rAtco.toltam 6erritson, Praprittors.
rcidect Votirg.
•• ACROSS TILE, STREET.
At evening when the meal is ended
That marks my daily duty o'er,.
And "restwith plcasure :may be blended,
I seek the threshold - Of my door,
'To watch for ene.ihose daily coming
A pleasure it has grown to greet— •
A modest maid, Who has been rooming
A little While across the street.
Though humble she has pride of beauty,
Though poor, a wealth within her eye
To win a saint from path of duty,
And who is more that mortal, I
Could never niore resist her glances
If nearer we should chance to meet,
But, p.shaw•! against me are the chances- 7
She-dives and loves, across the -street.
She wears a dress of pink, with trimming
Of whitest tape across the breast, '--
The shadow of her full.neck 'dimming
The charms that just beneath it rest.
My careless eye will often wande:r
In•dreamy search for some rare treat,
And waking find that she is 'yonder,
And I am here, across the street.
Each evening does she bring her sewing,
And sit her blrc the window -2 s side, .
The slyest glance on me bestowing,
Which seems to'irry, a willing bride
I won shall be to him whose shadow •
• Just lengthens from t safr.retreat
4 Gainst prying eyes that would like to know
The secrets of across.the street.
Alt : yes, I see, a noble fellow,
With manhood's stamp upon his brow;
Ye latest styles and kids of yellow. •
Where is your vaunted prowess noyer ?
The naked, hardened hand of labor
has won the prize, and ye are beat ;
Arts, all are lost upon my neighbor,
And nature reigns across the street.
'4l - :tisttliantoits.
G.ARROTLVG A: VD MARRYLVG.
in: R.:7SALIE GRAY.
Max. LEAVITT sat for some time; her face
busied in her liand r evidently.lost in thought,
then turning to her companion, a young man
who boarded in the same house with herself,
.Le raked,
. .
"Do eon know htiw I could get a. couple
of young Indies - gently garroted t"
Madam I" exclaimed the gentleman ad
dressed," what did you say':"
" I inquired," replied Mrs. Leavitt, with
the utmost coolness," if you could tell the
how to Lave two young ladies, friends of
mine, slightly garroted.'
Mr. Danville fixed upon his coMpanion a
scrutinizing gaze, he always regarded her as
being very peculiar and original, but be was
not prepared for anything like this even from
her.; when she first uttered the sentence he
thought he must have misunderstood her
words, but when a repetition of it convinced
him that he was not mistaken, he began to
regaid - her an escaped lunatic, and thought
of calling her husband to her aid - , when she
proceeded .to explain herself.
"I see ‘ that you are astonislied,Mr.Danville
'aria well \rou might te, for I know that my
proposition is a very strange one ; but the
reason I a.sked this is—l have two orphan
neices who Ste very lonely, and their only
comfort seems to '>e in gain: , to church - not
content with attending regglarly on the Sab
bath, they insist upon going to ;di the even
ing meetings. As they are the only members
of the family now g, they of course have
no brother to accompany them, and are usu
ally obliged to go alone. ' They are boarding
with some friends of theirs, who resides quite
.a number of squares from their church, and
some of the streets 'through which'they pass
are dark and very lonely." .
" I should consider Ant exceedingly un
safe," tetnatke , i Mr, Danville
"lt is," seplied Mr:. Leavitt, "find I have
told them so, but their courne never ,seems
to fail,thev only. laugh at'my fears and reply,
Ohl we arc not afraid." What \ tnakes it
still more dangerous is, that they. are both of
them very pretty, and I live in daily fear of
bearing:that they have been carried off; or nOw
that garroting is so fashionaLle, perhapk they
will experience the pleasure of that."
" But you have become impatient at
-find
ing that your fears are not verified, and wish
to hasten matters yourself," remarked her
companion, laughing, as her meaning broke
upon him.
"Yes, I think I would be liknly to Lave it
done rathermore pleatiantly than a stranger
would."
"Or disagreable 'I should think," re
marked the gentleman smiling.
-" Well, at any. rate,"continued Mrs.Learitt
"I think jf they are once garroted it will cure
them o? all de.,ire ever again to expose them
selves to the samedanger, and now I should like
to hare you recominend some intelligent
. per
son who would be willing, for the sake of a
remuneration, to do what I desire; one
who is rather ferocious looking, and whose
appearanee would add to their terror would
do 'best."
"But what do you propose
,that Fball
do with himself after he has accomplished
the laudable work of terrifying two -unpro
tected ladies—be seized by the crowd who
are always: ready to gather upon the slightest
shriek tried and condemned to the state
prison p
" Oh, no," replied Mrs. Leavitt," you must
find some one who will be bright enough to
escape. I will tell' you my whole plan, for it
is pretty deeply laid. The shorter of these
two young ladies is to be attacked, fur she is
younger than her sister, and not ouite so
courageous. Constance, I know, will stand
pj her and defend her, if she loses her lift in
attempt, They will not scream if they
' t itilloqibly avoid it, for they shrink from
pu4licitA cud before they recover, froin their.
Surprise, sufficiently to call for aid, even if
they wish to do so, the riaatt , ;night become •
alarmed at some sound and run away. My
neices then would doubtless return as quickly
'as possible twilit:3r hom, and never Again
leave it after dark unaceprnpanied by a -gee
geuan. I think 'a man Who is ; not very, stir ,
rxtight easily. effect Iris escape." •
yery likely he could, and I kuoiv of 'a
person I think, will do up the. business
nicely. I will have him around here to-mor
row evening, that you may see whether you"
think him sufficient ferocious looking: said
Mr. Dativille,,who had now become very
much interested in the two orphans.
