N V5Ssl3i ' II. B. MASSER, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. U&&&m3$e-' nFTTTr.Tr. mawrt stp.tt.t opphqitv ttjtt. phqt mrwTr.u!. iFamfla ilciaspnpcr-Dcbotcli to iioUUcs, Bftrrsturr, XlTOfalfiy, j?orfffjn ant Domestic .fictos, Stfntce ant the arts, CTcrftulturr, luarltets, amusements, &c. . NEW SKHIKS VOL. -1, NO. S. SUNBUKY, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA., SATURDAY, ATRIL 20, I SSI. OLD SEMES VOL. 11, NO. 31. RIC AN, T 12 II 91.4 OP I1IK A1UKIC1N. THE AMK1UCAN i publisher! .very tntnr.liy at TWO TtOLLAHS per annum ti lie f d half yearly in nilvance, Mo pan" discontinued mail errerairs aie paid. All eumroniiientiona or kllera on Imames feinting to till eStce, to insure a'teiiii"". must he POST PAID. TO CLUBS. Tare copies to one address, 5fJ' Seven l' 1 10 0 Fifteen ! 1 tfuu" Five dollara in advance will pay fur tliree year's lubscnp tin to the American. Ona Sonnie of 18 line. 3 timet, f I 00 Crery anlweqnent insertion, 9.1 On ttnuare, 3 months, Soit Sis months, AM an year. fl'M) Business Cards of Five tinea, per nnnnm, 300 Merrhanta and others, nilvertisme liy the year, with the privilege of inserting dif ferent advert iseiiieula weekly. 1000 ty Larger Advertisements, u per agreement. ATTORNEY AT LAW, SUNBUBV, FA. Business attended to iu llic Comities of Nor thumberland, Union, Lycoming and Columbia. Kelt r to I P. & A. I'tivni-nr, ) LnWhK & UKIIO, I SoMtus & ?-.oiiuitss, V'Aiai. Hut mli. Mt ' lHtlll V Co. I Spf.hi.no, 'iooii S: Co., J THE tXi L.4TKST 411K1VAI, NEW GOODS, AT THE STORE OF IP. A T. CLSHE1TT, "IJTHO takes this method of informing hi friend nml customers, that he has just re ceived ami opened a splendid assortment of N li W G OOD8, wttich lie olTora to the jmlilic nt the lowest prices. H is atoek consiKls of every variety aiui (uality, necessary for the farmer, mechanic, anil laborer. well "the ijrolVssional man, viz: all kinuaof Mens' A j) p a r e 1 , VCH A9 C LOTH. CASSI.MKRr, SATTINETTS, VKSTlMiS, Ae. ALSO : a liirpe iiBKortment of Cmlicnt1, Motissclmf Jc Laines, Mpaccas, Merinos. Slwu-ls. Ilaiutkcrihirjs, (Hoi, lloiscry. Checks, Cwiihrits, (.'ing' hums, be Alo a larc assortment of Bols and Siorx, ILiis and Caps, Gum over Shoes, Also an Assoktment of READY MADE CLOTHING. A general assortment of (iroci'ries, Sugar, Cufiee, Tra, Oin-cse, Mo latst's, Sjices. An usiiortineiit of Kunlu-iii, Hails, Steel cud Iron. Liquors, Such as Brnndy, Gin, Rum, Whixkcy, Sc iy Produce of all kinds will lw taken in ex change, anil the highest market price j.alJ for the am. Sunbury, Nov. 30. lr,0 ly. GEE AT ARRIVAL OP NEW GOODS! Market Street, Evmbury, Pa., "HOHN W. FKII.INU respectfully informt iiiat faji irieuds anil ii-lciiiicrn mat lie nas juai rc eiveJ a large and hainUoinc asaorlmcnt of Dry (Jootls, CMi.iRi)iM of ClotliH, Caitsinirrtf, Satt.t.ctU, Dti Emiho!, 'hluws. Fancy a lit! Slajde fioixlii. ALSO: GROCERIES of every description, DltLOS AND MKDICiNr.!. GITEZSSWARE AOT HARDWARE. Fish, Salt, Plaster and a general assortment of II suih goods aa will suit all classes; the far mer, Mechanic, Laborer and (jentlemcn of all professions. The Ladies Will find a great variety of all such article aa they will need tor the present season. "ff Country produce of all kinds taken in ex hanpe at the highest market price. bunnm.T, Nov. 9, 1H5U. CLOTHING!!! Yt lioleftalc & CSetail, At the PHILADELPHIA WARDROBE, South Hast Corner, Market and 6th Sts. Clothing Fashionably I' lit and will Made. 1 K. 3'.BiSS,LE V Co. INVITE the attention of Wholesale and Retail Buvers, to their extensive and complete stock of Spring and rSumiiier Clothing: comprising every variety of stylo that can be produced. Our aim is to please and accommodate all; and in order to do this, we manufacture Clothing at almost every price. Belling for cash only enables us to otl'er cloth ing at a very trilling advance. Our motto is, ' Viofilt and Quid Salts. We are confident that an examination by you is all that is necessary to confirm what we say, and secure your custom. 