DOLLAR PER ANNUM INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
TOWANDA:
Thursday Morning, November 1, 1863.
~
My Grandmother's Story.
| "Come uow, grandma, tell us a story," said
L L, ee , as she drew her chair near the old
Vv and took her little sister Barrie upon her
" Tell us a good long story about the
-ad old times when proud lords lived in glo
bus castles, high up ou the beetling crags ;
t,j their flaunting baauers waved proudly in
morning sunbeams, and the warder's call
[ wildly on the rushing breeze. I love to
Lur stories of those fine old days,when, when
Ll>s were all as one crown d queens; and gay
t -its and warlike lords knelt before them
lite verv slaves."
[ • >0 my love : I cannot tell you a tale of
e olden times to night. You can read plenty
['them in a few years Hut 1 will tell you a
[ me storv, such a one as transpires in our
irV midst,in the charmed experience of many
(:Drubbing heart, of whose inner life we know
kUhing. 1 will tell yon of one yon already
mow T a heart story of Margaret the
rusher-woman.'
' What, that silent, yet bustling old fudge?
jnnot see what yon can tell about her that
r , u s,i be like a story. We know her well
Dough, and she is always tue same always
'ork, working, and petting that l.ttle 'due
red fairy that is pretty enough to be a king's
Ughter, to be sure ; only >h wears such old
i-t off clothes. When we want a j-tory, We
now we want something grand, dreamv, ro
antic ; not the humdrum affaire of poor old
'liding washer women
"Ah, Ellen ; your twelve years wisdom
to teach y . that the history of such as old
i-gant cannot be interesting ; but as the
, v < of life are unrolled by the busy fingers
me. you will learn that the history of the
>j- the fearful, mysterious human heart, is
:ne in a measure, through all the varied
-cii* foldings of tbi* shadowy existence.—
.-.-•.ret has had her dreams —high, glorious,
.- rfnl dreams. I knew her in her joyous
jhood, when she was the pet of fond
L r.i, the idolized favorite of loving liroth
and sisters The sunny radiance of hap
f -sever smiled on the rosy lip 11. r dark
[j glanced in the bright beams of hope, for
•r-p rir's eve the world was bathed in
; rainbow splendor, and she dreamed not
1; sorrow could ever eflaee the glorious tints
......
>:i of her life's openimr sky. Everything
■ charm for her rivmig spirit ; when the
; naming i • >ked forth from his orient
n :<in*r away the d o k-had >ws that
the (lumbering world, the hap; y
| 1: ' with a son)? in iter heart to bleud
I ;ad gu<li of music that swelled on
; and the aspirations of her ador
■' < • *. npward to the throne 011 high
It* * nists that creep so silently up '
I" • idy vale or the bosom of the silvery
I • lie purer air that (lows aroint J the
I mountains. No dream of loveli
P -■*! eTer wooed almost to madness the
\ -J soul of the arti>t, was mere beautiful
right-eyed Margaret Clifton."
<w you are fooling n s ,granJma," laugh
vti L-e. " Imj'c it funny that yon slioui i
i mtk ng its believe that site was ever
hired my child, she was beautiful a a
.f in rniiisr, when the ?! irious hues of .
i.i are hoveriiisr around the half awak
i si* -t. Her dark eyes shone with the j
r.t ght of a lofty and poetic mind The
■;.<e that plajid in changeful blu-lies 011
. r round cheek, and the pure high brow
1 coined with waving cnrls of glossy
that danced in their silken softness to
■ 'h of the wooing zephyr. But she
- <>ed beauty of a loftier stamp that of
h : • - ><l features, rich tresses, or cora
y and rose. The high beauty of
■ hers; and through the good pro
ft it God sh J adored in her child
1 • •".ill lean? upon and worships in her .
still retains /A if beauty. She
s " ":1 in those voting days ; joyous as
1 *' -t floats upward on '.be wing of
■ r ""to pour the fuli tide of song on [
I waves of the atmosphere ; and
I tig the roseate clouds, the sweet
ft nas learned from the dreamy tones
•" v-v Sowers that haTe swayed mur
f-- Tto the cool breath of the summer
* Her spirit w&s attuned to mu s ic.
