The Southern field and fireside. (Augusta, Ga.) 1859-1864, August 13, 1859, Image 1

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? •% '^ A -< v -t > • >^-; v '~-< -<v-c-c< v -c-c ,>' A-ylJo 7’; r-~l%j VOL. 1. [Writtcn for the Southern Field and Fireside.] MOTHER, HOME, AND HEAVEN. As ceaselessly and wearily, through this wide world we | roam, Surrounded by life’s chequered scenes of happiness, or gloom. By pleasure's bright and transient beams, or, sorrow's influence fell. Three bleseetl gift t, from God to man, all murmuring thoughts dispel! When tempted from the chosen i»th of virtue and of truth. Forgetful of the lessons she instilled into our youth. The thought of Mother, ns if sent from Heaven, will call us back From sin, and lead us once again to virtue's narrow track. Though sin may taint, or pleasure's voice, with its en trancing power, May woo ns to forgetfulness, for one short, fleeting hour, Soon faithful memory will rcc ill the scenes of by-gone days; The little dwelling round whose door we joined in child hood's plays. And as these days of innocence, to memory re-appear. Unbidden to our eyes will start affection's briny tear : Where'er, howe'er, through this wide world we may be forced to roam, Ever, while mem'rv lasts, the heart will fondly turn to Home ! And who would wish to linger here, 'raid scenes of grief and pain ? Ah! who would live w ithout the hope that they will meet again ? What could repay for all life's ills and sorrows met with here. What, but the trust that we will lie blest iu another sphere. Where all the dear ones that we lov'd, an d liv'd with here below, May love and live with us above, free from all pain and woe? This hope supports,'tho ugh here our hearts by sorrows dire be riven, The hope that we may find a home, a happy home in Heaven ! Benardo. - [Written for the Southern Field and Fireside.] Entered according to the Act of Congress, <tc., etc. by the Author. PIASTER WILLIAM MITTEN; OK, A YOUTH OF BRILLIANT TALENTS, WHO WAS RUINED BY BAD LUCK. BY THE AUTHOR OF THE GEORGIA SCENES, ETC. CHAPTER XIII. The Captain forms good plans—Answers Wil liam's letter , wisely, but crustily — Mrs. Mitten resolves to relieve her son from want and ridi cule both at a dash—A very happy evening at the Captain's—Heavy cloud the next day —A "Moral Image" is introduced, who as usual, produces great immorality. Captain Thompson’s design was to keep his nephew at Doctor Waddel’s school long enough to wean him from his old associates, and his old habits, to put at least seventeen years upon his head before he entered College, to prepare him so thoroughly for the sophomore class, that lie might enter it with credit, and in the meantime, to give him the strength and vigor of constitu tion, that would sustain him through any amount of mental labor that he might find it necessary to undergo in order to stand at the head of liis classes in College. All this was as well planned as it could be. College is no place for a youth given to bad habits. It sometimes happens, that religion finds such an one there, and reforms him; hut it much oftener happens, that he makes shipwreck of tho religion of all his College companions who associate with him. Nor should a youth be sent to College until he lias acquired some little stability of character and self-control; and seventeen is the earliest age at which these can be hoped for, in youths generally. Well for them if even at that age they have the moral firmness needful to resist the temptations to vice, which are found in all Colleges. One of tho best securities against these temptations, is a high reputation for talents and scholarship, acquired immediately on entering College. Students will commonly struggle harder to maintain, than to gain a high position in their classes. But to the success of Captain Thompson’s plans, it was indispensable that William Mitten should become reconciled to this school; other wise he would keep his mother in such a state of mental excitement, that her health must soon give way under it, when no alternative would be left liim, but to save the life of the mother, hy indulgence of the son. He flattered himself that time would reconcile William to the school, and the sooner, when he saw all hope of leaving it cut off. He knew that the worst must soon be told, and he supposed that if he could carry his sister safely through the successive develop ments of the first month or two, his ultimate designs would be accomplished. His policy was, • therefore, to lighten the first shock of each un pleasant discovery, by diverting her mind from it, with something amusing, flattering, or harrn- j JANES GARDNER, I | Proprietor. | AUGUSTA, GA., SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1859. lessly controversial. The critical reader will have learned his tactics from what has been re corded