Bradford reporter. (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, September 19, 1861, Image 1

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    SKE DOLLAR PER ANNUM INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE
XOWANDA :
Thursday Morning, September 19, 1861.
shlccttb
MISSING.
Kot among the suffering wounded {
Xotaruong the rmceful dead t
Sot axons the prisoners. •' Missiso.
That w" the me—age said.
Yet hi- mother reads it over,
Until through he. painful tears
fades the do r name she has culled h.m
' For these two-and twenty years.
found her all is P" ce d plenty ;
Bright and clean the yellow floor t
While the morning glories cluster
Alt around the kitchen door.
gofccrlv, the sleek old house cat
Drowses in his patch of son |
Neat'v shines the raken dre-ser
' All the moraine ; work is done.
IT- . L gh the wine-# comes the fragrance
Ot a sunny harvest morn,
Fragment songs from distant reapers,
And the rustling of the com ;
And the r; h breath of the garden—
Where the golden melons lie ;
Where the blushing plums are turning
\ ! their red cheeks to the sky.
- [tin; there within the sunshine—
vth ' -ies upon her forehead,
• r j •, -uii-hine—dead to fragrance—
0a ti.at r< val harvest morn ;
I. iking, while her heart is weeping,
v! her noble-browed first born.
•:, ...; it iter in the Springtime.
I . . ,:.g heart full of rlamc,
!k n . l t -ar iad ringing fooistcp,
I 1 supple Irame.
I
I
| Yet she . .h 'n whistling gsyly
wen- ross the rye.
V -i-.sG. Why should he be missing ?
Hr " Jii ?ht until he fell;
v : _r.dikilled, or pris'ner,
- -e o:.e there would be to tell.
M -!-.sa. Sti a hope to cheer her !
Safe.', cn-hant. he may come.
With the v : r irmy shooting,
Y.'.lii' • ot the drum '.
.-A r' the days of Anturan—
:.v eve and in the morn—
I . . i u -e' ickening footsteps
I •;- if the c
1 0 .f- -, ~h t v e 1. u-vh.'M.
■
■
* • * * •
I
|
tl tc the dreary dt-dat'. ..
That the Buttle Storm has made.
"ith the n-t op->n hi- musket—
In the ere and in the morn—
i the rai.k glu m of the fern .eaves
I.ies her not,!" brewed fir-t born.
Sllll ff i (L ;t 11.
f From Harper's Weekly.]
Ghosts and Apparitions.
-irition* often spring from some physical
, which, acting on the sight, caus
te to >,e tilings which really do not ex
i - iietirr.es to hear souuds which have
-u y vibrated. B.xlilv weakness, a
der.ti stale of health, loss of bloud, wiil
" ijee organic deceptions of this c'a*s
iudv friend of mine told rac a curious in
s of this, which happened to her own
The young woman, who was subject to
is' in of the luugs, had generally to be
. hen the-e uttacks came on. Fre
• j the loss of blood she would see
CM aud things which she knew perfectly
irtime could uot be real. Purine the Cri
- *r she aud her mistress were residing
wel m Constantinople, and the maid's
i-wom, which was a very small one. was
-■p of the bouse, while the bedrooms
'* The door of this room did uot
'- fr'j e . :.o uncommon occurrence in
-■ ' - She often missed little arti
—i- ittONs, scissors, and so forth, and
I tiiiil y *i-;.ed to discover by whom they
- : One day, while weak from recent
\ - of blood, she weut up stairs to
- q for her mistress, and on en
* Fitt-j perceived & man seated on a
• a Her first thought was that
- —E the th.ef in the act ; but the
i -Bci perce.viug the allo*iou, aud de
-i 'Vtreotne it, she walked straight
f where the mau seemed to
> eye- fixed ou ber As she ap
'• e tjure appeared to glide along
jH :.,k. .g
1 ' li '< the other corner, it re
; ?'a'.;et &r .y there. She then went up
1 J her band where the head
i, ■ • e . fir ujht it violently down ou the
• , A J -h u-sured of the deception she
r\3H ::.--.'tig, back to her mis
. 1 ' oun'.cd the adveir.ore.
