Ibe ganfastw gtrtdttgmM, Published bvjsby ‘Wkdnebday.bt U. o. SMITH * CO. 11. G. Smith. A. J. Stbotmaic TERMS—Two Dollars per annom, payable ia all oases in advanoo. ' p ub“ E shed e? at §5 per Annum, in advance. A OFFICE—SOUTHWEST OOBNKB OT O*STM BQUAKB. _ THEPBOBLESI. Her life Is allonenontral tint; A cold ami quiet Kray: No tiiuuder-cloud nor sunbeam sunt Darken* or ciieors tn*r way ; No crcat events lhelr shadows cast Across her Presentor lier Past. From year Lo.year she patient sips The insieless cup of life 5 No annals o'en escape her lips Oi care or strife 5 And rarely lrom them Jails one word That would be worthy to record. Bbo 1h not old—<ho is not young— Bbe worics from day to day, Nor cares lor those she dwells among ; Ami hers—the neighbors say— A nature ueltber warm nor cold. Too suit to ear e—loo nard to mould. And yet her face has saddening power, I seelc her causes In vain— As sometlmeslu me twilight hour, A misty treelfcJH plain With dreatler fm-lnia*. lid tlie heart, Thau sc. lies of sti lie or storm Impart. Kingdoms might fall and empires quake, NuiimiMiej leu ami groan, Ami in h- r uri-ast no Interest wake; VtsiMuely i have known A Hound,a scent, a intlmg thing, search out some memory's lilddeu spring. When slowly rising to her t-ye, I arc a faint light glow. And I hen—l kuoiv not how or Why— II must he Jung ago— r.y Lh L pale gle-itn l lead the cost Ol a life's woif iro staked and lost! —Chnmbt rs' Journal. ittip4eltanroto. A Hold Urukc for ;t Wife, jjv juiKin cr.Aitic. 1 Tl was my first visit North since I hud taken up my abode and entered ou (lie practice of my profession in New Orleans. 111 the city of New York I had a very dear friend, my uld chum aud classmate, George Hickson ; and as lie was the only person I know in the great metro polis, of course 1 lost no lime in looking him up. Three years hud passed since our last meeting, but Uu could scarcely have produced a change more marked than had taken place in the appearance and manner of my friend. Our lirst greetings and friendly in quiries over, I longed, yet forbore, to usk the cause of my friend’s melancho ly. I felt sure, in due time, of being made the confidant of the secret, pro vided no motive of delicacy prompted its concealment. Tlmtevening, in my romp. at the hotel, George told me his story. He had formed an attucbmeiit for a young lady, whose graces of mind and person he portrayed with all llie fervor of a lover’s She hud returned Ins affec tion, hut her father had opposed his suit, having set his heurt on the mar riage of his daughter to a nephew of Ills. This nephew was a young physician, of profligate character, my friend assur ed me-iiut lliui. may have heeu pre judice—who had long but unsuccessfully wooed his cousin, to whom his proffers were as repugnant as to her father they were acceptable. Some mouths since, Mr. Parsons, the young lady’s father, hud gone south on business, accompanied by hia nephew. At New Or.earns lie hud been seized by a sudden illness, which terminated fatally in three days. On the day preceding his death ho had'executeci a will, (which had since been duly proved by the depositions of tho attesting witnesses,} containing a solemn request that his daughter, to whom ho lefl the whole of his estate, should accept the hand of hia nephew in marriage, coupled with a provision that in case the latter olfered, and she refused, within a specified period, to enter into the proposed union, the en tire estate deviled to lbs daughter should he I'n lVit- 1! In the nephew. To saerili 'i' lo r fortune to her heart’s choice would not have cost Julia Par sous a moment’s hesitation; and noth ing could have more, .delighted George Dickson, than so fair an opportunity of Hhowing how superior hia devotion was to all coiisideruUoiiM of personal advan tage. But her lather's dying request, in Julia’s eyes, was sacred. It had sur prised mid stunned lier.it is true, for in their many conferences ou the sub ject, he hud neve, gone beyond the ino.-ii kindly remonstrance, and had never even hinted at any thing like co ercion. Youiig Parsons had not the maguaui mily to forego Ids . ungenerous advan- I tag-.;. He might have been content with j his c Hindi's fortune alone, but his right | to that depended on hia oiler and her rejection of an alliance which she telt in conscience bound to accept. The brief season of grace, which she had .Loon compelled to beg eveu with tears, hud already almost passed, aud a few more days would witness the condem nation of two lives to hopeless misery. At the conclusion of my friend’s nar rative, in which, lor reasons that may hereafter be developed, 1 felt a peculiar interest, 1 prevailed uponhim to accom pany mo to a place of amusement to which I had previously procured tickets. When we readied the theatre, the performance had already begun ; but we succeeded in finding seats which commanded a fair view both of the singe aud tho audience. In a few moments George touched my elbow. “Observe the gentleman nearly op posite, in the front of the. panjuette, seated next.the column, loaning disarm on his earn*,” in; whispered. 1 looked in the direction indicated, and saw a face whose striking resem blance to one I had seen before caused me !o sLai-t with surprise. “ Who is it!” i asked. “ Kldridge l’araous,” was the reply “ The uephew of whom you spoke?” “ Tiie same,” my friend answered. “ Does he resemble his uuele?” I was on the point of inquiring, but just then the drew the glove from his right hand, and I saw that the first joint of (he middle linger was wanting, a cir cumaUuiou which, for sufficient reason absorbed my attention. “ Do you know the exact date of Mr. Parsons’ death?” 1 asked, wheu we had gained the street at the dose of the per formance. “Yes,” said Ueorge, “it was the twenty-third of December. Hia daugh ter received a telegram from her cousin announcing the fact the same day, But why do you ask ?” “ I have u reason which may or may not prove a good one,” i returned; and stating that l had business engagements for the whole of the next day, 1 parted with my friend, promising to meet him on the following evening. Next ufternoou found me at the office of Dr. Parsons. ‘•■Dr. panama, 1 presume?” were the words with which I accosted the gentle man I had seen ul the theatre. “ Yes, sir.” " You may not remember me, Doctor, but I believe we lmvc met before.”. “ 1 beg pard"!',Hlr, for not recollecting the occasion.” “You vero In New Orleans last win ter, were you not?” ” I was,” ho answered, with some em barrassment. “I am the gontlcimin on whom you called to draft a will.” Pie turned pale, but made no reply. “1 saw a record of that will in the Surrogate's office this morning,” I re sumed, "and ” “ You speak of my uncle's will,” he hastily Interrupted. “ And yet,” I continued, “yousaid it was yours wheu you applied to have it wrltieu. Y'ou represented yourself as desirous of executing such a document preparatory to embarking on a perilous voyage. The paper was drawn in ac cordance with your Instructions, leaving the date to be lllled at the time of sign ing. Your locks were gray then, and you certainly looked old enough to have u marriageable daughter, but your dis guise was not perfect ,” and I pointed to tho mutilated finger .' “ What do you mean?” he shouted in a defiant tone, springing to his feet “ Blmply that your uncJe’B signature to that paper 1s a forgery / ” I answered, rising and confronting him. “He died on the twenty third of Docember. Your own telegram to that effect 1b in exist ence. It was on the twenty the day before Christmas, that you called on me to prepare the paper now ou record as his will. The Inference is plain ; you undertook to manufacture this spurious testament after your uncle’s death, and wishing to clothe your villainy in legal form, you procured from me the required draft/ You, or some one at your insti gation, simulated the signature of the deceased. The witnesses, whohavesince perjured themßelvesintheirdepositlons. were procured in some manner best know A-to yourself—V n Enough, sir l” he ejaculated, plao- VOLUME TO ing his back against the door; you have shown yourself in possession of a secret the custody of which may prove dangerous /” , „ “ X am not unprepared for your threat,” I replied. “In the first place, I did not come here unarmed; in the next, I have prepared a pH * r “““ statement of the facts to which I have alluded, with information, besldes of my present visit to yourself. This paper will be delivered to the friend to whom it is directed, unless within an hour X reclaim it from the messenger, who has been instructed for that length of time to retain it.” His face grew livid. His frame quiv ered with mingled fear and rage, and his eye gleamed like that of a wild beast at bay. “What is your purpose?”. he ex claimed, in a voice hoarse with sup pressed passion. , “ To keep your secret while you live, I answered, “ on one condition.” “ Name it.” , . _ “That you write instantly to Julia Parsons, renouncing all pretensions to her hand, and absolutely withdrawing your proposal of marriage.” After a moment’s pause he seated himself at his desk, and hastily penned a Grief note, which he submitted to my inspection ; it was quite satisfactory. “Be so good as to seal and address it,” I Bald. He did so. “ I will see that it is delivered,” I re marked, taking it up aud bowing my self out. t When I met George Dickson that evening, his old college look hud come back. He had great news to tell me. The next thing was to take me to see Julia, aud it is needless to tell what a happy evening we threespent together, and what a happy marriage followed not long after. Kldridge Parsons, I havejust learned, joiued one of the late Cuban expeditions, and was killed in a recent encouuter with the Spaniards. A Great Jewel Bobbery, IN TWO CHAPTER S .