R71 Tli T n
JOjIIIU
H. B. MASSER, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
OFFICE, MARKET STREET, OPPOSITE THE POST OFFICE.
81 jranmjf uriusyapcr Deuoics to jjomtrs, liitcinturc, jttoinmi, joinon no Domestic items, science ano the J3vts, aorlculiurr, .fttarhrts, simuscmcnts, Kt
SUM1UUY. N Olt I'll U.M II Kit LAN 1) COUNTY. PA., EATUItDAY, JANUARY 22. 1853.
NEW SEIilKS VOL. a. N. 4.
oi.n SF.itu s vol. t, no. ' r
UNBU
HY nM! AM
AN.
TERMS OF THE AMERICAN.
THE AMERICAN i. piilili.he.l every 8mnlr
TWO DUI.I.AKS) per annum to Is, -mid hnlf yeiirl in
advance. No paper discontinued unlil all arrearage, are
PAli commnniration. or letter, oil I'"""!'" "'?!"' to
th. office, to iinure attention, mint uo I'OSil I All.
TO CLUUS.
Three eopie. to one eddren, 5 00
Rrven F D Do loop
Fifteen 1 1" , , uw
Five dollar, in aU-iici will pay for Hire year, aub
scripiion to the American.
One Snunie of 16 line., 3 timet,
tCverv .iiliaeqiKMit insertion,
One quiire, 3 iuontli.t
Six mnntli.,
One year,
Duainen Caul, of Five line., per annum,
Merchant, mid other., ntlvertisina, by the
yenr, with the privilege f inserting
rWer.Mit ndreitiaeinruta weekly.
ty Larger Advertisement., a. per agreement.
100
23
3011
euu
exjo
3011
looo
H. B. IA3SEP.,
ATTOKNEY AT LAW,
EDNBURT, PA.
0 mines. atlciiJcJ to in tho Counties of Nor
tliunibeiland, Union, Lycoming and Columbia,
liefer lot
P. At A. Kovoudt,
Lower & llarron,
Soinerl & fSiiouVrnns, Phxlad.
Reynolds, McFarland & Co.,
Sjiering, Good ct Co.,
H. J. W0LVERT0N,
ATTOR1TEY AT LAV
OFFICE in Market street, Sunbury, adjoining
the Oflicc of the "American" anil opposite
the Tost Office.
Business promptly attended to in Norlhurnbcr
land and the adjoining Counties.
Refer to: -Hon. C. W. Hceins and B. Ban.
nan, Pottsville; Hon. A. Jordan und II B. M os
ier, Sunbury.
April 10, 1852. ly.
HENRY D0NNEL,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
Office opposite the Court House,
Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pa,
Prompt attention to business in adjoining
Counties.
WH. II. ROCKEFELLER,
ATTORNEY AT LAW
U;VR1!KY, BA.
Pec. 13. 1851. tf.
II. L- SHINDEL,
ATTOP.1TEY AT LAV,
SUNBURY, PA.
December 4, 1852. tf.
J. H. & W. B. HART,
WHOLESALE GROCERS
No. 229 North 3d Sr., alow Callouhill,
PUILADELPHIA.
A larce assortment of Groceries always on
hand, which will be sold at the lowest pticea for
Cash or approved Credit.
April 10, 1853. ly.
HARRISBTJRG STEAM WOOD
m 17 It N I N G AND SCROLL RAWING
al SHOP. Wood Tnriiintr in oil its branches,
in city style and at city prices. Kvcry variety of
Cabinet and Carpenter work either on hand or
turned to oruer.
Red Posts. Balusters. Rosctts, Slat and Quar
tcr Mouldings, Table Lcrs, Newell Posts, Pat
terns, Awning Posts, airon llulis, Columns,
Round or Octnijon Chisel Handles, Ac.
'-f- This simp is in STRAWBERRY AL
LEY', near Third Street, anil as we intend to
please all our customers who want rjood work
done, it is hoped that all the trade wil" give us a
call.
-&' Ten-Pins and Ten-Pin Balls made to or
der or returned.
The attention of Cabinet Makers and Carpen
ters is called to our new style of TA 1ST
MOULDINGS. Printer's Risl'cls at 1 per 100
feet. W. O. 1IICKOK.
February 7, 1850. ly.
AYM. M'CARTY,
BOOKS K I. L. K R ,
.Market Street,
SUNBTJRY, PA.
TUST received and for sale, a fresh supply of
or Pinging Schools. He is also opening at
this time, a large assortment of Books, in every
(ranch of Literature, consisting of
Poetry, History, Novels, Romances, Scientific
Works, Law, Medicine. (School and Children'!
Books, Bibles ; School, Pocket anil Family, both
with and without Engravings, and every of vari
ety of Binding. Prayer Books, of all kinds.
