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I
SAMUEL WEIGECT, Editor and Proprietor_
VOLUME XXIX, NUMBER 39.]
PUBLISIIED EVERY SATURDAY 1110EUSI?iG
Office in Carpet flail, South-west corner of
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e Copy perannumdf pnidin advance. 21 50
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illerly oryeorly titre rtisere,who are strictlyeonfined
o the' r burineiis.
JUST RECEIVED,
AT the Golden ?dollar Drug Store, an extra
quality of Lyon'a Pure Ohio Catawba Brandy.
Mao. pure Pearl Starch, Ili-Carbonate of Soda, Olive
Oil for table oar, emcee. Sparkling Crinoline. Heck
era' Farina. Owego Corn Starch, Cream of tartar.
All kindaof Spices; Garden, Hemp and Canary Seed.
Mare), 27. lrdd.
DR. J. Z. HOFFER,
DENTIST. --OFFICE, Front Street 4th door
Irmo Locust. over Saylor & plc Donald's Hook slorc
Columbia. Pa. frrEntratiee, between the Book and
Dr. II rrr's Drug ritore. [August 21,
DR. S. ARMOR,
HOMEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN,
COLUMBIA, PA.
Ormes .s.xn REammcc—Secoml Stmet,cme door from
Walnut.
March 13,1859,
THIODIAS WELSII,
JUSTICE OF TUB PEACE, Columbia, Pa.
OFFICE, in Whipper's New Building, below
black's Hotel, Front street.
frrPrompt attention given to all business entrusted
to tiis core.
November 29, lee:.
DR. G. W. MIFFLIN,
DENTIST, Locust street, a few doors above
the Odd Peilow••' Mall, Columbia, Pa.
Colaada. May 3. IS2G.
11. M. NORTH,
ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR AT LAW.
coiumbiß.rn.
Collectionl4rompay made,i n Lancaster:lnd York
BOUM jel..
Columbia. May 4,1850.
3. W. FISHER,
Attorney and Counsellor at Law,
Columbia, 451..
Columbru, '.2 , rpienota, CI, IzSG.II
PRATT a BUTCHER'S. Nagle OH, a new su
y ju.si received add for bold by
IL WILLIAMS,
rind' vtreci.
Norrmber 6. 1P
FOR LADIES AND MISSES.
iIIFT received for the holiday. another supply of en
./ ti 'lv new Ail+. Opera Iid:KIS. at alt ptiCcii, to Which
we respectfully invite the enema, of the Indica and
gentlemen. in inal.ing selections fin holiday Gifts.
11. C. FONDER , ?.V.I"I'If.
Adjoining the Bank.
Dec. 25, 18.59
gIIAIiER fresh lot of Shaker
Corn, for Auk by 1.11 , ,Nft17 SUYDAM.
Nov. 13. 15.58. Corner Front :11111 Union
ROF: E. 11. FLAG'S Instantaneous Relief.
P
vof I , loe hy It. NV I 1.1.1AN1 S.
=EI
A.FRESII supply of Extracts for the Ilona
kereleirr, guell it , . Hoge Geranium, Javoriu
Polley Suckle. spriliEt ('lowers, Ite.iioAllß. Winter
llloggomo,Tuheroge.Frangipantti, "Rios roe quickly,"
and a variety of other. too numerous to mention,
Just received and for gale by
Nov G. 'SS. R. NNILLIAMS,
ASUPERIOR, assortment of Puff Boxes,
im received 111!d fur a-ule lay
Nuar 6, '5B ft. WILLIAMS-
GEORGE J. SMITH,
WHOLESALE and Retail Bread and Cake
Daker.—Constantly on hand a variety of rakes,
too numerous to mention: Ur:totters; Soda, 11.111 e, Scroll,
tad Sugar Biscuit; Confectionery. of every description,
kc., Ac. 1.01 UST S'I'ItICET.
Feb. 2,'5G. Between the Bank and Franklin
TUST received, three dozen Dr. Branon's
ItVegetable ItPters, n certain cure for Dyspepsia;
also. a fresh lot of Nap Sago and Pine Apple Cheese,
Farina and emit Starch, at D. IiERIt'S
Sept 5, 1557. Grocery and Liquor Store.
JUST RECEIVED. a beauliful assortment of
at the licadtpairtrrr and
lrw• Depot.
entutubta, April 19, 1537.
Preparations for the Hair.
I'IIINGIPANNI POMADE, Vegetable Nutritive,
e.,,k,13..e. Bray. Cit. Haul'. Kau La , trale,
I.yon'a Hinharino, Roan l'hilicome, Bones Grra=e.
