Jasper Weekly Courier, Volume 14, Number 44, Jasper, Dubois County, 6 December 1872 — Page 6

1 lianWsglvlng In Olden Time. Loa life to r hnlii v in ! ft thee I will ting. For gru in uiy heart does thy memory spring; A vision i't plenty u' ) over my ryo. With a flavor of lowls and ni iua of pie. Twa Sunday I od from the i ulpit was read. By good Pa von Mil, what the Governor una 1b his lou proclamation, inf ruins the land rheliuieo! ihauasgiviug was nearly at hand. I remember it well, though summer rani pa er the parson's low grave in to long tangled grass ; Though the tithing-man' knock forever U tili. And the church parsed away tioui its site on the hill. I remember from Monday till Thursday at noon Which my grandmother said wai entirely too noon To accomplish the paatry and garnish the feast Tor th boys from the West and the girii from the East. There was chopping and frying from morning

tin night. And bloody deeds done by the lantern's dim licht i While the great ruddy blase set the kitchen aglow. And the well-polished pewter gleamed forth trom the bow. I remember how cleanly the farm-bouse was swept. How the cold winter moon kissed the coach where 1 slent: How the fairies at midnight shot flowers on the pane. That dissolved in the morn like the mist on the plain. Then came Aunt Jerusha, who wore a tall cap. And a black shining apron smoothed over her lap. And good facie MW. wLo always looked shy. And stopped short in his speech at a glance from her eye. There, too. was big Luther, and Mabel, his wife : And lean Uncle siruthers. ail tresh from, his strife la the courts of the law, where hi troubles appeared A lamb of the flock, still lively, thouch sheared. There s bluff Tommy Ewing, and Mary, a mild As the May-flowers that grew in the Sagamore wild, Who relu-e 1 nac a kiss, hut offered instead A blush which told plain what her bosom had said. Then we all went to church, and I fell fast asleep Though I tried to remember the text verse to keep. nd awoke when the rustling of feet on the floor Proclaimed to my ears that the service was o'erBat year after year fewer came to the farm : A ant Jerusha went first, and we ieit without harm To good Uncle Mose, who no longer looked ?hy. Though he spoke of her worth with a tear in kis eye. Ala for the years that since then have fled I How tew are the living, how many the dead. Of those who came down in life's early prime, Aad made glad the table of Tbanksgiring-tima 1 ShouM I number them over at sunset to-night Or call tnem around where the fireside gleams bright, Mv eves would be dimmed with f ut-f illin t.an For those who have passed down the hill-side of years. Bat why should I weep for the dear ones no more, 8 far in life's ionrney, so near to the shore Which is trodden by those who, with palm branch and crown. With Isaac and Jajob and Moses sit down ? Ho: bless thee. Thanksgiving I thy ad rent shall bring To this half-frozen heart an im pul of spring : And cheerfully singing farewell to life's ills I will pas the last guide-poit that points to the hills. HER TWO HANDS. Old Caspar came home about sunset. His pick was on his shoulder ; so was his old wool bat, for he thrust it far back trom his wrinkled front. Caspar had a bend, as if he had been half persuaded these many years to go on hands and knees again, so heavily time sat on his back, and so close to the earth did his daily labor draw him. He was a good-natured, trotting old fellow, working his mouth eagerly, and straining his blea-ed eyes, as he approached the town's draggled skirts, for very thinking of his folks his old woman and his iittle gal. There were rows of dismal frame huts all around, built by railroad companies for the purpose of penning as many of their employes' families at a time as possible. They reposed, grimy and barn like, squat on that sandy foundation which Scripture condemns, swarming with legions of tallow-headed children. Women, sharp at the elbows, and sharper at the face, were raising douds of pork smoke from their respective kitchen altars. In fact the whole neighborhood reeked with the smell of grease, and the evening was so warm a Laplander might have resented it. But Caspar's nose was not delicate. He trotted over the cinder sidewalk, nodding this way and that, glad there was such a fine air, and that his old bones were so near home. " Thar' the little gal, as usual," he chuckled, as he turned a corner and found Madgie on her look out at the