■ - :f the univ r-e met a response
"ing h-art Her soul leapt up to
F * '• c.uat ' the gale, as at rang through
r* * > tnies of the dark old fore-* 5 :
I ' ' .rig sympathy as the nighein
[• * *i erp'untive melody through the
f tr, *-d tf.ea. mtil the inanimate forms of
- ■ s- :aed vo-al with the low voiced echoes
V">.s they <-wept on viewless pinion 1
■ oy*::c cerulean, swel'ing the hr
r wmt hones of praise to Him whopmr
I- - iiy spr ; from on high to flood with
j g r'.h,—who studded the
I "'*r? of uight with gems of eternal
f.• 1 penciled with hues from the f
I.. 1 ' - " the gorgeous coronet of the
| .. 11 w&s a T ' s ion of beauty, in
I. **1 '* r;a i the personification of loveli-j
Cenl *l character. But thecharm
'** ttpon her, the bright, the
LY 1 - vet - The hi mi tread awhile in
r ae bowers 0 f dream
I y- 3 of hctnan excellence, "and sweet
| " er beauty that sets
| a: ° n the reverent brow jto dream '
11. l urea as, that wrap tlie yearn
... u e golden glo jof paradise ; and
v ** '" f -°ld. hard brush of reaiitv ap
-1 urinc . PWtore.and rainbow "tints
I- -f, P 2r pl e hues of morning
f the dark shadows 0 f the storm - f
t . as one of her pcre. romantic ra-
I ' - car oTe; and when she stood in
r"" i: ' --'J • re the shrine wnere hu
'*. - U .^ ir * or woe, DO |
I —*• thrcog bul beat more
I quickly a-i the solemn words were said whose
spell mu.-t last while the life si ream ebbs
through its mystic channels."
" O, now you are making a real love story
of it. Who would ever have thought of any
thing romantic in Maggie Nelson's history?"
" Much of the romantic abounds iu tha his
tory of every persou. Could we unclasp the
l sealed volume of the hearts that throb unnot
! od around us, we should read the tale of bliss
or woe, which is only saccessfully imitated by
writers of fiction."
"Imitated! Why do you really suppose
that people have such feelings aud sufferings
as we read off in stories 7"
" Stories of fiction are of course e.vaggera
tions. so far as the writers are concerned : vet
no human imagination can realise—llo pen
| however graphic, dilineute the sorrows that
i corrode the secret springs of life in many a
j heart that is veiled from us by a mautle of
| coldness and reserve. We seek the dreams of
imaginative writers to wile away the idle
hours, and forget in their perusal the hearts
that are suffering, wasting away uuder disap
pointment and fruitless exertions ; —that are
throbbing with anguish under our very eye.
and break : ng under concealed tortures for
which human language has no sign."
" But did she love uuworthily ? Was she
won like other silly damsels by a fair face and
fine speeches 7"
" No. Site made a good choice, so said the
world. Horace Nelson was one of the world's
favorities ; an only son, the beloved of his
father, the joy and pride of his mother and sis
ters. lie possessed talent of no common order,
had won the highest collegiate honors, and
had been admitted to practise at the bar with
a high reputation for foren-ic abilities. All
went brightly for awhile with Margaret. The
years swept by on happy pinions,and the young
wife became a happy mother. Aud when the
bright blue orbs of her young son looked smil
ingly upon her from day to day, she felt how
| grea*. was the responsibility resting upon her
glad and loving spirit to train him up for hap
piness, for honor, and high usefulness.
His morning had dawned brightly, but what
was the noontide of his life to disclose ?
Y ears passed on. and the mother's love and
priJe grew stronger 111 the heart of Margaret,
and so absorbed was she in the guidance of
that young immortal entrusted to her care,that
she failed at tir.-t to notice the occasional long
absence of the husband she adored. Hut as
t me sped by with noiseless wing her heart be
gan to fetl that a change had passed upou that
heart where her own reposed. t?he could not
own to herself that he, so loved, so trusted,
could fall from the l. gh place where her ador
ing soul had enshrined him ; but at last the
fearful truth was pressed upon her bleeding
heart, and she bowed her head in agony to the
painful assurance that her husband was a hope
less inebrmte.
