AMERICAN VOLUNTEER. f fcuBUSUED EVERY THURSDAY MORNIHG BY JoUn B. Bratton. • TEBM.Sv ' “ It was a sultry evening towards tho last of dune, 1722, that Capt. Ilormon and tho Eastern Rangers urged their canoes up tho Kennebec river in pursuit of their onorales. Four hours they tolled diligently at the oar. Tho last traces of civilisation was left behind, and tho long shadows of the skirting forest met and blended bn the middle of the broad dtream, which wound darkly through them. At every sdund from tho adjacent shores—tho rustling wing of some oight bfrd, or tho footsteps of some wild boast —tho dash of the oar was suspended, and the ranger's grasp tightened upon his rifle. All know tho peril of the enterprise j and that si* «nco which Is natural of jeopardy, settled like • cloud upon tho midnight adventurers. “ « men I 1 said tho watchful Bertnon, In n voice which scarcely rose above ® hoarse whisper, ns the canoo swept around a rugged promontory, «there (s a light ahead J* Ail eyes wore bent towards tho shore. A tall Indian’s lira gleamed up amidst tho groat oaks, Casting a red and strong light upon tho dark Waters. For a single and breathless moment the operation of (ho oar was suspended, and kvory onr-listened with pninipl earnestness to batch (he well-known sounds, which seldom I died to Indicate tho propinquity of tho savages. But all was now silent. With slow and faint taovoment of the oar, the canoes gradually ap proached the suspected spot. Tho landing wos effected In silonco. Aflor moving cautiously for a considerable distance in tho dark shadow, ihu party at length ventured within (ho broad circle of tho light, which at first attracted their attention. Horinon was at their head, with an eye and a hand quick as those of tho savage enemy whom ho sought, Tho body of a fallen troo lay across tho path. As the rangers wore on (ho point of leaping over it, tho coarse whimper of Uormon again broke tho nllonoo i '•God of HeavenJ” ho exclaimed, pointing to tho tree. «< Soo hero I—*tls tho work of tbo rod ofcfiisM > A smothered enrao growled upontho lips of tlio rangers, ns they hunt grimly forward In tho direction pointed out by their commander,— Blond was sprinkled on tank grass nnd tho hand of aomo white man lay on tho bloody log. There was not a word spoken, but every conn* tonanco worked with torrlblo emotion. Hud the rangers followed tholr own dospornto Incli nation, they would have hurried onward to tho 'forkof vongoancoj but the example of tho icaaqr, who hipl regained his usual calmness and oir-commond prepared them for a less speedy, ui more certain triumph. Cautiously passing er tearful obstacles In tho pathway, and BY JOHN B. BRATTON. VOL, 43. closely followed by his companions, ho advanc ed stealthily and cautiously upon the light, hiding himself and his party ns ranch as possible behind the thick trees. In a few moments they obtained a full view of the objects ol their search. Stretched at their length around a huge tiro, but at a convenient distance from It, lay the painted and half naked forms of twenty savages I It was evident from their appearance, that they had passed the day In ono of their horrid revels, and that they were now suffering under the ef fects of Intoxication. Occasionally a grim war rior among them started half-upright, grasping the tomahawk as if to combat some vision of his distorted brain, but, unable to sbnko off tho stupor from bis senses, uniformly (ell back into his former position. Tho rangers crept nearer. As they bent their keen eyes along their well tried rifles, each felt perfectly sure of his aim. They waited for the signal of Harmon, who was endeavoring to bring his long mnaket to bear upon tho bead of the most distant of the savages. “ Firel” ho at length exclaimed, as the sight of his piece Interposed lull anddistinct between hfs eye and the wild scalp lock of tho Indian. “ Fire I and rush on.” The sharp voice of thirty rifles thrilled through tho heart of (he forest. There was a groan—a smothered cry—a wild and convulsive move ment among tho sleeping Indians, and all again was silent. The rangers sprung forward with thoir clubbed muskets and hunting knives; but their work was done. Tho Bed Men had gone to their last audit before tho Great Spirit, and no sound was board among them save tho gurgling of the hot blood from tticir lifeless bosoms. Thoy were left unburied in tbo place of their revoMJngs—a prey to tho foul birds of tho air, and tho ravenous beasts oi the wilderness.