" Thank t you, it. will certainly take a great
load - off mr mind to know that Constance
and Flora have been frightened into behaving
themselves." ---`
The nest evening, when our two friends
were sitting together in the drawing room,
Danville arose and raying thathe would
bring in his highwaymen, left the room.—
Mrs. Leavitt turned to her husband and in
quired b l ow he liked her plan f
"Are you not afraid the fright may injure
them f"
„
"Oh, no, indeed i-they have to much cour
age for that.”
" I don't. think Flora has very much," re
plied Mr. Leavitt," she is urged on by Con
stance, who, I believe, wculd not shrink from
6, whole regiment of armed soldiers. How
should you like tote faced by a savage look
ing man, with no means of defending your
self?"
'• It certainly would not be very pleasant;
but if these evening rambles of theirs are not
stopped in some way, I feel sure that_, they
will be garroted in earnest, and this----"
Her sentence. was ended by a shriek,as the
apparition - of a fierce-looking individual en
veloped in a cloak, suddenly presented itself
fefore her.
"Is this Mrs. Leavitt I" was uttered in a
deep, harsh voice by the stranger.
" Yes," untied the lady ; " are "you sent by
Mr. Danville !"
• The answer was in the affirmative. -Mrs.
Leavitt gazed for a moment on his thick, -
black locks,partially concealed by a sloue-hed
hat ; his •massive whielers, and- what little of
his dark mottled skin was visible; not being
covered with hair ;his sham eyebrows gal- - e
a sinister expressiOn to a pair of large, black
ex-4'2s : and the long • hair of his moustache
almost concealed his lips; his person was tali,
and rather stout, and in his hand ho carried
a pistol and an instrument r gnrroting.
"You will answer very well,' said Mti.
Leavitt. " ltas Ur. Danville given you in - -
structions,'
"Do vOu 'think- lam ferOCiouslooking r
was lauioagly asked, Its the stranger - pro
ceeded to i dtsrobu_ himself of his cloak, hat
Wig, moustache., eyebrows, and a pnttion Of
hi: whiskers,' and then .with Id s...handkerchief
wiped away the charcoal with whiCh he had
besmeated his face.
• it •
" Why, Mr. Danville: 1 hr.l sure I pever
should have recOznized, you—you. 'make a
Most excellent highwttvtnart.”
Mr. Leavitt also looked up in surprint as
he exclaimed, "quite a incLarnorph,:pbi,. 1.
Lever should
,discover your chestnut curls and
neatly trimmed whiskers through that mass
of straight blank hair,"
" Well madam, wlien shall I start on my
errand , of darknez-s?"..
" YoW had better go now," she replied,
looking at her watch, " this is their evening.
Station yourself in B— street, that is the.
darkest and loneliest throwdi which they
pass. You will know them by their being
dressed in -black, and going atm-in-arm."
Our hero again donned his disgnise, .and
taking up his weapons he remarked " I carry
a pistol—not loaded—with which to fright
en'the crowd, should one gather,' and he left
the house, it must be confesSed with a heavy
heart, for the preservation of the lives of these
'..iounfr, ladies, that somethi sh.iuld be (lone
t ne, •
s' p. their evening. Walks, yet he di,l
not of
till rlish the idea acting the part which he
had chosen t however,he was not one to give
up anything he und6rtook, and he therefore
proceeded toward the spot indicated by his
friend.
Let us now turn to the young Lathes who
are to take a prominent part in our story.
Oh, Corstance, how I do wish we bad a
brother," said Flora ; " here we come to thin
•
dark street azain."
don% tiiink there is any reason for fear,"
replied her sister, " when- pople are attacked
it is usually. from a hope of. gain, and I am
sure no ono would ever imagine that two
young girls, walking Rione in the evening.
had anything very valuable with them."
" Pid you notice that dark looking; matt
in a cloak r' whiApered Flora; drawing still
closer to her sister, rind trembling violently.
" Yes," replied Constance, slightly alarm
ed," we bad better lintry home, I tiiiink it is
rather later than usnarr
And besides," added I'lora," there is not
another pion in sight. I am-I,' a chok
ing sensation prevented her from ).finishillg
what she was going to say.
Constance looked up and encountered - the
gaze 'ofa pair of dirk eyes, and as she• felt
the cold muzzle of a pistol placed upon her
forehead the color forsook her cheeks, and a
shudder passed over her.
-" Leave - fier, and fly for your life,' l said the
stranger, as he removed the pistol, and again
turned to flora, who was now motionless
with terror.
