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A Family Journal for the Dissemination of General Intelligence, Miscellany, Agricultural, Commercial, Political and Religious Information.
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MACON, GA., FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1868.
(YOL. XIII.—NO.
'GEORGIA telegraph
knights, came to the rescue, and reinfore.
■ ing the French army, succeeded in routing
I-ULISH i I\G HOUSE, the lb,. * „ ,
l* — He was, however, severely wounded, and
as lie lay on the field waiting until he
should be recognized and succored, he
perceived beside him a young knight whose
CL.ISBY & REID.
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Tt!-' KO*rrHljMny ar,y 8 io oo ! features he could not recall^ also severely
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JO It
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SEND OF THE SAFFRON.
1 -TORY OP THE CRUSADES.
inong
the ruined fortresses which
jenstein. Iu the “days when it was
;im I proud,” its keep and turrets
L inhabited by a powerful and wealthy
OrofHeinnch V. Rauhenstein, and
motherless daughter, the beautiful
J'Jke < 0 . f v • • - •
[lAtla’a wealth, rank, youth and beauty
•urallv attacted a crowd of suitors to
, father’s ca*tle»‘ and the rival knights
' c0 titcn(\ed for her hand, were all so
,hic so chivalrous, so handsome, so pow-
,,/ flint it betaine a difficult matter to
;,Ie on whom among them she was to
! Bestowed, Oaf Heinrich was grow-
t . i‘j t juui ns he hoped to end liis days
Aci\ he was desirous of putting an
j I0 tlic perplexity in which he found
-iolf. bv fixing his daughter’s destiny,
accordingly called her to him, and led
. jcntly to the broad sunny terrace
tricking the majestic river which
his domains. He there made
, n to her his wishes, adding that as a
t ousado was on tlio point of calling
,. va !! the men of valor to the scene of
it former exploits, he thought it expe-
.. i that, previous to their departure,
,hould make licr choice of one who
Jit return covered with glory to claim
, r M his bride. Hulda timidly and sub-
Lively acquiesced iu her father’s de-
. which it was not very difficult, un-
L the circumstances, to obey. She
cashed a secret preference for a play-
L of her childhood, a right noble
,ath, Walter V. Mcrkenstein, who al-
jcijh her equal in rank, possessed no
stsae to lay at her feet, and who had,
brttkt, left her to seek distinctions
ih'.fh should render him worthy of coin-
prtiagbr tlie treasure of his soul. The
wAflokh was not wanting in adroit-
css, ted die resolved that her absent
irershould not suffer any wrong because
r<isliraway. Graf Heinrich had pro-
• 1 that a farewell banquet should be
ia at the castle of Rauhenstein, to
r.i all llulda’s suitors were to be bid-
si Accordingly, on the appointed
r.;. the hospitable karoncial lmll was
rpirrd for the great event; banners
from the cornices, the old windows
u forth their streams of light, large
,d <m the sideboard, while the tables he who in thewarv>
sed under the ample supply of ven- received my father's
wounded, for his arm was laid open, and
was supported by his sword-sash. Liebaeh
turned towards his companion in suffer
ing, and inquired if lie too were not an
Austrian warrior, and if so, how it was
he had not seen him before. The stran
ger informed him that he was truly an
Austrian, but that he had not started with
the expedition of which Liebaeh formed
one. “I have been,” lie continued, “in
Sicily; and I arrived here, under the com-
to join my brave countrymen, and to help
them to defeat our common foe.”
Adolph had, as he listened, been atten
tively examining the richly embroidered
sword-sasli the stranger wore, and now-
asked him whether he might be permitted
to inquire if it were not the gift of his
lady-love, doubtless some fair Sicilian.
“You are right, and you are wrong, at
n oninn tiinp in vnnr conjecture.” re-
cagerly glancing at his compatriots, he
found that his beloved Walter was not
among them. He turned pale at the dis
covery, and the sultan observing how dis
concerted he appeared, inquired with con
cern what ailed him. Adolph was over
come by the condescension of the mon
arch, and by his own grief, and he confid
ed to him the cause of his visit. “Then,”
said he, “your friend is in all probability
no other than an Italian knight named
Guiltiero, of whom I have just made a
present to my son, as he has long been
seeking a companion with whom he may
converse in the Italian tongue. If you
wish to identify him,” he added, “you can
see him.”
“I should much wish it, sir,” said
Adolph, “provided he did not at the some
time see me,”
“Then,” said Saladin, “you have only
to place yourself behind this curtain,
which no slave can approach on pain of
death, and he shall be introduced.”
