W E DOLLAR PER ANNUM INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
TOWANDA :
Thursday Morning, August 15, 1861.
clecttb Calt.
(From Harper s Weekly.]
" Cool Conover."
A REVOLUTIONARY TALE OF MONMOUTH.
" >'o Amos, no—l am uot cruel ; not hard
! Br ted 1 would not injure you for the
orld-you who have been only good to me
B „dmine; and for that very reason 1 would
tell vou the plain truth. Ido not understand
'tall when you tell me of this fearful
Jove • all your pleadings only frightens me.
J lave we not been as brothers and sister all
our lives 7 Why should you feel so differently
toward uie now? Mother says you are an,
other son to her since William went to the
nrmv Why can't you stay at home where
we need vou* so much, mid be the same dear,
rood brother to me you have always have
been? Tis you who are hard heal ted and
cruel to say that I make YOU go away when I
don't want you to go at all."
I don't blame you Alice, but I must
? o. I've thought of you with every hand's
iuru I have done here for so long ll at I could
not bring the cows from the meadow lot, or
rodown to the spring there for water, with
out being minded of you every step. Even
has your name on her, and I couldn't
I jjiiit it out nohow. 1 could uot go on here
mthe old way without the old hopes and
thoughts about you. It always seemed to me,
Alice,just as though it was natural and right
for you to love me—just as though, when times
comes right again, we'd be married and—"
" There, don't talk so any more, Amos. I
at't feel as you do, and 1 don't want to, ei
ar. 1 would do anything iu the world to
| ire vou stay at home aud be reasonable as
.ought to, but I can't be sentimental. I'll
• ;alor you, but love you in that way I can
tut. 1 don't know how and that's the end
of it.
Much longer the young people talked to
gether, but " the eud of it was as the maiden
nail said ; and so Amos Conovn went away
to share the hardships and glory of those men
I who suffered through the frigid winter in
I Valley Forge, anu an after summer on the
I scorching plains of Mot.mouth. At long inter-
I sals the families at Ileal would hear some
I word of li tin, and ever that he was forroost
I among the many brave. Who so daring as
I those unhappy ones without hope to make life
Bikar ? When Amos left Deal he bitterly
B'wight he cared uot if he never saw home
■ oiu.
Twas nearly two ypars after young Connver
loiue when William Heiidrickson —Al-
■ brother—returned on leave, and bring-
news that Amos had been promoted.
H.:-: was to have a company as soon us he at-
HtaiMd his majority, anil that he had earned
■ li/W honors. llis name was always offered
Bien volunteers were called for services of
■tliculty and danger ; ami his longshore ed-
Bntiou in habits of endurance, his hardihood
■ >.: self reliance, rendered him peculiarly ca
llable of acting where instant ability and cool
I courage alone could snatch success from the
Ittrvjaws of the threatening destruction. Willi
I the natural instinct of youth ciiugiug tp life,
I lie would sometimes shrink from an unusually
B ha/.urdous undertaking ; but at such moments
II desperate memory of Alice would urge him
lon. and thinking, " I know she'll be sorry if
llucvtr coute back," he would dash eagerly
Bforward into the most reckless exploits. And
B*htn, returning from some perilous scout,
I 1 glided quietly in am >ug his companions
■ round the camp-fire, their earnest welcome
Hindsiucereprai.se only made him long for wel-
I .'iae and praise which could not be his.—
B .'eu the commendations of the chief lost half
Httir value because they could uot be heard
H*W. " Would she care to know they
% brave ?" This question, always recur-
H"land always despartugly answered, stirred
■ heart of the young so'dier continually,
■ 'bating him to new deeds of heroism, until
I tool Couover" become known to friends and
■ *•, a* the impersonation of skill and dar
H During the ra-morablc spring of 1778, the
I tfeesof Sir Henry (Jliuton entered New Jer
■*J, whither they were immediately followed
B - The light troops of the
■ ' -'•itiueutal urtuy.especially the '"Jersey Blues"
H'-e very active, iu harrassing the enemy,
■ ••LUG oif his foraging parties and pluuder
lu? hands of Kneiphauseu's Hessians. Often
■ >a °Bvnthe minute tneu of Monmouth won d
■"t their homes, for the first time in
Honly to defend them against the ma
bug attacks of those Herman troopers.