— Thoir scalps were borne homeward In triumph by tho successful rangers, whoso children and grand children have shuddered long alter, at tho thrilling narrative of tho midnight adventure. False Education, Tho early breaking down into invalidism ot our American women is the subject of frequent remark. Our young maidens arc, as a class, beautiful but delicate, and hardly do hosts of them got out of thoir teens before (boy become mure or less tho victims ot disease. Several of ouf contemporaries, wo perceive, are calling at tention to ono cause of this evil, viz: tho over working of girls at school. Where tho bluino of this Is to bo laid wo are not prepared to say. Wo doubt, however, whether it id all to be put at the doors of teachers, for wo have heard many of them lament it, especially those having charge of public schools. Tho docility, lave of approbation and emulation, quite characteristic of tho sex, taken in connexion with the early ago at which thuy are seated at tho desk, and tho early ago at which they are called from thoir studios, may account for much of the error.— Not only tho acquisition of the common blanches ot education, but likewise the acquisition o< ac complishment, is crowded Into a low years; and Hits, too, with a pruniaturo entrance, oftentimes, Into tbo excitement ot society. Natural conse quences oi this are headaches, crooked spines, dlhordcred nerves, weak eyes, debility, chronic complaints, that occasion more mischief, moral as well ns physical, than many may imagine.— Whul must follow where tho wife and mother is the victim ot ill health, can easily ho fancied. — And how many Instances U»cro.jtfO. Of -this Jll health traceable to the grievous mistakes of pa rental vanity or thoughtlessness, In subjecting mere children to (he Inevitable deleterious ef fects of overtasking the brain, keeping to seden tary pursuits, involving confinement, unnatural positions, unrelieved by vigorous, open air ex ercise 7 This is not a subject on which it is our province, were wo competent to speak in detail. But it is a subject which demands very serious , consideration. It concerns tho prosperity and ( happiness of thousands. It concerns the com-1 fort and joy of numberless horr.es. It concerns i the cause of humanity, Inasmuch as the abuses alluded to threaten to bring on, in some re spects, an alarming degeneracy in posterity— and that posterity only n generation or two be hind ns. The hosts of physicians, tho statistics of tho death of Infants dally occurring, tacts within the observation of otcry one, are all in- I dlcnttvo of a groat wrong, which threatens to produce bitter fruits, to disappoint many of the hopes of a progressive and prosperous civiliza tion.—Boston Courier. Home Yearnings. Tho following extract from "Passages of Eastern Travel,” will meet with a ready re sponse from every heart that has hod its dearest feelings nurtured amid tho gonial influence of homo : “ There Is a fireside in a far off land by which could I but warm ray cold and weary feet to night, I would lie down and sloop such a sleep as God glveth his beloved. Sometimes I think I have not slept for months; and I have not, save only that dreamy, restless sleep, that is tilled with visions of dear faces loofcing on vie through fm/nusaAfsoariorouf of unapproachable distances. And at night, ns I walked along, (ho moonlight, falling all around me out of that fathomless sky, I felt as If to 110 down on the sand would be blessed, and to sloop (here glori ous, if I could but dream once more of homo.” Will not this voice from tho Orient flml an echo in each heart that over roamed from the loved ones at homo I A response from every ono who has sojourned as a stranger in some strange land ? Tos, it will. Tho sentiment is one kindred to (bo loveliest feelings of tho hu man heart. * What a beautiful thought is tho ono wo have given in italics. It suggests so many pleasant memories, so many cherished associations (hut steal over (ho heart like sweet music, soottiing is balm ami sweat as tho odor of roses. Tho traveler stood before a Temple throe thousand years old. Tho ruins wore eloquent with (ho name and fafno of ttio great Sososlrls; and yet, standing (here In tho moonlight, upon tho glittering sands of Egypt, and by the side of the swift flowing, wonderful Nile, oven there, with anxious heart, tho IJowadjii turned his thoughts toward a Jar oft' land, and a homo around which clustered associations so dear, .' v , 1 ; 1 . 