—I . Some years ago, people used to pro phesy that in consequence of the Cali fornian gold discovery the precious metal would be precious no longer, but fall to a par with, If not below, silver in value. But iu spite of the golden trea sures of California, supplemented by those of Australia, a sovereign is still worth its twenty shillings ; anti the re ports of progress in BuLherlandshirearo notsuillcientry promising to make the faVored of us mortals who indulge in such luxuries to exchange our golden ornaments for their present value be fore it deteriorates. But, as a dealer in these precious stones, I have very often thought of what would be the consequence should some tremendous deposit of diamouds be laid bare; for we are not bound to suppose that these precious *crystals of carbon are every where so sparsely scattered over the earth’s surface as to render the quest one of patience and difficulty. Imag iue, for instance, some pebbly moun tain stream, whose pebbles were all Koh-i-noors, Stars of the South, and Great ntt Diamonds! What conster nation amongst the holders oi family heirlooms, whose glittering clusters have been handed down from genera tion to generation, and valued at so many thousands sterling—what horror to find that, by the glut in the market, those thousands sank to hundreds, to tens, to units at last, or merely the value of the cutting! That lady who described the weariugof diamonds as an exquisite pleasure, but too painful, from the risks incurred, would be then üblo to wear her precious jewels in peace. There Is a strange, and too often a fearful history attached to every great gem of price, many of which while flashing on the brow of beauty, or in some regal or imperial ornament, ure dimmed to the thoughtful mlud by the tears shed over them, or by the blood in which they have too often bathed. Robbery and murder have ever been mingled with the stories of precious gems j and as a peaceful man, living in these highly civilized limes, I have more than onco felt my life to be far from safe as Boon as it was known that ill the little black leathern case I cur ried, or even in the scrap of tißsue paper In my waistcoat pocket, I held so many valuable diamonds, rubles, or sapphires. ... One gets ÜBed to It in time; but at first there Is a strong feeling that every person who looks at you, or says a word about the weather, is bent upon mur der and robbery. You live a solitary life during your travels. You get in the farthest corners of carriages. You would not ride alone in a first coupe with some strange traveler, upon any consideration, even ifthatstrange travel ler where a feble old woman, since you would certainly suppose her to be a ruffian in disguise. .Elegantly dressed ladies become swindlers’ accomplices ; clerical gentlemen, the swindlers them selves ; and distrust of everything and everybody becomes the bane of our ex istence. Your wine or tea seems to be drugged, your food poisoned ; and once, at a hotel where I was staying, 1 had serious thoughts about giving the pro prietor into custody for supplying me with medicated soap. I will not mention the name of the Bond Street firm which I was some years ago connected, but let it suffice that their name was well known, and that the manufacture of more than one regal diadem had been intrusted to their skilled workmen. I was with them some twelve or fourteen years, aud it was during that period that the incident I am about to relate occurred. As a matter, of course, the strictest injunctions respecting care, caution, and watchfulness are issued to all the employees, especially to those whose daily business brings them into contact with the public ; and being al ways in the show-rooms myself, I was one of those in whom the elders of the firm placed confidence. The conse quence was, that being tolerably thoughtful, sharp of eye, and a good judge of gems, I rose to occupy one of the most responsible positions, and to me were always intrusted those rather delicate, critical, and caution-demand ing embassies, where customers wished for jewels to be sent to their houses for inspection. In courßO of time, a little feeling of jealousy spraDg up; but it did not trouble me, for, either from extra care, or from good fortune, I had not in any single case been the cause of loss to my employers —a Btate of satisfaction hard ly to be enjoyed by either of my brother assistants, so many, so ingenious, and so carefully contrived were, in those days, the plans for defrauding the great jewellers. Ido not know that any very great Improvement haß taken place of late years; but my experience Is with the past, and I relate accordingly. In fact, so many were the tricks, that when a vlaltor came to the show-rooms, the first question we had to ask was: “Is this a lady or a sharper?" Very often the swindlers, or thieves, were easy to deteot; for though dreßseii In the extreme of fashion, and arriving perhaps in a brougham, there would bo some slip of the tongue, some vulgarism —which would betray them. Frequent ly, a misplaced A, or a wrongly applied verb, has raised suspicions, which de feated a carefully planned swindle, and sent the disappointed ones to lament their ill succoßS, or often to Jail. But with all care, the jewellers’ enemies are so many, ami their losses bo heavy, that In spite of enormous profits, the bal ance-sheets at the end of the year are not so satisfactory aB 1b supposed for those who follow this artistio business. Now a well-dressed couple would come and look at Borne rings, turn them over for half an hour, and then leave, de claring that there was nothing to, suit; when perhaps before, more often after, their departure, one or two valuable gems have been missed, —taken no one' could tell how. Twice over, assistants allowed Jewels to be taken into the neYt room, at some hotel, to show a sick lady, and came back ruefully to announce the sick, sb well as the sound, lady had dis appeared. Times out of number, ring, chain, or bracelet has been snatched from counterortable; once such a thing hap pened when I was in waiting, but a pre sented pistolstopped the marauder before he reaoned the door, adoor already bolted by the porter; and my friend waß com mitted for trial, and afterwards trans ported. One select company of visitors purchased goods to the amount of nine hundred pounds, when the gentleman of the party wrote a check on the Bpot > for the amount, —Drummonds of Char ing cross being his bankers, —but as I ; objeotedto the jewels being taken away until the oheck was honored, I was ■ courteously told to send them to Mors ley’s Hotel, and half Borry to be com pelled to show the district, I bowed the distinguished customers out. Here, Johnson,” X said to one of our men, “run down at once to Drum monds, and present this check; take a * ’ In half an hour Johnson was back with the check branded with the words M No effects.” I received an invitation to dine with the head of our firm after that, and returned home at night wearing a very handsome gold watch. “ A reward for your shrewdness,” said the old gentle man, clapping me on the shooider.— “ You’ll be in the firm yet, Willis, that you will.” , x _ . “ I hope Imay,” I thought, as I went home that Dight; but the happy con summation never arrived, since I was but mortal, and, like other men, liable to be deceived; though, upon maturer consideration, I don’t think I wasWery well used. . I was seated one day busily examining some stones which were to be reset for tiie Countess of Maraschino, when the principal came softly in. “ Lock those up, Willis,” be said, “ and go and attend to those parties in the front show-room. Thomas is with them, and I don’thalfliketheirlooks.” I hurried into the show room tore lieve Mr. Thomas of his task, which he gave up wifh a very bad grace, and pro ceeded to listen to the demands of a tall lady and gentleman in black, both of Vhom wore respirators, and spoke in low, husky voices. The gentleman looked very pale and ill, and the lady was very closely veiled as to the upper part of her face ; but upon my approach she threw up her veil, and displayed the bright bold eyes of a very handsome woman. _ . . “Don’t look suspicious,” I thought, as I evaded the glance directed at me ; for our rule is not to look at eyes, but hands,—or rather fingers, which some times turn out to be light. In this case, though, the lady's were bicn gantec . aud the gentleman’s thin, white, and soft,— an invalid’s hands, in fact, and I pro ceeded to listen to their demands. “ Well, Lilia, what’s it to be?” said the gentleman. “I thought you had decided, love,” was the reply. “Something simple, and not too expensive now, whatever we may decide upon hereafter. Why not keep to what you'said,—a bracelet, or a cross?” “ Well, show me some bracelets,’ the gentleman said. “We do not want any thing of high price, but something pretty, light, and suited for a young lady of eighteen, about to be married.” I proceeded to open case after case of bracelets of all prices, from ten to five hundred guineas each; but though they were fastidious aud hard to please, I was bound to confess that ’the lady’s taste was excellent, aud that the geutlemau was no mean connoisseur in gems. “ I rather like that,” said the gentle man at last, selecting a very pretty but slight bracelet, set with a sapphire, sur rounded by pearls. ” What is the price *?” “ That' is sixty guineas,” I said. “Yes, it's pretty enough,,’ said the lady ; “ but not sufficiently good.” “You mean not valuable enough,” said the gentlemau: “ but you know the old proverb about the gift-horse.