Also just received and for sale, Purdons Di
gest of the taws of Pennsylvania, edition of 1851,
price only S0,00.
Judge Reads edition of Blackstonei Commen
ts 'iei, in 3 vols. 8 vo. formerly sold at SI 0,00,
and now offered (in fresh binding) at the low
price of 86,00.
A Treatise on the laws of Pennsylvania re
specting the estates of Decedents, by Thomas F.
Gordon, price only $1,00.
Travels, Voyages and Adventures, all ol
which will be lold low, cither for cash, or coun
try produce.
February, 21, 1S5 2. tl.
OUSTERS!
THE undersigned ii thankful for past fa
voti ami hnoe to continue in the confi
dence of his old coston-ier anil friend and
tha nublio eeneially. He I! n"w in daily re
eeint of tha beat of B.ihimnre Oysteis, put tip
n- . . r l : I .1 ,.l I".. . .....
PV A. rtelil, r.sq., who is reipunuru iui m
linr, un a pood Brlicla. Hi oysters are open
ed the same morning, they leave for this
place and are consequently only about 16
hotiri on the way. He ran send oysters all
riirentions bv biases, tiimt and other convey
ance!. Price cans Sl,25, half cant 62,
ce,l,- . . , . L
N. H. Apply nt ihfl renidenee nf the sub
oriber or at Lee1!, or Haas'. Hotel
Northumberland, Oct 16, 1852. -if.
R COP.NELIVS. I. F. MAKER. W. C. BAKKR
Cornelius, Tiaker 5 Co.,
MANUKATURERS OF
Lamps, Chandeliers, Gas Fixtures, &o,
STORE NO. 176 CHESTNUT ST..
Manufactory No. 181 Cherry St.,
pHILADEIiPHIA.
April 10, 1853. tf.
tveammz Mutual Insurance Company,
T.R. J. B. MA88ER U the local igent for tlie
CoinDanv. in Norlhumlier.
Isnd county, and is at all timei ready to effect
Insurances igainst nr on raw or .....
.r,. ar ranswim policiei for the .ante.
liunlmrv, April 26. 1831. tf.
SELECT POETRY.
THE THREE PREACHERS-
BY CHARLES MACKAY.
ihere are three preachers, ever preaching,
Filled wilh ebullience mi l rowel.
One is old, ttiih locks of while,
Skinny as an anchorite ;
ftmi ne pieaches every hour
Willi a ihnll fannlio voice,
Attn a liiunt a lieiy scorn :
Backward ! ye presumptuous nations,
Muii In mi se iv is born !
Born to drudge, and sweat, and suffer
Horn to labor and to pray ;
Backward ! ye piesurripiuoii nations,
Back ! be humble and obey '.'
The second is a milder preacher,
Suit he lulk as if he snug,
Sleek and sloihful is his look,
And his words, as fiom a book,
Issun glibly Irom his toui'ue.
Willi an air of Keif content,
Ilijili he lifts his fair w hile hands :
Stand ye stili. ! ye restless nations,
And be happy, all ye lands !
Fiite is law, mid law is perfect ;
If ye meddle, yo will mar :
Chanoe is las'), and ever was so,
ve are nappy as we ate.'
Michtier is the younger preacher,
Genius (lashc Irom his eyes :
And ihe ciowd ho hear Ins voice,
Give him, while iheir souls rejoice,
1 drubbing bosom lor replies.
Awed lhey listen, yet elated,
While Ins sliniug accents tall,
'Forward ! ye deluded nalions,
Piugiess is the rule of all :
Man was made fur heathful effort;
Tyranny lias ciu-h'J him lung,
He shall march from good to belter,
A.'.d do buttle wilh the wioug.
Slumling still is childish folly,
Goinu backward is a crime ;
None should patiently eiiduie
Any ill that lie can cute :
Onward ! keep ihe march of Time.
Onw.inl ! while u wroni remains
To be coiKjtiered by the t right,
While oppression lifls a finger
To affront lis by his might,
While an error clouds the reason
01 Ihe nniveisul heart,
Or a slave awaits his freedom,
Action is ihe wise man's pat t.
Lo ! the world is lich in blessings
Earth and Ocean, Flame nnd Wind,
Have iinntimber'd secrets still,
To be ransack'd when ynu will,
Fur ihe service of mankind ;
Science is a child as yet,
And her power and scope shall grow,
And her triumphs in the future
Shall dimiin.'li toil and woe ;
Shall extend the bounds nf pleasure
Wilh an ever-widening ken,
And of woods nnd wilderness
Make Ihe homes of happy men.
:0nvard ! Ihere are ills to conquer,
Dally w'ickeituess is wrnnaht,
Tyranny -is sweell'n will) Piide,
Biositry is defied.
Ei ror entettw ined wilh Thought,
Vice and Misery rampant crawl.
