
. l ooking up. Go, if you wish, and learn a
jeuou Frenchmen should never forget.
Fresh bursts of applause and shouts of
Vive le republique filled the air, and the
apprentice of Martel, gladly availing hi in-
: self of this privillege, took his capaud left
th shop.
For another hour Martel worked on in
silence ; he was then 'interrupted by the
enterance of a neighbor. ,
Most J glorious dfews, Martel, cried the
new corrierj but how is thia -you at work,
while all Paris is alive with rejoicings ?
i What has happened, Bnel, inquired Mar
tcl, calmlv. J
; Are you an idiot' t exclaimed Briel. Do
y mi pretend to say that you have not heard
Abe new;. !
, V Nar irood Uriel, replied Martel. I am
but a poor mechanic, and can ill afford to
Jose my
Ion;. :
AVell,
Briel : i
time for every show that comes a
then, the stdry is simply thia, said
Be as! brief as possible, said Martel. rov
Avork is it a stand while I am talking with
I mob of citizens, eontinued Briel, at
tacked the palace of the.haughty Count St
Aimer, the King's favorite, And levelled it
vith the ground. r Bnt what is better, two
companies of the royal guard which were
. ordered out, flatly lefused to fire upon the
mob--- f
: ' Aud
geriy.
the Count ! exclaimed Martel, ea-
Escaped duung the confusion, disguised
7
as a monk.
j Heayea be praised, said Martel, he ia
preserTea to feel my vengeance.
. .You, Martel!
! Yea. I've sworn an oathf-a horrid oath
the haughty Count St Aimer, sha ll die
a viojeot death.
How fcas he offended you I said Briel.
. ... - i
t
, 'SoJemnly swoar that you will never di.
Tulge, without oy consentj what I may ina
'''.! y'r ' .'.J.; V . THE -.I'-',
fill! siaa
F1BIS
I awearl
Many years ago, said Martel, the Count
by reason of his enormous crimes, 'was forc ed
tp embrace the Church or peruh upon
the scaffold. Of course he chose the first j
became a monk and afterwards; a confessn
or, ..; , ' j
I bad a daughter then, a sweet flower
just budding into womanhood. ' She was
the very image of her sainted mother, and
as I watched her daw ning beauties, day by
day I fancied Ibttd a sottlce for my old
She was accustomed to confess to Aimer
a double dealing villian as he was or,
as he was styled, Father Jerome, who,from
the first moment he saw her, laid a plan
for her destruduon. Too well did he sue
ceed. What means he used, what fiend
he summoned to his aid I know not, but by
me ins of the accursed confessional in part,
my poor gifl fell a victim to his infernal
arts. . She is now dead of a broken heart,
and he stalks uuharmed, the favorite of a
King. ; ,.
How hapf eus it, said Briel, if the Count
tojok the cowl he is still a noble.
When the present Louis ascended the
.throne, said Martel, he petitioned the See
at Rome to restore St Aimer to hja titles,
and it was granted. ; ,
But think, Martel, said Briel, think of
your own fat. if you fail in ybur attempt.
Tho Count is rich and powerful, aHied to
the best blood of France, and the King has
not a greater favorite.
Were he the King, exclaimed Martel,
fiorcely, were he Louis himself, but hush,
here comesi Antoine. Well boy, what has
brought yoii back ? -
Come to tie window quickly, cried An
toine, see, see ! the mob have discovered
. . i .
the retreat of the Count, and are pressing
upon him. i - .
Martel threw open the window,a.nd look
ing in the direction pointed by Antoine,
saw a single person contending with the
mob. He was a man apparently about 30
years of age, Of a tall form and well pro
portioned. His white feather hungT droop-!
ing over his face, and the glittering jewels
of his hat were broken, and some of them
destroyed. With his right hand he wiel
ded a shining Wade, lletreatinjr slowly..
he kept them at bay, whil at a little di- -
tauce stood the' two companies of guards,
leaning upon the'r arms f.nd looking tame
ly on.
He come tVia way, ecVimed Mattel,
Antoine, giv me an axe, throw the door
wide open. '
Mariel, what mean vou ! demanded Bri
el ; what rc you going to do I "
What I please, replied he.
You are not going to kill him . By
Heaven you shall not murder him while I
stand here.
BackjBriel, interfere at your peril, shout
ed Martel, I act my pleasure. ,1 will not
murder him now.