■ bur young Captain and his little command
■ r L' Uot idle at this time .of need. Hardly
|" J ° Jau expedition leave the Hessian camp
■ secretly that those watchful ones would not
■ ' * ot it. llardly could the troopers move
or quietly that a small but gallant
I' w wli] uot dash in upon them and prevent
■ contemplated mischief, or at least avenge
I-. ? lUc ' ta,1 d rescue the prisouers. So often
■ • '. youug Jerseymau send the moss-troo-
HJJJ, "? ln l? houte, burdened with hard knocks
Blirl i °i' ' )00, I r ' l h a t the whole K ueipbausen
Hiot, •• ' ttr dread the name of " Cool
Bia Tfcr ' ° r " kovcuboveu," us they called
■ jjV 1 "* the Right succeeding the battle of
r Menry Clinton withdrew from
RLi !* JMlluu ou the battle grouud, and retreat
li ' J * au l the sea board. Washington also
northward, leaving the New Jersey
m^ enl, u "der Ueueral Dickeuson.to watcii
of the enemy. Divided into small
■tfbis ""Spaftie* they coveted the whole line
B'Mt® carrying out that harrassing
I- inr i' ti4t "'' cs theu scorued by the regulars,
■Hted i ? Um , e ° f " busb tight'ug." But since
I Thai r beBt ttruiles °f the world.
P U ' B Couover was a leader iu this
t>'-'E:ce we may be sure, as usual, the
THE BRADFORD REPORTER.
Hessians were the objects of his special atten
tion.
Kneiphausen's dragoons formed a part of
Cliutou's rear-guard, and their raids in every
direction were punished with a promptness aud
severity which exasperated them to the last
degree. Many an old farmhouse bears wituess
yet to the sharpuess of these struggles.
At noon, on the second day of their march,
the dragoons halted near Eatontown. On re
suming the route, a detachment of about sixty
men deployed from the main body and turning
off southwards towards Long Branch. Front
his lookout, near at baitd.Conover distinguish
ed the buff facings of a Continental officer's
uniform in their midst. Unwilling to spare a
single man from service which were needed
more than all, he resolved to follow them
alone. Deputing the command to his lieuten
ant, he set out, with a grim smile of determin
ation, to cope, single-handed, with sixty well
armed ruffians, nearly every one of whom had
cause to hate him bitterly.
Familiar with every foot of the ground he
easily kept near the troops, sometimes gaining
an advance by crossing corners, and lying in
wait for them to pass ; sometimes far in the
rear, when the open country afforded him no
j shelter The prisoner he recoguized as Lieu
j tenant-Colonel Reynolds, of New York, who
had beeu missing since the day of battle.—
! Amos rightly supposed they were hastening
to embark him on hoard the 11.8 M sloop of
A'ar Vulture known to be in the offing as the
i advance guard of Lord Howe's fleet.
As they drew near the sea boards.whore old
home land marks grew more and more frequent,
and occasional glimpse of the Atlantic stirred
up old home memories, his indignant hatred of
the hireling invaders became almost uncontrol- j
lable. He could scarce restrain his impulse |
to fire on them,- and then spring iu and lay '
about liirn rirht and left.
Instead ot stopping, as he had expected at |
Long Branch, they kept ou toward Deal; and
his thoughts, which until now had been for ;
the prisoner, turned with breathless anxiety to
his home and to tiers. lie sought in vain for
an opportunity to hasten forward and warn his
friends of the near danger ; the road was en
tirely clear—running through level fields for
miles, and 'twas onl v with the greatest difficul
ty he contrived to keep covered in the rear.
On arriving at Hendricksou's Lane the dra
goons stopped, and after consulting together j
a moment, turned in—apparently attracted bv j
the sleek cattle in the meadow lot. With a i
smothered groan Amos watched them ; hardly I
had the last man disappeared behind the hedge j
w hen ho sprang into the field and crouching j
along a dry ditch, followed at half pistol shot.
As they turned into the doorway of her house,
he gained the shelter of a haystack, and peer
ing out, he saw Alice come out, startled by
the tramp of horses. Lovlier than ever she
had grown in the years since they had parted.