A tkiique Oil, Harry'. TriropherouQ, Wood's Hair
Oldridge'n Balm of Columbia, Min re
ecivrd nod for Auk by
Nov. 6,'83.
20n POUNDS Prime Live Geese Feathers,
t. for sale by
cfrt. 30. 1858. It. C. FONDERSMaIf.
CHEWING TOBACCO.
A T PF.A.IILER'S.I.ocust street. opposite the
11 Franklin House, can be had (XIII, LEAK CON
(lRE:sr...end several other brands of the best Chewing
Tobacco, to which the antennae of chewers Is invited.
Mn I. Md.
Spain's Premium Atmospheric Chums.
WILL produce more butter from a given
Tummy of cream than any churn in use.—
Seven sizes, wholesale:old roa
PaSICHAL.L. d.
NIOTIRIS Es CO..
N. E Car. 7th and Nlarket sts., Philadelphia,
February 20.1852.
Field, Flower and Garden Seeds,
in great variety. Warranted Fresh and
. Genaine. GUANO, Mapes Nitrogenized Super
All!hoepbate ofLime. Poud.etse.&e.
•PASCIIAI,I,,MORIIIS le CO..
4.1.410nr.;7111 and Market rte.. Philadelphia.
•Fehruary.o.llASS.
. _
Commonwealth Insurance Co.,
UNION BUILDINGS, 'Ft ird street, Harrisburg,
CHARTERED CAPITAL, 8200,000,
i ;nsure Buildings and other Property aga !as; or
,inmage by fire. Also. against midis or the Sea, In
tiPlNWation and Transportation.
DIRECTORR:—Simon Cameron. Geo, M. ha uman,
William Doe&.i;li Slifer, James Fox. (.10. Bergner.
Jlenjamtn Parke. Win. 11. Replier. A.R. Warlord. W.
F. Murray, F. K. Boas, john H. Bergyhill. Wm. F.
,Parker.
oFFICERS.—STMON CAI.IERQN, Pre•id,•ilt,
MEN). PARKE, Vice President. S. S. CARRIER,
Secretary.
H. 11. FRY. Agent,Columlria.Pa.
August 23, 1626.
BAGLEY'S GOLD PENS.
A FREE lot of lot A. C. Bagley's Gold - Peas,
ordtilereui sizes And priers. pp" received. at
SAYLOR & 761cDONAI.Ireg,
.lleatt Quarters and News Depot, Front etrect, sec
ond door above Locust.
, 1111.rth 27. 1858
BKOONS - .=- C
or (lentil. at 11. PEA OLIN'S.
_ Dee. 12. 1857 I.nruti rircet.
Sisra Compoun d of Syrup of Tar, Wild
Cherry and lloarhoond. for the cure of Cough,
Cold., Whooping Cough. Croon. he. for .:ile at
AIcCORKL.E.k.
Family Medicine Store, Odd FelieWe lIaII
Octolrer 21, lass. •
coraxamulaw & cox,
Grocers and Commission Merchants.
.; W. Corner of Frank:in and Pace eireem Bala.
'"' more, keep eonnanily on hand a a - el: .elected
. 1 4,4 ern rrr e r ors. Wiura and Liquor.
Octobr I 9, te:ii the
Raving been during tne greater part of
my life addicted to the study of the ab
4truse, it will not appear incredible that a
single hour's careful perusal of the page of
the philosophic Bradshaw led me to the
conclusion that it was possible to proceed
from the Paddington Station of the Great
Western Railway, to that of Pwglrr-y-
Gwllcrwddloes, South 'Wales, within the
compass of an autumn day.
I rose early and I did it.
The distance actually traversed was liter
ally nothing—a poor hundred and seventy
miles or so. But the immense number of
branches and of lesser sprays resulting
therefrom—combined with the elaborate and
artistic non-correspondence of trains—spun
out the journey to an affair of some thirteen
hours. Why, in the name of common sense,'
the G train should be made to ahive punc
tually at fifty minutes past two, and the R.
and II depart from the same station five
minutes earlier; or wherefore the latter
should, with equal precision reach its desti•
nation only to see the IV V depart, shriek
ing spitefully, "Too late! Just too la-a-te!"
or lastly, for what reason a certain railway
I could name (but I won't) should consume
two hours and forty and five minutes of
man's brief existence ia going twenty miles;
these are questions perhaps only to be re
solved when some belated bishop or specu
lative solicitor shall demand the public ear.
So stealthy had our pace become before
reaching Pwglrr-y-Gwllcrwddloes, that it
ended in our being totally unconscious of our
standing still. We had arrived and didn't
know it. It was, in truth, only by the guard
dashing open the door, and uttering some
thing that sounded like a violent clearing of
the throat, that we were apprised of the
welcome fact.
