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=?rlccUtl
THE PRICK OF TRt'TH.
~,t truths are dearly bought. Thecommon truth,
„ ~s men give tiud take from day to day,
, tt o> iu the common walks of easy life,
i wu by the careless wind across our way.
; .Lt iu the market, at the current price,
! :.■] of the smile, the jest, perchance the bowl ;
-i.U i. tales of daring or of worth.
\ r pierces even the surface of the soul.
, r truths are greatly won. Not formed by chance. 1
\ : wafted on the breath of summer dream :
: .rasped in the great struggle of the soul,
Hard buffeting with adverse wind and stream.
V :, the general mart, 'mid corn and wine ;
Set in the merchandise of gold and gems ;
v : in the world's gay hall of midnight mirth ;
V r mid the blaze of regal diadems.
iu the day of conflict, fear, and grief,
ivbcu the strong hand of God, put forth in might,
iylis us the subsoil of the stagnant heart,
And brings the imprisoned truth-seed to the light.
;cg from the troubled spirit, in hard hours
: weakness, solitude, perchance of pain ;
iruth. springs, like harvest, from the well-ploughed
li.dd,
>.!. i the soul feels it has not wept in vain.
pi.sUan?oUio.
STAPLEFORD GRANGE.
i !,c.ml the follawing narrative at a din
■|iarty in a country house about five
i - Ip'ui the place where the events re-
It'occurred, and it was related to
by the chief' actress in it, Cissy Miles—
pretty, lady-like girl of twenty, the
: iughtt-r of the rector of the parish in
. :i ttupleford Grange is situated :
was the Saturday afternoon before
-tuias-day, nearly two years ago, when
x.v - x brothers, all younger than myself,
i were skating on our squire's fish
\\ e iiad been skating since dinner,
' it was not till the wintry daylight was
.lining to wane that the recollection
me ii across me that I had entirely for- j
f.'iu t" do a commission my mother had j
:Tr.'i :;r' in the morning. This commis-,
■ was to walk to the Grange, a big j
use, and bespeak some geese for i
'••i on New dear's Day. My mother j
-mil, decidedly, " Those geese must be j
■redto-day, Cissy," so I knew that I
■- ' J havt- to go: although the Grange
• i mile off, although it was very cold,
. laikiii ss was coming on, and although
i-terribly afraid of a big black dog
ii was chained up just in front of the
range back-door.
U ii'/il go with me to the Grange ?" I
! out quickly, as the remembrance oc
!'• ito me, sitting down and beginning
ui-strap my skates. " I've forgotten all
-ut the geese, and mama said I was to
rier them to-day."
No one answered. The next day was
lay. and it might thaw before Monday. |
-e-r\ hoy. big or little, seemed laudably ;
' ,||s "f taking the most of present op- j
nullifies.
' d.iivii t go by myself," I called out, in :
-tie-tie tone ; " it would be quite dark
I got home again."
the truth, Cis," called out Charlie, j
k. good natured boy of fifteen, " and
re afraid of Jip. Nevermind; I'll
with you, ii you must go." And he j
t me on the bank, and proceeded to!
it iiis skates.
- "iika to all my brothers, 1 was a pret- ,
- -t runner, and we sped across the!
h ids, and through the narrow lane
• the Grange, as fast as possible.--
j v.. jr., i t<> the last lield, which joined -
' tu-yard, we slackened pace a little, 1
• 'i nwe got into the big court-yard it- j
;y W( ie walking almost slowly.
11 w dreadfully-lonely it looks, Char-j
1 > dd, almost with a shiver at the j
" us|teet of the place, which had j
1 -inn 1 gentleman's house forty years i
"t had been stiff-red to fall almost m- :
1 am glad I'm not Mrs. Johu
ticularly as she lias no children, :
: dy to keep her company when
isun is away."
d-'irt j'ou stop and prose to her
'iicli a time, Cis, do you hear ?" re-j
' harlie, good-humoredly.
'"-t greet us with his usual noisy j
and there was no sound of any j
;t the place except the gabbling j
turkeys in the rear of the farm- j
• - \\ e went up and knocked at the i
ai.! when I turned round, 1 observed
i'* heuiiel, which stood exactly op- |
!l ;i line with the front of the house, 1
":. n| pty. I
'' can dip be ?" I said, " I thought !
'■l't him loose;" and I walked
• 1 b-w steps, and became aware j
• -t s chain and collar were lying
a- kennel j stood for a moment 1
- I 'iideriug, while Charlie, getting i
i at Mrs. Johnson's non-appear-!
\ ' again at the door. Sudden- j
t. !l| arks of blood on the flagged path-!
■ ""t ol the kennel arrested my at-,
, lilt 'an it be, Charlie?" I said, in a!
' 1 know," Charlie returned,thought- i
line to grief, perhaps. 1
r . Johnson dosen't come; I think i
j , ''' v,) }'age of discovery ; stay here i
. r a 'ack and he pushed the door
: -i' :,!J "'i g ° to " 1 Rai d, hastily, half 1
am a coward at the sight of \
i ..I, q 1 ,na^e 11 r " w - then ;" and we J
w,|s a big blazing fire in the grate, I
E- O. GOODRICH, Publisher.