Even the brutal dragoons ure awed by this
vision of virgin beauty, and approached here
with certain respect. She evidently did "not
understand their demands which were repeat
ed to her mother in such threatening manner
that the prisoner immediately interfered ! A j
blow from the back of a sabre stretched him
upon the lloor, where he was bound and then •
lashed fast to one of the pillars of the piazza. ;
This cruelty, intended to strike terror to j
the hearts of the defeueeless women, excited
only indignation and abhorrence. When one
of the Hessians speaking a little English coin- |
matidcd, with much blustering and cursing,
that the cows should be brought up and milk
ed for tliem, Alice rau to the bars and stood
before them in defiant attitude, declaring that
not a single animal should be touched while
she lived. How little did she dream that, :
within ten yards, Amos Couover lay conceal
ed—trembling with loving admiration and fear
for her.
Poor child 1 The troopers only laughed at
her display of courage, and were soon in the
meadow driving the herd towards the baru.
The lirst that came up was a fine white cow,
which Amos remembered as a net heifer when
he left home. She was the favorite still, and
as she passed, Alice threw her arms around
the poor creature's neck, and cried as though
her heart would break. The English-speaking
Hessian came to put a bridle rein on the cow's
iiorus, andjliercely ordered Alice away. Put
she clung to her old friend begging that this
one might be spared, though the rest of the
herd oe taken. With a savage oath the doom
ed man seized her arm, and throwing her to
the ground struck her with the end of the bri
die. In an instant a rifle ball crashed through
his brain ; and as other troopers rushed for
ward, laying violent hands 011 Alice, Cool Con
over was among them—not cool now, but
seething and boiling to the tips of his fingers
with burning raire. His clubbed rifle, whirl
ing in swift circles around his head ; protect
ing h:m e f fritn the sabres, aid filling a foe
at each down swoop, now on one side, now on
the other, Amos was no mean match for a
dozen frightened marauders. But how raauy
oue mau prevail twenty —ay, in a moment
against fifty heavily armed dragoons. The
consternation produced by his suddeu appear
ance aud his terrific blows, brings to our hero's
mind and wild thought—to catchup Alice and
fly while he may ; but already 'tis too late.—
Hemmed in on every side, borne down by
weight of numbers he is overpowered, disarm
ed, and pinioned with a saddle girth.
1 suppose I ought to say here that Alice
had became insensible ; but as she did not do
anything of the kind, truth forbids my making
such statement. On the contrary, she main
tained such control of her faculties,that know
ing the esteem in which Amos was held by
Hessians, she repressed the joyful exclamation
which rose to her lips, and did not allow hei
self to recognize him by word or deed.
Not so considerate was Colonel Reynolds.
No sooner was Auios brought near him than
he cried out, in astonishment, "Good Heavens
Cool Conover, as I live I"
CoolConover! " Kalt Kovenhoven !" How
the words flew among the troopers! " Had
they really caught him ?" They could scarce
credit their good fortune, old veterans of the
fight comiDg to peer into his yoothful face
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E 0. GOODRICH.
with incredulous wonder. Half-wild with de
light, they dragged him out upon the grass,
and went dancing round him with barbaric
yells of triumph The horses even were brought
to see, iu the hour of his fall, the man who
had caused them many a hard gallop.
Since the discovery was made and beyond
remedy, Alice uo longer avoided her old time
lover, but sought to be near him and comfort
him whenever she was allowed to. She blamed
herself greatly for being the cause of his cap
ture ; she would never cease to regret bringing
him to harm. Then she reproved his termeri
ty, the admiration of her eyes believing the
words of her mouth the while. There certain
ly was uo need that she should embrace him
while talking with him,especially as he couldn't
return the compliment. Perhaps she thought
to protect him from the Hessian sabres, or
perhaps was weeping on his shoulder. Not a
bit of it. She was thinking how he might
escape, and telling him of her plans.
" I'll set the bam on fire," she says ; " and
the moment their attention is directed by that
I'll cut this baud and you cau be off on one of
tlieir horses."
" No, Alice, bless your dear heart ! They'd
oidy murder you if I get away. You try and
take your mother over to our house, and any
silver or such like that you cau carry handy
Then get a team over there if you cau, aud all
drive down to Cedar Islaud."