" Never !" exclaimed Constance, suddenly
inspired with new energy as she saw her sis•
ter's. helpless situation ; and before the enemy
had time to notice what was passing,she had
seized the pistol which beheld loosely in his
hand, and pointing it toward him, exclaimed
with a degree of courage which astonished
herself, "
." Leave us, or I'll shoot!" •
One moment passed in silence—it seemed
to our two beroihes an hour, so great was
their terror. The darkness of the night lent
an additional horror to the appearance of
this stranger ; a glance of those eyes held
them in bondage, so that could flight have
saved them, they would have been unable to
take one step forward. It was a scene for a
painter-there was Flora's• slight, girlish fig
ure clinging almost despairingly to her rs
ter ; the delicate, white lids drooped over
those soft blue eyes, for she dared not truSt
herself to look at the stranger, while the
long lashes rested on her pale cheeks. Be
side her, proud and erect, stood Constance . ;
excitement had added fire to her dark lus
trous eyes ; and her compressed lips bespoke
.a spirit of determination which it would not
be easy to subdue, while she steadily regarded
_the face of her _enemy,
Beneath the stern disguise of that dark
looking man,there beat a heart which was
throbbing violently under the weight of the
harsh task he was now performing. How he
longed to catch that noble girl in his arms
and press her .to his bosom,- but •he mu
finish the work he had undertaken in the
same apparently unfeeling . =Almeria which
4 hAtteommeroxi Re felt that Its had
t‘ WE ARE ALL EQUAL BEFORE GOD AND TUE CONSTITCTION.”—Jaines Buchanan,
Pantrast, ittssinlanita Canntn, Pennia„ - Ekarsban Panting, Zulg 23, 1857.
now carded it; far !enough to effect .bis pur
pose, and-suddenly, as if startled by some
noise, ho ran away, carrying with him his
garroting instrument. • • ,
Constance drew a long breath as she
ca
claimed, " Lle is gone ! Come, Flora, Let us
burry, we are almost home now."
But Flora did net answer, she could scarce
ly move ; Constance drew her arm around
her sister and half carried half 'dragged 'her
on. Had she known that he who'had caaused
her all this alarm was stealthily following her
at some little distance, and that ho watched
until be saw thenViafely home, it might have
had the effeCt , of considerably impeding her
progress. .
" How very late vett are this evening," re
marked one of the family, who met them as
they wore passing up to their own apart
tntist.
Yes;the s'ercices were longer than usual,"
replied Constance, in an agitated tone.
" You are not well to-night, are . you r'
continued her friend, nub° noticed her pale
cheeks.
" I don't feel very well," she replied, in as
cheerful a tone as she could assume, " but a
night's rest will cure me up," and. entering
her room, she closed and locked tie door.
Flora, who had all this time striven to keen
tip her energy, now fainted away in he sis
ter's arms. Constance laid her on the bed
and bathed her temples' with cold water.--
Presently she opened her eyes and quickly
inqui red :
" Where am I ! Oh, Constance i I have
had such a dreadful dream"--.-then as she
gazed at the pale face bending over her,mem
ory returned, and she added'` No, it was
not a dream, it was all real.'
U Yes, indeetl,". replied Constance, _ " it was
- fearfully real, but, Flora, let us say nothing
about this to aux . one, it would make us so
conspicuous, but we will give up going out
alone in the evening."
Flora agreed, and,with her sister's aid she
iindiessedLtTself, and was soon fast asleep.—.
But not so with Constance, for although - she
bad kept up Ler courage - while it was need
ed, her excitement had been the greater, and
now came the re-action. She lay in a fever
ish, restless state all nirrht, and in the tnor
ain,r; she was delirious: Flora sent fur the
doctor, and despatched . a note to her aunt
and then sat down by her iister's bedside,
trying, with the aid of ice; to relie4 the pain
in her head.
Mrs. Leavitt," said Mr. Danville,as
the two met in the drawingroom after break
fast," I have ot;eved tour orders, and I Think_
I have succeeded in frightening your nieces
into staving . at home; although, I can assure
you, I found it a most severe task to sustain
the character which I had • assumed n hen I
IV the terror of the young, ladies, the sight
was enott:7ll to melt a tnuracrer's heart, and
I felt vastly like revealing to them my true
character and motive."
" Well, I am sure I am very-much iudebt
ed to vou,' replied Mrs. Leavitt; " they ap
parcii to be very Much alartned Abell she
'• Miss Flora, did, but Miss Constance act
ed -her part nobly ; her sister could not hare
found a better protector as far as courage was
concerned. She must • be a very Eupelior
young' lady, and I should thiuk you • would
feel proud of her."
" VeF," replied her i.O t, " Constance
certainly a ti er fine girl, and 'whoever gets
her will have a treasure.."
. , .
' '. May I not have an introluction•to herr
asked Mr. Danville,
Ye• - :, I will invite them here to ten some
viy.nin- , . and introduce coy, and you can
. •
eqeort them home," aril with a smile she :hid
ed, " to protectihem from I..eing garroted."
Just then the waiter (tittered atid hanslea
her a note, which she quickly opened • and
read aloud— •
" Come, mr dear mint, to tee Constance,
sbe i< very haste, FLon A."
?dr. DAvilles cheek blushed as - he heard
these words. " What if she should die,"
thought be, and I shall have been the cause
of her death:" Ile would Lave been wiling
to have laid down his life could this undo I
the business of the preceding evening.
Mrs..Leavitt also trembled as she went top
stairs to put on her bonnet. When she came I
down our hero met her in the hall, and in a I
husky voice asked if he might go with her I
to the door. They passed , rapidly through
the streets,. and when they carne to the house
the doctor's gig was standing in front of it.
Mrs. Leavitt went in, leaving her companion t
outside. It seined to an age before the
doctor made his appearance. He paced hur
riedly
up and down the walk ; at one time
he seemed to see Constance dying, while- her
sister hung in agony over her death-bed; and
then he imagined those dark eyes closed
with the relentless grasp of death, while his
conscience whispered, " murderer 1" While
these scenes were passing rapidly through
his mind, the doctor, with a solemn tread,
descended the steps.
Mr. Danville approached
_awl inquired if
his patient was in much danger I .
