She gaitraoter 'itttlitgettrer, PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY COOPER, SAND ERSON dc CO J. M. COOPER, H. G Snares, ALFRED SANDERSON WK. A. MORTON, TERMS—Two Dollars and Fifty Cents per annum, payable all cases In advance. OFFICE-SOUTH - WT:3T CORNER OF CENTRE SQUARE. 4-. All letters on business should be ad dressed to COOPER, SANDERSON dr. Co. TAterarg. Boy Lost He had black eyes, with long lashes, red cheeks, and hair almost black and curly. He wore a crimson plaid jacket, with full trowsers buttoned on ; had a habit of whistling, and liked to ask questions ; was accompanied by a small black dog. It is a long while now since he disappeared. I have a very pleasant house, and much company. My guests say, " Ah ! it is pleasant to be here.— Everything has such an orderly, put away look—nothing about under foot— no dirt." But my eyes are aching for the sight of whittlings and cut paper on the floor; of tumbled down card-houses; of wooden sheep and cattle; of pop-guns, bows and arrows, whips, tops, go-carts, blocks, and trumpery. I want to see crumbles on the carpet, and paste spilt on the kitchen table. I want to see the chairs and the tables turned the wrong way up. I want to see candy-making and corn-popping, and to find jack knives and fish-hooks among my nms lins. Yet these things used to fret me once. They say, " How quiet you are here! Ah ! one may settle his brains, and be at peace." But my ears are aching for the pattering of little feet; for a hearty shout, a shrill whistle, a gay tra la la; for the crack of little whips ; fur the noise of drums, fifes and tin trumpets. Yet these things made rne nervous once. They say : " Ah ! you have leisure-- nothing to disturb you. What heapsof sewing you have time for!" But I long to be disturbed. I want to be asked for a bit of string or an old newspaper--for a cent to buy a slate-pencil or peanuts. I want to be coaxed for a piece of new cloth for jibs and mainsails, and then to hem the same. I want to make little flags and bags to hold marbles. I want to he followed by little feet all over the house, teased for a bit of dough for a little cake, or to bake a pie in a saucer. Yet these things used to fidget me once They say : " Alt ! you are not tied at home. How delightful to be always at liberty forconcerts, lectures, and parties! No confinement for you." But I want confinement. I want to listen to the school-bell mornings, to give the last hasty wash and brush, mid then to watch from the window nimble feet bounding away to school. f want fre quent rents to mend, and to replace lost buttons. I want to obliterate mud stains, molasses stains, and paints of till colors. I want to be sitting by a little crib of evenings, when weary little feet are at rest, and prattling voices are hushed,that mothers may sing lullabys, and tell over the oft-repeated stories.— They don't know their happiness then, those mothers ; I don't. All these things I called confinement epee A manly figure stands before me now. :He is taller than I, has thick whiskers, wears a frock coat, a bosomed shirt, and cravat. He has just come from college. He brings Latin and Greek in his coun tenance, and busts of th e old philosopher for the sitting-room. Fl e calls me mother, but ant rather unwilling to own him. He avers that he is my boy, and says that he can prove it. He brings his little boat to show the red stripe on the sail (it was the end of the piece) and. the name on the stern, Lucy Lowe, a little girl of our neighbor, who because of her long curls and pretty round face, was the chosen fa vorite of my boy. The curls were long since cut off, and she was grown to a tall, handsome girl. How his face red dens as he shows me the flame on the boat! Oh ! I see it all as Plain as if it were written in a book. My little boy is lost, and my big boy will soon be. Oh, I wish he were a little tired boy in a long white night-gown, lying in his crib, with me sitting by, holding his hand in mine, pushing the curls back from his forehead, watching his eyelids droop, and listening to his deep breath ing. -4f I only had my little boy again, how patient I would be ! How much I would bear, and how little I would fret and scold! I can never have him back again; but there are still many mothers who have not yet lost their little boys. I wonder if they know they are living their very best days; that now is the time to really enjoy their children ! think if I had been more to my little boy, I might now be more to my grown up one.—Home Magazine. The Power of the Tongue Eloquence, from the earliest stages, has justly been regarded as one of the greatest of all human attributes. De mosthenes swayed the listening masses of old just as Webster did a few years ago, ands their sounding periods were more powerful than the force of love or arms. An eloquent speaker plays upon his audience as upon an instrument— it is his "harp of a thousand strings" —and wondrous are the chords and dis cords he can awaken from it. The sentiments expressed are of lit tle consequence, so far as their :weep : tation or rejection go, if they he el,;;;:, ,I in ringing words, and delivered earnestness and grace. The paltriest argument—the most transparent sophis try—are readily swallowed by the crowd, if the orator has the true tongue of honey and the eye of fire. It is a dan gerous power—this eloquence—and as mighty as dangerous. It has been sad lyabused, too, in all times and places. The finest intellect and the most mel lifluous voice have too often been em ployed in frightening innocent kindly men and women into a gloomy horror of death, or defending hardened and notorious criminals from a punishment most richly merited. Let him who possesses this great power use it charily and warily. Let him remember that God has endowed him with a grand and terrible gift—that he is born to move his fellow-men as he lists—and let him also know that he will be held re sponsible for the deeds to which he per suades or excites his hearers. The counsel who, in the face of reason, and against his own belief, assists the fratricide or the ignoble hired assassin to escape the penalty of his crime—who pours forth the wine of eloquence like a strong and sweet libation, until the heads of the twelve honest but simple minded jurors are fairly turned, and they think, for the moment, that black is white, and ,good is bad, such an one, we say, is actually, in the sight of Heaven, an accomplice . in his client's criminality, and his fault is the greater, for that he has taken it upon himself deliberately and open-eyed. In short, eloquence is like fire. In a good cause, it is a boon and a blessing— it works.wonders of usefulness ; but in a bad cause it is a bane and a blight, works naught but tenfold destruction. The Legislature of West Virginia last 3 adopted an amendment to the con stitution of the State,, disfranchising .fill those who have voluntarily partici pated in the rebellion, 3loat4iter I.'