- - . . , - I . r . -•• - r k _ „ SANMEL WRIGHT, Editor and Proprietor. VOLUME XXX, NUMBER t 7.1 PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING Office in Carpet Hall, 2Grat-wellcornerof Front and Locust streets. Terms of Subscription Otte Copy perunnum.if paidin advance, *I • t it not paid within three monthsfromeommencementofthe year, 200 Ex. Copp. I.ilo subscription received for a less time than six months; and to paper will be discontinued until all arrearagesa re paid,unlessut the option o f the pub ishcr. irrAioneymay beremitted bymail a ithepublisll erss risk. Rates of Advertising k squat. e[Glines]one week, ••• three weeks, each4obsequentinsertion, 10 - [l2:ines]one week, 50 three weeks, I. 00 tit euebsubsequentinsertion. 21 Largentdvertiscmeno.in proportion. Aliberaldiseountwillbe mode to quartor.ly,ltai r. early oryearlyativertisers,who are strieti)confined °their business. DR. HOFFER, DENTIST. --OFFICE, Front Street 4th door Irom Locust. over Saylor & McDonald's Book store Colombia, Po. 11:7Entrance, betweeti the Book and Dr. Herr's Drug :store. [August 21., IBM TUOMAS WELSH, JIMM OF THE PEACE, Columbia, Pa. OFFICE, in Whippeen New Building, below Black's Hotel, Front street. E7`Prompt attention given to all business entrusted to his care. November 28. 1857. DR. G. W. MIFFLIN, DENTIST, Locust street, a few doors above the Odd Fellows' Hall, Columbia, Pa. Columbia. Up 3. 1856. H. N. NORTH, A TTORNEY ND CORNS LOR AT 117 Columbia,Pa. Collectione, romptly made ,i nLa ncaster and York 3ountieß. Columbia, na' 4,1850 J. W. FISHER;' Attorney and Counsellor at Law, Glcauxicalryaizt., mt, Se tember 6, 16504( S. Atlee Bockiis, D: D. S. PRACTICES the Operative, Surgical and Illechan ical Departments of Dentistry. °Fries —l.oe ant street, between the Franklin Irou.e and Post Office, Columbia, Pa CIIBWING TOBACCO. AT HENRY PPM - 11 , MS, Locust street. opposite the Franklin Blouse, can be had CUBA LEAF, CON GB.EStit, and several other brands of the best Chewing Tobacco, to which the attention of chewers is invited. !day 1, 1859. IMPORTED Lubiii" , i, a lso, Glenn's Double Extracts, for the handkerchief, at BARRY GREEN'S, va.. 19,'59. Opposite Coln. Bridge, Front Si. B _ nooms.---ioo Doz. Brooms, at 'Wholesale or Retail, at 11. PFAHLER'S, Dec. 1.2., 1857. Locust otreet. SINE'S Compound of Syrup of Tar, Wild Cherry and lloarhound, for the rum of Coughs, Coldo, Whooping Cough. Croup,&c. For sale at M eCORKL.F. & DEL.t.zrrs Family Medicine Store, Odd Fellows' Hall. October 23,185 n. Patent Steam Wash Batters. quip:se well known lloilere ore kept eonotnolly on J- hand at 111,1NItY Locum oireel.opposite the Franklin House. Columbia,Jl4lB.lS,l7. Outs for sale by the bushel or larger quart my by D. F. AP1'01,1), Columb Ia Dcc. TOBACCO and Segars of the best brands. wholesale und retail, al Jte.59., BRUNIRR't4 JUST in store, a fregh lot of Brentig h Proofield's celebrated Vegeta`rle Cattle Powder. and for sole by R- WILI.I-01$, Front street, Colorobta. DEM Soap. 25 Boxes orDulrey Brown :Sow on band and Ihr sale low at the corner of Third and Union Sts. august 0,1959. Suffer no longer with Corns. AT the Golden 'Mortar Drug Slam you call procure an article which is warranted to remove Corns in 49 hours. without pain or soreness. Fly Paper. ASUPERIOR whole of Fir Paper, for the de.true lion of Flies, &c.. has jus: been received at the Drag Store of It WILLIANIS, Front <trcet Columbia, July 30,1859. Harrison's Columbian Ink WHICH is a suprrior article, permanetiCY black. VT and not corroding the pen, can be hod in any caiintity. at the Validly. Medicine Store, and blac&cr yet in that English Root Polish. Columbia. Joan 0.1839 rinFß=l MRS. WINSLOW'S Soothing Syrup, which will .131 greatly facilitate the process of teething by re ducing ini umation. allaying pain. spasmodic action, dr.c., in very. bort time. For sale by - It. WILLIAMS, Front street, Columbia. _Sept.l7,l9Zo REDDING & CO'S Russia Salve! This ex tremely popular remedy for the cure of external &Materna Is now for •ale by R. WILLIAMS. Front et., Columbia. 