gate. She was a comforting sight to see in that neighborhood, so tidy and fair, in calico and braids, and the pink flesh -olor of youth. You wondered why she hadn't been set further up town, and draped in something costly; why her deft fingers had never learned there were ten keys to unlock a soul which 'umbers in rosewood, and which rises at a touch, like some blessed genii, to comfort all ills and fill all thoughts ; you wondered why some high-bred father was not coming home to her now. But then this old man would have found it to hard to do without her. Then, too, Madge might never in her life have struck the royal heart which was now in her hands, in which she held her bank against all the future, and the interest of which was the only income she wanted. "There you are, grandpa!" cried Mad ire. 44 Ye, and there you are, Madgie. And here we both are, Madgie 1" entering the open gate, and casting down his pick. lie put his hands on each side of her head, and gave her a sounding smack on the cheek. " Supper's ready." " Yes, yes, just wait till I git a little of the smut off my hands and neck. It's been n powerful hot, dusty day." Caspar trotted through the little barn allotted to him, hailed his old wife, who tat ready to our his tea, and after blowing and plunging through a deal of water, returned to his family with shin

ing countenance and a handful of

onions. I jist pulled these up for a relixh. They're cooling, ingens is. You tended that ingen-bed, didn't you, Madgie?" 4 Grandma and I." " And we wanted some of them ingens for market," said the old wife, eyeing the sacrifice severely. " We ain't got no ground to throw away raisin' luxuries for ourselves." " Well, well, mother, pleaded Caspar, dipping his fragrant sphere in silt, " 1 don't calk'late to pull em all. I jist wanted somethin' refresh in' after a hard day. Taste 'em, Madgie," said he, insinuating the emerald tops toward her. " Oh, no, grandpa, keep 'em yourself," shaking her head and smiling. " 1 feel," rambled Caspar, filling his senses and bis jiw with perfumed root, until a blind man would have pronounced him a Mexican, if his nose had sat in judgment over Caspar, " I r'ally feel as if 1 needed somethin' refreshing workin' hard day after day for nothin', you might say. Sort of seein' your work go to pieces under your eyes, and knowin' the danger to them on the road." 44 What do you mean, grandpa ?" cried Madge, turning white as her bread and butter. 44 Why, honey, you see we've picked and picked in that cut, and the site's as unstiddy as water. The stones and earth jist roll on the track contineral. The company orto do somethin' to that cut. Stones as big as you is jarred down every train. But then the road's new, the road's new, yet." " Men a'n't got no sense," broke in the old wife. " Don't you see you're skeer ng that child to death for fear Charley'll git smashed up. He runs on that road." Two blades of keen remorse leaped from Caspar's bleared eyes. 44 Now, don't you be skeered, honey. Take an ingen, honey." He readied over to pet her fingers. M Charley diun't pass the day when the dirt was rattlin' down so. He don't pass till half-after eight this evening, and we left the track as clean as this table. Yes, sir, them rails is as free and bright as new tin pans. So, don't you be skeered, honey." "Im not scared about anything. grandpa," said Madge tremulously, but smiling like a rainbow. 4 There, new, mother," cried Caspar triumphantly, returning to his onions, " you come down on me for nothin . She ain't skeered a bit." No, not a bit. She flew about the room like a bird, washed the earthenware, brought her grandfather his pipe, and dropped at his feet to him some funny story afloat. In his enjoyment he wrapped himself in such a cloud that she could hardly see the c'ock. Madge slipped out to the gate. She was otten there, looking up the road. The two old people sat inside, thinking of the days when they were young. She was restless, and flitted over the cinder sidewalk, following a magnet which would have drawn her from the center of the earth. To the road, of course. How often had she watched the rails converging horizonwards until they sharpened themselves to a needlepoint ! The railroad had a fascination for Madge. When a baby, she used to follow her grandfather to his work, and hide among bushes to see the big freights lumbering by, and the express trains whirling into town like screaming land demons. She