— Lucille will not study the value, depend upon it; and, besides, I don’t see any thing I like half so well.” “ Have it then, dear,” was the reply ; and then, directly after, “Ah. what a sweet cross !” exclaimed thelady, look ing enamel and gold ornament ly ingiu a case,—aud which I immediately opened, for I must confess I hid almost forgotten our principal’s suspicions. “It is asweet little thing!” exclaimed the lady, examining the cross ; ” such a fine pearl, too, in the centre. I should like it.” “What, to give Lucille?” said the gentlemau,smiling. . , “No; of course not. I fancied it myself.” ' “ My dear Lilia, this is not a linen draper's shop,” said the gentleman with ashrug and then there was a smile and a whisper betweeu them. “ What is the price of the cross?” said the gentlemau at last. “ Fifty guineas,” I said. “ It seems a good deal for so small an ornament,” said the gentleman, turning and returning the cross; but I explained that the size of the pearls increased Its value; and after a little hesitation lie decided to take it, when I saw that he was rewarded by a quiet pressure of the hand from his companion, whose eyes then met miue almost mirthfully ’or a moment. “You’re a nice creature, I expect,” muttered Ito myself; “coax him out of everything you fancy, and then laugh in your sleeve.” But my eyes were wanted to guard the valuable assortment of jewelry displayed, and they were back the next instant to business. “ Where can I send these, sir?” I in quired. “Ah ! we’ll take them,” said the lady; “we will not trouble you to send.” I explained thatit would be no trouble, but they held to their determination; and upon payment being requested, the gentlemen drew outa check book, asked for lien aud luk, and wrote a check for one hundred and ten guineas upon a small city bank. Now it was that my lips became a little tighter, and I felt that the princi pal had had some cause for his suspi cions; aud thoroughly on my guard, I took the check, aud explained that it was a rule of the establishment that goods should not be delivered until after a check had been presented. “Ah, quite right, quite right,” said the gentleman quietly, and without dis playing the slightest annoyance. “I can easily suppose that you are obliged to be careful.” But the lady looked angry, and re turned my bow very distantly as I ushered them out, having promised to send the purchases on to the fashionable hotel —Moore’s, in Brook Street —at which they were staying. “ All a,farce, but well carried out,” T said to the principal as he came up to me, and I showed him the check aDd the card given me, bearing the name “ Mr. H. IClliston Boss,” and in pencil, “ Moore’s Hotel.” “But we’ll send the check all the same. Here, Johnson.” The principal shrugged his shoul era ; and aa Johnson came up to where I was carefully running over the vari ous items of jewelry, to see that noth ing had been stolen, I gave him the check, and he went city ward. To my great satisfaction, all was right; not a jewel missing, and the purchased cases laying by me. Sud denly, a cold chill shot through me.— Had they contrived to abstract the con tents? I tore the little morocco boxes open; but, no—all was correct. Cross and bracelet luy upon their white velvet beds; and so far, everytliiug was per fectly satisfactory. If they were swin dlers, wo had escaped ; and I began to ; wonder whetherl should getnuother lu- I vallon to dinner, a chain formy watch, 1 and be told that I was a step nearer to the Junior partnership. To our intense astonishment, though at an hour’s end, Johnson returned smiling. “ All right, sir,” he said. “ Why, you don’t meun—” " All right, sir,” he said. “Check cashed In an instant: hundred and Ilf teen pounds, ten shillings.” It Is almost needless to add that the two little cases were sent immediately to the hotel, and a discussion followed respecting unnecessary suspicion, and how very often it happened that swin dlers passed unnoticed, while honest people were suspected. IN TWO CHAPTERS. —11. A month passed when one cold Jan uary day X was in the show-room, and the same lady made her appearance alone. She still wore her respirator, but looked very pale, haggard, and troubled. The bold look seemed to have gone from lier eyes ; and as I recalled my thoughts I felt that I had misjudged her, for she began to speak tenderly of her husband, Mr. Koss, who was lying very ill at the hotel. “ I have brought back the cross to be repaired,” she said, drawing the little morocco case from her rich sable muff. “ The ring was too slight, and it broke from my necklet the seoond time it was worn. I had a narrow escape of losing it; but Mr. Boss found it himself upon the lawn, trodden into the grass. 1 thought I would leave it until we came upagain. Of course you can repair it?” I expressed my sorrow, and promised to have it seen to at once. “ You need not hurry for a few days. Mr. Ross is in town to consult Sir Eal ing Dean, and I fear he will send us to Madeira. This climate is killing my poor husband.” Thejdistant hauteur was all gone; and LANCASTER PA. WEDNESDAY MORNING AUGUST 18 1869 in a lady like, courteous manner, our customer bowed to my few sympathetic remarks, and hints of its beiDg an unu sually trying season, &o. “ Our friend was delighted with the little bracelet, a gift which Mr. Ross wishes to supplement with something a little more valuable. Perhaps I could be allowed to select a few thiDgs for you to submit to his choice at the hotel ? I know his taste now pretty well, and it will save trouble ” “ Anything you like to select shall be sent, ma’am/’ I said ; aud I then pro ceeded to open and display to their best advantage, some very valu'able brace lets, which were one and all rejected. “Yes,” she said sadly, “ they are very handsome; but Mr. Ross would not like them, I am sure, and it is useless to take things on that he would not approve. His taste was always good ; and as his health falls, he Beems to have acquired an indescribable tone that I cannot ex plain, except that it is artistic and dreamy.” I brought out some plain but good pearl and diamond ornaments in suites, one suite in particular taking her atten tion. * “ Yes ; I like that. You mightsend that.” “It is a suite made to order; but it could be made again in a very Bhort time,” I said. “ That would not do,” she said, “ un less it could be supplied iu a fortnight.” “ I think we could get over that diffi culty,” I said with a smile; and then bracelets, riogs, chains, and watches — certainly the most chaste and elegant we had—were selected and put aside. “ It is only fair to say,” said the lady, smiling—at least, I could see that she was smiling, in spite of her respirator, —“ that Mr. Ross will not purchase many of these elegant ornaments. I know lie would like a watch and chaiu, and a ring. Perhaps, too, if he admired them, one of those pearl suites ; but I thought it better to speak, as since his illness he has become, not, irritable but —but—perhaps a little hard to please, and I should be sorry if he rejected everything you brought.” So much delicacy was displayed iu these remarks, that I could only cour teously assure her that we should only be too happy to attend again and again ; upon Mr. Ross, till we had hit upon something he admired; and upon prom ising to send the selected goods on the next morning at eleven, our visitor rose to go. “I would ask you to send this after noon,” said the lady on rising, “but I don’t think Mr. Ross quite weil enough. He saw our physician this morning, and the interviews are always very trying to his nerves.” I placed the little cross in the work men’s hands for repair; and the next morning, punctually at eleven, I was at Moore’s Hotel, accompanied by a porter with a goodly assortment of jew elry. A few words with the manager set me quite at ease, though my inquiries were a mere matter of form. Mr. El liston Ross lived in Yorkshire, owned coal mines, and was in town to visit the court physician, Sir Ealing Dean ; had been there once before for the same rea son ; perfect gentleman ; his lady quite an angel,—waited on him night and day. I was shown into the room where Mrs. Ross was seated, —this time without her respirator, She arose with a sad smile and motioned me to a seat; while put ting on her respirator, she went into the next room, remaining absent a few minutes, and then returning, requested me to bring in my cases for Mr. Xtoss to see. I bad left the porter down stairs ; so, taking up the two Btnall leathern boxes, I followed Mrs. Robb into a slightly shaded room, where, looking deathly pale, the centleman who had visited our place of business lay upon a couch reading the Times. He was attired in a blue cloth dressing gown, and had a small table drawn up to his side, on which were a bottle, glass and a carafle which seemed to contain barley water. He, too, wore a respirator: but he re moved it for a few moments to take a little of the barley water, and then care fully replaced it, cougbiug hollowy the while. “Sorry to bring you iuto a sick room.” he saiil, courteously. “Sorry, lu fact, to bring you hero at all, for I would much rather have chosen the trills or two I wauted at your shop. I trust you have not brought many things, though ?" “ Only a few that Mre. Rosa thought you—that your lady chose, sir," I said. He nodded, and then listlessly ex amined first one Bnd then another orna ment, as I opened them out, but always with a dissatisfied air. “Don’t you like those, dear?” sal Mrs. Ross, in rather disappointed tones as I displayed in the best lights the pearl suite. "No; not at all,” snid the invalid. “ Too plain ; almost vulgar.” “ Might I be allowed to suggest,” I said, earnestly, " that to see pearls to advantage, they must be worn. It is a well-known fact that pearls are gems which show to as great advantage upon a dark as upon a fair complexion ; and ifyourlady—” I paused here, and glanced towards Mrs. Ross, who smiled graciously, and then clasped the bracelets round her shapely wrist the necklace over her fine throat, and placed the tiara in her hair,— looking almost regal as she stood before us. “ You seethe difference,” I said draw ing back. “Yes, yes,” said the invalid, impa tiently; “they looked well euough on her ; but they are for quite a girl.