f causes, bowerar for appari
*, - je tsr i tram ng of young cbddieo
ttiem A
' -.n frightened by threats of
t ■ * -'la unnd so tilled with a dread
.. . ' m ' ! percatural beings, lha; the
* iu a certain measure,
again?; all reasoning
j ;' ail through life
etorv. however, has always
k-, l *- cr J to me. The more I have tho't
ooaccountable it has always
' l impossible to assign a
Ei'astrophe with which it w;ods
THE BRADFORD REPORTER.
up. It is from a source absolutely incapable
of misleading, and exceedingly uulikely to be
misled c
"It is about thirty years since the events
occurred which I am about to relate to you,"
writes the friend who has set the story down
for me, " but so deep was the impression which
they inadeou my inind that it almost seems to
me as though the time should be counted by
months rather tbau years.
" I was then a young officer in one of those
regimeuts which had borne the brunt of the
earlier part of the war iu the Peninsula, and
wliich, beiug greatiy reduced iu numbers, were
first formed into provisonal battalions, and
ultimately directed to return home. We were
none of us over well pleased with this arrange
ment ; neither was our great chief, who knew
the value of veteran troops, and considered the
provisional battalions among the best of his
army. But there was no help for it, aud so,
like good soldiers who know that their first
duty is obedieuee, we received the order with
little murmuring, and prepared to obey it.
" It was uece.-sary to convey us for a brief
space to the rear, until transports should he
ready ; aud few iu number as we were, it was
necessary to do so in detachments. I went
with several others in the direction of the vil
lage which had been pointed out to us on the
route, aud good fun we made of each other on
the way. Among my comrades was a fellow
named Ilarrisou, a kind heat ted, amiable lad,
full of fun and eveu mischief, but firm and un
flinching in principle, and ever an honorable
gentleman. As to higher considerations than
even these, we were all careless and reckless
enough,thinking of nothing so much as how we
might best amuse oustlves. Harrison was a
prime favorite in our corps. He was young
and haudsouie, well knit, and capable ot en
during any amount of fatigue. I loved him
as if he had been my brot her, and we were iu
separable.
" Well, my party and I, after wandering
about for a while, reached at length a small
and beautiful village. It was situated in aval
ley, and was surrounded by trees, aud shrub-,
and plants ol many k:nds. Orange and olive,
promegranate and fig tree, all filled the air
with their delicious fragrance. There were
mountains, too, in the distance, adding beauty
to the scene, and on a little eminence close to
the village stood an old half ruineu monastery,
partly covered with ivy and wild passion-flow
er, and adorned by a plantation of beautiful
tiees. On one side of the monastery lay a
lovely little lake, by the margin of which
Harrison aud I olten afterward wandered to
gether in the cool hours of the evening.
" Immediately on reaching the village our
attention was attracted to the old monastery,
and we all pronounced it to be the place of
all others in which to quarter both officers aud
men. Accordingly the few monk* who still
inhabited it were with no small difficulty per
suaded to move out, and we very unceremoni
ously took their places. Tired by the tod of
day, I had sat down, with one or two others,
to rest under one of the large olive-trees, wh -n
an old monk, whom I had noticed hovering
out the place ever since bis companion*
i.-ft, approached us ll.s silver hair and beard
-tr> amed over his brown serge dress ; but
there was a fierce light in bis eye which age
had not queucbed He shook his head gravely
a- he came near,and holding up hi- hand,,said:
"6'gnor, you will repent that ever you came
here ; von wdl find no rest day nor night in
this place San F rancesco guards his servants
with jealous care, and you will call down his
just wrath for desecrating this sanctuary
None ever offend him yet to go unpunished.
Remember my words, Sigoor ; they are not
vain words "
'• The oiti roan crossed himself two or three
times, and then hurried down hy the wooded
psiih which led into the valley, leaving us
rather surprised, but of course not alarmed.
