Written for the Agitator,
EITBMPEttASa, r- .
BY tofts. 14 We ‘STEVENS.
Why lfe»d so rudely oS our hearth,
Destruction's demon, thou !
Why crush our buds of- promise so.
To bind.tfiy conquering .brow!
Why cast the mildew blightof caw
_ iTpoa our. firesides bright,
And send the iron throughout soul*.
To quench' Hope's flame itt night?.
Att thou not sated with the crown
Thy victims madly wreathe?
Is not thy fiendish mission fillM—
Thy work of wo end death ?
No! in onr hearts thy deadly fangs
Are felt, and long will last;
Aye, many homes and many hearts
Thy pride hath boon to Wash •
Young man, beware the sparkling wine!
Graap not the poisonous b6wl 1
O, do not blast thy household pride,
Nor bur) to hell, thy soul 1
Is there no u balm itt Gilead,
No kind physician there?"
Must men in midnight darkness grope,
And hug the chains they bear 7
Our nation’s hope, our nation’s boast—
From that dark sin keep free !
0, drunkard, in God’s universe
There is no place for thee !
PTES- OLtBITEI.
Prom a Pamphlet i etued hy the Emigrant Aid Com
pony.
hjTolci of A Trip np Kanin* Blv
er. including Observations on
Hitt Soil, Climate, Sooner}V Ac.
Br Geo. S. Pork.
Passing the west line of the PaUavvatomie
nation, we entered upon open prairie, often
reaching the river on both sides ; now and
men a small grove,\nnd a light fringe of tim
ber on the banks. On the right, in a great
prairie bottom, in a bend of the river exten
ding bank to Rock Creek, Mr, Perry has
made a selection for a stock farm ; and a
little wav above his claim there is another
great bend, offering a tempting inducement
to some other enterprising farmer who has
a taste for slock raising. Beyond this we
passed a large grove of limber on the right,
and then passed a most appropriate bluff for
a town sue—the first we saw for several
mites. Here we saw Blue Hill, which is a
prominent landmark overlooking ihe mouth
of Blue river. From this poini upward, the
bluffs are higher and more abrupt, and the
country back more elevated and broken.
Here we saw a larje eagle nest, out of which
the old bird looked angnlv al us, for iniru
ding on Us pre-emption ; but she, ton, must
give wav. with the red skins, to m-milesi des
tmv A lulle wav above, another huge buf
falo floated past : be mnv have been anxious
to slake his thirst in the Republican or Smo
kyhill, lost foothold, ana got carried away by
the rolling floou
Passing the mourn of the Blue, which
comes in from the north, (as nearly all the
tributaries of Kansas do,) and appears to he
navuiable for some distance, we were pleased
with Us fine bottoms and long streak of tim
ber ; while on the leh, were conical bluffs
and high prairie mounds, wuh figured lines,
and slops rising one above another in ihe dis-
InrvAA. nnnl rilwUiOg la lh» coanoi-r • w »i*v fo
mannc appearance. Immediately above this
important tributary, there is another beautiful
nratne bottom, slopin'! back northward far
ther than we could see ; and on the left, still
another, containing more than 2000 acres, in
a bend not moflfthan three-fourths of a mile
across the neck. The enticing features of
the latter are —a little prove of timber on the
height, a cool gushing spring, and plenty of
rock at hand in the bluff, with which to raise
an enduring fence over the narrow isthmus.
Tne world does not present a more excellent
•nuation for a slock (arm ; indeed, the whole
line of the main river and branches, from
here upward, mav he said to he adapted for
a cononuous senes of such farms. On the |
right a bluff comes min the river, the first]
above the mouth of the Blue, offering an op* t
nronnale town site : and wo saw stakes set t
on llte stone, as well as a lent or cabin back |
on me high nrnirie —indicating Iha t our coun-1
Irvrnei! were there. Just abuve, there is a |
clear, running siream. nnd a line of limber 1
reaching far I>mck. I'rom this to ihe torl,|
the river winds like a natural canal, through
green flowery meadows, wiih similar scenery
in the distance. On 'lk h it. we saw some
splendid country for farms, up the valley ofi
a siream. the name of which we do not rec.