— Take them off, Lilia.” Mrs. Ross obeyed, and the ornaments were replaced in the case ; when I pro ceeded to display the other jewels, but apparently to find no favor. “ Here, Lilia, give me a glass of sherry. Confound this thing, it almost chokes me.” He tore ofl the respira tor, and hurled it to the other end of the room. , T , " For my sake, dear," I heard her whisper to him, as, stepping lightly across the room, she picked up the re spirator, and brought it back. "Well, there; get out the sherry, then," he said, pettishly, as he took back the instrument. "No, no, dear; Sir Ealing said—” “ Confound Sir Ealing ! If I am to die, let me die comfortably, and not to he tortured todeath. Get out thesherry, I say,—the port too.” I saw a tear trickle down Mrs Ross' cheek as she fetched a couple of decan ters from a Bideboard where they stood with glasses. “ Haven’t you Borne cake, or did you send it down?” ho said impatiently. " I have It here, dear,” said Mrs. Ross Boftly ; and she placed a portion of a small pound-cake upon the table. “ Give me a glass of sherry,” he said, Impatiently. "No, not that glass—the other—Mr.—l don’t know your name try that sherry." He sipped a little. "You’ll find It very good." “ I thank you,” 1 said quietly; “ but I never take wine in business hours." “ Won’t you try the port, then ?" ho said. "A little cake?” suggested the lady. “We are simple oountry people, and not much acquainted with London eti quette. Fray, excuse us if we trespass." I bowed, aud declined, when Mrs. Ross readjusted her husband's respira tor, leaning over him the while. “ Now let me see that blacelet," said Mr. Ross, pointing to one upon the table. “But are these all you have brought?” II Yes, sir." I said ; “but I can easily bring a fresh selection,"—though I had brought over two thousand pounds’ worth. " Hem, yes,” he said ; “ of course 1— Do you like that bracelet, Lilia ?” “Yes,” Bald Mrs. Ross; “I picked it out particularly yesterday. The emer ald is so beautiful.” “ Put It on,” he said curtly ; and she clasped it upon her arm. “ How muoh?” he Bald, shortly. “Thirty-five gulnieas,” I replied. “ Dear,', he said,— “very dear. The bracelet we bought at the shop was far more handsome at the same money." “No love; it was sixty guineas," said Mrs. Ross. “Ah! was it? I forgot," he Bald care lessly. “Well, lay that aside: I don’t want you to comefor nothing.” I hastened to assure him that it was theiwißh of the firm to satisfy their pa trons, as well as to sell their jewelry, and that we should only be too happy to bring or send on a fresh selection for his choice. He assented almost rudely, and turn ed over the various rings, asking the E rices of nearly every artiole I had rought, when, suddenly throwing him self impatiently back, he exolalmed, “Good heavens Lilia, this room ia in sufferable; thro w some of that vinegar about. ’ ’ Mrs. Rosssmiled faintly ; and taking a flexible tube from tbo mantelpiece, she pressed It, bo that in a fine abower a fine scented aromantlc vinegar dif fused a refreshing perfume through the room. “ That’s better,” he exclaimed.— “ Now ehow me those pearls again. How much did you say they were ? ” “ Four hundred guineas the suite,” I Bald, hastening to lay them before him. “There, take them away I ” he ex claimed. “ I can’t afford four hundred guineas; four hundred shillings more likely. That confounded doctor ia ruin ing me. Let me look at the watches ; or, stay, let me look at the pearls again. No ; never mind, I won’t have them unless you will take have the money.” I smiled and shook my head. “We are not dealers of that.sort, sir,” I ven tured to say. " I don’t know—l don’t kDow. I be lieve you jewellers get most terrible profits. Show me the watches.” I was hastening to place the half dozen I had with me in his hands, when he exclaimed again: “Insufferable! Have you auy more of that vinegar, Lilia?” Mrs. Ross nodded; and taking a cut glass bottle from her pocket, she placed it with a handkerchief by his side. “N6.n0,” he said, giving me back the watches.' Sprinkle the room with another of those tubes. Now you ! I’ll have that little plaffi watch. I’m get ting tired of this. Let me half a chain to match—a fine oue, mind—the thin- nest you have —and that will do for to day.” As I selected four or five chains, after putting the watch aside, Mrs. Ross took up another tube, unscrewed it, and then appeared to be taking especial notice of the chains which I bore across to the invalid. “Those are sweetly pretty, ",ahe ex' claimed. “I don’t remember noticing them so much yesterday.” As Bhe spoke, she stood close to my side, when, the invalid exclaimed im patintly: “There, pray, be quick, dear;” and at one and the same moment, he poured out the contents of his bottle upon his handkerchief and I felt a fine spray of a peculiar odor playing right in my nostrils. I started back gasping and astounded when, leaping from the couch, the in valid exclaimed: “Good heavens, sir, you are unwelll” and be covered my face and nose with the wet handker chief, forcing me backwards into a chair. I believe that I struggled, but only feebly; for a strange, delicious, ener vating languor was stealing oyer me; I saw things mistily butstill with an un derstanding mind, seeing, though un able to move hand or foot, that the in valid was bending over me, while Mrs. Boss was hastily placing the various articles of jewelry in her pocket. I saw all that, but in a dreamy, un troubled way, for it seemed then to be not of the slightest consequence, not to concern me. Then I have some recol lection of an intensely cold sensation as of water being poured upon my i.ice, while my next impression is of hearing a closing door and the click of a lock. How long I remained in that condi tion, I never knew ; but by degrees I woke to a feelingof deadly nausea; my head swam, my temples throbbed, and everything X gazed upon was seeu through a mist of dancing motes. But by degrees thoughts of the present be gan to take the place of the dreamy imaginings of the pas*. I started up and looked around, to find that I was ' still In the inner room ; but uie jewcio —the cases—where was the invalid— where Mrs. Boss? Was it true, or was it some strange vision? It was impos sible that I could have been duped like that. , , , ,m I ran to the door,--fastened. lhe other door,—locked on the outside. I darted across to the bell, but In doing so, caught my foot in the long table cover, tripped and fell, dragging the cloth on to the carpet and revealiug the whole of the jewel cases beneath the table, Just as they had been hustlly lluug. I could not help It then, for my brain was confused, and. stooping down, I took the cases oue by one, aud opened them, in the fond hope that I bad been deceived, aud that I should find the jewels safe; but, save one ring, which had escaped their notice, everything had been taken. I sat on the carpet for a few minutes holding my throbbing head, and trying to recall the scene, but almost in vain, for it seemed as If a portion of my ex istence had been wiped completely away. I was showing jewelry at one moment, the next It seemed that I was seated by the empty cases. I tried to clear my faculties, but in vain ; and 1 should think quite half an hour had elapsed before, thoroughly awakened to the fact that I had been robbed, I rang thebell. 1 , I had nearly arrived at the extent of my loss two or three times, but only to have, as it were, a veil drawn over my senses, just as if a relapse were coming on; and then mentally blind, J could do nothing but rock myself to and fro, trying to get rid of the remains of the strange stupor In which I had been plunged. Before the waltercould ascend, I rang again. _ “ Where are Mr. and Mrs. Boss ?” I inquired. k> Went out in a brougham some time ago, sir: and your lunch is ready.” ”My lunch?” I exclaimed. “ Yes, sir; the lunch they ordered for you,” "O, thank you!” I said quietly; “I'll ring again. Bend my porter up in five minutes’ time." The waiter did not seem surprised that the door was fastened on the out side—it had not struck him then ; but as soon as he had gone, I hastily re packed the empty morocco cases, and as soon as possible made my way back into Bond street, and met the principal. “We were just getting uneasy, Mr. Willis, and going to send after you.