A walk of a mile, along a valley inter
sected by innumerable tramways, and lit up
with mighty furnaces in full blast, brought '
me to my destination; the house of a friend
who bad medical charge of sixteen thousand
stalwart bodies in temporal bondage to one
of the great iron-masters of the district; re
ceiving for his attentions three halt-pence
per month per body, total, twelve hundred
pounds per annum, accidents extra. This,
with the general practice of two farm-houses,
a beer-shop (whose customers availed them
selves unhesitatingly of the legal permission
to be as drunk as they pleased on the prem
ises) and the toll-house, produced a very
pretty little income. My friend was, more
over, allowed two horses, with forage; and,
as for coal, he had full license to dig in any
part of his garden he pleased.
The name of my host was Properjohn,—
John Properjohn. And rarely has a sug
gestive patronymic been more happily ap
plied. The orderly and exemplary charac
ter of my friend bad won hint to wife a
youthful widow; whom, in virtue of a very
distant Connection, and a very old friendship,
I was accustomed to call Cousin Cis. She
was the freshest and fairest of little matrons.
Not even two marriages had been able to
chase the smile front her lip, the healthy
pink from her smooth round check, or that
pretty dimple which seemed expressly made
for a baby's - lip to fill. In all my life I nev
er saw such milk-white teeth as Cousin Cis's!
Moreover, she was the idol of that rude dis
trict: the bit of gold in the centre of an iron
world; and, from the quiet soothing influence
she exercised over those rude tribes, had in
all probability as much to do with keeping
the furnaces in full roar, as the great iron
master himself. I may as well mention that
I was once in lose with this Cousin Cis of
mine; but I forgot to tell her so, and, one
morning, she married John Properjohn.
On arriving at the house, the door was
opened to me by a man-servant, of grave j
and subdued demeanor. He spoke in a low,
cautious key, and appeared to have a habit
of glancing up the stairs, as if he were con
scious of being watched over the banisters,
or expected something would endeavor to
make its escape from the house.
IMMEMeI
R. WI I.LIA 21IS
"How d'ye do, Benjamin? Dinner over, I
suppose?" said I.
Benjamin smiled compassionately..
"Some time ago, sir."
"Indeed! Hours are changed, then?"
"No, sir. We always dined at one," re
plied the man, with some severity.
I opened my eyes, for I had dined some
scores of times at my friend's board, and
never at an earlier hour than six. But I
said no more on the trivial subject; and Ben
jamin, relaxing his dignity, respectfully in
quired if I would proceed at once to my
apartment, or visit the drawing-room. I
chose she latter.
My pleasant hostess was alone, and came
forward in her cordial manner to welcome
me. I was grieved to see ,that she n.oved
across the soft carpet .uneasily, as though
she had received some injury in her feet.—
Nevertheless, she seemed to wish to antici
pate my approach, and met me • nearly at
the door. To my warm greeting, she re
plied in a broken smothered tone, which
alarmed ate still more. As I was about to
inquire eagerly the amuse of these sad ap
pearance", she stopped me.
"lie—he has just this moment dropped
off," she murmured.
"Dropped off! God bless me! Off what,
my dear cousin? Not seriously hurt? I—"
"Hurt, you odd thit•g! 'What do you
gritttiinto.
From liou , eliold Words
A New Baby
"NO ENTERTAINMENT IS SO CHEAP AS READING, NOR ANY PLEASURE SO LASTING."
COLUAIBIA, PENNSYLVANIA, SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 16, 1859.
mean! I say, ho has but this very instant
moment gone to seeps, or—"
"Seeps, cousin?"
"Sleep, I mean—or I'd have had him
hereto say ga-ga."
"Thank you very much, my dear cousin!
But, I beg your pardon, say what?"
"Ga-ga—ga-ga."
• "And what's ga-ga? And why should
Properjobn ray it? And why to me? Is it
a new Welsh welcome?"
"Nut Properjohu, you tease! It's Tiddle
pops."
"Baby!"
"Alia. My little godson! How is he?
A young giant by this this time, uo doubt.
Two years old is he not?"
"0, cousin!" said Cis, reproachfully;
"where's your memory? Tiddlepops won't
be two till the ninth of next month, and this
is only the twenty-seventh! Won't you like
to wash your hands? And then, unless you
would prefer waiting till you hare seen him,
we will give you some dinner.
I elected to dine while the young gentle
man had his "seeps" out, and then inquired
fur her husband.