Dr. .: ,, auimers - was one of those physicians
who alWays - make out that their patients are
in an almost dying condition, when they are
called in to them, in order that the cure may
seem the more marvelous, and he now replied
with an ominous shake of the head, " A pret
ty bad case, sir—a pretty bad case."
A dizziness came over the young matt,
and his brain seemed ou fire, but: be contin
ued, " What is the nature of her illness!"
" A high fever,
.brought on probably, by
excitement, for Ler sister tells The that she
has been :very much excited lately, and Lam .
afraid the feverimay go to her brain." -
Again a shudder passed through Mr. Dan
: ville's frame. The physician fixed - his gaze
keenly upon him, and as he drove off be re
marked,
" It strikes me, sir, that you look about as
sick as my patient up there, and I would ad
vise You to go home and doctor yourself
up."
The young man now proceeded to his
place of business, but the, hint he bad re
calved `about brain. fever was - . continually
ringing in.his ears, and his excitement had
made him so absent minded and so strange,
that his clerks could scarcely understand
him ; and when he ordered one of them to
him " the brain. fever," tljey . begun to
suspect that be had it already.. Ile apolo
gised .by sayinethat he was not very well,
and they went home to see if Mrs,. Leavitt
, had yet returned.. lie met her at the door
t.as she %ras_ going iu, and anxiously inqUired
I :st ter her niece. '
I " Oh, she is doing finely now," }aid :Mrs.
MMNI
Leavitt. " She has been quite ill. all day,
but when I left her she was ver y einforta
.
bhi."
" Is she out of danger yet V' he askl, en
" She toyer was in any danger,' ttat I
know of."
Mr. Danville could scarcely control him
self so great, was his joy. - " Why Pr. Sum
mers aeted'as if it were very doubtiol wheth
er she would ever recover."
" Oh, he is an old croaker ! tk e . poor child
was very much excited and fatigued with her
last night's adventure, but slfi will soon get
over it. I expect to lare gient both around
here to tea next week." '
Mr. Danville's face qui,.e brightened upon
receiving this information.• The next mor
ning he gave Mrs. Leavitt a bandsome bou
quet, with the request that she would hand
it to Miss Constance as a gift from herself.--
The lady smiled as, day after, day, flowers or
fruit were sent - to her Dift.)3 in the same way,
and it became very evident to her that her
young friend .. .was-acting the part of a gay
lover.
Impatientlv , he' counted the days ere he
should Meet her who was ever in his thoughts.
At length the wished for evening arrived.—
Mr. Danville Was introduced to the youner la
dies as they were going into - .tea, and their
aunt contrived to seat Constance nest to him
at the table. The peculiar'. circutristanc.
under which they.bad first niet, and the anx
iety on his part which had followed, had so
wrought-upon our hero that lie no found
himself passionately in love ; his agitation
beeameapparent to the young lady,arth l Ough
of course, she was utterly ignorant of its
cause. She noticed that his hand trembled
henever he helped - her to anything,pud she
.-..laticed at him in considerable _astonishment
when he invited her to .have some salt tir
hem egg, as there were no eggs on the table;
but he did not notice his mistake, and by
degrees ho recovered his self-possession. •
' In the course of the evening, Mrs. Leivitt
inquired, ." Do you still continue your even
ing promenades
.Nv i " replitAl Constaucep, - coloitg
. 1 1 Mir tot:" said her aunt.
" We came to the conclusion that it was
not quite safe."
" A very wise_ conclusion, certamly,'." re
plied her.
- aunt, then turning to Mr. Danville,
she inquired, " What do you think of these
two children going out alone in the even
ing
" I should think it rery unsafe indeed,"
was the reply " are you nut afraid ladies
that you will meet with - rough treatment ?"
Flora glanced at Constance as she replied,
" W e ate not goinmany more, I do not sup
vase it is quite safe!" f.
c'hat was the means of bringing you to
reason l" inquired their aunt, with pretended
innocence. -
"Oh, we. heard so much about garroting.
we were rather afrali it might be tried on
us:'
Mrs. Leavitt and Mr. Danville exchang,ed
meaninfr glanceS. .
When it came time for Constance and
Flora to return home, our young gentleman
offered his services. As they approached the
spot where the little tragedy already record
ed took place, he felt Flora's hand tremble.
while she unconsciously cht:ped his arm more
How ardently he. hoped that the
Cur e might come when he con.d . call her sis
ter, and when he could a1%1:1y5 render to her
the pre,tection of a brother.
Constance, I think Mr. Danville is a very
fine young min, don't you I"
"Yes," said Constance blushing," I sun•
pose he is."
" Bow much I Omni(' like him for a broth
er," continued her sister, slyly. -
" Why, what impertinence I intend tak
ing him for a brother myself."
" Oh, TJoia't thick he would be willing to
have you for a sister."
" Why, it was only the other evening, before
you came down, that he told me he thought
any rnan.who got you would have a little
treasure—what - do you think ofthat :—to me
it certainly looks very .suspieious."
" I hope he does not wish to get rid of me,
for I have a rod nice home ail planned out
In my imagination, where- you and brother
Lian;ille are topreside,and I am to come and
live with sou. "
Again.tc' ,nstance hlushcd, r.nd requested
her sister to stop ....liking nonsense, but Flora
was not to be put down so easily, -and she
continued, " This iA-cne of his favorite even
ins, I believe, I really must answer that la
ter to night, it h:ei been on ray mind for the
last three mon'tivt,so if that gentleman should
call, you ask him to-please excuse me as I,
rim very busy writing a letter, • will your
" tiora, don't be so perfectly ridicn
10U5, if Mr. Danville didn't wish to see vou he
would not ask for " the young ladies!'"
- 4 ' Oliyeil be would do that out of polite
" Well then you bad better be eTtnily
polite."
" But, Constance, jug think of that letter,
it is three months since I received it."
" You could not possibly put down your
book and answer it now, I suppose."
" No, Indeed ! that would not suit my
imrpose at all."
"I do reallythink;Flora, you might be
hai•e yourself, it would be- preposterous for
you to stay opt of the room, it would look
so strangely ; if you don't come into the
room I won't so now! I can write a letter
too."
" Oh, well then! I will come into the room
if that will satisfy yon, but I bate to be in
the way."
- In tae evening Mr. Danville called ; after
the three had been sitting together for a few
minutes,-Flora arose and remarked,
" Will you excuse me this, evening, Mr.
Danville, I hate a letter to answer which
received three months ago, and I am very
anxious to get it off my mind .1"
" Certainly," heriied.
The young laday caO a rnischievenslv tri
umphant glance at her sister, and left the
room.
It was - q•rite late in the evening when
Constance came up, and Flora saw that she
had been very much excited, she easily guess
ed the truth , and quietly siippp ° r her arm
around her neck she kitsed ber,.Constance
drew ber:down and embrated her fondly, as
she playfully whispered, • •
" D on 't tell my secret Flora,dear and you
shall hare jr. Daaiillo for a:brother."
" May Tr sail she, "and will you go to
.- .
I, house-keeping , and shall ' we all live there
together, and have a home of our own!" •
•` Perhaps you will have a home of your
own soon, for Mr. Danvile has a . brother to
whom, I
.beltevo,.he intends,makint you -a
present." .
" I won't
.be made a present to him, I . like
your Mr. Danville a great deal the best, and ',
I am-going to be an old maid, it is so nice
and respectable to - have ono old maid in the'
family ; what doei. he wish to rid of me
for, just as he is gOing to be my brother !"
• "He doseu't wish to,. get rid of you, be -
wishes to secure you and prevent any ono
else from running away with - you ; but no
matter, this Mr. Henry I)anville is probably
comlng to live with us, and 'i then you can
judge for yourself; he is travelling -iu Eu,-
rope now."
Time sped on rapid wingsand brought the
wedding day around. All looked brigtit and
happy—Flora.shed -a few toars,but they were
tears of joy, for she knew that she could trust
the happiness of her beloved sister to one who
was every
.way worthy ; and she promised to
have everything-ready, and- to be at her-new
home to receive her sister and brother on
their return froth their wedding tour. Henry,
who bad returned from Europe, in time for
'the wedding, and had readily agreed to his
brother's proposition about takine. up' his
abode with them, also' promised to be there. .
It was a snug little -family—those four
- and they bad merry times together. Oneev
• uing Mr. Danville remarked, .
, • " i.';onstauce, I am going to. send in an old
friend of yourS and Flora's to see you, I , ‘'Vill
Jeave Henry to introduce him," and he left
' the room.
I'Presently the door opened, and that- same
dark . -looking figure,which had once before so
excited' their terror, entered—there was that
1 same large cloak and slouched hat—the
same shaggy ;eyebrows and queer-looking.
moustache, - the scattered whiskers and dark
skin, but there was at that
. moment too much
!mischief in those blm:k eyes to al:ow of their
lookin , " ferocious.
The ladies uttered an exclamation of sur
priFe, and running toward hiM,:c‘ried, " Oh,
Mr. Danville pointed his pistol toward Con
stance as ho remarked," I - followed. to see that
you arrived safely hoMe that evening, and
when you dropped this pistol:in your fright,l
picked it up." at the same time he threatened
to garrote Flora ore. anin. • '
" 13ut }ghat in the world possessed you 'to
commence our acquaintance in - that way r
asked Constance.
And then her husband related to her the
‘4 11 ,- A e story,not omitting to mention how sire
had paid him back tale nextday, by the anx
iety she had caused him.
lienry,und Florat.Y . den:iv thought them
solves in the way, and they walked out upon
the piabi where the moon beaded upon
them in enl! beauty, and then Ilemy sought
and olitaiied from Flora permission to pro
ject herti''filture, from all garoters. They
`found it ida inviting outside, that for a long
Itime they forgot to return to their eompau-
I ions, and when at last they entered the house
ngais t io Mr. - D.inviile 'and Ma wire had retired
I to tliejr own apartment.
Flora souff,lit hers, and when she found:
herself alone. she burst into tears. Soon
Constance glided noisele , isly in. and taking
her sister in her arias, she pie d her cheek
fomil: to her, ae she whispered, Flora, dear
hare yon n7rK , .I to make Mr. Danville doub
fr.your brother?"
The, snug littic fliailv of which Mr. Dan
villa used to boast has divided itself; brit,
lir
ing next door to him; he has a brother and
sister. There is a gate betwen the two gar
._ I dens, so that the F. epnration is only in,the
name.
'tiotwitlist:rn(Png Flora's intention of be
ing a resreetable old maid, she allows Henry
to call her his wife. lie says that her bright
face and sunny temper are enough to turrif,
everything into ; while in .return, Flora,
thinks she has nuthin7 to make her otherwise
than bright and sunny.