oiled : (here were tine groves of limber, and
U e understand lhal sev. ]
eral claims have been made mere.
rich vallev lane
On Monrtnv mud-, ins’, beloro reaching
fur Riley, we were overtaken by a tremen
aous thunder storm We were surrounded
uv nraine ; and the captain had to lay his
crab close to the shore, and cast anchor,
there being no slump or tree to hitch to. He
is o! opinion, lhal there should not be a cab
in on steamers navigation these prairie rivers,
where the winds sometimes sweep along with
unbroken violence. We saw the Pilot mounds
in the distance, where the mildarv road
leaves the Kansas botiomsyand passes through
a depression in the bluff to the crossing of
the Blue. We passed some small creeks on
me right, with settlements on them ; and
Clark's Creek, on the left, affording some
line umbered lands, and good springs.
A little after sunrise, on Tuesday morning,
we neared Fort Riley—ns fine stone build
ings loomings up grandly in tbe sunbeams,
it is the junction of the Republican
and Smokyhill forks of the Kansas, on the
second bench or roll of the prairie, having
higher bluffs immediately behind, from which
the building rock is quarried. It is soft lime
stone, easily cut into with a pick, and can be
spin into any shape ; we noticed the same
horizontal strata cropping out at all elevated
points in the prairie. Crossing the Pawnee
or Republican fork by the Government bridge,
we had a good view of the tine country be
tween the two rivers, which rises gracefully
backward in high, swelling prairies. Here
there is a saw mill just started. We strolled
up the Republican, gathered some black
raspberries, and crossed a spring branch,
then mounted a high bluff, whence we could
see tbe beautiful Republican Valley a long
way up. It is nearly three miles wide, high,
dry, and level, with a loose, black, rich soil,
The river flows in a serpentine course thro’
the prairie bottoms, at some bends making"
nearly a circuit of six or eight miles, and
coming back to within a mile of itself again
—the banks generally having a light figure
'- -U ai
: ?*
- 1 I } • “ ;-*l T"** • »* *' v 3 ■* I '• 1 I i 1 1 ,5 ;
-fck H, CQgB^BDJTORJ
VOL. 1.
of timber, with occasional : grpves, near, the
water’s edge, in the ravines, and on the bluffs.
This is truly a delightful valley—the moat
inviting for settlement’we ever saw.
The ‘ Excel’ made a short trip up Smoky,
hill, Lieut. SargeW, from the Fort, accompa
nied us. Wo had an exciting lime. The
constant announcergent from the man who
heaved the lead, was,. 1 No bottom.’ The
river was full, and the current strong, but we
had great difficulty.in getting round the short
bends ; —it keeps on the course of the main
Kansas, coming a liil(e more from the south
west. There is niOrb' timber' t on this river
than on the Kansas abovePuttawalomie, and
the soil is better. We observed a deep marl
deposit on the bluffs,, beneath black soil, and
the bottoms inclined up prettily from the riv
er. A little way up, we saty a band of Fox
Indians crossing over, going north on a buf
falo-bunt ; and their motley procession stretch
ed along over the prairies for miles. Here
and there in the parly was carried a pole,
with a swan’s neck or eagle's head and tail,
&c., stuck upon it for a flag. They fjad
with them about five hundred horses, all of
which looked well. Great was the surprise
manifested on seeing the ‘Excel’ puffing
along up these unknown waters ; but, poor
fellows! the startling scream of the shrill
steam whistle, and the impetuous snorting of
the ironhorse, will soon scare off the buffalo
and other game from your hunting-grounds,
to return no more—you too must follow in
their trail, or succumb to the irresistible in
fluence of civilization.
Some foriy miles up Smokeyhill, an extern
sive bed of gypsum has been found, speci
mens of which have been tested and proved
to be of superior quality ; we brought a
small specimen home with us. Salt is also
alleged to be very abundant on the Saline
fork ; the waters of the Smokyhill are often
quite brackish, and when the boilers of the
• Excel’ are filled from that river, there is a
slight incrustation of salt deposited. Sped
mens of coal, both bituminous and anthracite,
and of tin, lead, and iron ore, have been
brought in. Hints have been given that gold
abounds, but in paris— unknown! There
cannot be a doubt, however, that valuable
minerals will be found cropping out beneath,
or interspersed in ihe primitive formation, as
we ascend toward the Rocky Mountains.