’ — j— . — i •
the same tune, in your conjecture, re- ni
plied the other. ‘This precious gilf/’and to
The captive warrior was now brought
in, and it was only with an effort that
Adolph could restrain himself from rush
ing from his hiding place to embrace
him. He quickly gave the signal; Wal
ter was withdrawn, and Adolph, throwing
himself at the sultan’s feet, besought him
plied tfte otner. • j. jus precious gin, aim i «•« name the easiest terms on w hich he
he kissed it reverently, “was embroidered would consent to release his inend.
for me by the lair fingers of the mistress The sultan was vexed: “If I retain
I serve. * But she was the playmate of my
childhood, and ray love for her hasgrown
with mo from the earliest dawn of infancy;
^ a ,1. - - J MAAniAM / V f ^
thoughtfully, “ana a&K your name r
“My nt.me,” answered the stranger, with
dignity, “is Wnlter V. Merkenstein.”
him,” he said, “it is for the reason I first
gave you, and I cannot now exercise any
authority over him, as he is no longer
mine, but made over to the prince, who
has great need of his services as interpre
ter.^
“Then,” said Liebaeh, there is one way
of liberating him. I also speak the Ital-
“And that of your mistress,” interrupt- f ’ an language, and I will serve your son
cd Adolph, “is Hulda V. Rauhenstein.” in bis stead; I will indeed promise to
ter.
[ 0X101 pn, is xiumu v. ivauiiciiaiciu. I , * . ...
“How know you this?” inquired Wal- serve lum even more devotedly, as it will
* * ! Kn n lolinr nf lnrn 4nr mv rPtiPllPfl TriPflfl.
“By an instinct which you mav perhaps
one day understand,” said Adolpn, with
some emotion, which he immediately
overcame. “But are you aware that she
has promised her hand to him among her
suitors, who on their return from this cru
sade, shall lay at her feet the gift which
will prove at once the most useful in its
properties and the most agreeable to her
self? But I have my own notions as to
her ultimate intentions.”
“And pray what may those be, Sir
Knight? for I have answered all your
questions, and it is now time that I asked
«.Ati o/iniA ill mv turn 99
I be a labor of love for my rescued friend.”
“And pray what can move you to make
so tremendous a sacrifice?” asked Sa-
ladin.
'Sire,” replied Adolph, “my mother is
dead, and in my father’s halls no eye
weeps for me; but tears, precious as orient
E earls, daily fall for M alter’s captivity;
e must return at any price that I can
e Mussulman sovereign was moved,
and he replied, not without emotion,
“Generous Christaiu, I grant your request;
my son will accept the change.”
’“One more iavor, sire,” interposed
Adolph; “my friend knows not whether I
you some, in mv turn/' ,**v ***“•- r .
’ “Mv belief, then,” said Adolph, “is that ?till live; let bun I pray you. remam m
she secretly loves one who is absent,” and ignorance of the step I have taken, and of
and he looked scmtinizinglv but kindly the circumstance lo which he owes his
>^taa»nu.g,W,fe M ordeal
hr-I*
z iifeat $ u
“Adolph V. Liebaeh!” exclaimed Wal- gesture which forbade inquiry on the
ter, despite his wound, starting to his feet P** ot the astonished youth to enable
hair streams of light, LM ami amiaid na^aTpr^^SSf /the Lm-
to oC I myself am so | TS'S
- - - - he who iu tlie war with
aud boars’ heads, and roast peacock.
1 the guests had been duly announced
placed by the herald in order of pre
ice. When the roast peacock was to
rved, Hulda rose, and taking from
ands of the chief servitor the silver
i'll which, after having been carved
consummate cleverness into as many
mis as there was guests, it hud been
i built up into its original form—she
d around the table and proceeded to
a portion to each, until there remain-
) more, begging at the same time each
o declare his pretensions and make
m bis vow. Then all rose in order
q>oke.
m first, who was an old and powerful
n, swore that if bis sou should be for
te enough to obtain ibo hand of the
tiful Hulda, lie would, on the dav of
on‘the with my seal which she alone must break
/ -vt ; n( irwl It contains your present to her, and I
jBEft asarti <*» »»> **»*»»“ •^
S> my confideuce, my gratitude, my tb«u auy other that may brought to her
term neither trill I father^wuagtl from Ksacd wicvctbat he
SX veTl my ~ »?• the tvho.e interview
,w.vr... * - - r „„i‘ „ lt . i, nm ' P seemed so strange. However it was in
boyhood, and that l onl/Ieft imj home he himHe if, h e could find
in the ho Jf° f Xu Tritie me to rank no solution to the mystery, so he set out
prowess winch in g on his homeward way rejoicing in his good
“tTiiv 1 iTnnli lm.l lmi rf enter- fortune, and totally unconscious of the
tainrf » ei^ccre niehment fo/HuldeJ ^riBce to tvhieh ho owed to much Imp-
but he was struck by the enthusiasm ot 1,1 j^ aulicnstein . 8 0 ld halls, once more
his new friend, whose love lie perce ved a sound of revel ’ b v night.”