1'. U. McNEILLE &. CO. Philadelphia, March IS, 1851 lut. NSW STAGE LINE FROM POTTSVILLE TO SHAM0K1N. A new line of stages is now running daily be tween the above places. A comfortable two horse stage will leave ML Csriucl for ISbamokin, imme diately alter the arrival of the Pottsville stage at that place, and will return the next day from Bhaoiokin, so as to meet the Pottaville stage on 1U return to Potuville. ," From Shamokin to Trevorton there will be established a DAILY LINE by next spring to as to connect with this line at Shamokin. In the menu time private conveyances will be in readme at bnamokin on the arrival of pasaen far, CONRAD KERSHNER. Shamokin, Dec. 14, IH50.t. NOTICE, AS the subscrilier Intends making new arrange menu, in his business on the first of Jauua if 186 1, all persons knowing thoru selves indebted o him, are requested to call and make settlement up to that time, by payment or giving their note far th amount dua. JOHN W. FRILING. unbury, Dea, t8, 1S. tf, SELECT POETRY. COl RTMIir AD DISAPPOINTMENT. Miwt Sukey Smith had fla.eii liair, Her dadlly linil Ihe pett ier, Hor eyes were. (Jrey, niul looked serene, Upon her favoiite suitor. That suilor was a jolly youth, So nimble, blithe ami brawny, The yellow ferer took him olf. One day to California. And when t heard that lie was gone, "It's now," said 1, "or never!" I ahared mysolf and greased my shoes, And tried to look right clever. I trisced myself from tip to toe, And caught and mounted Hobin, But all Ihu way I rode along My heart it kept a throbbm' ! And when 1 reached her daddy:s house, II still kept on a thiimpin', But when 1 saw that lovely maid, It kiudui stopped a jumpiu'. 'Twas half-past Inn, when at her feet, I knell, and yet ere dinner, With honeyed speech and winning ways, 1 had contrived to win her. Some months elapsed lo set tho day I now began to press her : I urged, entreated, plend in vain In vain I did caress her. While matters were thus cross'd and spil'd, My clothes all growing seedy, Mv rival from tho mines returned, Still for my Sukey greedy. I saw him kinder sidle up. And slip his arms around her, When heaven's and earth! she let him kiss Those precious lips ! Confound her ! I told her that 1 was surprised My eyes had sure deceived me And asked her to renew her vows, And from suspense relievo me. When, don't you think, the lartial gal, Her thumb upon her smeller J Her finger wriggled as she said "Can't came it, little feller?" Skctcij. THE TIMELY WARNING. My father, after an absence of three years, returned lo the home so dear to him. lie liaa maue tits last voyage, ana rejoiceu to have reached a haven of rest, from the perils of the sea During his absence I had grown from a mere child and baby ol my mother's for I was her youngest into a rough, careless and headstrong boy. Her gentle voice no longer restrained me. I was often wilful, and sometimes disobe dient. I thought it indicated manly supe riority to be independent of a woman's in fluence. My father's return was a fortu nate circumstance for me. He soon per ceived the spirit of insubordination stirring within me. I saw by his manner that it displeased him, although for a Jew days, he said nothing to me about it. It was an afternoon in October, bright and golden, that my father told me to get my hat, and take a wait Willi Dim. IV e turned down a narrow lane into a fine open field a favorite play ground for the children in the neighborhood. Alter talk ing cheerfully on different topics for a while, mv father asked me il I observed that huze shadow, thrown bv a mass of rocks that stood in the middle of the field. I replied that I did. 'My lather owned this land,' said he. 'It was my playground when a boy. That rock stood there then. To me it was a beacon , and whenever I look at it, I recall a dark spot in my life an event so paiulul to dwell upon, that if it was not as a warning to you i should not speak of it. Listen, then, my boy, and learn wisdom from your father's errors. My father died when I was a mere child. I was the only son : my mother was a gentle, loving woman, devoted to tier cnu dren. and beloved bv every body, i re member her pair, beautiful face her sweet affectionate smile her kind and tender voice. In my childhood 1 loved her in tensely : I was never happy apart from her ; and she, fearing that I was becoming too much of a baby, sent me to the high school in the villa??. Alter associating a time with rude, rough boys, 1 lost in measure, my fondness for home and my reverence for my mother, and it became more and more difficult for her to restrain my impetuous nature. I thought it an in dication ol manliness to resist her authority and not appear to feel penitent, although I knew that mv conduct pained ner. me epithet I most dreaded was girl boy, I could not bear to have it said by my com panions that I was tied to my mother's apron strings. From a quiet, home-loving child, I soon became a wild, roistering boy: my dear mother used every persuasion to induce me to seek happiness within the precincts ot home, bite exerted Dersell to make our fireside attractive, and my sister, following her self-sacrificing example, sought to entice me by planning games and diversions (or my entertainment. I saw all this, but 1 did not heed it. 