had heard of the sea, and the spell it had upon sailors, but she saw the railroad and felt the spell, which nobody seemed to remark, that it cast over inland laborers. She saw her boy playmates sucked up by " the road ;" heard her grandfather tell of hair-breadth escapes from collisions, of cool courage in men who placed themselves between the people they carried and most horrible death. She had learned the power and mission of " the road." In short, she was as loyal a daughter of the rail as any Maine skipper's child is of the sea. Madge bad affinity for an engine. To this day her throat swelled, her eye kindled, when the great iron animal swept past her. Charley drove an engine, and his engine was, in her eyes, a fitting exponent of the strength and beauty of his manhood. Such was the romance of her little dry life. Everybody must have his enthusiasm. She had been in the town's great depth at night, arrived from a holiday trip, and had laughed aloud to see some busy engine hurrying up and down, picking ap freights like a hen gathering her chickens ; now breathing loud enough to deafen a multitude, now concentrating his strength and panting slowly away at the head of its charge. She had waked from sleep to hear them calling to each other through the darkness, and translated to herself what they said. It was a proper thing for Madge to be an engineer's wife. She thought it a fitting thing to be Charley's wife under any circumstances, I assure you. There was now only a little strip of time between Madge and Charley. She looked over that little strip, and saw just how it would be. They were to have a cottage on the clean street; her grandparents, if they became infirm, were to have a home with her; "and these two little hands," said Charley, "will make me the dearest nest; I'll be so glad to run into it at night! ' Madge's pink face took on rose as she thought of all these things, looking up and down the cut to see if the track was clear, as her grandfather had said. It was clear. She felt relieved and foolish about coming out there through the twilight to spy for Charley's welfare, and much inclined to hide from the smoke rising far off. But those unstable sandy walls towering over his way; Madge watched them jealously. Jut as the thunder of the train could be heard, her heart stood still to see them dissolve, like pillars ground down by some malicious Samson, and piled upon ,

tue track until nothing could be seen tor yurds but one long hill of earth and tone! Now, little Madge, if there is heroism in you, it must meet and lasso that iron beast whirling a hundred people upon death! A hundred! The whole world was in the engine house, lie wouldn't try to save himself when be came upon the life-trap. She saw bow he would set his lips, bend nerve and brain to the emergency; she. -aw how car would crush into car, the wreck lie over a burning engine, and Charley be ground and charred under thorn all! O sublimely aelfiish woman! She flew over the track like a thing of wings. It was life and Cuarley, or death with Charley! The head light; flished up through the dusk. There were matches in her pocket; she scraped them on a rail, and tore off her apron. Oh! they wouldn't ignite, and the cotton would but smoulder. It is rolling down on her as swift as air. Blees the loom which wove the cloth which made the cotton apron! She tossed it, blinking and blazing, above her head, walking slowly backward. The red-eyed fury roared down at her, but you can't ter

rify a woman when her mind is made up. It should run over her before it should reach the heap. She was seen. The engine rent evening with its yells; the brakes were on, her lasso had caught it, it could now be stopped in time. He darted aside, but the current was too strong for her. She was dizzy; fell, and clutched in the wrong direction. Poor, poor little fingers! Now the people pour out; they run here and there. Women are crying frrhaps because they weren t hurt, he engineer darts alon; like a madman, looking under the train. There, a dozen feet before the engine, rises the sand bill, everybody wants to know how they were stopped before they rounded the curve. "Here ahe is!" shouted Charley, striding up with a limp bundle, like a king who had sacrificed to the good of the state. "She show, d the signal, and stood up to it until I saw her until we almost run her down! There, half the finger's cut off her left hand! There, what do you think of