had a prior date even to his ow n, and lie ; iu champions of the faith, who
now felt convinced that, «d»«0jgk»d, wit hglorv, from the
Walter was not indifferent to Hulda. liis ... P.r • -
nu riuIda, lie would, on the dav ot ovm affection, deep “T-nrri?^olwtncle ln
irriuge, portion any twelve maidens ; JJTvay of ‘two loving hearts, and with
'4r.ml ’ m,der!ook g ti^ hf would I noble ^^^^^ten^ihould nevtr hTuilri w^'tVbelaid at the feet of the
ransom of twelve Christian cap- ^3^3
third that ho would build a hospi- j nioraeut use e\ e o tluttering hearts, for none knew whether
the maintenance of twelve wound- happiness of i,;„ i,„ n J his lot would be a sad ora happy one.
East, were re-assembled. Warm were the
greetings, and hearty the congratulations.
At the conclusion of the banquet which
welcomed their return, the gifts they had
“Walter,” he said, extending his hand
and commanding his voice, “may Heaven
prosper your aspirations; for my part, I
* • ... flira Imiir tn rlnVAfft 111
his lot would be a sad or a happy one.
Much was there for a philosopher to com
ment on; and no doubt La Rochefoucauld
gregaie; oui jum mm, we uiuujum v.-. *-•-
„ were concentrated on the coming moment,
promote your suit. I a nd not one bestowed so much as apass-
Walterwnsevcrcomeby thedisintcrtet- I remembrance on thc poor captive,
cd frankness, and, rcjotced to meet with I . un h C ard in chains, for from th(
e<l frankness, and, rejotced to meet with | h ; „ g unhcard in chains> f ar from the
a friendship of which bo little ^i.essc l w hich he, too, ought to have graced,
the sacrifice, threw himself into Adolph s j enctb t he moment had arrived when
the sacrifice, threw himself into Adolph s ] en „ tb the moment had arrived when
arms, and, from that moment, the tA '° thc were be presented, and each
young men became inseparable f«cuA. S approach in order of prcce-
,'ey ate together they ^lked together^ hia coring.
•irtiaus.
fourth that lie would found a house
.']>tion for pilgrims,
ers made other vows, and then,
ill had said their say, Hulda spoke
turn, promising that on the follow-
v she would declare to them her
lination.
next day, therefore, saw thc gather-
ilie Austrian crusaders in the great
' Kmihenstcin to hear the sentence
or death about to be recorded,
nil had been announced, Graf
eli appeared leading by the hand
lighter, richly dressed hut veiled as
6 her maiden modesty on bo singu- . — , • ,• r . nv . that mv ® P ,
occasion; and when her father call- time, did each expose his life to sate that of all enemies. Hulda
u her to give worils to her decision, °t * 11S coinpamon-in-orms. , took it, examined, admired it, listened to
idling girl placed in his hands a, One day, after a desperate encounter, (]ir ’ ections for ^ and laid it quietly
ouwhicFw.is inscribed her resolu-. during which many were the QU the glab beside her, while the giver
Graf Heinrich stood in the midst, j pounded on both sides, Walter N . Mcr | -— >-=- i—^ n,, ‘ 1 ™ n,lc
all these manly and noble faces ! kenstein was among the missmg. Every
agerly turned townrdshim, he read lnqmry, every search was tutile-the
1? * / "1/1.1.10 v T?«,il,pnstein. brave youth was nowhere to be found!
'meWliichoi m^efR »..ybr:.v^ I ACuIpS m inconsolalle,l,e ntterly
SK 3»s2*ss
auks for ilieir ®|twin wi • j. j j , cou id explain it, and he shud-
knowledges the difficulty of making ! ‘ ^ to think it must he the true solu-
;tion where all arc so excel ent, and , ^ ‘f his perplexity; Walter must have
liereforc, rcsohed to bcsto\\ 1 , bcen carr ied off among the captives. As
on lum who, roturnin 0 from the j , lf - [i;r day p aggc d without ridings,
Land, brings vitli lum the ^ T| . i )Ccai ' a c eomfirmed in bis idea,
If ;a i , il SamC nne Mid now lost no time in presenting him-
f and thc most agreeable to her. ™ Euke Leopold of Austria to
liough this cvn-ive answer satisfied sou . . p_ni=aon to visit
bit was a relief to all, for none felt crave the requisite pwnu««J ™
, . m .1 1 .mi Dsmsflciis to opsertaxu it IllS tncnci WCT6
■pis crushed, and cadi still could ; JJamasctw, ro re lca-e.