'It was on an afternoon like this, that as I was about leaving the dinner table to spend the intermission between morning and evening school in the street, as usual my mother laid her hand upon my shoulder and said mildly out firmly, 'Son, I wish you to come with me.' I would have re belled ; but something in her manner awed me. She put on her bonnet and said to me, 'we will take a little walk together. I followed her in silence; and, as I went out the door I observed one of my rude companions skulking about the house, and J knew ha was waiting lor me. tie sneer ed as I went past him. My pride was wounded to the quick. lit was a very bad boy, but being some years older than my sell, he exercised a great influence over me. J followed my mother sulkily till we reached the spot where we now sland, be- neath the shadow of this huge rock. O, my boy, could that hour bo blotted from my memory, which has cast a dark shadow over my lite, gladly would I exchange all the world can offer me for the quiet peace of mind 1 could enjoy. But not like this huge, unsightly pile, it stands the monu ment of my guilt forever. My mother being feeble in health, sat down and beckoned me to sit beside her. 'Alfied, my dear son,' said she, 'have you lost all love lor your mother 1' I did not reply. I fear you have,' she continued ; and may God help you to see your own heart, and me to do my duty.' She then talked to nie of my misdeeds, and the dreadful consequences ol the course I was then pursuing, fly tears, and entreaties and prayers she tried to make an impres sion upon me. She placed before me the lives and example of great and good men; she sought to stimulate my ambition. I was moved, but too proud to show it, and remained standing in dogged silence before her. I thought, 'what will my compan ions say, if, after all my boasting, I yielded at last, and submitted to be led by a wo man V What agony was visible on my mother's face, when she saw that all she had said and suffered failed to move me ! She rose to go home, and I followed at a distance. She spoke no more to me till we reached her own door. 'It is school time now,' said she. 'Go, my son, and once more 1 beseech you to think upon what I have said to you.' 'I shan't go to school,' said I. She lookeci astonished at my boldness, but replied firmly, 'Certainly you will go, Allred ; I command you.' 'I will not,' faid 1 with a tone of defi ance. One of two things you must do, Alfred : either go to school this moment, or I will lock you in your own room, and keep you there till you are ready to promise implicit obedience to my wishes in future.' 1 dare von to do it, said 1: 'you can't get me up stairs.' 'Alfred, choose now,' said my mother, and laid her hand upon my arm. She trembled and was deadly pale. If you touch me I will kick you, said I, in a terrible rage. God knows I knew not what I said! Will you go, Alfied ?' No,' 1 replied, but quailed beneath her eye. i hen follow tnc, said she, and grasped my arm firmly. I raised my foot O, my son, hear ine! I raised my foot and kitk- her my sainted mother! How my ead reels as the torrent of memory rushes over me: l kicked my mottler a loeuie woman my mother! May God forgive me, for I can never forgive myself! She staggered baik a few steps, and leaned against the wall. She did not look at me. I saw her heart beat against her breast. O, heavenly Father,' she cried, 'forgive In in, he knows not what he does!' The gardener just then passed the door, and seeing my mother pale and "unable to stand, he stopped; she beckoned him in. lake this boy up stairs, and lock him in his loom; she gave me such a look it will forever lollow me it was a look ol agony ; - mingled Willi intense! love it was the last unutterable pang Irom a heart that was broken. In a moment I found myself a prisoner in my own room. I thought I would fling myself from the open window, and dash my brains out, but 1 felt alraid to die. 1 was not penitent. At times my heart was subdued, but my stubborn pride rose in an instant, and bade me not to yield. Ihe pale face ol my mother haunted me. I flung myself on the bed and fell aileep. I awoke at midnight, stiflened by the damp night air, and terri- d with trightlul dreams. 