LJJLIAR PER * MM '"VARIABLY IN ADVANCE,
TOAV^AISTD-A.:
jharsban morning, a. 1858^
StlKlrti Ijoetrn.
THE SUMMER RAIN.
by B. r. SHILLABKR.
, farmer'* heart was sad. his toil was rain.
If ; s famished crops were crisping in the Held,
r , n ot one drop of life-sustaining rain
~ j (lie n;d clouds of summer deign to yield.
n p cattle 'neath the trees, with lolling tongue.
",'ure up the search for herbage in despair.
•d listless in the shade their heads they hung,
ind chtwed their cud with most desponding air.
y broo k was dry, or stood, a muddy pool,
lYtwse stagnant waters none might dare to drink,
r , jj | 4te , jn crystal brightness, pure and cool,
ffooed with its song the thirsty to its brink.
He burning sun drank up the pearly dew
That evening, pitying, on creation shed,
i= t o'er the parched earth his hot beams threw -
Tie herbage sickened, and the flowers lay dead.
ry r ;ver shimmered in his lurid rays.
The corn grew dry and withered as it stood.
The fainting birds scarce raised their tuneful lays
la dim recesses of the ancient wood.
Then nun and vegetation prayed for rain--
The withered stalks, like famished hands, were raised ;
But day by day was man's petition vain,
The clouds arose and vanished as he gazed.
tt length the blessed boon, so long withheld,
Came like an angel down in man's dismay.
Cheering the heart that well nigh had rebelled,
And giving joy where grief erewhitc held sway.
The thirsty earth drank i:i with greedy tongue
The cooling Hood that trickled o'er its breast ;
The trees abroad their arms enraptured flung.
And grass and ti awer once more upreared their crest.
The brooks again resumed their gladsome song.
And through the meadows took their ciieerful way ;
o- c m .re the com its verdant pennons flung,
Once more the birds nude merry on the spray.
The farmer's heart grew glad, and. on his knee.
His voice attuned with warm devotion's strain,
He poured his soul in gratitude to see
The blessed coming of the summer rain -
Which tails, like God's own spirit, on the dust
(if man's fallen nature, dead iu sin and pain,
Twith a newer hope and holier trust,
It awakens into life and joy again.
Stlttttb Calt.
Australian Jim Walker.
This name was avowedly an alias, bnt Jim
always evaded any attempt to discover his
real patronymic, which I have no doubt lie
bad wilfully buried in oblivion, lest lie should
reflect disgrace on his family I know that he
never wrote to, nor received letters from, them.
He told nie once that he wished his friends to
think him dead, and I have reason to believe
that on more than one occasion he refused to
notice advertisements in colonial papers, call
ing on him, by his true name, to communicate
with theni.
Jim's history—as I denned from him one
day, when a trifling act of kindness had open
ed his heart—was a sad, but common one. lie
was the child of very respectable parents. —
The captain of the vessel in which he came
"nt offered to take him back on credit; but
Jim's pride forbade his acceptance of this kind
ly offer; he feared to bo taunted with non
success ; " and,".said lie, " I'd have died rath
er than suffer that."
And, indeed, lie seemed likely enough to
die A few occasional shillings were picked
up by splitting wood for fuel ; but often he
dined with Duke Humphrey, and slept in Na
ture's ante-room. At last, a settler recom !
mended him to go up the country, and ply
from station to station, in search of employ
merit. He was sure of hoard and lodging,
Mis ; and at any rate he might as well per
i in the bush as on the banks of the Torrens.
■bm followed this advice. " I had no swag,
not even a blanket, to carry," said lie ; " for
' haii parted with these long before. When
1 started out of Adelaide, a few pence, a plug
-i tobacco, au old clay pipe, a sharp knife, and
'clear conscience, were ail my possessions. I
link my name forever ; I determined to for
it ; and 1 hart forgotten it—except at
lines. The second day I got a berth at Grey's
station, under Mount Lofty ; and when he
mv nanie, I said Jim Walker, and Jim
" alker I've been ever since."