0 ' 1 w«> « «lvrino eo wictod. Wlrat ' ‘“A, 1 f ° COS 0f 11,0 COloMol .l.tllCl looking upon tho moonlit aconcry around, and upon hlm~-tho sight seekers of another contl nontf Other flicos “ through Impassable liars” looked In upon him “out of unapproachable distances,” and those with their old time asso clntions, were forgotten. This «• thought of a kingly Intellect” gave way to a thought more humble but also more potont for good. , But not alone from Egyptian ruins come those yearnings for homo. Bayard Taylor tolls us of thorn as ho traveled tho places of Central Afll eai and oven ho, who has ho on but. a day’s journey flora “that spot of sweetest sanctities, tho spot called Acme,” ns Dr. Chapin terms It, has experienced (ho same sensations, although perhaps less intense. 3v**Agood understanding with a bad will makes a very unhappy conjunction. That is an unlucky wit which is employed to do ovil— Knowledge will become folly, if good scenes do not take care of It. [C7“ Thoro Is this difference between those two temporal blessings, health nnd money ; money Is tho most envied, but tbo least enjoy ed : health Is tho most enjoyed, but tbolcast en vied. (fy* Ono moment! what nn effect it produces upon years! Ono moment! virtue, crime, glo ry, woo. rapture, rest upon it! Death ItselTis but a moment, yet eternity is its successor. “OUR COUNTRY—MAY IT ALWAYS DB'JtIOHt —BUT EIGHT OR WRONG, OUR COUNTRY.” ,'f- . . 1 ' lir Castles. Of all acts of folly, that expressed by tho phrase, “ building castles in the air,” is most consummate. There ore thousands who employ theh thoughts In this species of architecture— They are not contented with their night dreams, but they encourage day dreams also—and thus . they dream, druum, droom, to their sorrow ! They build ensiles in Imagination, which fUH*ns soon as erected. Like the house of tho silly man mentioned in tho Scriptural allegory, they build on an unstAblo foundolion. But they are oven more silly. Ho built his house on tho “ sand.” Thn wind and flood were required to demolish it. They build on “ air,” and the first breath of experience brings their castles tumb ling and crashing about their ears. A little forecast, as tho dictate of common sense, would have prevented (he sorrowful catastrophe. As it is, they must pay (he penally, and suffer. To tho young there is no mental habit more unfortunate (ban this of building air castles— unless, indeed, it be a degree of intellectual la ziness which would prevent their thinking at nil. Such airy speculations would, perhaps,' bo better than none. But, in a state of society like the present, (hero is really no excuse for tho building of air castles under any supposable circumstances. Tho ago is full of enterprise, and of material for useful thought. It may do lor tho spider, of whose gossamer castles tho old dilly sings— “ And, when she secs ’TIs broke by the hreezo, She weaves the bright tissue again.” But it is unworthy of men and women, who should bo leading lives with more rational mo tives and better results I For the habit of alr-castlo-buildlng, we know of no butter remedy than the following words, attributed to a learned Brahmin i ** In all thy desires, let reason go before thee, and fix not thy hopes beyond tho bounds of probability. So shall success attend thy un dertaking, and thy heart shall not be vexed with disappointment.” First Things. A French paper has an amusing orticle. de scribing minutely the successive first things that happen to q man in tho course of his life— his first hours as a new born baby, his first troupers, his first day at college, his first scho lastic prize, his first cigar, his first love letter, his first swcelhart. And then, coming to his various experiments in the way of profession, it describes his first cause as a lawyer, his “caso” as a doctor, his first battle as a soldier. It then proceeds io his first wedding night his first child, his first grey hair, his first wrinkle, his first rejcciion as on admirer, his first pn r of spectacles, his first rheumatism, ond—his first grave! Tho Parisian view of tho approach of old age is the most amusing part of all lids, and wo omit llie long list of lirsilings, till wc come to the , . , First Grey Hair —Adolphe carefully plucks It out. lie has no sooner done it than another appears at its side. A pest on thcml It is just like a turrel of applet—as soon as one is rotten the wlioie lot is spoiled. -Oh. thou drcssing-glass, in which Adolphe has for so long seen reflected a youthful and fresh face every morning say, do you recognize him now 1 •It fs-fndeedtho Mental aberatioh often results from oilier causes than a diseased of the body. Loss of friends, joss of propcHy, fright, excess of grief, or joy, often rcsuftQu alienation of mind: out bore the nature of-Unrigs is