■ 1 ;• ie I,,, .niwlit 'it i or all there, and if so, to obtain ilia ruia. 1.
-of Vi v ’ Having arrived at the sultan’s court,
•Mu’IwSjliwirilW. H<»'«rKn5
• '“'f! " “ “'T™<£ e Sbl to simplyaaniuiicedltaieir
d'Acre. On nne uafaverable ^ beg tbc ] ibcr ation
of t\vle\ e Austrian prisoners, and to offer
double 1 he number of infidels in exchange.
The sultan consented, and the required
number were produced; but bitter indeed
was Adolph’s disappointment when, after
one
lowcwer, the besieged army made
tek npon the French camp and
be Chris tiun forces into such con-
it a surrender was imminent. At j
moment the young and bravi
rose from his bended knee, and made
place for the next in order.
The second advanced, and opened jriG*
care a costly casket containing jewels of
the rarest description. A murmur or ap
plause ran through the assembly, and the
knight as he held them before Hulda, as
sumed a look of triumph, which seemed
t/i kr “I have found out how to win a
woman’s heart.” Hulda’s face, however,
betrayed no emotion; she simply disport
ed these matchless gems beside the talis-
betrayed the long-cherished secret of her
heart*. She suffered the bracelet to remain
where he had clasped it, and placed the
flower in her bosom, declaring that she
regarded it as thc most useful of the pres
ents that had been brought to her.
Graf Heinrich looked on; he had watch
ed his daughter’s face, and lie read all
that was written in the innocent eyes
which now turned to his. He rose, and
placing her hand within that of N\ alter
said, “I ratify, before all present, my
[liter’s choice, and I proclaim Ritter
daUghiti c afiwwa, ...... *
Walter V. Merkenstein her affianced hus
band.”
Beside himself, first with apprehension
and then with joy, Walter had entirely
forgotten to deliver Saladin’s casket, and
it was only when Graf Heinrich began
to compliment him on the success of his
arms in the holy cause, for which he had
so bravely fought and suffered, that he
recalled the duty he had neglected. He
begged Hulda’s forgiveness for the over
sight, and laying the precious casket be
fore her, he related to her thc details of
his captivity, and the singular manner in
which it had been brought to an end.
Hulda opened the seal, and raising the
lid of thc perfumed box, perceived a let
ter; but she had scarcely read the words
it contained, when she sank, trembling
upon a chair, exclaiming—'‘Walter, I
cannot be your bride; another lives who
has stronger claims on me than even you!
Yes,” she continued, “thc most undeniable
claims; for he lias not only fulfilled the
stipulated conditions in the most perfect
way, but he has sent me the gift I most
desired, at a sacrifice which none can ap
preciate so well as yourself: Read, dear
lather, the words Adolph addresses to
»
me*
Heinrich took the letter and read as
follows: “The most welcome gift a wo
man can receive is thc hand of him she
loves; I send your lover to you herewith,
and that hand will present you, in this
box, with a gift as “useful in itself” as
the bearer will be “agreeable to you.” In
it you will find the seed of a plant as yet
unknown in Europe; but if you succeed
in rearing it, your fatherland will owe to
you an article of commerce as valuable
for its rich dye as for the medicinal pro
perties that belong to it; you will culti
vate it in the gardens of the Castle of
biebach, which, with all its domains, I
make over to Walter V. Merkenstein,
that he may have possessions to offer you,
equal to your own. He will find your
dear name carved on every tree within
my territory, and there, will the ransom
ed slave of Saladin learn to understand
the heart of the friend who exchanged
liis own liberty for his.”
Ail present were deeply moved as the
unheard of generosity of Adolph was
thus revealed, and Walter, overcome by
conflicting emotions, exclaimed, “Hulda
V. I.iehach,heading the Austrian
man. ...
A third brought a golden box, v ltnin
which were deposited holy relics, supposed
to be able to heal every malady..
A fourth and fifth followed.with trea.-
ure- more or less rare, and in due tune
all had had their turn.