The great event in Jim's colonial career oc
curred when he was a shepherd on the Glen
* 0:i Run, which is situated on the borders of
"x Tatiara district. The blacks inhabiting
at locality are justly dreaded for their uu
tameable ferocity, which civilizing influences
ire apparently unable to counteract ; to the
present day the Tatiara natives are noted for
eir savage onslaughts on defenceless Euro
peans. At the time of Jim's adventure these
stacks were yet more numerous and deadly
!lil they are now, so that the white settlers
tardy ventured abroad unarmed.
Jim was appointed to one of the out-sta
!|° ns ; and as the country consisted principal
of large open plains, he had a pretty easy
of it. The hot was snugly ensconced in
4 aook of the low rockv hills which formed the
"'■them boundary of the Run. On these hills
a lew stunted she-oaks and dwarf honey
! ®ckle trees, interspersed with dense scrub,
* h afforded no inconsiderable screen from
■ w inds. A single water-hole—the on
' summer vestige of winter torrents —was near
* "and, and immediately in front of the hut
■'J the nightly folding ground.
Jim g only companion in this lonely spot was
the hut-keeper, a quiet Scotch body,
' whose homely conversation Jim was fain
' * content ; save when one of the overseers
o over from the head station, or a bullock
' 'r brought down stores, or a chance wan
passed. The latter was, however, a very
6 occurrence : lor the locality was much
° Ul °f the usual (rack.
One afternoon as Jim and his trusty dog
Sandie followed the sheep homeward, he was
surprised at not perceiving any signs of Willie.
Imagining that the hot weather had overpow
ered that usually vigilant personage, Jim call
ed loudly for him to " wake up," and help to
fold the sheep. Receiving no answer, he hur
ried to the hut.
At the entrance he beheld a scene which,
to quote his own expression, " made all the
blood in his body run cold." There was poor
Willie, lying on his face, nearly naked and be
dabbled in gore. It was some time before Jim
could muster courage to approach his old chum.
When he did, he found that he was dead, and
nearly cold, and a broken spear in his side be
trayed that he had been murdered by the na
tives. The hut itself had evidently been ri
fled ; every particle of food, the store of flour,
sugar, and tea, the blankets, knives, and eve
ry useful moveable, had been carried off. But
what Jiin mostly regretted was, that the pis
tol, an old-fashioned pepper-box revolver, was
missing. Fortunately, he had taken his gun
in the morning to shoot a few birds, if chance
offered during the day ; and therewith, all the
powder and shot remaining on hand. Still,
six extra shots were not to be despised ; ami
he felt that the loss of the pistol added to his
danger.
Now, all the horrors of his own position
burst upon him. The head station was fully
ten miles distant, and what enemies he might
encounter on the road it was impossible to fore
tell. However, stay in the hut by himself lie
could not ; so he resolved to fold the flock,
and then to set off through the bush, to give
information of the event, and obtain assistance.
In pursuance of this resolution lie went out,
and with the aid of the dog succeeded in fold
ing the sheep.
Hoarse with shouting—for your true bush
man can do nothing without making a great
uproar—Jim went to the waterhoie to drink,
preparatory to starting on his perilous jour
ney. He was just rising from the recumbent
position necessary to enable him to reach the
water, when Sandie gave a loud growl ; and,
at the same instant, Jim saw the shadow of a
human figure reflected iu the water. Cautious
ly gazing around, he beheld several dusky forms
moving through the thick undergrowth of the
opposite range. His first impulse was to fly ;
but aware of the necessity of concealing his
alarming discovery, he mastered his emotion,
and ordering the dog to follow, walked quiet
ly back to the but.
Barricading the door as well as circumstan
ces would permit, Jim sat down on one of the
old stumps which supplied the place of more
convenient seats ; and striving to divest his
mind of untimely fear, debated within himself
the propriety of attempting to elude the wily
savages who were in the immediate vicinity.
But the more he thought of it, the more im
practicable it appeared To run the gauntlet
through an unknown number of enemies was
almost certain death. On the other hand, to
remain quiescent presented only the prospect
of prolonging torture, and final destruction.