" I'm coming back to help you, Amos."
" No, no, dear girl, you must not. If there
is any chance you may be sure I'll try it ; but
if they fouud you helping me they would shoot
us both in a minute."
Fortunately for their composure,these young
people did not understand the amiable diseus
; siou going in around them. The Hessians
j were divided iu opiuiou as to whether they
i would hack their captive to pieces where he
j stood, each ia rotation giving him a cut, or
. hang him to the nearest tree. The argument
: for hanging finally prevailed, hanging being
considered the most degrading death.
Ttte growth of wood about Deal being most
ly small cedars, the troopers could find uo tree
suitable for their purpose except on the far
side of Poplar Creek, a quarter of a mile dis
tant. To the creek, theTi, they took their way,
tweuty men marching iu advance ; next the
fated prisoner, with a guard of half a dozen on
each side ; then the rest of the men—about a
score—bringing up the rear.
Poplar Creek, like most others 'long shore,
is very deep except just at the mouth, where
it widens out aud pours across the beach into
the sea, a broau shallow stream. The proces
sion, accordingly, passed dowu the creek to the
shore where they prepared to cross with pre
cise military ceremony. First, the tweuty in
advance were ordered over, and when they
were in positiou ou tie other side, the prison
er and his twelve keepers entered the stream,
thus keeping each bank guarded while tlx.
pri.-oner was crossing—a very wise disposition
uo doubt, but one just calculated to uffurd tit
daring 'longshoreman a chance to escape. No.
was he slow to perceive and improve it. When i
in the middle of the stream he contrived to !
stumble agaiust the tneu next him, on the off:
shore side, and threw two of tliem without fall
ing himself. During the confusion incident to
tlieir struggling and sputtering iu the water,
with a mighty effort he burst his bauds and
was off, far out in the boiling surf.
After the Dutch bewildered astonishment
had subsided the first impulse was to fire on
the bold swimmer. A dozen ineffectual shots
were tried, and then the captain concluded it
was only a waste of powder. They would have
the pleasure of seeing him nearly drown, and
then lie would wash ashore to be hung alter
all.
It certainly did soem impossible that any
hnman being could exist ia the serf that day.
The wind had been blowing a gale from the
southward and eastward, and the brakers roll
ed iu over the bar higher than a two story
house. But to Cool Couover the chances were
not so utterly desperate as they seemed. Fa
miliar with the spot from childhood, he un
derstood well all its dangers and all human
means of overcoming them For the rest he
trusted to Providence. Swimming with all his
strength, he would dive iuto the middle of each
wave as ho met it, and gaining a little as it
passed over him, would take a long breath and
be ready for the next one. And so, more than
half the time deep buried in the water, he
strove manfully ou determined to drown rath
er than go back. Two or three times his
brain whirled round, and the blackness of
darkness came over hitn before his hard-tried
limbs could force him through the solid water.
Buffeted and dashed about, in spite of his best
efforts, by the coming seas, had uot spirit and
flesh been strong aud resolute the Hessians
might have hung his body yet.
But at last, weary aud worn, in sad plight
indeed, he did pull through. In still water
outside the bar, having divested himself of his
coat and boots, he could float with only his
nose aud mouth above water and rest in com
parative comfort. His trials were uot yet over,
however. If he proposed to wait and land
under cover of night he ntnst have felt that his
situation was hopeless. As the leugtheued
shadows slowly gathered into twilight he could
see the dragoons extending their line up aud
down shore, evidently intending to bivouac on
the sand. Now swiming in a little way as the
first breaker buoys him tip, he can sec them
gathering wood for their camp fires. The
captain has a field glass and is looking off,
watching for the Vulture perhaps. Amos
wishes she would staud in and pick him up —
there might be a chance of exchange. Now
there is a hurried movement down shore and
bugle calls to arms. What can it be ?
Far away to the southward a little speck,
at oue moment dancing feather like on the top
most crest of a wave, the next lost in the
trough of the sea. A bit of drift wouldn't ride
so light as that ; surely it must be a boat ?