VOLUME XXVI.
which showed that on the table the tea
things were set for tea ; the kettle was
hissing away merrily, and some tea-cakes
stood to keep warm on a low stand before
the fire. Every thing looked snug and cosy.
Evidently Mrs. Johnson had prepared every
thing ready for tea when the farmer should
return from D. market ; and was now gone
up stairs to "cleah" herself
I had time to make all these observations
over Charlie's shoulder, before he gave a
sudden start, and strode with a low excla
mation to a bundle of clothes which lay at
the further and darker side of the kitchen,
on the smooth stone floor. A bundle of
clothes it looked like, with Jip lying asleep
beside it in a very strange attitude.
I shall never forget the horror of the
next moment. Huddled up, evidently in
the attitude iu which she had fallen. lay
Mrs. Johnson, with a gaping wound across
her throat, from which the blood was still
trickling, and Jip, with a large pool of
blood near his head, lay dead beside her.
I stood for a moment, too, paralyzed with
horror—such intense, thrilling horror, that
only any one who has experienced such a
feeling can understand it—and then, with
a low scream, I sank on the floor, and put
up my baud to try and hide the horrible
sight.
" Ilush !" whispered Charlie, sternly,tak
ing hold of my hands, and forcibly dragg
ing me on to my feet again ; " you mustn't
make a sound. Whoever has done this
can't be far off; you must run home, Cissy,
as hard as you can. Come !"
He dragged me to the door, and then I
turned sick all over, and tumbled down
again. I felt as if I could not stir another
step.
" It's 110 use, Charlie, I can't stir," I said.
" Leave me and go without me."
" Nonsense ! Try again."
I tried again, but it was no use j my legs
positively would not move, and precious
time was being wasted.
""i oil fool !" Charlie said, bitterly and
passionately. How was a boy of fifteen to
understand a woman's weakness ? " Then
I must leave you. It's Johnson's money
they no doubt want. They wouldn't mur
der if they could help it, and and Johnson
will be back directly "
" Yes, yes. Go." I said, understanding
that he wanted to fetch help before the far
mer came. " I will hide somewhere."
"In the kennel there," he said, looking
round quickly ; "and don't stir."
He pushed me into poor murdered Jip's
kennel, and then he disappeared, and I was
left alone in the gathering darkness with
those two prostrate forms on the kitchen
floor as my company, and perhaps the mur
derers close at hand.
I combated the faint feeling which Char
lie could not understand by pinching my
arms and sticking pins into them, and after
a little judicious torture of this sort, tie
sick feeling went off, and I could think
again. " I will take ofl' rny boots," I
thought, after a moment. " They make
such a noise, and I may have to move," for
already a glimmering plan had rushed
across my brain of how I might warn John
son. So I rose a little from my crouching
position, unlaced them, and slipped them
off. I had barely done this when I heard
the sound of voices, and the sick trembling
feeling came on so strongly, that the pin
torture had to be again applied. In an
other minute three men caine out of the
back door, and I could distinctly hear ev >ry
word of their conversation.
" He's late, I think," said one. "If he
doesn't come soon, we must go ; that giil
will be home soon, I heard the old woman
tell her not to stop."
" What's it signify ?" said another. "We
can soon stop her mouth."
"It isn't worth so much blood, Dick,"
said the third. " We've only got fifty
pound by this, and the farmed 1 not have
more."
"He ought to be coming by now," said
the first, anxiou-ly, coming a step or two
nearer the kennel. " Hallo ! What is
that ?"
The tone made me turn sick again. Had
Charlie found help already ? No. The three
men were standing close to the kennel, and
during the moment's silence that lollowed
the man's exclamation I remembered that I
had dropped my muff. I tried to stop the
hard, quick thumping of my heart, which I
felt certain they must hear, and then, as if
fascinated,l raised my head from my knees,
for till that moment I had been crouching at
the furthest end of the kennel, and saw a
hairy, fierce-looking face glaring in at the
entrance of my hiding-place. I tried hard
not to scream, and I succeded ; but in an
other moment I should have fainted if the
face had not been taken away. To my ut
ter astonishment, as the face disappeared,
its owner said :
" I thought some one might be hiding.
That's a lady's trumpery. What can it
mean ?"
Evidently I had not been seen, thanks to
my dark dress and the gathering twilight.
I breathed freely now ; unless something
very unforseen occurred, 1 was safe.
" Some one has been, and has dropped
it," a voice said quickly. "That's all on
account of your cursed foolery, Dick," it
went on angrily. " Why couldn't you stop
at the door, as I told you ?"
" Well, let's do something now," the
third.said, anxiously, "or we shall be hav
ing some one here."