Root them nnt, their day has pass'd
oodness is alone immortal ;
Evil was not mad lo lasl :
Onward ! nnd all Earth shall aid us
Ere our peaceful 1il' be full d.'
nd Ihe prearhina "f thi preacher
Slirs the pulses of Ihe world.
3. Kciu Dear Storn.
A HUSBAND'S PRESENT.
BY SVI.VANUS COBB. HI.
It was a bitter cold niht on the twenty
fourth of December. Th snow lay deep
upon the frozen earth, and the bright moon
ridim? half wav up the heavens, lent a
crystalline lustre to '.he scene. In the high
road, a short distance from a quiet, repos
ing village, stood the lorm of a human be'
in". Hisgarments were scant and tattered
by far insufficient to keep out the biting
frost : his frame shook and tretnniea HKe
the ice-bound boughs of the weeping wil
low that grew near him, and bin hce, as
the moonbeams now danced upon it, exhib
ited all the f.-aiful foot-prints of Ihe demon,
Intemperance. Poor, wretched and detia-
s"d, he looked and such in truth he was!
Before him, at the end of a neatly fenced
and trellised enclosure, stood a small cot
tage. It was elegant in its simple neatness,
and just such a one as the humble lover of
true comlort and joy would seek for a Home,
Tho tears rolled down the bloated cheeks of
the poor inebriate as he gazed upon the
cottage, and at length, as he clasped his
hands in agony, he murmured ;
"O, thou fond home of my happier days,
thou lookest like a heaven of the past. Be
neath thy roof I was married lo the ido! of
my soul, and within thy peaceful walls bod
gave to me two blessed children. Then
peace and plenty were mine, and love and
joy were mine. My wile God bless her
gentle soul was happy then, and my chil
dren may heaven protect them laughed
and play ed in gleesome pleasure. Gladness
smiled upon us then, and every hour was a
season of bliss. But I lost thee, as the fool
loselh his own salvrtion! Six years have
passed since the demon that I took to my
heart drove us from your sheltering roof.
And these six ysrs? O, what misery what
agony, what sorrows and what degradation
have they not brought to me and my poor
family: Home, health, wealth, peace, toy
and friends are gone all, all gone ! O, thou
fatal cup no, I will not blame thee! It
was I. I who did it ! Year after year I
tampered with thy deadly sting, when I
knew that destruction lurked in thy smiles.
But, but ;" and the poor man raised hii
eyea to heaven as he spoke, "ihere it room
on earth for another man and I will bt
that man.V
Within the only apartment of misera
ble and almost broken-down hovel, sat
woman and two children a boy and ajtrl
The cold wind found ils'enlrance thmugh
a hundred crevices, and as its biting gusts
swept through the room, the mother and
her children crouched nearer lo the few
embers lhat still smouldered upon the
hearth. The only furniture were four poor
stools, a rickety table, and a scanty covered
bed ; while in one corner, neatest the fire
place, was a heap of straw and tattered
blankets, which served as a resting place
for the brother anil sister. Part ol a tallow
candle was burning upon the table, and by
its dim light one might have seen lhat
wretched mother's countenance. It was
pale and wan, and wet wilh tears. The fa
ces of her children were both buried in her
lap, and I hey seemed to sleep peacefully
under her prayerful guardianship.
At length the sound of footsteps upon the
snow-crust struck upon the mother's ears,
and hastily arousing her children, she hur
ried them to Iheir lowly bed, and hardly
had they cr uu hed aw ay beneath the thin
blankets, when the tloor was opened, and
the. man whom we have already seen be
fore that pretty cottage, entered the place.
With a trembling, fearful look, the wife ga
zed up in her husband's face, and seemed rea
dy to crouch back from his approach, when
the mark of a tear-drop upon his cheek
caught her eye. Could it be, thought she,
lhat that pearly drop was in truth a tear!
No perhaps a snow-flake had lallcn there
and mulled.
Once or twice, Thomas Wilkins seemed
upon the point of speaking some woid to
his wile, but at length he turned slowly
away and silently undressed himself, and
soon after his weary limbs had touched the
bed he was asleep.
Long and earnestly did Mrs. V ilk ins
gaze upon the features of her husband after
he had fallen asleep. There was something
strange in his manner something unac
countable. Surely he had not been tli ink
ing; for his countenance hail none of that
vacant, wild, demoniac look that usually.
rested there. Ids features were rather sad
and thoughtful, than otherwise; and O,
heavens! is it possible a smile played
about his mouth, and a sound, as if of pray
er, issued frotn his lips while yet he slept!
A hint hope, like the misty vapour of
approaching morn, flitted belore his heart
broken wile. Hut she could not grasp it-
she had no foundation for it ; and with a
deep groan she M the phantom pass. She
went to her children, and drew the clothes
more closely about them ; then she knelt
bv their side, and after imprinting upon
their cheeks a mother's kiss, and uttering a
fervent prayer in their behalf, she sought
Ihe repose of her pillow.