And with rapid stokes hand over hand, the
lone swimmer also hurried dowu shore. But
soon he is forced to stop breathless ; and float
ing waits the approach of the little object slow
ly drawing near. It is indeed a boat; a tiDy
crescent shaped, canoe like surf, lapstreaked,
" RESARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER."
of thin narrow cedar boards, and weighing
hardly more than a hundred pounds. Amos
knows all this iu a moment. That skiff was
built by his hands. 'Tis his owu little boat,
bearing Alice's Dame, the uame he couldu't
paint out DO how. And God bless her ! Alice
herself holds the oars.
With flying curls, and head over shoulder,
she watches the tremendous seas as they come
1 thundering in, threatening instant destruction
to her frail bark. But, guided by her steady
; hand, the good skiff springs lightly up, high
up the almost perpendicular wall of water,
' lingers an instant on its foam-crowned crest,
1 then with a dart, like the swoop of au osprey,
1 shoots down the far side.
Amos waves his haud and tries to shout. —
I His breath is almost gone, and from his throat
! filled with salt water, comes only a gurgling
! moan. No matter, he has secu her and she
knows it.
They have 6ecn her too from the shore.—
The valliant Hessians were drawn up in battle
array. The enemy is in sight—a defenseless
I girl—out on the heaving ocean, alone in an
j open boat. Courage, brave soldiers, fifty car
i bines strong. Steady iu the rauks now. "Make
j ready ! Take aim ! Fire.
Two or three scattering shots answer the
! command. They might as well have fired at
a swallow on the wing us at that soaring, div
| ing little egg shell, tossing on the long seas.
For humauity's sake, let us believe that most
of the troopers emptied their pans, and uot,
as they assert, that the ocean spray has damp
ened their powder.
Alice does not even know of the kind mes
sages the Hessians are sending after her. Ev
ery uerve sharp braced, every fibre leuse with
exertion, the noble girl sees only the corning
waves—hears only their hollow roar as they
dash upon the sand. The least turn of an oar
might swamp her boat, aud leave her—broth
er to drown. She did not once turn her head,
but with steady, well timed strokes slowly
; draws near to him. Though almost exhausted
| he swims iuto the self to meet her.' She sees
| him coming, and waits in the trough as he is
! thrown towards her by a curling wave. He
grasps the quarter rail as she leans far over
the other side to balance his weight as he elam
bers in. But the wave lifts the light boat
away from him, aud his strength is all gone.
| For the first time Alice pales with alarm.—
What cau she do ? If she but tnove toward
i him, the canoe will turnover, ar.d both be lost.
Her despair is complete when she sees him
loose first one haud, then the other, and drop
into the sea. The next moment, however, his
face appears above the sternsbonrd, smiling
eucouragiugly. Clinging to the board, he di
rects her, in hoarse, choaking whispers, to poll
over the bar. How gladly she bends to the
work ! The little boat does uot lift quicker
to a sea than her heart to his grasping words.
'Tis a weary pull, towing a utau's weight so
far Those poor arars do ache terribly. But
when they reach still water, when she can at
last ship the oars, she springs to the stern
locker and her strength is renewed as her hands
touch his, cold aud iuauimate though they are.
She almosts lifts him iuto the boat, where he
sinks down, limp and lifeless enough—dear in
deed to the alternative which he chose rather
than hanging.
Oh for a girl, iu these days, with the fore
thought which placed iu the boat a heavy coat
and the stores'a hall drowned mat: might need.
Thanks to 6ttch cousidcrateness, and to the
kindest ministrations, Amos soon revived, and
in an hour was pulling lustily up-shore, by
light of the stars. That he was not. much the
worse for his long bath I infer from his march
ing back to Deal that night, surprising the
Ilessiaus witli force enough to put them utter
ly to rout, rescuing Col. Reynolds, and saviug
his home and ti:rs from pillage.
I know not what change may have come to
the heart of Alice Heuiirieksou during that
night on the sea, but certain it is she bacame
the wife of Amos. Ttieir story was told to the
writer hereof, by their son, Captain Beit Con- j
over, the brave old wrecker of Deal.
[From the New York Evening Post.]
Adventure of a Spy.
I have lately returned from the South, but
my exact whereabouts in that reigor, for ob\i
ous reasons, it would not be politic to state.