/utetticrelt.ect. VOLUME 66 Who Allied the Crow ? Th e plaingtVe story of the " Death and burial of poor Cock Robin" finds its counterpart in these modern times in the interrogatory of "Who killed the Crow?" There are but few who ever imagined that the mischievous crdw possessed any claims to civiliza tion, or,that the rascally thitt ,, f was easy of being domesticated or converted into a pet about the house. Such, however, has been the case in one instance, which a law suit has fully developed, and the facts are more than ordinarily interest ing. A crow has been in the family of Mr. HAI. Gage, of Fayetteville, for the past six or seven years, and itecame so tame and domesticated that it filled the place of a playmate with the children of the family. The little ones became exceedingly attached to it, and the bird of omen learned many tricks from con stant intercourse with them, which it played to their delight and satisfaction, as well as to the wonder of strangers who became occasional spectators. Its tricks in the gun ion during the summer time were wonderfully amusing, and in its "caw - -ings it had learned to closely imitate many human sounds. While the children were playing in the gar den, the crow would follow them and imitate every movement of theirs, pick ing up sticks and carrying them until deposited where the little ones were engaged at their play, in building min iature litiff , es and the like. Its sports in the winter season were chiefly con fined to playing " hide-and-go-seek" with the children in the house, As they would run front it and hide, the crow would hop after them and search every corner until they were found, and, in turn, would run and hide from them lieldnd a door •or some secret place, making 1-tire sport for all who witnessed it. It appears that a neighbor, Mr. Robert Crouse, conceived a hatred for the crow, for the reason, as he alleged, that While indulging in his peculiar " crow gibberish," he fancied the inau spicious bird used his name in derision, crying out Ed Bob Cbotme I Old Bob Crouse f - in unmistakable accents. - In thus insulting Mr. Crouse, the bird had no regard for the sanctity of the Sab bath over other days, but with a vin dictiveness equal to the well established thieving propensities of the tribe, con tinued to annoy his neighbor on all and every oi-easion, rtum tree tops and house tel as well us when perched upon fences, until the annoyance became un endurable. AI r. ('rouse believed the crow to have been educated to this sort of petty annoyance, Which Was Con stantly iudlulged in with a vim peculiar to a mischievous magpie, and he deter mined upon revenge. In order to abate the n licence, Mr. ('rouse armed him self with a loaded gun, and, accompa nied by a neighbor. proceeded to the premises of Al rs. gage, on the afternoon of the :al of November last, with the in tention of " knocking the feathers out of it," and make it hush its gab in the matter of calling, nick-names. The crow was rescued from the deadly aim of the marksman by the timely- alarm of the little ones, and was taken into thehouse by Mrs. Gage, who clipped one of its wings, so as to prevent it annoying Mr. ('rouse in- the future front house tops and other elevated positions. Subse quently, however, the latter gentleman, who was quite sensitive regarding the liberties taken with his name, secured the services or a lad named George Dag gett, whom lie instructed to capture the bird and "wring its plaguy neck." The boy did as desired, catching the crow while playing With the children, and executed it on the spot in the manlier directed. As may be imagined, the children, as well as every member of the family, were enraged at the perpe tration of this cruel act, and the little ones mourned the death of their play mate with deep and heartfelt sorrow The tears that were shed could be no more copious had one of the household been rudely taken from them by death, and Mrs. Gage herself shared in the deep sorrow of her children over the loss of their pet bird, which had by this time become inseparable to the frolics of thechildren. Suit was brought against Mr. Crouse by Mr. H. H. Gage, for damages resulting in the killing of the crow, which terminated on Satur day last, before Squire Plateau, of Fay etteville. A .jury was empanneled, and the trial created intense interest, filling Beard's Hall, where the suit came off, with a large crowd of the citizens of Fayetteville. The suit was conducted in the best of good humor, and a large number of witnesses were called to tes tify on both sides, as to the habits and language of the defunct crow. N. R. Chapman, Esq., of Fayetteville ; and R. E. Gardner, Esq., of this city, appeared as counsel for the plaintiff, ankLyman C. Gardner, Esq., of the former place, and N. B. smith, Esq., of this city, for the defendant. The case was ably argued by Mr. Smith for the defendant, and by R. H. Gardner for the plaintiff', who, to the argument, added much of his usual facetiousnessthe peculiari ties of case giving him a license in that direction which he improved, to the great amusement of the spectators present. The jury, after mature de liberation, found a verdict for plaifftiff of seventy-five dollars, and thus the the killing of the crow was avenged.— ottomitig , t .F.l Couri,r. Did anybody ever reflect how living in such a country as Australia, for instance, must upset all one's estab lished ideas about the fitness of things? Whatever previous experience of the points of compass a man may have had is here reversed. The sun no longer shims from the southern half of the heavens, but from the northern. The old rule in the school geographies, "Turn your face to the sun and you will have the West at your right hand and the East at your, left," must be ex punged from the memory. The Au stralians go (town North to spend the winter, and come " up South" dur ing the hot summer mouths.. The first strawberries and early potatoes come from "down North." The needle of the compa ss points towards the South, and the North Star is no longer a symbol of steadiness. In short, the North and the South exchange places, and the Australian poets must sing odes to ' the sunny North," and "the icy South." i 3 It has been said that every man hag at least one good point in his char acter. A gentleman, traveling on Sun day, was obliged to stop to have one of the shoes of his horse replaced. The farrier was just going to church, but suggested -to the traveler that Jem, Harrison might be found at home at the next forge. This proved to be true, and the rustic who led the gentleman's horse to the spot exclaimed— " Well I must say that for Jem, for it is the only good point about him, he do never go to church." An Indian Love Story In General Scott's recently published autobiography, among his experience in the Black Hawk war, occurs the fol lowing romantic episode : The summons for the conference was now given to all the tribes and obeyed, and the grand councils of war for the settlement of the treaties commenced. While these were pending a demand came up, from a judge of Illinois, some sixty miles below, for an Indian mur derer, his name unknown, but who had been distinctly traced to the camp of the great body of Sacs and Foxes whom the chiefs had contrived to hold in neu trality during the recent hostilities, in fluenced mainly by Keokuk, not a he reditary chief, and only a principal brave or warrior, the sense bearer, orator and treasurer of the confederacy. The demand was communicated to this re markable man. After a little musing, the painful truth of the story seemed to flash upon him. With candor he stated the grounds of his fears. A young brave of some twenty years of age, the son of a distinguished chief, had long sought