Properjohn had ridden out to the neigh
boring village (about ten miles off) of Bryn
mawr to purchase a coral for the dear baby.
"Please'rn said Benjamin, who was hov
ering about the door, "nurse says, if Mr.
Burkemyoung will take off them thick boots,
and walk up stairs a tip-toe, and promise
not to go nearer than the landing, she thinks
he can just see his nose."
Mr. Burkemyoung, however, declined this
proposition, handsome as it was; and ac
cepted the alternative of washing and dining.
I was accordingly shown to a not very com
fortable apartment on the ground-floor; and,
on re-entering the drawing-room, encoun
tered my friend Properjohn.
"lla, Burkemyoung, old fellow!" said my
jovial friend, "what d'ye think of him?"
"My dear, he's asleep!" said his wife.
"True, my life. Bless me, I forgot!" re
plied Properjohn, with some confusion.—
"Burkemyoung couldn't have seen him—
how could he? unless indeed * * * *
By the way ho might have—and in fact I !
thought ho had—"
"What, my dear?"
"There's a ladder, dear, against the pear
tree, close by the nursery window, which is
open. I thought perhaps he'd just slipped .
up to see—"
"Open John? The window open?" And
off flew Cousin Cis, like a flash of lightning.
Instead of the pleasant social repast to
which I had been looking forward, I was
set down in solitary state to my dinner,
while my excellent friend, who had dined
with his baby at one, sat and gazed at me—
a thing I hate. I was dreadfully hungry;
but I never etc so little, or that little at such
imminent risk of choking. The meal
I dispatched, I suspected, from the increasing
indifference to noise in the house, that the
baby had awakened. Benjamin's face, as
he came and went in attendance on me, be
came more and more important. At last he
re-entered the room with ten-fold dignity.
looked full at me as if he said: "Now, sir,
collect yourself--prepare"--opened the
door, and admitted the babine procession.
First, came nurse, walking backwards,
partly to watch over the safety of rho inter
esting charge, partly to enjoy the effect of
the pageant. Then mamma, who would not
on this occasion delegate her right, bearing
the baby itself—excessively gut up, and ,
looking like a heavy roll-pudding, insulfi
ciently boiled; and garnished with lace. It I
had a vicious little eye like a weasel's, and
a goblin aspect that made me feel uncom- ,
fortable.
The very ugliest babies are usually toler
ated by adoring relatives; but this litt:e
contrivance was positively too bad. It did
not fulfil the common conditions of human
ity. One hand was stuck outside the lace
in a theatrical manner, which convinced me
it was not chance. Babies' hands are said
to be exquisitely beautiful; and certainly,
if to be pink, and bent, and wrinkly, is suf
ficient to contribute loveliness, baby's hands
were all that could be desired.
To return to the procession: the nurse
maid, carrying a very unnecessary candle,
followed mamma; and Benjamin, instead of
quitting the room, closed up the train; his
eyes still faAtened on mine, watching the ef
feet of the scene.
I am a good-natured man enough. I
could not bear to disappoint so many people
at once. So I nerved myself to the utmost,
and I may say without vanity, that the his
trionic. powers I evinced on this occasion
would have startled a Macready, and driven
Mr. Charles Kean into obscurity and Knight
hood.
I nourished a fervent hope that baby was
either too sleepy or too sully to go through
any tricks to-night. Alas, not so! The lit
tle vicious eyes winked and gleamed. The
creature opened an orifice in the fsce where
the mouth is usually situated, and aped a
human Sawn with frightful fidelity.
'•lsn't that pretty?" said my cousin, her
kind eyes beaming with delight, as the lit
tle round orifice closed up again, and a bub
ble appeared.
I expressed my enthusiasm.
"Now, dear, say gaze."
A savage Equall was the sole reply.
"There, there—he shan't!" cried the ter
rified mother. "But perhaps he'll walk.
0, cousin, he walks so sweetly—yOu must
just see."
Nurse demurred. It was enough, for one
night, that the incomparable infant had
displayed his beauty in repose. To-morrow
Tiddlepops would do anything he was asked,
and surprise us all. Wouldn't he?
Squall went the horrible Tiddlepops, and
was thereupon conveyed to bed.
Now, at last, I hoped we should have
pleasant hour. I had much to say and hear,
and was quite impatient for the door to close
on the retreating baby. But it didn't close.
The door was left ajar. Nurse had gono
down to her supper. and, although a trusty
nurse-maid kept guard over the infant trea
sure, it was clear that the attention of both
parents were too much distracted to admit
of any rational conversation. At the slight
est sound, mamma's voice paused, or sank to
a listening pitch; and once, Ivhen a mouse
squealed behind the wainscot, she fairly
started from her seat, as if prepared to rush
up stairs.