Suspected of being a northerner it was often to
my advantage to court obscurity. Known as
a spy, " short shrift" and a ready roap would
have prevented the blotting of this paper.—
Hanging, disguised, on the outskirts of a
camp, mixed with its idlers, laughing at their
jokes, examining their arms, counting their
numbers, endeavoring to discover the plans
of their leaders, listening to this party aud
pursuing that, joining iu the chorus of a song,
betting ou rebel success, cursing abolitionism,
reviling Lincoln, traducing Scott, extolling
Beauregard, despising northern lighters,
luughiug at their tactics and sueeriDg at their
weapons, praisiug the beauty of southern
belles and decrying that of Dortheru, calling
New York a den of cut-throats, and New
Orleans a paradise of immaculate chivalry, is
but a small portion of the practice of my
profession as a spy. This may not seem hon
orable nor desirable. As to the honor, let
the country that beuefits by investigations and
warnings of the spy be judga ; and the dan. er,
often iucurred, is more serious aud personal
than of the battle-field, which may, perhaps,
detract from its desirability.
It was a dark night not a star on the glim
mer I had collected my quotum of inte ligence,
and was on the move for the uorthern lines.
I was approaching the bank 6tream whose
waters 1 had to cross, and theu some miles to
traverse before I could reach the pickets of
our gallaut troops. A feeling of uneasiness
begun to creep over me ; I was on the out
skirts of a wood fringing the dark waters at
my feet, whose presence conld scarcely bo de
tected but for their sullen murmurs as they
rushed through the gloom. The winds sighed
in gentle accordance. I walked forty or fifty
yards along the bank. I then crept on all
fours along the ground aud groped with my
hands I paused—l groped again—my
breath thickened, perspiration oozed from me
at every pore, and 1 was prostrated with hor
ror ! I had tnis9ed my landmark and knew
i not where I was. Below or above, beneath
the shelter of the batik, lay the skiff I had
hidden, ten days before, when I commenced
j my operations among the followers of Jeff
1 Davis.
1 As I stood gasping for breath, with all the
unmistakable proof of tny calling about me.
| the sudden cry of a bird or the plunging of a
fish, would act like maguetism on my frame,
uot wont to shudder at a shadow. No matter
how pressing the danger may be, if a man
sees an opeuing for escape he breathes with
freedom. But let him be surrounded by dark
ness, impenetrable at two yards distance,
within rifle's length of concealed foes, for what
knowledge he has to the contrary ; knowing
too, with painful accuracy that detection of
his presence would reward him with a sodden
aud violeut death, and if he breathes uo faster
and feels his limbs as free aud his spirit as
light as when taking a favorite promenade,
he is more fitted for a hero that I am.
In the agony of that moment —in the sud
dru aud utter helplessness, I felt to discover
my true bearings—l was about to let myself
gently into the stream and breast its current,
for life and death. There was no alternative.
The northern pickets must be reached iu safe
ty before the morning broke, or I should soou
be swinging between heaven and earth from
some green limb of the black forest iu which
I stood.
At that moment the low, snlleu bay of a
blood hound struck my ear. The souud was
reviving ; the fearful stillness brokeu. The
nncertaiu dread fled before the certain dan
ger. I was standing to my middle iu the
shallow bed of the river, just beneath the
juttiug bauks. After the pause of a few sec
onds 1 began to creep,mechanically and stealth
ily, down the stream, followed, as I knew
from the rustling of the grass and freqneut
breaking of a twigs, by the insatiable brute ;
although, by certain uneasy growls, I felt as
sured he was at fault. Something struck
against my breast. I could not prevent a
slight cry from escaping me as strctcbiug out
my hand I grasped the gunwale of a boat
moored beueath the hank. Betweeu surprise
aud joy I felt Jltalf choked. In an iustant I
had scrambled on board ar.d begun searching
for the paiuter in the bow, iu order to cast her
from her fastenings.