to marry a handsome young squaw, the daughter of another famous chief ; but the maiden repulsed the lover, applying to him the most oppro brious epithet—squaw—he never having taken a scaly, killed a grizzly hear, nor by suprise, robbed an enemy of his arms, horse or wife. Hence she said her lover was not a brave but a woman. Her sympathies were, moreover, with Black Hawk—her only brother having run off with that reckless chief. All these particulars were not yet known to the wise treasurer; for he had only been surprised at the change of conduct in the belle savage, who had so suddenly married her lover. Keokuk, in good faith, said he would inquire, for his great care had been to save his people from destructive war and entire spoliation, with which Black Hawk's conduct had caused them to be threat ened. The next day he called at headquarters and whispered that his fears had proved prophectic ; that the happy bridegroom had for the good of the confederacy, confessed himself to be the guilty party, and was at hand ; but begged the gen eral to repeat, in a full council, the de wand, etc. This was accordingly done, and as soon as Scott's peroration, " demand the murderer!" was interpreted the young Appollo stood up and said, " I am the man !" With a violent stamp and voice Scott called out : 'The Guard !" A sergeant, with a dozen grenadiers, rushed in, seized the often der and carried him Mil \Vhen the blacksmith began to place and rivet irons upon him he struggled furiously. It took several of the guard to hold him down. He said he did not come forward to be ironed ; he did not wish to be tried, that he preferred to be shot at once. He was sent down to the Illinois court then in session, put on his trial, and notwithstanding the strong circumstantial evidence, and that it was proven he had acknowledged the kill ing, in a hand-to-hand fight, a tricky lawyer, well provided With the means of bribing, no doubt, by the chiefs of the confederacy, obtained from thejury a verdict of not guilty. The acquitted had yet to pass another ordeal—one of fire and water. A swift horse half way between the court and the Mississippi, {a few hundred yards off,) had been provided for the occasion ; but frontier men always have their rifles in hand, and their horses ready. The lawyer hastened his client out of court, and gained for him agoodstart. " Fly, young man, or your dear-bought Helen will soon be a widow !" In a minute, followed by some whizzing shots, he was in the saddle. In another, " horse and rider" were plunged into "the great father of waters " swimming side by side. Now came up furiously a dozen riflemen, who threw away their lead at the too distant game. 'The last news of the romantic act represented him as the happy father of a thriving family of "young barbarians," by more than a " Dacian mother "—all far beyond the Mississppi. Neatness in Dress We are almost inclined to think that every person, especially all young per sons, should be encouraged and expected to dress themselves with some degree of fresh care during the after part of each day. It may cost a little time (it cer tainly should not be allowed to cost much), but it will be apt to increase a person's self-respect and that comfort able feeling of being allie3 and equal to the betterpart of the social world, which is so desirable for all, and especially for the young. Not long since, a lady whose ideas were thought by many to be above her circurnstances,would insist on all her children dressing for the afternoon neat ly though plainly, but never remaining in their morning attire. To wash, to arrange the hair, and to lie always dres sed in the afternoon, not for company but for home life, became a habit of all the young people of that house from childhood not with out some remarks from less painstaking neighbors. At last, one of the children a bright, but rather self-willed girl, re marked, " I think we all feel so much more inclined to be orderly and good when we are dressed for the afternoon.'' This remark, made casually to the mother, was, she said, an abundant re ward for all the extra trouble and care of the arrangement. It is not expensive, but rather econom ical than otherwise, to pay this sort of attention to dress. A little extra wash ing which it may cost is nothing to what is saved by the habitual careful ness not to soil one's clothes. The sloven is the most ex t ravaaant, gener ally speaking, or any one in dress. So also the time that it may take is noth ing, compared to the habit of order, of system, and of having time for every thing. It promotes self-respect and pleasant, social feelings. The man, woman or child, who feels habitually worse dressed than. near neighbors, will be apt to shrink from society and behave awkwardly in it.— This will make others sh rink from them, and produce a sort of warfare and antag onism most undesirable and sure to check the flow of those benevolent and social feelings which are the source of the purest and best earthly joys, and much of all our usefulness. For all this a person must have no thought or care dr prideof wherewithal they are clothed while in company. There are some would-be philosophers who can notsee the reasonableness of all this. Let them watch the effect which the Sunday attire has, especially upon the working portion of society, when pa rents and children all have time and dress for the Sabbath school, the church or the private walk, or the family fire side. Does not all this produce greater mutual respect among the members of the same family, among neighbors and frinds, greater self-respect in nearly all and a quiet contentment and enjoyment of existence, most of all things conduc tive to order and improvement? Let those fainilies who neglect all such habits be observed, and they will almost uniformly be found disorderly and wasteful of far more than all the cost of attending to such matters. We have known of authors who have found it necessary to dress before writing their best things, of ministers who must puf, on a'clean shirt in order to write as well as deliver a good sermon, and of orators who felt all the more able to command their audiences for being neatly and exactly dressed. No doubt there are many exceptions to all this.— But those who'have much to do with public life will have found that success, while not to be attained by fine or ex pensive clothing of shiny newness, is yet very greatly assisted by a scrupulous neatness, and all that care and cleanli ness, which makes and assists a proper self-respect.—Philadelphia Ledger. LANCASTER, PA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 8, 1865 Rival Tentriloquists BY OUR NED. " Once upon a time," as the "story tellers" have it, we were sailing down the great " father of waters," the Mis sissippi, in the beautiful steamer, " God dess of Liberty," bound from St. Louis to New Orleans. We had on board the usual variety of passengers ; but for some unexplainable cause an unusual degree of monotony prevailed. 