1 would have sought my mother at that moment, for 1 trembled with fear, but my door was fast. With the daylight my terrors were dissi pated, and I became bold and resisted all good impulses. The servant brought my meals, but 1 did not taste them. 1 thought the day would never end. Just at twi light I heard a light foot-step approach the door. It was my sister, who called me by name. 'What may I tell mother from you V she asked. '.othmg,' I replied. 'O, Alfred, for my sake, for all our sakes, say that you are sorry. She longs to for give you.' I won't be driven to school against my will,' said I. But you will go, if she wishes it, dear Alfred, said sister pleadingly. .o, I won't said I, 'and you needn't say a word more about it. 'O brother, vou will kill her ; and then you can never have a happy moment again.' '1 made no reply to tins. My leeiings were touched, but I still resisted their kindly influence. My sister called me but I would not answer. I heard her foot- steps slowly retreating, and again,' I flung mysell on the bed to pass another wretched and fearful night. U God, how wretched! how fearlu! I did not know.' Another footstep, slower and feebler than my sister's, disturbed me. A voice called me by name. It was mother's. Alfred ; my son, shall I come in ? are you sorry for what you have done 1 .he asked 'I cannot tell what influence, operating at that moment, made me speak adverse to my feelings. The gentle voice ol my mo ther, which thrilled through me, melted the ice from my obdurate heart, and I long- .... . - . ...Vl'f ed lo throw myself on Der tiecK, dui i aiu not. No, my boy, I did not. But my words gave the lie to my heart, when said I was not sorry. I heard her with draw. I heard her proan. I longed to call her back, but J did not. I was awakened Irom an uneasy slum' ber by hearing my name called loudly, and my sister stood beside me. 'Get up, Al fred : O. don't wait a minute ! I thought I was dreaming, but I got up mechanically and followed mv sister. On a bed, pale and cold as mnrble, lav my mother. She had not undressed. She had thrown her self on the bed to rest ; arising lo go again to me she was seized with palpitation of the heart, and borne senseless lo her room. 1 cannot tell you my agony as I looked upon her my remorse ten fold more bit ter from the thought that she would never know it. I believed myself to be her mur derer. I fell on the bed beside her. I could not weep. My heart burned in my bosom; my brain was all on fire. My sis ter threw her arms around me, and wept in silence. Suddenly we saw a light motion of my mother's hand; her eyes unclosed. She had recovered consciousness, but not speech. She looked at me, and moved her lips. I could not understand her words, 'Mother, mother! I shrieked, 'say only lhat you forgive me. She could not say it with her lips, but her hand pressed mine. She smiled upon me, and lifting her thin white hands, she clasped my own within them, and cast her eyes upward. 1 fell on my knees beside her. She moved her lips in prayer, and thus she died. I remained still kneeling beside that dear form, till my gentle sister removed me. She comforted me ; for she knew the load of sorrow at my heart heavier than grief for the loss of a mother; for it was a load of sorrow for sin. The joy of youth had left me for ever. My son, the sufferings which memories awaken must continue as long as life. God is merciful ; but remorse lor past mis deeds is a canker worm in the heart, that preys upon it forever.' My father ceased speaking, and buried his face in his hands. I raw and felt the bearing his narrative had upon my own character and conduct. I have never for gotten it. Boys who spurn a mother's con trol, who are ashamed to own that they are wrong, who think it manly to resist her authority, or yield to her influence, beware! Lay not up for yourselves bitter memories for future years. M'lUXJ AD POt-TRY. The editor of ihe Cincinnati News has had his imagination exulted by ihe poetic influ ences of spring, and thus pours out tho tide of song : "And now the merry ploughboy Whistles his morning song : Along the dale, and through the vale :Tm eeiioed loud and long, The farmer's Hocks are rotmg free, And on tho budding shrubbeiy His spouse's Cuw si's 11 1 ovists, And the martins have returned, and found A welcome lo our houses; And Ihu lillle uiggets run aiouiul Divested of then Uoue." r.tnoY ami Tin: lot:ui AN UiJSOCIAELE LEI)I ELL0 V. OR, A few months since, a son of Erin, about nine o'clock one evening, called at a coun try inn, in the western part of Pennsylva nia, and demanded lodgings for the night. L, was evident, from his appearance and actions that he and liquor had been quite ollv companions throughout Ihe day. Ihe landlord was a lazy, good-natured soul, and had imbibed rather freely that day himself. "If 1 give yon a light and tell you where the room is, you can find the place," said the landlord. 