that now, for the woman who saved you all?"' holding up the mutilated stump. "God bliss it!" prayed an old gentleman, taking off bis hat. "Amen!" roared the crowd. With one breath they raised three shouts, which shook the sand hills until they came down handsomely a second time, Charley stunting above their enthusiasm, with the fainting child in his arms, like a regent holding ome royal infant. "Let me see her!" sobbed first one woman, then another. So Charley sat down and let them crowd sround with ice-water, cologne, and linen for bandages. He even gave the men a glimpse ot her waxy face, just unfolding to consciousness. Like all Western people, they wanted to pour out their hearts in "a purse." Madge hid her face on Charley's blouse, and "would none of iL" He carried her home at the head of a procession, which stopped before her grandfather's hut, and cheered her "List appearance." So do people froth up in gratitude. An hour afterward, when the neighbors were dispersed, and Caspar stood convinced that "an ingen" might not be the best brace for Madge's nerves, when her hand was dressed, and her grandmother was quavering a psalm in the corner, Madge turned such a look on Charley as even that stout-hearted fellow could not stand. He leaned close to her, and not having yet washed the smoke off his face, was as vulcan-like a lover as you could desire. But Madge always saw the god, not the mechanic. "Ob, Charley! how can I make a little nest for you now? After the feeling of to-night is over, you will wish you had married anybody rather than a maimed girl!" Unwise Madge! She drew her fate upon herself. I do aver, that to this day her nose is much flattened by the vice-like punishment Charley made her suffer for that speech. When he came in next evening, he laid a paper in her lap, and watched th ? pale face expand and blossom while she read a deed of gift to her of the pret tiest cottage on the prettiest street in that city. The company which Charley served, and which could o handsome things as well as thoughtless ones, begged her, in a flattering note, to accept the gift as only a t-mall acknowledgment ef their obligations to her. "How could she make a little nest for him?" aked Charley, looking at her through brimming eyes. "Why, with her hands, after all," answered Madge, crying. "And this will always be the prettier hand of the two," said that foolish fellow, touching the bandaged one. Confederate Relics. There was an auction sale of American and foreign postsge stamps in New York, recently. Among the stamps sold were the following, mostly Confederate and Provisional, which realized very high prices: 5c. Livingston, Ala. $25; 2c. Mobile, $17: Athens, Ga., $14; carriers' stamp, Franklin's head, $15; 3c. Marine, Ya., $5; Marine, Ya, $10: 5c. Brattleboro, $; 5c. Baton Rouge. Lv, $7.50; 10c. Nashville, Tenn , $8; 3c. Nashville, Tenn., $7.50; 5c. Macon, Ga., $5. Miss Emily Faithu'LL, who is now in this country with the avowed purpose of examining and studying our institutions, organized, in 1860, the Victoria Prftt, sprinting establishment in which only women are employed as compositors. Queen Victoria has smiled on and encouraged the undertaking. Miss Faithful! is also the editress of the l"ictnia Magazine.

Terrible Story or Suffering at Sea. Another of the boats of the ul fated steamer Missouri, containing several of the crew of that v easel who bad been mourned as lost, was recently discovered at tea, and the survivors were I ticked up and taken to Nassau, New 'rovideuce. The unfortunate men suffered almost incredible privations, being eight days without food or water. One of them -loan Freany, the first assistant engineer of the Missouri furnUhes to the Nassau Tunas the following thrilling recital of their sutierings: The Missouri stopped frequently during the trip, owiog to the foaming of the boilers, and we at once began to play hose from the donkey engine, but soon found that il was unavailing, and the captain ordered the boats lowered. All was confusion, and at the attempt to lower the first boat thirty persons