Instantly the Count darted into the shop
and pushing the door to, exclaimed :
Citizen, If you ; be a man protect me
from the fury of the rabble.
. Umph, said Martel, does the proud St
Aimer claim the protection of a poor, de
spised mechanic you surely forget, my
lord.
You will not refuse me ?
No 1 Were th, murderer of my own
mother to cross my threshold and claim
the protection of my roof, he should have
it, even if my own lift was the forfeit.
The doorway and shop were now filled
with the excited mob, shouting
Down with him-down with the aristoc
racy vive la republique. . '
: Back, back ! shouted Martel, brandish
ing his ponderous axe, back, one- and all :
the man who moves a step' toward the
Count receives his death. Shame on you,
men of Paris, to attack a single man with'
such fearful odds. What is his crime ?
He's the king's favorite, murmered seve-
ral voices.
And what of that? retorted Mariel be
cause the King bestows more love upon him
than you are you bound to wreak your
spite upqn him. I Shane citizens I where
is jour boasted generosity. Go, and leave
bim to tr.e. I .
There was a whispering for a few mo
menta among the crowd, and then with
shout of vive la Martel,, they cleared the
shop, leaving the Count alone with Mar-
to!.
The French are ever inconsistent ever
acting from the impulse of the moment.
A short time before the Lofuriated mob
would have torn torn the nobleman in pie
ce could they have got at him, now there
was not one who would have refused to de
fend hiin, had Martel but given, them the
word.
; Citizen, said the Count, yoq have my
neameii inanks.
You owe me nothing, replied Martel. I
saved your life because it was my pleasure
so to do. It would have been to me but
poor revenge to let you die by the mob. I
should rather see you die a lingering
death. You know me not, Coujit St. Ai
mer. Indeed you are right
i There was once a nobleman of Paris,
whom the Count St Aimer honored with
his friendship and confidence. The noble
man "had "an only child, a young and ten-1
der girl, whom the Count St Aimer, under !
the mark of friendship, by his devilish arts
betrayed, and then thinking it satisfaction
enough, consented to cross blades with the
injured father. The Count fell with a
wound in his breast, then the nobleman
was banished, and
Enough, Vict or Morai n
Ah ! villain, you know me now.
Help, ho ! cried the Count, darting to
the door.
But the quick hand of the Gunsmith
was upon his throat, and dragged him
back,
Monster, said the Count,his voice husky
with fear, would you murder me ! j
No, great County not now. Your time
has not come yet. Until the. 13th of July
you are respited, for by the holy virgin, by
heaven, by the moon and stars you shall
not survive that day.
Saying this he released his prisonerwho
horror-stricken staggered against the forge
and then in dismay rushed out of the bull
ding.
Night had already cast its shadows up
on the city of Paris, when Martel the gun
smith, enveloped in the ample folds of a
laree cloak, iasued-from his humble dwelU
ing, and took his way to the most unfre
quented part of thr city. There was no
moon and the faint glimmer of the Street
lamps was barely sufficient to show his
path. He paused for an instant as be left
the suberba of the city and looked back in
the deep gloom to see if he was watched ;
but nothing met his eye sav"ttte jagged,
rough cast building of tho poorer classes.
Exchanging civilities with the guard on du
ty, he wrapped his: cloak about bim closer
and passed into thif environs with a quick
ened step. ' . N '
I For an hour he kept steadily at that
pace, until he suddenly stopped at theeu
terancetoa grave yardj castiug another
look behind to assure himself no one fol
lowed, he entered th 0s yard and gave a pe
cuhar kind of rap upon the face of a tomb
stone. ,. i
Instantly the stone sunk into the wall a
bright ray of light darted out, and several
voices murmered
It' is he. V
Passing in the door closed up, and Mar
tel found himself in the presence of 20 or
30 men, whose knit brows and clenched
fists shoewd they had met together foe no
common purpose.
Martel immediately recognized the faces
of Robespiere, Danton, Murat and others,
and throwing off his cloak he took a seat
at the table.
You are" late tonight, said Robespierre,
in a low cautious tone.
I am, leplied Martel, I had difficulty in
avoiding the extra- partols which are out
tonight. I was obliged to wait until their
duty took th'm to another part of the city.
What news have you from the city ak
Danton.
The best ; all Paris is ripe for revolt.
Thia very afternoon the palace of Count
St Aimer was assaulted by the rabb and
razed to the ground and even the military
sided with the mob.
That is indeed the best of news, said
Robespierre ; have you finished the stand
of arms !