Last of all fame Walter \ ■ Merken
stein ; he, too, dropped gracefully on one
knee, and, as he looked up into Hulda’s
face with modest trustfulness his eyes
beaming with unspoken love, he fastened
on her rounded arm a simple circlet of
gold, and presented her with n flower, the
scent of which, he said, would.instantly
remove the heartache. Hulda returned
his look with an approving smile, which
is right; her hand docs not belong to me;
I should at this hour be groaning in alien
bonds but for the magnanimous friend
ship of the noblest of men; base, indeed,
should I be, and unworthy of such a friend,
if I did not recognize it to be my para
mount duty to return to Syria, and, by
resuming my chains, restore to him that
liberty he so readily sacrificed to me.”
Graf Heinrich embraced the youth, with
tears, and approved of his resolution. He
placed in liis hands a purse of two hun
dred golden florins, with which to pay the
ransom of Adolph, to whom Hulda sent
a written message in these significant
words—
“Your gifts combine all thc required
conditions—my hand awaits you.”
Walter was gone. The walls of Rau
henstein repeated no echoes but those of
Hulda’s soft sighs, and the old knight
mused sadly on his daughter’s fate.
Hulda’s eheek grew paler day by day,
and her eyes looked anxiously from her
turret-windows, as if her thoughts were
traveling in thc directions of those who
were risking their lives for her.
Graf Heinrich’s concern augmented
with the sadness of his child, and lie felt
that some step must bo taken, though he
knew not what It was amid these con
flicting thoughts that Hulda herself one
day adverted to the subject which pre
occupied both.
“Father,” she said, “I know you have
understood my sorrow since Walter left
us, and I have every hope you will ap
prove of the vow I have made, and con
sent to the request I am about to lay be
fore you.” . .
“Speak on, my child,” said Heinrich,
“I have no doubt your wish is reason
able.”
“It is then, father dear,” resumed Hulda,
“that you will allow me to retire for a
time from this life of care and luxury.
Two noble knights have for my sake,
abandoned their native land,. and the
home of their ancestors, and are incurring
hardships of which we know nothing, in
foreign climes. The one sighs in infidel
chains, the other forsaking the love of
mother and sister,, pursues his way over
unknown lands, willing to assume a new
captivity, and I, the cause of all, am liv
ing idly in the home of my childhood,
sunned by a father’s love, served by at
tached domestics; this cannot be; I must
withdraw and labor and pray for myself
and for them. On the road to Wiener
Ncustadt stands a stone cross, beside
which pilgrims halt to repose and pray,
there let me await in pilgrim garb, the
return of the absent knights; there let me
devote my time to some useful work, and
spin for the poor, till Heaven, touched by
mv humiliation, shall send them safely
back.
Then old Ritter, .somewhat reluctantly,
Gelded to his daughter’s wishes. He
bought a small cottage near the old
Gothic monument., and repaired thither
with her. Daily now did Hulda resort
to the spot, working with her fingers,
distaff in hand, while she* poured forth
her innocent prayers, till she was known
to all thc country round as the “Spinnerin
am Kreuz.”
About fifteen months had thus rolled
away, and one evening Hulda was kneel
ing on the old moss-grown Step, as was
her wont, when suddenly she heard the
approach of a quick footstep, and turning
round beheld a pilgrim near her, making
his way to the well-known halting place.
The instincts of lovo are keen, and not-
irithstanding the dfttiblp disguise, they
were soon in each other’s arms. After
the sweet joy of meeting had been express
ed on either side, Hulda with a blush in
quired what tiding the wayfarer had
brought of Adolph, and learned that on
reaching Damascus, Walter was informed
of the sultan’s death, which had taken
place two months previously, and that the
Austrian slave he was in quest of, had by
that generous monarch’s desire, received
his liberty. His subsequent fate, it had
been very difficult to trace, notwithstand
ing thc most minute researches, as no one
seemed to know with any certainty whith
er he had betaken himself. From one
informant he had received the mournful
tidings that Adopli had fallen into a pro
found melancholy, and had died of a bro
ken heart. Hulda was deeply touched,
but declared that, without more positive
information, she could not consent to ex
clude him from her life; so that, not
withstanding her father’s anxiety to see
her at once and happily married, she ob
tained his consent to wait at least another
year, in order to give him time to appear.
The stipulated term was drawing to a
close, when one evening as the old Ritter
with his daughter anil her lover were
seated round the fire, they were startled
by the clatter of hoofs in the court-yard
below, and in a few minutes a figure,
muffled in a martial cloak, stood on the
threshold.
“Adolph V. Liebaeh!” exclaimed all
three in a breath, but the returning wan
derer waved them back.
“Friends,” said he mournfully but ten
derly, “I come to witness your happiness
for a moment, and to take my last fare
well before my final return to the wars; I
wish to pronounce my satisfaction at your
union.”