Nurtses supper appearing tobe n prolonged
and I being fairly tired out, withdrew
to my chamber, really feeling that I was
acting most considerately to my good friends
in leaving them nt liberty to repair on tip
toe to baby's bedside, and to refresh them
selves with one more look before retiring to
their own well-deserved repose.
My host—but not my hostess—appeared
at the breakfast-table, in the morning.
"Poor Cis had had n dreadful night," said
Properjohn. "It's only the bother. She
was up nineteen times with him."
"What's the matter?"
"Flushed, you know. Wakes and turns
over. You understand. Keeps opening
and shutting his little hand. I didn't know
what to make of it. We gave him paregoric
every thirty-five minutes. Several times in
the night the child looked as if he was
going—
"Going?"
"--to cry. Cis is breakfasting in bed,
regularly done. But she wilt be down in
an hour or so."
Eventually she appeared. And baby too.
"Ire has been talking so pretty all the
morning. Hasn't he nurse?" said my cou
sin exultingly.
Nurse replied, in substance, that his re
marks had been both numerous and pro
found.
It is possible lie had taxed his intellectual
and colloquial gifts ton highly—for he looked
both savage and sullen—but, of course, I
assumed an air of interest, and endeavored,
in my awkward way, to open an infantine
conversation. The little wretch only
sucked his apology fur a finger, and glared
at me. At length:—
'What has he been saying?" I asked in
despair.
"Whole sentences, my dear cousip," said
his mamma. "You never heard such chat.
I could'[ get in a word. What was it he
said coming down stairs, nurse?—'Ga-ga,'
say it again, ma's blessing, 'Gwen, toopid?"
"Ga-ga, toopid, Minny tipsy," prompted
DIEM
"'Toopid' is his favorite word," said Cis
"Everything's toopid: isn't it my pet?"
I began to think it was."
Lest my readers should be of the same
opinion, I shall not conduct them through
every hour of this most tedious day. Whether
the child had been over-dosed with paregoric,
or what had beendonc to him by Art and Na
ture, I will not pretend to say, but he would
neither speak nor walk, nor in fact do any
thing but suck his finger. This state of
things so alarinea the family, that domestic
business of every kind was suspended, and
the energies of all were deserted to the one
great end of restoring his spirits to their
natural querulous tone.
After some anxious consultation, Proper
john mounted his horse, and rude oir to visit
a brother doctor at some distance; with the
view, as far as I could understand, of tak
ing his opinion how far the prolonged suc
tion of one's forefinger is injurious to health;
and, assuming that it be injurious, what is
the gentlest method of severing the digit
from the abnormal position.
I hardly know how we passed the morn
ing. I believe I looked a good deal out of
the window. It seemed unkind to walk out
and leave my poor cousin alone with her
anxieties, and Properjohn did not return
for several hours. I might, however, as
well have had my walk. Cia only looked
in occasionally with a pale anxious face;
hoped I was amusing myself, and returned
hastily to the nursery. where Tiddlepops was
enjoying a placid slumber—his finger still
in his mouth. There was, Cis informed me,
a very curious appearance on his brow.
about as big as that (making a mark on pa
per about the size of a very small pin's head)
which caused her to be very impatient for
her husband's return.
I offered to ride out and seek him, but
this she was too nervous to allow, We had
some cold meat during the day, but no reg
ular dinner; and altogether I was truly de
lighted when evening and Properjohn ar
rived together: my friend n little ruffled in
consequence of some unfeeling remarks
made by the doctor about Tiddlepop's ail
ments,
'Tut," sighed Propetjohn,svith li.tneduff,
"he has no children." In the meantime,
however, the finger had quitted its position,
and the spot as big as that, had become in
visible to mortal mother's eye.
$o ended the first day. The next opened
better. It was known that he had passed a
tranquil night; mamma having risen only
three times, and papa twice, to see how he
was getting on. We exchanged smiles of
congratulation over the coffee, and shook.
bands more than once during the morning;
as if in silent recognition of the gratifying
aspect of affairs. I could scarcely forbear
smiling at the interest I myself began to at
tach to the state of this dreadful Tiddlepops'
health and temper. I had become infected
with the general solicitude; and had I re
mained a few days longer under that rocf, I
am persuaded I should have sunk l,cto as
abject slavery as any had. It was not that
I liked the child a bit better than at first,
but that the love and pity of these amiable
people appealed to mine; and what right had
I—though with a heart too little used to
such emotions—to stand selfishly aloof,
thwarting and shocking their sensibilities?