I have, and to avoid suspicionave giv
en out that they were for government
Then everything is ready, continued Ros
bospi :rre. A few more riots such as this
day has produced, will revolutionize France
and then farewell to royalty. W e must'
now let actions speak : enough has been
wasted in words. When shall we com
mence f
AS soon as possible, replied Martel ; but
the populace must be armed, and let the
first action be the boldest, something that
will strike terror to the hearts of the King
and his ministers.
The Bastile ; muttered Murat.
The Bastile, echoed a dozen voices.
Let the Bastile be the first attack, said
Martel, but stay the people must be arm
ed. The Hotel dee Invalides contains 30,
000 muskets, shall we first possess ourselves
of them !
It were best, so to do, said Robespieire,
but when
On the 13th of July, replied Martel, the
, tocsin shall be sounded exactly at noon.
to call together the Parisians, and the con
flagration of tho not i ces Invalides shall
be the signal to our distant friends.
Be it so, said Robespierre ; and now be
fore we .separate, here in the close neigh
borhood 6f the ijghty. dead, up, all, and
swear to achieve j the liberty of our own
dear France. , ! - "
Every sword flashed in the dim caudle-
- - t ,' " ' t i
light, as these hardy cocipiritois answer
ed : ... - i ; . " !
' ""WiearTr': v " ; '
. . ' - i
Immediately uponfleaving ihe shop of
the Gunsmith, the Count proceeded, with
hasty steps, to the Pafice of fke Tuilleries.
There he ' was y never denied aii littanee ;
learning the king was in his pi ate closet
he ran through the" familiar passages and
with more, haste than ceremony, arew the
door open and ushered himself in. 4
Louis was gazing out of the winw,and
as the door opened, be turned withtan an
gry rebuke upon his tongue for thoje who
had thus dared to intrude iipon hiapriva
cy, without previous notice ; but his jnger
quickly turned to mirth, when he Wield
the wo-begone countenance of the Count
St'Altner.
How now ? Count, he exclaimed, with a
merry laugh, -what has happened to cause
you to look so poverty stricken !
Many men would have hung themselves
for the loss of such a palace as mine, re
plied the Count, i
And what of that, rejoinel Louis. Six
million francs frora our royal treasury, are
already yours, to assist in restoring ypur
palace to its original beauty. Tomorrow,
we hold acourt, and mi asm es shall then
be taken to bring the rioters to J ustice.
Meanwhile, to show, you thxt the loss of
wealth does not deminisli in the least our
love and respect, accept this chain.
The Count knelt, tuid Loais carelessly
threw a string of costly diamonds and ru
bies around his neck. . 4
Most gracious Leige, said the Count ri
sing, sh6uld you ever stand in need of my
poor service-, rcccUci that; there, is one
sword at least, that will Spring from the
scabbard, to assert your rights. But to the
busin ess that brought rxe hei Ci. Does your
majesty remember Victor Morain, Count
ofChavoigne, whom the late king banish
ed. Perfectly. '
He has returned unbidden fiom his ban
ikhmenr. lie is, now t Paris iu the dis
guise of a mechanic and threatens mo with
violence.
For what ? ,
An old feud between our families.! Will
it please your Majesty to grant me a fife of
soldiers to lodge him in the Bastile ?
Most assuredly cousin, if your life is in
danger replied Louis, writing a few lines
and giving itito' the Count. Here is an
order to that effect.
St Aimer bowed upon receiving Ihe pa
per, and ravingjos liat over ma iace leiu
the apartment jThe following morning,
just at day break, the key of the -gloomy
Bastile turned upon Martel.
! '
i 1 -
That day a grand court was held by the
royal family. Upon his throne sat Louis
XVI of France, and by, his side his con
sort the unfortunate Maria Antoinette. The
lilies of France upon silken banners droop
ed over their heads,, and a body of the
faithful Swiss Guards, with fixed bey onets,
were drawn in double lines about the base
of the tl rone.
Immediately inj front stood a table rich
ly decorated, around Which were gathered
the nobles and pers of the realm. At the
foot of the throhe to the right, stood the
Count St Aimer,; and upon the left M do
Lanoy, Governor Jof the Bastiie. The rest
of the individuals present consisted of th
body guard, household officers and troops,
servants and retainers.