Suddenly a bright ray of moonlight—the
first gleam of hope in that night !—fell direct- |
1 y on that spot, revealing the silvery stream, |
my own skiff, (hidden there ten days before,) I
lighting the deep shadowy of the verging
wood, and ou the log half buried in the bank, I
aud from which I bad that iustant cast the
liue that had bound me to it, the supple form
of the crouching blood hound, his red eyes
gleaming in the moonlight, jaws distended aud i
poising for the spring. With one dart the j
light skiff was yards out in the stream ■
and the savage after it. With an oar I aimed
a blow at his head, which, however, he eluded
with ease. In the effort thus made the boat
careened over toward my antagonist, who
made a desperate effort to get his fourpaws
over the side, at the same time seizing hole of
the gunwale with his teeth.
Now or never was my time to get rid of the
accursed brute. I drew my revolver and placed
the muzzle between his eyes, but hesitated
to fire, for that one report might bring on me
a volley from the shore. Meantime the
strength of the dog careened the frail craft so
much that the water rushed over the side,
threatening to swamp her. I changed my tac
tics, threw tny revolver into the bottom of the
skiff.and grasped my " bowie," keen as a Malay
creese, and glittering, as I released it from
the sheath, like a moonbeam on the stream.
Iu an instant I had severed the sinewy throat
of the hound, cuttiug through brawn aud mus
cle to the uap of the neck. The tenacious
wretch gave a wild, convulsive leap half out
of the water, than sank and was gone.
Five minutes pulling landed me on the oth
cr side of the river, and in au hour after, with
out further accident, I was among friends,
encompassed by the northern lines. That
night 1 related at hoadqunrters the intelligence
I had gathered, and in a few days shall agaiu
be gleauing kuowledge in the southern camp.
RAT STORY.— We are assured that once, in
Scotland, a thrifty laird, finding his store of
eggsdiminishiug.watchedtosee how the thieves
could carry them away. He saw three rats
go together to the pile of eggs, when,one turn
ing on his back, the others rolled an egg up
on hitn, which he clasped safely to his hosom,
aud his companions, taking his tail in their
mouths, started off like a team drawing a
sledge, and disappeared behind some barrels ;
which were the outer fortifications of their
castle. •
JST" There are about twenty-eight pounds
of blood iu the human body and this all passes
through the heart, according to physiologists,
ouce in about every minute and a half.
AN ARTICLE, announcing the decease of a
person, says : " His remains were committed
to that bourne whence uo traveller returns at
tended by his frieuds."
Wnr is the bridegroom more expensive
than the bride? Because the bride is always
" given away," and the bridegroom is frequent
ly " sold."
ISf- The two most precious things now en
closed in hoops, arc girls and kegs of powder
—danger of blowing up from both—keep the
sparks away from them.
A country schoolmaster thus descrihes
a money leuder : "He serves you iu the pres
ent tense—he lends you in the conditional mood
—keeps you in the subjective—and ruins ycu
in the future.
A rnraf poet, in describing his lady
love. gays : " She is graceful as a water Illy,
while her breath is like an armful of clover."
VOL. XXII. —NO. 11.
(Ekcational Department.
Teachers' Institutes.
The Teachers Institutes tor Bradford Co ,
for the Fall of 18i.il, will be holdeu at the fol
l lowing times and places. Each Institute will
commence ou Mouday, at 2 o'clock, P. M ,
and close ou the following Saturday at 12
; noon :
At Athens Borough, Sept. 2d,for the towns
; of Atheus, Ridgbury, Burlington, Litchfield,
i Suiithfield, Ulster und Sheshequin. At Rome,
Sept. 9th, for Rome, Wysox, ilerrick, Pike,
Orwell, Warren, Windham, Standing Stone.
Sept. ltith, at Columbia X Roads, for Colom
bia, Wells, South Creek, Springfield, Troy
Armenia, Canton, West Bnrliugton. At
Terry town, Sept. 23d, for Wyalusing, Tusca
, rora, Wilmot, Terry, Asylum. At Monroe
! ton, Sept. 30th, for Leßoy, Granville, Fraok
! liu, Albauv, Overtou, the Towandas, and
Monroe.
Teachers are respectfully requested to be
prompt and punctual ou the first day. Much
atteutiou will be given to the subject of
reading. The State Suderiuteudeut has re
quired teachers to be inspected,and have their
certificates graded in the " Theory of Teach
ing hence, special instruction in that depart
meut will be given.