Mrs. Leavitt frequently looks in upon
both families, and with considerable satisfac
tion she claims to herself the meiit of haying
been the means of bringinr , together two hap
py ecuplos, and wishes that all nightly at
tacks might have the same plea sant issue.—
And here we will ()top the curtain.
the San Frniie'teen Golden hri..
FIRST G N LIBERTY .
DY JACK, JR
. It was a delightful morning in September,
1855. The birds were pouring fourth their
cheerful notes front the branches of deciduous
oaks in strains of sweet music. Bright clouds
floated lazily the heavens, borne along by
a gentle breeze, which was fragrant with the
aroma of a fe'rtile region. -Immense droves
of cattle nipped the tender grass in quietude,
and nature seemed to be taking a peaceful
slumber, so silent was the vast solitude..
Quietly pursuing his way from the beauti
ful, meandering waters of the Colorado, was
a traveler, mounted on a - horse - of the . mus=
tang species, 'whose broad chest, sthall legs,
high Whiten., arched neck covered with - a
dense,
.r.linggy •marre, ssnzll ettez nod bright
eyes denoted both Speed and bottom. Before
him he drove n less valuable animal, laden
with articles necessary for anexpedition which
-had for Its object the exploration of the coun
try. It was his design, first -to visit the Rio
Gonzales, a. fine stream which . watered a
beautiful region known, at that time, as
Western Texas.
"tumors of war bad been current, but it
was not known that a largo Mexican force,
under Gen. Cos, was stealthily marching, by,
direction of Santa Anna, into the province of
Texas, by its - southwestern boundary, with a
view of concentrating at San Antomo.- Mee
who had settled in the country were pursuing
their ordinary avocations, little dreaming
that war, with all its attending evils, was so
near their hearth stones.
The solitary horseman (not James) was
leisurely journeying, taking ample time -t(i,
observe -the ref-ources of the ccuntry as he
passed through iti Towards night he halted
at a 'small house 'Cohabited by Americans.
After partaking of the wholesome cheer set
before him by the •hostess, the traveler was
about entering into a conversation relative to
the c.ountry, when a `messenger rode hastily
up and communicated the intelligence that a
force of ono hundred'men—a - detachment
from the army of Gen. Cos—hail arrived near
Gonzales, for the purpose' of seizing, a tram
field-piece which had been g„lyen to‘the in
hahltauts by Sauta Anna; for the better. do.
fence of the place against the attacks of the
Indians. '
Consultations Were* immediately UN by
the host, our traveler, and the mesenger,attd
it ; was at
; once determined to go- to the as'-.
siktance of the people of Gonzales, and, if
possible, prevent the cannon froin_ being re
moved by the Mexican troops. Consequently,
preparations werefor an earls departure
on the following morning. •
Daylight bad scarcely tinged the tree:tops'
with Aut:ora'e golden barns when a . party of
three left the ranch, and took the road
„lead
ing to the place ol threatened danger ficiirie
forty miles distant: 'Who may teWtbe thohglits
'that rushed through the.inipeWthese men,
one of. whom was our traveler, as they gal
lopped forward to the assistance of their
friends ? Ah l little did they then , think that
the scorching fire-brands of war were already
being lighted, that. would so soon fill: that
little world of Texas with its devouring flame !
Yet so - it indeed was.. The•shock of battle
and the crash of arms were speedily to re
sound through the length and breadth of
that beautiful and fertile land, until u3any„a
hard fought and loug-continued seige, should
attest the valor and supremacy of the . Amer
ican people. .
•
It was already quite dark when. the- party
arrived in the outskirts of the-town'. Others
had come in, so that a goodly number could
be mustered to act either upon the defensive
or offensive, eironmstences - might seem to
demand. The inhabitants had. slaughtered an
ox, which-was suspended from a neighboring
tree, and built a bp purpose
of
log-fire for the purse
of furnishing roast; beef to the infant army of
the Republic.. gfter securing their animals,
.the parties who bad recently come in, com
menced cutting off slices and throwing them
.into the embers; when as fast as they were
cooked, they were taken cut and eaten.
.The
evening was employed.in collecting scraps of
iron„, oldlog-eliaii.s, and such other. articles
as would furnish', -materials for the effebtual
working of the gun. CoMpanies wete . forthed
and officered; our 'traveler and a few others
undertaking the management of the field
piece. By midniglt, a force of'neaily ninety
men, arrr.ed with rifles, was assembled. , They
were' formed into a - hollow square, With
the field-piece in the centre: A clergyman,
whose name was Smith, then made an address
to the volunteers, in a bebomitig spirit, well
ing with einplia6is upon the justness -of, de,
tending themselres and property against tLY.
agres.sions of the‘ Mexicans, and the surety of
becoming eventually triumphant in -:the strug
gle which was - to take place; he, closed his
remarks by offerinl -, up a prayer to thtpivine
Being, imploring His protection during the
conflict which was expected to take place.*
Before he had closed his remarks, the moon
arose, and scattered her feeble light upon
-the earth, uiTording an opportunity for a-mid
night review.
It was nereed upon bt all th. the best
plan would be to' surprise the •ans, who,
one hundred strong, were encarty) d five miles
up the river, on the. opposite side, near a
much. AS. cc.eillingly the rt untee a wert
soon on tha march. When': bout midway
between Gonzales and - the e teampinent of ;
the enemy, the Texans w=o enveloped in:
a-dense fog, so that it was necessary to pro:-
cezd with great natition, to.avoid beingsur.
prised. Ariving within a short distance of
the ranch where lay the Mexicans, two men
were detailed to reconnoiter ilaeir position.
They had advance but a short diStanee, when
the sharp crack of a rifle was heard, and soon
one of the men came running trek with the
report that his comrade.liad beef" slain by the
enemy. The Texans, panic-stricken, imina
diatecy fled to the timber, which' was bet a
short distance oil, on their kilt, leaving
their field-piece on the ground. 'The Mem
cans being as badly frightened,-.retreated pre-.
einliatA;ly to an eminence in •the vicinity,
wirerfo they formed - in line of battle. • The
Texans, finding they were not attacked, soon
found their courage, and secured their can
nen: Safely' ensconsed in the thick Under
brush, they lay awaiting the approach
.of
day. A small party of liers.ernen were 0.6-
ployed as skirmishers. 'As soon as it began
to grow light, the man reported killed, came
in, who luid received no other damage than.
having his face filled with gunpowder. Ile
had approached so near 'the Mexican senti
nel beforelie had.nttempted to shoot, that be
caught held of the,gun and .elevatcd it, there
by saving his life.
Orders were now issued for-the volunteers
to fall in, outside the timber,
and soon they
were in readiness for; eturn: The skirmishers
having- become seperated- in the fog, irnag,
iced that each person they saw was en ene
my, for it.wasiimpossible to distinguish - friend
from foO:at a 'few! yards distance. Soon the
cries "Varrajo :Ifexicano," " Murrio," "La
Mucsta," &c, resouuded on every hand
and the fierce gallop of cavalry in all direc
tions, led the commander : of the volunteers to
suppose that the MexiCans were about to
charge upon -him. The, field-piece was fired
several times in rapid succession into {be -
ranks of the enemy, as was supposed, and then.
the men composing -the first rank were, or
dered to kneel, so that the rear - rank' might
fire over them. Tactics wore not well un
derstood by their commander. A .audden
gust of wind from the northwest cleared the
field of fog, and rerealeti the fact, That the
Mexicans were posted- above five hundred
yards distant, on an eminence that made up
abruptly from the plain ! A' few scattering
Mexicans, who were aCting as spies, quickly
lied to their quarters. _
After the mounted voluiate find 'joined
the main hotly, it was • deenied advisable by
those in command, - to attack the4l - ea:leans
and drive them from their position. Just as the
Texans were :bout doing so, a honernim ivas
Seen to leave the -ranks of the enemy, and to
ride with -great siked towards the Texan -vol
, unteers; waving hiw hat high above his head,
land shouting at the top Of his voice, "Don't
shoot ! Don't sheet" which :he continued
until be had gained the - rettr: • Be:proved to
be speculating-Yankee quack doctor, who
hail been sent •by the' Mexicans to . kty, that
"they did not wish to fight, as; theybelonged
to the Federalist Party and: were in fatur. of
the principles which the Texans espoused.
They had been sent :by General Cos to take
- the gun, but not to' do so by , fighting; they
were peaceably, disposed, - ate." . Ile _.was , told
to report to the Mexicans, that 'the . .Teiana
were ready and wilting to meet . their :Oineerit
The remark's muter hy the oratorkof theocca.
slop,- seemed to be prophetic, in their - character,
(or *-bloody conflicts soon after`tranSpired that
were foreshadowed by the Bpeaker..4'
tiolumt 14 Stniftir
.- - -
for the purpose of 'co feting on the atterii' -
in_,
and be departed for thpir lines. . •,-;.. -:. -,.., -_-...-
In the mean time the Texan force '
a few hundred yards tithe river i atatooks , ~•;.-
'position on the tight f the ranch, , : where i ..„.. s.
fo
better field was offered in ease an engitgenteni- , - •
should take place. Tr?.•-
e o ffi cers of each eeto
11
pany - -reet lAtween the r respective lines: The.... , :
Texan ollicers propose 4 to thelfeifeana,ihat '..
they should
command
their forces, and lefettek•
be
tinder the command f- its officers,-- atta• - to
make commoi4 \ can against Santa *ow;
To this • propositiOn t Mexican' offleeni . de.•• - • -',
murred, whereupothe Texanounman det:- -
said ho would eitherldo this or fight. - The
Mexican replied "-Tt \ he might do la IA:
h 4
pleased about thet,": nd - immediately isithi ,- „•-
drew. Th' • field-piect -was int' snediately put ,
in , requisition, and die barged at \ the enemy,- - -
and soon sent them 11 ng, in the &Realm of
Antonio, where - t ey .arrived Oa, saraei -
I day, as was afterwar ascertained ; though
, \
eerenty-five miles dist at ! - 4 0 ."\
. This is the en i gige ent spoken of itv slim \
: Willaril's History of 44xas ; and she itloor- -
reedy hdds, that," the lexicans were repulsed..
with loss;'• the only - ens.ssustained by them. •
consisted of some kat . -dozen blankets. 00 • .
f
is - also in error, in re ation' to - the , relative
strength of the Texans and Mexicans The
' or
man who fired the fits gun cannon at this
action, is now in this tate, and to him I stn
indebted for the -information em:hodied in the -
above account of the ommencement or ha-
tilities in Texas 2:•. -If e• reader is inquisitive -.
enough to , inquire e name of this id- -
diridul, I will state th4t he was the
Texan army ai)!Surl eon Joseph E. Fieldi
3
As • this person and. t at of our traveler are
identical, use need ttot articidarly state at this ,
time, what beeeme of the latter after the en- -
gagement. We will hay; hewerer, that I,he • - -
infant army, who her zi fought their maiden
battle, returned to Gonzales early in the af- '
ternoon, covered with ust
.if not with glory. -
Gonzales is to Texas, what Lexington is to
1:1
Urfele \ Snm's dominioni—the entire wedge of
the re s olution.llonOrlto •the hien whe;struelt
then and there for' Jibe ty and independence I
With the independenee of Texas, came the
war with Mexico, wh oh resulted in the ac
qu;sition of California, so I Gave thought that
California might be interested with , the de
tails of g Same of the mme- prominent of the
Texan engagements; t i nd this m:U.st, betriii
apology for penning the above._ - -
HOE WILLI 1M STE ONV.