jumped into her, but owing to the mismanagement of the davits, one end fell into the sea, the other remaining hanging in the air. All except Freany and eight others, owing to the rolling of the ship in the heavy sea, let go and were washed into the sea. Nine clung to the boat until tome person on board the ship cut the davits, and the boat, which was tilled with water, went free of the hip. We saw a boat bottom upward, with two men clinging to the keel, threw them a line, and talked awhile with them, and wanted them to come and join us, but they considered their position better than ours and refused. One of our men joined the two, and one of the two swam over to us, being one of the saved. We met Mr. Culnier's boat and asked him to admit us, we being in a sinking condition, but Culmer refused, saying tbey bad enough on board. We told him that his boat could hold more. Culmer threw us a bucket and we tried ineffectually to bail out our boat. Culmer steered toward Abaco. We had four oars and at nightfall we pulled back toward the steamer, hoping the fire would prove a beacon and that some passing vessel might pick us up. We came within half a mile ol the Missouri, and at about 7 o'click in the evening the steamer disappeared suddenly. We then put our boat be'.ore the wind. On the tecond and third uav we were still before the wind and suffering terribly. On the Utter day we saw a vessel come witbin a mile of us, and we shouted and hosted our clothing but were unable to attract attention, and ! the vessel hoisted soil and steered away. On the lourth day one of our crew died, and that night two others, having become crazy, jumed overboard. The boat was always full of water, and ourselves sitting waist deep. On the fiah morn.ng another man died. We were still before the wind. On that evening it was calm and we succeeded in bailing out the boat with two hats, the crazy man having thrown the bucket over board. From three life-preservers we made a small sail, raised it, and steered south, but our exhaustion was so great that we could do but little. On the sixth and seventh days our situation was unchanged. On the eighth day we sighted land, and succeeded in landing at Powell's Key, near Abaco, in the evening. We had eaten and drank nothing since leaving the ship, and laid down on the beach in a horrible condition. After a time of rest on the shore we gathered strength to reach some deserted houses and found a spring of fresh water. We lay huddled vogetber all night. On the ninth day we found a few tomatoes which we boiled, having found matches and a pot in one of the houses. This produced a little strength and we launched a boat and tried to reach the main land, but failing returned to Powell's Key, sleeping there. The next morning we made a final effort to reach the main hind, but were so exhausted that we were hardly able to stand, and then laid down near the boat in a dying condition. Shortly afterward we saw a small sloop cruising near the island, and we hoisted some clothes on the oars and again laid down on the beach. A son of William Curry was on board the sloop and saw the signal immediately. Curry came to our rescue and took and landed us on Green Turtle Key, where we remained for seven days. Four days alterward we reached Na-au. The American consul at Green Turtle Key and Nassau treated us very kindly. Qaeea Tictoria. When free from the cares of State, nothing can be simpler than the daily routine of life yueen Victoria leads at Balmoral Castle. She manages her household on very strict principles, the servants ri.ing according to merit promotion always being held out. For a stupid act one member of the toyal household had to wait ten years for promotion. Her Majesty rises at seven, breakfasts at nine, and then attends to dispatches and private correspondence. Luncheon is at two, after which she takes the air in her carriage. During meals a piper plays in front of the window. She dines at half-past eight, in the library, not having used the barge dining bail since the death of her husband. There is no display in the library the arrangements are of the simplest character. She spends much of her time alone in. Prince Albert's room. She comes quietly in to dinner, with her knitting in her band, and retires early. She is a woman of great method. In all weathers she is seen abroad. A rainy day does not keep her in: with a water-proof and an umorella she defies the elements. It is quite a common thing to see her walking in the grounds under a drizzling rain. She is a hardy woman, hsving no "tine lady" fancies. She dresses consistently with the climate and the weather; and a fresh, comely-looking lady she is in her comfortable plain jacket and her broadbrimmed straw bat. Tatar were 1,374 persons punished in London last year tor cruelty to animals.