But my visit was cut suddenly short. We
were just preparing fur a pleasant stroll,
when the nurse, with an aspect I shall never
forget, burst into the room, and staggering
up to her mistress, threw her arms around
her, crying out:—
"o—please'rn, bear up—bear up!"
"Bear up!" shouted poor Cis. "Nurse,
nurse! Is he—is—what?"
"Ire—he /1 RS -WHOOPE Di"
"My dear Burketnyoung," said Proper
john, turning to me, pale as death, but calm
and collected as a man should be in .great
and sudden trouble, "My very dear friend,
you perceive the dispensation it has pleased
Providence to bring on my domestic pence.
lam wholly unfit to fulfil the duties of a
host. I cannot—l will not—request you to
prolong your present stay. At a happier
moment, I—I—"
The good fellow pressed my hand warmly
Cis took the hand he had let fall.
"And cousin, dear," she answered, She
tears bursting from her eyes—"you shall
yet—please God—hear him say--.oa— gr ,
toopid.' "
In that hope I live.
Useless Things
"The diligence fur Paris!" shouteda waiter,
opening the door of an eating-room of the
Grand Pelican, at Colmar.
A middle-aged traveler, who was break
fasting in the room, rose hurriedly, on
hearing this announcement, and ran to the
entrance of the hotel, where the ponderous
vehicle had stopped. At the same moment
a young man leaned his bead out of the
conch door. They recognized. each other,
and exclaimed joyfully:
"My father!"
"Camille!"
With these cries the door sprang open;
the new-comer leaped over the step and fell
into the arms of the older voyager, who
pressed him eagerly to his heart.
Son and father met again for the first
time after an interval of eight years which
the former had spent in London with a
maternal uncle. The decease of this rela
tive, whose heir he was, permitted him.
when he had reached the years of manhood,
to return to the parental mansion, from
which he had been absent from his child
hood.
After first questions bad been inter
changed, Mr. Berton proposed to Camillo
that they should start immediately for the
country, where he was living, near Ribeau
ville; the latter, anxious to visit once more
the house where he was born, assented; the
the chaise was prepared, and both continued
their journey.
There is always in first interviews after a
; long absence, a certain embarrassment
which interrupts converse with unaccount
able silence. Unaccustomed to ono another,
we mutually study, observe each other, and
endeavor to discover the changes that time
has produced in ideas as in person; we seek
the past in the present with a kind of un
easy hesitation. Mr. Berton was eager to
know thoroughly the young man who had
now returned in place of the child from
whom he had parted. Like the physician
examining a patient, ho interrogated ijim
minutely, noted every impression, and
analyzed his smallest word.
Continuing his study the while, he allow
ed himself to bocarried away by the current
of conversation, and spoke to his son of his
own peculiar tastes and employments since
his departure.
The proprietor of Ribeauville could
' neitiler be called a servant nor an artist,
but, though incapable himself of producing,
ho appreciated the productions of others;
a mirror which, destitute of the creative
power, reflected creation! no intellectual
spark unperceived by him, no emotion
mysterious. Se interested himself in all
discoveries, ,'joined in all enterprises, en
couraged all efforts. For him to lire was
not only to reserve the mind God has given
us, but to increase and ennoble it by con
tact with other minds. Thanks to the
leisure a rich estate permitted him, he was
enabled to employ his activity without
feeling limited by necessity. Not being
compelled to any especial course, he had
pursuedlthem all as one among its fotlowers,
sustained their courage by his rewards and
sympathies. Abatis had seen him heading
each enterprise undertaken for the advan
tage of letters, sciences, or of arts, and the
museums of Strasburg had been enriched
by his gifts. lie was now employed in
forming expensive trenches in the sides of
a hill, where bad been discovered several
vestiges of antique pottery. lie pointed
out to his sone in passing,. the Roman
mound, and told him how, to obtain it, he
has given in exchange an acre of his best
meadow land.
Camille looked astonishment.
“You consider me very unwise, do you
$1,50 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE; 82,00 IF NOT IN ADVANCE
not?" asked Mr. Berton, who was noticing
him.
"0! no, my father," said the young man,
"I am only surprised at the bargain."
"Wherefore?"
"Because it appears to me that utility
should be considered in all things, and that
this hill cannot bo worth an ac; e of mea
dow land."
"I see you aro unacquainted with an
tiquity."
"True; I have never understood what old
earthern ware proves, and what interest
can be found in extinct races."
Mr. Berton eyed his son without reply
ing. Eager to study him well, he cared not
to startle his confidence by a debate. S )me
moments of silence ensued, wlccL were
suddenly interrupted by an impulsive ex
clamation from Camillo. Ile perceived,
afar off among the trees, the manor, whose
turret he recognized.