Harrison laughed ; we all laughed, filially ic
sitmed our conversation, and forgot a!l about
the monk.
"Our next step was to make arrangements
for getting supplies from the conntry people
of the neighborhood, and on the whole we con
sidered ourselves snugly and romantically dis
posed of for some weeks to come. For besides
the beautiful rides and walks withio our reach,
we had the assurauce of good £biug iu the
lake,-and shooting in the woods ; and what
with rides and waiks.and fi>hing and shooting,
and occasional dances with the viliage giris,
time was not likely to hang heavy on our
bauds.
" Matters did not, however,turn out exactly
as we had anticipated. It happened one day
as 1 was going round inspecting the rooms,
that I noticed that the men were collected in
to knots of two and three, rather excited, and
talking earnestly together ; many of them
forgot to give me the u*ual saiute as I passed,
and the expression ou their faces were new aud
btrange and perplexing to me. 1 said noth
iug, and preteuded to notice nothing unusual,
hut went round thinking that perhaps the men
had some sitght misunderstanding with the
Spaniards, who, though they received us kind
ly at tir.t, had bowu themselves to be vioieut
and quick temjered. I had tiuisbcd my rounds,
and was returning to my room, when I heard
a quick step behind me. The sergeant of onr
company cauie up, and touching his cap, beg
ged to say a few words to me when I was at
leisure.
•• 1 am quite at leisure now, I said ; ' what
do you waut ?"
'* Well, Sir,' he begao, with some embar
rassment, clearing his throat two or three
times, ' I am sorry to trouble you, but did
you observe, Sir, how odd tne men were just
now, as rou went round tbe room ?"
" I did observe something uonsnal, but
thought it best to take no uot.ce for this
oace. What is the matter with the men .
" Well, Sir,' continued the sergeant,his em
barrassment growing greater, 'it does seem
rather ridiculous, aud yet is true lae .act
is, Sir, (for it is no use in.tcing the matter,,
the men declare they have seen a ghost passing
through their room for two nights aUj
thev swear tbey won't sleep there again."
' " A gt<* T - '' I repeated, '* re °*
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. 0. GOODRICH,
amazement at the man, half doubting whether
he were iu his right souses. ' What humbug
is this, sergeant f Let me hear DO more of it.
If ghosts were realities—which they are not
—I should be ashamed of the men if tbey
could be afraid of ghosts.''
" The sergeant said no more, but touching
his cap, turned and withdrew, while I slowly
pursuid my way. I had looked upon the mat
ter as nonsense, I had treated it lightly, and
been almost angry at the silliness of tne tale ;
yet it had left a deeper impression upon me
than 1 liked, or chose to admit to myself.—
Was this a dim, vague preseutiment of what
was to come * Perhaps it was.
" I was half angry with myself for harbor
ing the feeling, and determined to shako it off.
I entered a room where two or three of my
companions were assembled, and recounted
what had passed between me and thesergeaut.
They all laughed, and declared that I had
doue quite right in forbidding any thing more
to be said on the subject.
" The monastery cousisted of three buildings :
one long front building aud two wings. The
right wing formed the chapel, aud the other
contained the rooms and cells once occupied
by the monks. Iu the centre of these build
ings was a large court yard, from which yon
passed into the garden, and thence decended
into the valk-y beneath, planted with trees
and shrubs. The court-yard was quite empty,
save that a fouutuiu stood in the ceutre ; an
arrangement not unusual in southern coun
tries.
" The day passed as other days had passed;
some fished, some lounged about doing nothing,
Harrison and I wandered away from the rest
taking our guns with us, and did not return
until late iu the evening. We had been more
than usually joyou>, and I had almost forgotteu
the occurrence of the morning, when, on
entering the court-yard of the monastery, we
were surprised to perceive the men's blankets
well arrauged in order round the yard. Before
either of u had time to make a remark, the
>ergeant who had spoken to mo before came
up, aud without further preface iifformr-d me
that, the night being extremely hot, the men
brought out their blankets to sleep in tne open
air, as they could not be persuaded to re
ceive another visit iu their room from their
midnight intruder. I made no objection to
their preferring the coo! air to the stifling
heat ol tueir room, and at dinner it was qui
etly arrauged that a few of us .-hould not go
to Led at usuai time, but should remain up
to watch.
