Bradford reporter. (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, August 30, 1860, Image 1

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    0* DOLLAR PER ANNUM INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
Thursday Morning, August 30,1860.
jstlttltb lottrj.
ye cannot bar the btjnltght.
BT COrHIA W. FLOYD.
Ye cannot bar the luolight
From the dwell ingi of tha poor }
II will shine in all its splendor
O'er the humbles cottage door ;
Anil the stars will shine as clearly.
The moonlight sweetly fall,
O'er the patched roof of the peasant,
As o'er the lordly hall.
Ye cannot veil the landscape,
Outspread and yaried still—
The shadows rest in every .rale,
The sunlight on the hill.
The mountain in its grandeur—
The foaming cataract's fall—
The beauties of the changing year.
As free alike to all.
Ye cannot quench the light of love
Within the poor man's breast—
Nor rob him of his sympathy
That makes his pathway blest.
Ye cannot bid the hue of health
Within his cheeks go out—
Nor shroud the sunlight of his home
In ignorance aud doubt.
Ye cannot still the throbbing
Of the good ami generous heart,
Xor bid the faintest germ of thought
From out the mind depart.
Ye cannot bar the glorious light
01 truth within the soul;
O'er all the real good of life
Ye cannot hold control.
Rtous.
MY COUSIN MAY.
It was in the early part of August, 1857,
that I, John Richards, a law student, residing
in the lively town of S., took my seat in the
dusty cars with the purpose ot visitiug old
Cousin Torn.
I was not in the most pleasant mood that
i'av, as I had previously intended to pass my
summer vacation at Newport. A number of my
citj friends, including two or three very fkrt
al!e young ladies, were going to call upon the
old city and 1 was expecting to be their favor
ed attendant while there ; besides, I was rather
i cood looking fellow, and flattered myself par
licolarly npon my tine maimers, and very natu
tV, v thought I should make ijuite a sensation
Mswn the blooming belles and match-making
Dubois who throng that fashionable resort.
Jtwrdingly, I mode a a forcible attack up
yi my purse, and bountifully supplied myself
"fia ail kinds of summer clothing. No wonder
I nsed some very decided expressions one day,
when, as I stood before the m.ror, surveying
myself in the last purchased suit, feeling very
satisfied at my appearauce, a letter from my
father was bauded me, which on being opened
was found to contaiu a wish, und, in fact, a
command, that I should immediately visit my
Cousin Tom.
It seems that Tom, who was manj years
older than your humble servant, was quite in
disrnant that I had never accepted his many
invitations to visit his country home, and had
at last in despair given up urging me, and had
written to rav father telling him to" send the
scamp down." I had not seen him since his
wedding-day, eighteen years before, wbeu I
had reached the dignity of six years, aod re
membered him oclv as he stood, with as long
& face as the solemnity of the occasion could
draw from him, by the side of a pleasant.quiet
little think, who seemed to thing nobody equal
to " him." I remember receiving a very con
descending pat on the head, the only thiug his
wtljr acquired dignity for the momeut permit
him jump into the waiting sleigh,
tact with a careful band the buffalo robes
fwnd his little bride, wave his hand to us.aud
drive off at an astonishing rate. That
*•' the last I had seen of him.
We had heard, however, of his purchasing
• farm in the western part of the State, thriv
•ng bodily, mentally, and last but not least,
pecuniarily, finding the excellences of bis
vorthy wife increasing with years, and being
blessed with a goodly number of " troublesome
comforts" I occasionally received a few af
fectionate lines from him, always pressing me
to take a peep at his country home, but my
enthusiasm had never been sufficient to get me
Parted Now, however, my father was deter
mined that we should be strangers DO longer,
•od I was informed that Tom would expect
me Deit week. I tried to plead off, but he
grew more decided when he discovered my dis
coveredand, as I remembered the unhappy con
m-v P urse . a °d l^e necessity of its
J> >ng replenished by his usually in'dulgeot
I felt forced to yield the point, and ac
c Tdiogly dupatched a note to Tom, telliug
might see me next Thursday.