"Ah! yes, that is my observatory," said
his father smiling; "not only any I an an
tiquary, my son; I have made myself an
astronomer."
"You, my father!"
"Our turret is transferred into a study,
and a telescope is set there, which enables
me to examine the stnrs."
"Is it possible you delight in occupying
your mind with things beyond your reach,
that you cannot change, and that are use
less to you?"
"It employs time," said Mr. 'Berton, en
deavc,ring to shun a serious discussion.
"Moreover, you will notice many other
changes. The old barnyard has been
metamorphosed into an aviary, and the
orchard into a botanical garden."
"These changes must needs have cost
•
much."
"And I reap nothing from them."
"Then you yourself condemn them?"
"1 du not deny it, but here Ice are; let us
step out."
The groom hastened to take the reins, and
our two travelers left him to drive the chaise
to the coach-house, while they entered the
manor, Camille found the vestibule encum
bered with old armor, geological specimens,
and herbal specimens relative to the Aus
trian treatise on flowers.
"You seek .a book for a cloak?" said Mr.
Berton; scke observed him glance around
with a kind of disappointment, "that would
be truly more useful than my curiosities;
however, let us pass to the saloon."
The saloon was ornamented from the base
of the pillars to the cornices with rare de
signs or medallions. The proprietor was
anxious to excite his son's admiration of
several frames, but the latter pleaded his ag.
norance.
"Indeed, all that has no great importance,"
said Mr. Berton, good humoredly, "we are
overgrown children when curiosity amuses,
but I notice with pleasure that you view life
practically."
"It is owing to my uncle Barker," ob
served Camille with a rather theatrical mod
esty; "he frequently complained of time and
treasures expended for the frivolous wonders
of art, and sought vainly what profit human
ity could draw from sooty paper or painted
linen."
They were interrupted by the entrance of
, a servant, who announced dinner and hand
ed to Mr. Berton anew book received through
the post; it was the work, impatiently ex
pot.t do f favorite ed, a poet
{
"Come," said he, "do L intend delaying
your dinner for verses! Uncle Baker would
never have pardoned it."
"I am afraid not!" replied Camille smil
ing; "for it was habitual to him to ask toe
to what purpose poems could be put."
Father and sun commenced their meal;
the conversation continuing on the same sub
ject. Camille developed freely the opinions
he owed to his uncle Barker, who had tough
him to be sincere; but this candor arose with
the old economist, less from adoration of the
true, than from love of the useful. He re
spected the honest course not on account of
its being honest, but beca.tse he knew it to
be the shortest. In his opinion, the lie was
a &Ise calculation, vice a bad investment,
and passion exaggerated expect e! In all
things, utility remained the supreme law.—
From that cause, there was a strange hard
ness even in the worthy actions of the old
man; his virtues appeared only properly
solved problems. Camille had adopted his
uncle's doctrine with the readiness that
youth accepts what seems unanswerable.—
Reducing everything by degrees to the per
emptory question:—Of what use is it? his
reasoning—which he took fur reason—had
reduced social duties to mathematical prop
ositions. Cured, as he said, of the mental
alienation called poetry, be acted in life as
did that Jew who erased a painting of Ti
tian's in order to have an unspotted canvas
which might be good for something. Mr.
Berton heard his son give his opinion with
out either evincing discontent or impatience.
He alleged several objections which the
young man refuted seriously; he appeared
influenced by his (the young man's) reasons,
and did not eeperate from him before declar
ing that they would resume the conversation
another time.
Henceforward, Mr. Berton continually
introduced the same subject, yielded more
and more, as a man whom persuasion gains.
Camille, now become his father's teacher,
became self-exalted in tbis singular charac
ter, and increased in eloquence as he felt
himself triumphing. Finally, compelled to
be absent on a visit to some relatives in the
neighborhood, he left Mr. Mr. Berton appa
rently converted.
[WHOLE NUMBERI,I96
Ills absence lasted eight ,lays; this had
given sufficient time for the bursting tho
buds and the flowering of the fields. On his
return, spring was ur tiolding everywhere its
youthful grace. One saw the 5., , ,•rd lows skint
through the air with joyous cries; pengants'
songs, arising from their places of work, re
sponded to these of the shepherds wander
ing in the fallow grounds. and the refresh
ing breezes which came I do. corn to wave
its golden sunnai% and ,n•er :.1; the paths
odors of fie, cowslip, nod •. N ,!with
y all
resist
standing a ..ys.en
poetry. Catnide
the influence of this aw.t . ,;,..