"It was a clear bright night. Beautiful
as night can be only iu southern climates. I
had seldom seen anything more striking than
that grim old monastery, with its turrets and
belfries, its grated windows and massive iron
portals, and its large surrounding trees, stand
ing out clear and distinct under the rays of a
full moon. And beyond it, about a half a
mile off, lay the small lake, calm and and quiet
beneath the branches of the graceful trees
which grew on its edge, and bent their slender
boughs into its water. Upon its smooth sur
face the heavens were reflected ; each partic
ular stu: looking down upon its image.
" A few of the officers, including Harrison
and myself, had gone into the court yard about
eleven o'clock, determined to wait until the
clock struck one, and then, if nothing appear
ed, retnrn quietly to our rooms. The men
had all laiu down, but lam sure there were
none of them asieep ; not a light was to be
seen any where about the building, for at an
appointed hour they had ail beeu put out. —
Growing tired of waiting for the ghost iu
vain, Harrison and I walked up and down the
yard, the others following our example ; and
we were already thinking of going in, when,
as the clock struck half-past twelve, Harrison
suddenly stopped short, touched mv arm, and
without saying a word pointed towards the
chapel. His movement had been noticed by
the rest, and ail eyes were immediately turned
iu that direction, wheu we preceived issuing
from one cf the windows overlooking the yard
a faint greeuish light. We said nothing, but
drawing to one side, stood stiil. In a few mo
ments we saw emerging from the same win
dow a white spectral figure, holdtug in its right
haud a small lamp, evideutly the source of the
strange light which had attracted our notice.
The apparition moved slowly aioug over the
beds of the cneo, though evidently its feet did
not rest upon anything, and looked at them
all as it pas.-ed ; then, reaching our groop, it
turned its gaze opou us lor a moment, and
disappeared througu the left wing of the build
g . .
" A dead silence succeeded ; we were ail
to much astonished to speak, and we look
ed at one auother Then the s.lence was
brokeu by a mnrmor ot triumph auioug tbe
men, and we were obliged to acknowledge
that we had seen their ghost, and couid not
accouut for it. Various surmises and conjec
tures were broached, aud we determined to
discover what the ghost waa.
" Next day we were all astir early, and
every room in tbe Old monastery was examined;
not a corner but was thoroughly searched. —
Up and down, right aud iett, above ground,
aud in the vaults below, not a place but re
echoed the tread of our footsteps ; yet no
where cou.d be discovered auy trace of our
strauge visitor. You uay imagine whether
we searched toe chapel through and through.
Seeing uothiug that gave the faiutet clew
to the mvterj, we oeiit for inasous irom the
village, and had the capel doors walled up
The wtudows were ail barred aud bolted,
and we Lope that we bad most effectually
shut out, or shut in, the ghost.
'• The day past ranch as uual. except that
we awaited the evening with ranch anxiety,
which increased as the time for taking up our
watch approached. This time ail the officer?
remaiutd up to keep watch together. O.owlv
the hours passed over until the great clock
struck twelve. Then we stood ready and o
tent, awaiting the next stroke. Ha.f-pasl
twelve, a quarter to one, and we were begin
ning to congratulate ourselves on haTing effec
tually walled up to the ghost when the pale
green light of the previous night agam be
came visible It scout tnroagn tne fame
" REeiARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER."
window as before, and presently, bars and
bolts giving way, the window flew opeu, and
the spectral figure, with the lamp in its baud,
stepped oat iuto the open air. It followed
the same course it had taken previously, and
in the same manner ; with only this difference,
that it paused for a moment in its progress
over the beds of five or six of the men, and
breathed a sort of infernal hiss into each of
their faces. Again it came close to as, and
then vanished. We were petrified ; all our
precautious had availed us nothing, and that
this time the dread apparitioa had emitted
sounds sufficiently audible to be beard by us,
who were some distance.
" What was to be done next ?"
" Whatever this is," said Harrison, while his
lips curled slightly with coutempt, ' I am de
termined to drive it from this place. We
must uot ailow ourselves to be frigtbened.—
Since I was a child I have been taught to
reject ghosts. To-morrow night, if this thing
appears, we must give chase. You will help
me V he added, turniug to me.
" Of course 1 promised to stand by him,
though more thau doubtful of our doing any
good. It was agreed that on the following
night we, the officers, should divide into two
parties, one staudiug at the right wing, and
the other at the left ; and that we should
both rush on to this mysterious appearauce at
the same time, and by closiug iu upon it ren
der e.-cape impossible. Iu this plan the men
joined most heartily.
" We were not cowards, yet, I confess it,
the sight of this strangely mysterious apparition
with its uuearthiy iight, had made my blood
run cold, while the looks of my companions
had proved that they liked it as little as I
did.
" Again night arrived, and again we took
post in the court-yard, waitiug for the accus
tomed hour. Our hearts beat fa*ter wheu we
saw the now well kuown green light appear
iug at the the chapel wiudow. Slowly the
white figure passed over the men's beds, hold
ing up its pale lamp ; aud I remarked, with
somethiug like a shudder, that it uttered the
same diabolical hiss to the same six men as ct
the previous night. At a signal we rushed
forward from both sides and closed in
The spectre seemed to understand our at
tempt, gave one of its fearful hisses into
Harrison's very face, and then we saw it
walking (so it seemed) above our heads ; and
it vanished over the monastery.
" Without a word from any one—for we
w ere all to much horrfied to speak—we re-eu
tered the house, and saught our rooms. Har
rison ahd I occupied a room together, and,
as we went iuto it, I remarked that his face
aud his lips were ashy pale.
" For Heaven's sake,' he said, in a voice so
hollow that it made me start, ' never speak of
this thing again, and let me leave this place
as soon as possible.'"
"We went to bed, but did not sleep. The
apparitions was constantly before my eyes,
while his hiss still seemed ringing in my ears.
I couid hear, bv the restless tossing of my
companion, that he, too, shared my vigils
At length, after some weary hours, I fell
asleep, aud when 1 awoke, late in the morn
ing, 1 was pleased wnd relieved to see llarri
sou sleeping soundly.
" We all met at breakfast ; but as if by
one consent, seem'-cl to avoid the subject of the
apparitioa. I had serious thoughts of leaving
the village, and seeking billets elsewhere,
only it was difficult, now that all our arrange
ments were made, to leave the place ; not to
speak of the embarrassmeut of the explaining
such an uuusual proceeding. We agreed to
remain where we were for a few days longer,
in the hope that the order to march for Lis
bon would soon arrive. I do not know that an
immediate removal from the monastery w®a!d
have effected any chang in the catastrophe
of the story, except, pcrheps, in some of its
details ; but I greatly regretted at the time,
and can not but regret to this day, that we
did not devise some pretest to escape from
that terrible place.
"We kept no more watch for theghost,and
three nights passed by without any report being
made from the men of its reappearance.
" One sunny afternoon—it was either the
fourth or the fifth day after the last appear
ance of the apparition—Harrison, and two
other officers, set out on horseback foranegh
boring point of interest. It was a glorious day
and we were all in capital spirit*, which seem
ed to be shared by oar horses, for they carri
ed us lightly and swiftly along. Harrison had
a beautiful horse—a noble animal—a light
chestnut, and as quiet and geutle a horse a*
ever man rode. It was the pride of its master
ar.d the admiration of the regiment. We had
ridden abont a mile or more from the abbey,
and wete pausing to look at the view, which
was Very fine, when we perceived an orderly
coming toward us. He wanted to speak to
Harrison, and as our horses were impatieut we
rode on slowly before, leaving Harrison to
overtake os when bis basiness was done "
" What on earth can be keeping Harrison?"
said one of my companions, after a time 5 " we
shall lose our ride."
" Terhaps he had to tarn back," I replied.
" We had better ride on ; mounted as he is,
he wi'l soon come op with cs."
"We rode on, expecting every moment to
see him arrive, yet no sonnd'of his borse'e feet
reached us ; and so time passed, aud he came
not. At any other time I would have thought
nothing of it, except that pressing business
must have obliged him to retnrn to the moo
astery ; but the disagreeable occurrences of
the previous week had rendered me unable to
rid myself of a certin dim, vague presenti
ment of evil to come. Often and often since
theu have 1 reproached myself for not having
obeyed its warning Toice !
" A suddeu tnrn in the road widened the
proepect before us, and we stopped again to
wait for Harrisoo, and to admire the spread
ing country around. About two hundred yards
from us, toward the abbey, was the lake
alreadv mentioned. We had not reined up
many minutes when, in a voiae of wonder aud
alarm, one ef my companions exclaimed
" There's Harrisou 1 Good God 1 what is
he about ?"
" Wo all looked in the direction to which
he pointed, and saw Harrison galloping at full
speed along the path which girded the lake.
The reins were loose upon the horse's neck ;
the rider's bat had fallen off, aud his hair,
blown about by the wind, gave a wild appear
ance to his face. Before mauy seconds bad
elapsed the horse gave a suddeu sworve, and
galloped staight into the lake. The waters
gurgled for a moment, aud then both horse
and rider disappeared 1
" A few minutes brought us to the monas
tery, where we gave the alarm, and the men
turned out with ropes and poles and such rude
drags as they could lay hold upon. Not a
trace of Harrison or his horse could be dis
cerned, aud for a full hour all our efforts to
discover the axact spot where they had sunk
proved fruitless. At last one of our drags
strnck upon some object, and first the horse
aud then Harrison himself was pulled to shore.
Both were deud, of course ; but nerer, to my
own dying day, shall I forget the peculiar ex
pression that overshadowed my friend's pale
face. It was one of such fearful agony, sach
intense anguish, that ray heart sickened, and
though not a word was said by those around
me, I could perceive that all were equally
struck and confounded by it. More dreadful
ly painful and mysterious still was the horror
depicted over the face of the horse.
"Slowly aud sadly the body of Harrison
was brought home and laid on the bed he had
so lately occupied iu life. As we undressed
him I found in bus bosom a small miniature
likeness. It was the picture of a fair young
face ; I knew whose face, for Harrison had
confided his happiuess to me. I bent over my
frieud, and cutting off a lock of his dark hair,
I wouud it gently round the little picture, aud
then put them up iu paper and laid them
carefully aside. •
" The eveniug came. All that remained to
be done for our lost comrade had been done,
aud we—that is, I myself and a few of the
others —had gathered in his room to look over
his effects, and see whether he had left any
memoranda of wishes to be fulfilled. In bis
desk there was a sealed letter to his mother,
another to the original of the miniature —
nothing else. That night I resolved to pass
in hi* room, with two or three of ay compan
ions, keeping watch by his body. A fearfnl
gloom hung over us as we sat there in silence
beside our dead comrade, the favorite of every
mau among us. We were sileut, rear the win
dow, when, just as the clock struck twelve.the
apparition—seen by all of as—passed into the
room, glided over to the bedside, bent over
the dead form, hissed into the face,and vanish
ed.
" Next day the body of poor Harrisou was
buried beneath a large spreading tree. I have
been at the burial of many officers and com
rades, but never in my life have I attended
one so sad. That very day we began our
march to Lisbon, and before the end of the
week embarked on board the transports pre
pared for us. Of the six men into whose faces
the apparition had hissed, or seemed to hiss,
not oue reached England. One threw himself
overboard in a fit of madness, aud five died ou
the voyage.
