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VOLIIME VI,-N0. 24.
COPPEBHEADS AND NIGGERKEADE.
who loved the country East and West,
The North and south and all the rest,
who loved the good old Union best!
V he Cupperheads.
Who hate the Union H as it was,”
And never have oheyed the luwa;
In doing wrong will never nauner
The xiggerheadn.
Who made our nation great and rree,
unrurled our nag from sea to son;
And hated the name of tyranny?
The Gopperheuds.
“fhn take from us our lawful rights,
Dry ‘loud for war, but never fight;
Hold sccrct rncetin 5: half the night‘!
The iggcrheads.
Who from the right will never swerve,
Ilnve got the strength an got the nerve,
And will the Union ret preeerrer
The Copperheads.
Who'd let the glorious Union slide,
The people's legal rights denied,
and on their nt-lglvbors nlwuye lied?
The Niggerheadn.
Who made the nation feared by all,
Who feel most deeply now its roll,
who would its former power recall?
The Copperheads.
who never served the Union well,‘
who said the Constitution was, pray tell,
" A covenant with death, u league with hell 2"
he Niggerheads.
And who will yet the country save,
Who’ll dig for tyranny a grave,
While freedoufs flag o'er all shall wave?
The Copperhesds.
THE INCENDIARY.
A TBEILLIEG TALE OF LEGAL LIFE.
(concl.unun.)
It was evening, and I was returning in a
gig from a rather long journey into the
country, whcnl called, in redemption of
my promise, upon James Dutton. Annie
was really, I found, an engaging, pretty,
blue-eyed, golden-haired child; and I was
not so much surprised at her grandfather's
doting fondness-s fondness entirely reci-
procated, it seemed, by the little girl. It
struck me, albeit, that it was a perilous
thing for a man of Dutton's vehement,
fiery nature to stake again, as ho evidently
had done, his all of life and happiness upon
one frail rxistence. An illustration of my
thought or fear occurred just after we had
finished tea. A knock was heard at tho
outer-door, and presently a. msn’s voice, in
quarreliing, drunken rcmonstrance with
the servant who opened it. The same
deadly scowl I had seen sweep over Dut-
ton’s countenance upon the mention of
Hau.lblin's name, again gleamed darkly
I-‘Hue ; and finding, after a moment or two,
that the intruder would not be denied, the
master of the house gently rcmoved Annla
tram his knee, and strode out of the
room.
“ Follow grandpapa,” .. ‘spared Mrs.
Rivers, a highly respectable widow of
about forty years of age, whom Mr. Dut-
ton had engaged at at high salary to super-
Intended Annie’s education. The child
Went out, and Mrs. Rivers, addressing me,
said in a low voice: “Her presence will
vlevent violence; but it is a sad affair."
She then informed me that Hanlblin, to
"l-"Om Mr. Dutton allowcd a hundred n
39“. having become aware of the grand-
father's extreme fondness for Annie, sys-
‘etnatically worked that knowledge for his
“Wu sordid ends, and prsluded every fresh
‘tack “lion Mr. Dutton’s purse by I threat
to reclaim the child. “It is not the money,
remarked Mrs. Rivers in conclusion, “ that
Mr. Dutton cares so much for, but the
v
voan llllnnWaTroliT
thought he holds Annie by the aulferallcc
of that wretched man, goads him at times
almost to insanity.”
“ Would not the fellow waive his claim
for a settled increase of his annuity ?”
“ No; that hns been offered to the ex-
tent of three hundred a fycnr ; but Hamb.
lin refusos, partly from the pleasure of
keeping such a ulan as Mr. Dutton in his
power, partly because he knows that the
last shilling would he parted with rather
than the child. It is a very unfortunate
business, and I often fear will terminate
badly." The land but indistinct wrangling
without ceased after awhile, and I heard a
key turn stiflly in a luck. “The usual con-
clusion of those scones," said Mrs. Rivcrs.
“ Another draft upon his strong-box will
purchase Mr. Duttorl a respite as long as
the money lasts.’' 1 could hardly look at
James Dutton when he ro-entered the room,
There was that in his countenance which
I do not like to road in the faces of my
frionds. He was silent for several minu-
tes; at last he said quickly, sternly : “ Is
there no instrument, Mr. Sharp, in all the
onginory of law, that can dofsat is worth-
less villaiu's legal claim to his child?"