— “What have they taken?" “Everything, sir," I said, almost fiercely. “What!” he exclaimed. I told all I knew, while he listened with blank amazement. Then followed a visit to Great Scot land Yard, and to Moore’s, to find that Mr. and Mrs. Boss had not returned; while so impressed was the manager with his visitors’ respectability, that he laughed at the idea of there having been any swindling transaction. They were most respectable people, he said ; paid their bill laßt time without a murmur : their portmanteaus and boxes up stairs were all in their roomB; and it was all a mistake,—“or something worse," he added, with a dark look at me. That it was “ something worse," was very soon evident from the tubes aud bottles, and a wine glass containing a few drops of limpid fluid, found to cor roborate myßtory. But though the In struments of the deception, even to a couple of respirators, lined with wet sponge, were found, the depredators had made their escape, and were never found; though I verily believe that if I had watched the lady swindlers In the various police courts, sooner or later, I should have encountered tho Interest ing Mrs. Boss. I need hardly add after so heavy a loss, the firm never seemed to take thoroughly to heart the Idea of a junior partnersnlp with respect to myself; while as to my brother assistants, they laughed in their sleeveß at my down fall ; though, after all, I cannot see that I was much to blame, this not being by any meanß the first Great Jewel robbery. A New England Sermon. “Wal,” said Ram, leaning over the fire, with his long, bony hands alter nately raised to catch the warmth, and then dropped with an utter laxness, when the warmth became too powerful, “Parson Simpson’s a smart man ; but I tell ye It’s kind o’ dlscouragln. Why, he said our state and condition by natur was just like this: We was clear down a well fifty feet deep, and the sides all round nothing but glare ice; but we was under immediate obligations to get out, ’cause we was free, voluntary agents. But nobody had ever got out. and nobody would, unless the Lord reached down and took ’em. And whether he would or not nobody could tell; it was all sovereignty. He said there wan’t one in a hundred—not one In a thousand—not one in ten thousand —that could be Baved. Lord massy, Bays I to myself, ef that’s so, they're anyoPem welcome to my chance. And so I kind o’ris up and come out, cause I’d got a pretty long walk home and I wanted to go around by South Pond and inquire about Aunt Sally Morse’s tooth aohe.” The Water Spider. Since the curiosities of animal life are as innumerable as its forms, it will at once be seen that in the title given to this aeries of rambling papers a wide field has been opened to us, and the great difficulty will be not to find but to select subjects for examination. We shall therefore confine our notice to comparatively a few of the more inter esting objects encountered iu suudry excursions into the byways of natural history, hoping that many persons may receive some little entertainment and instruction therefrom, and still others be iooited to make similar rambles on their owa account. With this brief statement of what is designed in these papets, the writer will proceed to his pleasing task without further preliminary, entering the ex tensive region in which bis wanderings are to be made at the first promising path that presents itself, AmoDg the varied forms of life in the water there is none, perhaps, more in teresting or curious than that afforded by the Water Spider, a by no means rare inhabitant of sluggish streams and ditches, where it may be seen rising slowly to the surface of the water, giv ing a kind of flirt into the air, and then disappearing into the depths, looking like a small globe of silver as it sinks down. What is curious about this little animal is the fact that, though it atmospheric air, it builds Us nest under the water. This nest, or cell, like the nests-of other spiders, is formed of silk, is usually egg-shaped, with an opening at the lo ver-end, and is filled with the air on which the spider is dependent for breathiug. It is, in fact, a miniature diving-bell iu every essential particular, the teuaut of which reposes there, after the manner of its kind, with its head downward. For a long time naturalists vainly en deavored to solve the problem as to how the air was introduced into this cell. Various theories were propounded, but nothing satisfactory was offered till the question was finally set at rest by the careful experiments of Mr. Bell, a cele brated Eugiiah naturalist. Having obtained a number of water spiders, he placed them iu au upright cylindrical vessel of water, in which were some aquatic plants, such as the spiders usually fasten their cells to. One of the little animals having commenced to weave its beautiful web, was present ly seen to rise to the surface and secure a bubble of air, with which it immedi ately and quickly descended', and the bubule was disengaged from the body and left in connection with the web.— Soon it ascended agaiD, and brought down another bubble, which was sim ilarly deposited. “In this way,” continues Mr. Bell, “no less than fourteen journeys were performed —sometimes two or three very quickly, one after another; at other times with a considerable interval between them, during which time the little animal wasemplc-yed in extending and giving shape to the beautilul trans parent bell, getting into it, pushing it atone place and amending it at an other, and strengtheniugdts attachment to the supports. At length it seemed to be satisfied, when it crept into and settled itself in the cell, which was now the size and nearly the shape of half an acorn cut transversely, the smaller aud rounded part being upper most.” The curious manner in which the animal obtains its air bubbles is thus described: “It ascends to the surface slowly, as sisted by a thread attached to the leaf or other aupport below. As soon as It comes near the surface, It turnß with the extremity of the abdomen upward, and exposes a portion of the body to the air for an instant; then, with a jerk, it suateheß, as it were, a bubble of air, which is not only attached to the hairs which cover the abdomen, but is held on by the two hind legs, which are crossed at an acute angle near their ex tremity, this crossing of the legs taking place at the instant the bubble Isseized. The little creature then descends more rapidly aud regains Its cell, always by the same route, turns the abdomen within it, and disengages the bubble." At the proper Beasou the water spider spins a Haucer-shaped cocoon, which she fastens to the Inner slue of the cell neur the top. Hero she deposits about a hundred minute sperlcal-shaped eggs. The color of the water spider Is hrown, with a grayish surface, caused by tbe thick growth ol hair which covers the body, and with a very slight tinge of red on the upper segment. There is another species of spider sometimes culled by the same name, but which is easily to be distinguished from the water spider by its bright scarlet color and velvety appearance. Though generally deemed objects of aversion, the spiders, as we have seen in the brief sketch given above of the water spider, present many points of interest, and illustrate very fully in their habits what may be called tho in genuity of inßtinct. To enter into a minute description of the many singu lar varieties of the spider family known to naturalists would require a volume in itself. There are two, however, to which we propose devoting a few para graphs—the Trap-door Spider of Ja maica, and tbe Kaft Spider. Trap-door Spiders are found In va rious parts of the world. But the one with which naturalists are most famil iar is a native of Jamaica. It is an odd looking creature, with short, powerful legs, aud amostformidablepairoffangs, notable for the fact that their bases ate furnished with a Beries of Bharply poluted barbs. It is seldom less than au inch in length. Neither its large size npr its crab-like appearauce, however, has rendered the Trap door Spider so remarkable as the ingenuity it displays in the construc tion of its burrow. This consists of a Bilken tube or tunnel Bunk into the ground, generally on some sloping spot, the entrance to which is guarded by the “trap-door” from which the animal derives its popular name. When removed from the earth, this tube is seen to be double. The outer covering is thick, harsh aud crumpled, having more tbe appearauce of rougli bark than of anything else. Beneath this covering is au inner layer, smooth to the eye aud of a silky Boi'tness to the touch. Over this is woven tho texture of the inner surface, nearly white, much resembling rough, unsized printing paper. Under the microscope this lining looks like very rough felt, covered with little prominences, and composed of threads confusedly twisted together, much coarser than ordinary spider-web and as stiff as if covered with size or gum. The “trap-door” at the entrance of the tube is a flap of the same material as that in (he tunnel Itself. Circular in shape, it fits the orifice with perfect ac curacy, aud is “attached to the tube by a tolerably wide hinge, so that when it closes it falls true and fair upon the openiflg it defends. The luner surface exactly resembles that of the luterlorof the tube, but itß outer surface is covered with earili taken from the soil In which the hole Is dug. Belog flush with the level of the ground, when it Is closed all traces of the burrow are lost." Upon the inner lining of the door, opposite the hinge, is a semi-circular row of small holeß, about thirty in number, inwhich the spider inserts her claws when she wishes to keep the covering of her cell closed against unwelcome intruders.— Anuther remarkable peculiarity in the construction of the trap is that its edge, as well aB that of the aperture, is bevel edoffinwardly bo that the accurate clo sure of the entrance Is periectly ensured whilst at the same time the weight of the door is lessened without any de crease in Its strength. Its Bhape, is worthy of notice. Toward the hinge, It Is comparatively thin, but upon the edge It [every thick, solid and heavy so that its own weight Is sulncient to keep It firmly closed. From this door fine ellken threads extend to the bottom of the cell, where the epider reposes during the day. By the vibration of these threads, the ani mal Is warned of any attempt to force an entrance into her habitation. As soon as ehe percelveß them to be Bhaken she hastens to the door, faetens her legs to it aud to the opposite wall of the gal lery, and pulls with all her strength, seeking safety in flight only when she finds her efforts vain. Nothing eUort of actual violence will dislodge the spider from her habitation. She will even permit her burrow to be dug up and carried away without desert ing itf Should tile door be covered with a stone or obstacle'to its opening, she Bpeedily constructs a new entrance.