“How,” exclaimed Walter, “did you
then think I would meanly and cruelly
take advantage of your absence to rob
you of the bride who is yours by every
right? Adolph, good and generous
Adolph, Hulda is yours, and yours only,
and you only are worthy of her.”
Adolph’s surprise was great, but he
replied, with a melancholy smile, “What
I did, Walter, I did with entire sincerity
of purpose, and nothing can now alter the
resolution I then took”—and as he spoke
he opened his vest and displayed upon
his breast the cross of thc Knights Temp
lars, whose vows he had taken. My only
happiness,” he continued, “now consists in
knowing that you are happyj.do not make
my task more difficult than it already is.
Farewell, and sometimes spare me a lov
ing remembrance.”
• With these words he hurried out, threw
himself on his horse and disappeared.
Those who remained looked at each other;
the whole interview seemed like a strange
and mysterious dream, and to this day it
is whispered that Adolph Y. Liebaeh had
been slain in Palestine, and that the
muffled Knight who visited the inmates
of the Castle of Rauhenstein on that
Winter’s evening ,was the spirit of the de
parted hero, who was never heard of more!
The wedding of Walter and Hulda was
celebrated in due course, and Walter set
tled upon his wife the domain of Liebaeh,
where they planted with great success the
seeds which Adolph had transmitted from
the East. It is, therefore, to him that
Austria is indebted for the valuable herb
which now flourishes throughout the land,
and is called saffron.
CURIOUS THINGS ABOUT FROST.
One morning in October, I found all
the tomatoes and pumpkin vines used up
and killed by frost, but the bean vines,
potatoes and the cabbages in my garden
were in fine order still. Three weeks af
ter the frost came again, and not finding
any tomatoes and pumpkins, laid hold on
my pole beans and my potatoes. They
became black anil died as if strangled.
An old farmer said that this frost that
killed the potatoes was a “real black
frost.”
“Ha,” said I, “black frost and white
frost—do they ever mix ?”
“You watch and you’ll see thc differ
ence,” said the old farmer.
A mi I began to watch. The cabbage
in my garden was not killed yet. The
chickens have a wonderful good time nip
ping off thc edges of the big, tough leaves.
Well, I watched to see what the frost
would do next. One morning I noticed
that the bridges and the hoard walks were
white as snow, but the dirt roads, gravel
walks and stone sidewalks could not show
a single speck of frost. And I saw that,
there was no frost on or near the spikes in
the board walk but were spots instead.
Yet I remember, on one winter day,
about noon, when things were thawing a
little, that the board walks all dried off,
leaving a spot of frost on each spike, and
all thc stone walks and dirt roads were
cold and hard as ever with snow and ice.
Every fall the boards became frosty, while
the spikes and stones arc warm anil wet.
Even* spring the boards are warm and
wet, while the spikes and stones are frosty.
Funny iVu-t.
Om- dav the good woman who miA
for us, made some doughnuts, some folks
call them fried cakes (they are good no
matter what they call them), and when
she had dono frying them she set the hot
lard out at the door, by the side of a basin
of water, to cool. The lard and the wa
ter both froze solid that night, and next
morning I saw the frost had made a hol
low in the lard and a bump iu the water.
Frozen lard shrinks, frozen water swells.
Funny frost, how you do. And out in a
barn on a beam I hail ono bottle with
castor oil in it, to oil my carriage wheels,
another with neatsfoot for my harness,
and another bottle full of water. They
all froze up solid one cold night, and the
water bottle split, hut the others did not.
i Off the coast of Newfoundland and
Nova Scotia the sailors often meet with
icebergs a hundred feet high, anil all the
books Xav that there is nearly as much ice
under the water as there is above. But
when I went skating on our canal thc ice
lay, all of it, on top of the water, and
none of that was under water at all. And
yet, when I break off a piece of ice and
put it in a pitcher of water, it floats just
like an iceberg, six times as much under
water as there is above it.
An Indian was found dead by the road
side one very cold morning, with an empty
rum bottle beside him. He was froze
still. The wise Indians came and examin
ed to find what had killed him. They
decided that there had been too much
water in his rum, and that the water froze
hard and killed him. Rum never freezes,
but men with rum in them freeze more
easily than other men who drink water
only. Queer, funny frost again.
These are only a few of the curious
things that frost has set me to thinking
of. If any one of the readers can explain
all these curious things, they will be wiser
than some professors in our colleges. And
professors are the wisest people I know of.
—Little Corporal.
WANTED AT THE CROSS ROADS.