Long ere the morning dawned, Thomas
Wilkins arose from his bed, dressed himself
and left the house. His poor wife awoke
just as he was going out, and she would have
called htm, hut she dared not. She would
have told him that she had no fuel, no
bread not any thing wilh which to warm
and feed the children ; but he was gone and
she sank back upon her pillow and wept.
I he light of morning came at length, but
Mrs. Wi'kins had not risen I'mm her bed,
nor had her children crawled from out their
resting place. A sound of footsteps was
heard from without, accmnpanied bv a
noise, as motion a ngnt sieu were being
dragged thmugh the mow. The door
opened, and her husband entered. He laid
upon tne tame a neavv wiit-aten loat, a
small pail, and a paper bundle; then from
his pocket he took another paper parcel and
again he turned towards the door. When
next he entered he bore in his arms a load
of wood ; and three timesdid he go and re
turn wilh a load ol the same description.
Then he bent over ihe fire-place, nnd soon
a blazing fire snapped and sparkled on the
hearth. As soon as this was accomplished,
Thomas Wilkins bent over his children and
kissed them ; then he went to the hedide
ol bis wife, and, while some powerful emo
tion stirred up his soul and made his chest
heave, he murmured :
"Kiss me, Lizzie."
Tightly that wife wound her arms about
the neck ol her husband, and, as though
the love of years were centered in that one
kiss, she pressed it upon her lips.
"Ihere mi more," he tittered, as he
gent ley laid the ru m ol his wife from his
neck ; these things I have brought ore for
you and our children," and as he spoke he
left the house. .
Mrs. Wilkins arose from her bed, and
tremblingly she examined Ihe articles upon
the table, bhe lound the loaf, and in the
pail she found milk, one of the papers con
tained two small bundles one ol tea, and
one of sugar, while in the remaining par
cels she found a nice lump of butter.
"O," murmured the poor wife and mo
ther, as she gazed upon the food thus
spread belore her, "Whence ram" these?
Can it be that I nomas has stolen them !
No, he never did that ! And then lhat
look ! that kiss ! those kind sweet, sweet
words ! O, my poor, poor heart, raise
not a hope that may only fall and crush
thee !"
"Mother," at this moment spoke her
on, who had raised himself upon hit el
bow, "is nnr father gone?"
"Yes, Charles."
"O, tell me, mother did he not come
and kiss me and little Abbv this morning?"
"Yes, yes he did," cried the mother,
at silo flew to the side of her boy and
wound her arms about him.
"And mother," taid the child, in low,
trembling accents, while he turned a tear
ful look to his parent's face, "will not fa
her be good to us once more ?"
That mother could not speak she could
only press her children more fondly to her
bosom, and weep a mother' tear upon
them. v
Was Lizzie Wilkint happy at she tat her
children down to that morning meal 1 At
least, a ray of sunshine was ttrugMin" to
gain entrance to ner oosom.
Towards the middle of th afternoon,
Mr. Abel Walker, a retired sea captain of
limp wealth, sat in his comfortable parlor
engaged in reading, when one of his er
vantt informed him that tome one at the
door wished to see hitn.
"Tell him to come in, then," returned
Walker.
"But it's that miserable Wilkins, air."
"Never mind," said the captain, alter a
moments hesitation, "show hitn in. Poor
fellow," he continued, after the servant
had gone; "I wonder what he wants. In
truth I pity him."
With a trembling step and downcast look,
Thomas Wilkins entered Captain Walker's
parlor.
"Ah, Wilkins," said the old captain,
"what has brought you hi-re?"
The poor man twice attempted to speak,
but his heart failed him.
"Do yon come for charity ?"
"No, sir," quickly returned Wilkins,
while his eyes gleamed wilh a proud light.
"Then sit down and out wilh it," said
Walker, in a blunt, but kind tone.
"Captain Walker," commenced the poor
man, as he took the proffered seat, "I have
come to ask you if you still own that little
cottage beyond the hill."
"1 do."
"And is it occupied ?"
"No."
"Is it engaged ?"
"No," returned the captain, regarding
his visiter with uncommon interest. "But
why do you ask ?"
"Captain Walker," said Wilkins, in a
firm and manly tone, even though his eyes
glistened and his lips quivered, "I have
been poor and degraded, deeply steeped in
the dregs of poverty and disgrace. Every
thing lhat made life valuable, I have al
most lost. My wife and children have
suffered, and God only knows how keenly !
I have long wandered in Ihe path ol sin.