reversed; the physical man teds the shojcK and reels under its effects, as the mental mitt feels .the shock occa- i sioned by the disease of>tße body and reels un der its effects. . Thus it# with the science of Mesmerism, or almual nstfgnctiam. Mind acts on mind. In..McsinefUnftthc attention of the! operator is directed lowanfl the subject, and. as electricity can go as far'and almost ns quickly i as the mind can go, the electric current which is continually einßnallng’frora, and surround- 1 ing man in all his founts upon the cur rent of thought and passc|ffrom one to iheoth cr : the electrical fluid permeates the nervous system of the subject and,brings it under the control of the operator. V • [ Two persons may boirtaroom together: a, ; topic that has till then remained foreign, may I i l>c on the tongue of one, arid to his utter asion- 1 ishment the same subject'be introduced by the other simultaneously with himself, thus eviden-1 cing that mind acts un mind. I Man travels in thought,'or mind, to distant spheres, and wings his flight through illmnt-, able space in a moment pf time—steps from earth to Paradise and breathes, in imagination, the salubrious air and frokrant odors of that genial clinic, while he is plMding through mud and mire the distance of’apd. Every man is possessed-*? a mind : but. ns the plum grows«•>• And leaving the longed-for ultimatum The literary productions of others form, iho on the plate, she completed her toilette for the choicest volume In our libraries- the fruits of evening. . that most dreaded task —composition-writing. Her friends found her figure charming her Oh way the academy long stand and send forth waist as light as ever—herself paler 'than she many more characters os noble and useful as it used to be. but still otherwise unchanged, can now boast of having formed. Many rell- And the gnawing sensation of unappease hun gious associations, also, are connected with the 6 er which she had all the evening, was consol i)ldLACadcniy._oncL these aradenrerthaq any. fd tlm compliments to her unnvallcdTdrefls. chffffcw ifdl-rttarnilKrtri and-MiU. bcamifurMffiSf! mot, to receive instruction Crofri those lips which, Hitt another oyster would hare burst the lacing arc now cold /n dcath-- But his teachings still of the adorable oorsogo 1 And, (moral I) to live, wo trust in the hearts of many, and how forego that twelfth oyster should be taught la often hearts have been molted by his words off the discipline of female academics. 1 love and tender affection, ns when he taught us that all things here arc fading, falling and dy The walk is one continued record : and. as I look down the long vista of departed years, and see “ Friends that now are scattered, Like roses in bloom, Some at llie bridal, Some ut the tomb.” log. lie bade us seek an interest in that temple above, that building of tiod. that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Goon Sucikty.— It should bo tho aun of young men to go into good society. Wo do not mean tho rich, tho proud and fashionable, hut the so- 1 cioly ol thp wise, tho intelligent and good.— Whore you (Iml moil Hint know more than you do, ami from whoso convermilion one cun gain information, It is always sutu to bo found. It has broken down many a man by associating with the low and vulgar—whore tho ribald song was inculcated— and tho Indecent story, to ex cito laughter ami infiuoncu the had passions. Lord Clarendon has attributed his success and happiness in fife, to associating with persons umro virtuous (ban himself. If you wish lo bo wise and respected—if you dosiro happiness and not misery, wo advise you fo associate with the Intelligent ami the good. Strive for mental ex cellence and strict integrity, and you will never he found in the sinks of pollution, and on tho honchos ot (he retailers and gamblers. Onco habituate yourself lo n virtuous course—once secure a love of good society, and no punish ment would be greater (ban by accident to bo obliged for halt a day to associate with the low ami vulgar. * Palestine. — In entering Palestine, Mr. Stan ley, in common with all other travelers, was struck witii tho smallness of a territory which tills so largo a space in tho history of mankind. Us breadth randy exceeds tity miles, uhllo Ms extreme length, from “Dan to Deersholm,” is but one hundred and eighty. From almost ovary height in Palestine the entire breadth of tho ter ritory may lie taken in at a view, from tho hills of Moabto the seat and the traveler, oven in despite of previous preparation, is startled (a (Iml that In one long day lie has passed