The three men then went back into the
bouse again, and I could hear them speak
ing in low tones ; presently the voices
grew louder, and they were evidently quar
reling. In another minute they came out
again, and from what I could hear, they
began to search in the farm-buildings and
out-houses for the owner of the muff.
" There's no one hear," at last one called
out. "They must have gone away again.
Go to the gate, Bill, and see if any body is
coming that way."
After a moment, Bill [returned to the other
two, who were now standing talking in
low wnispers at the back of the kennel,and
said ;
" Ne, there's no one coming." And my
heart sank as 1 thought how long it would
be before succor could arrive.
" The fellow's late," one of the others
said, after a minute or two ; "but we had
better be on the watch now. Mind, both
of you, that he's down from his gig before
he sees us."
They walked away along the line of house
toward the other entrance by which Mr.
Johnson would come ; and I, thinking they
hail gone to take up their hiding-place, put
TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, I'A., FEBRUARY 15, 186(5.
my head cautiously out of the mouth of the
kennel, and looked round.
Surely I couid reach the house without
being seen, 1 thought, and if I could but
reach the big, ruinous drawing-room, which
commanded a view of the fields the farmer
would cross, I might be able to warn him
back from the fate which awaited him. I
must warn him it I could, it was too horri
ble that another murder should bo commit
ted.
1 was out of the kennel and in the kitch
en before 1 recollected that 1 should have
to pass close to the murdered women be-
fore I could gain the door leading into the
hall, which I must cross to gain the draw
ing-room. I shuddered as 1 passed the ta
ble and drew near to the horrible scene ;
but, to my utter surprise and no little ter
ror. Mrs. Johnson had vanished ! the dark
gleaming pool of blood and the dead dog
were still there, but the huddled up bundle
of clothes was gone.
What had they done with it ? In spite
of the urgent necessity there was for im
mediate action, I stood motionless for a
minute, hesitating to cross the dimly-light
ed hall. Suppose it should be there. I
had never seen death before, and the
thought of again seeing the dead woman
looking so ghastly and horrible with that
great gaping - wound across her throat, was
at that moment more terrible to me than
the thought of her murderer's return.
While 1 stood hesitating, a shadow pass
ed across the first window, and, looking up
quickly, to my horror I saw the three men
in another moment pass the second win
dow.
I had 110 time for thought. In another
minute they would he in the kitchen. I
turned and fled down the passage and
across the hall, rushing into the first open
door, which happened to be the drawing
room door, and instinctively half closed it
behind me as I had found it. Then 1
glanced wildly round the bare empty room
in search of shelter.
There was not a particle of furniture iu
the room, and it was quite empty except
for some apples on the floor, and a few
empty hampers and sacks at the further
end. How could I hide ?
I heard the footsteps crossing the hall,
and then, as they came nearer, with the
feeling of desperation I sped noiselessly
across the room, laid down flat behind the
hampers, and, as the door opened, threw an
empty sack over me. I felt I must be dis
covered, for my head was total y uncovered;
and I watched them fascinated, breathless
from intense terror. They walked to the
window, saying, "We shall see better
here," and looked out, presently all ex
claming together, " He's coining now ;
that black spot over there ;" and, without
glancing in my direction, they left tlx* room
again. 1 was safe, but what could Ido to
save the farmer ? Surely Charlie must be
coming with help now, but would he be in
time? I must try and save him, was the
conviction that impressed itself upon me in
a lightning thought, and as it crossed my
brain I sprang to the window. All thought
of self vanished then with the urgency ol
what I had to do, I was only eager —ner-
vously, frantically eager—to save the far
mer's life.
They say that mad people can do things
which seem impossible to sane ones, and 1
must have been quite mad with terror and
fright for the next few minutes.
Seven feet below me, stretching down
the slope of the hill, was the garden, now
lying in long plowed ridges,with the frozen
snow on the top of each of them, and at
the bottom of the garden was a stone-wall
four feet high. Beyond this, as far as the
eye could reach, extended the snow-cover
ed fields, and coining along the cart-road
to the left was Mr. Johnson in his gig-.
I threw open the window, making noise
enough to alarm the men if they heard it,
anil sprang on to the window-ledge, and
then, tearing off my jacket, threw it on
the ground, and shutting rny eyes, jumped
down. The high jump hurt my wrists and
uncovered feet dreadfully, but I dare not
stop a moment. I rushed down the garden,
tumbling two or three times in my progress,
and, when I came to the wall, scrambled
over it headforemost. The farmer was
just opening the gate of the field I was in,
and I made straight toward him, trying to
call out. But I could not utter a word ;so
1 flew across the snow, dashed through the
brook, careless that the bridge was a few
feet further down, and when 1 rushed up to
Mr. Johnson's side, I could only throw up
to Mr. Johnson's side, I could only throw
up my arms and shriek out "Murder !" just
as a loud report rang out through the frosty
air, and I fell forward on my face.
"And were you hurt?" I asked, as she
paused.
" Yes, a little. Look, here is the scar ;"
and she raised the flowing fold of tarlctane
from her soft white arm, and pointed to a
white oval-shaped scar.