Poor Farmer John. Old farmer I S n is sore perplexed Vor farmer .l..hn is reall) vexed -Me labor early, labor laic. Yet Ter talk of advrt.i fat; Vor all hi toiling rare sefflee, 01 loaged-for laad to pay the price. The eamraer eon, the summer go, Th sprieg hower waste th winter's 'now Th while, fruia tiawo. till !. of ,Jy Receiving nought but frowns lor pay; Mis good wife toils: and aniiou rare 11a faded lip and chek and hair. Acre on arras stretch away Of woodland. c.rn, of wheat and hay ; His cattle roaui o'er toany a hill. Mi brooklet tarns the groaning mill; Yet tili be sigk and tng for more. And grumble e'er that he is poor. Four sturdy son, foar daughters fair. Claimed at his hands a father's care, lie gare them labor without end. Anil trove their oal. like his. to bend Into the narrowing groove of thought: Uld to be earned, land to be bought. Yes, farmer John is growing poor I You feel it as you pass hit door. His old brown house is small and mean. The roof is warped by crck and seam : The leaning bar, the half-hinged door, i'roclaini old Jona is eery f oor. Ne books: no pictures on the wall : Carpet) ee room and dreary ball. Why think it surange sach farmer's boys Should seek the city's pomp and noise? Should learn to loathe the sight of heme. Where nought of joy or graee may omef Why think it strange bis poor, old wife. Who coined for him her very life. Should pause, at last, despite bis frown, nd lay her weary burden down In joy. to walk th streets of Heaven, Where nought is sold, but all is given? (Jo where yon will, search earth around. The poorest man that can he fonnd. Is he who toils, through lif, to gain Widest client of hill and plain : Forgetting all bis soul's best needs. In counting o'er hi title-deed.

Tarif ties. Sorr words break no bones. It is pleasant to do one's duty even without reward. Person s who never complain of "short crops" Barbers. 44 How is roca honor, Pat?" Unimpeachable, sir," was the reply. K.vowLSDci may increase sin if the heart be not educated as well as the head. A merchant asks why he should be obliged to go so often after money that is coming to him. A man out West is to bow-legged that his tailor is obliged to use a circular saw in cutting out bis pantaloons. War are your nose and chin constantly at variance ? Because words are continually passing between them ! Wnr are laundresses good navigators? Because they are always crossing the line, and going from pole to pole ! 44 Have you much fish in your bay?" asked a Jacksonvilleite of a fisherman in the market. " Yes, there's a good eel in it," was the rather slippery reply. CaiCACO has a petrified baby. It was petrified with astonishment at seeing its father and mother get thiough one day without quarreling or threatening divorce. A BaootLTS lady was very much pleased with the appearance of the cemetery at I 'anbury, but she sai I that it must be very unhealthy thera because of the abundant shade. Ax old Italian proverb says, 44 See Naples and die." An American travel- , writing from thence, quotes this p overb, but adds, I didn't die. but I d d very nearly, the smell was so terribe." 44 1 dox't like these shoes," said a lady customer. '4 because the soles are too thick." 44 Is that the only objection ?" olandly asked the salesman. "Yes," was the reply. 4 Then, madam, if you take the shoes, I can assure you that the objection will gradually wear away." A NEcao, who was suspected of surreptitiously meddling with bis neighbor's fruit, being caught in a garden by moonlight, non plussed bis detectors by raising his eyes, clasping his bands, and piously exclaiming : "Good Lord! this yere darkey can't go nowhere to pray, any more, without being 'turbed I" At a funeral in New Jersey, the other day, a friend of the deceased asked permission to make a few remarks. When he got upon his feet he informed the officiating clergyman that it would have made his hair to stand on end to watch the corpse planking shad at a picnic, while it was a well-known fact that "he could shake a livelier leg in the Virginia reel than e'er a man in the whole West Jersey Conference," The farmers then proceeded to the grave. A Faithful Deg. A gentleman named Need ham recently went to the river Lea, in England, to bathe, taking with him a favorite retriever dog; and, having undre-sed himself, deposited his clothes, containing a valuable gold watch and a considerable sum of money, on toe bank, leaving them in charge of the dog, with injunctions to mind them. This he did somewhat too faithfully to be pleasant, for when Mr. Needham, having had his bath, advanced toward his clothes with the intention of dressing himself, the dog, which was a young one, did not recognise his master without his clothe, and resisted all his attempts to possess himself of them. Mr. Needham returned to the water, and by dint of repeatedly whistling and calling to the dog, at length coaxed him to leave his charge and go to him; but no sooner had the dog left the clothe than some men, who must have been lurking near and witnessed what had occurred, seized the clothes and ran off with them. Mr. Xedham had to lemain where he was till some boating men came by, who lent him tome clothing, with which M was enabled to go home; but he has not heard anything of his missing property. Pams newspapers are behind the journalism of any other part of the world.