As a sketch of the iire of our distinguishoa
candidates wrote 'Westing to all our
readers, we are satisfied that lie cannot poa.sl7
bly give anyting that will be moresatisfao7
tory to them than the. following very. catf
fully ptepared, and. - ettended notice 'Of the
11011. WILLIAU SLR - 0501 One of our , 1101inee9
for the Fitipreme Bench l ; which we iithe freak,
the
+ Pi ttsburg Post 1 . •
This gentleman, wini i was .ncinsinated -by the ~
Democratic State Coriltontion of the '9th: -
June, as one of the chndidates for the
preme Bench, was borrl . in . -Sot:dark Tolland-
county ConnectiCut, on lite 6th of
being the eldest of eleien children - that
born to his father, Rerq William - L. Strong, a,
congregational tlergYrnan, who was distitt.! •
gushed as a sound ths+lovian -and a man of
great piety and kart:ling. When quite a
youth . the subject ofoior sketch was sent -hyn.-
;his father,-who deterniihed that his children::.
should have an education, to school •in lion.:
son, Massachusetts, wh re he remained:- two.
years, at the . end of w ink time, .het Was re---
moved to an Acnoetn
nectieut, and continue
With ti.e view of carrling out his father*
intention, , in - the
y ear' 11824, he entered , the=
freshman clasi of YulelCullege. Dtuingthe
four years which he attended this 'celebrated
ihstitution of leaming,ilie was distinguished
by the industry and reularity of his Willits,
devotion to his scholas c duties,- and by: the
systematic . and reflect i ng toms of .his mind.
f
lie was also an active Wernher of all the lit-
erary societies connected with the College.
The large number ofbildren that the wor
thy clergyman had to dricate, together - with
the fact that /e was no' blessed with an over .
abundance - of this world's goods prevented
him from furnishing althe Means necessary
to complete his eldest IN collegiate.e.oittse„
who e ither had to a b andon it half cote
-
e l ,
plated, or pursue his st dies for two _yenta,:
without the means in hand of paying the
iu
usual college exnense . fl I determined to
finish his educatia, an on the recomthilidi
tion of the oflicers ofl i the Colleg, who had
ry
obseed his untiring 1,, dtistry -and strict: n
tegrity, be incurred a debt of five hundred
dollars, which enttbledi him to Complete his
course.: In 1828 Mr:trom graduated, and
was considered among fire most accomplished
scholars that ever left e institution.
Aftei receiving his diploma,
_like most .
youter men of his time e commenced tektite:-
lug. Ills first school - as in EaSt Windsor,
Ceuneetteut, where he emainedlor otie,yee'r, - •
devoting the usual numicr of" hoursto hie
scliohirs, as well as reading, law eight hours
each day. He next tau lit in. Tolland, in the '
same State, where- ho veiled himself of the
library and advice of M . Stearns, a laivYar.of .
ability. • He neat: . ac epted au invitation
to take 'charge of .th mathematical and
classical departments o a school le Burling.
ton, New Jersey, wife e he remained some . 4
eighteen months, teacbi gpind studying ; aw -
under rho direction of ion. Parrot D. Wall,
a gentle - Men of high r nk, iu the legal pro,-
1 ..
fashion. During this , hott time he, saved
enough money to-pay is. College debt, _and
enable him to finish hi .legal eduCatroh, and -
returning to Navy Ha ' , he eitered the, law
school of Judges - D get and , 'Hittite:took, _ •
where, after six:months mest dilligent study, -
he ti.ai admitted to pre ti - de. in the Courts:of -,
his native State, - Th ~y ears of - hard - ittidy
end confinement which her had gone thrciugh
'at this time, brought him to a
ill
bd - , of akik
.neast audit was thoug t for a:long. tithe he
would not survive. -A ' ood_ceestttptiimand
the. regularity of hie - allita precious tiilihs
r
sickness; carried him "t tough, leavingAiiiti,
however, much debili ilea , and ; some - thio
hundred. dollars in debt. .As..soon, as his
strength sufficiently_ *owed; - he wetitit:i ,
Philadelphia,- and on modem or .Charles
cbaunceb Ai, wh°a kiwir - gii l 49'.-.., ifii -- had.
seeur A d,
,tte was Mud : lo tqadts64 iti,:iffei .
. ,
courts of that city , an county.: Dh Lb"- 144 -
vice of Mr. Chattney, r. • Striing; - -wittic let.
..
Dortestow 0 ',..8u0i4 09 iith.*.henit:lher,it 'tip ,
peered, to ,I:4_,,att , epeni .for Pie itt:tr Oei of '
settling, Wit, oh :spittle - thee; iViterefuttig#4...
„mistion,. (It- the. group .'l4 - fie bail -act' . .
in Plainfield, Con
there for six montbs.