'Tis true, the card-players were at work, with their accustomed energy, and lit tle groups of passengers were earnestly engaged over the quiet game of " chee quers," or "draughts." while one little circle only were _engaged in that old, but now popular gameof "chess." A large number of passengers were sitting in the forward saloon, gazing listlessly at each other, apparently in stupefaction. Being of an active temperament, and fond of excitement, we could not suffer ennui upon such an occasion to get the upper hand of us, so with a view to kicking up some kind of a rumpus, for our own sake andtherelief of the passen gers generally, we walked boldly into the captain's office, and laid the whole mutter before the distinguished com mander. "We have no means on board," the captain remarked, or we might wake the passengers up with a little "hop on the light fantastic." " Well," we replied looking earnestly over the list on the passenger roll) "we must have some excitement, for the' passage is really wearisome." Just at that moment, oureyes:fell upon a name distinguished in the annals of diablerio—no less a personage than the celebrated wizard and ventriloquist, signor Blitz. Here was indeed reason for crying " Eureka," and forthwith, we proceeded in search of the mysteri ous wizard. In a few moments, the Signor was found, quietly reposing in his state-room, the whole difficulty elo quently (the occasion called the elo qUence)laid before him. Blitz consented to create a little " harmless fun," as he termed it ; but the sequel proved it more funny than harmless. But, with out anticipating, the wizard entered the steward's apartment and providing himself with a few slices of bread and obtaining some of his little animate assiances, he announced himself prepared; but remarked that we must select a good subject:for on that selection depends the fun. We en tered the forward saloon noiselessly, arm-in-arm, and advanced toward the quiet, sleepy-looking passengers, who were collected together without aim or object. While running our eyes rapidly around the saloon in search of a victim, our attention was attracted towards a young man dressed in a deep suit of black, who was deeply absorbed in a book, which he was attentively pe rusing. We' nudged' the Signor; pointed significantly at the young man, and re ceived from the former an affirmative answer, by a quiet movement of the head. The Signor picked up a stool, seated himself unceremoniously be tween the young stranger, and the end of the table near by. This movement arrested the attention of the stranger, who looked up inquiringly. " You seem to be much interested in your book, sir," the Signor remarked. " Yes, sir," he replied, " a good book is to me preferable to a good dinner." Signor—"'That depends updn the length of time you have fasted. By the way I did not see you at the dinner table ?" Stranger-0, sir, I preferred my book." Signor—" One dollar is high for a single meal; I commend youreconoiny." Stranger (indignantly.) I eat when hungry, whatever the price!" Signor—" I spoke of economy, be cause I observed some provisions in your hat!" Stranger (in an offended tone.) "Pro visions with me ; I always eat at the public table, and pay for it, too !" Tie whole attention of the passen gers was now centered upon the speak ers, and considerable interest manifest ed by the company in the peculiar sub ject under discussion. Signor (lifting up the young gent's hat from his side, and passing it under the eyes of the entire group.) "I do not wish to offend you, sir, but C see here quite a supply of provisions!" This created not a little merriment at the expense of the stranger, which soon increased to a laugh, as the wizard drew forth slice after slice of the stale bread from the young man's hat. The stranger bit his lips in confusion, and fixed his gaze upon the Signor; then, with a smile, got up from his seat, and moved towards the state-room. Frightened says one of the look ers-on, smiling at the sudden disappear ance of the stranger. Stranger (emerging from the state room) " _No, not frightened, exactly. [ merely put away my book because there is going to be some fun aboard, and when there's fun about I want to be ' counted,' for that's my forte." Looker-on (en t husiastically), " Good! bravo, bravo! Go it, little 'un, you're a match for him !" The stranger had barely finished his remarks, when a loud yelping and snap ping was heard at his heels, -and the passengers began to scatter, thinking a rabid dog was in their midst; but a few minutes served to prove harking and yelping another trick of the ventrilo quist. During the excitement about the dog, the Signor seemed constantly brushing something from behind his ear; and becoming much annoyed by a continual buzzing at his head requested one of the passengers to examine his neck, for he was fearful a wasp had taken passage on the boat, and was engaged in the exclusive business of annoying him.— An examination proved , the Signor's fears groundless, and the fun with the stranger continued. Now came the squealing of a pig, and, in a few mo ments, the Signor to the great amuse ment of the crowd, produced from the stranger's bosom a small guinea pig, which jumped and ran around the saloon as if pleased at being released from such an uncomfortable berth. Again the Signor was seized with that periodical of the wasp, and brushed in vain with his hand to rid himself of the little tormentor. Several of the passen gers attempted to catch the refractory wasp, but each attempt proved futile, and the attacks of the insect upon the Signor soon becathe a portion of the general amusement for the passengers, the buzzing of the wasp producing as much fun as any of the wizard's won derful feats. " During all this time, the features of the stranger remained placid, though his brilliant eyes flashed, and gave evi dence of no small amount of mischief lurking within. The ventriloquist having failed to effect the stranger he resolved to try again, apparently deter mined not only to bring down the boat, but to bring down the stranger also. Signor (stepping up to the young stranger.) " Come, friend, sing us a good song; won't you? Don't be so quiet." Without further remark, the Signor commenced his wonderful ventriloqual singing powers by singing a favorite air, with a chorus " Ri, tol 10l lol," each note of which appeared to come from the mouth of the young stranger. So complete was the illusion, that the stranger received shouts of applause at its conclusion, and notwithstanding the stranger's positive denial of singing a single word, the passengers insisted it was well done. Duringthe singing, the Signor was again pestered with the buzzing in his ear of that indefatigable wasp, and seemed utterly unable to free himself from the pertinacious insect. " Now, remarked the stranger, as you insist I have been singing a song, though entirely unconscious of the act myself, I think It but fair that Blitz should favor us with a song in return.' " At the sound of Blitz' sname, all were on the qui live; and now, as the character of the inveterate joker was understood, the party insisted upon a song. Blitz (earnestly,)—" I tell you, gen tlemen, I am no singer, never sang a song in my life, except ventriloqually." A Voice—" That's a whopper :" Blitz (looking aroartd,) who spoke; who says I can sing ?" - A voice (gruffly.) "I do." Notwithstanding allefforts to find the speaker, he was non est, and the by standers supposed the voice a trick of the Signor's. A voice (apparently from the Signor, who was again annoyed with the buz zing of the wasp,)" I'll sing—l'll sing." Blitz—" Gentlemen, I did not speak —I cannot sing; there must be a ven triloquist here!" A