However, there was no help for it at present,
and unable to form any decisive plan of escape,
Jim did the very best thing he could : he made
his little fortress us secure as possible, and
awaited the result.
The hut was built in the ordinary bash-fash
ion, of huge, upright slabs of timber—the low
er ends being inserted in the earth, and the
upper nailed to strong beams. The instersti
ces were filled with the fibrous coating of the
stringy-bark-tree, daubed over with clay to ren
der it wind-proof. The roof consisted of large
sheets of bark, and the only window was an
aperture about a foot square. This, Jim fill
ed with an old sack, which the natives had
probably overlooked. The chimney occupied
nearly one side of the hut, and was built of
sods, supported on the exterior by a closely
slabbed wall to the height of six feet ; the up
per portion closing inward on all sides to the
top, was composed of rough pa'ings, or slips
of bush timber, split to a moderate thickness.
The interior formed only one room, about
twelve feet long and ten feet wide, which suf
ficed its inmates for all purposes.
Night speedily closed in. and in darkness
and silence sat Jim with the mangled corpse
of the lmt-keepcr in one of the sleeping berths
wherein lie had laid it, and the dog crouching
uneasily at his feet. The poor brute was with
difficulty kept from howling aloud, and once
or twice lie ran to the door and moaned un
easily. He evidently comprehended that dan
ger was nigh.
How long Jim remained in this state of sus
pense he could never be positive. It seemed
like half a lifetime, he said. After a weary
interval Saudie growled sullenly, and sat erect;
his ears thrown back, and his eyes glistening
in the darkness like balls of fire. Listening
attentively, Jim heard a faint noise as of some
one treading on dry twigs. Then Jim knew
that the savages were coining.
Next moment the latch of the door was cau
tiously lifted, and a gentle pressure made
against the fastenings. With a beating heart,
Jim held the dog, and by gestures forbade him
to move or bark. The wonderful instinct ot
the animal enabled him to comprehend these
mute commands, aud he lay down quietly on
the floor.
Soon the sack, which Jim had placed in the
aperture, was noiselessly withdrawn, and a dark
visage appeared in its place. And now Jim
could scarcely hold the excited dog, who would
fain have sprung at the intruder. But the
hole was too small to permit the entrance of
his foes, and feeling that every grain of pow
der iu bis scantily furnished liask would be
required, he even refrained from firing, and on
the withdrawal of the intrusive head refilled
the aperture with a block of wood.
Whilst so eugaged the natives uttered a yell
so unearthly that Jim shook with terror ; in
deed, he afterwards acknowledged that he was
near swooning. Almost simultaneously a rush
was made at the crazy old door, which uearly
gave way, and it appeared certain that anoth
er such shock would burst it in. To lie still,
and be worried like a badger, was not in Jim's
nature With his sheath-knife he cleared a
space between the slabs sufficiently large to
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH.
" REGARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER."
admit the muzzle of his gun, and in such a po
sition as to command the approaches to the
door. By the clear starlight he perceived
some teu or twelve naked savages grouped in
front. Again yelling hideously, they rushed
forward for another assault. As they came
on, Jim levelled his piece, and fired both bar
rels. In all probability this saved the door,
for two of the assailants fell screeching to the
ground, and the shock was but slight. Suffi
cient damage, however, was inflicted to break
the upper hinges, and force the door from its
proper position.
Sandie, more valorous than prudent, sprang
into the breach thus formed, and was thrust
down by his master, just in time to escape a
shower of spears which the enraged blueks
hurled at the opening. The jeopardy from
these weapons was now imminent ; but by a
vigorous effort, Jim pushed the door into an
erect position, and re secured it with poles has
tily torn from the rough bunks, or sleeping
berths of the hut. Then, reloading his gun,
he repaired to his impromptu loophole.
He had done mischief to his wild enemies.
Their wounded hail been carried into the scrub,
and a small party came warily out to recon
noitre. Creeping round the side of the hut,
they came on agaiu, but this time no yell pre
ceded the assault. Before they reached the
door, Jim fired in amongst them, and again
they retreated howling like wild beasts.