Then come the long days of alternate hope
and tear ; the lonely night vigils which sorrow
held by the desecrated shrine ot wedded life ;
the biter tears of ho;.less mi> ry, that l in g
Ino relief to the breaking heart. Seasons of
weary neglect passed a Way ; the roses paled on
the cheek of that devoted wife, yet she still
hoped on—hoped even against hop, that the
hour of redemption might yet arr.ve, and the
1 idol of her young love be freed from the blight
ing eur-e that rested on h,s scul.
Cares pressed heavily upon her, other chil
dren clustered around her, —unhappy recipi
ents of a mother's hop ess love. Day by da v.
and year by year, that, 01.ee bright home grew
| dark ail gloomy \ and at last the spectre,
want, threw her baleful shadow over the
! circle ; and such wretchedness as cannot be
portrayed, was the bitter portion of Margaret
Who can imagine the agony—the darkness
and desolation that presses on the heart of the
lonely and neglected wife, as she sits throegb
lorg night honr. watching The radiant stars
'.ht shine coldlv on the.r thrones of light
while he who swore at the aitar to protect
and cherish while life should last, is debasing
the godlike intellect widen proves hp,a|ia to
the angels. How cfter. -lie knelt in her desola
tion. ami prayed that he who hashed To peace
the storm? waters of Galilee, would stiil the
wild tempest of sorrow, and once more bind
her brow with the galarndof peace. S.'ie had
removed with her husband to a distant city ;
her parents were dead, and their wealth had
passed into the hands of strangers. A sad lot
was hers, yet she never wavered in the high
faith which had shed a halo around her vouug
-pint ; and she walked humbly, trustingly,
though sorrowful ? along her wear? way,
striving with woman's hopeful love to shield
her boy from the contaminations of a large
city, liut her son wearied -f the dose,hot air
of the miserable rooms which poverty obliged
them to occupy. He must play in the clear
bright snnshme that glanced ou the flashing
waters, and drink in the pore breezes of heav
en, that came coed and fresh from the shim
mering seas, or wafted the aroma of blossoms
from the green fields and flowering sh-übs
O that some angel might meet the children of
the poor, when they congregate together In the
crowded streets of great cites George Xel
son had DO father ; no kind heart to watch
over his young footsteps, and lead his uctive
-p rit in the way that leafs to parity and peace.
Dearly as he loved his mother, and the little
sisters that looked sadly on him with their soft
bright eyes, yet the sight of their privation
was working a curse ou his sensitive spirit.
None can guess, save those who have wit
nessed the result, how wrong and sorrow can
warp the young -oul, and drag it down from
it loveliness and innocence. Disrespect, an
ger. itirtJ, took the piaee of that coufldiug
love, which is the child's only safeguard from
sin j and when George was eighteen he was
insured in the degradation of poverty, and no
stranger to toe mysteries of iniquity.
A deeper grief was wearing its mantle of
gloom for the sod of Margaret. Two of her
little ones sickened, and in a few days passed
frotn the darkness of their wretched borne, to
the bright garden* above, where argels train
the blossoming Tines in the fadeless bowers
that bloom on the banks of life's glorious river
Qogbt we to taonra thus sadly when the young
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH.
" REGARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUAF.TER."
immortals seek early their homes on the spirit
-Lore ? They escape the sorrows that blight
the trusting spirit—the low sad wail of misery
shall never thrill their young heat t-strings.for
they staud on the flowery margin of the crvstal
fountain of-life, and learn the glad song that
rings from the lyres of the blest, though the
lapse of eternal years.
Yet the head of that worn mother bowed
in bitter grief over those sweet young faces,
as they were laid on the coffin pillow ; and
her sou! yearned for that rest which they had
gained. Darker and darker grew the skv
above her, more desolate the wide world
nround. The Lusbaud to whom she had
plighted her soul's truth when life's young
morning smiled on the sweet flowers of hope,
and become a thing ot terror and scorn. The
light of intelligence that once lit up the beam
ing eyes, had given place to the rolling, va
cant stare of idiocy. The intellect that once
held the listening multitude in rapt admira
tion, had been shrouded in a pall of self deg
radation ; and he who had sworn before the
holy altar to to protect and cherish the
fair girl by his side, was now dependent upon
her labor for the scanty food which his abused
nature required.
