Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 30 September 1869 — Page 6
TOES JOLKS jbBE ffOOK,
A GOOD STOR* FOR BOYS.
Years ago, when I was a boy, it was customaiy, and is now to some extent among school distiicts in t^e country, to have spelling-school during the winter term. These gatherings were always anticipated with irreat interest by the scholars, as at these times it was to be decided who was the best speller. Occasionally one scholar would visit another for a test of scholar-ship in this regard. Ah, how the little hearts would throb and the big ones thump, in their anxiety to beat tilae whole.
Once on a time a neighboring school sent word to ours, that on a certain afternoon they would meet in .our school house for one of these contests. As the time was short, most of our studies were suspended, and at school and at home all heads were studying to master the monosyllables, polysyllables, abbreviations, etc., which the spelliog book contained.
At length the day arrived, and as our visitors were considered rather our superior^, our fears and anxiety were proportionately great. The •scholars were arranged in a standing position, on opposite sides of the house, and the words pronounced to each side alternately, and the scholar that "missed" was to sit down. His game was up.
It did not take long to thin the ranks on both sides in a short time our school had but eight on the .floor and theirs but six. After a few more rounds the .contest turned in their favor, as they had four standing to our two. For along time it seemed as if these six had the book "by h&U't,!': 'At length the number was reduced to one on each side.
Our visitors were represented by an accomplished young lady, whose parents had just arrived from town,, and'ours by myself, a rugged little ,boy of ten summers, who had sat up night after night, while my mother, with no other light tkau that produced by pine knots, pronounced my lessons to me. The interest of the spectators was excited to the highest pitch, as word after word was spelled bv each. At length the young lady failed, and I stood alone. Her teacher said she could not have understood the word. She declared she did that the honor was mine and I richly deserved it. ":fV
That was a proud m'omcut for me, I had spelled down both schools and was declared victor. My cheeks burned, and say brain was dizzy with excitement.
Soon as school was dismissed, my fair competitress came and sat down by my side and congratulated me on my success, inquiring my name and age, and flatteringly predicted my future success in life.
Unaccustomed to such attention, I doubtless acted as most little boys would under the circumstances—injudiciously. At this juncture Master G., the .son of a rich man in our neighborhood, tauntingly said to me in the presence of my fair friend and a number of boys from the other school: "Oh! you needn't feel so big. Your folks are poor, and your father is a drunkard!"
I, was happy no more—I was a drunkard's son—and how could I look ray friends in the face! My heart seemed to rise up in my throat and almost suffocated me. The hot tears scalded my eyes but I kept them back. As soon as possible, I slipped quietly away from my companions, procured my dinner basket, and unobserved left the scene of my triumph and disgrace, with a heavy heart, for my home.
But what a home* My folks were poor—and my father was a drunkard—but why should I be reproached for that I could not prevent my father's drinking, and assisted and encouraged by. my mother, I had done all I could to keep my place in school, and to assist her in her worse than widowhood.
Boy as I was, I inwardly resolved never to taste of liquor, and that I would show master G., if I was a drunkard's son I would yet stand as high as he did. But my resolves could -not allay the gnawing grief and vexation produced by his tautit* ing word and haughty manner. In this frame of mind I reached home, my heart aching, my eyes red and swollen.
My, mother saw I was in trouble and inquired the cause. I buried my face in her lap, and burst into tears. Mother, seeing my grief, waited till I' was more composed, when I told her what had happened, and added passionately: "I wish father wouldn't be ajdrunkard, so, we could be respected as other folks. V, aUi,:
At first mother seemed almost
6 CRAWFORDSVILLE JOURNAL: SEPTEMBER30,1869.
overwhelmed, but quickly rallying, said: "My son, I feel sorry for you, and regret that your feelings have been so injured. G. has censured and taunted you about things you cannot help. But never taste a drop of in toxicating liquor, study and improve your mind. Depend upon your own energies, trusting in God, and, if your life is spared, make a useful and respected man. I wish your father, when sober. 'd have witnessed this scene, and i...\ .zed the sorrow his course brings on us all. But keep a brave heart, my son. Remember you are only responsible for your own faults, and don't grieve for the thoughtless and unkind reproaches that may be cast on your father's ac count,"
This lesson of my blessed mother I trust was not lost on me. Years have gone since that day, and I have passed many trying scenes, but none ever made so strong an impression on.my feelings as tha. heartless remark of G. It was so unjust, so un called for. Now, little friends, always remember to treat your mates with kindness. Never indulge in taunting remarks toward any one, and remember the son of a poor man, or even a drunkard may have feel ings as sensitive as your own.
But there is another part of this story. The other day a gentleman oalled, and asked if I did not recognize him. I did not. "Do you remember'of being at spelling school, at a certain time, a rude thoughtless boy twitted you of poverty and being a drunkard's son "I do, most distinctly,'' said I "Well," continued the man, "I am that boy. There has not a month passed since then but I have thought of that remark with regret and shame, and as I am leaving for another country, perhaps to end my days, I could not go without asking your forgiveness for that act."
Boys, I gave him my hand as a pledge of forgiveness. Di1 I do right You all say yes. Wc then, let me say again, my little friends, never twit another* for what he can not help.—Western liural.
Hunting the Wooilcock. The woodcock is very eocentric in its action^ befon the hunter the work of shooting it therefore is in tensely interesting: first because it requires great skill and, second, the reward of success is so satisfactory. The young birds fall comparatively an easy prey, but an old bird profits by experience, and is not readily caught. You may see it running in the undergrowth, or squatting in the smallest possible proportions under the protection of the broad leaves of the dock. Your faithful and .well trained dog "points" with unerringcertainty where the prize is hidden away but before you can fire the cunning creature quietly slips off, reaches a clump of intervening trees, then takes wing in a direction not anticipated and if not very expert and self-possessed the chances are you lose your shot. At another time the bird, upon being alawned, will fly off in a straight line with the swiftness of the wind again he will rise with all the whirring noise of a partridge, or possibly get beyond your reach with the silence of an owl, seeming to vanish rather than fly out of sight. It may be taken for granted, however, that a woodcock flushed in the woods will, the moment he clears the top of the trees, dart downward, and under any circumstances present a most difficult shot if the sportsman be above, the bird is out of sight in an instant if below, thei 3 is nothing left, as the bird approaches, but a quick shot. If flushed in his open low feeding grounds, he will, if he has not been previously persecuted by the hunter, fly along and just above the surface of the earth your title to him is then just as clear as if he were in your game-bag but such easy appropriation is the exception and not the rule in hunting the woodcock. But these very uncertainties regarding the conduct of the bird when pursued as game add zest to the excitement in the minds of the truly cultivated and intellectual sportsman. Wounded woodcocks will sometimes conceal themselves by sinking in soft mud, or under water, showing nothbut tjieir bills, which they so intrude among the stalks, of grass and,weeds, that "they have every possible chance for concealment, though they resort to this expedient touch less often than the common snipe.—Harper's Magazine.
THE biggest wheat grower in Minnesota cut his 2,000 acres with fifteen rekpgi$ &hd on^ hundred and twentyfivp hands. His average is twentyfive bushels to the acre of excellent
:quatitjjr.
*.
FAU
FOR
rpTTTTl
sept2in3
o. :M:
N E W I
NEW
ROOT and SHOE STORE,
On Washington Street,
Opposite the Court House,
IS NOW RECEIVING A
NEW AND COMPLETE STOCK
OE
ROOTS AND SHOES
FOR THE
FALL TRADE
THEY ARE ALL
FIRST CI.ASS GOODS
AND WILL BE
SOLD CHEAP!
Try Them Ac See.
NEW YORK STORE.
BARGAINS IN FALL DRY GOOD®
THE NEW YORK STORE, INDIANAPOLIS.
WALLACE & CO.
augJSyl,
FOR 8ALE. .—A farm containing
286 acres, 1 miles south of Crawford biTille, oh the Greencastle road, 125 acres Blow land. For particulars call at the prejaww. WM. SWINDLER.
WE ARE NOW RECEIVING OUR STOCK OF DRY GOODS,
And have just opened
Splendid Bargains in Dress Goods, Home Made Flannel, Calicoes,
MUSLINS, SHAWLS AND JEANS.
Country Merchants Supplied on
CHEAP DRY GOODS,
GO TO
3STEW YORK STORE,
INDIANAPOLIS.
DRY COOPS
Liberal Terms.
PETTIS, DICKSON & CO.
I O S
'STOKE FKOMT,'
OFFERS YOU EXTRAORDINARY INDUCEMENTS
Itf AIA HODS OF
CALL AftD EXAMINE HIS PRICES.
BOOTS AND SHOES.
WALLACE & COMPACT'S
STOVES AND TINWARE.
The Lightning Wood Stove
A A S A
WITH
new and valuable improvements, including the double front fire doors, patent convex top oven plate, ventilated oven and hot air chamber, which gives it a large advantage as a baker over any other stove in the market. This is the
Largest Stove in tbe Market,
Having an
Oven 22 by 23 inches
With a
Twenty-six inch Fire-Box.
These Stoves are guaranteed to bake quick and even, and not to crack.
My Stock of Tin-Ware
Is large, and will be
I®* Sold Low for Cash.^gjf
Country merchants will find it to their interests to examine my stock and prices before purchasing.
A W A E
As for Hardware, we will offer such inducements as will satisly you that we are decidedly the cheapest house in the Wabash Valley. Do not fail tocall andexaminemy stock.
•V.
Q. IRWIN,
).L
No.
3, Mjire
apiy
Bioek.
SPECTACLES.
IMPROVED
Pantoscopic Spectacles,
THE BEST IN USE.
COMBINING
advantages, mechanical
and philosophical, to be found in no others offered in the West These Celebrated Spectacles, now so generally used and approved, are the most perfect assistance to defective vision now before the public. The Lenses are ground in accordance with the philosophy of nature. Their perfectly polished surfaces, purity and transparency of material, and exact spherical figure, admirably adapt them to the organ of sight, rendering them perfectly natural to the eye, and producing a clear and distinct image of the object as in the natural healthy sight, avoiding the glimmering, wavering dizziness of the head, and oilier unpleasant sensations often experienced in the use of ordinary glasses, and enabling the wearer to prosecute minute and critical eye-labor, either by day or candle-light, with ease, comfort and satisfaction. CHEAP JOHN, may6tf Agent.
MARBLE WORK.
Phoenix Marble Works,
C^INCE, Phccjiix-likc, we have arisen litO erally-from the ashes, we have moved the remnant of our stock to the east side of Washington street, next to Miller's new buiiding, north of the court house, where we have now a nice assortment of
Grave-Yard Work.
Such as Monuments, Tablets, Slabs, Ac., which we will sell cheap. lOTAs the late fire did us much damage, we must work hard and sell cheap, to make moncv to meet our liabilities.
I. F. WADE & SON.
N.B.—If any of our friends want to give us a little "material aid" on account of our loss, they can do so by if they owe us, call and pay if they want any work in our line, either Grave-Yard or Building Work, give us a call. Wc wilHkf ydu NICE WORK at tow PRICKS, and be much obliged.
BUILDING WORK done to order. Crawfordsville, Dec. 30,1868.
WAGONS, PLOWS, AC.
£. & J. HEM)RL\, Manufacturers of
Wagons, Plows, Farming Implements, &c.,
BRAZIL, INDIANA. l[pg*Repairing and Jobbing of all kinds in our line promptly executed.
Wagons furnished on very short notice, and Plows kept constantly on hand. All work warranted. Agents for Well PUMPS of the best make. aug6
ACUE CURE.
AGUE CURE
In Pills, Convenient for Use. Contains no Quinine. Produces no Dizziness. No Hinging in the Ears. One Dose in a day sufficient. Cures Ague in all its forms. No Unpleasant Taste. Safe for the Youngest Children. No change of Diet required. Exposure or unusual exercise will not destroy its Efficiency.
MEYER BROS. & CO., GENERAL AGENTS, Fort Wayne, Ind., «nil St. I^onis, Jfo,
UQTFor Sale by all Druggists, and at wholesale and retail by july22m6 E. J. BINFORD& BRO.'
WATCHMAKER.
P. FITZPATRICK,
WATCHMAKER,
At Binford's Drug Store,
Washington St., Crawfordsville, Ind.
HAS
constantly on hand a well select stoclc of
FINE WATCHES,
CLOCKS,
Jewelry and Spectacles#
IparAU Watch work, and other Repairs warranted Wgive satisfaction. decl7yi