“None; except, perhaps, 5. commission of
lunacy, or"
“ Tush I tush 1" interrupted Dutton -,
“ the fellow has no ,-,wits to lose. That
being so? But let us talk of something
else." We did so, but on his part very
incoherently, and I soon bade him good-
night.
This was December, and it was in Febru-
ary tbo following year that Dutton again
called at our plans of busincss. There was
a strange, stern, iron meaning in his face.
“ I am in a great hurry,” he said, “and I
have only called to say, that I shall be glad
if you will run over to the farm tomorrow
on a matter of business. You have scan‘
perhaps, in the paper, that my dwelling-
house took tire the night before last. You
have not? Well, it is upon tbatl would
consult you. Will you could ?" I agreed
to do so, and he withdrew.
The uro had not, I found, done much in-
jury. It had commenced in a sort of mis-
cellansous .‘ ; but the origin of
the tiro appeared to me, as it did to tho
polico oflicers that had been summoned,
perfectly unaccountable. “ Had it not
been dlECOVGl'(d in time, and sxtinguislled,”
I observed to Mrs. Itivora, “you would
all have been burned in your beds."
" Why, no,“ replied that ludy, with some
strangeness of manner. “On the night of
the firs, Annie and I slept at Mr. Els-
worthy‘s (I have omitted to notice, that my
brother-in-law and family had returned to
their old residence) and Mr. Dutton remain-"
cd in London, whither ho had gone to see
the play.”
“ But the servants might have perished?"
“ No. A whim, apparently, had lately
seized Mr. Duttoll, that no servant: or
laborer shall sleep under the same roof
with himself; and those new outbouses.
where their bedrooms are placed nro, you
see, completely detached, and are indeed, as
regards this dwelling, made fireproof."
At this moment Mr. Dutton appeared.
and interrupted our conversation. He took
me aside.
“Well," he said, “ to what conclusion
have you come? The work of an incen-
Mtn YURK, "SA’1‘ITVIT1)’AY,ITfA7;I>I.i 11, 1864.‘-I
diary, is it not? Somebody, too, thntknows
I am not insured"-><
“ Nut insured l”
“ No; not for this dwelling-house. I did
not renew the policy some montlls ago.”
“Than,” I jeatingly remarked, "you, at
all svents, are safe from any accusation of
having set fire to your premises with the
intent to defraud the insurers.”
“To be suro-to be sure, I am," he re-
joined with quick earnestness, as if taking
my remark seriously. “ That is quite car-
tdin. Some one, I am pretty sure it mllst
be," he presently added, “that owes me a
grudge-with whom I have quarrsllod,
.
‘.3.
“ It may be so, certainly."
“It must be so. And what, Mr. Sharp,
is the highest penalty for the crime of ill-
ccndiarism ?”
“ By the recent change in the law, trans-
portation only; unless, indeed, loss of
human life occur in consequence of the
felonious act; in which case, the English
law construes tho offence to bo wilful mur-
der, although the incendiary may not have
intended the death or injury of any person."
“ I see. But here there could have been
no loss of life."
“Tilers might have been had not you,
Mrs. Rivers, and Annie, chanced to sleep
out of the house."
“ True. true-a diabolical villain, no
doubt. But ws’ll ferret him out yet. You
are a keen hand, Mr. Sharp, and will assist,
I know. Yes, yes it 's some fellow that
hates me-that I perhaps hate and loathe,’
he added, with a sudden gnashing fierce-
mass, and striking his hand with furious
violence on the tabla-“ as I do :1 spotted
toadl”
I hardly recognized James Dutton in this
fitful, disjointed talk, and as there was
really nothing to be done or inquired into,
soon went away.
“Only one week's interval,” I hastily
remarked to Mr. Flint one morning after
glancing at the newspaper, “and another
fire at I)utton‘s farmhouse l”
“The dcuce! He is in the luck of it
apparently,” replied Flint, without looking
up from his employment. My partner knew
Dutton only by sight.
The following morning I received a note
from Mrs. Rivers. She wished to see me
immediately on a matter of great import-
ance. I hastened to Mr. Dutton's, and
found, on arriving there, that George
Hamblln was in custody, and undergoing
an examination, at no great distance off
before two county magistrates, on the
charge of having flrcd Mr. Dut.ton's pre-
mises. The chief evidence was that Hamb-
lin had been seen lurking about the place
just before the tiamss broke out, and that
near the window where an incendiary might
have entered there were found portions of
several lucifer-matches, of a particular
makc, and corresponding to a number found
in Hamblin‘s bedroom. To this Hamhlin
replied, that ho had come to the house by
Mr. Dutton's invitation, but found nobody
there. This, however, was vehemently
denied by Mr. Dutton. He had made no
appintmsnt with Hamblin to meet at his,
Dutton’s, house. How should he, proposing
as he did, to be in London at the time?
With respect to the lnclfer-matches, Plumb‘
lin said he had purchased them of a mendi-
cunt, and that Mr. Dutton saw him do so.
This also was denied. It was further proved
that Llomblin, when in drink, had often
said ho would ruin Dnttou before he died.
Finally, the magistrates, though with some
hesitation, decided that there was hardly
sufficient evidence to warrant them ill com-
mitting ths prisoner for trial, and he was
discharged, lunch to the rage and indigna-
tion of the prosecutor.
Subsequsntl , Mrs. Rivers and I had a
long private conference. She and the child
had again sloptat Elsworthy’s on the night
of the fire, and Dutton in London.
excuse is," said Mrs. Rivers, “thathe can-
not permit us to sleep here unprotected by
his presence." We both arrived at the
same conclusion, and at last agreed upon
what should be done, attempted rather,
and that without delay.
Just bcforo taking leave of Mr. Dutton,
who was in an exceedingly excited state, I
said : “By the by, Dutton, you have prom-
iscd to dine with me on some early day.
Let it be next Tuesday. I shall have one
or two bachelor friends, and we can give
you a shnko-down for the night."
“Next Tuesday?” said he, quickly. “At
what hour do you dine ?"
“At six. Not a half moment later."
“ Goodl I will be with you." We then
shook hands, and parted.
The dinner would have been without in-
tersst to me, had not a note previously ar-
rived from Mrs. Rivers, stating that she
and Annie were again to sleep that night at
Elsworthy’s. This promised results.
James Dutton, who rode into town, was
punctual, and, as always of late, flurried,
excited, nervous-not, in fact, it appeared
to me, precisely in his right mind. The
dinner passed or?‘ as dinners usually do,
and the after proceedings went on very
comfortably till about half - past nine
o'clock, when Dutton’s perturbation, in-
creased perhaps by the considerable quan-
tity of wine ho had swallowed, not drunk,
became, it was apparent to everybody, al-
mostruncoutrollahlo. Horosa-purposslcss
it seemed-sat down again-drew out his
watch almost every minute, and answered
remarks addressed to him in the wildcat
manner. The dccisivc moment was, I saw,
arrived, and at a gesture of mine, Elswor-
thy, who was in my 0OfIIid0l'lC0,SlCl1.ll‘BSEEd
Dutton. “By the way, Dutton, about Mrs.
Rivers and Annie. I forgot to tell you of
it before."
The restless man was on his feet in an
instant, and glaring with Liery eagerness
at the speaker.
“ What 1 what i" he cried, with explosive
quickness, “ what about Annie? Death
and furyl-spoakl will you i"
" Don't alarm yourself, my good fellow.
It’s nothing of consequence. You brought
Annie and her governess, about an hour
beforo I started,to sleep at our house ‘'1
“Yes-yes," grasped Dutton,whits as
death, and every fibre of his body shaking
with terrible dread. “ Yes-well, well,go
on. Thunder and lightning 1 out with it,
will you Y"
“Unfortunately, two female cousins ar-
rived soon after you went away, and I W35
obliged to escort Annie and Mrs. Rivers
home again.” A wild shriek-Y9” ls: P91“
haps, tha more appropriate sxP”59‘9“-
burst from the conscience and fear-stricken
man. Another instant, and he had turn his
watch from the fob, glanced at it with
aimed syss, dashed it on the table, and
was rushing madly towards the door, vain-
ly withstood by Elsworthy, who feared we
had gone too far.
“His'