5ept.:14,19.59. QALT by the Sack or Bushel, and Potatoes kJ in large or email quantities, for dale at the Corner of Thild and Union streets. Pau. 8. '59. FRANoteANNI - Fitiets and Snnp; an teigilaisting perfume. at IiARRY GREEN'S, Feb.l9. '59. Opposite Cola. Bridge, Front St. CISTERN PUMPS. THE subscriber has a large stock of Cistern 'Tamps and Rams, to which he CAIN the attention of the public. He is prepared to put them up for use in n substantial and enduring manner. IL PFA Locust sti eet. December 12,1.857 , FANCY TOILET SOAPS. THE finest assortment of Fancy Toilet Soaps, ever otrered to Colombians, at HARRY GREEN'S, Feb IL 'M. Opposite Cola. Bridge, Front St. COLOGNE WATER by the pint, quart or gallon Glenn's Extracts tor the handkerchief by the lance or pound, or in any quantity to Fail parchnser' Blear Gligiors, Oppo.ite Cola. Bridge, Front St. aireb 19.'50 Just Received arid For sake, 2 Bbls. Ground Plaster; 50 b - b , s. Extra Family 00 Flour; 25 ',Ws. No.l Lard Oil of best quality; 'AM bus. Ground Alum Salt, by B.F. APPOLG ! No T and 2 Canal Basin. March 26,'50 JRWIN'S Celebrated Black and Green Tots, mkt(' Cocoa and Chocolate, All Corner or Third and Union stream [Nov. MI, .58. GRIkBO, or, Bond's Boston Crackers, for Drpertien, and Arroyo Root Crackers, for in valids and children—new articles fo Colombia, at the Family Medicine Store, April 16. 16:19. NEW CROP SEEDLESS RAISINS. THE best for Pica Podding, kc.—a fresh sorely at H. StlltDAM'cr Noy. 19 .1 Gro s9. cery Store, Comer Frost and Union sts Seedless Raisins! jiLOT of very choice Seedier 's Retrial. just received at S.F. EBERLEIN'S N0v.19, Grocery Store. No H. Locust et. Turkish Prunes! Fo n a first rate article of Prone, you mug go to S. EUERLEIN'S N0v.19, 1469. Grocery Store, No. n Loom at SHAKER CORN. JUST receiTaid, a first rate Jot of Shaker Corn, at of lI.SUVD*I4'S Grocery Starr, Center Front and Union at. 140r.26, 1959. glltttirrns. The Shadow in the Railway Car "Will you mind having the window up, old fellow?" said I to Charley Howard, ono foggy afternoon as we were traveling by railway down to Scotland together, "it is a precious raw day this same twenty-ninth of February." "Twenty-ninth of February!" repeated Charley, like a parrot, pausing with the window half up in his hand, "is it possible?" "Possible, alLeit improbable, I admit, seeing it comes but once in four years. But what on earth is the matter withlou, Char ley? It is Leap-year, certainly, but what of that, unless you have been trifling with the affections of some fair damsel who will pursue you to make you an offer, which she is entitled to do this year! Is she after you? By Jove! I believe you are afraid she will come after you here." "Fred," said Charley, in a subdued quiet way, very unlike himself,—for a noisy fel low is Charley, six foot high, and always in the open air. I believe he thinks a house need only consist of a bed-room and dining hall, with perhaps a lean-to for a billiard table on a wet day. "You know lam nut a fellow to take nervous fancies: into my head; don't laugh now, if I tell you a very strange thing that happened to me on this very line, four years ago this very day." "I had performed about half the journey in much comfort," resumed Charley, "when the train stopped at a junction station about five o'clock in the afternoon. There was a a good deal of crowd on the platform, and, secure in the-purchase I had made of the guard's promise, I amused myself by watch ing the people elbowing and pushing each other about. There was one figure, how ever, which attracted my attention by the contrast it formed to th"st. It was a lady, wrapped in a long white !mimeos, which looked cold and chilly that foggy af ternoon." 81 SO CM "Possibly her dressing-gown," said I; "an ill-judged costume, certainly." "She was apparently young, for the tall figure was very slender; but she had so thick a veil on her face I could not distin guish the features. She alone seemed to know neither bustle nor hurry; she moved slowly along, with a sort of undulating mo tion, and with the utmost unconcern walked up and down until the bell had rung, and the train was just starting, when, to my surprise, aim stopped opposite my carriage, gently opened the door, and placed herself on the opposite side to me. 'hang the fel low,' said I to myself, 'I thought he told me the door was locked.' But there was no time fur remonstrance then, for the train had started. She sat quite still, with her veil down, and I began to wish very much to see her face." "Very pardonable, as you thought she was young," muttered I. "There was a long bright curl hanging from beneath the veil which took my fancy very much"— "I should have taken the curl, I think," said I. "So, to begin a conversation, I said I was afraid she might find the carriage smell of smoke. As I spoke, she turned her head towards me. am afraid then, sir, that I am a most unwelcome intruder in your car riage, for I must have interfered with your smoking.' As she spoke, she lifted her veil and—upon my life, Fred, I never saw so beautiful a face. It was a perfect oval, with beautiful soft brown eyes, very deli cately traced eyeballs above them, and long lashes that rested on her cheek