from (he capital of Judea to that of Samaria, or that, In eight hours, ho lias seen “ three such spots ns llobron, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem.” It brings a strange fooling, too, especially after leaving the uncertain topography of the desert, to ar rive suddi nly in the midst of places whoso still existing names have boon familiar to us from infancy, ns the scones of events which wo have never thought of without nwoj—“to hoar tho names of Carmel, Maon, Zlnh, shouted out by tho Bedouin guides, nr by tho plowman in tho fields, who know no more of David's wanderings than those ot Ulysses.” This is tho charm of travel in a classic land. But nowhere Is it fell with half tho security which is enjoyed among tlie unquestioned localities of tho laud ot' tho BIMo. Oun Homes. —Genius hath its triumph, fame its glories, wealth its splendor, success its bright rewards, hut the heart only hath its homo. Homo only I Whnt more noodeth (he heart 7 What more can It gain? A true Home Is more than (ho world—more than honor, and prldo, and fortune—moro than all earth can give—the light, (he noonday sun may not yield, and yet tho tiny flames of one pure beam o( love on* kindloth, and sympathy makes to burn forever. Homo I how more beautiful thou art I how like an untaught religion I a golden link be tween the soul and heaven I when tlio presence of a pure heart makes (boo radiant, and the music of its affection floats like tho chorals of unseen cherubim? around thy tranquil hearth. K 7“ A younger brother had espoused an old and IlMomporod wife, but extremely rich, lie used to say, «< Whenever I find my wife cross, and ray own temper giving way, I retire to my library, and console myself by reading her mar riage settlement. 1 ’ (C T Thcro iu so great a charm In friendship, that there is Crcn a kind of pleasure in ack nowlcdging'oncsclf duped by tho sentiment it inspires. D7Unbounded modesty, more ihnn unavowed vanity? tho too humble obcU unco is sometimes a disguised impertinence. AT 32,00 PER ANNUM NO. 46. The Twelfth Oyster's Difference. Madame dc K , a Russian lady of great consequence, formerly, in the fashionable world, returned lately 10 Paris. She had been absent some years, and of course had been forgotten, but it was now necessary to her happiness that she should re-conqucr her former glories as the I most adorable and best dress of women—par ' tioulorly the latter. She called again upon her [former dress-tnakcr, the most eminent of course | in her successes of toilettes, confided to her the , problem and i:s anxieties. There was to be a I certain ball. Madame de K , wished to appear first at that, in nearly the costume of a Gabrielle d’Eilrees. It was promised. On the morning of the day of the ball, Mad ame called upon her dress maker. The dress was done. It was a miracle of perfect beauty ! Twenty thousand francs* worth of lace reposed softly on folds of fulle, plaited as if by the fin gers of faries. The corsage was truly roorvel ous—but—oh horror! —when it came to be tried on, it was found impossible for Madame de K to enter it! Against the hints and counsel of the dress maker it bad been made upon her old measure. •Oh. desolation inexpressible!' exclaimed Madame.‘what is to be done ? Until cannot be helped. You must set instantly to work and make me another corsage !’ ■lmpossible!’ said the modiste, 'wehave but three hours, and thirty dresses to complete and send home in that lime.' ‘But, would Madame make one more effort V The cflori was made, and. this lime, the cor sage admitted Madame and her enlargements. But she was very (rale, and had recourse every moment or two, to her ‘salts. ’ ‘I sufiocate!’ she panlingly cried. •Madame will get accustomed toil, little by little, said the /misuse. ‘And then, with the exercise of the ball, 'ho size diminishes. For tunately it is a ball, for if it were a dinner par ly. Madame would be obliged lo give up the dress. * The stifling woman looked with glaring eyes upon the speaker- 'lt is a dinner!’ she ex claimed with horror. ‘They dance after wards !’ Thb Whoso Legs.—A gentleman of this city, who has the bad fortune to bo troubled with rheumatism in (he legs, and the good for tune to have an excellent wife, who is ever I prompt in applying the usual remedies to ar -1 rest the vexatious pains of this treacherous ' complaint, went home one evening last week j suffering greatly from Ins old misery.” Ilia I zealous wife immediately rushed to llio side bomd, and taking out the bottle of what she i supposed to be Uallea’s Pain Extractor, pro ceeded to rub the fl(Hict