" I have never been able to unravel the
mystery of Harrison's death. It will never be
uuraveled now, I suppose, uatil the day when
all secrets are revealed."
(timcatioinl Stpartmtul
Teachers' Examinations,
The aonnal examinations of teachers for this
county, will be hotden in accordance with the
following programme. In three or fourinstauces
two townships have been put together, iu order
that the inspections may all be held before the
winter schools commence. Examinations will
commence precisely at 10 o'clock a. m., none
will be inspected who do not come in before
11, unless the delay be unavoidable. Each
teacher must bring Sander's fifth Reader, one
sheet of fools cap paper, pen, ink and led
pencil. All who intend to teach during the
year must come forward and be examined
None will be examined privately nnless an
attendance npon the examination was impossi
ble, old —certificates will not be renewed.—
Directors and others interested, are earnestly
invited to attend.
Oct. 15—Welti A Sooth Crevk. Bowley School Hoaae,
" 16—Colombia. An-teusville
" If—3pringoeld, Centre cichool Hoosc,
•' IS—li.dg-jury. Ptanyville,
" ID—stnithfield. Centre School Hoo?e.
" 2i—Troy & Armena. Bore' school House,
" 22—Canton, Corner- school House,
" 2S—Franklin A Leßoy. Chapel's School Hons®,
" 24—llranviile. Taylor's School House,
" 2A—Burlinyion, Bon,' School House,
" 26—Monroe, Borough School House.
" W'ysos, A standing Stone, Myersbargh,
" 29—Home. Boro' School House,
" 3o—Orwell, H'.llSchool House,
" 31—Pike. Leßaysville,
NOT. I—Hemck, ban,ion School House,
•' 2—Wyalusicg, Merryall.
" 4—Tuscarora. Ai kiey school House,
" s—Terry A Wilmot. Terrytown,
" 6—Alhanv A Overton. Browns School House,
" 7—T oar an da. Bore School House.
'• 11—Asylum, Fren htown Lower House.
" 12—sheshe<7uin A Ulster. Kinny School Hons®,
" 13—Athens. Boro' School Hou=e.
" 14—Li ten held. Centre School lionse.
• 15 Windham. Knykendal! School House,
• is Warren, Bowea School House.
Aug. 3. 1661. C.R.COBLBX.
Superintendent.
Talking.
Phrenologists say that the difference in this
respect is partey natural. They say there is a
portiou of the brain which corresponds with
the propensity to talk.
Nature may have ranch to do with the di
versity, but art, or practice, baa more Tbe
tongue, teeth, palate and lips, are apt pupils
They gain strength and dexterity by practice
as much as the muscles and nerves of the
bead. No one can write well *bo haw not
trained the muscle* of the haDd by writing
much ; nor talk easily and fluently, until prac
tice has made it so natural as to be done with
out cousciooe effort.
It is not meant that the faculty of speeek
VOL. XXII.--NO. IG<
' always corresponds with the dexterity of the
i vocal organs. Some are unable to think of
anything to say. Others have thoughtseuough
bat cannot shape them into words. But there
are very few whose thoughts flow in well form
ed sentences, who are prevented from giving
them utterance by any uuwilldiness of the
tongue. Although oa
the sea shore, with pebbes iu his mouth, to
overcome an impediment in his speech, yet
that was not all he had to do to become a
fluent speaker. After the vocal organs were
well disciplined, he had to find tbern something
to say. He had to teach his mind by month*
and years of practice, to hand its thoughts
down to the tongue, framed into seatenoes aud
ready for articulation.