when she looked down." "How they must have tickled," I once more interpolated. "The only fault of her face was perhaps a want of color." "Result probably of dissipation—hot rooms," interrupted I, but Charley got im patient. "Positively, Fred, I will tell you no more, if you won't attend." "Attend, my dear fellow! my little re marks are all to show the unflagging atten tion with which lam listening. But go on Charley, I wont say much more if I con help it." "What more I have to say will soon be said," continued Charley, speaking more to himself than to me—which was rude, but I forgave him. "I have seldom had a more witty and intellectual companion. She could talk of every subject delow the stars and some beyond them. I can't talk to women generally; .for I can't pay compliments, and never go to the opera Biit this woman was-as reasonable as a man while she was us quick as a woman." "Ah, intellectual women—wisdom and water; I know," suggested I, but this time so low that he dil not hear me, and he went on. "It bad meanwhile got dark, but there was a young moon, and by the uncertain light of the lamp I could see the soft out line of her figure and the dazzling white ness of her hand, on which I, for the first time, noticed a wedding-ring; but, to my surprise, the hand was streaked with blood. 'Good gracious! madam, I am afraid you have hurt your hand,' I said, starting for ward. • "'I have not hurt it,' she replied faintly, 'it is stained.'' "She did not attempt to move it or to change her position, and I sat looking at it "NO ENTERTAINMENT IS SO CHEAP AS READING, NOR ANY PLEASURE SO LASTING." COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA, SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 4,1; and at the wedding-ring, and wondering what her history was, i. e., thinking it must be a mournful one, for she never once smiled—not even the shadow of a smile— all the time we were talking, though we were witty enough, as I have told you—" "I heard you say she was," I replied, "and don't deny the possibility of that; but from what I know of you, can scarcely credit it of you toth." "—when a sudden gust of wind coming whistling down the cutting, extinguished the lamp—" ("What a disagreeable smell it must have made," said 10 —"and left us in perfect darkness. 'How very unfortunate,' said I to the lady, 'just as wo are coming to a tunnel, too.' I thought I hard a faint sigh and her dress rustling. I remember thinking how cold it was in that tunnel.— There was such a rush of cold damp air over us; then we began to emerge and I wondered with a kind of a childish specu lation how soon, by the feeble moonlight, I should be able to trace her outline on the opposite seat. I sat with my eyes fixed on it, but could see nothing. It is too dark, thought I to myself, though I could distin guish the divisions of the seats and my cloak and rug on ono of them. We must get the lamp relighted,' said I, aloud, but there was no answer, and I shivered at the sound of my own voice. I bent forward and felt over the seats. I could feel nothing there. I spoilt match after match of my cigar lights, as I endeavored to make one burn. I thought we should never stop again; at last, however, we came to a sta tion, and I halle'ed eto the guard to light the lamp. 'The door is not locked after all your promises,' said I to him, 'take it out that way.' "'I beg your pardon, sir," said a porter, 'the door is looked;' and he lighted the lamp from the top. "I was alone in the carriage. 'Good hea vens!' said I, 'whore is the lady?' "The mon stared at me. 'I tell you there was a lady here,' I repeated, 'she must have got out in the tunnel.' "'There was no lady, sir,'said the guard; but the porter, with a mysterious face, shook his head, and said, 'Ala, you've seen her, too, sir, have you?' "The train, however, went on that mo moment, and I had no time to investigate the matter further. Well, Fred, what do you think? Don't think me mad, for it is true." "Mad! certainly not, my dear fellow, only a little sleepy, as indeed your most interest ing story has made me." . "I was not asleep, Fred," replied Charley: "I was broad awake as lam now. Besides the porter evidently knew there was a mys tery." "Oh, if you are going to make the whole turn upon the porter's shaking his head, I have done with you," said I, incredulously. "I could make it a good romance and call it the Porter's Wink, if that is all that is necessary. Seriously, Charley, how can you be such an old fool? You had been dreaming, or else eating cat-pie at the last station. Charley shook his head, and began mur muring something about not eating cat pie at