My lords and nobles, said Louis, rising,
it is with regret that we learn the depreda-:
tions committedJbut yesterday upon the
property of a good and loyal subject the
Count St Almer.: Sire de Launoy, you
will see that the rebellious soldiery, who
refused to fire upon the mob according to
your orders, are arrested and brought be
fore us. The Count will furnish you with
a list of the ringleaders of the riot and you
will attend to it
May it please your Majesty, said Lau
noy. .
What say you J replied Louis
It were best to station a few troops at
the Bastle; as I fear that will be the next
building assaulted by the mob.
It shall be done, said Louis, now bring
in the prisoner.
The trumpet sounded. The retainers
at the lower end of the hall divided, and
the gunsmith appeared between a file 'of
scldiers.
Release him, said Louis. ? ,
It was done.'
Are you Pierre Martel 1 T
By that name I am addressed,? said the
gunsmith. . - J
But Victor Morain is your true title, is
it not I ; .. ,
Ilia. -,, . . ; . j,
WTere you not bauishod from'tlio Court
of France, by an edic of the late.King, 7
demanded Louis. -!
- -Most troe, rerJied MaiieLt j
For what term !' x :
.Twenty five yeari, .';
Has it yet expired ! j .
Scarce half.
Why then dared you retnrd without
permission. ' " v
Because it suited myselC If that be not
satisfactory find an answer to suit yourself.
Audacious subject ! thundered Louis,!
but cheeking himself he said ina milder
tone you are accused of meditating vio
lence against the life of Count St; Aimer ;
nay you have been heard to declaf that he
shall perish by your hand. Caliche wit
nesses. ' '
It is unnecessary, interrupted Cartel, I
deny it noL
You then acknowledge yoursei" utv-
1 have already told yon trembling no
bleman that he shall not survvvef.he 13th
day of July, and! still say it
Neither shall you, Victor Moraine, in
terrupted Louis. We here appoint that
day for your execution ; and to see tbesen
tence carried into effect, St Almer'j we ajy
point you officer of the day f
So please your majesty, said tb Count,
I pray you excuse me. I
I have said it, replied Louis decisively.
Away with the prisoner. I
Break up the Court, continued;be,Coiint
we would ppeak'. with you in pi irate.
Time flies. The scene is changed to the
great hall of the Bastile. The time July
13, 1789. A file of soldiers' were .drawn
out. Upon one side stood the Count, up
on the otfher Sire de Launoy ard a priest
who wasperforming the last sadpffices for
a criminal under sentence of dejth. . Up
on the other stood an exeeutione;, with his
with his axe and block, and kneeling upon
one knee, his neck bared, his m$ad resting
upou the block, was Pierre Martel, the gun
smith of Paris. , , V' .
Victor Morain, said the Count; when the
' i
Triest had closed -the, book. s
The gunsmith looked up.
The 13th of July has arrived.
But its sun has not yet set, replied Mar
tel with a bitter smile, ? .
xecut'oner, said Launoy, t aise your
axe.,, . ' :
A moment of dread silence fiillowad.
1 "Strike ! . i
At that moment a distant i pout was
heard, followed by the rattle of ; pusketry,
and a strange unearthly sound-i-faint in
deed, but sufficient to arrest the j attention
of every one present. It was th- 'i Tocsin !
Father of mercies, exlcaimed ,Uunoy,
what new outrage ia about to bci jperpetra
tell ? Ha! the Hotel des Invajjdes is in
flam os ! ll ' .
A cry escaped from the lips d jSt Aimer
as the axe, hurled by the hand 1 the gun-,
smith, whizzed within an inch c f his head,
and buried itself in the woodwfjk of the
door. Martel was instanpsjef jed by the
soldiers, and secured. During fyis a large
mob had collected around the1-prison,
shouting and knocking at the gjjite.
Throw open the window of ti,je balcony
said Launoy ; what would you jhave, citi
zens ! . y :
Another shout arose, and seve-al missiles
were thrown .toward the balcony.
Silence ! cried a voice above;the rest.
I; was Robespierre. .We woulij have you
restore to us the person of Piejjrre Martel,
safe and uninjured. :
It cannot be done without arnorder from
the King. He is a prisoner of $tate.
Dare to refuse and we wiltJ burst the
rrntpft in
.9 .
Launoy drew back in time tff escape a
bullet that whistled, close by hi ear.
They are bringing battering rms against
the gate, exclaimed Launor, as dead hoi
low sound echoed through the building.
Heaven help us or we are lost fp Again
again ; it can stand such shocks but a ve-
rv short time longer. The hinges have al-
ready started from their sockets. C-rasn j
the chains give way, the bolts Jtre broke
mother of heaven, come "to out laid !