One afteranother the tender cordsof friend
ship that used to bind me to the world have
snapped asunder ; my name has become a
by-word, and upon earth I have been but
a foul blot. But, sir, from henceforth, I
am a man ! Up from the depth of its long
grave, I have dragged forth my heart, and
love still has its home therein. I have
seen my old employer at the machine-shop,
and he has given me a situation, and iseven
anxious that I should come back ; and sir,
he has been kind enough to give me an or
der in advance for necessary articles of
clothing, food and furniture, lo-morrow
morning I commence work."
"And you come to see if you could ob
tain your collage back again to live in?"
said Cap!. Walkerj as Wilkins hesitated.
"Yes, sir to see if I could hire it of
yon," replied the poor man.
"Wilkins, li'iw much can you make at
your business ?" bluntly asked the old Cap
tain, without seeming to heed the request.
"My employer is going to put me on
job work, sir, and as soon as I get my hand
in, I can easily make from twelve to lour
teen dollars a week."
"And how much will it take to support
your family ?"
"As soon as I get cleared up, I can easi
ly get along with five or six dollars a week."
"Then you might be able to save about
four hundred dollars a year."
"I mean to do that, sir."
A f-w moments Capt. Walker gazed in
to Ihe face ol his visiter, and then ask"d :
"Have yon pledged yourself yet ?"
"B.'fore God and in my heart, I have;
but one of mv errands here was to get you
to write me a pledge, and have it made to
mv wife and children."
Captain W'alker sal down to his table
and .wrote nut the required pledge, and
then, in a trembling but boltl hand, Thomas
Wilkins signed it.
"Wilkins," said the old man as he took
his visiter by the hand, "I have watched
well your countenance, and weighed your
words. I know you speak the truth.
When I bought that cottage from your cre
ditors six years ago I paid them one thou
sand dollars for it. It has not been harm
ed, and is as good as it was then. Most nf
the time I have received good rent for it
Now, sir, you shall have it for just what I
paid tor it, and each month you shall pay
me such a sum as vou can comfortably
spare until it is all paid. I will ask for no
rent, nor for a cent of interest, ion shall
have a deed for the esta'e, and in return 1
will take but a single note and mortgage,
upon which you can have your own time."
1 nomas Uilkins tried to thank the old
man lor his kindnes, but he only sank back
into his chair and wept like a child; nnd
while he yet sat with his face buried in his
hands, the old man slipped from the room.
And when at length he returned, he bore
in his hand a neatly covered basket.
"Lome, come," the captain exclaimed,
"cheer up my friend. Here are some tit
bits for your wife and children lake them
home ; and believe me, Wilkins, if you feel
half as happy in receiving my favors as 1
do in bestowing it, you are happy indeed.'
"OGod! God will bless you for this,
sir?" exclaimed the kindness-stricken man :
and if I betray your confidence, may I die
on the instant I"
Stick to your pledge, Wilkins, and I
will take care of the rest," said the old
Captain, at his f-iend look Ihe basket. "If
you have time to-morrow, call on me, and
I will arrange the papers."
As Thomas Wilkint once more entered
the street hit tread wat light and easy. A
bright light of joyousness shone in every
feature, and as he wended hit way home
ward, he felt in every avenue of hit soul
lhat he wat once more a man.
The gloomy shade that ushered in the
night of the thirty-first of December, had
fallen over the snow-clad earth. Within
the miserable dwelling of Mrs. Wilkint
there wat more ol comfort than we found
when first we visited her, but yet nothing
had been added to the furniture of the place.
For the last six dtvt her husband had com
home every evening, and cone away be
fore daylight every morning, and during
that time she knew that he had drunk no
intoxicating beverage, for already had his
face began lo assume tlie stamp of ill for
mer manhood, and every word that he had
spoken had been kind and afTectionate. To
his children he had brought new shoes and
warmer clothing, and to herself he had
given such things as she stood in immediate
needol; but yet with all this, he had been
taciturn and "thoughtful, showing a dislike
to all question, and only speaking such
words at were necessary. The poor, de
voted, loving wife began in hope! And
why should she not. For six years her
husband had not been thus belore. One
week ago, she dreaded his approach ; hut
now she found herself waiting lor him wilh
all Ihe anxiety of former years. Should
all this be broken ? Should thi. new charm
be swept away ? Eight o'clock came, and
so did nine, and ten, and yet her husband
came not ?
"Mother," said little Charles, just as the
clock struck ten, seeming to have awaken
ed from a dreamy slumber, "isn't this the
lasl night of the old year?"
"Yes, my son."
"And do you knuw what I've been dream
ins, dear niolher? I dieamed lhat father
had brought us New Ycat's present, as he
used lo But he wont, will he? He's loo
poor now ?"
'No, my dear boy, we shall have no other
present than fond ; and even for thai we
must thank dear falher. Then lay your
head in my lap again."
The boy laid his curly head once more in
bis mother's lap, and with tearful eyes she
gazed upon his inocent form.
The clock sltuck eleven ! The poor wife
was yet on her tireless, sleepless walch.
But hardly had the sound of the last stroke
died away ere the snow crust gave back the
sound of a footfall, and in a moment more
her husband entered. With a trembling fear
she raised her eyes to his face, and a wild
lllrill ol joy went to her heart as she saw nil
there was open and bold only ihoso manly
features looked more joyous, more proud
than ever.
"Lizzie," said he, in mild, kind accent, "I
am late to-night, but business has detained
me, and I now ask a favor of ihee."
"Name it, dear Thomas, and yon shall not
ask a second time," ciied the wife, as she
laid her band confidedily on her husband's
arm.
"And ynu will ask me no questions," con
tinned Wilkins.
' No, I will not."
"Then," continued the husband, as he
bent over and imniiuled n kiss upon his
wife's brow, "I wnnt you to dtess our chit
dreti for a walk, nnd you shall necompany us
The niuhl is calm nnd tranquil, end ihe snow-
is well trodden. Ah! no question ! Remem
ber your piomise '."
Lizzie Wilkins knew not what this all
meant, nor did she think, lo care ; for any
thing that could please her husband she
would have dtinewiih pleasure, even though
it wrenched her very henr-suinc. In H short
lime ihe two children weie lead) : then Mrs
Wi'kins put on such ntlieles nf diess an she
could command, and soon Ihey were in 1 tie
toad. The moon shone brightly, the siais
peeped down upon ihe earih, and I hey seem
ed to smile upon ihe ttavclers fiom out their
twinkling eyes of liirbl. Silently Wilkins
led the way, and silently his wife gazed up
on her husband's countenance; but from Ihe
slrange expression that retted there, she
could mnki out nothing lhat tended to satisfy
her.
At leneth a slight turn the ro&d brmi;hl
lhem suddenly upon the pretty w hite col
late, where, years before, they hail been so
happy. They aproached Ihe spot. The
snow in Ihe front yanl had been shoveled
away, and a path led up lo the piazza. Wil
kint opened Ihe uale his wife lienibliuuly
followed, but wherefore she knew not. Then
her husband opened the door, nnd in ihe en
try they were mH by the smilins countenance
of old Capl. Walker, who ushered them in'o
till pallor, where a warm fire ".lowed in the
grale, and every ihing looked ueut ami com
fortable. Mis. Wilkins lurned lierpaze upi ti
the old man, and then upon her husband.
Surely, in thai greeting between ihe four man
and Ihe lich, there was none of Ihut con
straint which would have been expected.
They met laiher as fiieuds and neighbors
What could it mean ?
Ilaik ! the clock slitket twelve ! The old
year has pone, and a new, a bright-winged
cycle is about to commence ils flight over
Ihe earth !
Thomas Wilkins took the hand of his wife
within his own, and then drawing from his
bosom a paper, he placed it in her hand, re
marking as he did to,
"Lizzie, this it your husband's present for
the New Year!"
The wife took the paper and she opened
it. She realised its contents at a glance;
but she could nnt read it word for word, for
the streaming tears of wild, ftanlio joy w onld
not let her. ilh a quick, nervous move
ment she placed Ihe pricelest pledge next lo
her bosom; and then, wilh a low murmur,
like the gentle whisper of tomo Heven bonnd
angle, the fell half fainting into her husband's
arms.
"Look up, look tip, my own dear wife,''
uttered the redeemed man, "look up and
smile upon your husband ; and you too, my
children, gathei about your father for a
husband and a fiher henceforth I will ever
be. Look up, my wife. There! Now, Liz
lie, feel proud with me, for w tiand within
eur ewn house 1 Ye, thi cottage it onoe
mo-e our ow n ; ami nothing but the hand i f
death shall ngain take lis hence. Out cood,
kind fiiend hete w ill explain it all. O, Li,
itie, if there be hippi ie on earth, it shall
hencefmlh be ours! Let the past be fotgot
ten, nnd with this, the dawniig of a new
year, lei us commence to live in the future."
Gently the husband mid wife sank upon
Iheir knees, clasped in each oiher's arms;
and clinging joj fully to them, knelt their
conscious, ln'ppy children. A prayer from
the husband's lips wended its way to the
throne of crace; and with the warm tears
trinkling down his used face, old Captain
Walker responded a hartfelt "Amen."
Five yenrs have passed tince that happy
moment. Thomas Wilkins has cleared bin
pretty collage from all encumbrance, and a
happier, or more respecled family does not
exiit. And Lizzie that gentle, contniing
wife as she lakes that simple p-'per from
ihe drawer, nnd looks again upon the mngic
pledge it bears, weeps tears of joy anew.
Were all ihe wenllh of the Indies poured out
in one glittering, blinding pile nt her feel,
and all the honors of the world ndded there
to, she would not, for the whole countless
sum, give in exchange one single word from
that pledge w hich constituted her Husband s
Present.
From Punch'. Pocket Book.
THE LAST FLY IN SUMMER.
'Tis the last fly of summer,
Left buzzirg alone ;
All ils black-legged companions
Are dried up and gone.
Not one of its kindred,
No blue-botlle nigh,
To sport 'mid ihe sugars,
Or in ihe milk die.
I'll not doom thee, thou lone one.
A vicii n lo be,
Since the rest are ali vanished,
Come dine ynu with me.
Thus kindly I scatter
Some crumbs of my bread,
Where thy mates on the table
Lie w ithered nnd dead.
But soon you w ill perish,
I'm sadly afraid,
For the gUs is a', sixty
Jest now in the shade.
W!ien wasps have all vanished,
And blue bullies llown,
No lly can inhabit
This bleak wo; hi alono.
FLROCIOtS ATTACK BY A CrtlSLY RLAft
IN C'ALIFOIl.MA.
The following exciting story is told by a
correspondent of the Sacramento Union,
wiitiug fiotn Diamond Springs :
I saw yesterday, about fifteen miles fiom
this point, on the mad from here to Catson
Valley, n man who had been most horribly
nun Muted by a grisly hear. On Wednesday
morning last, a man living near Sly Park
Creek, ou tie emigiaut mad, while hunting,
disenveted a she bear, wi h two cubs about
thi size of a common dog, coming up a ra
vine v i l liin gun shot of w lie re he was stand
ing in Ihe road. As Ihe bear had not dis
covered him, he determined lo give her a
shot The ball struck her back of ihe
shoulder, but too low to prove fatal. She
immediately raised upon her hind legsi
turning her head from side to side to dis
cover her assailant. He had commenced
loading, but befoie he got his powder down
ihe bear di-eoveied hitn. He look to a tree
and baiely escaped, as Ihe bear a so near
ic w-tti i n iu in-ai
..... . .
with his foot before
... ,
that he kicked her head
he got out id' her reach. She was enraged
and kepi him in the tree for over two bouts.
While there he shouted for help, and sue-
eeded in uttinctiiig the intention of some
men in t tie employ ol isiuiiicy, nenien o:
Co., who went to his relief ; but when they
reached the lice the bear had been cone
st bunt leu minutes. They tracked her into 8
lliick chapparal, coveting about three acres,
nnd llieie lefi her.
After dinner Ihey mustered double-barrel
led guns and rifles, to I he number of four
teen shots, and stinted for the chapparal
I" pon reaching it 'he men veiy imprudently
scattered, some venlut ing in In see if Ihey
could Mart her, while mheis climbed trees
lo be in a place of safely, and lo get a view
of the ground. Among those who look a
tiee was man by the I nine of Charles II.
Packard, who has gone a slim I distance into
the bush, and, as he had no gun, placed
himself in a sapliig about six inches
through The liee foiked about six feel
fiotn the ground, and I'ackatd went up out
of Ihe branches, a distance of tibout twelve
feet fiotn Ihe gron id, nod iu reply to one of
his companions said he considered himself
safe.
At this moment he cried out, ' Mere's the
bear within a rod ol me !'' but haidly got
the words out of his mouth before she made
towards him furiously, jumped at and caught
the tree a few feet below him, and with
her tremendous weight split il at the foik
carrying man and tree both with her to the
ground, lid fell upon hit Jack, and the
bear seized bim by the left side of his head
and face, lore his left ear completely from
hit head, laying bare hie scull. She then
seized him by ihe oilier tide of hit face,
cutting a deep gash in the upper lip and
tearing the flesh from Ihe right corner of
Ihe mouth aui (he large artery in the
neck, Ihen by 'Tli" foie aim, laying bare the
tendons, breaking some of them, and biting
hi right hand through nd through. Sh
Ihen left lha upper pari of the body and
made an effort teeming! to tear open hii
bowel, ai the left tome fifteen !ever
wound on hi body, but none of them to
deep a to enter tb cavity, and flnithed br
horrible wmk by taking out about t
po imls .f flesh Lorn his right thiiih. '.
this lime Packard was so nearly exliat-s
that he lay ns if dead, and the bear lef' htm.
Some of Ihe company were within twee-)
tteps of the wounded man, but were unuLo
to render him any nssislancs. Thej s-.-.v
ihe bear break down the tree, heard I,
cries for help, but after ho struck the
ground, ihey could see neither Liar n
man, so thick wat tho chappatal around
lhem.
Mr. Packard was carried lo ihe houn and
notwithstanding ha is so lerr.bly mutilated.
is in a fair way to recover. lie said lh:
morning that he thought he would be up in
a few weeks. Dr. Slatighther, of Plensnn.