I was in a hurry to reach home. No
wonder, for it was the wildest night I had
ever known in all my life, and the coun
try roads over which I took my way as
bad and as dark as country roads in gen
eral. Consequently I was walking at a
great rate, with the collar of a rough coat
over my ears, and a comforter tied over
my soft hat and under my chin to keep it
on and to protect my ears, when suddenly
a man stood full in my path, and caught
me by the arm.
“Hullo!” said he. “You’re just in time;
you are wanted at the Cross-roads to
night.”
The voice was the voice of a ruffian.
I fancied myself attacked by a high
wayman.
I stood quite still, and strove to show
him by my manner that I was able to
protect myself.
“What the deuce am I wanted at the
Cross-roads for ?” said I. “Unless I choose,
it would be hard to get me there.”
But, instead of producing a pistol and
demanding my money or life, the man
answered in an altered tone.
“Beg pardon! I made a mistake. I
thought it was my brother, and wanted to
frighten him. Bad night sir.”
“Very!” said I.
“You don’t know the time?” he asked.
“It was seven when I left the train at
L I said.
“Thank ye,” said the man. “good
night!”
If his object had bcen robbery, proba
bly he had decided, from my rough muf
flers, that I was too poor a man to be
worth the trouble.
But after all, I said, probably he spoke
the truth. A man may have such a voice,
without being a highwayman, no doubt.
So I went on homeward, and soon
found myself under shelter, and partaking
of a warm and savory supper.
My mother was there and my brother
Ben. Ben was a great strapping fellow
who could beat any other boy of his age
for miles around, if it came to wrestling
or boxing, and as good-humored a boy as
ever lived; a boy always to his mother,
and I thought he had exercised his right
to vote already in one Presidential elec
tion.
When supper was over and we had
chatted for an hour, we went up stairs
together. We share one room.
The moment Ben’s head touched the
pillow he always went to sleep. That
night I followed his example.
But I did not sleep long without a
dream—a dream in which I felt a rough
grip on my arm and was roused by a cry
ing in my ear.
•‘Wake up! you’re wanted at the Cross
Roads .”
It was so real, so palpable, that when I
started broad awake I actually believed
that some one was in the room—the man
This time I started out of bed bathed in
a cold prespiration. I trembled like a
leaf, andh ad no doubt hut that I had re
ceived a supernatural warning.
“Ben,” I cried, “Ben, for the third
time I have been told that I am wanted
at the Cross Roads and I am going.”
And I began to dress myself speedily
as possible, listening meanwhile to the
storm, raging rr adder and wilder than
at any other period since its commence
ment.
Ben remonstrated with me in vain. At
last lie also began to huddle on his
clothes.
“If you have gone mad, I must go with
you and take care of you/’ ho said.
“But fancy another man going in a
storm like this to the Cross Roails, because
a nightmare advises him to do so, and
what would you think of him ?”
I said nothing. All I could have an
swered would have been.
“I am impelled to go; I must go; I
dare not refuse, whatever may be thought
of me.”
In ten minutes wc. were splashing
through mud and rain along the road.
It was perfectly dark: now and then a
blazing red star in the distance told us
that a lamp was gleaming through the
rain in some cottage window, but other
wise would not have been conscious of our
proximity to any habitation whatever. At
last nearing the spot where the road from
S crosses the road from P , we
were indeed in as solitary a place as could
he well imagined.
The house, which abutted on tlie very
angle of the roails called in familiar par
lance the Cross Roads, was the only one
for some distance in either direction, and
certainly on such a night we were not
likely to meet many travelers.
All was silent as the grave. We stood
i$uite still. In a moment Ben broke out
in one of his Wildest laughs. ,
“Well,” he said “how now ? Will you
go home and have another nightmare?”
But hardly had the words escaped his
lips when a shriek broke on the air, and
a woman’s voice plainly coming from tlie
interior of the cottage cried,
“Help! help! help!”
“Ben,” said I, “we were wanted at the
Cross Roads,” and then understanding
each other, without more words wc made
our way to a window, through which a
light shone. A muslin curtain draped
the panes, hut through it was an awful
sight.
An old man lay upon the floor, and
over him bent a ruffian, clutching his
throat, and holding a pistol to his car
while another man grasped a shrieking
girl by the arm—a girl in a floating
night-dress—withsuch longgolden hair as
belonged to the woman of my vision.
“Not a moment was to be wasted.
Ben flung his weight against the slen
der lattice and crushed it in, and we had
grappled with the ruffians before they
knew whence the attack came or how
many foes were upon them.
I do not intend to describe the struggle;
indeed, l could not, if i would. But wc
were strong men, and inspired by the
cries of the helpless olil man and the ter
rified girl, soon had one of the villains
bound, and the other lying prostrate on
thc floor.