Crash crash, down fell th ; gates with
. atnnnin? noise, the mob rush Wl in and a
-o ' , f
scene of blood and carnage eniiied. Latt'
nby was assassinated, his heat? fixed upon
a bayonet and carried into the; street One
by one was the garrison murde sd, and the
mangled bodies thrown into tfi ard aQ
then the destruction of the b tiding com
menced. Mi
Bat where was Martel I When the gate
gave in, he bnrst from those who held him
f and pursued the Count through all the tur
nings and windings of die prison until they
reached the roof, where St Aimer in de
spair, clung to the railing. With tlie cry
of a fiend Martel spiungupon him.; he lost
his ballance and fell over the battlements,
dragging St Aliuer ith him. They reach
ed the ground jut as a turret tottered and
fell ijfpon them, coterirfg themfroro the
nimosiues in aeatn.- -r -
-'
Some 'months after as : tlie workmen
were clearing-away a" part of tlie vnin" of
tho Bastle, thty came accross two' bodi
with their hands upon each others throat.
Tliev were Pirre Martel, the gunsmith of
Paris,' and his- victim, the haughty Count
St Aimer.
The- Tattijcr. There is no being on
the habitable . globe more degraded and
more supremely low and contempf&ble,
than the tattler. Vicious principles, want
of honesty, servile meanness, despicable ih-
sidiousncss form his chaiactc. Has he
wit ? , In attempting to display it site
makes herself a fool. , Has she friends ? :
By-unhesitatingly disclosing their secrets
she make, ihem her most bitter enemies.
By telling all she knows she will soon
discover to the world that she knovvs but
very little. Does she envy an individual
Iler tor-ffue fruitful with falsehood, defames
his character. Does she1 covet-the favor
of any one ! She attempts to gain ity by
slandering others. Her approach is lear
, ed,' her person hated; her company un
sought and her sentiments despised as era
inating from a heart fruitful with guile
teeming with iniquity, loaded with envy
hatred and revenge.
Remarkable Occuruance. A circum
stance of a somewhat extraordinary char
acter occurred a short timesiu'je in one of
the fiourisl ing to wns of the midland coun
ties. A clergyman Ji4, -J ! wi ud
daughters, on the ,3d day 'after his decease,
recollecting that no likeness remaihed it
was agreed, e,re the grave closed over him
that the body should be unshiouded and a
portrait taken. ( A young lady of some
professional celebrity was'engaged for the
task. She with the assistance of the attem
'dant, took off the shroud and placed the
body in the requisiteposture; but other du
ties requiring tha artist's attention, the
sketch was delerred till noon. About 12o'
clock, at the foot of the bed, the lady com-
f menced and went through an hour's work
on this image of death. At this stage of the
proceedings, by some unaccountable mo
tion, the head of the deathlike figure 'fell
on the side. Nothing daunted, the artist
carefully took the head to replace it when
o ! the eyes opened, ana staring her run
in the face, "the dead" enquire.!, "Who are
you?'' The young "professional, "without
trepidation took the bandage from the
bead and rubbed his neck. He laughed
immoderately. The artist quietly called
the" family ;- their joy may be imagined.
but cannot be de scribed. That evening
be who had Jain three days in his shroud
bemoaned by mother and sisters with ago
nizing tears; gladdened their hearts by ta
king his accustomed place at the table and
at this moment is making an excursion in
North Wales.
OeJord (England) Times,
The Rifle FiU at Sebastpnl
The Sevastopol correspondent f the
Baltimoro Sun gives the following account
of these its," which we have beard a great
deal about. He says:
"They consist of lare holes about 6 feet
deep and 30 long, dug in tlie earthen front
and on' the sides are breastworks, formed
of filled gabions and sand-bags, so arran
ged as to leave small loop holes for the ri
fles.
In each of these, during the cover of night
parties of 20 ,and 30 men are stationed
who are selected for the accuracy of their
aim in shooting the Minnie rifle, which the
Russians now generally use. Theses harp
shooters, safely concealed behind the breast
works, keep up an incessent fire upon the
trenches and batteries of the enemy, and
no sooner does an unlucky English or
French soldier show his head above the
parapets, or an artilleryman expose himself
through the embasures, than he has,a mul
titude of those disagreeable little hornets
in the shape of conical pieces of lead buz
zing about his ears, one of which is sure
to give a fatal sting as it passes. Their ac
curacy of aim and viguance are truly sur
prising."