stations." "Well, at any rate," said I, "I did, the very last time we stopped; nod I think it must have been an old Tom; the remem brance of it makes me so uncomfortable I must go to sleep at once." Thus speaking, I wrapped myself up well in my rug, as I naturally did not believe a word of the nar rative with which my friend Charley had fa vored me. I might have been asleep half an hour or more when I suddenly woke up, feeling thoroughly Chilled and uneasy, and, looking up, saw Charley who was sitting opposite to me, with such a look of terror and amaze ment on his pale face that I immediately put down my uneasy slumbers to his ac count. "Good heavens! Charley," said I, "how the dickens do you expect a fellow to sleep if you sit pulling such long faces opposite him. No wonder I could'nt keep quiet.-- What is the matter now? Still thinking of your mysterious fiddlesticks?" "Hush!" said Charley, "there she is!" 'jumped round—sure enough, next the other window on my side sat a' lady, wrapped, as Charley had described, in a whim bournous; the curl, of which ho had spoken escaped from under the thick veil which concealed her face from us. I'm not such a fool as I look in general, but I must say I was a little staggered for a moment; my next impulse was to enter into conversa tion with her. "I beg your pardon, madam," said raising my hat, "I am afraid you must have thought I used strong language just now, but I felt myself aggrieved by my friend, as I am a very light sleeper, and I consid ered he had disturbed me by the very dis agreeable face he was making." "I should not have thought you so light a sleeper either, sir," replied a sweet, low voice, as the lady bowed in return, "for you did not seem to heed the bustle of the Junc tion on my getting in." So saying she raised her veil, and the identical soft brown eyes Charley had spoken of gazed sadly at me from her astonishingly white brow. "Take some sherry, Charley," said I, handing him the flask, for I saw his whole frame quivering. "And may I offer you some, madam?" "None, thank you," she replied. Charley's hand shook so he dropped the stopper, and it rolled towards her. She picked it up and restored it to me. Her glove was off. "Heavens, madam, it is broken! It has cut your handl" I exclaimed; "it is bleed ing." "I have not hurt it; it is stained," was the quiet answer. I was getting very uncomfortable; how was this? I know one often has a feeling when a thing takes place. I have done this before. I know exactly what's going to happen next; but it was something more than thnt now. Was I dreaming? Surely not, for I heard the train go whizzing on through the evening air, the occasional wlistle, the flash of light as we, passed a station, stopping sometimes, and hearing feet crushing the wet gravel; while all the time Charley sat opposite, pale and strange looking, and I could see his lip tremble when the light shone on him. Beside me sat our silent companion, still and motion less, her face resting as Charley had . de scribed it, on the stained hand. I tried to shake off the feelings of dread that wore creeping over me, and turning to her began a conversation with her. I found that Char ley indeed lend not exaggerated her powers of mind, and wo were still talking, (she and I), when I became aware of a singular move merit in the carriage in which we wore, which increased till wo were swung violent ly backwards and forwards. Then there was a tremendous crash, the carriage upset, and all seemed going to pieces. An immense spar struck the lady violently on the head; I heard a crunching of delicate bones, saw Charley sinking under another; I mysclt was stunned by the concussion. When I recovered, there seemed nothing around me but a mass of broken timbers; but after a time I distinguished Charley lying bleeding and insensible under the debris.. The greater mass, however, seemed on the lady's side. I groped my way to her, and shuddering to think what I should find there, with no ex pectation of there being any answer to my question, remembering what I had heard and soon against that small head, I asked how much she was hurt? "Not at all, I thank you," replied the sweet low voice I never thought to hear again. "How is your friend?" "He is insensible; I cannot, I fear, extri cate him. Can I assist you?" "Do not mind me," sheanSwered; "zo at once for assistance for your "But I cannot leave you." I was trying to remove the spars that lay over her; how she could breathe under such a weight as tonished me, for I conhl not move one, and they lay right on her chest. "Only assist me to extricate my hand, and then hasten away," she answered; "you