— Once fairly driven from her home, how ever, Bhe loses all energy and courage, and becomes Inert and apparently Btupefled, or, at the best walks about languidly and as if she had lost all in* terest in the concerns of life. The dwelling thus curiously built and protected is not used as a snare, but simply as a safe home for the spider, which is nocturnal in its habits, seek ing its prey at night only. Insects of various kinds fall victims to its necessi ties, and at the bottom of its tunnel may be found the relics of Its fea9t, often In cluding the remains of tolerably large beetles. The Raft Spider, attains quite large ■ dimensions, is rather a handsome aui- i mal of its kind, a broad orange band i markiug the outline of the abdomen i and thorax, and contrasting beautl- i fully with the soft, rich brown of i the creature’s general hue. Its legs . are pinkish, while a double row < of small white spots upon the abdomen, f and a number or short dark transverse 1 bars give variety to the coloring. The RaftSplder is ODe of the largest i of British spiders, and is only to be i found in fenny or marshy places, i abounding most in the fens of Cam bridgeshire. 'Weaving no web, it ob tains its prey in the chase following the ; objects or its pursuit upon the water as well as upon the land. Gathering a quantity of dry leaves, moss, small twigs and the like, the spider fastens them to- 1 gether iuto a sort of raft, which it launches upon the water, and curreuts. As aqifatic insects are numerous, the hardy voyager finds no lack of prey. — ' Land insects, too, such as moths, flies, beetles, aud the like, are continually, falling into the water, aDd these become the most unresisting of the spider’s < victims. Nor does the animal always sit idle upon the raft, waiting for such i prey as may chance to come within reach ; but when it sees ap insect upon the surface, it runs swiftly over the water, secures its victim, and carries it to the raft, to be there devoured at leis ure. It can even descend several inches into the water, which it does, not by diving, as in the caseof the waterspider, but by crawling down the stemS" of aquatic plants. This capability of liv ing for some time beneath the surface of the water, ofteu stands the spider in good stead, enabling it, by slipping un der its raft, to avoid the attacks of pass ing enemies. A century and a half since, in an account of the insects of Surinam, it was stated that there were spiders in that country which caught hunx ming-birds just as our common house spiders do flies. At first received without scruple, then doubted, this ac count, perhaps from the circumstance that it was related by a woman natural ist, finally fell into contemptuous disbe lief. But the fact that gigantic spiders do exist capable of making small birds their prey, has of late years been fully established. Mr. H. W. Bates, an Eng lish gentlemen who spent eleven years upon the banks of the Amazon, relates an encounter with asplder of this kind, measuring nearly two inches in length of body, and seven inches with the legs expanded. “I was attracted,” says he, “by a movement of the monster on a tree trunk. It was close beneath adeep crevice in the tree, across which was stretched a dense white web. Thelow er part of the web was broken, and two small birds, finches were entangled in the pieces. They were about the size of the English siskin, aud I judged the two to be male and female. Ooeoftbem was quite dead, and the other lay near ly so under the body of the spider, and wassmeared with thesalivaexcluded by the monster. I drove away the spider and took the birds, but the second one soon died I found the cir cumstances to be quite a novelty to the renldeute hereabout. This spider he Informs us belong , cd to the genus Mygale, of which there are several species. Its body is covered with coarse gray and \ reddish hairs, which sheds very easily when living, and which penetrate the i skiu of any ouo incautiously touching them,causing uo little painful irrifatiou. • The natives do not seem to entertain ’ any feeling of abhorrence towards these I creatures; for Mr. Bates once saw a r group of children amuslDg themselves , with agigauiicMygale, which thpy had > secured by tying a string around its r waist, and were leading It about like a i dog. M. Poussielgue, a French tourist, whose narrative of a Journey in Florida In ISSI-1! has reeeutly appeared lu France, relates a somewhat similar ad venture with a monster Mygale. One morning, while at Femandlua, he had been for some time watohtng from the door of hiß room the movements of a pair of ruby throated humming birds. Finally falling asleep, he was presently aroused by piercing cries from the birds. “A terrible drama," he continues 11 was enacting on the walls of my own cabin, right under my eyes. Rolled up lu the centre of the leaf of a passion flower, was the nest of the birds I had been watching—a pretty structure of cotton-down and moss. In the nest were three young birds, entirely red. A hideous mouster was menacing the ex istence of these dear innocents. A spider of the genus Mygale—the Giant My gale —black and hairy, whose claws, armed with fearful-looking hooks, wereat least ten inches long, wascrouch ed motionless on thecasingof the door, with his head turned toward the nest, which he was gazing at greedily with his white, green-pupiled eyes. The parent birds uttered cries of despair.— The mother, clinging to a leaf above the nest, covered her little ones with her drooping wings ; the male, his feathers bristling with rage, flew aronnd the spi der, ready to attack the monster and to sacrifice his life for his progeny. “ It was the struggle of a pigmy against a giant. Little by little the Bpi der crept on, and the innocents seemed about to perish. “ I interposed. With a blow of my cane, I struck the spider, breaking three of his claws, and then finished by knock ing him to the ground. It was a hide ous creature, and I shuddered when I thought how I had slept with such a neighbor in my house. “ These huge Mygales are common in the country. Their appearance is so horrible that they are destroyed when ever seen ; and yet they are of conside rable rervleo in devouring parasitic in sects, moths, canker flies, centipedes and termites. As has been seen, they also attack small birds." As a sortof tail-piece to.dur brief notes uponspid ers, we cannot refrain from condensing a quotation irom an old French work, which wo find in Hir John Hawkins' “History of Music.” From it the inference is unavoidable that the spider, though Bomewhat given to “stratagems and spoilß," hathau ear for music, If not a boul for it. As to the locality of the said ear, however, natu ralists seem as yet to know nothing: A certain French captain, having been confined for some military otl'euce, beg ged the governor of his prison to allow him to play his lute, “ to soften his con finement. He was greatly astonished, after four days, to see at the time of his playing the mice come outof their holes and the spiders descend from their webs, forming a circle around him to hear him with attention." His astonishment was such Lhat he ceased playing, when “all those insects retired quietly into their lodgings." Our olllcer was thereupon led to make certain profound retlec tlons upon what the ancients have told usof Orpheus, Arlou and Amphion. Having after six days recovered some what from his astonishment, and con quered his natural aversion to “those sorts of insects," he began afresh “to give concerts to them." Every day they came In greater uumberß“as if they had invited others, so that In process of time he found hundreds of them about him.” Another Frenchman, one Monsieur 1> ,“a man of meritand probity,” an excellent musician, relates a somewhat slmilarstory. Oneevenlng, topassaway the time whilst waiting for Bupper, he took up his violin, Betting a light upon the table before him. "He had not played a quarter of an hour before he Haw several Bpiders descend from the celling. They came and ranged them selves round about the table to hear him play.” Though greatly surprised, he did not cease playing, “being willing to Bee the end of so singularan occurrence. They remained upon the table very at tentively until somebody came to tell him supper was ready, when, behaving stopped playing, the spiders remounted to their webs, to which he would suffer no Injury to be done, often entertaining himself thereafter with that diversion." “As helpless as a fish out of water” is a comparison as forcible, probably, as It is possible to make, and, if not very loftily poetical, certainly founded upon a great natural truth. Still, there is at least one exception to the general rule that water Is the only sphere In which the finny tribes find them selves in a position to display their NUMBER ?3 activity. We do not allude to those titful and momentary periods of aerlnl existence enjoyed by the flying fish aud some of ita congeners, nor to the fact that some of the frog-fishes aud eels have the power of holding on to life in the mud or sand left