Without noticing it he ail,ee ba
completely eharme.l ht - the light, songs, and
perfoutes! An involuntary emotion con
quered Itini, and he arrived nt the manor
wrapped in a specie.....f hewihierment.
He met his father in the iMddie of a flow
er garden, which servel ;:s rt ,: ,, art-yard.--
Mr. Berton was surrminded he workmen
employed in dig4ing up the exers and cut
ting down the hedges. TWO lilaCS, that
shaded the wind.nrs of the level ground
with their balmy tufts, had just been gath-.
°red fir making fagots.
The youth could not restrain a cry of sur
prise.
"Ali, there you sec," said Mr, Berton,
perceiving him, •'you have just nrrived in
time; Conte and enj,my your triomph."
"My triumph!" repeated Camille, who did
not.understand.
"De you not observe that I have beoome
your disciple?" said the proprietor of Ili
beauville; Mu,h reflection has been spent.
on what ynu sald, my dear son, and I agree
that your uncle Barker and self wore right.
We must cot off from life useless things.—
jFlowers and hedges arc in a garden what
poems are in a library. As you said of
j what use can he a poem! * * *
unless it be to light a fire. So will my moos.
But come, come, you will see other changes.
I have profited by your absence, and hope
to give you satisfaction."
While speaking, Mr. Berton familiarly
passed his arm in that of Camille, and con
ducted him to the manor. The vestibule
was void of the curiosities which had hith
erto filled it, and in their place were caries,
spittoons, and pegs. All the designs and
paintings had been also removed from the
saloon, and the walls completely white•
washed. Plain rectangular furniture took
the place of seats a la Louis XIII., gothic,
trunks and sideboards. Mr. Bettor' cast a
happy look at his son.
"Well," said be, "you will not this time
accuse me of sacrificing to the frivolous
wonders of art; our saloon boasts no longer
four walls whose utility can be contested.—
We will now have a place suitt.ble for hang
ing up our grain, 'hooking' our guns, or do.
positing our wooden shoes." Camille de
sired to risk a few objections, but his father
Isilenced him by recalling the exoommuni
cation pronounced against "sooty paper and
painted canvas which had never been of any
profit to humanity."
The changes, be , ides, were not confined
to the saloon, tho entire; houQe had suffered
the same transformations. Whatever was
designed only to please, hod been pitilessly
sacrificed. All had, henceforth, a positiro
daily use; the agreeable made way entirely
for the necessary!
Mr. Berton. who showed thin new organ
ization kith n certain pride, informed Ca
millethat nothing would remain no formerly.
His flower garden was to I.e trunofi ruled
into a barn-yard, and loitanival garden
into it park. The new 6"s:illation Sin
be given to his 01 or tntory r!au not pt
agreed upon; he wavered beta ern n
awl a dovelinnoc. en stupefied
by the maznitutie of the relomos. but sub
dued by the ntotiVE,l that be had himself
rofc , so.i, from thnuzh
unnli!e to I,lotne. at length, to
get nut of the difi'o.iiity by spoil Virg nfother
lo? inquired 7141 letterto had
arrived fit- him from .E.g1.,1171.
believe s,nie gore r.e.eoted," said his
father, "but aq nn af
fairs of rm:e, I ttr.lert , ,i thorn t • be refilled."
" What," replied Ca "I was as,
pecting ows Irma 'fine ~ f niy first frien4o,
who bud pr••mi,-ed to sea•? accunnts of
:he Ireland ritt ,,, ticl''
reili , •d Mr. liert.,n, with indiffer
ence; "what pleasure, can you and in occn
pying your mind with things beyond your
reach? Is not fsr ft.out you, what
the stars were for mc? It.: rot o:utiros briny;
you nothing., and you can change nothing in
them."
"My sympathies are interested:" opposed
the young man.
"Will they serve you cr servo Ireland?"
Hike' Mr. Beau.: cal:11:y; "do you imagine
that your fore.,,i;.;ht influences her destiny,
that your wishes assist her?"
"I did nk,t say they would."
"Postage thou 1 , 5 useful to no one. Saab
confelsitm is condemning it yourself."
Camille bit his lips; he was conquered
by his own arms, and felt so much the more
irritated at it. This vigorous application
of his doctrines appeared chastisement.—
Ile prepared to -joke. however, and without
attacking principles, commenced criticising
in detail projected as well as accomplished
changes, but Mr. Berton had foreseen every
thing. and had a reply always ready. Ca
mille finally, for want of objection, preten
ded that the flower garden could not servo
its new destination, and that a farm yard
should he pared. His father clapped his
forehead.