READ I PONDER ! 1 CIRCULATE ! f
The Importance of Punctuality-
"BEI5D'TItE.', A railroad.train was ,
rushing along at lightning speed . A- '
curve ws just ahead, beyond which was a '
station at which the cars usually passed
each other. The conductor was late so -fate
that the period during which the down
train was to1 wait had nearly' elapsed ; but
he hopes yet to pass the curve safely. Sud
denly a locomotive dashed into sight right
allied, , q jtiiDTita,rj,tlherefta a collision.
Thriek a shbek, and fifty aouirwWTiHa
ternity; aiitoecause tue engineer nau pecu .
bt kind tir e, y ! , '
. A great battle, was being fought. Col
umn af er column had been precipitated
for 8 mortal, hours on the enemy posted
along tho ridge of a hill. Tlie summer
sun was sitiking to the West; reinforces
mcnts for the obstinate defenders were al
ready in sight; it was necessary to'tarry
the posjtipn with one finak charge or eve
rything would be lost.. A powerful corps
had been! summoned "from across the eoun
try, and if it came up in season all yet
would be right .The great conqueror con
fident in its a; rival, formed his reserve in
to an attacking column, "and' led them
down the hill; Tlie whole world knows
the result Grouchy failed to appear ; the
imperial guard was beaten back; Water
loo was lost NapoWon died a prisoner at
St Helena because one of his marshals was
behind time. , ' ,
A leading firm in commercial circles
had long struggled against bankruptcy
As it had enormous assets in California it
expected remittances by a certain day and
if the sums promised arrived, its credit Us
honor, and its future prosperity would bo
preserved. But week after week elapsed
without bringing the gold. At last the fa
tal day came jOn whi ch the 'firm had bills
maturing to enerrapus amounts; The steaiu
er was telegraphed at day break ; but it
was found on inquiry that she brought no
funds, and the house failed. The next ai
rival brought nearly half a million to the
insolvents, but it was too late ; they weie
ruined" peewq -u 8n, v-,"::-a'l,''J
been behind tlrrit.
A condemned man was being led out for
execution. He had taken human life but
under circumstances of the greatest prov
ocation, and public sympathy was active in
his behalf. Thousand had signed peti
tions for a reprieve, a favorable' answer had
been expected tho night before, and, tho
it had nqt come, even tho sheriff felt con
fident that it would yet arrive in season.
Thus the! morning passed without the ap
pearance of the messenger. Tho last mo
ment was up. The prisoner took his place
n the drop, the cap was drawn over his
eyes, Uie DOlt' was arawn, ana a iuei.-
body swung revolving in the wind. Just
at that j moment a horsemancame into 9
sight galloping down hill, his steed cover- .
ed with futm. He carried a packet in his
right hand, which he waved partial ly to
the crowd. He was the express rider with
he reprieve. But he ,had come too late.
A comparatively innocent man had died
an ignominious death becaus a watch bad
been five minute, too slow making its bea
rer arrive behind time.
It is con tinually so in life. The beat
aid plans, the most important affuits, the
fortunes of individual, the weal of nation,
honor, happiness, life itself, are daily aac?
rificed because some body is "behind time.
There are others who put off reformation
year by year9 till death seizes them, and
theyhwtsh unrepentant, because foreverbc
bind time.' The allies, have lost nearly a
year at Sevastopol because they delayed a
superfluous day after the battle of Alma,
and came up too late for a coup de main,
usf tweaty four hours "behind Urae.V five
minutes in a crisis is worth rears. It is
but a little. period, yet it has often saved a
fortune redeemed a people. If there is oce
virtue should be cultivated more than ano
ther by him who would succeed in life it is
punctuality: if there is one error that
should be avoided it is the being behind
time." i' . i.
A young lady says. "When I go to a
theatre I am very careless of ray dress as
the audience are too attentive to the play
to observe my wardrobe; but1 when I
go to the church I am very particular
in toy outward appearance, as most peo
ale go there to see how their neighbors
dress and deport .themselves." A pretty
home thrust Wonder how many that cap
fit. , ' -4- ' ' '.'
A dandy who wanted the milk pas
ted to him at . one of our 1rerns, thus
asked for it : iidlady, please pass your
cow this way." To whom the Undlady
thus retorted: - Waier, take down th
cow-down thera where the : sflf U
ing r ivnt-
I