specially in the last Chapter. Having allayed the mother’s anxieties for a moment at least, he turned to the son, and addressed to him a letter, in which, with much good advice, he administered to him a stern rebuke for afflicting his mother with his complaints. “Are yon, - ’ said he, “so inhuman, so brutish, as to try to win me over to your wishes, through your mother’s tortures ? Are you not well enough acquainted with her to know that she never forfeits her word—that she would sooner die now, than re claim you from me, until your education is com pleted? Why, then, do you croak to her? Why do you not make your wants and discontents known to me? lam the only one that can ap pease them. “And you are grumbling about your faro al ready ! Why, I carried cakes and sugar things enough with you to last you one week surely; and pray get unstuffed of them, before you begin to grumble about your next cramming. If you had seen your father and me when we were of your age, gulping down ash-pone and crack lings, you would, for the honor of the stock at least, keep your daintiness to yourself. I dont know what Newby gives you to eat; but I have no doubt it would have been a feast to us in our day. What apology have you for grumbling at your diet, when you have the privilege of board ing where you please ? If you don’t like Newby’s, go somewhere else. What better are you than the hundred and fifty boys around you? This much you may take for settled: that I never will take you away from Mr. Wad dets, just to accommodate your belly. So quit your grunting about what you are to eat; and if you must grunt, grunt to me, and not to your mother. “And what does it signify to you, who or how l old Waddel,' as you call him, whips, so long as he does not whip you? ‘Old Waddel!' That is a pretty way for such a chap as you are to speak of a man of Mr. Waddel's age and rank, now is it not? Pray, Master Mitten, where did you learn your manners? From ‘uncle Twat,' or uncle Sotl In the parlor, or in the kitchen ? Now mark me, young man ! The next time you write that name in that way to your mother, or me, I will cut it out, and send it to Mr. Waddel, and ask him whether he allows his pupils to speak of him after this manner. I lose all pa tience, when I think that at the very time when you were speaking thus rudely of him, he was penning a letter filled with the most flattering compliments to you— l —” While the Captain was thus writing to his nephew, Mrs. Mitten was busily engaged devis ing means to raise her son above want and ridi cule. She resolved that William never should “blossom,” and that in this matter, at least, she would disappoint Mr. Brace. Accordingly she set to work with all dispatch to make him up two new suits; and that they might not attract attention from their fineness, she chose for them the coarsest material that her heart would consent to William’s wearing. “Let my son,” sighed she, "look like a negro, rather than suffer worse than one!" She taxed her mind to find some decent substitute for a shirt, but failing here, she made him up three cotton shirts, of Mrs. Thurlow’s spinning and weaving—that is to say—of the best quality of home manufac ture. To these, she added three pairs of stock ings of Mrs. Figg’s knitting. All these, with three blankets, and two pairs of cotton sheets, were packed in one box ; but as they did not quite fill it, she slipped into it two tumblers of plum-jelly, and one of raspberry-jam. These being nicely surrounded, and covered with cot ton, the box was closed. Another was replen ished with biscuit, crackers, cheese, tongue, sliced ham, sausages, Ac., Ac., to a large extent; and this too, like the other, was closed rather carelessly. The whole process was kept a pro found secret from the Captain; and, indeed, from everybody else, but Tom, upon whom secrecy was strictly enjoined. As there was no hope of meeting with a convenient opportunity of send ing these cumbrous stores to William, by one going to Willington, Mrs. Mitten determined to forward them without delay per cart, in charge of her most intelligent and trusty servant. — The reader immediately conjectures who this ser vant was. But a very ugly difficulty lay between the plan and its execution. Tom did not know the first mile of the way to Willington, and to get directions from the Captain, was just to blow the whole project sky-high. Mrs. Mitten took the rounds of the stores, therefore, in quest of the desired information. But none of the mer chants or citizens of whom she made inquiry, had ever heard of Willington ; and, when she told them that Willington was the place where Mr. Waddel kept his school, they looked at her as if doubting whether she was in her right mind; for every body knew that her son was at Mr. Waddel’s school, and that her brother had carried him there. All were too polite, howev er, to ask explanations of her. From Mr. West, she got a little light. He told her that when her brother went off with William, he met them near Mr. Ellison’s, on the Washington road. — This was enough to start by, at least; and she knew that Mr. Smith’s was the first stage ; but she was well aware that it would never do to dispatch Tom upon this information alone. She was constrained, therefore, to resort to her brother at last. She went over to his house early in the afternoon, and found that lie had gone to his farm. She awaited his return; and in the'meantime made a confidant of Mrs. Thomp son, and bespoke her assistance in extracting from her husband sueli directions, as would guide Tom surely and speedily to Willington. The Captain reached home just at supper-time. His sister greeted him with a radiance of counte nance, and gaiety of manner, that really trans ported him. “ Oh. my dear sis,” said lie, “how happy I am to see you so cheerful—so much like your own dear, sweet, former self! What good news have you heard ?’’ “None, brother. My cheerfulness is not alto gether real; but I hope it soon will be so; and perhaps the best way to make it so, is to assume it when I can.” So went the conversation, as they went to the table. When seated, Mrs. Mitten actually be gan a playful conversation with Mrs. Thompson, by enquiring whether she had heard lately of “David Ramsay, son of Doctor Ramsay, the Historian, Ac., Ac., Ac.” “ No,” said Mary, “I don’t think lie’ll ever say * Ramsay' to me again, as long as he lives.” The Captain roared, and all laughed. “ Well, Moll,” said he, “if I could always see you and sis in such fine spirits, I believe I should be the happiest man living.” “Well, husband,” said Mary, “we ought both of us always to be in fine spirits, for after all your teasing and wilfulness, I don’t think any woman ever had a better husband than I have, or a better brother than Anna has.” “ I can say 'amen to that with all my heart,” said Anna. “Well done, ladies !” cried the Captain, pre tending to take it all as a joke, “what project have you now on foot ? Where are the girls going ? How many horses will they want, and for how long ? How much money will it take to rig them out, and bear tlieir expenses ? It can’t bo»tliat either of the girls are going to get married: the oldest is a little too young for that.” “ Nothing of the kind, husband ; nothing of the kind. It just came in the way, and I spoke out the honest sentiments of my heart.” “ And so did I brother, I assure you.” “ Well, ladies, I can only say that I wish from the very bottom of my heart, that all this, would ‘just come in the way,’ every day. It would make me the happiest man in the United States, I’m sure.” “Brother, have you answered William's let ter?” “ Oh, yes, long ago,” said the Captain, look ing as if he thought something was about to “ come in the way,” that was not quite so com fortable. “ Husband, how far is it to Mr. AYaddel’s?” “About sixty miles—maybe a little under or over.” “ Which way do you go, to get there, bro ther?” “ I went the Barkesdale Ferry Road, because it is a little nearer than the upper road by Lis bon, Petersburg, and Vienna. Look here, good women, what do all these questions mean ? Anna, you surely have no notion of going to Mr. Waddel’s, have you ?” “ Oh, no, not the most distant idea of it—at least till the weather becomes milder.” “ You’re not going to send for William to come home, surely ?” “ No, no, my dear brother, no. Did you ever know me to violate my word ? And if I were disposed to do it, do you suppose that I would do it stealthily ?” “ That would be quite out of character with I you, sister, I confess. But there is something ; so strange in this catchising from you and Mary, and it goes on with sueli quizzical looks ! between you, right upon the heel of a loving ; fit, that I am constrained to think ihere is some- j thing in the wind, that I am not to bp suffered to understand.” “ How do you know, husband, but that we are paying you back in your own coin ? It is fine ; sport for you, to trifle with our curiosity.” “ I should expect such pay from you, but not . from Anna." “ Well, sister Mary, as we can’t please him cither by being serious or pleasant, suppose we go over to my house, for the remainder of the evening.” “Oh, no, my dear wife, and my dear sister, don’t go away and leave me, while you are in such a pleasant mood. I have not had such a refreshing, for two years. Stay, and you may ask me as many questions as you please, and I 1 will answer them, with pleasure.’’ “Stay a moment, Anna; and let’s try him," said Mrs. Thompson. “ What is the given name of the Smith whom you stayed with the first night ?” “John.” “ How far does he live this side of Wash ington ?” “About three miles —perhaps a little less.” I “After you pass through Washington, what is the next town that you come to?” “No town. But. there are two places that bear the names of towns—or names which a traveller would take for the names of towns, though there are not six houses in both of them put together; the first is Rehoboth, and the second is Goshen.” “Well, you have said your lesson so well that we will not examine you any more to-night.— And now, sister Anna, he has been such a good boy, that I think you ought to sit down and spend the evening with him.” “ I would with all my heart, sister, if I could, but business that must be attended to-night, calls me home. Remember, I have been here nearly all the afternoon.” “ Well, if you must go, I'll go with you.” “ What in the mischief can those women be after?” mused the Captain, as they left the house. “If Waddel was a widower, and didn’t whip so joyfully, I should think that Anna was going over to lay siege to his heart.” The Cap tain being fatigued, retired early to rest. As soon as the ladies entered the house, Tom . was summoned. “ Tom,” said Mrs. Mitten, “ I want you to take old Ball and the cart, and carry those boxes to your mas’ William. lie is going to school to Mr. Waddel, in Willington, over in South Caro lina—is Ball shod ?” “ Yes ma’am, new shod, day before yester | day.” “ I w ant you to start at the peep of day in tftc morning. And now’ listen well to what I’m ; going to tell you. You take the Washington ; road, the road by Mr. Ellison’s, and keep it till I you come to Mr. John Smith’s. He lives only two or three miles this side of Washington.— There you will stop for the night, no matter what time you get there. The next morning, make an early start, and when you' get to Washington, enquire for Rehoboth ” ; “Stop Mis’ess—call that name ’gin!” i | “ Rehoboth —Re-ho-both.” 1 “Igot him!” said Tom, with one ear up and ■ the other dow’n, his eyes looking on the ground six feet off, and listening, most vigorously. “When you get to Rehoboth, inquire for Goshen, and when you get to Goshen, enquire ; for Barkesdale’s ferry; and when you get to ’ Barkesdale’s ferry, enquire for •Willington, or | Mr. Waddel’s, either; and when you get to i Willington, ask for Mr. Newby’s, where you will I lind William—l believe that’s all right, isn’t it Mary?” “Exactly.” I “Here is your pass, Tom, in which I have ! stated where you are going, and for what. If you get out of the way, show that to any one I you meet, and he will set you right. And hero are ten dollars; take five to bear your expenses, and give the other five, with this letter, to Wil | liam. Now r , do be particular, Tom, for if any thing goes w’rong, we shall never hear the last of it. I want you to get back before brother j David finds out that you have ever been.” “I’ll go it, mis’ess, like a streak o’ lightnin’.” Mrs. Thompson returned home and slipped into bed without waking her husband. The next i morning he watched her very closely, but could discover nothing unusual in her conduct or con versation. After breakfast, he re-visited his farm, and returned to dinner. Having dined, he sauntered down to the business part of the town, w’here he joined a group of gentlemen in front of Mr. West’s store. They gave him a some what distant salutation, and eyed him with rather a solemn interest, saying nothing. “Why, gentlemen,” said the Captain, “w’hat ; makes you all look so serious?” “Captain,” said Mr. West, “have you heard from your nephew, William Mitten, lately?” “Not very,” said the Captain, turning pale.— i “Has any thing happened to him?” “Not that I know of, but his mother asked i me the way to Mr. Waddel’s yesterday, with j some anxiety, and I didn't know but that some- I thing had happened.” “She asked me, too,” said a second. “And me, too,” said a third. “And me,” said a fourth. “ Why, ” resumed the Captain, “it is the strangest thing in the world! Nothing can be the matter with William, for his mother was at my house last night, and I hardly ever saw her more cheerful than she was, all the time she stayed. And, what was unaccountable to me, then, and is more so now, she and my wife were pumping me all the time about the road to Wad del's.” “I thought it very strange,” continued West, i “that she did not go to you for information.” “I was not at home in the forenoon.” “Oh, well, that accounts for it” It was sheer good luck on Mrs. Mitten’s side j that none of the party knew but that she had gone to consult her brother in the first instance. While the whole company were standing . amazed, Mr. Houghton came up, smiling— “ Captain,” said he, “as I came into town this | morning, I met your sister’s Tom about two j miles this side of my house, in a cart, with two boxes in it, and about two feeds of fodder and corn. “Why, Tom,” said I, “where are you going ?” I “I’m gwine," says he,” “to Mr. Wodden’s, who i keeps school at Mr. Williston’s, in Car’lina.” I Tw o Dollars Per Aniinm, I | . Always In Advance. f “Well,” said I, “Tom, you’ll never get to Car'lina this way, till you pass through Augusta.’’ “Why, ain’t this the Washington road, Mas’ Josh?” said he. “No, Tom, you left; the Washington road three or four miles back.” “Emp-e-e-eh!” says Tom, “My sign fail me this time, that’s sartain!” “What sign, Tom?” “Why you see, Mas’ Josh, when I come to the fork of a road, and don’t know which to take, I spit in my hand and hit ’um with my fore-Anger, so; and which way the mos’ spit fly, I take that road. But, bless the Lor’, the spit cheat me this time, that’s sartain.” A peel of laughter followed this narrative, loud enough to be heard over half the village; but the Captain did not swell it much. He dis guised his wrath, however, pretty well. “I put him in the right road again,” continued Mr. Houghton, “and for fear the spit wouldn’t fly right, I advised him of all the forks between my road and the Washington road.” “The mystery is explained,” said the Captain. “Anna has sent off a cart-load of comforts to her son, which she did not Vish me to know about; and now I’ll have to go after Tom, for he’ll never find the way to Waddel’s during ash and oak.” “What did he mean, Captain,” inquired Hough ton, “by Waddel’B keeping school at Mr. Willis ton'st" “The place where Waddel’s school is kept, is called Wellington , and Tom has mistaken it for a man’s name.” As the Captain’s feelings were not in tune with those of the company, and as every ques tion made the discord more and more grating to his refined sensibilities, he concluded to retire; so putting on an air of perfect indifference to the whole matter, and saying carelessly “I must see Anna,” lie withdrew very leisurely; but oue who saw how his face reddened, and his pace quickened with every step towards his sister's after he turned the nearest corner, might with truth have exclaimed, “The ma-an’s mad 1” [to be continued.] The Turcob. —An English correspondent writes: “Near Rivoltella, the other day, we passed some parties of our old acquaintances, the Tur cos, who took, it appears, their usual fierce part |in the battle <£ Solferino. These desperate 1 Africans continirc to excite the admiration—or, I I should rather say, the wonder, not unmingled j with apprehension—of the districts they pass through. As I before told you, are Q bt very desirable persons to meet on a lonely road, Ofii pccially of a dark night. There is something decidedly “uncanny’ about them. They remind one of wild animals trained by some bold hun ter to pull down his game, but from whom his own flocks and herds are not altogetlier safe.— , When met with in Straggling parties and with | out their officers, it is wisest to have as little to ; say to them as possible. They are not remark i able for respecting anything except their officers and the heavy bamboos with which these are usually provided. They are not subjected to the same mode of punishment as the French soldiers, but when they offend, the officers cudgel them soundly. One may suppose that the officers of the Tureos are selected With an especial regard to their intimidating qualities, most of those whom I have seen being powerful men of most determined aspect, likely to daunt the negroes, Arabs and other African varieties under their command. The French tell me that the Tureos are first rate soldiers when opposed to rifles and bayonets, but the fire of artillery cowes them, and they do not like it. Hitherto it has been found impossible to make them give quarter; they never take prisoners; all they overtake they kill.” , v»» - mm • Mathematical Idea of Honor. — A graduate of a certain cellege gave another the lie, and a challenge followed. The mathematical tutor of the College heard of the dispute, and sent for the youth, who told him he must fight. “Why ? ’ inquired the mathematician. “He gave me the lie.” “Very well—lfet him prove it. If he proves it, you did lie ; and if he does not prove it, he lies. Why should you shoot one another? Let him prove it. If you did lie, will your shoot ing him prove that you did not ? or will it make people believe that you did not? If he proves himself a liar, not being able to prove you one, why shoot him ? Is he not sufficiently punished ? He has done you no harm; why shoot him ?” —mw ■+•+- Coinage at the U. S. Mint.— The gold coin age of the United States Mint, Philadelphia, for the month of June, was $180,069. The silver coinage was $90,000, being in dollars and quar ter-dollars. Os cents. $36,000 were coined. The whole number ot pieces coined was 3,835,003, of the aggregate value of $96,060. The total gold deposits of the month were $104,710, of which $96,832 50 were from California, and $,7- 877 50 from other sources. The silver deposits were $172,915. Total deposits for the month, $277,025. NO. 12.