cannot help me otherwise." With the greatest exertion I managed to effect an opening, through which she passed her hand. I started, for the blood seemed fresh on it. The next moment I remembered the singular stain. I took hold of it to pull it through; it was deadly heavy, cold, and sent a shiver to my very ssul. "Now go," she said, "you can do no more for me, and your friend's life may be at stake. Oh go!" I had indeed been neglecting poor Char ley. I now freed his head and chest as much as I could, and then crept out to see if I could get help. It was a frightful scene as I made nay way out; there were a few glaring torches brought from the next sta tion, which we were near, and people run ning madly up and down; whilst amongst the broken timbers, you saw mangled and bleeding bodies, hopelessly entangled.-- Another train, running into ours, seemed to have caused the accident by throwing us down an embankment. I was fortunate enough to fall in with the guard of our train, (who hoppened to be an old servant of our family and knew me well,) directing some fellows with spades to dig for the pas sengers, and prevailed upon him to begin with our carriage. I set them to work on poor Charley, who was still insensible, and climbed over to the other side to encourage the lady. I found her as I bad left her. "Make haste, my lads," said I, "the lady is still conscious." "What lady, sir?" asked the guard, com ing towards me. "There was no one in the carriage you recollect, Mr. Frederick, but you and the poor gentleman. You told me to lock you in." "But there was a lady, I tell yon, got in ofterwards—there is a lady—here under our feet—help me to move these timbers, man." Tho man stared at me, as if he thought me insane; but helped to remove one or two spars, and she raised herself on her arm. • "Gently, gently, man„" said L "You will let that fall on the lady's head again. Can you rise now, madam?" and I held out my hand. "My good sir—my dear sir—there is no one there," said the guard, catching my outstretched arm. "By heavens, I think he is gone mad! Mr. Frederick!" "No one there—what do you mean?" said I, shaking him off. "You must be mad.— Come, madam;" and as I touched her cold hand she rose to her feet, as if she cast the timber off her like water. "You will set her cloak on Tire man!" I exclaimed, rushing on the guard, who was waving his torch so close to us, I thought the light garment of my companion must catch the flame. "Now do'co come away, sir—there's noth ing theie—nothing but the broken timber," replied the man, soothingly. "I believe the poor gentleman's head is turned," he added to ono of the other men. A fearful sensation overpowered me—was she then invisible? By this time Charley was extricated, and with the assistance of one of the men, whom I retained to help me, we carried him to the station-house. The lady walked noiselessly by our side. Ido not know if the other man was aware of her presence. I almost thought that Charley felt it, unconscious as he appeared, fur the expression of his face changed as she came to his side. It was a mounful walk; but we reached the station-house at last and placed him on the one side of the sofa, in the wait ing-room. The lady stood by his side, like a tall statue, still wrapped •in heir:white cloak. She was still standing there when I came back from inquiring fur the nearest doctor; one had been sent fur, and was ex pected to arrive immediately. "A doctor is coming," said I; "perhaps we can do something meanwhile. Can you chafe his hands?" "Is this likely to warm them?" she re plied, softly, laying her icy hand for one moment on mine; the touch almost para lyzed it. "You are ill yourself!" I exclaimed.— "What can I do? Rest yourself." "Rest. Oh, Heavens!" she answered, waving me away. "Do not think of me.— I cannot rest, attend to your friend." The advice was good. I knelt down by Charley, loosened his cravat, and endeavor ed to stanch the blood that Sowed from the wound in his head. She stood at a little distance from us, her arms folded on her breast, and an expression of intense agony on her pale face. I was still busy with my friend, when I heard the clatter of horses' hoofs outside; the door opened, nud at the same moment a dreadful shriek ran through the air, and turning, I saw the lady had dis appeared, and a stout, middle-aged man standing in the doorway. That dreadful shriek had penetrated even to Charley's slumbering brain; he opened his eyes, and faintly asked where ho was. Meanwhile, the new corner, who proved to be the doctor, advanced hastily towards me, and in agitated tones inquired in the name of Heaven who that lady was? "I know nothing of her," said I, "except that she traveled with us part of the way.— Where can she be gone now?" "Do not go. Do not go after her," ex claimed Charley, faintly detaining me, as I was rushing from the room. "Is she gone? It must be about the time she disappeared before." In spite of his remonstrance, r, however, went out, and inquired of the people in the outer room which way the lady in the white cloak had gone? They all denied having seen any such lady either enter or go out, and even the man who helped me to carry Charley, evidently thought I was delirious iu talking of the lady who bad walked by our side. I returned to the waiting-room, where the doctor was binding up Charley's wounds, and told him of my fruitless researches, and asked what be knew of her! He replied that he did not know her; but was struck by her likeness to a lady whom he had at tended in that neighborhood some years be fore, whose husband had been killed in a railway accident, not far from this station. "What became of the lady?" I asked. "She died," was the short answer. fancied I heard a moan run through the building as be spoke, Lut it might have been merely my excited fancy. Ho was not at first disposed to communication on the sub ject; but Charley's hurts were severe; for some time ho was under Dr. llealall's treat ment, and from him we at last gained the history of the lady whose mysterious like ness had disappeared so suddenly on his ar rival with us. She had confided it to him on her death-bed. It appeared she had married a rich cotton spinner, many years older than herself, and in order to save her favorite brother from disgrace and ruin, she had forged her husband's name to cheques for an amount which freed her brother. The husband, however, had discovered the fraud, he put the police on the track of the brother, and carried her off with him, intending to take her to Glasgow, to confront her with the manager of the bank there on which the for geries had been drawn. They seemed to have had a frightful quarrel in the railway carriage, he had reproached her with her dishonesty, and she fiercely upbraiding him with wishing to deliver her brother to jus tice. "Sooner than you should Succeed!" she cried in her passion, "may we never reach our journey's end—may I rather see you dead at my feet!" lie started up, saying ho would travel no longer in the same carriage with her, and thrust his head through the window to call to the guard that he wished to change his seat at the nest station. As be stood with his head and part of his body out of the window, she saw they were corning to a tunnel! They wore on the line next the wall; she saw itcoming—and com ing, but she would not speak. The next moment there was a blow—a crunch, and her husband's corpse fell heavily accross her lap with the skull fractured by concussion against the wall. How she traveled miles in the darkening afternoon of that awful twenty-ninth of February, with that dead body on her knee, her fair hand Adige,' by his blood; how when they found her at last, she was almost paralysed to idiotcy; how $1,50 PER YEAR IN-ADVANCE; 02,00 IF NOT IN ADVANCE kil4 60. she lingered but a few weeks after hini;and then faded away a prey to the deepest re• morse, time and space fail me to tell here; but Dr. Ilealall's narrative was ar solemn as it was thrilling, and both Charley and I left M—, sobered and saddened men. [From Once a Week How an Advertisement got a Wife "Tobacco is the tomb of love," writes a modern novelist of high standing; but, with every respect for his authority. I beg to say it was quite the contrary in my case. Twenty-one years ago, I was sitting by my fireside, totting up inniimerable r ages of my bachelor's housekeeping book, taking exercise in arithmetic on long - colUmns of "petty cash"—comprising items fur carrots and bath-bricks, metal tacks and mutton chops—until, tired and wearied, I arrived at the sum total, and jerked the book on the mantel-piece. Nearly at the same time I placed my had in the pocket of my dressing gown, drew out a leather case, and lit a principe, I placed my feet on the fender and sighed, exhausted by the long job of do mestic accounts. I was then in business— 'twas a small wholesale business then, 'tis a large wholesale business now—yet ;me morning's totting of carrots and bath-bricks, of metal tacks and mutton chops, would tire me a thousand times more than twenty four hours of honest ledger-work. I sighed, not from love, but from labor; to tell the truth I had never been in love. Is this to go on forever! thought I, as I took my third whiff, and looked dreamily through the thin