Then Ben started for assistance and be
fore morning both were in jail. Ben ad
mitting, as we shook each other by tlie
hand, that we were “wanted at the Cross
Roads.”
The oldman was not a miser, hut he had
saved some few thousands for his old age,
and living more plainly than he need
have done, had given rise to the rumor
and «o brought the burglars to the Cross
Roads in the hope of booty.
The girl, a beautiful creature of seven
teen was his grand-daughter, and as no
story is acceptable to the lady reader
without a flavor of romance, I will tell
who had met me on the road, perhaps,
and wlio intended robbery or violence. I them that she became in after years, not
But when I had lit my lamp tlie room
was empty, except myself and Ben, lying
snoring on his pillow.
I went to the iloor; it was locked. I
went to the window; the rush of rain
against tlie panes was all I heard. I even
went across thc passage to my mother’s
room. She was awke; there had been
no unusual sound, she was sure.
Only a dream bom of my meeting with
thc strange man upon the road I felt sure
had awakened me. I went to bed and
fell asleep again. Again I was awakened
by the same words—this time shrieked in
my ear by an unearthly voice.
’“■\Vake up! wake up! you’re wanted at
the Cross Roads.”
I was on my feet once more, anil caught
Ben’s hand as he came to my bed. “What
ails you?” he cried,
“Nothing,” I replied. “Did you hear
a voice ?”
“Yours,” said Ben, “yelling ‘wake up.’
You fairly frightened me.”
“Ben,” said I, “wait until I light thc
lamp. I heard another voice. There
must he some one in the house or out
side.”
So I lit the lamp, and we searched, hut
in vain.
“Nightmare,” said Ben, when I told
him my storv.
“Ben,” said I, “what is there at the
Cross Roads ?”
“A house,” said Ben. He had lived in
the neighborhood a long while, and I not
Iona.
“One little house, besides two oak trees
and a fence. An old man living there, a
rich old fellow, and a bit of a miser they
say. His grand daughter keeps house for
him.”
“Ben,” said I, “that fellow may have
meant harm to them. I may be wanted
at the Cross Roads.”
my wife, but the wife of my darling
brother Ben.
Parental Duty.—The father who
plunges into business so deeply that he
has no leisure for domestic duties and
pleasures, and whose only intercourse
with his children consists in a brief word
of authority, or a sure lamentation over
their intolerable expensiveness, is equally
to be pitied and to be blamed. \\ hat
right has he to devote to other pursuits
the time which God has allotted to his
children? Nor is it an excuse to say
that he cannot support his family in their
stvle of living without this cflbrt. I a>k
by what right can his family demand to live
in a manner which requires him to neglect
his most solemn anil important duties?
Nor is it an excuse to say that he wishes
to leave them that competence which he
desires. Is i: an advantage to he relieved
from the necessity of labor ? Beside.-, is
money thc only desirable bequest which
a father can leave to his children ? Surely,
well cultivated intellects; hearts sensible
of domestic affection; the love of parents,
and bretheren, and sisters; a taste for
home pleasures; habits of order, regulari
ty and industry; hatred to vice and vici
ous men, and a lively sensibility to the
excellence of virtue—are a- valuable a
legacy as an inheritance of property
simple property, purchased by the loss of
every habit which could render that pro-
. perty a blessing.
jpSF“ The story is told of Menschikoffi
the Russian general, that, on one occasion,
when he was displaying his regiment to
the Emperor Niehol as, the latter remarked,
some trifling defieicnces in tbc matter 0}
the dress of the men, anil petulantly ex
claimed: “I would rather see your regi
ment not dressed at all than dress so.’
Menschikofi' quickly turned to his corn-
uniforms off!” To
“Brother ” =ai(l Ben, “go to sleep. You mand: -“Attention
11 ad an i Git m are’ ’— and Ben plunged in , the bewilderment ot the war the men nau
nan a ni.^ . 1 o L . | m a moment stripped to the skm, though
it was freezing weather. Saluting his
between thc blankets and was soon snor
ing again.
I abo in ten minutes slept soundlv as I Emperor, Mensehioffsaid: “Sire.mv men
J. ai. inr.ww - . .-r are at your maiestv s orders. Nicholas
before, but tlie awakening came again.
i . . y„did not get angry
I opened my eyes to see a girl standing , &
at the foot of my bed. A girl in white A quarrel between two negroes on
robes with golden hair all about her , the precipitous bluff at Nashville resulted
shoulder, who wrung her hands and cried, in one of the combatants being thrown
“Oh, wake up! you are wanted at the over the cliff He had a terrible fall but
Cross Roads.” struck upon his head and escaped injury.
—
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