L ' c °orse, I thought my new clothes would
** oo Qse in a country still my vanity
a assign them a place ia my truuk, in
something might be going on, so
u ' CoQ ld display them, though I could not
** P sighing as I packed them,at the thought
they would have no chance to %l take the
fe ot some rich southern belle. " Cousin
•rah and her daughters,'' I said to myself,
leu-r cau appreciate them. However, I
-V , Qot aTe 10 'rouble myself about the
" ughter#, for doubtless all of them who have
•cbed their teens, are provided with beaux,
at t ma ' <e l^' r a PP €a r®uce every evening
-uadown, and in the daytime, of course,they
ui he at work about the house. I hope, by
"V r, I. th <7 are good cooks. That May
kS 1 1° ,? l(1 eno,,gll by this Ume 10 make
the 1 fea \ 80 Wllb hope, I dismissed
" Wjmen from my ujiad.
spent my journey iu the reading, sleeping,
occmoml fe . ruot Mm , ot P rl S;
reader summer 1 was punished for
■"-$ j a terrible headache, which grew
THE BRADFORD REPORTER.
worse every moment, and by the time I bad
reached my destination, I thought only of find
ing a bed to tumble into, and could BOt help
congratulating myself upon the possession of an
airy farm house chamber, mnch better suited
to my comfort then, than a small one in the
crowded hotels at Newport. After a cup of
strong tea, I coucluded to try my quarters,and
see if a nap would not revive tr.e sufficiently to
have a good chat with Tom in the evening.—
Four of his " hopefuls " were present at the
tea-table, the eldest, May, I was told was
" gone berrying." " Ah," I thought, as threw
myself on the bed, " May most be an active
obliging girl. I hope she will select good,
plump berries. How much better to know
whose bauds they have been through. The
clean, stout fiugers of a country cousiu are just
the thing.
I awoke about eight o'clock, with my head
ache quite gone and after a hasty toilet went
below. 1 was about to open the door of the
room in which we took tea, when the maid-of
all-work who was passiog through the hall,
stopped me and said :
" Mr. and Mrs. Warren are in this room,"
opening an opposite door. " Miss May is in
the dining room with a gentleman."
"So the beau is on hand," I said in an un
dertone. " Well, I suppose he met her iu the
fields, brought her basket home for her, aud fs
now paying himself for it by a chat with his
sweetheart. Well, I won't interrupt proceed
iugs, even to get an introduction to the
da nsel."
So I spent the evening with the old folks,
and so pleasantly did it pass with Tom's lively
talk aud our cigars, that the clock struck
eleven before we thought it hardly ten, and
Tom hurried off to bed, with a wouder how he
should feel for haying on the morrow. Sarah
provided me with a good candle, and I follow
ed his example. As I passed the dining room
door, a low murmur informed me that the
lovers were all busy with each other, and with
a yawu, I wondered how he would feel for hay
ing.
The next morning I was up early, and as it
was yet some little time before breakfast,l ac
companied Tom on a ramble over his farm,aud
listened with a really wonderful interest to the
many remarks he made about what he had
already done, and his plans for future improve
ment. 1 returned to the house with a sharp
ened apptite, aud win just entering the long
hall wheu a voice suid :
" Good morning, cousin John. Aren't you
going to speak to me ? I am your Cousin, May
Warren."