'Och, an' it's meeself that can do that most illigantly. Jist show me the way, an' i'll find it as azy as the howly vargin showers down blessings upon the sinful," rejoined the Iri.hnian. 1 lie directions were given him and also a candle. Hi was directed to go lo a room in the second story of the house. By the time he had reached the top of the stairs his light had become extinguished, and he had forgotten in what direction he was to go. Seeing rays of light issuing from a room, the door of which stood slightly ajar, he reconnoitereu the inside ol the room, and found it to contain a bed, in which lay a man, and a stand with a small lighted lamp upon it. I- eeling disinclined to make any further search for the room to which I he had been directed, lie divested Inmsell of his clothing, and quietly crept into the back part ot the bed. He had been in bed but a few moments, when a young lady and gentleman entered the loom. The Irishman eyed them closely. They seated themselves on Ihe chairs in close proximity to each other, and after chatting merrily lor a short time, the young man threw his arm around her waist in a cousinly man ner, and imprinted a kiss upon her tempt ing lips. There was a witchery in il which demanded a repetition. The scene amused the Irishman vastly, and being free Irom selfishness, he concluded that his sleeping companion should be a participant with him in the enpy merit of Ihe scene, and to this end he nudged him, but his companion stirred not. lie then nut his hand upon him and found that he was tightly locked in the embrace of death. Synonymous with this discovery, lie bounded out of bed, exclaiming . 'Murthtr! Murther! Howly saints ov hiven pertect me !" He had scarcely touched the floor with his feet, before the young lady and gentle man were making rapid strides towards the stairway, terror being depicted on their countenances. They had just reached the ton of the stairs when the Irishman came dashing along as though all the fiends of Erebus were close at his heels intent on making him their prey, and the whole three went tumbling down stairs, and it i hard to determine which of the three reached the foot of the stairs first. .The landlord stood aghast as the Irishman rush' ed into the bar-room, with nothing be tween him and nudity but a garment vul garly styled a shirt, the hair on his head standing upon end, his eye balls ready to leap from their sockets and he gasping for breath. It was a sight that would have made a man laugh who had worn a vinegar face from the day of his birth. Nothing could induce him to seek a bed that night again. When the young lady and gentle man found that it was not the corpse that had so unceremoniously bounded from the bed, they returned lo the room, (they being the watchers for the night,) and, doubtPss, commenced their courting at the point where it had been so suddenly broken off. A GENTLE REPROOF. One day as Zachariah Hodgson was go ing to his daily avocations after breakfast, he purchased a fine large codfish, and sent it home, with directions to his wife to have it cooked for dinner. As no particular mode of cooking it was prescribed, the good woman well knew that, whether she boiled it or made into a chowder, her hus band would scold her when he came home. But she resolved to please him once, if pos sible, and therefore cooked persons of it in several different ways. She also, with some little difficulty, procured an amphibi ous animal from a brook back of the house, and plumped it into the pot. In due time her husband came home; some covered dishes were placed on the table, and with a frowning fault-finding look, the moody man commenced the conversation : "Well, wife, did you get the fish I bought V "Yes, my dear." "I should like to know how you have cooked it. 1 will bet anything