Teachers should bring with them readers of
different kinds, writing paper and pencils,sing
| ing books and grammars. It is that
I there will be a full attendance at each Insti
tute. The frieuds of education are iuvited to
attend as much and as oftcu as they can find
j it convenient.
August 15, 18G1. C. It. COBURX.
Consolation in Teaching.
Amidst all the difficulties with which the
instructor has to contend, there is much to al
leviate his burdens, much to cheer bim iu bis
| troubles and preplexities, much to enconrage
him in his exertions. True, he is subject to
the contempt of the ignorant aristocrat, the
contumely of the purse proud millionaire, and
j the ueglect of the ambitious politiciau. He
! cau rarely aspire to the honors of office, or to
! the ease and luxuries of wealth. But, at such
apparantiy disheartening oircuiastauces, souud
philosophy and geuuine philanthropy only
smile. There is a luxury in doing good, which
abundantly compensates for many deprivations.
The principle enemies agaiust which the in
structor has to combat,are vice and iguorance.
He is, therefore, never culled upon to battle
iu any unjust cause. He never has to defend
the wrong in opposition to the right, and his
most efficient weapons are bloodless arrows.—
Aloof from the turmoils of political strife, be
youd the influence of that most bewitching and
most deceitful of svrens, ambition for political
distinction, and rarely jaundiced by inordinate
thirst for gold, he is comparatively removed
from temptations to which other classes of
wen are exposed. The legitimate object of his
exertions, the end of his proper aspirations, is
to impart and develop the good and the true,
to repress and correct the evil and the false,
to make mankiud wiser, purer, holier. What
a glorious goal for ambition, purified troin its
gross and poisonous elemeuts !
The materials, too, placed iu the teacher's
hands—what are they ? Immortat minds, in
their nascent uud most pliant stale, ready to
be moulded into forms of undying beauty and
perfection, or distorted into shapes of hideous
and ever during ugliuess. The sculptor fash
ious out the inanimate marble into the " coun
terfeit presentment " of a man, while he who
converts an ignorant and vicious child into a
well informed and virtuous citizen, creates, it
may be said, the real man himself. The in
structions, admonition u:d exhortations of the
clergymau, too oftcu fall ineffectively upon the
indurated heait of the adult, aud not (infre
quently, are too geuerul and comprehensive to
reach the feeble understanding of the young.
But the intelligent, kind-hearted teaeher, cau
adapt his iustructious to the comprehension
and affections of his tender and flexible charge.
Here, then, is a field worthy of the highest
efforts of the wisest and most skillful husbaud
man.
Besides, how cheering to the teacher are the
subsequent success and respectability of his
pupils. To possess sensible evideuce that we
have been instrumental in sending outiutothe
world, men and women who are an oruameut
to their country aud a blessing to their race,
is surely to slight compensation for the anxie
ties we may have suffered, the toils we may
have endurod. aud the patience and persever
auce we may have exercised. To feel that we
have rescued eveu one individual from an
ignominous or premature death, is more true
and lasting glory than to have won a crown.
And tnen the gratitude cherished by his pupils
throughout life, towards a faithful instructor,
comes to bis heart like refreshing dew-drops.
Finally, the teacher's vocation is becoming
more aud more appreciated ; and he himself,
as he improves in character and knowledge,
fulfils more faithfully and efficiently the sacred
charge entrusted to him, aituius to increased
respect and a higher remuneration for his
services.
With such motives to cheerfulness and en
ergetic action, let no teaeher despair; let noae
despiso or slight his calling ; for even the
humble and obscure guide of the lowest grade
of children, may be accomplishing the true
pnrposes of life, far more perfectly than he
who rides victorious over conquered nationa,
or he who sits in jeweled majesty, sovereign
over the richest and broadest domaius.—Mas*
sacAusetts Teacher.
CONTENTION.—I never love salamanders that
are never well bat when they are in the fire of
contention. I will rather suffer a thousand
wrongs than offer one—l will suffer a hundred
rather than return one—l will suffer many,ere
I will complain of one, and endeavor to right
it by contending. I have ever foand that to
strive with my superior, is furious—with rov
equal, doubtful—with my inferior, sordid and
base —with any,full of unquietness.— Bp. Hall.