Turning,l saw a girl who looked as if about
sweet sixteen, sitting ou a low seat under the
shade of a noble elm which stood near the
house. I returned her greeting, appropriated
to myself a part of the seat, and took a good
view of my young relative. She was dressed
in a light calico, with a long apron, but they
could not conceal the petite form. Quite a
little body, 1 thought, and lifted my eyes to
her face. Nothing very handsome there ; but
the bright eyes, roguish smile aud soft folds of
shining hair, might look very pretty if they be
longed to a persou in society. Her cheeks
| were blooming, but then they were uotof that
peony style which I expected to see. In a
word. I thought May's appearance quite ac
ceptable, and concluded that after I had fully
impressed her with a sense of my dignity and
importance, I would steal an hour or two from
my fishing, hunting and sleeping, and "draw
her out." In fact I expected to have quite a
spicy flirtatiou with the lady, (she looked as if
she heid live matter,) perhaps awaken her lover's
jealousy, then I could very easy settle affairs,
pretend I had only been playing the })art of an
affectionate and attentive cousin, and ia the
end present her with some handsome bridal
presents—that is, if she were tractuble, but it
was foolish to think otherwise. Of course she
could not resist my fascinations.
I proposed that I should help her " pick
over " the berries, and receiving a laughing
permission, my fingers wtre soon busy, though
I often took very small huudfulls, so that I
might often help myself, but it always hap
pened that mine were finished about the time
hers were,so our fiugers often met in the friend
ly basket. Her sleuder digits flew faster
than mine, much faster in fact than I liked, so
that the basket was soon emptied, and we bad
to adjourn to the house. Didu't I do justice
to the berries that meal 1
After the eatables were disposed of, I be
took myself with my gun to the woods, leaving
May to superintend the pots and kettles. I
thought it must be warm work, but then she
was used to it, aud of course wouldn't mind,
so I went to work also aud shot the partridges
with as sure an aim as I thought I should as
sail May's heait. I returned laden with spoil,
which, she charmiogly promised, should be
cooked with her own hands.
That afternoon Tom handed me a note. It
was from a friend of mine lately married, who
it seems owned a country seat in tße vicinity,
and it was now filled with visitors, many of
whom I knew. He had heard, that I was
visiting there, and accordingly sent me an in
vitation to a party which they were to give
that evening. This was just the thiug ; my
most fashionable suit could once more see the
light, and I could vary the monotony of a visit
to the country relatives by calls upon the fair
ones there congregated.
" What a pity," I thought, as I dressed my
self that eveuing, " that May is not a little
used to society. But I suppose even were she
so lucky as to be invited there on my account,
she would commit some outrageous breach of
good manners,and cover me with mortification.
No, it is best as it is ; she makes a nice little
girl to laugh and talk with at home,and I sup
pose she enjoys herself best there. I woDder
if it would do for me to ask for a kiss, to-night
when I go, I guess, on the whole, I won't
notice her, aud see if it will piqne her at ail."
So I walked down the stairs, drawing on
my gloves very indifferently, when my low
humming was interrupted by a band laid on
my arm, and a soft voice, which I knew be
longed to May, saying :
" Why, cousin John, are yoa goiog without
me, after I bare been ready tDd waiting so
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH.
" REGARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANT QUARTER."
long 7 No gentleman ever had to wait- such
a length of time for me, but perhaps I don't
think so much of my personal appearance as
you do of yours."
" But May, I did not know yon were
going."
" Well, I am. Perhaps they thought they
most invite me," she said with an arch smile.
" Any way, I am going, and I expect to have
a good time."
" 0 dear," I sighed to fbyself, " I hope she
will get into some corner. I do wish the even
ing was over. I wonder what she has on,"
and I looked at her dress, but it was pinned
up under her shawl, and nothing was visible
but a very white skirt, while from uoder it
peeped two tiny feet encased a stout walking
boots.
" Don't you think slippers would rather bet
ter for an evening party ?" I ventured to ask.
" Why, cousin, do you suppose I am going
to walk through the dust iu slippers ? and it
is no use to ride such a short distance. I am
sure I am not ashamed of that foot," slightly
raising one. " I think it looks quite dim."
The head was muffled iu a thick green veil,
but I wasuot anxious to scrutinise that, as I
knew it could not help being presentable. " It
must be ber Sunday silk. I wonder bow many
seasons she has worn it. I wish I had known
she was going. I would have bought a new
dress and some white kids."
As we walked along, I thought I would try
conversational powers a little, so I took some
of the subjects which I thought most probably
would be discussed during the evening,—but
alas ! the lady seemed to have lost the use of
her tongue, could say nothiug but "yes," and
" no," and " I guess so," and in utter dismay
I thought how much worse she would appear
with those who were strangers to her.
After I had given my hair the last tonch in
the dressing room, I turned with a resigned air
to a search for my lady, but she was not to be
found ; she was not iu the ladies' dressing room
or the hall, —where else to look for ber I know
uot. At first I thought that feeling a little
abashed at the sight of so many ladies so much
more elegantly dressed, sho hud hidden her
self with determination of not entering the
parlors ; but then I remembered her remark
about huviog a good time, and the goodly
amount of " spunk " with which she seemed to
be endowed, and concluded that she must hare
had the ignorance and the bolduess to enter
the rooms without her attendant. My heart
sank at the thought of this indecorum, and I
probably could not have summoned courage to
enter myself, had uot one of my friends seen
me, and asked why I was waiting saying that
it was almost time for the dancing to commence
and be knew I would not miss my favorite
amusement. So I was forced to accompany
him.
After saluting our host and hostess,l glanc
ed hurriedly around the room, and was just
congratulating myself on May's nou-appear
auce, when suddenly my eye met another, a
laughing, triumphant, bine one There stood
what I supposed to my Cousin May, clad not
in a worn Sunday silk, bat in a delicate, white
lace, with snow shoulders and arms uncovered
save where they were encircled by the lovely
pearls, the choicest in the room I knew at a
glance. The satin hair was arranged iu heavy
braids, wound round her head, I can't say ex
actly how. I only know they looked softer and
smoother than ever, and the few flowers that
adorned them seemed to be very proud of
their resting place, and most lavishly breathed
their fragrance about her. One hand, covered
with the delicate glove, raised slightly the
light drapery as if to let me sec the dainty
white slipper which pressed the carpet; the
other hand (plague take it,no, not it, bat him)
rested on the arm of that contemptible fellow,
Frank Percy, the handsomest man in the room
the man whom I bad always disliked from the
fact that he was my rival in the affections of
the fair sex.
I knew not what to do, and stood wouder
ing what would be expected of me under such
circumstances, when May called his atteutiou
to me,and they both approached me. Of course
I shook hands,and talked with him as if I was
delighted to see him.
" I was sorry I didn't see you last night,
John, but May informed me you had a severe
headache, so 1 thought I wouldn't make it any
worse by presenting myself," said Frank, in an
assured tone.
So he was the rustic lover, he Frank Percey,
he was the person who had whispered soft
words in her ear at eleven o'clock,who now has
the audacity to call her May! I looked at
her to see the effect upon her, and she whisp
ered "Poor John ! I saw how annoyed you
were, and as Frank was willing to take the
incumbrance, I concluded to relieve ; dou't be
troubled any longer, for he or somebody else
will consent to take care of me, and perhaps I
may be able to converse a little.'"
Before I could answer, they had left me, and
the next moment I saw them at their place in
a waltz quadrille which was then forming. I
have no very distinct remembrance of the rest
of the evening, except that I tried to prove an
agreeable partner to the young ladies, but
must have wholly failed, from the fact that I
could hardly keep my eyes off my " country
cousin." She seemed to be the centre of at
traction with the gentlemen ; the ladies, as is
usually the case, did not seem to be quite so
unanimous, and each and all of her unoffend
ing features were discussed and declared to be
far from regular. May, however, was uncon
scious of all this from the fact that the gentle
rneu gave her no opportunity to devote herself
to her own sex. I suppose I might as well
be included among the ladies that evening, for
I also was debarred all chance of conversing
with her. If I summoned resolution enongh
to approach and ask her hand for a dance, it
was always :
"0, John, yoo only think yon must, and I
won't consent to trouble any one, especially
inch a considerate cousin as you ; besides, I
think lam engaged for all the dances. lam
nicely provided for. 1 told yon I was going
to have a good time, aod dou't yoo think I
am ?"
Jt wu of co ase for me to remonstrate, she
was determined to leave Cousin John to him
self, and I felt that I deserved it.
It was not till she was again muffled in her
shawl aud veil that I felt as if I bad any right
to her, and then I should have hesitated bad
she not herself darted forward and taken my
arm, saying : " Come, suppose we go home,
uow, for lam quite sleepy. You may carry
my slippers," she added, laughingly, " my boots
are again doing duty."
" May," I answered, slipping the little bun
dle into my pocket, " I am a fool."
" And I suppose you think me oue also."
" Now, May—"
" Ah, you mnsn't try to smooth matters uow.
I know just what was your opinion of me.—
You thought me an innocent quiet little body,
very pleasant to flirt with wheu nobody better
was round ; very happy to receive the little
attentions with which you might think proper
to favor me, and to conclude, quite a desirable
country cousin."
" Bat, May, whatever mistakes my vanity
and—"
" 0, yes, I know what yon are going to say,
—everything fine, no donbt; bnt you know 1
have not troubled you to-night, so please re
tarn the compliment and leave your excuse for
another time. It is fortunate that we discov
ered the mistakes we had made in regard to
each other, for I also had made wise decisions
concerning you, which I am very much afraid
I must now discard. I thought you were a
vain, haughty, lazy dandy ; now however, I
have my private opinion. You find that I can
superintended the household affairs, and go
berrying in a calico, I can also go to parties in
a suitable dress, wear slippers, and chat, and
dance tfith those who have been yonr friends
for years. So now we understand each other
and shall prove as good cousins as any oue
could ask."
" Then you entirely forgive me ?"
" With my whole heart, and it is a good
large one, too, but here we are at home."
That night I had pleasant dreams,and many
other nights, also ; for after that, May and I
were the best of friends. X Lad the good sense
to pack up, and bid good-by forever to the airs
which I, like many other city persons, always
assumed when visiting in the country. May
was always charming. The four weeks I spent
there were some of the happiest in my life. To
be sure, my city friends were continually about
her, accompanying us on our many excursions,
but then she seemed to think Cousiu John's at
tentions quite as acceptable as any. Frank
Percy seemed rather a formidable rival, but
he left a week after the party, aud I had the
field entirely to myself.
May proved quite as '• tractable " a subject
for a flirtation as I could have desired ; but I
would uot have yon think I was so trifling as
to merely flirt with her—o, no, I thought
differently DOW from what I once did, aod
although when I returned to town I made
numberless trips, aud spent many hours in
selecting presents suitable for such a lovely
bride as Slay Warren,yet the bridegroom was
to be no rustic lover, but the happy mail who
now signs himself Johu Richards.
THE NEXT PRESIDENT'S WIFE —The second
question in this country always is : What sort
of a wife has the nominee ? Nothing is more
characteristic of American maimers and feel
ings than this fact. Although, gallantry—
famous as we are for it—will not always carry
the day against party ; for Fremont, who has
a noble and charming wife, could uot he Pre
sident, while Buchanan, who is only an uncle,
could. Probably, however, successful matri
mony is a fair qualification for the Presideacy
although it be not the very highest. A man
who can rule his wife well, or at least be well
ruled by her, has made one step towards qu&li
fying himself to govern others. And it is a
matter of national credit and iuterest, bow the
graces and hospitalities of the White House
are dispensed. Let the ladies and the voters
look to it. The courtlcy sway of Mrs. Madison
is remembered with enthusiasm by all who wit*
nessed it, not to speak of latter days, wherein
one might seem invidious. At present, if
beauty is to carry the day, Mr. Douglas will
have the best of it. llis accomplished lady is
said to be one of the most elegant womeu of
the land. Mrs. Lincoln is reported to be plain
but comely, of an interesting presence, and of
a Christion heart and profession ; enjoying
with wifely pride the honors of her husband.
She is a Presbyterian, while Mrs. Douglas is
a Roman Catholic. Mrs. Bell, of whose re
ligious character we are not informed, is said
to be at once amiable, bighspirited and lady
like.
It is a remarkable and interesting fact,that
a majority of the wives of the Presidents have
bten devotedly Christian women—a fact which
has had no unimportant beariug upon the char
acter of our Chief Magistrates, and upon the
conduct of their several administrations.— The
W r orld.
New Jersey is moving steadily for
ward in the path of Republicanism. A con
uention met at Trenton on Wednesday last,
over the deliberations of which Speaker
William Pennington presided. An electoral
ticket was nominated, and the proceedings of
the convention were characterised by great
harmony aod enthusiasm. Resolutions were
adopted,endorsing the platform of the National
Republican party,and pledging their individual
support to Lincoln and Hamlin. A resolution
was also offered, sympathising with the Italian
patriots, who are 60 nobly struggling for civil
and religious liberty. In the same connection
they applauded the efforts and triumphs of
Garibaldi.
19* Why are young ladies at the breaking
np of a party like arrows? Becanse they
can't go off withont a beau, and are in a quiver
till they get one.
W Civility pleases all, prejudices none,
adorns wit, renders humor agreeable, augments
friendship, redoobies love, is the sscred charm
of the society of mankind.
Giving Away a Child.
On board one of the lake steamers, bound
for the far West, were an Irish family—hus
band, wife and three children. They were
evidently in very destitute circumstances ; bnt
the exceeding beauty of the children, two girls
and a boy, was the admiration of their fellow
passengers. A lady who bad no children of
her own, was desirous of adopting one of the
little travelers, and made application to the
father, through a friend, who gives the follow
ing touching, and as we suppose, truthfal ac
count of the negotiation :
I proceeded, he says, immediately npon my
delicate diplomacy. Finding my friend on
deck, I thus opened the affair :
" You are very poor."
His answer was very characteristic.
" Poor sir 7" said he, " ay, if there's a poor
er man troablin' the world, God pity both of
us, for we'd be about aiquil."
" Then how do you manage to support yonr
children 7"
" Is it support them, sir ? why I don't sup
port them any way, they get supported some
way or other. It'll be time enongh for me to
complain when they do."
" Would it be a relief to yon to part with
one of them 7"
It was too sudden ; he turned sharply
round.
" A what, sir ?" he cried, " a relief to part
from my child ? Would it bo a relief to have
the hands chopped from the body, or the heart
torn out of my breast 7 A relief indeed !
God be good to ns, what do yoa mane 7"
" You don't understand me," I replied. " If
now, it were in one's power to provide com
fortably for one of your children, would you
stand in the way of its interest 7"
" No, sir," said he ; " the heavens know
that I would willingly cut the sunshine away
from myself, that they might be all the warm
er of it; but tell us what you are drawing at."
I then told him that a lady had taJcen a
fancy to have oue of bis children, and, if he
would consent to it, it should be educated, and
finally settled comfortably iu life.
This threw him into a fit of cogitation.—
He scratched his head, and looked the very
picture of bewilderment. The struggle be
tween a father's love and a child's interest
was evident and touching. At length he said:
" O, murther, woaldu't it l>e a great thing
for the baby ? But I must go and talk with
Mary—that's the mother of them ; an' it wo'd
not be right to be giving away her children
afore her face, and she to know nothing at all
about it."
"Away with you then," said I, " and bring
me an answer back as soon as possible."
In about half an hour he returned, leading
two of his children. His eyes were red aud
swollen, and his face pale from excitement and
agitation.
" Well," I inquired, " what success ?"
" Bedad, it was a hard struggle, sir,'" said
he. " But I've been talking to Mary, an'she
says, as it's for the child's good, maybe the
heavens above will give us strength to bear
it."
" Very well ; and which of them is it to
be?"
" Fair, and I don't know, sir," and he ran
his eye dubiously over both.
" Here's little Norah—she's the oldest, and
won't need her mother so much ; but then—
O, tear an' ages, it's myself that can't tell
which I'd rather part with least; so take the
first one that comes wid a blessiug. There,
sir/' and he banded over little Norah, turning
back be snatched her up in his arm.", and gave
her one long, hearty father's kiss, saying
through his tears :
" May Qod be good to him that's good to
you, and them that offers you hurt or barm,
may they never see St. Pether."
Then taking the other cbild by the hand,
he walked away, leaving Norah with me.
I took her dowu to the cabin, and we tho't
the matter settled. It must be confessed, to
my great indignation, however, in about an
hour' 3 time I saw my friend Pat at the win
dow. As soon as be caught my eye be began
making signs for me to come out. I did so,
aud found that be had the other cbild in his
arms.
" What's the matter now ?" I asked.
" Well, sir," said he, "I ask your pardon
for troubling you about so foolish a thing as a
child or two, bat we're tbinkin' that mabe it'd
make no differ—yon see, sir, I've been talkin'
to Mary, an' she says she can't part with No
rah, because the creatnre has a look or me ;
bat here's little Biddy, 6he's purtyer far, an'
av you please, sir, will vou swap ?"
" Certainly ; whenever yon like," said I.
So he snapped up little Norah, as though
it was some recovered treasure, and darted
away with her, leaving little Biddy, who re
mained with ns all night ; but lo ! the mo
ment we entered the cabin in the morning,
there was Pat making his mysterious signs at
the window, and this time he had the young
est, a baby, in his arms.
" What's wrong now ?" I inquired.
" Be the hokey fly, sur, an it's meself that's
almost ashamed to tell ye. Ye see I've been
talking to Mary, and she didn't like to part
with Norah, becanse she has a look ov me, an
be my soul, I can't part with Biddy, because
she's the model of her mother ; but there's
little Paudeen, sir. There's a lump of a Chris
tian, for you, two years old, and not a day
more ; he'll never be any trouble to any one ;
for ar he takes after his mother he'll have the
brightest eye, an' av he takes after his father
he'll have a fine broad pair of shoulders to
push his way through the world. Will you
swap again sir i"
" With all my heart," said I ; "it is all the
same to me and so little Pandeen was left
with me.
" Ha, ha," said I to myself, as I looked in
to his big, laughing eyes, " so the affair is set
tled at last."
But it wasa't; for ten minutes bad scarce
ly elapsed, when Pat rushed into the cabin
without sign or ceremony, and snatched spUhs
baby, and said :
" It's BO est : I've been talkin' to Mary, as'
VOL. XXI. —NO. ia.
we cu't do it. Look at him, sir ; he'a the
youngest an' the best of the batch. Too
wouldn't keep him from oa. Yon see,air, No
rah has a look or me, an' Biddy has a looker
ov Mary ; bat be me sonl, little Peadeen has
the mother's eye an' my nose, an' a leetle of
both of nz all orer. No air ; we can bare
hard fortnne, starvation and misery, bat we
can't bear to part with onr children, unless it
be the will of Heaven to take them from as."
—National Magazine.
dEhgtatiotial jgtprimeat.
Editors of Educational publications to
whom this copy of the Reporter is sent, will
please to exchange or retorn this to the editors
of the edocational column,
C. R. CO BTJRN,
OLIVER S DEAN
IS" The Teachers' Institutes for Bradford
County, for the fall of 1860, will be bolden at
the following times and places, viz :
For the towns of Windham, Warren, Or
well, Rome and Litchfield, at the Union Church
in Windham, on Monday, September 10.
For the towns of Smithfield, Athens, Uls
ter, the two Burlingtons, Springfield, and
Ridgburv, on Monday, September 34, at
Smithfield Center.
For the towns of South Creek, Wells, Col
umbia, Troy, Armenia, Canton, Leßoy, and
Granville, Monday, October 1, at Alba.
For the towns of Franklin, Overton, Al
bany, Asylum, Monroe, the two Towaodas.
Wysox, and Sheshequin, on Monday, October
8, at Monroeton Borough.
For the towDS ot Wyalusing, Pike, Her
rick, Standing Stone, Tuscarora, Terry, and
Wilmot, on Monday, October 15, at Merryall.
Each Institute will commence at 3 o'clock,
p, m , and close on Saturday, at 12, noon.
It is expected that the teachers of tbs 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 Writteu Arithmetics,
Music Books, and paper and pencils.
C. R. COBURN.
Towanda, Aug. 14, 1860.
Education without Study.
Is this a new inventionl No. The theory
has been in practice for years : what is the
result ? Graduated dunces. Is it a scheme of
parents or children ? Both. Do explain—
what is it ? The parent thinks, as he pays
high tuition, he ought not to concern himself
about his children's education, and the child is
very glad not to be examined and hate his ac
quisitions tested : so gets along smoothly—
studies as much as he pleases and plays the
remainder of his time, which is the larger por
tion. But where is the education ? The
teacher will impart that any how—he is so
learned a man. Without the efforts of the
pupii ? Certainly ; what is he good for, if
our children hare to endure all the drudgery
of 6tudy ? That is the idea, the inveotioo, to
imbibe knowledge from the instructor as plants
imbibe moisture from humid ground. If this
is the plan, why not make a scholar out of a
piece of sponge which has very strong imbibing
powers ? Fit up the machinery to hold the
books, and see what a scholar would be pro
duced.
Bat the plauter knows that unless the grass
aud weeds are kept under and the soil culti
vated, the crop will be very small and the grain
immatare : so if you depend upon the imbib
ing process, you will be but a nubin scholar at
at best. Study stands in relation to scholar
ship as does food to life : as he that eats lit
tle or nothing, just enough to sustain slotk or
snail existence, will reach only to pigmy site ;
so with study, for it alone can produce scholar
ship. The hungry boy asked for a breakfast,
and stood by the fire while the cooking pro
cess was going on, and was satisfied by the
savory odor of the dishes and refused to pay
for the meal : the magistrate to whom the
case was referred for adjudication, decided that
the boy should jingle his money in the cook's
ears as long as the other enjoyed the savor of
the dishes. But the poor cook was no richer
for some things, like money, have no power to
impart benefits by the tinkle ; it must be pos
sessed or does no good. If yau can enrich a
man by the jingle of money, so you may store
the mind with knowledge by imbitution with
out study.
But are there not self -made man ? True,
but they studied more diligently than 99-100
of your College boys: the illustration you
would borrow from this fact is against you :
it inculcates study, study, hard study all day,
most of the night. The theory of education
withoot study is deceptive and fallacious : it
is founded in ignorance and indolence. Do
you remember the little girl that was informed
by another how she always recited her lessons
so well, that she prayed for aid ; the girl waa
pleased with the theory, but made a splendid
failure and reproached the other for deceiving
her. Did you study your lesson ? " No, I
only prayed that I might recite well." If yon
depend upon your new invention, you will fare
as badly as the little girl.
This plan is a very accommodating one for
lazy boys and inattentive girls, who seem to
think the teacher is paid to think for them and
furnish them a good eduction, and the pay se
cures the object. But it is a sad mistake—tho
whole is so rotten that it does not deserve the
pains of exposure.
When a Railroad is constructed to run up
the Hill of Science, I may give credit to the
plausibility of the theory—not before ; for a
thorough education wilt be acquired by neither
—the one depends upon the teacher, the other
upon the enr'i; but as only footmen ever as
cend the Hill ; so students, studying boys and
girls, not imbibers, will have an education with
the name. The thirsty man must drink, not
depend upon imbibing moisture through the
pores ; be will die of thirst, and yoo, you pas
sive imbiber of knowledge, mil die *£ sgner-
SEES.—" PAM.VT," im Georgia Journal of Ed
ucation