After this, all was quiet for nearly an hour,
and Jim even beguu to hope that he was rid
of his persecutors. To make all sure, how
ever, he closed the little aperture more secure
ly, shored up the door with every available
piece of timber, and placed an old flour bar
rel in the fire-place, to give due notice of any
attempt at ingress byway of the chimney.
Insensibly, sleep overpowered him, und he
was drowsily nodding, when the loud and an
gry barking of the dog, indicated the upproaeh
of some new peril. Starting up, Jim listened
with that preteruaturally acute sense of hear
ing which nothing but the consciousness of dan
ger can possibly induce. The only sound that
reached him was the rustling of the leaves,such
as would be produced bv the wind sweeping
through the trees. Sandie still barked, lie
pairing to the loophole Jim gazed out for in
formation. Nothing met his gaze in that di
rection ; but the rustling wind-like sounds ap
proach nearer ami nearer. Feeling uneasy, lie
cautiously opened another chink at the rear
of the hut, and peered forth.
For a few seconds Jim fairly doubted the
evidence of his eyesight. It was as when
Biruam Wood marched towards Dunsinane.
Not a living soul cculd he perceive ; but a
line of great bushes were advancing—appa
rently of their own accord—to the hut. Jim
scraped the hole a little larger ; and, when
the strange procession came within range, he
discarged his gun at it. Instantly, all the
bushes fell prostrate ; and the savages emerged
troin their leafy covert. Willi a shout, which
blended the scream of pain and rage with the
hoarse cry for vengeance, the blacks ran for
ward, dragging the bushes after them. In a
second the latter were piled against the walls
of the hut ; and a transient silence followed,
during which the captive was left to speculate
011 the object of this manoeuvre.
His doubts, (if he had anv) were soon re
solved. A peculiar cracking sound, succeeded
by a bioad glare of light, perceptible through
the crannies of the frail tenement, informed
him that the tenors of fire had been brought
to bear against liirn. The natives had been
[ into the ranges in search of dry boughs ; and
with these, mingled with the inflammable resi
nous branches of the gum trees, they now pro
posed to burn him out of his shelter. Bitterly
lie regretted not having taken advantage of
their short absence to effect his escape. It
was now too late. For a short space he re
mained in a state of stupefication —utterly
overwhelmed by the increased horrors of his
situation. As I lie flames caught the dry com
bustible wall, and bark roof, he deemed him
self utterly lost ; and it was only by a violent
effort that he, at length, shook off the benum
bing influence of the intense terror which had
seized upon him.
A little reflection convinced him that in
one bold effort lay his sole chance of preser
vation. Reconuoitering the premises, he ob
served that the flames were confined to the
rear and roff of the hut. Through the chink
in the front wall, he perceived the savages ly
ing in wait near the door ; but occupying such
a position as to be our of the reach of lire
anus. "They thought to smoke me out, as
they do wombats," said Jim, " and to spear
me as I crawled out of my den ; but I deter
mined lo have another trial for it, and if I died
to die like a man, in the open air."
Seizing a small bar of tough wood, lie in
serted it between the blazing slabs at the rear,
and found they had already yielded to his ef
forts. The dense smoke now filled the lint,
and the burning embers from the roof fell
around iiiin in showers. Hut regardless of all,
save life itself, he stripped off his blue serge
frock—an article which serves the bu.shman
for shirt, vest, coat, and paletot, all in one—
and carefully wrapped it around the lock of
the gun. He then, by vigorous effort, de
tached two of the slabs from the upper fasten
ings, and stealthily drew them within the hut
—the slight noise attending this op'ration be
ing disguised bv the cracking of the burning
timber. Gazing through the surrounding belt
of fire and smoke he discovered that none of
his enemies were iu view ; all of them—as he
had anticipated—being collected on the oppo
site sido of the hut. Now was a moment for
escape. One danger yet remained to be obvi
ated. How to still the furious barking of the
dog he knew not ; yet this would at once ac
quaint the savages with his escape ; when in
stant pursuit and death would inevitably be the
result. It was, therefore, absolutely necessa
ry to secure Saudie in the hut.. " I could not
bear the thoughts of this," Jim used to say.
when relating the incident ; " it seemed so cru
el to the poor, faithful brute." Still secrecy,
and silence were indispensible ; the first great
law of Dature —self-preservation—crushed the
generous impulses of sentiment ; and the dog
was sacrificed to secure his master's safety.