"And Mrs. Johnson ?" I asked.
The girl's face became very grave.
"She was quite dead. The men had put
her under the dresser, which explains why
I did not see her as I passed through the
kitchen, and the poor husband went away
directly alterward. The whole house is
uninhabited now. Nobody will leave there,
and of course it is said to be haunted. I
have never been there since that day, and
I think I shall never dare to go there again."
The girl stopped, for the gent'eman had
just-come in from the dining-room, and one,
tall and black bearded, who had been poin
ted out to me by my hostess as the -Squire
of Stapleford, and Cicely Mile's betrothed,
now came up to her, and laying his hand
on her white shoulder with an air of pos
session, said tenderly, " What makes you
look so flushed, Cissy? Have you been
transgressing again ?"
" Yes, Kobert. Mrs. Saunders asked me,
to tell Mr. Dacre," she answered.
"And yon will be ill for a week in conse
quence. I shall ask Mr Dacre to write the
story, to .save another repetition of it. You
know we wish yon to forget all about it,
dearest."
'lt was too horrible for that,' she said,
dimply. And then the Squire turned to
me and made the request, of which this
tale is the fulfilment.
THAT our lives may be right, we are to
put our hearts under right influences ; and this can
be done in almost numberless ways.
WOOD-SAWYER'S SOLILOQUY. —"Of all the
saws I ever saw to saw with. I never saw a saw to
saw as this saw saws
REOARDtESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER.
' Three Nights in a Robber's Den.
I BT ARUE AN CHUM.
I had left Rocky Steep behind me, and
1 we proceeded at a rapid rate in the direc
! tion of Rathstone, which place I expected
to reach at nightfall, when upon turning a
bend in the road, I came upon a weary
1 looking and gray old man. He was plod
! ding slowly along, a bundle hanging on a
: stick slung over his shoulder, a slouched,
| weather stained, felt hat covered his grej
head, and tattered garments clinging mer
cifully around his shrunken and attenuated
body.
As 1 approached he turned his head and
cast a sharp and grey eye upon me, run it
quickly over 1113- horse and person ; and
then, as il fearing his scrutiny would be no
ticed, hp turned away his eyes and plod
did slowly on. In a moment I had reached
his side, and looking down as 1 checked
my steed to a walk. I saluted him with :
" A good day, friend. Have you travel
led far ?"
" N ear a score of miles since sunrise, a
good step for an old man like me to do,
stranger," and he looked up at me frankly
with a peculiar smile 011 his dark and with
ered face.
" You must have moved at a sharper
gait than that to cover so much ground." I
answered.
" Neither slower nor faster, stranger ;
steady walking makes its mark. Why
don't you buckle your girth, stranger ?"
I looked down as he spoke, hut from my
position could not see the difficulty lie men
tioned.
" Wait a bit an' I'll fix it."
I drew up ray horse, and he, laying down
his stick and bundle in the road, approached
my animal, and grasping my girth procee
ded to fumble around it. Suddenly he
grasped me bj- the ankle, and with a mad
wrench and a heave, hurled me from the
saddle ; then springing upon my breast,
grasped me by the throat and sought to
throttle me. 1 now knew he was not the
character he pretended to be.
Though terribly surprised, I did not for
a moment lose my presence of mind. I
gathered all my powers for a struggle,
which, to me, was for life or death, for well
1 knew that the villain with whom I was
engaged, was one ol the many assassins
that frequented the deserted back roads
with which the outskirts of Jersey then
abounded.
I had in my saddle bags and about my
person a large amount of bunk notes and
gold placed in my hands as collector of the
house of Stenworth Co. 1 was likewise
well armed, but for the present my arms
were useless. 1 therefore held out plenty
of inducements to robbers, and one, at least
seemed determined to profit by it.
Our struggle for a few moments was
fierce uud wild. The robber seemed pos
essed with demon strength, aud he used it
with reckless ferocity ; but the assassin
fought for gain—l for life. He was over
matched, for with a herculean force I hurled
him over, and forcing my neck with a mad
effort from his clenched hands, 1 placed my
hand upon his face, planted my knee upon
his breast, and then seizing him by the
neck-cloth, I drew up his head and jammed
it down upon the hard, rocky road, stunn
ing him instantly.
In a few moments 1 had him securely
bound, and slinging him across the saddle,
I mounted behind, and rode as rapidly as
my burden would permit, in the direction
of Kathstone. 1 was anxious to reach that
place, for there I had agreed to meet a few
friends—gay boys—with whom I had prora
ted to spend a portion of my time before 1
should return to New York.
I had proceeded, however, but a few
miles when the sky grew dark and I heard
the low rumbling of distant thunder. In a
tew moments large drops of rain came pat
tering down, and the trees that lined the
roadside swayed heavily in the breeze. A
great storm was coming on. 1 looked round
for a place of shelter, and began to debate
within myself whether or not i should give
liberty to my prisoner, 1 descried, standing
from the road a quarter of a mile distant, a
very straggling looking dwelling, and in
that direction I turned my weary beast.