In the frightful period when the pestilence
went abroad on destroying pinion, breathing
blight, and terror, aiike at noonday or at the
solemn midnight, Horace Nelson was among
the first who fell a victim to the terrible
scourge. When the holy stars looked quietly
down on the rippling waters, and the hushed
breeze scarcely woke an echo amid the silent
leaves, the dead cart bore from that miserable
home the once loving, high-souled man of hon
or, to ret in the pauper's burying ground.
Hut two days elapsed ere little Flora, the last
remaining daughter, was folded iu the mantle
of the shadowy angel, but the beauty that
crowned the other dying cherubs, and rested
ou their cold still lips, even in the coffin, was
not here. The distorted features, the lirid
hue, that characterizes the ftarful scourge,
made the mother turn in involuntary terror
from the face that had nestled so lovingly in
her bosom. She sur.k in despair almost, and
never >tirred when stranger hands bore forth
tii it blighted flower, to brighten no more the
dark pathway of her life. Hut when their
footsteps died avr.iv, and the wheels were
heard rumbling in the distance, she heaved a
quick gasping sigh, and said J*i:e one of old.
" The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken
away." Then the long sealed fountain of
tears welled forth, and the sore and throbbing
brain found relief, and the burdened heart at
lest grew still, baptized in the soothing dews
of I ire at. 1 hallowed trtt-t. Kneeling bv the
dutch of h.-rl i-t rcma : ning child, she silently
p utreii-oul her sorrows into the ear of Him
who w itches the young sparrows when they
full : and won out with sorrowful vigils with
the dead and dying, and wasted with hunger
and bitterness of spirit, she slept the weary
deep of exhau<tion. with her head resting on
the conch of her only son. II" awoke at
early dawn to find his mother reclining bv his
side. Remorse siuote that yonng spirit ;
young in years, yet too old in the blighting
experience that shrouds the life of the soul.
He wept the bitter tears of regret, shame, and
- row, as he thought of all site had suffered,
and ot his own misspent days. More sinned
agniu>t th in sinning, hough he knew it not)
wt.s that wretched lad who now saw the utter
de-o!atioit of tiiat mother who bad ever been
t,o him an angtl of kindnes
The stricken spirit struggled in that hour
of grey twilight to rr<e above the dark influ
enc s that had clouded the young heart's pure
trusting love, and noly innocence ; and die re
solved to break the data; bands that I ound
him d III to poverty, strong hopespru-g up
in his heart. He woclJ be a man, he would
strive with the world, and win for his poor
mother a home and a competence. Alas for
the requires of neglected childhood aud con
tamina rd youth. Few are the hands reached
forth a! the right moment to rescue the fall
ing spirit.
For c while ie strove to stem the tide of
oppo-ing influences, but the mother was sick
lor long mouths, and attended by the band of
charity, and the loueiy boy had none to cheer,
none to encourage hira, save outcasts like him
self. In that lonely period habits long begun,
had gained an influence over him which could
never be counteracted.
When Margaret arose once more from her
bed of sickucss, she yearned to come back to
the old place. It seemed to her sorrowing
heart that she could find somewhat of the hap
piness that biest her youth, if shi could hear
the winds ?ing again tarougb the apple boughs,
aud listen to the robin's c.rol among the cher
ry trees, or the whippoorwifl's plaint iu the
adjacent thicket. She pined for the sweet
breath of flowers that bloomed by the remem
bered window, where often she had watched
the mellow twilight fading from the archiug
sky, and gathered rich lessons of wisdom from
the opeii volume, tril gathering darkness veii-'d
the page. Through the long day- of her sick
r.e-s there had been intervals of bli-sfnl ease,
a ha f-conseiousness that deluded the fluttering
spirit with visions of the olden times, when sit
ting by her mother's side she breathed the rich
perfume of lilac or rose ; and listened with
rapture to the chant of the fresh breeze that
bore on its wings the wild moan of the waves,
and mingled its dying [cadence with the melody
of fore-l-lyres that floated from tnoantain and
valley, and rose in a harmonious swell like the
soug of the lute or the light-toned guitar.
Aud when her health was sufficiently restored,
she came by weary and toilsome stages, to this
p!eaant valley where her happy infancy aod
childhood had been passed. But poor Marga
ret found not the home she knew in the bright
days of youth. Strangers dwelt in the home
of her pareuts. The grove was gone to make
room few aew iaprcvemeuts, and the old time
worn church had been taken dowm, and a new
and imposing edifice stood in its place. And
when she entered the sauctnary of worship,
she feit indeed soe was a stranger. I
knew her wnen a young girl, and had been
present a: her weddmg . so wnea I heard of
her return, I sought her out, and extended to
her that friendship she so much needed.
Her son, by this time near twenty-two, was
a line looking young maD, and to us who knew
not the canker that bad preyed upon his heart,
bid fair to be the snpport aud consolation of
his mother's decliuingyears. In less than two
year 3 he led to the altar a fair young being,
beautiful as the spring time flowers, and also,
as frail. It was not long before the besettiug
sin that brings blight and rnin to HO many no
ble hearts—so mauy happy circles, began to
show its fearful influence. George Nelson lived
in that sweet little cottage just over the brook,
whose silvery song makes music through the
live-long night, aud its cocl, damp breath
gives a richer green to the shrubbery that half
hides the building from view. Oh, how often
our hearts ached at sunset, when we walked
over the little bridge, to spend a few moments
with the lone widow ; for in a little nook near
the brook-i-ide, sheltered by the interlacing
boughs that shut out the prying sunbtams, we
were almost sure to find the poor, pale Agnes,
looking wistfully toward the village. She
would smile—a faint, sad smile as I ap
proached her, and rise to go into the house
with me, talking all the while iu a merry
strain, cr ringing, may be, some light carol of
the olden time But I was not deceived. I
knew this feigned merriment was bat the
white foam that gatheres on the wave, that
seems so calm and still ; while far down, the
waters are fretting against the ragged rocks.
A few more months and Agnes lay on her
death-bed. Those small white hands, where
the delicate veins seemed like purple threads,
were thin and transparent and but for the
tracery of life's mysterious meshes would
scarce be noticed on the snowy counterpane.
Her life was slowly ebbing out, yet the spirits
concentrated iove beamed in her soul lit orbs,
and rested ever and anon npon a tiny hud of a
being that lay sleeping by her side. She had
looked for love, the high and pure ; she had
given her soul's adoration to one whom her
fond imagination had endowed with all noble
qualifies. She had made her an idol, and
bound it around vrith the tendrils of her own
heart, and gave it the ri'h incense of woman's
undying love. She found that idol clay, yet
hers was Dot a nature to bewail that worship.
So for a few short months she looked sadly
dut on the ever varying beauties of nature,
and then lay quietly down to find that rest in
the embrace ot the Savior, which human love
had denied her. That long tried mother stood
by her, consoling her in the solemn hour of
departure, and the young husband was there
too ; crushed and heart-broken by a sense of
his own sin. " 1 have murdered yon, Agnes,"
he cried in husky tones. " I have murdered
yon, my own life ; yet God knows how well I
have loved you. Uif you could live, I might
yet reform."
" Weep not forme, George," sail the young
mother in the low sad tones that speak of the
cold, dark grave. "Ro not accuse yourself :
yoa have aiways been kind to me. Never has
a frown, or au unkind word from you cast a
shadow on my heart. Remember love, we
shall soon meet, where the flowers are all
deathless, and the bright skies are never over
cast with clouds. Take little Margaret, for I
have named her after your mother ; cherish
her as a sweet blossom to remind you of me.
I >ha!l not forget von in the land to which I
go, end if the beings of that sphere are per
mitted to visit the scenes where the soul has
been gladdened, I shall come to you often,
though unseen ; and wait with joy to greet
yon on that starry shore."
" You will not wait lons. I cannot live
now. I have poisoned the cup of life for you,
and that corroding memory will soon wear out
the links of life's invsterious chain."
lie spoke but too truly. In three days Ag
nes was laid in the quiet mansion where earth's
weary ones forget their sorrows. One would
think the circumstances of health would exert
a restraining influence on the erring man ; but
sorrow and remorse increased the madness that
follows intemperance. Before little Margaret
was a year old, her wretched father filled a
drunkard's grave. Poor Margaret did uot
!>ear this ail unmoved ; she had been more or
less than woman if ihe bad. But she still
trusted in that God she had worshipped in her
youth—who adorns the green meadows with
the smiles of Lis love, —who beedeth the cry of
the famHung raven, and careth for the spar
rows of the field. 3he has lived for the lovely
littlo graudchiid, who is now the only link
that binds her to earth. To cultivate that in
fant mind—to iuspire it with a love for aii
things pore and beautiful—to lead it up to ma
turity in that trusting love which is a shield
and a support in the hours of human trial, is
her.highest ambition.
And she will go on in her secluded pathway
striving to fulfill her mission in the manner
most' acceptable to that Savior who toiled sor
rowfully over the du<ky thoroughfares of life,
to show ns the esceilencv of that life, which
iu humble trust leads us ever nearer the throne
where gash the pnre waters of spiritual peace.
All the bright dreams of her youth have fad
ed ; those yearnintr hopes which are the crown
of joy to woman 's heart so loog as she can
dream of their fulfillment, have been crashed
and blighted. Yet her faith in God has not
failed,aud she looks forward with joyfuil hope
to that glad morning when she shall rest from
earth's trials in the bosom of eternal love
Nor is her lot wholly noblest even here. Sym
pathy,and love and trust are meted out to her,
as to one of the noblest of sorrow's children.
Now from the simple story of poor Marga
set learn this troth : that a pure, loving, trust
ing spirit, is a talisman to sustain the sorrow
ing heart in the darkest boors of trial—that a
firm dependence upoa Him who site enthron
ed witbio the eirries of ineffable light, will
lessen the burden of poverty, wrong and woe,
aDd calmly lead the soul down the shadowy
vale to the portals which open to those gtori
ous realms where trnth enrolls ber star gemmed
banner on the cloudless air ; and the kind an
gel who wore on earth the pale lineament of
of sorrow, lifts her radiant brow to tbearehiDg
heaven that is bright with the glory of the
Father.
<£imeafiimal gtprtmtuf.
annual examinations for Teachers
for 1860, will be holden at the following times
and places, viz:
Nov. 1, at ihe Black house, Tuscarcra. *
Nov. 2, at the Merryall house.
Nov. 3, at the Ingham house, Wilmot.
Nov. 5, at the McGuyre house, Terry ; also
at the Frenchtown house, Asylum.
Nov. 9, at the Brown school house, for Al
bany and Overton ; also at the Stevens hon.-e,
Standing Stone, (at which last named place
the examination will commence at 11 o'clock,
a. m.
Nov. 7, at the borough house, Monroe ; al
so at the Herrickviile school house.
Nov. 8, at the borough house; for the To
wandas ; also at th'e Academy at Rome.
Nov. 9, at the Gore house for Sheshequin.
Nov. 10, at the Mversburg honse, Wysox.
Nov. 12, at the Varuey bouse, Franklin ;
also at the borough house for Hurlingtons.
Nov. 13, at the Taylor house, Granville ;
also at the center house, Sprintifield.
Nov. 14, at the center house, Leßoy ; also
at the Buruham house, Ridgbury.
Nov. 15, at the Corners house, for Canton
and Armenia ; also at the Gillett house, South
Creek
Nov. 16, at the borough house, Troy : also
at the Rowley house, Wells.
Nov. 17, at the Academy, Sraithfield ; also
at the Morgan Hollow house, Columbia.
The examinations will commence precisely
at 10 o'clock, A. M. No candidates will be
examined who do not come in before 11, un
less the tardiness be unavoidable. No person
will be inspected w ho does not intend to teach
in the conuty during the year, neither will any
be examined that have attended inspections in
other townships. Private examinations will
in no cane be granted, except in accordance
with the provisions of the school law, as found
on page 51. Each teacher will bring a Read
er, oue sheet of Foolscap Paper, pen and ink
Directors and parents are earnestly invited
to be present at the examinations in their re
spective townships.
C. R. COBCRN, Co. Sup't.
Towanda, September 4, 1860.
From the Educator.
School Grounds.
As 'lie time of opening schools is once more
returning, we hear much spoken of making
them attractive. But, however, muchmav he
said, there has stiil not been enough said. We
have many school-houses still, which are not
more attractive to scholars, than Cbefry Hill
pri>on is to its inmates, and into which thev
mu.-t consequently be driven by force. Much
of course depends on the teacher, in this re
spect, but stiil more on the directors. It is
their duty to furnish the school-room with the
necessary apparatus, whieh will never fail to
make it at leari in a measure, an attractive
place to study. But me thinks I hear Johnny
and Tommy and Jenny and a host of other say
we don't only come to study, we want to play,
and have a place to play too. Here we have
the secret then, the scholars do not wish to go
to school, because they have no place to play.
There can be no necessity for me to say any
thing of the justice of this claim, nor of the
benefit arising therefrom. But the great thing
seems to be a place, sufß -iently near the
school, where the scholars have the opportu
nity cf enjoying* their hours of c port. In
travelling over the greater part of Fennsylva
uia.we find nearly all our school houses situat
ed at such places as to be entirely unfit for
soch a purpose. For inrtance near a creek or
some other body of water, which softens the
ground to such a degree as to render it entire
ly unfit for cultivation or habitation : or pro
bably on a tract of land so rocky that the
squirrels have difficulty ia crossing it ; or
very likely two roads meet somewhere, cutting
off a piece of ground nearly the whole of forty
feet square ; or a steep bill somewhere ; npon
which you will snrely find a school bouse.—
Wby is all this this? simply because school
directors are afraid a fine situation costs too
much, and their school tax might be raised a
few cents thereby. They will cause rivers of
tears to flow from the eyes of their own chil
ren, as well as from those of all the inhabi
tants of the distiict, merelv for the sake of
saving a few dollars as they think,but in which
they are greatly mistaken. Kvery pennv ex
pended for proper school grounds is a dollar
from the Doctor's bill and w ill bear a hundred
per cent, interest to all who invest it. Scholars
are able to stody tw ice as much if they can
exercise proper!} during the hours of piay than
if they are deprived of this necessary requisite
to the student O. do not deprive cur scholars
of something wh eh they need as much as the
food which sustains their lives ! Let school
directors, if they want to save money, have
healthy and intelligent scholar*, advance their
schools, and confer a blessing on their posteri
ty ; select the roost pleasant spot which they
can find whereon to erect the " Peoples
College." Then after the house it built, plant
trees, lay out flowe? beds, end beaatify it io
every possible manner, and schoiars will soon
love their place of instroctioo, their t?ste will
be healthy, Tigoroo*. intelligent and happy,and
directors will have done their duty,and not ere
this done, wili the object of Con srnou schools
have been accomplished. R. K. B.
A WORD TOBOTS. —The learned Blacksmith
says, " Boys, did yon ever think that this
great world, with all its wealth and woe, with
all its nwne9 and oorrotaios, ocean*, seas and
rivers, with ati its shipping, its steamboats,
railroads, and magnetic telegraphs ; with all
its millions af darkly groping men, and all the
scresce and progress of ages will soon be given
over the haods of the boys of the present age?
boys like yoo, assembled in school rooms, or
playing withoot them, or both sides of the
Atlantic ? Believe it, and look abroad npoo
ynnr inheritance and g-et ready to enter upon
its possession. The Kings, Presidents, Gove
rnors, Statesmen, Philosophers, Ministers,
Teachtrs.Mes oftba fctare, ail are boys,*nose
VOL. XXI. NO. 22
feet like yours, canuot reach the floor, when
seated on the benches upon which they are
learning to master the monosyllables of their
respective languages Teacher's Adcocile.
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
—Pennsylvania has spoken in thunder tones in
behalf of the Union, of Industry, of Freedom.
Her people have met at the combined hosts
of sectionalism, diaunionism, free trade aud all
others who sought markets for their suffrages,
and a majority of 32,000 for Governor,twenty
Congressmen, and more than two thirds of
each branch of the Legislature,attest the fidel
ity of our State to the integrity of our institu
tions, and the common prosperity of our coun
try.
Indiana, Ohio and Minnesota have joined
the Keystone State in demanding that sectional
discord, wanton profligacy, and the desolation
of the National Government.
The decisive battle has been fought—a
nation ba3 been redeemed from disunion and
dishonor by the verdict of Tuesday last.
The issue was made by our foe 3 and accepted
by our friend?, and millions to day greet the
triumph as the unerring harbinger of our
national disentbralment. •
Let the friends of the right not be content
with an ordinary victory—Abraham Lincoln
can be called to the Presidency by a clear
majority of the people of the United States,
if all who shall rejoice at his coming wili bnt
cast their suffrages for him. To that Majority
Pennsylvania can and will contribute full fifty
thousand. We have but to be faithful to oaf
great cause, and it is done. Let every man
at his post on the great day, and the largest
majority ever given in Pennsylvania to a Chief
Magistrate wjll be cast on the 6th of Novem
ber for Abraham Lincoln,for Union, for Free
dom, for Fraternity ! A. K. MCCLCSE.
Chairman People's State Committee.
People's State Committee Rooms, Phila
delphia, October 11, 18G0.
GEN". Scon's SNAKE STORT. —Daring a din
ner given by Fernando Wood in his Mayoralty
of New ork, in 1555, Gen. Scott, who was
present, having beeu toasted, was called upon
for his rattle-snake story. It seemed, that,
daring the Florida campaign, the General and
his s'aff were quartered for a night in a rough
building constructed from the ground, and the
door open at various places. Scarcely had the
preparations for bivouac been completed,when
a noise from below of rattling told conclusive
ly that rattlesnakes had their bivouac on the
ground under the floor Indeed, they were
soon suen from above as a goodly battallion.—
" I went outside and measured with my eyes,"
said Genera! Scott, " the beight of the floor
from the ground, and saw at once I was be
yond reach, by about two inches, of the tall
est rattlesnake ever known. I knew as a bey
from experiments, that the rattlesnake never
jumped or darted. He stood up as far as he
could reach C ily a: d then bit. I returned and
told the officers that I intended, nevertheless,
to sleep ou the floor, and pronounced it safe.
But they left me alone in my glory, with my
martial cloak around me—a temporary Sir
John Moore—while they camped outside.—
Indeed, I rather enjoyed the discomfiture of
the snakes as they rattled me to sleep, and
vainlv tried to reach the holes in the floor."*
AN* UTVPI.F.ASANT BEDFELLOW.— The Rap
pahartnook (Va.; Southerner says : "On Mon
day nijrht last, after retiring, we were aroused
by feeling something moTe in onr bed, appar
ently between the sheet and tbe ticking.—
Thinking it to be a mease, we arose, lighted a
candle and commenced examining around the
bed, and roach to our surprise, and horror,
we perceived a hooded adder glide from the
bed and disappear mysteriously. On Tuesday
afternoon, while sitting in oar sanctum, we
heard the venomous reptile in a waste paper
box, and with some trouble end great danger,
we succeeded iu ousting him from his quarters
and qa'cklj dispatching him His snakeship
measared 3ft Bin. in lenuth, and 4 in. ia
diameter, and had we been bitten, death would
have ensued in a few bour3. This is no snake
story —the curious can see the reptile banging
in onr office.
GFTEIT EASTERN*. —A fatality seems to at
tend the Great Eastern ; onlccky in its launch
ing, uuiocfey in its trial-trip, deprived of its
captain by an unfortunate accident, mismanag
ed to the port of New York, and grossly mis
managed in its Cape May trip.its entire career
thns far has been excedingly unfortunate It
was advertised to leave for New York on tbe
19th ult., but its psrotl ill-lock attends it. Its
coal conld not be got en beard in time, while
to add to tbe chapter cf accidents, its propel
ler is said to be much out of order as to inter
fere with its making a successful voyage.
*3~A Juryman was asked whether be had
been charged by the judge. " Well," said he.
" the little fellow tbet sits up In the pulpit and
stares over the crowd gh? as a lecture, but I
don't knew whether be charges anything or
not."
Car*A pedagogue was about to flog a pupil
for having said he was a 1001, when tbe boy
cried out, " Oh. don't ! I won't call yoa so
any more—l'll never sty ir/izt I trunk again
in cH tbe days of my life."
OaF*'Landlord." said a pedasrogue some
what given to strong libations, " I would like
a quantum of spirits, a modicum of molasses,
in conjunction with a little water—bat deal
largely with spirits, thou man of miiturea."
GaT" I wish" said a beautifol wife to a stu
dious husband, " I wish I was a book." " I
wish you were an Almanac,' replied her lord,
" and theD I would get a new one every year."
Just then the silk rustled !
best deEnition we ever heard of
41 hearing FALSE witness against TOOT n: : ;hbor,"
was given by a little girl in school. She said
it was when nobody did nothing and soose
•body went and told of i\