Desirous, however, of affording the animal at
least a chance of escape, Jim tied him up with
a cotton handkerchief only—in hope that his
exertions would enable him to free himself be
fore the entry of the savages.
This done, Jim took up his gun and stepped
out through the flames. As he emerged on;
of the natives glided arouud the corner ; und
surprised by the intended victim's unexpected
appearance, stood for a moment irresolute.—
Before lie could speak or move, Jiin felled him
to the earth with a blow of his fist ; and with
out waiting for the result, darted off, under
cover of the dense smoke, for the ranges.
He had surmounted the first tier, and was
crossing the valley beyond, when the outcries
of the blacks proclaimed that his flight had
been discovered. The hope of yet saving life
lent new wings to his feet; and at any rate lie
had considerably the start of his pursuers.—
Before he had proceeded very far, something
came dashing through the scrub behind him,
and he turned to confront the expected foe.
To his great delight it was the dog.
Onward sped the two fugitives, the man and
the dog. Ten bush-miles lay between them
and safety, and the pursuers were light of foot
and fleet of liiub. Jim had not tasted food
since mid day, he was fatigued wiith toil and
nervous burns on his anus and shoulders. B it
hunger, thirst, weariness and pain, were all
temporarily obliterated by the necessity of ex
treme exertion, and as mile after mile was pass
ed without any evidence of pursuit, hope—
which never deserts the brave—grew stronger
iu the fugitive's heart.
Although no indications of the natives were
apparent, Jim was to well acquainted with
their nature and habits to relax his speed.—
Wily as serpents, and as noiseless too, they
might be close at hand, yet invisible. On
ward, therefore, they Hew ; life was in front,
death near behind. How far, or during what
time, he continued his flight, Jim could never
tell. He believed that he was approaching
the head station, yet nowhere could he discern
the traces of any human habitations. At length,
fatigued and breathless, he was compelled to
pause. Had the savages been veiling at his
heels, lie could not have proceeded.
He sought the shelter of a rocky mound,
near at hand, and lay down in its dark shadow,
intending to rest for a brief interval only.—
But he unwarily sank into a deep sleep.
From that dangerous slumber, Jitu Walker
would probably never have awoken in this
world, but for the faithful guardianship of his
dog Sundie. Aroused by the barking of that
vigilant companion, lie opened his eyes just us
the gtvy light of morning was spreading over
the horizon. Above his head the rocks rose
perpenidcularly to the lieig.it of about four
teen feet. Over the margin appeared a hu
man head, which caught his startled gaze as
he awoke. Indistinctly lie recognised the pres
ence of his pursuers. The savages had track
ed him to his hiding place.
Springing to his feet he darted forward with
renewed velocity ; and as lie did so, a spear
whizzed by close to him. Jim felt that he had
thrown away another chance of life by halting
in the open country. Shelter there was none ;
for the track of flight lay now over a treeless
plain. Again and again spears glanced by hiiu
and looking around he saw that he was pursu
ed by three savages, one of whom was consid
erably in advance of the other. With set
teeth and strained muscles, the hunted man
pressed on, desperation and agony in his soul.
The savages rapidly gained upon him ; and al
though a stern chase is always a long chase,
nothing could prevent their closing with him
before many minutes.
Suddenly he turned and fired at the nearest
black. The shot was fatal. With a loud
screech, the savage leaped up into the air, and
fell to the earth mortally wounded.