The storm was now at its height, and the
rain was pouring fiercely down as my horse
splashed his way through the fast increas
ing rivulets. In a few moments I had ay
rived near the house, the appearance of
which nearly induced me to continue my
journey. The fast coming darkness, how
ever, determined me ; so turning to the
door 1 dismounted, and lifting my prisoner
to the ground—the rain had now revived
him—l knocked lustily for admittance.
While waiting I looked about me at the
bleak and dismal prospect. The house, or
tavern as it proved to be, was old and
weather stained, some distance faun the
road, half surrounded by broken and rotten
trees. On one side a steep ledge of rock,
which cast a deep gloomy shadow upon the
tavern, on the other dark lonesome woods.
Ere I could notice more the door opened,
and a most villainous looking personage
appeared. \\ hen he looked upon my pris
oner he started and turned deadly pale;and
as 1 turned to the robber and looked into
his face, I found him gazing at the man in
the doorway and talking with his eyes. No
tongue spoke plainer. A shudder passed
through me. I was firmly convinced that
the robber and landlord both understood
and knew each other. However, I gave no
sign to indicate my suspicion, but turned
to the man in the tavern and said :
"1 desire accomodations here until the
storm is over, and secure quarters for this
man, who sought my life but a short time
since. lie is a robber, and I demand your
assistance in securing him."
" All right, stranger; ye can have it, and
shelter, too, if ye yay for it."
"That 1 intend to do," said 1, entering
the tavern, leading my prisoner.
The room in which I found myself was
long and narrow, with a counter at one end,
behind which were a few black bottles
which I supposed contained liquor of dift
erent kinds.
There was likewise a good lire blazing
on the open hearth, fed by shrubby and rot
ten branches, around which were seated
three men each holding a tin-cup, two of
which contained rum. The third, having
disposed of his was now proceeding to iii
bar. These meu all seemed to have been
gambling, for the cards still lay upon the
tahle, which was drawn in close proximity
to the fire.
They gave a start of surprise as I ap-
peared in company with the robber, hut
soon recovered themselves, looked at each
other and grinned broadly. Again I gazed
at the robber, and found the same talking
expression ir his eyes. It now struck me
for the first time that I was in a robber's
den.
As this conviction came upon me, I felt
for a moment like retreating to the door,
mounting my horse and making the best of
my way from the place. But this action I
felt, on reflection, would tend to precitate
matters for I felt if the robbers knew my
suspicions, they would not allow me to
leave the place alive. So putting as good
a face upon the affair as I could, I pulled
up a chair to the fire, and ordering supper
for both myself and prisoner, proceeded to
dry my saturated garments by the cheerful
Maze.
In a few minutes it was ready—a coarse
and homely meal, yet tempting to a hun
gry man Having disposed of the edibles,
1 demanded to be shown to a room. The
landlord led the way, and leaving the pris
oner in charge of the men below I quickly
followed. I now felt firmly convinced that
bj' a strange accident, he was in the hands
of his comrades, and would soon be at lib
erty and ready to take summary ven
geance 011 me for the treatment he had re
ceived.
The rascally looking landlord, having
pointed to my room, lit a bit of candle, and
proceeded back to the tap-room.
I entered the chamber, and after closinj;
the door and carefully locking it set down
my candle upon a wretched table standing
in one corner of the room.
The room was very poor. The walls
were bare, also the floor. An old rickety
bedstead occupied one corner of the cham
ber, 011 which was a flat, hard looking bed,
with a very dirty counterpane. A cracked
glass hung above the table, and that with
the articles above mentioned, was all that
the room contained.
I looked around the apartment in vain for
a chair. Not finding one, I sat down upon
my bedside to meditate upon my position.
.My first action was to examine my weapons,
consisting of a revolver, bowie knife and a
small pistol—highly valued as a present—
which was very useful, and was never
known to miss fire. These I found to be
all right and then returned them to my
pockets.
1 was about to throw myself upon the
bed, as 1 had no intention of undressing,
when my attention was attracted by a quick
flash of a lamp before my window. I look
ed out and beheld two men entering the
stable and in a moment more they appear
ed leading my faithful animal. One of the
uarties holding the horse was the robber
whom 1 had just captured.
My suspicions were thus practically dem
onstrated.
The time for action had now come. What
course chould I pursue? In a moment my
mind was made up. I could not get to my
horse without detection,'md could not leave
my room except by dropping from the win
dow, or passing from it into the tap room
below--doth of which places of egress
would render my detection certain. I de
termined therefore, to remain, aud holding,
as I did, the lives of seven men in my hands,
made up my mind to sell my own as dearly
as 1 could. The first thing I did was to
barricade the door. For this purpose I used
the bed, which was easily and silently
wheeled from its corner. Having fixed it
as firmly in that position as 1 could I se
cured the windows and then cast myself
down upon my hard couch to wait the issue
of events.
The night crept rapidly on. Soon the
full round face of the moon come up grad
ually in the sky, peeped in at the window,
and cast its broad white reflection upon the
floor, the walls and everything around. It
was a propitious sign, for my candle was
flickering in the socket, and as the moon
light appeared it fell sputtering from its
place. My room was light as day, and 1
thanked God that if 1 must fight to defend
myself, I could at least see the persons
whom I had to contend with.
One, two and three hours passed away,
and no noise broke the heavy, burdensome
stillness of that night of terror. I lay rest
less and weary upon the bed, I felt that it
was verging into midnight, and knew if 1
was attacked at all it would be at that
time.
I was about to rise from my bed and walk
about the floor, when, I heard the stairs
creaking beneath heavy steps ; then caine
a pause ; then suppressed whispering; then
the walking was resumed. In a few min
utes it had reached the door—a hand was
laid gently on the latch—it was turned—a
pressure was made against it—it resisted
—the hand was taken away and the whis
pering resumed. After a short time I heard
another noise—the inserting of a key in the
lock but it was opposed by the key inside.
They pulled it out and inserted something
else. In an instant the lock flew back with
a loud noise, and the door was pushed in.
It opened about a quart* r of an inch, and
then struck the bed ; it was pressed again
—the bed still resisted. Disguise was use
less. With loud curses the robbers threw
themselves against the door and forced it
open several inches.
Now or never was the time for action, I
sprang on my knees to the side of the bed
next the door and presented my revolver to
the opening au I cried :
" Budge another inch this way and you
die !"
I spoke in a cool determined tone ; and
the robbers knew that death was in it, for
they retreated from the door and paused a
little way off in whispered conversation.
They seemed at last to arrive at some con
clusion, for I heard one of them run rapidly
down the stairs. In a little while he re
turned, and I wondered what they were
about to do.
In a moment I received a most practical
answer,for,with one swift and furious blow
with an axe, or other hammer-like instru
ment, the door was battered in, the splin
ters flying in all directions.
My position on the bed was now render
ed insecure. I sprang to the floor just in
time to avoid the axe,flung madly at me by
one of the enraged robbers, and in return 1
let fly the hammer of my revolver and brain
ed him on the spot. The battle now com
menced in earnest, and I well know it was
my life <>r theirs. I therefore dopped upon
my knees, that I might not be made a tar
iret of by the robbers, and thus shielded
partly by the bed. I waited for further act
ion.
per Annum, in Advance.
■ I eyed keenly the place made in the bro
-1 ken door, determined to fire at the first that
made his appearance ; at the same time to
exercise the greatest care with my shots,
which if I expended uselessly would render
my capture sure,as I had no more ammuni
tion. 1 had one great advantage and that
was, if the robbers were bold enough to at
tack me in the room, they must climb over
the bed, doing which they would place their
lives in imminent if not in certain danger.
This the robbers seemed to understand, for
they hesitated a long time before proceed
ing furl her.
At last they moved away, and seemed to
have wisely concluded to let me alone for
the time, for, after a whispered conversa
tiou, they went slowly down the stairs, and
in a little while all was still. 1 waited pa
tiently to see if the attack would be resum
ed. An hour passed—then two, three; and
I at last the gray streaks of dawn appeared,
j and the warm sun soon arose in all its
j bright glory, finding me pale, haggard, nud
worn from my terrible vigil.
Two hours dragged on. I waited, every
minute expecting the appearance of the
! robbers. They came not, and 1 began to
| wonder what were their intentions regard
ing me. It was noon, still no one came ;it
was past the noon hour, and still it was si
| lent as before. At times I could hear a low
talking, which came to my ears from the !
yard. What in the name of Heaven, did
they intend doing ? Ha ! The thought
passed through my braiu like a bulletof lire
—they icere going to starve me out! The :
fearful thought nearly unnerved me. I lean
ed for a moment against the wall as the ;
idea came upon me. Now for the first time !
I experienced the pangs of hunger. I had
eaten but little the previous day ; it was
| now verging into night, und I had tasted j
nothing, and another night of terror was !
approaching. I stood looking from the win- '
dow, thus thinking, and noticed the grow
iug darkness. A great storm was rising, j
for the sky was growing very dark, and i
masses on masses of great clouds began j
gathering in the northwest, and a strong '
wind was blowing. Soon the rain began
falling ; it made my heart beat heavy and !
slow for 1 was alone and nearly helpless.— j
My room was very dark, for I had no moon j
to c.ieer me as on the last night. All was j
darkness and apprehension. At times the !
lightning would flash in the window, illu- 1
minating for a time around : then again all j
would be dark and still. 1 stood at the I
window listening, straining my sense of 1
hearing to catch above the din of the storm
the sound of approaching footsteps—for I !
thought that, at times, I could discern amid ;
the thickness, the forms of my enemies, j
crouched beneath the bed stead or climbing
over it upon me.
It was a night of horror. Certain death
stared me to the face—a dreadful death, for
I knew they would fearfully avenge their
slaughtered comrade who fell before my re
volver at the second attack upon the door.
And I stood trembling and thinking upon
the fate in store for rne.
At last, overcome by my loneliness, ex
hausted and hungry, I determined to sell
my life as dearly as possible, and rather
than be starved out I would meet them bold
ly—die fighting or make my escape. In
lurtherence of this idea, I slowly raised my
windoy and looked out upon the storm and
darkness. One look convinced me that by
the window escape was hopeless, for on the
threshhold of the stable were seated two
men, with a lantern before them, carefully
shielded from the storm. From the small,
red fire that would brightly glimmer every
second, 1 knew they were smoking. The
other two, then, must be sleeping while
these two remained on watch.
I was fast growing reckless and despe
rate, 1 knew that by another day I should
be so exhausted that 1 would be an easy
captive ; I therefore looked down on the
men for a moment, raised my revolver,
took deliberate aim at one of the robbers,
and fired. He bounded from his seat
and fell down a corpse. Then the
door of the tavern opened, and the land
lord and two other robbers rushed confus
edly out. 1 could hardly see them in the
darkness, but I had still four shots in my
revolver, not counting my pocket pistol
and bowiekuife, and i determined to try
another. Straining my eyes and pointing
my revolver, 1 fired -a low cry, loud cur
ses and execrations, and all was still. 1
would now have dropped from the window,
but I well knew they stood in the doorway
of the tavern, and if I did so 1 would be
killed. I paused. The night passed slow
ly away ; the storm began to subside. I
stood at the window, my face burning hot,
my limbs cold and shivering. The morn
ing peeped in to cheer me, and again I
thanked God. Bang! the window glass
fell in my face with a crash—a bullet whis
tled past me. My shadow had been seen,
but 1 was unharmed. 1 retreated to anoth
er corner of the apartment and crouched
down, for I was weak and sinking fast. 1
waited the approach of morning.
Morning at last dragged itself in ; the
sun arose and pointed its beams through
my broken window. I crept forward to
warm myself in its reflections, etili crouch
ing down with my hands elapsed about my
knees. My lips were now parched and dry,
and I shook as though with an ague fit ;
my revolver dropped from my hands for
they were hot and trembling. 1 crawled
to the window. Raising myself 1 looked
out and saw some thimblesful of water in
the worn creases of the window ledge ; I
sucked it in and once more crawled to my
"sunny reflection." I had that day a pre
sentiment that night would end my sufl'er
ing—whether by death or escape I could
not tell—but I felt it was so.
Did I before have any doubt an to the
intentions of the robbers, it was no longer
questionable. That they had determined
to starve me out was now certain. Nearly
the whole day I heard nothing, except now
aud then the closing of a door, or the loud
tones of parties in conversation ; but even
this incidental noise soon ceased, and all
was still as the grave. All this time I felt
myself growing weaker. Hunger gnawed
unceasingly at my bowels, and my thirst
unslacked for nearly three days, became
so intense that my tongue rattled against
my teeth and the roof of my mouth like a
dried bone.
My agony was fearful, but I bore up
against it with all my powers of mind and
body ; still I felt myself failing fast, and I
knew that my end was near.
Noon had long passed, and night—the
third night—was again approaching. Oh
what agony I experienced as 1 saw the
sun sinking fast from my sight! I arose
from my crouching position, and moved
uoisleßsly to the window to wet my dry
lips and tongue on the damp board. While
there I looked out, and away off on the
long road leading to the tavern I beheld
two horsemen. On, on they came at a
rapid pace, facing directly for the robbers'
den. I pulled out my handkerchief and
waved it widely in the air. The horsemen
saw it, while I, like the condemned wife of
Bluebeard, still waved my flag, and felt
that my time of deliverance was near.
The clattering of the iron shoes in front
of the tavern brought forth the landlord,
and he held the horses while the riders
leaped to the ground—the very men I prom
ised to meet at Rathstone--the "gay dogs"
mentioned in the early part of my narra
tive.
I shouted from the window—they looked
up, darted into the tavern pistol in hand,
and were soon in the room. I fell back
faint and weak. They clasped rne in their
arms, and brought me down stairs, and in
a short time I revived. The robbers had
left the place, but the landlord remained ;
and when my friends demanded the cause
of my captivity, he said he was helpless in
the hands of the robbers, and was compell
ed to do as they desired. He showed us
three new made graves in the rear of the
house, where lay the robbers who fell be
fore my revolver.
I ate a light meal, and then my friends
told me the cause of their timely appear
ance. They knew the road that I was to *
! travel was the most infested by robbers of
all the roads in Jersey, and when I failed
; to meet them at the appointed time, they
| surmised the reason, and without delay
I came and rescued me from impending death.
I shall never forget my terrible sojourn in
j "the robber's den."