that you have spoiled it for my eating. Taking off the cover.) I thought so. What in creation possessed you to fry it ? I would as lief eat a boiled frog." "Why, my dear, I thought you loved it best fried." "You didn't think any such thing. You knew better I never loved fried fish why didn't you boil it?" "My dear, Ihe last time we had fresh fish, you know I boiled it, and you said you liked it best fried. But I haved boiled some also." So saying, she lilted a cover, and lo! the shoulders of the cod, nicely boiled, were neatly deposited in a dish, a sight ot which would have made an epicure rejoice, but which only added to the ill nature of her husband. "A pretty dish this! exclaimed he. "Boiled fish! Chips and porridge ! If you had not been one of the most stupid of wo mankind, you would have made it into chowder!" His patient wife with a smile, immedi ately placed a tureen before him, contain ing an excellent chowder. "My dear," said she, "1 was resolved to please you. There is your favorite dish." Favorite dish, indeed," grumbled the discomfited husband. "1 dare say it is an unpalatable wishy-washy mess. 1 would rather have a boiled frog than the whole ol it." This was a common expression of his, and had been anticipated by his wife, who, as soon as Ihe preference wa3 expressed, uncovered a large dish near her husband, and there was a large nuLL-rnoc of porteu tous dimensions and pugnacious aspect, stretched out at full length ! Zachariah sprung from his chair, not a little frighten ed at the unexpected apparition. "My dear," said his wife, in a kind, en treating tone, "1 hope you will at length be able to make a dinner." Zachariah could not sland this. His surly mood was finally overcome, and he burst into a hearty laugh, lie acknowled ged that his wife was right and that he was wrong ; and declared lhat she should never have occasion to read him such another lesson, and he was as good as his word. Too much tor the General. The Mo bile TVifctoie tells the following tory of Jemmy Maher, who has so long beeu the gardener of the Presidential mansion, at Washington. General Jackson had heard rumors that Jemmy was accustomed to get diuuk and bo uncivil to the visitors at the White House: so, one bright morning, he summon ed hitn into his presence to receive his dis missal." "Jemmy," said the General, "I hear bad stories about you. It is said lhat you are constantly drunk, and uncivil to the visi ters." Jemmy was puzzled for a reply ; at lust he said "General, bedad, 1 hear muck worse sto- rieat about you, but do )ou think 1 believe them 1 No, by the powers, I know they are lies." A schoolboy down east, was reading aloud in the old Testament, when, coming to the pnrase, "making the wastt places glad," he was asked by the pedagogue what it meant ! The youngster paused txratched his head but could give no answer, when up jumped a most precocious urchin, and cried out: "I know what it means, master It means hugging the gills; for Tom Ross is alters huggiu' 'em round the waist, and it makes 'em as glad as can be." Ma. Barkum, il is reported, is about start ing a monster exhibition to be railed "Bar- num's American Museum and Menagarie." It is intended to be the largest exhibition in the world, and will tiavel through lural dit tricts of the country duiing the sumtr.er, The wagons or cars for this exhibition, are lo be built in this city. Some of them were completed a day or two since at Ihe estab lishment of Mr. Thomas B. Pierson. ti teark Advertiser, The Widow. A widow is a dangerous thing, With soft, black shining curls, And looketh more bewitching, Than a host of romping girls. Her Inugh is so delicious, So knowing clear beside, You'd never deem her thinking Soon to become a bride. Her dress though made of sables, Gives roundness to her form ; A touch of something thoughtful, A witching, winning charm. And when she sits down by you, With quiet easy grace, A tear may fall unbidden. Or a smile light up her face. Her voice is soft, melodious, And lute like in its tone ; She some times sighs, "'tis dreadful To pass through life alone !" And then she'll tell you, you remind her, Of the loved one dead and gone, Your step, your form, jour features Thus the widow will tun on. Oh ! listen, yet be careful, For well she plays her part, Her lips distil the nectar, That doth enslave the heart ; Be guarded or she'll win you, With sighs, and smiles, and tears ; 1' faith she'll wear the breeches, too, And box your silly ears. NUMERAL FIGURES. The present numeral figures, 1, 2, 3, iie..f have not been very long in use. They are said to have been brought to Europe from Arabic cyphers. The Arabs, however, as has been pretty clearly established, obtained them from India, about the year 900. They appeared in England about the year 1250, and were at first employed in astronomical, geometrical and abstruse mathematical works only. Their use was apparently lit tle valued till after the discovery of printing when it was sodn found lhat a stripling at school, in a country village, could, by the help of these figures, in a few minutes, work a sum that the most eminent mathe matician of the twelvth century could not have reckoned in a whole day with the Ro man numerals then in use. The earliest occurrence of the present vulgar figures upon a monument is said to be 1454. In common accounts, they were not gener ally used until about the year 1500. A NEW SPATfcR The Boston Times says that a man cats up a pound of sugar, und the pleasure he has enjoyed is ended, but the information he gets from a newspaper is treasured op in the mind, lo La enjoyed anew, and to be used whenever occasion or inclination calls for it. A uewspaper is not the wisdom of one man, or two men, it is the wisdom of the age and the past ages loo. A family without a newspaper is always half an age behind the times in general information, beside, they never think much, or liud much lo talk about. And then there are little ones glowing up in ignorance, without any taste for reading. Besides all those evils, there's the wife, who, when hur work is dune, has to sit down with her hands in hor lap and nothing to amuse her or divert her mind from the trials and caret of the domestic sircle. Who, then, would be without a newspaper f Tut Leopard. ' This here hanimal, my little dears," obserred tho keeper of a men agerie to a school, "is a leopard. His com plexion is yeller, and agreeably diwersified with black spots I It was a wulgar horror of the huueients, that the ciitter vos biuca- pable of changtn' his spots, viteh vos dis proved in modern times by observin that he very frequently slept in one spot, and the next night changed to another I" "But, 1 say, Mr. Showman !" screamed lillle Johnny, "the leopard ain't yellow at all the Bible says he's w hite !" "Vere is the text," inquired the showman majestically '-in the apothecary, or in the j song of Susannau 1" It's where it says lhat Gehazi went forth a leptr as white as snow." A Dutch widowir, out west, whose better half departed on the long journey lo the spirit land some twelve months ago, de termined, the other day, to consult the ' Rappers," and endeavor to obtain a spirit ual communication, feeling anxious respect ing the future Slate of his wife. These "rappers," be it knowfi, were nnt the genu ine 'mediums," but of a bogus kind ad venturers endeavoring to reap a harvest out of the late mysterious developments. After the usual ceremonies, the spirit of "Mrs. Hauntz," manifested by raps its willing ness to converse with her discousolated spouse. ' Ish dat you, Mrs. Haunti 1" Inquired tha Dutchman. "Yes, dearest, it is jour own wife, who ' "You lie, you tarn tevil a ghost," inter rupted Hauntz, starting from his seat, "nvl0d frau speak nolting but Deutch, nd she never said 'learest' in all her. life. It was always 'Hauntz, you tief V' or, 'Hauntz, you tirty shkamp V " and the Dutchman hob bled from '.'ie room well satisfied that the "ripping spirits" were all humbug, and tat ha was safe from any further com munication with his shrewish frau on this earth. A countryman, being offered a glass of so da water the other day, rejected it with in dignation. "Do you think I am a salaman der," said he, "lo drink, water bihn' hot 1" JOIIX WESLEY. ' Some century and a quarter ago, John Wesley was Fellow of Lincoln College, and Greek lecturer there. With a lev- compan ions lecoiling like himself from the profli gate habits of tho place, he took to heart the appeals of Law's "Serious Call," and re solved lo live with tho invisible realities, which with others served but for a stately dream or a mocking jost. In the cold mid night, beneath the truthful sky, he struggled for a faith worthy of so great a sight. Ha prayed without ceasing, ho fasted in secret; he passed the mystery on from his own heart to the souls of others ; and led tha saintly life with less oflence to creed and prejudice, than almost any devotee in histo ry. The son of a High church rector, he could not be charged with unsacramontal doctrine or conconformist sympathies ; the Christain baptism of dissenters, and drove them from the communion as unregenerate. He duly proved his spirit of self sacrifice by preferring a mission to the Indians of Geor gia to a parochial provision at home, and the fraternity of the poor Hernnhuler to tho aristocratic priesthood of F.ngland. The sequal is well known : how he took up the labors, while others boasted of the privileges, of Apostleship; civilized whole countries ; lifted brutal populations into communities of or.lorly citizens and consis tent Cristains ; and in grandeur of mission ary achievement rivalled the most splendid successes of Christendom. With what eye did the Church as a mother, and the Univer sity as the nurse, of so much greatness look upon his career f Did lliey avail themsel ves of his gifts, bless Heaven for tho timely mission of such rare graces, and heap on him Ihe work which he was so eager to do? Did they found an order to bear his nrtma and propagate his activity T He coveted their support, and so clung to their alliance, that seldom has a strong enthusiasm been combined with such moderation. But in their most favorable mood, they did but stare and stand aloof. It was vain to look to the clergy for their help, he was driven to a lay organization and even a lay ministry, tho Wesleyan chapel became the rival instead of the atix. iliary of the Pu.ish Church, and tho most loyal of all popular religious bodies was ab solutely repalsed from conformity. When the leaders, with a carl for their pulpit, and. the field or their church, piuvoked the vi ces and passions they denounced, and were stoned and carried off to prison, the rector was less likely to be their intercessor than their judge. And in Wesley's college days, where the premonition of his religious movement was distinctly given he met no wisdom and ulfecliun to protect him from the scum of tho learned and the laughter of the rich. The apostle of popular piety was repudiated and condemned." Westminster Review. Kost iisKi, the hero of Poland, wishing to mako a present to a clergyman, cent it by a young man. and desired him to take the horse he usually rode. On his return, the young man said, he would never ride his horse again, unless he gavo his purse at the same time, for, said ho, "as soon as a poor man on tho roads takes off his hat, and asks charity, tho horse immediately stops, and will not stir, till something is given the peti tioner, and as I hud but little money with me, I was obliged, when it was gone, to feign giving something, in order to satisfy the horse." "Madam,'-" said an old Roger to his board ing house keeper, "in primitive countries, beef is often the legal tender; but, madam," said he, emphatically, thrusting his fork in to the steak, "all the law in Chrislcdom couldn't make this beef tender." Ho look ed aiound the board for encouragement, and found it in the fuel that all tho boaiders who ate the beef held their jaws. How apt men are to condemn in others what they practice themselves without scru ple !" Plutarch tells of a yvolf, who, peep ing into a hut where a company of shep herds were regaling themselves with a joint of mutton, said, "what a clamor they wouM have raised if ihey had caught mo at such a banquet." Header, how is il with your self iu this respect ? A Nun's Wish. Southey, in his "Omni.," relates tho following : "When I was last at Lisbon, a nun made her escape from a nun nery. Tho first thing for which 8he inquired, when she reached the house in v'mth she was to be secreted, was a loo'iug glass. She had entered the convent wtien only five years old, and from that. lime had, vei. seen her own face." Hmkdv re.- Sic;; Hkabaciii:. -A f.iend informs Us that( jf persons who are subject to sick headache, will look steadily for two or 'h'ee minutes, at a piece of green baize, green silk, or other green material, when they feel Ihe spell corning on, they can throw it of! enliiely. lie has tried it fte quently, and never knew it to fail. Fort land Advertiser. The Ciucaqo Advtrtistr imitates that some of the abolitionist are eudeavoring la steal the "Uiek Slave," to run her intq Canaua. Onlt one out of a hundred and three of the Mexicans iu Key? Mexico, have learns ed to read. !,-.., Beauty. The best pait of beauty is thai which a picture cannot enpiess,