Almost immediately, thereupon, a faint
sound, as of the bleating of sheep, reached the
fugitive's ear. He was near assistance. He
strove to shout aloud, but his voice failed. A
low hill was before him, and iu the valley be
yond was t lie home station, could he but reach
which nis life was safe. The space between
was short, but into that space were crowded
unnumbered hopes and fears. The savages
were fast Hearing liitn. Once more turning
round, lie fired, and iu the excitement of the
moment, missed It was his last shot, and
now in his speed lay the lust remaining chance
of escape.
lie scarcely 'ared to hope, yet mechanically
continued to fly. A thousand wandering
thoughts of happy days, of boyish sports be
neath an English sky, fond reminiscences of
home, and recollections of a mother's love—a
mother too earlv lost—passed with womlcrous
rapidity before his mental vision, said he, in
the brief agonizing moments of that fearful
struggle for life.
He reached the hill unharmed, and had ac
complished nearly half the ascent,when a spear
entered his shoulder, and threw him, stunned
and bleeding to the ground. The next mo
ment the savages were upon his.
tsanuie, faithful to the la<t, flew at the
throat of the nearest foe, and forced him buck
to the earth. Frightened at this novel assail
ant, the fellow shrieked for help, and with a
single blow of his tomahawk, his comrade laid
the honest brute senseless and disabled. But
the temporary diversion iu Jim's favor saved
Jim's life.
As the savages turned f:om the dog to their
human victim, Bang ! bang ! came two shots
from the summit of the hill, and several white
men rushed forward to the rescue. The hun
ters now became tlie hunted ; and I need
scarcely add that neither of them escaped.
The last shots fired by Jim had fortunately
been heard by a shepherd employed at the head
station ; apprehensive of danger, he immediate
ly aroused the other man. Little time was
lost in dressiug, for the simple reason that
bnshmen seldom undress ; and starting in the
direction of the hill, they arrived just in time
to deliver Jim from the hands of his enemies.
The spear wound in Jim's shoulder speedily
healed ; aud Sandie, although long despaired
of, eveutually recovered from the effects of the
savage's tomahawk. A perceptible limp al
ways remained to bear witness of bis courage-
o'is attack ; and surely Jim was right in say-
iii'_r, that Sandie's lutuu leg was as honorable to
the noble dog as scars to a soldier. He was
of little use afterwards as a sheep dog ; but
Jim would nor part with him. He elevated
hirn to the rank of a special pensioner, and
never ate himself until lie hud fed the compan
ion of that eventful night.
I may add, that a party sent over to the old
hut, found it burnt lo the ground, and all the
sheep driven off. With the assistance of neigh
boring settlers, the greater part of the flock
was ultimately recovered ; but not until after
many day's hunting for them, and several san
guinary encounters with the Tatiaru blacks,
wherein more than one European received
wounds.
Trick of a Lovor.
One fine winter evening, early in the pres
ent century, Colonel , and his maiden
sister, Putty, were sitting on each side of a
delightful hickory fire, enjoying ''ohum cum
dignitate without any interruption, for ut
least an hour ; and that considering the sex
of Miss Patty, was very remarkable. The
Colonel was sitting cross-legged in a great arm
chair, with his spectacles on, and his pipe in
one hand, and a newspaper in the other, fast
asleep. Miss Patty was moving herself gently
forward and backward in a low rocking chair.
Close by her feet was the cat, while Carlo was
stretched oat at full length on the rug in front
of the fire and like his imster, fast asleep.—
At length Colonel roused from Ins nap, took
off his spectacles, rubbed his eyes. Then,
glancing at a very large pile of papers that lay
on the table near him, said :
" I wish Henry was here to help tue about
my rents."
" Well, I really wish lie was," answered his
sister.
" I can't expect him this month yet," yawn
ed the Colonel.
" Hadn't you better send for him ?"said his
sister.
Upon this, the dog got up and walked to
ward the door.
" Where you going Curio ?" snid the old
gentleman.
The dog looked in his master's face, wagged
his tail, but never said a word, and pursued
Irs way towards the door ; and, as he could
not well open it himself, M Patty got up
and opui 'l it for hiiu. The Colonel seemed
perfectly satFficd, and was composing himself
for another, nap, when the load and cheerful
balking of the dog anouueed the approach of
some one, and roused him from his lethargy.—
Presently the door was opened, and a young
man gaily entered the room.
" Why, William Henry, is that you?" said
Aunt Patty.
" Henry, my boy, I am heartily glad to see
you," said the Colonel, getting entirely out of
the chair, and giving Ids nephew a hearty
shake of the hand. " Pray what lias brought
you home so suddenly ?"
"Ohl do not know," said Henery. " I is
rather dull in town, so I thought it would just
step up and see how you all come on."
" Well, lam glad to sue you. Sit down,"
said the Colonel.
" So do," said his sister.
" There, aunt is a bottle of first rate snufT
for you ; and here, uncle, is one of capital
Maraschino."
"Thank you, my boy," said the Colonel.—
" Positively it dot s my heart good to sec you
iu such line spirits."
" And mine too," said his sister.
Henry, either anxious to help his uncle or
himself, broke the seal from the top of the bot
tle of cordial, and drew the cork, while aunt
Patty got some glasses.
" Well, my boy," said the Colonel, whose
good luimor increased every moment, " what's
the news in B ? Anything happened?"
" No— VIM," sail] Henry. " 1 have got one
of the best stories to tell you that you have
ever heard in your life.
" Come, let's have it," said the filling his
glass.
" ell, you must know," said Henry "that
while I was in town, 1 met with an old and
particular friend of mine, about my own age.
About two months ago lie fell desperately iu
love with a young girl, and wants to marry
her, but dares not without the consent of his
uncle, a very line old gcntlemau, as rich as
Croesus—do take a little more cordial."
" Why, don't his uncle wish hiiu to marry?"
inquired the Colonel.
'O, yes," resumed Henry. " But there's
the rub. lie is very anxious that 15.11 should
get a wife, lint he is terribly afraid that he'd
be taken in ; for it is generally understood for
his uncle, though very liberal in everything
else, he suspects every lady who pays his
nephew the least attention of being a fortune
hunter."
" The old scamp," said the Colonel ; " why
can't he let the boy have his own way ?"
" I think as lunch," said Patty.
" We'd, how did he manage?" said theColncl
el.
" Why," said Henry," he was in n confound
ed pickle, lie was afraid to ask his uncle's
consent right out ; he could not manage to let
him see the girl, for she lives at some distance.
But lie knew that his uncle enjoyed a good
joke and was an enthusiastic admirer of beau
ty. So, what does he do but go and get her
miniature taken, for she was extremely beau
tiful besides being intelligent and accomplished.
"Beautiful ! intelligent ! accomplished !"
exclaimed the Colonel ; " pray, what objec
tion could the fool have to her ?"
" Why, she is not a cent," said Henry.
" Fudge ?" said the Colonel : " 1 wish I had
been in the old chap's place ; how bid he gel
along ?"
"Why, as I said he bad a picture taken and
as it was about the time for collecting rents,
he thought it would make the old man good
natored if lie went home and offered to assist
him ; and so answering all inquiries he took
the minature out of his pocket, handed it to
his uncle, and ashed iiim how he liked it—
telling him that a particular friend lent it to
him. The old man was inauexstasy of delight
VOL. XIX. NO. y.
aid lie dec-lured lie would give the world to
sea woman as handsome as that, and that
Bill might have her.
" Ha?" shouted the Colonel, "the old chap
was well come uj> with. The best joke lever
heard ; but was she really beautiful
" The most angelic creature I ever saw," —
said Henry—" but you can judge for yourself
He lent me the picture, and knowing your
taste that way, I brought it for you to look at.
Here Henry took it out of his pocket und hand
ed it to his uncle at the same time filling his
glass. Aunt Hatty got out of her chair to look
at the picture.
" Well now," said she, " that is a beauty."
" You may w. 1 say that, sister," said tho
Colonel, " shoot me it I don't wish I had been
in Bill's place. Deuce take it ? why did you
not get the girl yourself, Henry ? The most
beautiful creature I ever laid eyes on ! I
would give a thousand dollars for such a neiceV
" Would you inquired Heurv, patting the
" Yes, that I would replied the Colonel,
"and nine thousand more 011 the top of it and
tliut makes ten thousand ; shoot me if I would
not."
" Then I'll introduce you to her to morrow,"
said Henry.
As there was a wedding at the house of the
worthy Colonel the ensuing tyCt-k, and as the
old gentleman was highly pleased with the
beautiful and accomplished bride, it is reason
able to suppose that Henry did not forget his
promise.
THE TROUT SEASON.— Mr. Robert L. Fell
recently offered some remarks on the habits
of the trout, which are of such interest to tho
fancier of this game fish, that we append tlieui
in this place, as follows :
" The trout is tiie only fish that comes in and
goes out of the season with the deer ; he grows
rapidly, and dies early after reaching his full
growth. The female spawns in October—at a
different time from all other fish ; after which
both male and female become lean, weak, and
unwholesome eating, und if examined closely,
will be found covered with a species of clove
shaped insects, which appeared to suck their
substance from them ; and they continue sick
until warm weather, when they rub the insects
oil' on the gravel, and immediately grow strong.
Tiie female is the be>t for the table. She may
be known by her head and deep body. Fish
are a ways in season when their heads are so
small as to be disproporlioned to the size of
their body. The trout is less oily and rich
than the salmon ; the female is much brighter
and more beautiful than the male ; they swim
rapidly, and often leap like saluicn, to a great
height, when ascending streams. When I tirat
stocked my trout-pond,l placed 1,500 in it, and
was accustom-id to feed them with angle worms,
rose bugs, crickets, grasshoppers, Ate., which
they attacked with great voracity, to the
amusement of those looking on. They grow
much more rapidly in ponds than in their na
tive streams, from the fact they are better fed,
and not compelled to exercise. Trout are the
only fish known to me that possess a voice,
which is perceived by pressing them, when they
emit u murmuring sound and tremble ull over."
To St'oit. A DAUGHTER.—Bo always telling
her how very pretty she is.
Instill into her young mind an undue lova
for dress.
Allow her to read nothing but works of
fiction
Teach her all the accomplishments, but nou#
of the utilities of life.
Keep her in the darkest ignorance of tlia
mysteries of housekeeping.
Initiate her into the principle that it is vul
gar to do antliing for herself.
To strengthen the latter, let her have a
lady's maid.
Tench her to think thut she is better than
any body else.
Make her think she is sick, when she is not
and let her lie in bed taking medicine when
half an hour's out of door exercise would com
pletely cure Iter of her laziness.
And lastly, having given her such an educa
tion, marry her to a monstaehed gtattcm'in
who is a clerk with a salary of $-250 a year.
wag wito had been thrown from his
boat into the water in the Irondeqnoit Bay.
near Rochester, beseeched his rescuers to be
" careful" in hauling him in. He was so ear
ness in his beseechings that he was asked of
what lie what was so anxious to " be careful."
" Why," said he " be careful about wetting my
shirt collar."
BsjyOnrtoiiehe, the French robber, was once
requested by a young man to be engaged in his
band. " Wlc-re have you served," a-ked Car
touche. " Two years with an attorney, and
six months with an inspector of the police."
" Well," answered th" witty thief. " that
whole time shall be reckoned as if you had
served in my troop."
OQf Dreams may be defined as the visible
visions to which wo are awake in our sleep ;
the life of death ; the sights seen by the blind;
the sounds heard hv the deaf, the lung sage of
the dumb the .sensations of the insensible.
Wanted -a thin man who has been
used to the business of collecting—to crawl
through key holes, and liad debtors who aro
never at home. Salary nothing the Grat year,
to be doubled each year afterwards.
£ss*- An nnrisf. was so remarkably clever,
that, having exercised his skill on a v-ry deaf
lady, who had been hitherto insensible to tli
nearest and loudest noises, she had the happi
ness the next day of hearing frotu her husband
in California.
There is nearly as ranch ability reqyitut#
to know ho v to make use of gopd advice us to
1 kuow how tu aA for one's self.