NUMBER 38
I j SECCREI.Y BURlED. —Attilla died in 45B, and
. was buried in the midst of a vast plain, in
a coffin, the first covering of which was of
. gold, the second of silver, and the third of
iron. Along with the body were buried all
| the spoils of his enemies, harnesses eurich
ed with gold and precious stones, rich
stuffs, and the most valuable articles taken
: from the palaces of the kings which he had
| pillaged : and that the place of his inter
ment might not be known, the Huns put to
death, without exception, all those who had
! assisted in his funeral. The Goths had
| previously done the same for Alaric, who
I died in the year 410, at Cesenza, a city of
j Calabria. They turned for some days the
I course of the river Yasento, and having
i caused a trench to be dug in its former
] channel, where the stream was usually
| most rapid, they buried the king there,
j along with immense treasures. They put
i to death all those who had assisted in dig
! ging the grave, and restored the stream to
its former bed.
"I. H. S.''—They tell a story of Bishop
| Southgate which is too good to be lost,
j He. as all who know him know, magnifies
| his office and much of his talents. Some
| chums of his who knew him in his earlier
1 days made a visit to his cbmch to look on
| the dignity that they used to chase over
| hills and help over tall places in his lessons,
j The visitors were plain country- persons
: from away down east, and never knew
j much of fashionable churches, or the syrn
i bols that are placed on altar-cloths and
| chancels. On entering the church they
; saw the well-known initials, I. 11. S., in a
: conspicuous place. One said to the other,
i "there just look at that. Just like him. Got
his name up, 1, Horatio Southgate.''
FUN, FACTS AND FACETIE.
YOUNG gentlemen who would prosper in
j love should woo gently. It is not fashionable tor
i young ladies to take ardent spirits.
You have no business to havi* any bu*i
j ness with other people's business, but mind your
j own business, and that is business.
, THERE is so much difference between good
poetry and line verses, as between the smell of n
flower garden and a perfumer's shop.
A DANDY is a chap who would be a lady
if he could : but as he can't, does all he can to
show the world that he is not a man.
THE most intangible, and therefore the
worst kind of lie, is a half truth. This is the pe
culiar device of a conscientious detractor.
AN ungrateful man is detested BV all ;
everybody feels hurt by his conduct—it operates so
as to throw a uamp upon generosity.
A MAN should never be ashamed to own
that he has bee l in the wrong, which is hut saying
in other words that In is wiser to day than he"was
yesterday
AN eastern editor said that he had a pair
of hoots so tight that they came very near making
him a Uuiversalist—because lie received his pun
ishment as he went along.
A I.ADY of rank complaining that her hus
band was dead to fashionable amusements, he re
plied. "lint then, my dear, yon make me fully
alive to the expense.'
YOUTH, especially female youth, gives a
poetic tinge and a softened.coloring to its sorrows:
thus the sea. when the morning shine 3 upon it. is
covered, even in the storm, with rainbows.
NATURE and reason direct one thing, pas
sion and humor another. To follow the dictates of
the two latter, is going iuto a road that is both end
less and intricate. When we pursue the other, our
passage is delightful, and what we aim at is easily
attained.
A COMPROMISE. —A minister traveling at
the West found himself obliged to continue his
journey on the Sabbath, in order to meet his ap
pointment for preaching, He hesitated about hir
ing a conyevance, hut Anally did so, saying to him
self, "I will compromise the matter by talking to
the driver, as we go along, on the subject 'of religion!'
A Frenchman cannot pronounce "ship."
The word sounds ' sheep" in his mouth. Seeing
an iron-clad, he said to a boy,' 'ls this a war-sheep?"
'■No," answered the boy ; "it is a ram."
DURING the 1 search for female compositors
it is reported that the following dialogue too place.
"Good morning, Mr. Henpeck. Have you any
daughters that would make good type-setters ?"
"No, but I have a wife that would make a good
devil."
A LEARNED Coroner, the other day, being
asked how he accounted for the great mortality this
year exclaimed, "I cannot tell : there are people
dying this year that never died before."
A London tradesman told a youth in his
shop to write in large letters on a sheet of paper,
"Wanted : a stout la las light porter." The next
day he was astonished to see the legend displayed.
—"Wanted, a stout lad as likes porter."
POOR WIDOWS.— We do not think that
there is any thing amiss in a poor widow being at
tached to any good looking man, during this cold
winter, if she be bound to him by cords of irood, as
a donation.
"THE QUICKER THE BETTER." —A gentleman
was one day arranging music for a young lady, to
whom he was paying his attentions. "Pray. Miss
D.." said he, "what time do you prefer?" She re
plied carefully, "any time will do, but the quicker
the better."
"WHY are there so few covvicts in the
Michigan penitentiary this year?" asked Sam's
frieni, a day or two since. "Why," said Sam,
"they send "them by the Pontiac railroad, and their
time expires before they get there."
HUMAN existence hangs upon trifles. What
is beauty without soap.
THE strongest love will feel, and then for
give the greatest faults againßt itself ; while the
repetition of many little offences against friendship
wound and fret deeply ; so that we often owe to
them a disposition adverse to all mankind, that
upon trying occasions makes itself the mirror
where all are reflected.