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Article SCENES IN AMERICA . ← Page 3 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scenes In America .
Magistrate much younger , with a narrow forehead , round face , and immense lower jaw . Ball was seated in front of the table , in the space between the two irregular rows of chairs , with Burns and myself near him ; a little distant from the court , between it and the fence along which , without , stood the horses , were several negroes , slaves of Buckley , whose black faces gazed intently on the scene . Squire Buckley called on Ball to state what lie had to say ; the old mail roseandwith a and clearness not
, , composure I was prepared to expect from him , alluded to the chief points , and then offered me as a witness of the whole affair . I gave , substantially , an account of every thing from my encounter with Ball at the Sink , to 6 ur departure from the scene of action between Ball and Hinkle . All present listened with breathless silence : Ball kept his eyes fixed on the grass ; Squire Buckley maintained throughout a calm , steady attention , and then with great mildness of manner cross-examined me . Burns was the onl y person whose attention not wholl i to the
was y g , ye , testimony and the examination ; he was durinnthe whole time watching the countenances of the company to ascertain if there was the slightest feeling in the bystanders against Ball , and it was evident enough from the expression of his own countenance , that he had detected nothing disagreeable to him . The two Magistrates leaned their elbows on the table , and consulted together for a moment or two , when Buckley roseand with a fine deep voicesaid Peter Ball of the
, , , " , we are opinion , that Hinkle himself brought about the circumstance that forced you to take his fife in defence of your own—there are no grounds whatever for committing you for trial , and you are now discharged free from all blame " In an instant the whole scene had changed ; the silence and order which had just reigned were gone , and the hustling noisy congratulations of Ball ' s neighbours , showed that he had been rather raised than lowered in their estimation
, by his battle and victory over the detested Hinkle . Squire Buckley insisted on our stopping for dinner , but Ball ' s impatience to return to his family , and Burns' desire to have Hinkle interred , and out of the way as soon as possible , made us decline his hospitality , and we set off immediately , accompanied by ten or a dozen of the company . On our way back everyone perceived Ball ' s extreme depression and misery of mind . The effort he had just made at the squire ' s was now followed by a deeper gloom than I had before noticed in him . Every one tried , in some way , to fessen ins depressionbut with the effecthowever
, , , of oppressing him intolerably In consequence of this I rode close by his side , to interrupt , as much as possible , this annoyance . I now thought 1 perceived symptoms of approaching alienation of mind in the old man ; for instead of the thoughtful character ot his rough visage , his countenance repeatedly expressed alternations of torpor and momentaril y excessive alarm . On our return to Ball ' s house , we found some eight or ten persons collected there in the yard ; his wife and daughter were at the fence , deadly pale , and trembling with anxiety . The moment we dismounted a scene of shaking hands and congratulations took place between those in the yard and Ball , similar to that at the squire ' s ; as soon , howeveras possible . T mit him
, into the house with his family , where , after speaking it moment to Jack I left him . I found Burns and most of the company in the room with the dead body ; to my surprise the corpse was dressed in a coarse shroud , and already placed in a rough coffin , all of which the family of Burns had been left charged to have done by the time of our return . " Burns had removed the flat lid of the coffin , to show the face of the corpse to our companions from the squire's , and was disc-anting on the strong expression of villany which lie swore was marked in every feature and wrinkle , even then , in death After every one had satisfied his curiosity in looking at the corpse , Burns directed the carpenter , who had made the collin , to nail down the top , when
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scenes In America .
Magistrate much younger , with a narrow forehead , round face , and immense lower jaw . Ball was seated in front of the table , in the space between the two irregular rows of chairs , with Burns and myself near him ; a little distant from the court , between it and the fence along which , without , stood the horses , were several negroes , slaves of Buckley , whose black faces gazed intently on the scene . Squire Buckley called on Ball to state what lie had to say ; the old mail roseandwith a and clearness not
, , composure I was prepared to expect from him , alluded to the chief points , and then offered me as a witness of the whole affair . I gave , substantially , an account of every thing from my encounter with Ball at the Sink , to 6 ur departure from the scene of action between Ball and Hinkle . All present listened with breathless silence : Ball kept his eyes fixed on the grass ; Squire Buckley maintained throughout a calm , steady attention , and then with great mildness of manner cross-examined me . Burns was the onl y person whose attention not wholl i to the
was y g , ye , testimony and the examination ; he was durinnthe whole time watching the countenances of the company to ascertain if there was the slightest feeling in the bystanders against Ball , and it was evident enough from the expression of his own countenance , that he had detected nothing disagreeable to him . The two Magistrates leaned their elbows on the table , and consulted together for a moment or two , when Buckley roseand with a fine deep voicesaid Peter Ball of the
, , , " , we are opinion , that Hinkle himself brought about the circumstance that forced you to take his fife in defence of your own—there are no grounds whatever for committing you for trial , and you are now discharged free from all blame " In an instant the whole scene had changed ; the silence and order which had just reigned were gone , and the hustling noisy congratulations of Ball ' s neighbours , showed that he had been rather raised than lowered in their estimation
, by his battle and victory over the detested Hinkle . Squire Buckley insisted on our stopping for dinner , but Ball ' s impatience to return to his family , and Burns' desire to have Hinkle interred , and out of the way as soon as possible , made us decline his hospitality , and we set off immediately , accompanied by ten or a dozen of the company . On our way back everyone perceived Ball ' s extreme depression and misery of mind . The effort he had just made at the squire ' s was now followed by a deeper gloom than I had before noticed in him . Every one tried , in some way , to fessen ins depressionbut with the effecthowever
, , , of oppressing him intolerably In consequence of this I rode close by his side , to interrupt , as much as possible , this annoyance . I now thought 1 perceived symptoms of approaching alienation of mind in the old man ; for instead of the thoughtful character ot his rough visage , his countenance repeatedly expressed alternations of torpor and momentaril y excessive alarm . On our return to Ball ' s house , we found some eight or ten persons collected there in the yard ; his wife and daughter were at the fence , deadly pale , and trembling with anxiety . The moment we dismounted a scene of shaking hands and congratulations took place between those in the yard and Ball , similar to that at the squire ' s ; as soon , howeveras possible . T mit him
, into the house with his family , where , after speaking it moment to Jack I left him . I found Burns and most of the company in the room with the dead body ; to my surprise the corpse was dressed in a coarse shroud , and already placed in a rough coffin , all of which the family of Burns had been left charged to have done by the time of our return . " Burns had removed the flat lid of the coffin , to show the face of the corpse to our companions from the squire's , and was disc-anting on the strong expression of villany which lie swore was marked in every feature and wrinkle , even then , in death After every one had satisfied his curiosity in looking at the corpse , Burns directed the carpenter , who had made the collin , to nail down the top , when