exposed during the interval between the ebb and the flow of the tide. Nor yet have we in our mind those English eels which, Oosse tells us, are known to annually ascend the trees whose branches hang into a certain pond near Bristol, pass over to the opposite brauches. and drop into an adjoining stream ; ami this, too, In such numbers that the trees at times appear to be quite alive with eels. It Is not to these we refer, but to the Climbing Perch, a singular fish, first taken notice of in the East Indies, but of which specimens have been found by Agassiz in South America. *~The’citmbing Perch is best known as an inhabitant of rivers and ponds in most parts of the East ludies, aud is about sis inches long. Unlike other fishes of which we have any kuowiedge it can live for several days out of water, and has the power of ascending trees, which it does, it is asserted, for the pur-” poseofobtaining food. Hence its common aud scientific appellation— sceuidaiis, or climbing. In all this singular little fish is peculiarly fitted for perform ing the feat from which it derives its name.Fromitsgill cpversprojecluumer ouslittlespinesor prickles which are used as hands to cling to the tree. To facili tate Its progress over the bark, its body is lubricated with a very slippery mu cus. In climbing, the fish, turning its tail to the left, and resting upon thesmall spines of its lower flu, pushes itself for ward by expanding its body, at the same time closing its gill-covers, that they may not impede its progress ; then re-opening them it attains a higher point. Thus, and by bending the spiny rays of its back fin to the right and left, aud fixing them in the bark, it is enabled to perform its curious journey. Both the lower and back fius, so neces sary for certain portions of this climb ing operations, cau, at other times, be snugly packed away in cavities left for that purpose in the animal’s body. But it is not as a climber only that this fish is remarkable. In the countries in which it abounds the smaller water courses or ponds dry up in the hot sum mers. When they beginto fail the little animal creeps up the banks and “slow ly makes its way over the earth to some large stream. Though sometimes com pelled to travel in this way by day— and it has been met with in the glare of noon, toiling aloog a dusty road—its journeys are usually performed at night or in early morning, while the grass is still wet with dew.’* Climbing Fen-li are plentiful in the Ganges, and the boatmen have been known to keep them for five or six days iu an earthen pot without water, using daily whut they wanted, and finding them us live ly as when just caught. There is one other fish, found in tho fresh waters of the tropical America, which shares with the Climbing Perch its independence of its ‘ native element.’ This fish is very abundant in Uulua, where it is much prized by the natives, who are passionate lovers of fish on ac count of its fatness. It is called the Hassar, aud is one of the very few fishes known to construct nests. It la a small fish, seldom exceeding eight inches in length, of a greenish brown color. Perhaps the mp»t curious parts of the economy of this fish is the fact that its nest is not placed iu the water, but in a muddy hole just above the sur face. This, however, acoorda with the qualities of the fish, which has the power to travel over.laud from onelpoud to another. During the dry season the Hassar frequently burrows in the mud, remaining there until the welcome rain seta it free, or until It la removed by some hungry native, acquainted with its habita and energetic euough to dig for It. „ , There Is a fish in tropical seas called the Antennarlus, and belonging to the Lophidfc family of fishes—a family, by the way including some of the oddest, grotesque-looking monsters to be met with in the water—which is said to bo almost as tenacious of life as either the Climbing Perch or Hassar. Indeed, we might class it along with those fishes were the fact fully established that it will crawl about the fields for two or three days at a time. A fish greatly re sembling this, and allied to It. to which a variety of names has been glveu, such as the Frog Fish, the Hea Devil aud the Fishing Frog, is very common oil the coast or Great Britain. It Is quite a large fish, usually about three feetlong,though sometimes attaining a leugth of five feet. From the fact that it appears to be mostly mouth and stomach, the Scot tish fishermen frequently call it “wide gob.” Its more common appellation, the “Flsh’ing Frog,” isoneiu part de rived from a peculiarity it possesses with most of the family, of hiding itself in the mud and attracting its prey by agitating the filameutary pro cesses on its head. Why itshouid have been called a “frog,” however, is past our finding out. Slow and sluggish in its movements, it would have been difilcult for it to obtain its food, which consists of small fish, had not Nature provided it with a rod and line, or something equivalent to rod and line, by which it is enabled to capture them. And it is provided, too, with bait; for on theeml of the thread-like growth attached to i lB nose, and which we have called its rod and Hue, is a skinny flap, serving the same purpose as tho worm on tho angler’s hook. The dull, heavy fish, burying itself In the mud, near the customary haunts of the smaller fish on which Itsubaists, al lows only tho end of its lino to be seen, with the loose flap serving as a bait, dangling from it. Attracted by this, our hidden angler fiuds no difficulty in enticing his nimble prey within reach of his capacious maw. Though our Fishing Frog turns out, after all, to be a frog In np sense of the word, we ouriosity-huiners may yet cousole ourselves for the disappoint ment arising from a popular misnomer ..-with the fact or, at least, with what may be presumed to be the fact—that there is such a thing as a " flylug frog,” “ One of the most curious and inter esting reptiles,” says the author of “The Malay Archipelago,” “ which I met with in Borneo was a large tree-frog, brought me by oneof theChlnese work men, He assured me that ho had seen It come down In a slanting direction from a high tree, as if it fiew. Ou ex amining it, I found the toes very long, and fully webbed to their very extremity, so that when expanded they ofi'erod a surface much larger than the body.— The fore-leg* were also bordered by a membrane, and the body wuh capable of considerable Inflation. The back and limbs were of a very deep shining green color, the under surface and the inner toes yellow, while the webs wero black,rayed with yellow. The body was about four Inches long, while the websofeach hind foot,when fully ex panded, covered a surface of four square inches, and tho webs of all the feet to gether about twelve square Inches. As the extremities of the toes have dilated dises for adhesion, showing theoreature to bo a true tree-frog, it Is difilcult to Imagine that this immense membrane of tiie toes can bo for the purpose of swimming ouly, and the account of the Chinaman that it fiew down from the tree becomes more credible. This, I be lieve, is the first iustauco known of a ‘flying-frog.’ ” Auotlier new species of frog, os rare as beautiful, aud quite a curiosity In its way has recently been brought into no- I tice by an English sojourner at Cape 1 Town. Forwautof a better name, its, discoverer calls it the Cape Frog. “It | was of a very peculiar delicate cream color, sometimes appearingalmostglld- | ed, aud at other times of a duller pink ish hue. There was a darkerstripe from the eyes down each side. The eyes very I large, bright and prominent, the feet formed like those of tho tree frogs, the toes being of a bright orange-red color ; the body was little moro than an Inch In leugth, and so transparent that it; was always easy to see if he had had his dinner or not. The hlml legs were very long, euabllng U tojumpaconslderable distance. I placed it In a tumbler with a little water at the bottom, and after a few days I was intending to let it go, not knowing what to feed it on, when suddenly it sprang on to a news paper after a Hy; seeing this I resolved to keep it, and if possible to bring It with me to England. I used to let it loose In ihe room, and often it would spend hours Bitting on the window, generally preferring the glass to the woodwork. It never willingly went into the water, but I often refreshed it with a bath. It was only after some time, by most care ful watching, that we discovered the mode by which the prey was caught; BATE OF ADVEBTIMHG. Bvsnrxss ABvxßTißzicxim, 113 a year pet qnare of ten lines; la per year for eaob ad* dltlonal square. Rkal Estate APVEBTisibo, 10 eenta'a UnfW the first, and 5 cents for eaob subsequent In sertion. General ADVransnco 7 cents a line for tbe first, and 4 cents for each subsequent Inser tion. Special Notices Inserted In Local Column 15 cents per line. Special Notices preceding marriages a*d deaths, 10 cents per line for first insertion* and 5 cents for every subsequent Insertion!] Lxo al Aim oth k r notices— Executors’ -.otlcM ~... %BQ Administrators notices .....m... 2.60 Assignees’ ......... 2JSQ Auditors* ootlooa .. ... 