Valley, dressed his wounds. This bear i-
said to be one of the largest kind, and, i ;
consequence of being wounded, had become
ferocious. Sho has not been caplured.
Caccts of Caow.NKD Hkads. It sen r
i he Emperor Napoleon 111 has left Pat it- Pv
Biirlin, where the Emperor of Austria v-
expected on Ihe 15lh December. Wh-i'
France, Piussia ami Austria are concnclin;
we do not yet see; but Napoleon is vvi''
awake lo strengthen his new throne, and t
render permanent the re-established empit: .
The new imperial crown of Napoleon III
is not only a tnasterwoik of thejeweller'sarlf
but one w hich will surpass every royal orna
ment in its richness in ptaris and prscicv
stones.
Some wags in Wilmington got up a s,il
scriplion for the burial of Mr. Oldyear, vvlv.
it was alleged, died on Friday night last,
Several benevolent gentlemen subscribed r
dollar each.
The Chicago Journal notices a hipmei-,
of a lot of 5.0U0 quails by exprrts for Nm
Yotk. Came of all kinds is very plenty,
being shipped East daily by the ton.
AGRICULTURAL.
THE SHANGHAI UtllitD OF FOWLS.
The Geneses Fanner makes the following
Statement respecting the Shanghai fowls, aw!
we republish it, in order that tho opinion ot
a paper of so much respectability, on a sub
ject just now in its zenith, may be known.
We give it for just w hat it is worth, neilhe
subsciibing to it fully or objecting lo it fii'ly
"Tho Cochin China and Shanghai are much
larger than our common fowls, prolab'y uv.
wraging three times their weight. Of iibm,:
fifty we raised last year, the smallest I. :.
weighed six pounds, and ihe largest cock ti- .
pounds, at one year old. They produce r:oi
fggs than any fowls we have ever kept. Tik
hens often commence laying in less than tine
weeks after hatching a brood, and continue
laying every day regularly, al ihe same tin..
taking care of the chickens unti'.l they mo
able to care for themselves. We made n
present of a pair of Shanghai fowls to a gen
tleman well known to all agticullural nm'
botticultural rcadets. After a few weeks,
happening lo be at his place, we inquire how
ihe fowls prospeted, and w here told lhat tho
hen had not layeJ. Thinking this stian;
ve asked to see what eggs they had, v i.
we found between two and three dozen tg
laid by our pullel, w hich we readily reci r
nized. On pointing out her eggs to .n
friends he remaiked; "My wife has frn;.
times obsetved lhat the hen lhat layed :!
i , . , , ., ,.
I yellow eggs, layed moie than all the olli-vs.
: . , , ' ' ,. . ,,
lid had some half dozen in all.
I "They are good m"(icis, but lay a larg
j number of eggs before wanting to sit (.en
i etally from foily lo sixty. The young chick
ens are very haidy much more so than un
others we know of. In several cases, w lie,
raising very caily chickens, we have ha',
bioods, part Shanghai or Cochin China,
part common chickens, ami lust nearly n'.'
ihe common without losing one of th
01 hers.
"The eggs of pullets tlie first year on
small. Indeed, these fowls do not active a'
lull matuiitv iu less than eighteen months
' For this reason we think it would be belle
j to taise crosses to kill in the fall. We ktlle .
!a dozen ciosses last year, at about m.
' mon hs old, the smallest of which weigh .'
six pounds dressed. They were fiom com
, mon hens and a Shanghai cock. Wo ul
' killed several Shanghai and Cochin Chine
- chickens at Lboul tho same age, takit'g .
: Intle naius to lest the iii.ulity of the fl-sh.
1 ,j .dure gaidirg the Scnptuie iu juiictum u.
. a ,
1 cai j ihj "hull, and l.ime. and the Llin.l,''
invited a few of our fneiui who utj good
judges of what a fowl should be, ar-d they
were unanimously pronounced first-rate, at. I
no difference could be deiosted belwee.i th
flesh of Ihe crosses and pure bloods,
fineness or flavor. There is some talis'
lion in carving from a chicken that
from six to sevon pounds "
Oil Meal as a SiBSTii rr tor Hav.
A New York farmer tays, here is no ue
cessity for telling cattle as winter nppmaeb
es, if ihe farmert would only get in the
wsy of using oil meal, which on account or
iu extra fattening qualilie makes it cheap
er and better for farmert at all limes lo buy
this food for theii catile than to feed trie
produce of their farmt. Thi has been
thoroughly and tuccesful!y tried by nil ex
tensive dairymen in Orange county. The
English and Germsn farmert give it the pc
Terence ovei all other kindt of fodder even
t a higher cost. In Pennsylvania, ihe Ger
man fed i largely during a very goo
patur;e. What i expended on oil ml
it retyped in th inoretited value of th
rattle.
i