voice (apparently • the Signor's)— " Should old acquaintance be forgot." Passengers—" 0, good Heavens! don't sing that !" I am not sin g ing, gentlemen; this is a trick—a ruse; there's " The song:and remarks of the Signor were interrupted by another attack of the wasp, and the passengers were laughing immediately at the efforts of the Signor to keep off the stinging, buz zing, intruding insect. • Signor—" Gentlemen, let me explain ; there is another ventriloquist here. I am sure of it, and I think this stranger, our friend, must be the man!" Passenger (addressing the stranger)— " Are you a ventriloquist?" Stranger (blandly.) /‘ When at home, I am !" Blitz (staring at the young stranger.) " And your name is—." Stranger (smiling.) "Wyman, the wizard and ventriloquist!" Blitz. " And the confounded wasp was nothing more nor less than--.' Stranger (interrupting.) " Wyman, the ventriloquist!" The two wizards shook hands heartily, while the passengers enjoyed a laugh which fairly shook the boat from stem to stern, and for the balance of the trip there was no end to the fun. The boat wasstopped by Blitz, started by Wyman; Blitz got up a false alarm of fire, and Wyman burst the boiler, to the holy horror of several old maids. Blitz bolted whole potatoes at the table. Wyman stowed away chickens alive and kicking. Blitz had a dozen waiters constantly bringing the wrong dishes. Wyman had dogs and cats under the table ; and, between them both, the splendid steamer, " God dess of Liberty,' was completely turned into an immense stage, with the "Comedy of Errors'' upon it for the amusement of three hundred passen gers. Both wizards have since become intimately acquainted ; and they have many a hearty laugh at the fun created on the Mississippi by the rival ventrilo quists. A Military Necessity " Why, Pompey, is dat you dressed up in sojer clothes so smart ?" " Yes, Pete, I'se enlisted." " Well, den, Pomp, I wants to ax you jes on ting befo you go. Wut's dis I hear bout military necessity ? Wut's it mean ?" " I'll splain it to you right off, Gim'e your knife rust." " Dar it is." " Berry well. Now, am you a loyal man Pete ?" " I spec I is." " Lucky for you. Now, law am one ting and military necessity am anodder. I'se a sojer. War times now acid me. I got your knife because it am a military necessity. I want it. De law can't touch me for taking it. You touch me and you am opposed to military neces sity, and you go to Fort La Faughyet." " Why, dat's my knife!" " No. It am confiscated by military necessity. In time ob war de Army and Gobernment takes all dey want— property, slabes and all tings—bekase dey want it to help to kerry on de war. In peace der is no such military neces sity, and (ley couldn't chi it; but now if dey oppose, dose who opposes am Rebels, bekase dey oppose de interest of de whole kentry. I am in dat interest, being a sojer. I keep your knife fur military necessity ; you object and you're a Secessionist at once. So be ker ful. \Vut say ?" "I say, take de knife—and be dam ! I don't want to go to Fort LaFaughyet." "Den you sufficiently understand bout military necessity!" " I does now, dat's a fack." "Well dar ! I oiler tought you was loyal ; so good bye, Pete ; de Gineral wants to see me." " Good bye, Pomp; but when de war is ober bring back my knife." How Our Flag Was Unfurled on Sumpter The special correspondent of the New York _Herald gives the following de scription of how the old flag was un furled on Fort Sumter: Shortly after daylight it was discov ered that there were no troops in and about Sumter, or Moultrie, or in the works on James Island. Lieutenant- Colonel Bennett, of the Twenty-first United States colored troops, command ing Morris Island, immediately de spatched Major Hennessy, of the Fifty second Pennsylvania Volunteers, to Fort Sumter, in a small boat, to ascer tain whether the fort was evacuated. Major Hennessy proceeded to Sumter, and soon waved the old Stars and Stripes over the battered battlements of the work, from which they had been torn down in April, 1861. The sight of the old flag on Sumter was an assurance that the enemy had evacuated all their works, and it was hailed by every de monstration of joy by all, on ship and on shore. Another boat, in charge of Lieutenant Hackett, of the Third Rhode Island artillery, was immediately sent to Fort Moultrie to take possession of that work, and raise again the national colors upon its parapet. The navy, anxious to share in the honors of the day, also launched a boat, and strove to gain the beach of Sullh'an's Island be fore the army, and an exciting race en sued between the boats of the different branches of the service. Each boat's crew were urged on to the utmost by their respective commanders, and every nerve and muscle was strained to pull the boats to their utmost speed. It was a friendly but earnest trial of endurance and skill. Every man felt that the credit and honor of the service rested on himself, and redoubled his exertions to attain success. The race was a close one, the boats being evenly matched ; and when one forced a little ahead it was recognized by the cheers of its friends, who watched with intense in terest the progress of the contest. Finally, after a hard pull and as fast a race as Cmarleston harbor ever wit nessed, the army boat, under Lieuten ant Hackett, reached the shore in ad vance. As she touched the officer and crew sprang out on the beach, through the surf, and rushed for the goal. The parapet was soon gained and the flag given to the breeze amid the cheers of the soldiers and sailors, who had come up a moment or two behind him. The fort was found completely evacuated, as were all the works on the island. The guns were all spiked and some of the carriages somewhat damaged. A large quantity of munitions was found in the magazines, which the enemy had not found time to destroy. Feeding Poultry It has been ascertained that, ifyou mix with the food a sufficient quantity of egg-shells or chalk, which they eat greedily, they will lay twice as many eggs as before. A well-fed fowl is dis posed to lay a large number of eggs, but cannot do so without the materials of shells, however nourishing in other re spects her food may be ; indeed a fowl fed on food and water, freefrom carbon ate of lime, and not finding any in the soil, or in the shape of mortar, which they often eat on the walls, would lay no eggs at all, with the best possible piortilattrouo. The Occupation of . Wilmington—A De- tailed Account The following description of the occu pation of Wilmington will be read with interest. We make extracts from a let ter to the New York Herald, dated at Wilmington, February '?': "The approach to the city was made in two columns—one operating on the left bank of the river under Gen. Terry, the other on the right bank under Gen. Cox. Gen. Cox, after the capture of Fort Anderson, followed the retreating enemy across the various tributaries of the Cape Fear flowing from the west ward, until last evening his panting troops came in sight of the city from Eagle Island. Gen. Casement's brigade was in the advance, supported by those of Colonels Sterl, Moore and Hender son. Continued skirmishing took place during the pursuit, resulting in a loss of some fifty men on our side. No op portunity was aftbrded to the enemy to make a stand, our troops charging and routing them whenever they exhibited any intention of doing so. Last night Col. Moore's brigade struck and occu pied the railroad running from Wil mington to Charleston, while General Casement pushed his pickets down to the river bank immediately opposite the cit. The operations of Gen. Cox s column were attended with the utmost diffi culty, his line of march lying through a low marshy section where the inhabi tants had extensive rice plantations. The crossing of Brunswick river was effected in flatboats, which were found in the vicinity. General Terry's column on the left bank was nobly at work in conjunction with General Cox. A larger force of the enemy was in his front intrenehed behind strong works, but the steady valor of Ames' and Payne's divisions prevailed over the demoralized com mand of Hoke. One strong line of breastworks was abandoned at daylight this morning, much to the surprise of every one who has inspected it. The retreat of the rebels from this line gave us possession of Fort St. Philip, on the river, which eommanded the channel at one extremity of the obstructions. Their next line, on the edge of an el liptically shaped 'Mild, two Iniks from the city, was abandoned almost without a shot. With its occupation there fell into our hands a number of pieces of heavy artillery, siege guns, which, in the hurry of following the troops into the city I did not wait to count. These, with those previously captured, and with the armament of forts on the river, swell our list of prize guns to sev eral hundred. During this time we were but press ing the rear guard of the enemy, which had been left to oppose our advance as long as possible, while the stores of am munition and subsistence could be re moved from the city. From the state ments of the people in town we after wards learned that the evacution began last night. The citizens were prepared for it several days ago, and the store keepers, with that instinctive know ledge peculiar to speculative pursuits, positively refused as late as a week ago, to receive rebel money in exchange for their goods. During the three days gone by the stores were closed. and it was with the utmost difficulty the peo ple supplied their tables with the ordi nary necessaries of life, such was the anxiety to retain everything which could benefit the possessor upon the ad vent of the Union forces. With the dawn of day this morniff , ° the pickets of General Casement ob served innumerable white hags, or articles intended to serve us such waving along the wharves of Wil mington. Conjecturing - aright that these were peace tokens of the people, in the absence of the evanescent rebels, the pickets hunted up and down the shore for skiffs and boats, and in these and on rafts hastily constructed, the skirmishers of General Casement were soon across the river, almost before their commanding officers were aware of the good news of the evacuation of the city. The main body of General Cox'scolumn was unable to get over immediately, owing to the, want of transportation, otherwise it would have been doubtful which general of the parallel columns would have had the honor of first occu pying the city. As it was the troops of General Terry pushed into town about nine o'clock, and with that discipline which charac terizes their veteran organization waited not to loiter about, as soldiers are wont to do when they enter the limit::: of towns generally, but pushed on after the re treating foe—one regiment only, the Qne Hundred and Sixty Ninth New York being left as a temporary guard until other dispositions t be made by General Schofield. Major Terry met the Mayor, Mr. John Dawson, who expressed his willingness to surrender the city, and place it under the protection of the l'idon troops. Major Terry communicated the fact to his father, General Terry, who, at the Court House, thereupon, formally re ceived the surrender of Wilmington from its chief executive, his Honor Mayor Dawson. Were the city of Wilmington located north of Mason and Dixon's line, with the present 22d day of February occur ring in the earlier years of the rebellion, when the passage of troops "off n the wars " was a novelty, and an i nspi ration to the most enthusiastic patriotism, the advent of our army could hardly have called forth more vehement popular de monstrations. Flags stained with age in the hiding places to whii•li they had been consigned (luring the thraldom of rebellion were brought forth to kiss again the bright sunlight, and to wave a welcome to their redeemers. White hands fluttered less white kerchiefs from piazza, porch and window as the stream of glistening bayonets . and travel-stained blue uniforms pub red through the streets of Wilmington. It well repaid the bloody charge at Fisher, and obliterated the memory of the re pulse of Christmas. Wilmington shows signs of the war. These houses are dilapidated, the wharves, though recently receiving the shipping of an extensive blockade run ning trade, are sadly out of repair, and a general nothing-to-do-air prevades the city, in strong contrast to its busy ap pearance before the war, when pitch, turpentine, rosin, lumber and rice en gaged the services of a fleet of Northern vessels. Capture and Destruction or Blockade Runners Information has been received at the Navy Department of the capture of a schooner loaded with cotton, in the Gulf of Mexico, by the United States steamer Pinola. Information has also been re ceived of the destruction of the large iron screw steamer blockade runner Will-of-the-Wisp, off Galveston, by a boat's crew from the United States steamer Princess Royal under Lieuten nant C. E. Mcßay. She was discovered aground when she was destroyed, and it was thought her crew had succeeded in getting some heavy guns on shore. Acting Ensign A. H. Reynolds is also highly spoken of for his coolness in this expedition. The side-wheel steamer Acadia is also lying a wreck, riddled by our shot at d shell from the U.S. steamer Virginia 6 miles from Velasco where she was run on shore after several at tempts to get into port. Information has also been received of the capture of the schooners Pet 'and Anne Sophia, with 470 bales of cotton. These captures were made by an expedition from the. United States steamer Bienville, under the command of Acting Ensign George H. French. A boat's crew from the Princess Royal, under Acting Ensign George H. Reynolds assisted.. The Army Appropriation bill, as re ported by the Committee of Conference, and agreed to, prohibits further pay ments to the Illinois Central Railroad for the transpotation • of government troops and munitions . of war, they hav ing received land grants in considera tion of an agreement to render such service free of charge. NUMBER 9 How Prisoners of War are Discharged Letter of Mr. Emerson Etheridge, of Tennessee. (From the Washington . Constitutional Union Of Friday.] We call the attention of our readers to a communication from the Hon. Em erson Etheridge, of Tennessee, calling attention to a new mode of obtaining the release on parole of prisoners of war from confinement. The facts disclosed are certainly of an astounding character, and well worthy of earnest consideration. There are thousands of anxious parties in the country to whom this subject is one 01' the most absorbing interest, and they cannot but feel the most intense indig nation upon learning that the levying of black mail is carried on so openly beneath the eaves of the White House. The matter should be at once examined into and this foul reproach instantly re•- moved. The President owes it to him self and to the country that this impo sition upon his benevolent credulity should be promptly checked and se verely punished, else " copperheads " will be liable to think there is collusion somewhere. HOW PRISON} Rs OFWAR 1114 X BE DIS CHARGED. During the present week a young gentleman from Gibon eoizty, Tennes see, came to this city, for the purpose, if possible, of procuring the discharge of five prisoners of war at military pris ons in the Northwest. He brought letters to the Hon. L. Anderson, of Kentucky, invoking his assistance. This morning Mr. Anderson started him to the President with astatement in the following words and figure's : PRISONERS OF WAR Benjamin Bobbitt, Camp,Morton. S. D. Anderson, Camp Mortoh. A. V. Alford, Camp Morton. W. L. Eastwood, Camp, Douglas. James F. Thomas, Camp Douglas. I am not personally acquainted with the above named persons, but they are recommended by ten true men (with whom I am personally acquainted) as proper persons to be permitted to take the oath and return home. From the recommendations and information re ceived, I ask the President to permit them to he released on taking the oath of December, Isti3. LIT. AN DERsox. In the forenoon of to-day the young; gentleman referred to appeared at the President's with this paper and asked to be permited to present it. I-le was in formed by C. O'Leary, who is in charge of the door of the President's office, that he could not be permitted to enter. Subsequently, upon being informed of the subject of the call, lie was taken aside and told by O'Leary that, if he would pay him fifty dollars, he ( O'Leary ; would take charge of the papers and procure the President's order for the re lease of these prisoners ; that otherwise he would have to remain for many days without any probability of having an interview with the President. He saw two other persons on a similar errand pay money to O'Leary, and saw the de sired papers, a few minutes afterward, given by O'Leary to such persons. The young gentleman had but little money at the hotel, nothing like that amount with him. He left the papers, however with O'Leary, and reported the facts above recited to me. I went with him immediately to the President's house, intending to play a simple and rustic part. With some dif ficulty I succeeded indisarmiug O'Leary of all suspiciomarranged with him to pay the fifty dollars so soon as the Presi dent's order for the discharge of these prisoners should be handed to the gen tleman above named. O'Leary prom ised to meet him at his room at the Na tional Hotel, (taking the uumber,) at precisely three o'clock to-day, when he was to bring the order of the President for the release of the prisoners, and re ceive the amount stipulated. I re mained out of sight until the order for the discharge of the prisoners was delivered and the money paid. Just as O'Leary was bowing himself out, I intercepted him, forced him back into the room, denounced him as a swindler, and caused him to sur render the money (thirty dollars), that being the amount which he had agreed to take finally, because of the assurance that nothing would be advanced for two of the prisoners, and the inability to the gentleman to 'pay more for the others. The order of the President for the re lease of the prisoners is written on the paper which was signed by Mr. Ander son, and is in the following words : " Let these men take the oath of De cember 8, 1863, and be discharged. _ " February 23, 1865." Just as O'Leary was taking his leave he gave to his supposed victim his ad dress, and urged him to inform the re latives and friends of prisoners of war that they could have them released from confinement by applying to him and paying teu dollars in each case. He gave his address, which I have in his own handwriting: "C. O'Leary, Ex ecutive Mansion, Washington, 1). C." I make this matter‘public from mo tives of humanity. During the last year I have made many applications for the discharge of prisoners of war upon the terms mentioned in the above order of the President, but in no instance have I been successful. I have often written to the friends and kindred of prisoners that there was no end to their captivity but peace. I rejoice, however, to be able at last to inform those who feel an interest in the matter that a cheap and expeditious remedy is within their power. Gl‘immissioners of Ex change may disagree. Butler may higgle about his niggers, but ten dollars enclosed to "C. O'Leary, Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C.," will re store any repentant Rebel to the bless ings of freedom awl the society of friends. Ew. ETHERIDGE. Washington, D. C., Feb. 23, Pqis Emigrant Passenger Statistics The number of passengers arriving in the United States from foreign countries during the year 1664 was 2'21,535, as ap pears from a communication from the Secretary of State. Of these, ]9 landed at New York; Massachusetcs re ceived, 8,055; Pennsylvania, 4,467; Cali fornia, 3,185; Maryland, 2,96,0; Maine, 1,373 ; New Jersey, 321 ; Oregon, 307 ; Florida, 199 ; Rhode Island, 54; New Hampshire, 16. But three persons d led on the voyage. One Drop at a Time Have you watched an icicle as it formed ? You notice how it froze One drop at a time until it wasa foot long or more. If the water was clean, the icicle remained clean, and sparkling brightly in the sun ; but if the water was but slightly muddy, the icicle looked foul, and its beauty was spoiled. Just so our characters are forming, one little thought or feeling at a time adds to his influence. If every thought be pure and right, the soul will be lovely; and if wrong, there will be final deformity and wretchedness. Gigantic Robbery or the Army Mails A correspondent of the New York Herald, writing from Grant's head quarters, says: It has transpired that a stupendous system of mail robbery has been prac tised in this army since its passage to this, its present lines of operation; in May last. It is believed and asserted that the appalling amount of a million of dollars in money and valuables have been surreptitiously seized by irrespon sible parties to whom the mails have been entrusted in their transit from the various regimental, brigade, division, and corps headquarters to the water transports. It has been suggested that Congress should legislate upon the pos tal arrangements of the army, confiding them to commissioned officers who shall control the mail system, in behalf of the soldiers and officers. It would seem to be, in the light of the developments already unearthed, an eminently proper suggestion. Busrirsas ADVERTIsExtENTS, $l2 a 'year Per, square of ten lines; ten per cant. increase for fractious of a_year. REAM ESTATE, em.,SONAL PROPICRTTOMId GEN ERAL AnvEavisr2:u, 7 cents a line for the first, and 4 cents for each subsequent. inser tion. PATENT MEDICINES and other adver's by tne column: One column, 1 year,... Hall column, 1 Third column, I year,..._......... . Quarter column BUSINESS CARDS, of ten lines or less, one year, Business Cards, five lines or less, one year, LEGAL AND OTHER NOTICES— Executors' notices Administrators' notices Assignees' notices Auditors' notices Other "Notices," ten lines, or less, three times Maryland is suffering all the miseries which can be precipitated upon any people, by being reduced to a condition of subjugation. The papers of that State give abundant testimony to the repeat ed acts of tyranny which are perpetrated. In her own borders are to be found a set of scoundrels who are ready to per secute to extremities every man who, by exhibiting the spirit of a freeman, may present a contrast to their subser vient and truckling baseness. The rev olution has thrown the filth and scum of society to the surface, and put into power a set of lickspittles to the admin istration—men who could never have been dragged from merited obscurity by any other process than that which sur rounds the polls Nvith bayonets, and makes a mockery of the freedom of the elective franchise. These wretches are ready to hound down every man who does not willingly submit to every out rage perpetrated by themselves and other minions of arbitrary power. Not only ate men of high character and known loyalty denied the privilege of voting, because it is suspected that they will not vote the abolition ticket, but, if they persist in claiming their right to exercise freely this great right of freemen, they are indicted and tried as criminals. We find the following re port of a most outrageous proceeding in the Frederick Union. We commend it to our readers. It is of a piece with the general course of procedure which pre vails in Maryland--fere Maryland. The niion says: At the election which took place throughout our county on the sth day of November last, extraordinary pro ceedings occurred at the Woodsboro Lolls in this county. A long list of mutes of persons to be objected to on the ground of disloyalty was handed to the Election .1 udges, and although near ly every one whose name was on said list was permitted to vote by claiming his rights, the faet that such a list was known to he in the hands of the Eelec tion J udges produced much excite ment, and caused a crowd to gather in front of the voting place, anxious to see who were objected to, and who were peril - lilted to vote, and who were deprived of their rights. Among those whose moues were upon said list was that of.l)OetorCharlesGoldsborough a highly respectable gentlemen of said Diistrict, and when he presented himself in the morning of the day and offered to vote, his ballot was refused by the Jud ges on the ground of disloyalty. After wards Diictor t loldsborough sent a mes sage to the Judges, requesting them to give him uncaring; to treat him US they had treated other persons, whose votes had been challenged, to summon his neighbors to ascertain whether he was loyal or disloyal, and if, after this, they concluded he was not entitled to a vote, he would tear up his ballot, get in his buggy and go home. Two of the Judges agreed to the request of Doctor Golds borough, and at about one o'clock he presented himself belore the J udges again, when he was told by one of them, .fudge 11 till, that his ease had been dis posed uf, and that he must leave the polls. Dueler t •oldsborough remained, however, claiming the some privileges which hail been accorded to others. lu this claim he was succeeded by Messrs. George Saylor and George W. Shank, two highly respectable citizens of the District. One of the Election Judges expressed his willing ness to receive Doctor (loldsborough's vote while Judge hull and the other re fused, whereupon Doctor Goldsborough simply declared his intention to sue (bent for depriving him of the dearest rights of a freeman, when Judge Hull reinarked "goo sue, mid you, will find go arm y iii. ,1 aloitykide of them from Xcit , 3.l(trket histriet."— udge Dull ordered the Polls to be cleared, but before it was attemped he closed the l'olls and sent a message to Frederick, to the Sheriff of the county for protection, who sent out some fifteen or sixteen armed soldiers, but before their arrival the polls had been opened and the voting was going on as usual. Messrs. Saylor and Snyder were seized by the military and torn away from their families and lodged in our County Jail until die following day when after an examination they were released. Incredible as it may seem, the Grand Jury of Frederick county, at the late October term of our Court., actually in vieted Doctor ( ioldshorough, Geo. Say lor, Geo. W. Shank and Geo. Snyder for obstructing the polls and attempt ing to hinder the election, though there was not a particle of evidence to sustain the allegation during the progress of the trial, which took place in this city last week. The ease was one of the plainest that everoecupied the attention of a Court, and everybody expected the jury to renderaverdictof notguilty with, out leaving their box, yet, strange as it seems, the jury, composed entirely of Onion men, were absent nearly twenty four hours tun' were then discharged in consequence of their inability to agree! Union men as they were, there were some honest men On that Jury who could not find it in their hearts and con sciences to render a verdict of Guilty against Messrs. Saylor, Goldsborough, Shank and Snyder, for simply asserting their clear and indisputable rights. Had a verdict of Guilty been pronounced it is the general Relief that Judge Nelson would have set it aside as contrary to the fitets and evidence of the cause. The cause will be an expensive one to Frederick county, and it reflects no credit upon those who were instru mental in bringing it to Court. A. LiNcor.:c In the days when servants were bought and sold to service in Massachu setts as well :is in South Carolina, my grandfather had in his family an unc tions darkey, calledof course " Dinah." Now, Dinah was fair to look upon, and after sundry flirtations, received, in her eighteenth year, a bon° fide offer from a well-to-410-Sambo of forty ; " And why don't you have him, Dinah"' asked any grandfather of the fair one. "Top old, massa," was the reply. "Why; Dinah, lie's just in his prime." "Yes,, massa, nit bilnesby, when Dinah get her prime, den he hat, no prime at all!"- No MATTEII.—" My friend," said a seedy individual to a waggish acquaint ance at a ferry, " I wish you would loan nie two quarters to cross the ferry. I havn' t got a dollar in the world." " Well, I would like to know," was the reply, " what difference it makes to a man who hasn't got a dollar in the world which side of the river he's on ?" A GENTLEMAN OF TITE IRISH PER SUASION AND THE JunGE.—A certain Judge was obliged to sleep with an Irishman in a crowded hotel, when the following conversation ensued: " Pat, you would have remained a long time in the old country before you could have slept with a Judge, would you not?" " Yes, yer honor," said Pat; "and I think your honor would have been a long time in the ould counthry before ye'd been a Judge too." —Eight railroad disasters occurred las week in different portions of the coun try, and forty-five since the commence ment of the year, involving the loss of 61 killed and wounded. It was the New York Evening Post that disloyally said, last summer, "that some one of the express companies of that city could end the war more expe ditiously and economically than the present administration is likely to do." RATES OF ADVERTISING. How Maryland Is Free No Prime at All !
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