2.00 Otber "Notices, ’ten lines, or less, Z three times - 1.50 it appeared os If tbe flies walked into Its mouth by some sort of fatal fascination exercised over them; but on Its trying to catch llieson a painted post, its tongue adhered so tightly that I had then time to see tb&t It’ was by darting out a broad, irregularly shaped ana very sticky tongue under the llies that he managed to catch them. Flies were Its favorite food, but sometimes asmall spider would fall a victim. In cold weather It would remain sitting on the side of tho tumbler, and would refuse all food for many days together, but lu warmer weather It would become much more active and eager for food ; gener ally three or four llies would satisfy it; but sometimes it would take as many aa eight if they were of a small size ; they were all swallowed whole.” The professor of this rare and beauti ful little frog kept It for nearly a year, durlug which time tt becauiequite tame, jumping oil over its owner, and feeding from his baud. It never gave any’plgn of changing its skin and never made any noise. / The Albany and Misqnehnuun Ball Rond * War. Binohamton, N. Y. August 10, IStIP. Tho absorbing subject of Interest in this city is t lie Erie-Susquehanuu Kail road war. It is In the mind of every body and little else is talked of or thought of. and the gen eral anxiety has been intensified by the fact that ull tho operations hero are conducted with great prtvuey ami that uulhing is per mitted to be known that the railroad ofll- cials and employees can withhold. Wo learu from Albany that tho report sent hither to tho effect that Judge Beckham had decided that Pruyn was legally appointed receiver ol the Susquehanna was incorrect. The question was referred to Surrogate Lawton, who will take testimony In the matter and report on Thursday. Judge Beckham’s order requiring Mr. Fisk to show cause on August 13 why he should not be enjoined und restrained from taking any further steps in acting or attempting to act* as receiver ulso directs that tho Sheriffs and oilier ollicers along the line shall, un der no circnmstuncos, enforce tho order of Judgo Barnard, intended to give Fisk, pos session of tho roud. Tho order was yester day morning put on board tho morning ex press train, and to be delivered here at three o’clock in the afternoon; but Informa- tion being conveyed to the conductor before his arrival here, at llurpersville, that tho Erie corn puny had seized theolUces, engiues. Ac., at Binghamton, tho train returned and the order was not delivered. A telegram reached this city, however, announcing that,tho order hud been issued; but that had no legal force and could not successfully bo opposed to tho writ which Judgo Bar nard had issued. There is a report, upon tho authority which gives it some plausi bility, that the Pennsylvania Railroad Com pany bus telegraphed to Kunisey, giving him to understand thut ho can rely upon its ipport in its present attitude if lie should ■ed a million dollars ; and Mint the Dela- ware and Lackawanna and ita auxiliaries have made a similar oiler. The New York Central Company is assisting Ramsey. Tho report that the train which left this city at half-past tlvu yesterday ufternoon, in charge of Clmuncey Gardner, was captured at Alton is correct, as Mr. Gardner, tho conductor, returned horo about one o'olock lids afternoon, accompanied by Rosa Mc- Neil, stock superintendent of tho Erie Rail wuy, who also accompanied tho train; Messrs Gardner and McNeil are reticent about the dilllieulty, only saying they know nothing about it. The report that englneor Pitcher, who went out with the train lust night waaahot, is contrudicted by them. Tho Erie men who went up to tuke possession ot tho Al bany and Susquehanna road this morning are from Owego and Susquehanna whops, and iinwiy ot tliuln were armed. Sheriff Brown, who went out with the captured train last night, has not returned. In his action bore yesterday ho was governed by instructions telegraphed by Judge Barnard, which forbid ull persons interfering with James Fisk, Jr., as receiver of the Albany und Susquehanna road. Ramsey lias about nuo thousand anti renters from Albany and Schenectady stationed at Alton, and tho Erie force, <>oo or 700 strong, are near tho tunnel, seventeen miles up the road. Thoro are conflicting rumors about the burning of a bridge. Una report says it is a small bridge between Alton and Bulnbrldge, while another says only a llUlo trestle work was torn uwny near Alton. At a quar ter past three (/clock another train of about 200 Erlo hands left on the Albany und Bus quehunna road. Two parlies buyo gono since noon, making four in all to day. Tho number of Fisk men now ut tbe luunol is 700 or HOO Colouel lloblo has called out tho Forty fourth regimout. Tho train with tho men on bourd will Mart to night. Ono hundred and fifty of tho moil com posing tho Erie lighting corps woro urmod with revolvers, and It in roportod that tho Albany party 1h llkewlso armed. No ae* rloua collision haw yot ocourrod. Aliiany, August U), lKiJl).—(Jovornor Hodman arrived in town at ton o’clock to night, and immediately telegruphed the fol lowing order to the SherUTs along the lino of tho Albany and Susquehanna Railroad: The military should «iot interfere oxcopt it is übHointely necessary for tho preserva- tion of public order. In view of the com plication of tho afl’uir I advise and order that whonevor oitber party to tho dispute Is In actuul possession of any odlce or prop erty of tho Albany and Husquehannu Rail road Company, claiming to hold tho samo under any judicial order, that hucli parly Hhali bo protected In such possession uutll the question iu dispute shall be tinully ad judicated by the courts. Any othor courHO will loot! to unnecessary strife and coDfu slon. It cannot bo possible for any slieriH' to docide undor the clrcumslunces which of the Judicial orders nro correct unci which are not, and the manifest duty of tho public authorities is to protect tho party in pos session under Judicial order. If the inter ruption in public travel continues, and tu mult, riot and resistance to authority uro imminent, J will declare the whole district directed to bo in a wale of insurrection, and will take possession and control of tho road, and tothaiond, if necessary, will call out the whole military force of tho Htute. Aliiany, Aug. 11.—Governor Hoffman to-day gave tlie contending parties to the Susquehanna ruilrnud war to understand thul riotous demonstrations on either eud of the route must cease and tho question of control bo decided by the courts. The par ties undotlook to agree upon some method of adjustment, but failed. Llis Excellency thereupon said ho would bo compelled to declare the district In u state of insurrec tion, take possession of tho road as a mili tary necessity, and run it as a militury mad. If they thought such a course advis able for the stock holders, and that the State should bo put to the expense of u quarter million of dollars to enforce his proclama tion, they might tako the responsibility.— 11 Is course, however, was clour to him, and ho should pursue it. Hereupon tho coun sel of the lespeetivo parties, consisting of David Dudley 'Flold, John Gunson and Annum J. Parker, representing tho Erie Interest, and Messrs. Win. T. Allen and Rufus W. Peckhain, Jr., hold a consulta tion in the Executive Chamber, tho result of which was the signing ol the following communication to the Governor ; Hy virtue of certain Jurisdiction# and col lisions, it Ims become and if Impracticable to operate and run tho Albuny and Susquo hanna Railroad, either under tho manage ment of the Directors ortho control of per sons claiming to bo Deceivers. The public interests and obligations of the company demuml that the road should lie run and operated, uml tho undersigned, as contend ing claimants to the possession of the road, hereby request you to appoint some suita ble person or persons to act as Superinten dent or Superintendents, and to run and operate the road under your directions and during your pleasure, or until the nccessliy of such superlnlendence shall ceaso; said appointment and possession by \ ourself uml person or persons to be appointed not to effect tho legal rights or present uetual possession of mo parlies to any part of said road, or oillces, or property thereof. It Is understood that you are to employ such agencies, ilrmuciul or otherwise, as you may require, and to (lx the compensation of uil icrsons employed by you. iloiuciiT A. PnuYN, CHAHI.K.H COULTKU, Jamk.h Fisk, Jr.; Ai.uany, Aug. 11.—The contending par ses In tho railroad war have temporarily surrendered tho management of toe Sua quehanna and Albuny road Into tho bauds of Gov. Hoifmuu, to prevent further collis ions. Nkw York, Aug. 11.—In tho fight on tho Susquehanna aua Albany Railroad, last night, eight or ion men wore hurt—two seriously. Tho military arrived on tho ground during the night and prevented further violence, and under Governor Hoff man’s prompt Interference order bus been restored. _ , , t . One or two bridges were fired last night, but uo oijtrugo lias boon committed to-<lny (Siguud,) A Dangcron* Counterfeit Greenback, Now developments are Doing made dally concerning the now spurious ten dollar greenback, specimens of which come to tbo United Htutos Treasurer’s office overy day. Whßn the first series was received General Spinner, on uxuminatlou, came to the con* olusiou that they bad been put out as abliud for future operations. Although ver.yskll fully executed they presented so many de lects that experienced persona could dotect them roadily, thus the public wero notified of the Imperfect dots opposite the figures “ 10” on each end of the noto; the lack of distinct rows of featherß on the left wing of the eagle; the want of a period after the let ter "E” In Spinner’s name, and various other omissions. Two specimens received bear witness that they are new lssnes: for all the defects above referred to have been removed, aDd the general appearanoe or the notes bo exactly Hi. the genuine thy. It al most defies deteotlon by professional «> ports,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers