4:4:^ 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[December, 
Our Youug' Soldiers. 
Wiien the hile strife first commenced in this country, 
most of our soldiers were yet to be trained. They were 
working upon llieir farms, and in bliops and stores. At 
the call of their country they took the field, and soon as 
fine an army as ever appeared, was ready to defend the 
right. Should another w ar break out during the lifetime 
of the present generation, there will be thousands ready 
trained in the manual of the soldier. The veterans who 
have returned to their homes, have kindled the martial 
spirit among youth, and as in the picture here given, 
even young children are taught to '-shoulder arms," and 
play soldier. Boys so trained will scarcely grow up 
cowards. The memory of what their fathers did will 
ever inspire them, and we may feel *ure tiiat they will 
digger no disgrace to befall Ameucan iim'^ if tlie times 
should demand their' use. 
To engage in a fight fur 
the love of strive, for the 
]nere sake of fighting, is 
brutal, but to be ready to 
stand up for the right, on 
the baltlefieldif necessary 
is manly. We would have 
every American youth in- 
spired by the true soldier's 
spirit, determined neither 
lo do wrong, nor to suffer 
wrong to be done lo our 
country. Besides this 
manly spirit which we 
expect to see developed 
by our recent history, the 
boys may receive great 
benefit by the physical 
training necessary lo 
make a good soldier. 
Heads up, shoulders 
thrown back, form erect, 
step firm and elastic; 
these are indispensable 
to the good soldier, and 
valuable for every man. 
With a nation of boys 
with bodies and miuLls 
such as soldiers sliould 
have, there will be little 
danger of war ; the nation 
will be far too strong to 
be attacked by any foe. 
Orndg^ing' For- 
It is related that two 
men, former friends, be- 
came angry, and for a 
long time would not 
speak lo each other. 
Finally one of them at- 
tended a Camp Meeting 
and professed conversion. 
One day not long after, he 
met liis former enemy, 
and at once a severe strug- 
gle took place in his 
mind. He felt it his duty 
to speak to his enemy, 
and to be reconciled to 
him ; but sliil the old 
grudge rankled. At last 
he determined to maUe an 
effort towards duty ; he 
advanced, and, extending 
his hand, exclaimed, 
" How d'ye do Kemp ? I 
am humble enough to 
shake hands with a dog.^^ It was not surprising that 
the man so addressed should turn on his heel saying, 
" I'm not dog enough to shake hands with you !" In this 
case was well shown the fallacy of the expression often 
lieard, "I can forgive, but I can't forget !"— which really 
means " I want the credit of having forgiven, and the 
privilege of still indulging ill-feeling." 
tiiemselves Roma, also Sinte, and Pharaons ; some of 
them believe their ancestors came from Egypt ; others 
think the country near the river Indus was their ancient 
home ; the latter idea is the more probable. The Gyp- 
sies, wherever fountl, have much the same manner of 
life. They have no fixed homes, but wander about from 
place to place, encamping where niglit overtakes them, 
usually carrying tents, or in some cases makhig for 
themselves temporary huts from bianches of trees, and 
collecting leaves for their beds. They profess to m;ike 
a living by mending tin ware, umbrellas, and other small 
articles, and by fortune telling. This hitter occupation 
has given them great profit in ignorant communities. By 
keeping tlieir sharp eyes and ears open, they usually 
manage to make thein'-elves acquainted with the history 
of the persons in their neighborhood, and by making 
sh\ewd use of this knowledge, they lire sometimes able 
UN DRESS 
[COPYEKiHT SECUKED.] 
PARADE. — FnoM a Painting by James Beard. 
The Oypmies. 
Witliin a few years past this singular people have ap- 
peared in considerable numliers in different parts of the 
United States. They liave been well known all over 
Europe for hundreds of years. They are called Zingari 
in Italy, Gitanos in Spain, Zigeuner (wandering 
rogues), in Germany. The Gypsies, wlierever found, 
are much afike. m features they resemble some of the 
Asiatic races, having very dark sKins, sh:irp black eyes, 
black hah', high cheek bones, the lower jaw slightly pro- 
iecting, narrow mouth, and fine white teeth. They cali 
to tell many things surprising lo those who consult them. 
We need not assure our young readers, that their pre- 
tended revelations of the future are only random guesses, 
and their fortune telling an imposition upon the credulity 
of those who seek their aid. But a larger part of their 
income is derived by petty thieving, robbing hen-roosts, 
clothes-lines, and taking many small articles which in 
country places are often left exposed. They are greatly 
attached to their way of living and to their kindred. In- 
stances a'-e recorded of persons marrying some of the 
beautiful girls that occasionally have appeared among 
them ; but the habits of a wandering life proved too 
strong, and after a few year.s of unhappiness in civilized 
life, they have returned to their outcast kindred. A few 
of these people are found in settled occupations. Occa- 
sionally one is seen in New York as a street dealer in 
crocUery, tin ware, etc., and others are said to have be- 
come farmers ; but these are rare exceptions, and are de- 
spised by their vagrant kindred. Severe laws have been 
from time to time enacted against them in Europe, yet in 
spile of these it is said lliey number nearly a million 
souls there. As many parts of this country, especially 
the thinly settled localities offer many attractions to the 
Gypsies, we may expect to see their number increasing 
heie ; but incieasing intelligence among tlie people 
will ultimately drive them to honest ways of living. 
A Comical ]fIisapprelieii!itioii. 
The following amusing incident is condensed from a 
long account of it given iu a Southern papei' : A coun- 
tryman who was very Oeaf. driving a pair of mules before 
a wagon, was met by a negro with an ax on his shoul- 
der, who asked him for some tobacco, which was prompt- 
ly given. The negro tlianked the donor, and looking 
steadily at liim, repeated several times, " Ihank you, 
thank you." The white 
man, not understanding 
lum, thought he was ask- 
ing for money, and be- 
came very much frighten- 
ed, and declared he liad 
no money. Tiie negro 
perceiving he was deaf, 
now sliouted, " I didn't 
ax you for money ;" but 
the man in his fright 
only heard the word 
" money." The shouting 
started the mules, who 
turned to the o[iposite 
side of the road, and the 
negro, fearing they would 
overturn the wagon, 
seized the lines to bring 
them back. The white 
man now felt sure tliat 
robbery was intended, 
leaped from his wagon, 
and started at full speed 
for the woods, with the 
negro following him and 
shouting to him to stop. 
Finding he was being 
overtaken, the white man 
suddenly stopped, and as 
the negro approached, 
sprang upon liim and en- 
deavored to take his ax. 
This alarmed the negro, 
who feared he might be 
killed, and a desperate 
struggle ensued. Finally 
the ax was thrown far 
away, and each combat- 
ant springing to his feet 
started and ran from the 
other. The white man 
soon gained a neighbor- 
ing house where he told a 
fearful story of the attack 
made upon him, and not 
long after the negro made 
his appearance and rela- 
ted his version of (he 
story. It was finally de- 
cided that he should be 
kept in custody, and the 
whole matter referred to 
the Freedman's Bureau 
tlie following day. Ac- 
cordingly the negro was 
confineti, and the white 
man stood giiaid over 
hiin. The next morning 
the sentinel was found 
lying fast asleep by the 
door of the room where the prisoner had been placed, 
and the negro was not found at all, having apparently 
concluded it best to take his chances without a trial. 
The .^lotioniii or a ^Vatcli. 
A gentleman has made a calculation of the revolutions 
which the wheels in an American watch make in a day 
and a year. The result is interesting. For example: 
the main wheel maUes 4 revolutions in 24 liours, or 1,460 
in a year ; the second, or centre wheel. '24 revolutions in 
24 hours, or 8,760 in a year; the third wheel, 192 in 24 
hours, or 59,080 in a year ; the fourth wheel, (which car- 
ries the second hand) 1,440 in 24 hours, or 525,600 in a 
year; the fifth (or scape-wheel), 12,960 in 24 hours, or 
4,728,400 revolutions in a year ; while the heals or vibra- 
tions made in 24 hours are 388,800, or 141.812,000 in a year. 
Have you read the fable of tiie clock pendulum, that, 
frightened by the work of a year, forgot its present duty ? 