smoke as it ascended between me and a large print of the capture of Gibralter which hung over the chimney piece. Am I to spend my prime in totting up parsnips, and computing corrots, and comptrolling washing-bills? I sighed again, and in the act, off flew the button of my neck-band, as though some superior power had seasonably sent the accident to remind me of my help lessness. The button settled the business; though as it slipped down inside my shirt, and passed with its mother-o'-peal coldness over my heart, it for a moment threatened to chill my matrimonial resolution. I pitied my own lonely state, and pity, we know, is akin to love. But how was the matter to be accomplished? Most men of my age would already have adjusted their inclina tion to some object, so that having made np their mind and counted the. cost, little more would have remained to have been done than to decide upon the day, and lay hold upon the license. This, however, was not the case with me. I had been too much occu pied, teo idle, or too indolent to devote time or make the effort to "form an attachment." It was through no disinclination or difficul ty to be pleased; for bad any young lady of . moderately agreeable powers taken the trouble, she might have married me long ere then. I should have even been grateful, to her for taking the trouble off my hands; but I was too bashful to adopt the initia tive. I was a bashful man. This weakness came from the same cause as my Uncle Toby's—a want of acquaintance with fe male society, which want arose from anoth er cause to my case—namely, too close an application to business. Accordingly I thought of an advertise ment, yet with no practical design of doing business, but, as I persuaded myself, for a joke. So I scratched with a pencil on the back of a letter, the following: IV'nxrEn A Wtrc.—None but principals need apply. The advertiser does not re quire cash, but only a companion. He is six and twenty, and, tired of single, lie thinks he can settle down to married life.— As men go, be believes he has a moderate share of temper, and want of time is his only reason for having recourse to the news papers. He has enough means for himself and a second party, and is willing to treat at once. Ile is quite aware that a great many attempts to convert his honest inten tions into an extravagant joke will be made, but ho warns all rash intruders. If he finds a man hardy enough to make sport of his affections, he will thrash him—if a wo man, he will forgive her. He has a heart for the sincere, a horsewhip for the imperti nent. In either case, all applicants will be promptly attended to, if addressed to P. P., to the office of this paper. I felt proud of my composition, and puf fed away my principe with a vague glee and anticipation of something coming of it. I had no very great idea that anything but fun would result; and I certainly had not the slightest notion of involving myself in a personal collision with any one. Still the presentiment that it was not destined to be all a barren joke, pressed upon me. On Saturday the advertisement appeared, and I heard its style canvassed by all my friends, and it was jokingly suggested by more than one, that I was the domestically destitute individual who put it forth. On Monday morning I sent a boy to the newspaper office for P. P's letters. I expect. ed he might be followed by some curious and inquisitive perms; so I told him on his way back to call at a bachelor neighbor's of mine for a book. The trick told. The lad was followed by some persons who never lost sight of him until they ran him to my friend's, and then went back and announced that be was the advertiser. I thus discharg , od in full one or two practical jokes which my neighbor had played upon me. The answers were of the usual character—sever al seeking to elicit my name, and still more suggesting places of meeting, where I was to exhibit myself with a flower in my but ton-hole and a white handkerchief in my hand. One only looked like business. It was from a lady. who proposed an interview [WHOLE NUMBER 1,537. in a neighboring city, about forty miles north. She said there was something so frank and straightforward in my advertise ment, that she was convinced it was real, and she could rely upon my keeping her name secret, if after we met nothing came of the meeting. She would, therefore, see me at the —, at—, on a certain day, and if mutual approbation did not tallow the inter - view, why there was no harm done. Most people would have put this down as a trap to give me a journey for nothing.- I did not. A presentiment impelled me to ac cept and keep the engagement. This was in the old coaching days, when a man had time to make an acquaintance in forty miles, not as non', :iirdirrlrlib'at your journey's end before you have looked round your company in a railway carriage. There were but two insides—myself and a pleasant, talkative, elderly gentleman. Shy and timid in female society, I was yet es teemed as animated and agreeable enough amongst my own sex. We had no trouble, therefore, in making ourselves agreeable to one another; so much so, that as the coach api.roached G—, and the old gentleman learned that I meant to stop 'there that night, be risked me to 'Waive ceremony and have a cup of tea with him after I had dined at my hotel. My "fair engagement" was not to come off till next day, and, as I liked the old gentleman, I accepted his offer. After my pint of sherry, I brushed my hair and went in search of my coach com panion and my promised cup of tea. I had no difficulty in finding him out, for he was a man of substance and some importance in the place. I was shown into the drawing room. My old friend received me heartily, and introduced me to his wife and five daughters. "All spinsters, sir, young la dies whom an undiscrimipating world seems disposed to leave upon my hands." "If we don't sell, papa," said the eldest, who with her sisters seemed to reflect her father's fun, "it is not for want of puffing, for all your introdttations aro advetiso meats." At the mention of the last %Ford, I felt a little discomposed, and almost regretted my engagement for the next day, when that very night, perhaps, my providential oppor i tunity had arrived. I need not trouble my readers with all our sayings and doings during tea; suffice it to say, that I found them a very pleasant, ' friendly fittnily, and was surpriseclea End I forgot all my shynes3 and timidity, encour aged by their good-tempered ease and con versation. They did not inquire whether I was married or single, for where there were Ewe unmated daughters, the question might seem invidious. I, however, in the freedom of the moment, volunteered the information of my bachelorhood; I thought I: hid no sooner communicated the fact than the girls passed round a glance of arch intelligence from one to the other. I cannot tell you how odd I felt at that moment. My sensa tion was-between pleasure and confusion, as a suspicion crossed my mind, and helped, I felt, to color my cheek. Presently, however, the eldest, with an air of indifference which cost her an effort, asked where I was stay ing. "At the hotel," I answered Keith some embarrassment It was with difficulty they restrnined a laugh; they bit their lip 4, and I had no lon ger any suspicion—l was certain. So; after having some music, when I "rose to depart, I mustered courage, as I bid them good bye, to say nside to the eldest: "Shall P. P. consider this the interview?' A blush of conscious guilt, I should-rath er say innocence, told me I had sent my random arrow to the right quarterv.so pressed the matter no further at that mo ment, but I did her hand. I remained at my hotel next day . ,until an hour after the appointed time, but no one made theirappearance. "Then,"tbought I, brushing my hair and adjusting my ern vat, "since the mountain will not come to Alahomet,homet must go to the moun tain;" so I walked across to my old friend's. The young Indies were all in. The eldest wns engaged in some embroidery at the window. I had therefore an opportunity, as I leant over the frame, to whisper: "S. S. is not punctual." Tho crimson in her face and neck was now so deep, that a skeptic himself would no longer doubt. I need say no more; that evening in her father's garden, she confess ed that she and her sisters had conspired to bring me up to G—on a fool's errand, never meaning, of course, to keep the engagement. "Then," said I, "since you designed to take me in, you must consent to make me happy!" "And what did she say, papa?" asks my second daughter, who is now looking over my shoulder as I write. "Why, you little goose, she promised in be your mamma, and she lins kept her word." ISelecte.l for the Spy Preventives of Evil. The following excellent article shoal be read by the young and by those interested in their welfare. Its suggestions areappli cable to other forms of evil, and especially, with porno modification, to the use of intox icating drinks: LEAR:VINT:TO PLAY CAna. —Whereistho source of all the evils of gnalhling? What is the fountain from which these bitter wa ters flow. Are we wrong in answering that they all come from learning to tree the toots of the garnLicr. We know there art many
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers