l)(E DOLLAR P£ r annum INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
TOW-A/NTD-A.:
Thursday Morning, August 23,1860.
human judgment.
A Story to Fonder Over.
t>ART FIRST.
YVe were a happy family—happy in retire
lt and seclusion.- We children numbered
pc of whom I was the eldest, and our dear
overness completed the circle. At the time
wh chl write, Miss Norman had been a year
To our family.' Previous to her coming, we
hid been taught at a little school in the vill
pe • but it was much more pleasant to hare
school at home, and a great comfort to our
mother to have a kind ar.d judicious assistant
in our supervision out of school hours. We
vooo learned to love our gentle teacher,not that
she was weak and lax of government. Miss
Norman was firm in the maintenance of author
ity and strict in requiring due attention to
study' but ' icr ru ' es observed, her wishes
obeyed, with no milder or more indulgent
-lurdian was plastic childhood favored. Nor
did she fulfil her trust merely lYcra a sense of
Vv • hef heart was in her task ■; she was ten
rtprfv interested in our welfare ; and, for her
trouble, her time and care, she felt fully re
munerated in our improvement. Upon her
first appearance among us, there was much
j>ieculation as to the impression she would
Bike upon the young men of the neighbor
1. d: but her Utter indifference to them soon
became apparent. She we* cheerful in society
Lmetioi' s even gay and playful, and the gen
' defflen she treated with easy unconcern,so that
the vc'mest could see they hud no place in her
thoughts. It was evident Miss Norman's
1 .cart was in no danger amongst our rural
' ttanx. Mv mother joked her about being
ftlrtauv engiged. She blushed and looked
erar but made no denial 5 her disinclination
• t converse r.pou lite subject Was manifest, and
it tvas mentioned no more. Put the tacit ad
mUion was not withdrawn, thoUgli no further
revelation was made. Eveu the name of her
lover the coy maiden concealed, going herself
10 the village when letter.": were to be mailed
■■those superscription we were not to see.—
Whatever the came of t!i" lady's reserve, her
■rtret was respected, so that at the end of the
tear we knew no more of tho affair of her
part than we hud known at the beginning.—
Bat oli, we had learned to know her loving,
{ '.bful.iinworldly nature,to measure the depth
1 olbtr affection, tor this cherished idol, and to
VAcarr.. s"'y that he might prove worthy of
with a treasure.
Tteieh Miss Norm an Vrux naturally of a
■\m\\ ' itinera men t., her countenance sorne
t.iaes . a'.ed care and sadness"; but what
ercrAtr/r.'oite trouble was, it n vrr niarre 1
tin ei-r. ndness of her disposition. Our
was therefore, unmingled with any
V 'p tulant'c in the school room, when one
" ' 'g. she tor>k her seat at the breakfast
her dear fucc bearing unmistakable
sofa disturbed mint'.. The previous even
-1 r-lie had received ah tier, which she had
r ito her chamber to read, and mj sister
! 1. who occupied the adjoining room,heard
her slippered foot pacing the floor long after
tehad retired. At length it ceased, and I
tnxions to know if she had lain down, arose,
stole tu her door, and opened it softly, peeped
in; tut her bed was vacant, while, low on her
bees, in wn ping murmuring prayer, the poor
girl was bowed. I returned to my pillow and
Hie sleep of childhood soon sealed my eyes ;
i.et Miss Norman looked next morning, as if
h--r wrestling prayer had bistec night; A
'.'blued aii was over our little rchool thai day.
lAnnaitj'. nons determination to save our belov
ed teacher any annoyance made us dilligent in
wr studies and careful in our manners 5 and
v were aronly rewarded in seeing the calm
urn to her troubled brow, the love glance to
' while her sweet voice pronounced 11s
; ldren, ami a tender kiss to each, nc-
I i by a whispered blessing concluded
our - -noon exercises.
I - 115 the hour of recess, as we played on 1
' •'•ci, a carriage drove to the door, from
ra.< 1 & geiitlemari descended, and soon after
ve the carriage tnrn and drive away.— j
T -.ng it wassome visitor to father,we took '
U-ther notice until we returned to the house
'■- n *e were met by mother,who informed us
Wre would he no afternoon school,as a friend
■ M.ss Norman's had called upon her, and she
fas engaged with him in the parlor. There
. J!( 'd "o need of speculation as to what this '
! be ; and my mother's hospitable ;
i-ngs towards him were mingled with the
.""'t'* • east ' ,IS v 'sit should have for its object ;
depriving ug nf our incomparable gover- !
•f\an<l herself of her invaluable companion. .
inner-hour arrived, and the cordial in vita- I
b' take a seat at our table was politely '
I the stranger ; ami all were glad
I °PP°rtunity to see and make tho ac
'"a"' 'Dee of one rouud whom so much mysterv
I existed. 3
cj ■ >rafan —'"' ,r RO Miss Norman introduc
a ni,c ' melancholy looking
1 foreign uir and haughty manner. In
. 1 • n with my father, during dinner,
' 1 P a J f; da richiy-endowed mind and vast
r.u'l ° ''" orQlal ' on ? vet the impression he
not the most hsppy. His attention
jrr the warmth and teu
- • .e>s w.iieh t i ie j r long separation would have
We f t l xcusa .' , ' e > e,reu presence of others, i
, u ' 1 he did not love her as she deserved, j
: -wi' j ro .'" e "° ta^e . lea ve, my father pro-'
he t ', ol . tr ' n S? a carriage to convey him to
>]: '' i hut this ho declined, saying that
thitho ,rr:an had promised to accompany him
6 ; - r , and they most prefered walking. "It's
. g time since we have had a walk together
i 9 rf 1 W ' th a faint smile," and she tells
' ' pleasant path through the woods bv
( • we can go. A sylvan ramble in a treat
thant T" 11 !- 7 ' Yoa wi " therefore accept my
-•j; fu'-the Offer °f your carriage, and do
lha * 1 appreciate it tho less that I
w walk instead "
* 0 -- ac DC>V appeared ic bQcnet and
111 ■ l l wmwi ■ ■■■-Tira^not9c,"a>ji■ ■wKMwmjaMßwopwMMßwtMwiM in—roei i BI ■■WMaw*'i | i'wiiw^MWw>wwi
shawl, and never did I see her look more love
ly, never felt tnv heart more closely knit to
her. I?v some unaccountable impulse I clung
to her, and tours rushed to my eyes as she
stopped and pressed her lips to mine. 1 felt
like springing after her, as, with the stranger,
she descended the steps of the piafcza, and rav
eyes strained after her slender figure as she
moved across the lawn, and, by the side of
that tail stately man, became hidden by the
foliage of the wood. My brothers and sisters
went to play but I coulil not. Restless and
uncomfortable I wandered up and down listen
ing for the sound of the train. I thought it
would never come,but at. last the shrill whistle
told of its approach. My heart bounded.—
" There ! " I exclaimed, " the gentleman's
off ! Now who will come with mo to meet
dear Miss Norman coming back ?"
Accompained by a brother and sister next in
age to myself, 1 fled with joyful haste through
the quiet wood. Anticipating the pleasure of
the return walk with her whose conversation
was delightful as it was instructive. The path
Was one along which we had often leisurely
strolled-, lingering over the beauties strewn
there by nature's hand ; but no bird or flower
or insect caught our eyes. We should see them
all, we thought, when coining back, and on,on
ve speed, peepinir intently through the vista
for the fondly expected sight, of our fried. The
distance was more than half trodden, still she
did not appear. Two-thirds of the way had
been passed over and we began to fee! anx
ious.
" She has gone with him !" exclaimed my
brother iu mingled grief and anger.
" No ! no !" I answered, " siie would not,"
bt my heart was sinking as I spoke. Could
any accident have befallen her—a snake for
instance? In the horror cf the thought., I
rushed 011 faster. We had got almost to the
end of the shaded petli—a little more arid the
railroad would have been reached—when oh,
what did I see ? My sad forebodings had not
been for naught. Prostrate, amongst thorns
and tangled vines, a few steir* aside from the
beaten way, my shocked gaze descried the ob
ject of our quest. She lay as dead, for fea
tures pule and still. One hand clutched, the
grass by her side,the other was pressed on her
bosom, covered with flowing blood, which satu
rated her dress, and rain dripping to the
ground. The children shrieked at the sight.
I had no power to utter a cry,'but springing
to the spot,cast myself down by the inanimate
form, while a flood of agony, such as my child
hood had never known, such as time lias never
known, such as time has never brought me
since, rushed over my soul. A conviction that
I ought to do something made itself felt, but
it vs! the last effort. 1. feeling—! became un
conscious. Wlicn I revived I was in my own
lied, my mother leaning over me, applying
water to my temples. To my eag"r inquiries
she replied that Miss Norman was qe.ite ill ;
she had received a hurt iu the wood ; the
doctors were with her ; I could not sic her
now ; but, if I would compose myself and sleep
I should should see her iu the morning.
She was not dead then ! I was satisfied.—
The doctors were in attendance ; she would
soon be well and I should see her in the morn
ing. Hope whispered to my willing ear, hug
ging the svVcet promise, Isutik upon my pillow
and yielded to sleep. And well 1 did, and
fortunate for my my nervous and physical sys
tem were fully renewed; or how should 1 have
borne thG horror and anguish npon which
my (ys opened on the ensuing day '! My sweet
teacher was dead ! In the dark and still hours
of midnight her pure spirit hml departed,driven
from its fair shrine by the pistol bullet inflicted
by in the lone recess of the woods.
My tender parents could not conceal from me
the dreadfui tragedy, for the coroner required
my evidence 5 and 011 tiiat one long, evil day,!
lived an age of terror.
The exciteftieiit thai pro-tailed frits alarming.
Dr. Strattan when brought to the hortse in
custody— a despatch having forwarded to 15
the (deeding victim was discovered, was receiv
ed with scorning brows and bitter threats.—
declared his innocence j but the testimony
against him was too strong to admit a doubt
of his guilt, lie had induced the murdered
lady to go with him through the wood, declin
ing my father's offer of the carriage. When
the train stepped at the station, he appeared
alone hurrying from the wood, and, pule, and
pantoig, sprung aboard the cars. I pon being
arrestad, a pistol Was found on his person, in
to the barrel of which the fatal ball fitted.
The motive of the deed was also traced.—
In mv mother's evidence, Miss Norman's secret
engagement was revealed, with the reasonable
supposition that I)r. Strattan was her alii me
ed, whereas, the doctor alleeed that there ex
isted no bond between him and the deceased
but that of friendship—his heart was given to
another. As to this other.it was elicited that
she was a lady of fortune and position ; and
here was found the clue to the commission ol
the crime. 11 is engagement with the humble
governess stood between him and an advanta
geous match ; her death would make him free.
From mc was gathered, as I best could relate
it amid tears and chocking sobs, the mental
agony the deceased had suffered, alunc in her
chamber, after the receptiou of the lust letter.
For that, and any other letters which might
throw light on the affair, search was then in
stituted, but without avail ; if the lover had
ever written a line which would bring accusa
tion against him, woman's strong love had
taken care that it should not exist.
* The investigation at length came to a close;
the jury unanimously agreed ; the coroner ren
dered his verdict, and Dr. Strattan was con
ducted to the county jail to await his trial uu
der the awful charge of wilful murder.
After the lirst shock occasioned by his ar
rest in 13 , the proud man conducted
himself camly. When brought iuto the pre
sence of the dead, he betrayed no symptoms
of guilt ; and as he gazed at the sweet uncom
plaining face, sorrow, rather than remorse was
depicted on his countenance. His account of
himself was given in a few words, and with
self possessed manner. He saw the strong
feeling mat existed agtiasi hire ; and thougc
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TO WANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH.
" REGARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER."
his cheek blanched, Ilia features became even
more haughty in their expression as he bowed
to the coroner upon hearing the verdict, and
with stately dignity submitted to the officers
who took him In charge.
The crowd had retired, the house again was
still • and oh, how still ! Grief, tod deep for
tears of wailing, hau visited our hodsehold j
the assassin's hand had delta blow which reach
ed to ovef-y heart, and dumb silence reigned
throughout our late glad and joyous circle.
In the parish church-yard, within onr otvn
family lot, a grave was prepared for our go
erness ; and the largest and most serious funer
al attendance which had bcenseen in the conn
try for years, was that which accompanied the
murdered maiden to her grave.
Tne trial Dr. Strattan for the mnrcler of
Miss Norman was a case of no usual impor
tance. The little-country court house was
crowded to excess, while the the town over
flowed with visitors from afar and near, many
of whom had an interest much deeper than
curiosity in the result. The prisoner Wa3 Sur
rounded by a strong phalanx of friends, while
the most eminent lawyers conducted his de
fence ; but the array of evidence against him
was as complete as circumstantial evidence
could be, and his conviction was looked far a?
certain. Even the witnesses called in his be
half afforded him no aid ; his previous good
character, his education and respectable stand
fug in society brought nothing in his f.ivor.—
The crime he stood charged with was a black
one, and there was no mercy mixed with the
loathing which glanced at him from every eye.
Such was the general feeling when the case
closed, and the prosecuting attorney arose to
address the jury. He was a, roan cf strong
thoughts and rare talents ; and his speech on
this occasion was the greatest burst of eloqu
ence that was ever echoed within that country
court house. The theory which the evidence
sustained he sketched with a master hand ;
filled it up with the vivid coloring of highly ex
cited sympathy. The secret engagement which
gave the fickle lover a chance to pay attention
to other Indies ; the letter, probably contained
the first hint of his altered feelings, which
brought such sudden anguish to this maiden's
heart ; the visit, immediately following, all the
particulars of which were d welt on ; the sylvan
walk, and the trusting confidence with which
the loving woman laid her hand on his faithless
arm and plunged with hiin into the solitude of
the wood ; then the last scene, the fiendish
aim, the cowardly shot which laid his fair be
trothed at his feet and drained her pure, fond
heart of its life-blood. While dwelling npon
this dark detail, the strong speaker shook with
emotion, large drop*; of perspifatiOn beaded his
broad temples, and his voice sunk and quiver
ed with pathos. A thrill ran through tiie as
sembly, rough checks were wet with tear-s.sup
pressed sobs were audible, and the prisoner,
pressing bis hands to his eyes, seemed wishing
to shut out tiie horrid picture.
The powerful addre-s was concluded amidst
solemn silence ; the judge summed np the
evidence, and gave an impressive charge to the
jury ; the latter retired, and, after a brief con
sultation, brought in the expected charge,
which pronounced the prisoner at the bar —
guilty.
ttpon the nsital question being asked of the
chiprit as to why sentence of death should not
be passed upon him, the unhappy man replied
in sad tones, that, by a strange dispensation of
Providence, circumstances bad concurred
against hhn ; that nv those concurring cireum
stances lie bad been judged, and condemned,
and nothing that he might say could avert the
sentence cf death from his devoted head. Vet
before God, and in the presence of that large
assembly; would protect hi? innocence of the
awful cHine of which he had been eonVicted ;
and though by his erring fellow men the pen
alty of another's guilt might be exacted of
hiui, in the sight of heaven lie stood clear hu
man blood, ami he Imped those who wronged
him by this foul attaint would be forgiven.
The extreme sentence of the law was then
pronounced ; the prisoner was removed from
the bar to prepare for an ignominious death
and the people retired to their bdmes;satislled
that an act of Justice had been accomplished
in rendering vengeance where it was justly
duo.
His lift days were spent by I)r. Strattan
in a solemn preparation for eternity ; but in
the firm denial of his guilt he never wavered.
Kven when the final hour arrived and he stood
on the narrow threshold of time, his farewell
words, uttered to his friends and the public,
in presence of the vast concourse assembled to
witness his execution, asservated the purity of
his hands und conscience from the stain of
biood, and prayed the forgiveness of God upon
all who were instrumental in his untimely
death.
ratiT SECOND.
It was a soft evening in early spring, just
twelve years after the terrible events above
narrated, when I accompanied a friend to a
revival meeting, in one of the churches of New
York. The sermon was one of those awaken
ing, heart-searching discourses under which
sinners quail, and the careless and indifferent
start up to a sudden consciousness of their
guilt and danger. It was followed by a pray
er meeting, in which the leading members of
the church united ; and around them flocked
the penitents, whom the " sword of the spirit
had wounded, and who groaned in the "gall
of bitterness " for a relief from their sins. Of
the latter was one whoso convictions were so
pungent as to be distressing to witness. He
was a man of middle age, but prematurely
withered, and bearing in the coarse lines of his
face, an index of a depraved heart and vicious
life. Hy what meaus ho had been brought
under the sound of the Gospel seemed a mys
tery ; for he was evidently a frequenter of
the haunts of wickedness, a companion of those
who hate the services of the sanctuary. The
iron, however, had entered his soul; conscience
hud arisen like " a giant refreshed the turies
of remorse and terror were let loose upon his
prostrate spirit ; and, writhing in the torments
of despair, his piteous icoaus pierced every
teart, and filled evei'y eye with ua.*3.
was no Ordinary case, and the brethren wrest
led in prayer for him, entreating the whole
congregation to join in beseeching God for
tnercy on his stricken soul. An hour of in
tense excitement ensued. Satan contended
with the angel of God, and disputed his right
to the prey ; but iu answer to importunate
prayer, the Lord rebuked his enemy ; the
troubled waters became still • the scales of
unbelief fell from the eyes of the penitent; he
beheld his transgressions Washed away iu the
blood of the cross ; his heart was filled with
love to his crucified Redeemer, and the accents
of his lips were changed to praise and adora
tion.
It was an occasion Of great rejoicing ; the
dead was alive again, the lost was found ; oth
ers, who had wept at the foot of the cross, al
so testified to the forgiveness of their sins ; the
Holy Spirit had been graciously poured out
npon the meeting, and all raised their voices
in a glad hymn of thanksgiving ; then, receiv
ing the solemn benedictions of the pastor, dis
persed to their respective homes happier and
bettor than they had ever been before.
But v.'ho was lie whose conversion, from, the
deepest pollution of vice, it was my privilege
to witness? 1 soon learned his story. It was
spread before the world in the columns of the
public press ; and I was not the only one
whose feelings were harrowed and whose blood
run cold npon perusing the dark details.
Early upon the day following that ail im
portant night when he who had been " dead
in trespasses and sins" was "quickened'' and
"raised up," one of the principal city magis
trates was waited on by a man of serious bear
ing who desired to make deposition before him
of a uuexpiated crime committed years before.
No eye but the All seeing had witnessed the
deed, he said, arid unless he revealed it, the
awful fact would go to the grave with him ;
but not many hours since his heart had been
changed ; he had been brought " from dark
ness to light, and from the power of Satan
unto God," and now the duly of confession
must be performed, and the sin committed in
secret must be atoned for opeuly. Ho then
proceeded with his statement.
llis name was Frederick I! esc. Bern of
respectable parents, his education had beeu
such as to fit him for a superior standing in
society ; aud had lie left homo to enter upon
a professional career, chosen hir. associates
amongst the good and virtuous, the crime and
wretchedness of his life would have been un
known. Without any strong propensities to
evil, he joined in the fashionable folties of tiie
city ; gay companions led him into temptations
which he had neither the will or tiie power to
resist, until he became depraved in morals and
a reckless votary of unholy pleasures. For
pome time his direlection from the path of wis
dom was not believed by the partial friends of
his youth ; and one there was who for a long
time refused to credit the vague report. Julia
Norman had been a schoolmate in his country
home, and the love of his boyish heart. A
sisterless orphan with one brother, the little
cii'l had not many with whom to share her af
fections ; and the gay, bold lad who called
her his pretty sweetheart, and lavished on her
most delicate and unremitting attentions, soon
won from the artless maiden every tender
thought which her brother did not absorb.—
The childish attachment grew witli their
growth ; and eveu when separated, he to pur
sue his college course ar.il she to finish her ed
ucation (It 8 popular seminary, it still contin
ued with unabated Strength. Arrived at man
hood Fredrick sought the city to embark in
life, carrying with him the understanding that
when success had crowned his enterprise, he
might claim tiie gentle Julia for his wife. But,
before his hope was realized, a barrier had
Sprung up between them 5 rumors of the loose
course, he led pained her who was all purity ;
and though she long closed her ears to the sad
truth, convincing evidence had at length to be
admitted, her lover was an ungodly, dissipated
man, and while so her husband he could not
be. It was in vain he urged every plea that
love and ingenuity could devise, with earnest
entreaties he besonght her to marry and reclaim
him, the determination was fixed that the re
form must be effected before she promised him
honor and obedience.
Meanwhile, tho brother of Julia, who had
learned the profession of a surveyor had en
tered the Government employ, and was obliged
to have his home and his sister for a far distant
rphefe of duty ; and then it was that she,
suddenly deprived cf both friends, upon whose
protection alone she had calculated, conceived
the idea of gaining a home and kind guardian
ship by entering a private family as governess.
This decisive step excited all the angry oppo
sition of the loTcr. With talent of a superi
or order, lie had prtispered in his profession
beyond his compeers, and, despite his extrava
gance, he was able to maintain a wife in ease
and opulence. That the woman ho loved
should turn her back npon him now, in his
opening fortune, and go to eat the bread of
strangers, shook his faith in her love and con
stancy ; and, though she solemnly declared
her heart unchanged, and pledged herself to
fulfill her early engagement whenever an alter
ation in his course of conduct should justify in
so doing, yet the demons of jealousy and dis
trust were aroused within him, and, instead of
admitting that the blame lay with himself, he
vented his wrathful feelings in unjust allega
tions against her who would liaVe sacrificed
her life for his good. And so they parted,
she to carrf through the duties of her new
life the burden of a hidden grief—he to soothe
his disappointment by a deeper plunge in dis
sipation, while he nursed within his proud
heart jealous and revengeful feelings.
A year passed, during which the lovers had
corresponded, Julia's geutle pen breathing af
fection and earnest desire for the much needed
reformation, that of Frederic pouring forth
passionate devotion, mingled with unworthy
suspicions of the maiden's motive in postpon
ing his happiness. At last the wild scheme
entered the young man's head to pnt an end
to tho tantalizing uncertainty in which he
lived. He therefore wrote a few fierce and
burning lines, informing Julia that he would
pake one last appeal to be." ia person, and, if
she still persisted in refusing to fulfill her con
tract and become his wife, he would shoot
himelf before hbr eyes.
The day following, the rash lover started to
put his threat in execution. Arrived in the
neighborhood where his betrothed resided, he
sprang from the train ; but instead of calling a
carriage to take him immediately Cn he turned
into a wood which offered an inviting retreat,
where he could rest awhile and calm his agita
tion. The quiet wood, however, was the last
place into which Frederick Reese shoitld have
turned his excited steps. He had scarcely
penetrated its shades when he saw what made
the blood leap in frenzy through his veins. At
a little distance, in a narrow path stood she
whom he was on his way to visit, in the act 01"
parting from a tall dark man, with whom she
had evidently been walking. The farewell
words reached not the ear of him whose fiery
gaze was fixed upon the pair, but he noted the
pressure of the hand, hastened over the inter
vening space to the railroad, which he had
barely tirao to reach ere the train started.
Julia lingered until the sounds of the swift
and heavy wheels assured her he \Va5 gone,
then turned to retrace her steps, when; sud
denly from amongst the bushes, a maniac face
appeared before her, while in low choking tone
an infuriated voice exclaimed : " Pefidious
woman ! you shall never be another's." As
the words were in utterance a bullet pierced
her breast and Julia fell to the earth, the
pistol report drowned iu the loud neighing of
the fast Retreating iron horse.
The murderer fled, he knew not whither—
through woods, along lanes, back roads, over
fields, and across streamlets he wandered,
shunning the sight and habitation of man, and
vainly endeavoring to escape from his own
racking thoughts. Night overtook him, and,
amid darkness and despair, be sued on,till sud
denly he reached a railway station, at which a
down train had just stopped. Weary and
worn he stepped aboard, and, sinking into a
seat, crouched down like one asleep, while he
listened to the conversation that wen on around
He heard the subject of his dastardly deed
discussed, and the guilt fixed upon his suppos
ed rival ; and a fiendish joy shot through his
breast with the knowledge that not only had
lie escaped suspicion, but the man whom he
most hated been convicted, in the public mind
by a chain of circumstances wherein not a link
was wasting.
Free from the brand of murder, Frederick
Reese mingled again with the world ; yet, did
the non-discovery of his crime secure him
peace ? Not so ! Long days and nights of
cool reflectiou, aided by outraged conscience,
made life scarcely endurable 5 and the gay
scenes through which he moved to hint were
realms of torment. As long as he felt that in
taking the life of her he loved, he had punish
ed infidelity and avenged a heavy wrong to
himself, his depraved heart endeavored to
-oothe Lim with a chow of justice in tiie deed;
but snon he learned his fatal error and eveu
the unholy comfort which vengeance gives was
no longer his.
He whom, in his jealous rage, he had sup
posed to be a favored rival, was a schoolmate
of his childhood, and of hers who entertained
bet kindly feelings towards all with whom she
come in contact. Edward Strattan, as sur
geon to the United States army, had lately
been stationed at a distant outpost, where he
had met his qnnndom friend John Norman.—
Returning, the In*ll r charged him with affec
tionate messages to his sister ; and it was for
the faithful conveyance of those that, when
oa his way to I> , where his own lady love
resided, he tailed cn Miss Norman. This was
Dr. Strattan's defence on his trial ; and Ilecsc
whom spell had drawn to that country Court
House, felt, in the inmost sodl, if every word
was true.
Tt was a heart-sickening recital, that of the
bitter sufferings of him whose guilt was known
only to his Maker ; his fierce struggles agaiust
conscience, who urged upon him the duty of
saving an innocent life by con fession and sur
render ; and his mortal agony when, after the
execution nT the guiltyless, he felt his soul
crushed under the weight of another and a
double murder—that of the fame ns well as the
life of the victim. From that day Reese was
a lost and ruined man. Pride, ambition, talent
hope, all were extinguished. Lower and yet
lower he sank in vice and wretchedness, an out
cast and reprobate, by friends and kindred dis
owned. He had no desire, no motive,no aim
in life ; and beyond tile consciousness of his
animal wants, all feeling was dead within him.
Hut oh, the stupendous power of saving grace
the immeasnreablc tenderness of love divine !
He Who was passed with scorn by his fellow
worms was led by the hand of mercy to the
foot of the cross, his load of misery and sin re
moved, his polluted soul washed clean,and the
love of justice, even to the rendering up of his
country's laws, implanted Within his heart.
The ease was a peculiar one, and it excited
tremendous interest. The judicial inquiry was
conducted with care and precision the sftnity
of the self-accused thoroughly tested, hut every
doubt pas dispelled, arid the accuracy of the
deposition fully proven. The long deferred
sentence ot justice was passed, and Frederick
Reese expiated his crime upon the same scaff
old where human judgement had sacrificed an
innocent man twelve years before.
" Mike, whr.t kind of potatoes are
those you are planting?'' "Raw ones to be
sure. Be the honly booker ! an'does ver hon
or think I would be aftber plantin' biled ones ?"
SOT* A in Illinois has the followiug
over the door : Notice—Tobacco-chewers are
requested not to come to this depot very long
before the train leaves?' A gentle bint that
they are considered a nuisance if they remain
too long
X!©~ The question, " Why printers did not
succeed as well as brewers ?" was thus an
swered : ' Berauso drinters work for the
head and brewers for the stomach anywhare
Twecry cave stomachs, bat one has b.roia
VOI,. XXI. NO. l'2s
(tbucatioital Department
Itey"" Editors of Educational publications to
whom this copy of the lltpbrltr is sent, wil!
please to exchange or retorn this to the editujH
of ths educational column,
C. R. COBURX,
OLIVER S. DRAX.
*
SS?* The Teachers' Institnfes for Bradford
County, for the fall of 1800, will be holdeu at *
the following times and places, viz :
For the towns of Windham, Warren, Or
well, Rome and Litchfield, at the Euion Church
in Windham, on Monday, September 10.
For the towns of Smithfieid, Athens, Uls
ter, the two Burlingtons, Springfield, and
Ridgbury, on Monday, September 24, at
Smithfieid Center.
For the towns of South Creek, Wells, Col
nmbia, Troy, Armenia, Canton, Leßoy, and
Granville, .Monday, October ], at Alba.
For the towns of Franklin, Overton, Al
bany, Asylum, Monroe, the two Towaudas,
Wysox, and Sheshequin, on Monday, October
S, at Monroeton Borough.
For the towns ot Wvalusing, Pike, Iler
rirk, Standing Stone, Tuscarora, Terry, and
Wilmot, on Monday, October 15, at Merryall.
Each Institute will commence at 2 o'clock,
p. rn , and close on Saturday, at 12, noon.
It is expected that the teachers of the coun
ty, will attend at least one of these gather
ings. All interested in our schools, are invited
to meet with us as frequently as possible
Teachers will bring with them Readers, Spell
ers, Intellectual and Written Arithmetics,
Music Books, and paper and pencils.
C. It. COBURX.
Towanda, Aug. 14, 18G0.
School Houses.
Perhaps there are to be erected, this sum
mer and fall, a greater number of school houses
in this county than has been before for severa!
years. The people, in several of the towns are
waking up to the importance of having com
fortable houses for their children to spend their
school going days in.
A good, substantial edifice, well built and
properly taken cake of, Will last, and be com
fortable, for twenty-five or thirty years. This
being the case, it is important that those hav
ing the charge of building these houses, should
see to it thut they are prbperly constructed;
and made So that teachers and pupils can be
comfortable in thctr.
Let not a penurious, " penny wise,'' policy
prerail, and build just as cheap houses as pos
sibly can be erected fcr the honest tax you
dare to levy, but do as meu do in their own
business, build as large houses as arc required;
and make them every way suitable for the
purposes for which they are erected. Because
the school in a certain neighborhood is small
now, it is not certain that it will be ten, or
even five years from this time. The relative
size (if the schools in a district is continually
changing, it is not good policy or gcod econo
my, then, to put up a house only large enough
to accommodate twenty or thirty pupils, be
cause there are ro more than that number who
will attend the school at the present time.
Let the directors look well to the internal
arrangements of their new houses. Many
school houses look well out side but within
they r. r e most miserable appearing as though
directors and builders had exerted their ut
most ingenuity to devise machines of torture
for the children, and the teachers.
Children require comfortable seats, and con
venient desks, and why should they not have
them, iastead of benches so high that not one
hall of them can touch their feet to the floor,
and mere slabs or rough boards stuck up
against the walls. Teachers want some ac
commodations about the houses in which they
are to Spend a portion of their time, and why
should they not have them, as well as other
people.
What would be thought of a farmer, who
should build a hi use and pay no more atten
tion to the inside arrangements, ihan we find
in some of our school houses, even some of
our new ones, merely because it costs a little
more to have things comfortable and conveni
eht.
Let the directors see to it that there is a
great amount of black board in each school
house, there cannot well be too much, our best
teachers use the black board in teaching al
most etery thing there is t a right in school.—
Bind the contractor to put one or more in thd
wall and bind him too to put iu good ones that
will last.
Black wall is to be preferred, if it can well
be put on, but the materials of which the*
plaster composed are not easily procured in
the country, and it is only once in a groat
while that a mason can bo found who under
stands putting thefci on, so perhaps a crood
board had better be nsed. In the last num
ber published We gave a receipe for making
this plaster blackboard.
We will make but one more suggestion at
prerent, and it is this, provide vonr school
houses with suitable out houses, procbre good
sized lots, and put upon them, besides tho
school house, such out buildings as every per
son in the neighborhood will say ought to bo
provided for any school house whether new or
old. It surely is not very much to the credit
of any neighborhood, to hnve the public school
house standing on one ot the corners where
four roads cross, or rather standing in the road
with no out house of any kind around it
AN ENGLISHMAN'S ORDERS TO HIS HIRED MAN.
—" Enry, take the arness hoff the hofltorse,
slip the alter hover is ead, haud give irfnmme
ay hand boats."
63?- If a civil word will render a man hap
py he must be a wretch who will not give it
to biin.
. Kss"" Let the Commonwealth take care of
the children and the children will t; k? care of
the Commonwealth.