The Lancaster ledger. (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, April 18, 1855, Image 1
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PER ANNUM CliBiu'd lono Parly'* urbitrary may, ^ T "fcJ A TYYr A NCl/^j 'JiS
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NEUTRAL IN POLITICS?DEVOTED TO LITERARY, COMMERCIAL, AGRICULTURAL, SCIENTIFIC, GENERAL AND LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
VOLUME IV. LANCASTER. C. H? SOUTH CAROLINA. WEDNESDAY MORN'INtl, APRIL H. 1853. NUMBER10
^Jjl| T A I SIS l',C l''1100 A'.v striking liim ou the head | He was very explicit in all his statements, | At this iunctnre. Honrv liilrwr nl lurlitninrr uffV,r.l?.i 1 11...1.? - i.-.v. ?... ><>
uulhjui inuuu.
THE BLACKSMITH'S TRIAL.'
A SCENE IN A WESTERN COURT. j
DT A. r. Bt'KDICT.
In the fall of 1840, I was travelling in
the West on busiues*. I left the Mississippi
steamboat at Columbia, Ky., having
made up m* mi id to travel hv land
as far as Muhlenburgh county, where 1
would strike the Green River far enough
to the Northward to take one of the small
flat boats for the Ohio.
I
Late one evening I arrived at the town
of M . intending to tala il ii> i
w o "*"b* i
from there on the next morning. The [
bar room of the tavern was crowded w ith !
people, and I noticed that large number*
of the citixcns were collected ?l>out the :
treet corner*, appearing to be discussing
some matter of more thai usual interest.
Of course I became curious to know the 1
cause of all this, and at the first favorable ,
opportunity I asked tne landlord, lie
gazed at iuo for a moment in silence, and
then with an omnious slutke of the head,
he gave me to understand that a most
dreadful thing had happened, but before .
he could explain to me what it was, he
was called away to attend to some other
business.
I soon found, however, that the "dread
ful thing" was llio subject of conversation
all around me, and, by simply listening, :
I gained an insight into the mystery, h
seemed that there was to bo a trial for
murder there on the next day, aud that
the criminal was a young blacksmith, who
had been bora aud brought up in the
town, and who, until the present ti ue,
had borne a character above reproach.
I endeavored to find out the particulars
but I could ascertain bur little utmn
to depend, for differeul people garoditfir?nt
Mi-counts, and all who knew anything
of the matter were too much excited to
apeak calmly. Tito murder had transpired
about m week before, and couse- <
ijueiitly the erent waa froth in the mimU
of the people.
Tho only facts that came to ine upon
which I could rclv,were that a middle igej
I in in, named Mathcw Hampton, had bci-o
rohhetl and murdered, and that Abel Ad- |
ams, the youug blacksmith had been ur
rested for the crime, and would be tried
on the morrow. Some said that the iniir- j
dered man's money, (to the amount of o j
ver $2000,) had been found upon the
young man's person, but others denied
this statement. Yet all sympathised with
ths prisoner, he was lielovcd by all his
townsman mud but few of them could he- <
lieTe the reports that had crept iuto circu !
lalion.
As I was in no particular haste, I reaol?*J
to remain in M* until the trial
had corae off, so 1 erased my name fioin
the stage Ux>k, where I had placed it,
and informed the host of niv detenn'iim
tion.
On tbe following morning at hii early
Lour the people begun to fl<?ek toward*
the court house; end I saw iliei if I wou'd
eecure a place I mutt join tire crowd. I
did to, and at length found myself within
(he building, and a* good fortune would
have it. I made attend near the prisoner's :
bo*. Ten o'clock waa the hour filed for
opening the court, and before that time
every Mantling place outaide the dock waa
tilled. Staging* wete erected ujon the
outaide under the windows, but ibeM two
were crowded. At the appointed time
the court came in, uud the prisoner waa
conducted to tire bo*. Said prisoner waa
toot more tben five and twenty yoar* of
age. lie poaaeaeed una of tha moat pleav
tag countenance# I ever aaw. It was one
of good nature?just such a on* m it unhesitatingly
taken as tlit index of a pure
and generous tool, lie was a stout, athletic
?nan, and carried lit* palm at ??nj
wrestling match in the country,
I thought within myself that man is no
murderer. And yet we know not to wliAt
ctremitiee a man may be driven. Young
Adams waa quit* pale, and hie nether
Hp quivered as he found the gnxe of the
multitude fixed on him: but his eyes were
bright and quick, but not defiant, yd
bold and hopeful in their deep blue light.
The trial commenced. The complaint
wae dear and distinet, setting forth the
fact that the prisoner, Abel Adams, "did,
with malice sforethoug'.t, kill, etc., on
*u?*l? a <lay, one Matfyw Uampton?in
A
nBjj_^LJLW'if'i IIwill|VI ' BMM iIhluiillliri
wmi some heavy blunt weapon?and in and
the second place by stabbing him in the a d<
breast, etc. To all this the prisoner plead, testi
"not guilty." From the first testimony mm
called up, I learned the following facts: A
Near sundown, one afternoon about a ha s
week previous, Matlicw Hampton stopped torn
at the shop ol the prisoner to get his horse said
shod, "his Hampton was a wealthy Hai
farmer, and his estate lay to the south- ing
ward, near the Tennessee line, and only his
about fifteen miles from M . lie was som
known to have had some two thousand Ue
dollars with him at tho time?money it to
which he had received at Columbia for to t
corn. It was nearly dusk when ho left ton*
the prisoner's shop. He took out his pock- Hat
et book to pay for llio job of shoeing bis hors
horse. This he did within the shop, and of w
two persons were present who testified to I the
the fact, and also that when the pocket idea
bo<>k was opened, a large bunch of bank Hai
notes were exposed. About an hour nf- tlioi
ler Hampton left, the prisoner came out and
i.:- i - ?
iii-i jiiiojf i?uu ni-ni lO 111* Sliiine, JUKI, nu?t
having saddled his fleetest horse, he stjirt- he i
ed oil, at full gallop in the direction which and
Hampton had taken. boui
Next came two witnesses, "Mr. Simple upo
and Mr. Jordan,'1 both respectable citi- it tc
zen* of M , who testified as follow*: war
They had been in the edge of Tennessee him
on business, and were returning home.? and
At about nine o'clock in the evening in for i
que .lion they came to the point in the be J
road where a high bluff overlooked the I Hat
way, and while passing this, they were ; him
aljtrlled by seeing something in the moon- stra
light whick looked like a man. They at \
onco dismounted, and found that what a lu
they had seen was the body of Mathew wai
Hampton, all gore covered and bleeding, bea
They had not l>ecu there more thau a the
iniuule before they were joine I by a third Tlx
man, who said he saw the murder com- est*
milled, and that Mic murderer had fled als?
towards M . but
Simple and Jordan both recognised this ' had
new comer as one Henry llilger, and, llio1 >
his character was bv no means of the ex- jun
emplary kind, yet that was no time for the
discussion. The braly of Hampton was cun
still warm, so that the murder could not er's
ha vc be en committed long, ltilger had and
no horse, so Simple agreed to remain by he i
the body, while Jordan and lblger went cssi
in pursuit ot the murderer. They put I
their horses to the top of their speed, and reti
in half an hour they overtook their prise- wer
ner, whom liilger pointed out as the man. reti
Jordan hailed the young blacksmith, and hue
found him nervous and excited. IIea.sk- w.v
ed him il lie had seen Mathew Hampton, the
and Adams replied in the affirmative, but | bea
he spoke in a very strange manner. Af- I "
ter some expostulation the prisoner nccon a v
panted J >rdan to M , and there he "
was placed ill :he hands of the sheriff ; "
and upon examining his person, Mr. "
Hampton's |M*ket Irook, coiilainilig two *
thousand dollars, was found upon liitn, fort
n<J hi# hands >v?re covered with blood. Ad
At tliiw juncture the excitement of the inu
little com t room was intense. The crowd- 1
ed mass swayed to and fro like wind- 4'Gi
wept grain ? murmurs broke the sanctity he i
of the place?murmur* loud and deep; | ?bc
and it was a few minutes l>vfore order mij
could be restored. cro
At length Henry Hilger was c.dled up- hui
on lb-i stand. He was known by most and
of the paople of M. , and though nolh- per
ing jH?silive was know n against bi n of a up
criminal nature, yet he was known to be ?Ui
a reckless wandering fellow, sometime* All
trading in slaves und soinetiinos dealing j reel
in horses, and sometimes driving a Mat wa<
. I "
down tlie Mississippi. He stepped upon [ the
the witness block with a complaisant bow elm
and gave in his testimony clearly and dis* Ila
tinctly. is p
He said that ho was coining down the and
road toward M on foot, ami when is s
near the blutf he heard a struggle, acccm* pit)
pained by loud gr >ans and entreaties.? ton
lie soranir forward and arrived in u-iibin 1 bin
p " " " "" *""
to see ill- prisoner leap into bif saddle 1
mid ride utt". The moon whs shining at woi
the time, no lie could not have been mis- u
taken. As aonn as lie found Mr. llainp- the
ton was, as lie supposed, dead, lie started tlie
to go for help. The niurdeied man's horse due
had fled towards home, to he could gain dea
no assistance in that way. lie had not ad |
gone far, however, when he heard the Wt
sound of horses feet, and on re'urningto wai
the spot he found Simple and Jordan win
there. he 1
Hilger wae eroae examined eery severe- a a
Ijr, but his teetiKiony wae not to be flawed, ed i
e.se >M ' 1
Ht the same time he professed to fe
>ep regret that lie was called upon
fy against a ntan for whom he felt ;
:h respect as he did for the prisoner
it length young Adams arose to tt
tory. lie spoke clearly, and with tl
i of a mnn who tells the truth. 1
that about an hour after Malhe
npton had left his shop, on the eve
question, he went to the sink to waj
hands, and while there he trod (
etliing that attracted his attention.j
looped and picked it up, and four
i bo a pocket-book, and on taking
he light it proved to be Mr. Ham
s. He remembered that after M
npton had paid him for shoeing 1
io, lie went to the sink after a drii
aler, and then he must have droppi
book. The young blacksmith's fii
i, he said, wras to keep the book un
npton came back, but upon the secor
ight lie resolved to saddle bis hor
try to orertaku liim, nnd restore tl
ley. Accordingly lie set off, and win
eached the bluff his horse stoppi
began to snort. lie discover
ething laying by the roadsiide, at
n dismounting and going to it he fotn
be the bod> of Mr. Hampton. st
m and bleeding. He first satisfv
self that he could do nothing alor
then lie started back towards M ?
assist;.li e. When he was overtakt
Ford an and JHilger, the idea of havii
Upton's money with him broke up*
with stunning force, and hence 1
nge and incoherent manner.
Vlien the prisoner sat down there w
>w murmur which told that his slo
i believed. Hut the judge shook I
J, and ihu lawyers did the same, ai
jury looked troubled and anxious.
? prisoner's counsel did all he could
iblisii his client's good character, ai
> to impeach llio character of Bilg
he could not refute the testimony th
I liccti given in.
A'hen the judge came to charge t
r, he spoke of the testimony agaii
prisoner, and of the corroborative c
istauces. With regard to the oriso
story, he said that it was very siin|
I sounded very inuch like truth ; I
would have the jury remember h<
ily such stories could be made:
t was long after dark when the ju
re*l to make up their verdict. Th
e gone half an hour, arid when th
irned the foreman showed by the vt
i of his countenance that the rerd
i ta'al ! All saw it, and I could h<
throbbing of the bundled hearts tl
t about ilia.
(Jcntleineii of the jury, have you ma
crdictf"
'We hive."
Shall your foreman speak for you !'
Yes."'
'Abel Adams, stand up and Ijok t
man in the face. Now, sir, is AI
una, the prisoner at the bar, guilty
rder or not!"
lark) The first syllable of the wc
isiIly," is upon the foreman's lips, t
peaks it not. Those who yet croi
nit the windows shout with all th
;ht, and in a moment uv?r? a in
wds his way into the court room. 1
rics up and whispers to the slier:
I then he goes to the bench and wli
s to the judge. Ilenry Uilgor sta
moves towards the door, but in an
it the liaud of the sheiitl is upon hi
is excitement the most intense. 1
lly the mass at the door begins to gi
t-, and four men are seen bearing up
ir shoulders a chair, a large stutl
ir, and in that chair sits Mulls
mjilon?not dead but alive. True,
ale and ghastly, but his eyes are op
I his lips nioxu. At length the ch
et down before the bench, and the i
sician of M asked permissi
|?esk. As soon as this fact becai
wo, all is <pnet once more.
File physician aa\s that neither of t
inds which Mr. Hampton bad receiv
..ki >rt tkl -Wlw I- ? '
...v.*M*f HMnwugii u? 111 iirsv uioug
jr w?re. The blow upon the bend, a
*u?l? in the l>remit, combined to pi
e a state of catelepay which revembl
tb so nearly that many an eiperiet
person might bare been deceived,
ten lie gave out that Mr. ilampt
\ dead, lie thought it ?u ao. H
en he found that Hampton eras livii
kept the eecret to himeelf, for fenrUi
'rtain man, whoee presence erne net
might be atiaeiag.
* ' J ? rs
i*l savage attempt to l>n*ak from t
to | but it did not avail him. The j
as I then directed to return to their
then Mr. Hampton was reqi
>11 ] speak. Ho was too weak to ri
10 s|>oke plainly, and in a manner I
le cd his mind to be clear,
w j Ho stated that when he re
n- , hlutl' on the night of the disasti
?h [coverei that his pocket book
)n j lie stopped his Itorse, and was
? think where he had lost it, w
i
id j one came up from the roadside,
it just time to see that it was llet
p- j alien ho received ft blow upon
lr. : from a club that knocked him
lis I horse. Then he felt a sharp
ik burning pain in the bosom, a
?d momentary starting of the in
nt opened his eyes. Ho saw tlm
til was stooping over him, and r
id his pockets. He could then jtn
sc her of hearing the distant gallop
lie ?then he thought his ho ly
en j drugged to the roadside; and
id lie could remember nothing till
cd in his bed-side,
id For a little while longer the
id hud to restrain themselves. I
ill that the jurj whispered toget
i?d inoment. Then the prisoner
ie. once more, and the foreman of
? said "Not guilty.**
in Then burst forth the In?arty
>g the people. Aliel Adams sank
L'i his scat, hut in a moment mo
lis seized by a score of stout^ncn,
wild and rendering shouts, they
into the free pure air, where
ry stars looked down and smiled u
lis A little way had they gone r
"J met a young woman, whose
? flowing in the night witid, and w
to her hands in agony. They stt
s*-t their burden down. Abel
?r? saw the woman, and ho spruii
st slid caught her to his bosom.
" Marv?I'm innocent?i
he free."
ist The wife did not speak.
clung wildly to her husband an
i" on his bosom.
'I? A wagon body was torn froi
'tit tree; the blacksmith and his
placed thereon ; and then they '
awav towards their lionu, an l
ry they ha ! passed from my sigl
ej lie ir the glad shouts of iuipuh
ev "--.i-iinr ?l > v',rlit air, and revi
,ry ! nnong the distant lulls,
ivt I On the next morning, before
"ar , started I learned that Mathnw
ial , had deterinuied to make tlie I
! accept one thousand dollars v
?'e I was willing or not.
j Two weeks afterwards, while
I the ofl'cc of my hotel in Cincil
ceived a newspaper Jroin M
J ry had been banged, r
he j gallows be acknowledged bis g
, tliew Hampton was slowly reco<
| the blacksmith had, after inucli
I latioii, accepted the thousand di
('d Hampton's bounty.
vJ j THE UNKNOWN GUI
eir I
an I A KKMIM C'KNt'K IX TIIK LI?'K?
[IH INOTUX.
iff, ?
ii?- One pleasant evening in tin
rti June, in the year 17?, n nm
in- served entering the borders ol
in. near the Hudson River, his u
Di- that of a person above the com
ire The inhabitants of a country rill
on have dignified him with tl
"ed "squire," and from hi* manner
rw ed him proud; but those more
he ed to society, would in'ormyou
en was something like a military
air | him.
ild His horse panted as if it had
on puslred for some miles; yet froi
no ^ er'? frequent ?to|? to caress lli
animai, ne couni not he cliar^e
lie want of humanity, but seesne*
t'U tuated by some urgent net-**
lit rider forsaking a good road for
nd leading through the woods, ii
ro. desiie to avoid 'he gaze of ol
ed era.
k? lis had not left the ho Jse wl
? quired the direction of the a
on tioned path more than two hou
ut the quietude of the place was
ig, the noias of distant thunder,
lal sooo after obliged to dismount
id* beoonaing dangerous, ae darkne
ed mrrouadiif objeeta, wnyl
- - "O O
he sheriff, ry view of his situation,
jury were A peal louder and of longer duration
box, and than any of the precceding, which now
jested to burst over his head, seeming as if it w ould
se, but he rend the woods assunder, w as quickly
bat show- followed by a heavy fall of rain, that penetrated
the clothes of the stranger ere he
ached the could obtain the shelter of a large oak
sr, he din- which stood at a little dis.ance.
was gone. Almost exhausted with the labors of
trying to the day, ho was about making tueh dishen
some position of the saddle and his overcoat as
He had would enable liim to [>ass the nigbt with
iry lhlger what comfort circumstances would admit,
the head when he espied a light glimmering
from his through the trees. Animated with the
stinging, hope of belter lodgings, lie determined to
ml with a proceed.
usclcs he The way, which was steep, became at
it Hilger tended with more ob-tacles the larlher he
iusinrv ml * ?Ko ^ 1 !?!??-- l 1
I...VMVAIMU - ?vvv. | vuv avi I CUUIJJU3CU U1
?t rctnem- clav, which the rain had rendered so soft
of a horse I that his feet slipped at every step. Bywas
heing the utmost perseverance, this difficulty
after that was tinally overcome without any accihe
awoke dent, and lie hud the pleasure of finding
himself in front of a decent looking farin
mult tilde house. The watch dog hegnu barking,
leinember which brought the owner to the door,
her for a "Who ia there f" said he.
stood up "A friend who has lost his way and in
the jury search of a place of shelter," was his answer.
.
shouts of "Come in, air," added the speaker,
hack into "and whatever my house will afford, you
re he was shall have with welcome."
and with "I must provide for the wearv cotnboro
him panion df my journey," remarked the
the bright other.
pon them. But the faimer undertook the task, and
then they after conducting the newcomer in a room
hair was where his wife was seated, he led the
rho wrung horse to a well stored barn, and there profited
and vided lor him moat bountifully.
I Adams On rejoiuiug the traveller, ho ob&crv
ig forward i ed.
"That is a noble animal of vours.
I 11
nnocent? . ?ir.
"Yes," was the reply, "and I am sorry
She only j that 1 was obliged to misuse linn so ns u
d wept up- j make it necessary to give you so much
[ trouble with the care of liiiu ; but 1 hav<
n its axle- i to thank you for your kiudiiess to both o
w ife w as ! us.
were borne I "I did no more than my duty, sir,'
loti" after ' said the entertainer, "and therefore am
n I <
it I could i entitled to no thanks. But Susan," ad
live people ' ded he, turning to the hostess, with a bal
erherating ' reproachful look, "why have you uotgivei
1 the gentleman something to eat I"
the stage ' hear had prevented the good womai
Hampton from exercising a well known benevolence
[ laek-inilh ! for a robbery had been committed by :
?hetlicr he j lawless band cf depredators hut a fev
, weeks before in that neighborhood, am
i sitting in ' as report stated that the ruffians were al
unati, 1 re-| w ell dressed, her imagination suggests
. lien- that this malt might be one of them.
tnd on the1 At I kt husband's remonstrance, sh<
uilt. Ma- j now readily engaged in repairing Iter er
ruling, and ror, l?_y preparing a splendid repast. l).ir
i expostu-1 ing the ineal there was much interesting
ullars from ^ con venation among the three.
; As soon as the worthy country mat
perceived that his guest had satisfied hi:
' appetite, he informed him lliat it was now
I the hour at which tho family usually pei
ok wasi , furlIie,i tlieir devotions, inviting him at tin
; tame time to he present.
The invitation was accepted in thcs<
; month of | words .
in whi oh- 4,Ji would allord mo the greatest pleas
f a wood, ?re to commune with my Heavenly l're
ippcarance ?erver, after the evtnl of the day tsuch ex
mon rank, j ?.rc;,,e# prepare ut for the rejrose which w<
lage would j h#t.k iu s|wp ..
10 title of j '|'he host now reached the 1 >ibble fron
t pronone- j ahelf, and after reading a chapter
accustom' l a||(i ringing, concluded the whole villi i
that there ferVent pri?yer; llien, lighting a pinekno
air noon'. I conducted the person he had entertaiuei
' to hit chamber, wishing him a goo<
been bard i ?jg|lls reBft n?,j retired to un adjoining a
n the own. j |mrlment
0 patient i "John," whispered the woman, "thn
.rilh the ^ gentleman, and not one of tin
1 to he *c- |1ig|IWWyrnont gM \ supposed.*1
sity. The '-Ye*, Susan," said he; "I like him l?ct
bypath tcr for thinking of his God, than all hii
ndicated a kind inquiries alter our welfare. I wish
her travel- o?ir Peter had been at home from the ar
my, if it was only to hear this good iuni
irrohuin- tH|k ; I am sure Washington himse)
hove meu- could not tay more for his country, no
rt, before gire a better history of the hardships en
broken by dured by our brave soldier*.11
lie was "Whoknows, now,11 inquired tho wife
traveling "but it may be himself, after all, my dear
eaeosoea!* for tbey say be does travel just so, all t
when tfce looe, otiwrtimev"
#
*. vi "ki
! unik . iMiitin mail ] L.MI
! Tho souiiJ of a voice came from tho Ii
chamber of their guest, who was now en- Ltn
I g?g?*d i? his private religious worship.? Lai
I After thanking the Cieator for his many i g
j mercies, and asking a blessing on the in j Tw<
habitants of tlie house, he continued : . Pro
"And now, Almighty Father if it be Plo
Thy holy wiil that we shall obtaiuaplace
and name among the naliousof the earth
; grant that we may Joe enabled to show
1 our gratitude for Thy goodness, by our By
| endeavors to fear and obey Thee. Bless By
j us with wisdom in our council, success in c
in battle, and let our victories be temper- Bv
cd villi humanity. Eudow, also our enemies
with enlightened minds, that they
may become sensible of their injustice and i
willing to restore liberty and peace.? has
Graul the petition of Thy servant, for the pen
sake of lliin Thou hast called Thy belov an
ed Son; nevertheless, not my will, but villi
Thine be done. Atucu." Jut
The next morning the traveller d eel in- JCn
ing the pressing solicitation to breakfast ind
with hia host, declared it was necessary cat
lor him to cross the river immediately, at me
the same tiiuo offering part of his purse es <
as a compensation for what l.e had re- the
eeived, which was refused. the
u\Vell, sir," coutinued he, "since you cen
will uot permit me to recompense you for wit
your trouble, it is just that I should inform ves
you ou whom you have conferred so ma- rJ
ny obligations, and also add to them, by trio
requesting your assistance in crossing the has
river. 1 had becu out yesterday, endeav- will
oring to obtain some iulbrmatiou of our and
enemy, and beirg alone, ventured too far he
from the camp. On my return I was
sui prised by a foraging party, and only
escaped by my knowledge of the roads,
and the fleetness of my horse. My name J
is George Washington."
Surprise kept the listener still for a mo- !
meat; then after unsuccessfully repeating . l>r?
the invitation to partake of sotne refresh- '
1 ment, he hastened to call two negroes, . Iro1
! with whose assistance he j laced the horse j '
j on a >m ?ll raft of timber that was lying j IUy}
| in the liver, near the door, and soon con- | Ce"
1 | ve_\*d the General to the opposite side of P'a
51 the river, where he left him to pursue his j ?
' | Wiiv to the camp wishing him a safe and 1 utJ'
I prosperous journey. j
1 j ko<
j On liis return to lh? house, lie found that I ^
j while lie was engaged in making propara- 1 *
j. lions for conveying the hone across the l iv- j
I er,his illus'.rous visitor had persuaded his j
i ., . - - I th(
wife to accept a token of remembrance, |
which the family are proud of exhibiting . P
t I . . . i Ml
; to tins day.
; , . , , , 1IUI
The above is one of the hazards eiiconn- >
t J _ ea
t . tered by this great patriot, for the purpose j ^
j of traus'.niting to posterity the treasure we j
j now enjoy. Let us acknowledge the hen* I j
, efits received, by our endeavors to preserve
1 . . 1 . cx
I thein in their purity; and keeping in re-|
' membra? ce the great Source whence i ,
B " 4VI
these blessing flow, w e may ho enabled to 1
, I 8 Jl
render our names worthy of being enro'l- | .
ed with tha; of the father of his co.in- ]
' tr^' I trr
:[ AGRICULTURAL. |
j! Profits and Pleasures of Farming, j en
I .7 I feThe
Houston (l etas) Telegraph given '
Ui. the "briirht side"' of f?riii5n?? 11.:.- I
'wise: L
People living fioni hand to mouth in j ih<
towns, working the year round spending | ho
half they earn in things that are useless ; c?
| if not injurious have very little idea of J pa
( the cheapness of a good living and a thrif- i t?l
, t ty homestead in the country, A mechnn- of
k ic will earn from tvo to three dollars ]>er ! sin
. i day, amounting to from #000 to #900 tra
j per year, but with a family to feed and hit!
. ' clothe, and children to educate, he mu t dol
j be ? very steady and frugal man to bare del
{ a dime ahead, or even to 1>? out of debt, uk
t 1 at the end of the year. All of this, how- *01
! ever, haa nothing to dow'th the prolits of rn<
J corn planting, except by contrast. a<>
Good fanning land can be bought rio
within five miles of this city from two to vie
five dollars per acre. The following is a ?e
. fair estimate of the cost of a farm of fifty up
, acres, including cheap, hut comfortable cm
f improvements a small start of team, ulen- r.?i
r ails, cattle and provisions to last until a to
. crop is 111 ;de: tin
j Fifty acrea land #5 per acte, $160 in?
>,! Two yoke of oxen and cart, 120
f j One horse, 40 wl
,* Five cows and calves aud a supply ?<
t of bog* and poultry, 19<> *n
- > * - ?
<or ot extra hand in building log
muse, ~ 20
liber for flooring, doors, nail*, 4so, 23
Mir and board of extra hand, in
letting out rails for 25 acre livid, 00
i*hty-tive bushels corn, 25
visions tor six month*, 160
w s, axes, dte., 25
Total outlay, *71 5
CONTKA.
20 acres corn, 600 bushels $1 $000
4 acres sweet potatoes 000. bushIs
75 cents. 225
butter, eggs, and poultry, 100
$023
According to the above estimate, ho
made 210 over the entire entire exditlisn
and >? I..... I
UU? woiuui AV.vmUUiillVU
available productive property to the
.ie of $505. Lie has uow laid a fouuion
on which any industrious and prut
man can easily and rapidly build atl
epcudence for his family, llis hor*e>,
tie, hogs, poultry, ike., are better investuts
than was evci made in goods, housjr
stocks of any sort. They will pay
ir own expenses and yield a profit at
most moderate calculation of 20 per
L per annum, coinpouud interest, and
bout any risk, such as alten 1 otb *r iutinenls.
Hie above calculation is for an ludusus
and economical man, a lazy man
no business in town or country and
I do as well in one situation as another,
I we dou't know of any way by which
could possibly better l is condition.
Agriculture in Amotion.
Hie Washington (l>. C.) Seutinel inges
in the following reflections on the
icultural aspect of our country, at the
sent day:
It is pleasant to turu fur a moment
in the political demoralization of the
the country, the strifes of angry spoiisn,
and the clamorous fanaticism uf ini
liarica and abolitionists, to coutcmle
the peaceful assemblages, lairs and
iibilions, that the prevalent interest in
ricullure is bringing about throughout
i country. Agriculture is, at last, acovvledged
to be the basis of the wealth,
! prosperity, and the happiness of this
inlry. For a long time neglected, it is
w attracting the attention and engaging
i zealous etlorts of (natty of our mo?t
xninent men. This newly awakened
il has spread from State to Stale; and
my who hitherto contended again-t
ch other, with emulation in the strife
politics, are now engaged in a peaceful
;iicultllial compction. There is a geuei*
rivalry among farmers, as to which shall
hibit the best ordered htrm-, -wudJtlikU
all raise the best stock,cattle, fowls,fruits
\ This is an incentive to agricultural
cielies, and the exhibitions hcid uudcr
cse auspices, together with the premius
awarded by their committees, have
eatly reacted to increase the friendly
mpetition. Many of our first men? j
it in politics, first in letters, and tir?l in
:inl standing, have caught the impulse,
d are directing their labors and their
ergies to make agriculture the chief prosion
and the chief interest of the coin..
This is one of ihc best indie t.ioii* iff
.or of the development of the wealth of
e country, lint, at the same we
pe that the ambition to excel ns agriIturists
will not degenerate into a base dj
ssion for money-making. The hospi
itv of American farmers ha* been on*
their most attractive cpial tics, and wt
juhl lament any chants that would
inform them into selfish, hearties*, and
lebound hunter* after the "almighty
liar." lVrhaps the Most marked ten- *
iuy of our present race of msn is to
mey-makiug. It has become the abling
passimi of many clause*. Our
tchanics, cur tradesmen, our lawyers r&j
d doctors, and those engaged in there- I
us departir.enU of traffic and commerce,
i with each other in thtf pursuit of
altli. Foreigners ape k of us as given n
to the worship of mammon. They ?cte
us of eating fast, going to bed late, -i
ing early, neglecting wholesome m-rcan
and needful exercise, in order to make i |g
j muwi we can out ot our of our hue- ^31
a.
We bope llae greet agriculture) elai%
10 thus iar bare eecapcO lite general tic* : ja
>r*'U:uiou, political, Mwial, aad bweiow,
J who hare honored their country bf ,