Talkiag is not taught a3 a distinct branch
of education, in our common schools, yet in
practical importance it is at least equal to some
; things which are taught there. To talk not
only fluently but well, is a rare faculty, aDd
cannot be overcultivated. Like penmanship
it cannot be " taught in six easy lessons" but
mast be learned by continaed pratice. That
this may he done iu school is especially the
object of recitation. Unless the pnpil cau tell
what he knows, be might as well Dot know it,
for all purposes outside of himself. The reci
tation is as much a part of the discipline as
the labor of study. It is as necessary, aad
perhaps as difficult, to learn to exjwess as to
learn to acquire. The public speaker becomes
fluent only oy ntukiog many speeches, till he
has got the faculty ot " thinking on his legs "
and the scholar becomes ready only by con
tinually expressing his knowledge in definitions
and answers to questions at recitations. Reci
tation i 3 none the less important because pre
vious study is oecessary to acquire the princi
ples and facts ; Dor is the ability to talk les3
desirable because the mind must first get the
ideas with which to carry on a corersation.—
It is indisputable tnat to talk sensibly and to
interest and instruct the listener, demands
knowledge as well as practice, and it is also
true that be that keep* his knowledge at the
eDd of his tongue, has to accustom his tongue
:to using it. The power of telling-what he
knows is a direct consequence of the habit of
' telling what he knows.
Merrvall, Pa. H. K.
*
-
The following preamble and resolution*
were adopted at the Teachers' Institute, held
at Athens, during the first week of September.
We, the members of the fifth annual Teach
ers' Institute, for the townships herein repre
sented, feeling the necessity of more knowledge
in the "Theory and Practice of Teaching,"
aud being convinced that teachers' drills as
conducted by our highly esteemed superinten
! dent, arc among the most efficient means of
arousing teachers to the importance of a
thorough knowledge of the branches to be
' taught, as well as the best methods of impart
ing instruction, do, therefore
Resolve, That we as teachers will pot forth
our united efforts to sustain these drills, aud
that we wiil also continually strive to attain a
higher standard of excellence as instructors of
: the young.
Resolved, That we hereby express otir heart
j felt thanks to Prof. C. U COBUHS, for his
i lively interest in our success as teachers, bis
untiring care and forbearance in teaching us
how to teach, iu makiug the rough places
smooth and the crooked paths straight, there
by fitting us the better to fnlflll oar.higher
duties.
Resolved, That our most sincere thanKS arc
; due to Prof. A.J. Long, Rev. Mr. Todd, and
| H. W. Patrick Esq , for their able, instructive
and interesting addresses, and to all who have
in anv way a-sisted in oar exercises.
Resolved, That we daly appreciate the favor
conferred apon us by those who have so high
ly entertained us with singing, believing that
music is an important element in the eduea*
tion of the young ; strengthening whatever is
noble in our nature, elevating aud refiaing in
j its influence, and should be encouraged in our
; common schools,
Rescind, That We tender our grateful ar
knowledgementa to H. W. Patrick Esq for so
kiudlv granting as the use of his hall, also to
1 the trustees of the Athens Academy, for tho
privilege of occupying their building, and to
the citizens of Athens, for the many kindnesses
extended to o* during our stay among them.
If riches increase, set not vohr heart
upon them, becaus they are liable to decrease
as fast as they increase ; because they cannot
i satisfy the boundless desires of the immortal
coal ; because their possession is connected
with new anxieties and responsibilities; be
cause their possessor is subject to peculiar and
i injurious temptations ; because they must all
be left at death, and death may come at any
hour 5 and because the good things of the
present life are of insufficient value, whencom
pared with the treasures of heaven, which he
forever forfeits who makes worldly wealth his
supreme good.
r-v** An intelligent lady whose little boy
Was becinniog to swear, anxious to express to
her child the horror of profrnity, hit upon the
noval plan of washing out his mouth w::h soap
suds whenever he swore. It was an effectual
cure. The boy understood his mother's sense
of the corruption of aa oath, which with the
taste of the suds, produced desired resuit. The
practice, if universally adopted, would raise the
price of soap-
A correspondent from the ssys s
Onr sold'es are charmed every night with the
lavs of the nightingale. We think they woaii
be a good deal more charmed with the lays o?
a hen.
g&- Do not expect to be truly bappy on til
you bare learned to lite honestly, prndeotlji
and without ostentation.
Those girls who liked to be kissed best
make tha rodst fuss aboat it