The codnlry rises very rapidly in that direc
tion from Fort Rily ; up the Republican, for
instance, the ascent, in the first three hundred
miles, is said to be two thousand feet. The
rook in vicinity of Smokyhill is principally
limestone ; and the river bollnms are a san
dy loam. The upland prairies are broken,
but of black, rich soil, particularly where
limestone predominates ; the valleys are also
very rich, and the soil mellow. Passing
over the high uplands, often there is nothing
to be seen but prairie spreading out beyond,
till it is lost in dim distance ; when all at
once, as if by magic, you come upon a
“ Woody valley, warm and low,” —
with fine springs and clear running water.
This is, indeed, a wejl-watered region, and
must be salubiious and healthy. VVe previ
ously mentioned the scarcity of timber above
Pattawntomie ; it may here be added, that it
is inadequate to supply what would be needed
for agricultural purposes, and hardly suffi
cient for firewood. Here and to the west
ward, a new era in agriculture must be inau
gurated—a new s\slrm must be practised.
Nature demands that it should be so. In
stead of clearing timber lands, ns in Eastern
Slates, the citizen-farmers df Kansas must
grow their timber- There is fuel warned,
but coal, in mmy places, can be got with lit
tle labor; houses must he built, and fences
made, bill in ihe absence of sufficient limber,
excellent rock for nil purpose can bo pro
cured in abundance ; nr. for fi-iicing, the far
mers can hedge himself in most c mplelelv
with Osage Orange. The country abounds
with the most luscious grapes. Slock of all
kinds are remarkably healthy ; and these
rolling prairie will make, ihe finest sheep
walks in the world. In fact, this mav he
designated the Pastorai, Region op Ameri
ca. The gardens at Fori Rily look well ;
and we procured some beautiful wild prairie
(lowers.
(To he Continued.)
Gen. Sam. Houston meeting Reverdy
Johnson one day in the Capitol, the Senator
and ex-Senator very naturally entered into
conversation about public men ; when speak
ing of Douglas, the General said he had been
“ got back.”
“ Sot back,’’ said Mr. J., “ what do you
mean bv that ?”
“ Why,” said Gen. H., “ did you never
hear the story ?”
“ No.”
“ Well, there was a man in my neighbor
hood when 1 was a boy, who made it a rule
not to allow his boys to come to the table till
they were seventeen years old. He had a
boy whom a neighbor, who was aware of
the father’s rule, happened to see one day sil
ling at a side tcfble ; knowing, however, that
the boy was more than seventeen, he asked
him how it happened that ho was still prohib
ited from coming to the table? ‘Why,’
said he, ‘ when I was seventeen father let
me come, but, I was so hungry, and in such
a hurry to help myself, that I stood up and
reached so far, that a sad accident happen
ed, whereupon my father immediately sot me
■back two years.’ ”
«Is that the second bell 1” inquired a
gust of a-etable porter of a country tavern,
the other day, “No ear I" exclaimed the
darkey, “ dat am de second ringin’’ of de
furst bell—we has but one bell in dis house,"
Tub mas who “harbored” a-thought, is
supposed to live on tho sea-shore.
TA T
-- ' :s " K .•. .vT; . *» . '• y~, •'. . ~i TY' 7- .j‘
WELLSBOKOMH; TIQGA PA., THMDAY MOROTa, OCTOBER 5; 18&4.
■.. ' w •‘ *• '»*- -i’- . -■ i t• ♦ J _ii‘ r ; • ■•- ■ * v ' ,v '*v'\ •*. -v
SELECT MISIELLAM.
THE VEMOM OP SERPENTS.
The following is by S. Gilman, L. L. D. t
published in the St. Louis Medical Journal,
and is certainly the most'interesting article
We evet readupon the'subject
“ There is mnch in the history and habits
of the reptile tribes, however repulsive, they
may be in appearance, that is very interest
ing, During a-sojourn of two or three
months in thg.interior of Arkansas, ! paid
some*attention to that branch of history call
ed ophiology. I found four varieties of rat
tlesnakes,, (crotalus) of which the Crotalus
Horridus and Crotalus Kirtlandi are by far
the most numerous. The former is the lar
gest serpent in North America. The family
of moccasin snakes (Colluber) is also quite
numerous, there being not less than ten vari
eties, most of which being quite as venomous
as the rattlesnake. By dissecting great num
bers of different species 1 learned that the an
atomical structure of the poisoning appara
tus is similar in all the different varieties of
venomous serpents. It consists of a strong
frame-work of bone, with its appropriate
muscles in the upper part of the head, resem
bling, and being in fact a pair of jaws, but
externally to the jaws proper, and much
stronger. To these is attached by a giogly
moid articulation, one or more moveable
fangs on each side, just at the verge of the
mouth, capable of being erected at pleasure.
These fangs are very hard, sharp, and crook
ed, like the claws of a cat, and hooked back
ward, with a hollow from the base to near
the point. I have occasionally seen a thin
slit bonp divide this hollow, making two, At
their base is found a small sack containing
two or three drops of venom, whicji resem
bles thin honey. The sack is so connected
with the cavity of the fang during its erec
tion, that a slight upward pressure forces the
venom into the fang at its base, and it makes
its exit at a small slit or opening near the
point, with considerable force ; thus it is car
ried to the bottom of any wound made by the
fang. Unless the fangs are erected for battle
they lie concealed in the upper part of the
mouth, sunk between .the external and inter
nal jaw-bones, somewhat like d pen-knife
blade shut in its handle, where ihey are cov
ered by a fold of membrane, which encloses
them like a sheath—this is the vagina denlis.
There can be no doubt that these fangs are
frequently broken off and shed, as the head
grows broader, to make room lor new ones
nearer the verge of the mouth ; for within
the vagina’ denlis of a very large crotalus
horridus, I found no less than five fangs on a
side—in all stages of formation —the small
est in a half pulpy or cartilaginous stale, the
next something harder, the third still more
perfect, and so on to the mam, well-set, per
fect fang. Each of these teeth had 4 well
defined cavity like the main one. Three
fangs on each side were frequently found in
copper-heads, vipers and others.
The process of robbing serpents of their
venom is easily accomplished by the aid of
chloroform, a few drops of which stupefies
them. If while they are under its influence,
they are carefully seized by the neck, and
the vagina denlis held out of the way by an
assistant, with a pair of forceps, and the fang
be erected and gently pressed upward, the
venom will be seen issuing from the point of
the fang. It may then be absorbed by a bit
of sponge, or caught in a vial, or on the
point of a lancet. After robbing several ser
pents in this mann'er, they were found, after
two days, to he as highly charged as ever
with venom of equal intensity with that first
taken.
Duri n *i the process of robbing several spe
cies of serpents, I tnnocjulaled several small
but vigorous and perfectly healthv vegetables
with iho point of a ,lancet well charged with
venom. Tlie next day they were withered
and dead, looking as though they had been
scathed with lightning. In attempting to pre
serve a few drops of venom for future exper
iments in a small vial with two or three parts
of alcohol, it was found in a short time to
have lost its venomous properties. But aficr
mixing ihe venom with aqua ammonia, or
spiriis o( turpentine, or' 071 of peppermint, or
o( cinnamon, or of cloves, or with nitric or
sulphuric acid, it still seemed to act with un
diminished energy. It is best preserved,
however, for future use by trituration with re
fined sugar or sugar of milk.
A very fine, large cotton-mouth snake, be
ing captured by putting a shoe string around
him, became excessively ferocious, striking
at even the crack* of a small riding-whip.
Finding himself a prisoner, without hope of
escape, he turned his deadly weapons on his
body, striking repeatedly his well charged
fangs deeply into his flesh. Notwithstanding
this, he was put in a small basket and car
ried forward. In one hour after he was
found dead, and no amount of irritation could
excite the least indication of life.
A large rattlesnake, beheaded instantly
with a hoe, would an hour and a half after,
strike at anything that pinched its tail. Of
several persons who were testing their firm
ness of nerve by trying to hold the hand
steady while the serpent struck at it, not one
could be found whose hand would not recoil
in spile of his resolution; and one man, a
great bully, bv-the-bv, was struck oft the na
ked throat with cons derable force, ond stag
gered back fainting with terror.
Seven venomous serpents belonging to five
different species, were made to fraternize and
dwell amicably in one den. A beautiful pair
of longbodied speckled snakes, known as
kingsnakes, known to be fangless and conse
quently wijhout venom, were duly installed
as members of the same family. Some un
easiness was perceivable among the older
members, but no attempt was made lo destrdy
isi U m T ■ A
lias • i'pwl '■■ m- 1
)Hujc ■ "■ ■
H - : Bv*l H -
£\»V'.v3 ;v iL:i -t <-b v?
AG^|TibFo>-^o?6aT'i9'Tl*;'ai^4SKßiNo; i bt' wisadik”,'!'
A
Mt
s\w
,- >■ VjsJ f J x.v )ri V’
the intruders*—though they might; have-been
killed inttanier. The next , morning-four of
the-venomuus serpents werel'ound to have
been destroyed by the king-snakes', and- one
was withjn their coil, and the two remaining
ones- would - make no effort at self-defence.
A Inrgeratllesnake seemed stupid andindif
ferent to his fate. He could not 1 be made to'
threaten or give warning even with his rattles,-
The smallest king-snake was afterwards in
noculated with the poison of one of the ser
pents he had destroyed,jind died immediately
after—th'tfs evincing that'they must have ex
ercised some power besides physical'force to'
overcome their fellow-creatures."
In short, |he result of a great number.of
experiments performed with the venom on a
great variety of serpents, seem to lead to the
following conclusions :
1. That the venom of all serpents acts as
a poison in a similar manner.
3. That the venom of some varieties is far,
more active than that of others.
3. That a variety of the cnllubar, known
as the cotton -mouth, is the moat venomous
serpent in Arkansas.
4, That the venom of serpents destroys all
all forms of -organized life, vegetable as
well as anima).
5. That alcohol, brought in contact with
venom, is to a certain extent,, an antidote.
6. That serpents do possess the power of
facinaiiqg small animals, and that this power
is identical with mesmerism.
V. That the blood of small animals, des
troyed by the venom of serpents, bears a
close resemblance to that of animals destroy
ed by lightning or hydrocyanic acid ; it los
es its power of coagulation and cannot be
kept long from putrefaction.”
A SCHOOL. EXAMINATION.
Once upon a lime we were traveling through
Georgia, and after putting our horses in the
stable, and ourselves in a condition not to de
sire food or drink, we look a walk of about
half a mile from the village to the school
house. The master wore a dirty coai that
looked the color of the back of an old diction
ary : his shirt was decorated with ink, and so
tightly did bis pantoloons fit him that one
would suppose that he had been born with
them on, and that they had grown in exact
ratio witlvhis legs. The walls of hia seat of
learning were more mysterious than an Indi
an map. ,Thsy had once been while; but
like an otd,maid, the weae and teae of time
had changed them to a deep saffron. On
them the young Raphaels of the surrounding
county had sketched sundry young gentle
man with goggle eyes, large heads, and very
small legs. The wall above every scholar’s
head was emblematical of his or her taste ;
the flower drawn with chalk spoke of the bot
anist i and the harp in ink of the musician.
Upon an invitation from the schoolmaster
we look a seal beside him, and soon in an
authoritative lone, he called for the “ spelling
class to come up.” About half a dozen boys
ranged themselves in front of the desk, and
looked as surprised as young chickens just
■out of their shells ; they waited for the’mas
ter's signal to commence the massacre of the
English language. “ Dictionary,” shouted
the master.
Dyc-shun dyclion i-dyctioni-a-yryery.”
After gelling this out, the boy seemed to be
much relieved, and immediately commenced
sucking his fingers after the most approved
manner, i
“ Peregrinate,” roared the master, and he
to whom he addressed himself, puckered up
his mouth as if he had been eating green per
simmons.
“ P-p-p-e-pe-pe-pe.”
“ You stuttering roscel! you have got half
a bushel of peas there. When you gel aP.
in vour mouth, grab hold of it with your
tongue, and don’t be shelling them out here
in that manner. Commence again, sir.”
The boy’s eyes popped out of his head like
those of a boiled cod-fish, and drawing n long
breath, with much difficulty he got out the
first syllable of Ihe word, and there he slop
ped. The nex boy went on and spelt the
word, while the stutter got a whack over the
head with a ruler.
“ Calumniate,” said the master to o cross
eyed youth) who had been looking all the
morning tftth one eye in front of the green,
while with the other he endeavored to scan
his book. The eyes this youth looked dag
gers at each other, atftf had it not bejjn for
his nose, whic was actually worn away in the
the frequent glances of his optics
across would most certainly have at
tacked eadfeiiher.
>• KowriS-
“ Slop," said the pedagogue. Cal-umni
ale, you calf. Steer right or I’ll put a
on you.”
« Kal boy scratches his head—
“ um”—boy seems going into convulsions—
“ kneei, nr——-the agony seems over—ale,
calumniate.
“ Encyclopedia.” bawled the master.
The boys looked horrified, and.seemed lo
think that the word was at least a month
long.
“ Begin,” said the master.
“ Can’t,” said a bandy-legged aspirant to
literary honors.
•* Next,” muttered the pedagogue,
“ I’se just like Johny,” answered the boy
addressed.
Finding it useless to press them on the
subject, the master bade them go to their
seats, and ordered up the geography class.
« Morocco—where—products—inhabitants,
—climate and soil ?”
“ Morocco' js capital for Pumpeii and Al
leygaiters. Never been discovered where it
is, but is prespected to produce feather head
ed inhabitants in .great abundance. Its pli
mate is saigrubious'and soil antediluvian.”
“ China—wherp—products, &c. 1”
iiWt
m /In > ■> .
V' W' H/■ |i
- r -. •■•., . _•
(a>A i
f
•> VJ iJ
J ‘ ‘' •'»> 1
v i; j
“ CHina dtriremarkable for its- poo reel l
ings(porcelaio we suppose was here .meant)
and manufacturers" of cups and saucers—
moijt of the'principal officers have their tails,
and'are tailed*tmh-dareens, from the circum
stance of Its being' punishable fur man to
touch their eends.- These tails is made' out
of their own, pair, and. is prospected to have
been derived from, the P’shaws of, Turkey.
Souchong opium, and Madagascar Ida is
drunk Here in greaPquaotities.”
Kamchatka—inhabitants—products,&c.”
“ Kamsch'atka is celebrated for its "dogs
and manufacturers ,of whale ile. Its last gov
ernor was a kangaroo, and on account of the
inhabitants eat in’ so much grease and blub
ber, it is the opinion of learned men that af
ter death many of- them will be changed in
to sperm candles.”
“ That’s right—go to your scats—good
boys—won’t flog you put twice this week, if
you behave yourselyes. You, Jim Stokes,
don’t let me catch you with a quire of paper
in the seal of your trofrsbrs again, nor with
your copy book in your jacket. I were out
my rattan'a licken you, and get no thanks
fof it.”
/“ Master, what’s the,meaning of calculus ?’’
shrieked d boy of about ten years of age.
It’s a term in rithmclic, and means to cal
culate with without figures roared the master.
About that lime we perambulated.
The Knickerbocker for August, sets out
some good things on its “ Little people’s Side
Table.”
“ Our ‘Ann’ has a little girl to help her
with the ‘house-work’—as sui generis a lit
tle creature as the sable Topsy. A few days
since, when‘Ann’came in from having, as
she said, a short ‘ chatter , with a friend, she
delected her little ‘help’ in some misdemean
or, and proceeded to reprimand her for it. In
the course of her Annhpnad’ versions, she
said t
•' Do you think you are fit to die 1”
“ 1 do’nol’ said the little girl, taking hold
of her dress and inspecting it, ‘I guess so if
I ain’t 100 dirtv 1’
“ When my grand-mother, (long since in
Heaven) was about'ihree years o d, she was
laken lo the funeral of a deceased play-male.
The Uulo corpse was lying in iia coffin, around
which flowers were strewn ; and she, being
lifted up, kissed its cold cheek, and whisper
ed :
“ Please give my love lo God !'*
“ This strikes me as one of the sweetest
expressions I ever heard made by a child.”
“ Our little Charlie has always been in the
habit of saying a little prayer before going Jo
bed. A few evenings since, all things being
ready for retiring, and when he was about lo
kneel at his brother’s knee, he stopped, and
looking earnestly into his mother’s face, said ;
“ Mamma, I am tired of praying somebody
else’s prayer; may’nl 1 make one myself! ’
“ His mother sai3, ‘Certainly, my boy, if
you really wish to.”
“ Ho knelt very reverently and clasped his
hands ; then with earnestness of
childhood, said to his mother:
“ Mamma, if 1 gel stuck, will you help me
out ?” i
“ My little boy after listenling some time
to his mother’s efforts to get a peddler ‘to
throw in something’ with everything she pur
chased, cast his longing eyes on some prim
ers in the trunks. The peddler, reading bis
wishes, offered to give him one. The little
fellow hesitated, and when urged, said ; ‘I
don’t know as I will lake it, unless you will
throw in something."
“ A little girl had been playing in the street
until she had become pretty well covered with
dust. In trying to wn»h it off she didn't use
enough water to prevent the dust rolling up in
little balls upon her arms. In her trouble,
she applied to her brother, a little older than
herself, for a solution of the mystery. It
was explained at once—to his satisfaction, at
least :
“ Why, sis, you’re made of dust, and if
you don’t stop you’ll wash yourself all
away !”
“ This opinion, coming from an elder broth
er, was decisive, and the washing was dison
tinued,”
“ One day a little school-male of Willie’s
was in here, and the two got to disputing
about the number of days in a week ; Wjllie
persisting that there were seven, and hislit lie
opponent stoutly maintaining that there were
only six. ‘Well.’ said Willie, 'you say them
over and I will count.’ So the days were
named and counted, from Monday to Satur
day, inclusive; and then there was a pause,
which Willie broke by saying :
“ And Sunday.” |
“ Ho!” said his diminutive opponent, with
a look of supreme contempt, ‘ that belongs
to the other week’
“ One pleasent day last Summer, I took
my seat in the stage conch bound from Fall
River to C Among the passengers was
a little gentleman who had possibly seen five
summers. Tho coach being quite full, he sal
in the lop of another passenger. W hile on
the way, something was said about pick-pock
ets, and soon the conversation became gener
al on that interesting subject. The gentleman
who.wns then holding our young friend re
marked :
“ My fine fellow, how easy I could pick
your pocket!”
“ No, you couldn’t,’ replied he ,• I’ve been
looking out' for you all the lime I”
“ What do you drive such a pitiful looking
carcase as tha} for 1 Why don’t you pul a
heavy coat of flesh on him ?” “ A heavy
coat of flesh ! By the powers, the poor
carter can hardly corry what little there is
on himi”
Scarce and high —good butter.
(r\ '
7
■’Wi'fc r
H.NICKERBOCKXAKA.
;, eG Wf diyidM peripqft*®
Uw s S9ffep| yydoj»BS,{,i > : i 5 ■...mov^rstfi’
■,;; r;
r t !°d toown.i>y
crape collar tra&V?piih-
of thp-hai? widows, ,.j]
i, M Period.—fyofqnpdgriqf.i. Dftspppdenpyt
isixweeks.Profound,grief: js rpcognijKci.bx- 1
tjje„d»sB;, which *<!{},.l»nii.np^4o^^ l o i lJ;pa^ i;
arnatta, and the despondency wbicbfsucceqda.j
to despair iasymbplized by ihe ydUie prapdi ,
icqllar and cuffs. •, '?
8d Period.—Grief-,sofleped by : the cohspiprj
tion pf friepds, and, the hppe eppn to, rgjpiti;
the tegreited object of her affections in a beU;
ter world. These melancholy sentiments;
last six months; they are expressed by a.
black silk dress; the, widow’s.cap is .stilt,
,worn, '
4th Period.—Time heals the jyoUqds ,o(\
the heart. Providence tempers the east wintt
to the shorn jamb. Violent [attacks of grief
only come at rare intervals, ’ Sometimes fhe,
widow seems as though she had forgotten her 1 -
loss ; but all at once, a circumstance, appar*.
enliy indifferent, recalls it, and «he falls bncit,
into grief. Vet she dwells from lime-te-time,
upon the faults of the beloved, but it is only;
to contrast them with dazzling virtues. - This,
period would be tiresome foe the world .at.
large; therefore it has been decided to eX*
press it simply .by half mourning.,
6lh Period.—There is now only asofteneti
melancholy, which wilt lasi all her life, i. e,
six weeks. This touching and graceful aen»
timent shows itself by a quiet and gray silk
dress; (he sufferer less feels the less-,limn
the actual deprivations of a husband. ’ ,
We should be doing the author an injus*.
tice if we omitted to give the beautiful pas*
sage with which ho,concludes the subject i . m
“ As to those who really grieve over th ir
relations, they will do well not to annoy the
world by the signs of a real grief; they will
do well to wear their sorrows within as they
do when mourning over friends, those rela*
tions made by the heart. And if you should
meet with any such, do not address to them
conventional consolation fer there is a portion
of themselves which they have buried with
their dead. Their only consolation is the
hope that they shall never be able to console
ihetnsolves ; that is to say, never to forget,
never to see those die in their heftrts whom
they have already seen die in (he flesh. Show
those afflicted ones that they have net lost all
and show them love is still left them. But
all this is not the fashion.”— Frazers Mug*
azine.
til
TO 13.
The New Gudgeons.—The following din.
logue, which actually took place some years
since between an old lady, who hud much
confidence in professionals, and a learned but
eccentric clergyman, goes to strengthen a
conviction already strong in many minds, viz
—that human nature is gullible )
“ Now, parson, you are a man of much
learning ; I want to ask you what became of
the eleven days, when old style was altered
to new 1”
“ Well, well madam, you know this World
is hung on two great gudgeons— ”
“ Indeed, sir 1 Wall, what then 1”
“ Well, it had been turning round on the
two gudgeons a great while, and they got
worn out, and it broke down,”
“ Do tell if it did !”
“ Yes, marm. VVell, after the world broke
down, nil the people turned to and put in new
gudgeons, and set it going again ; and it look
'em jusi eleven days I”
The old lady was abundantly satisfied, and
would have given to the learned gentleman
the degree of bachelor of science, without
further examination.
We regret to hear of Gov. Bigler’s severe
sickness. He appears to be recovering how*
ever. lie has but a short lime to gel over
the Slate, and we want to here him at Pitts*
burg.— Post.
The Pittsburg Union , a day or two since,
contained a brutal article chuckling over the
fact tlrarJudge Pollock had been attacked with
sore throat, and rejoicing over, his physical
inability to endure (he fatigue of slump spea*
king. It bonsicd ihat the Judge was 11 no
match for his antagonist in physical energy,"
and i hat bets had been olfered that “ the hnr*
dy raflraan (Bigler) would give his opponent
atrial of Physical endurance among thn hills
of Western-Pennsylvania that had not been
equaled since 'fbm Uyer’s training for (ha
fight with Sullivan.”
We regret to hear, now, of Gov. Bigler’s
illness ns sincerely as wo did of tho indis*
position that prevented Judge Pollock from
speaking at much length in Butler. Wecnu*
not imitate the example set us by the Union ;
but wo Imay be permitted to 'hope that since it
has found how idle and empty its boasts were,
it may learn to exercise more charily toward
oponents who arc exposed to the common ills
of morlnliiy.
The .Milkman.—Jinks, the Hastings milk*
man, one morning (orgot to water the milk.
In the hall of the first customer in his round,
'he omission dashed upon Jinks’ wounded
feelings. A large tub of fine, clear water
stood on 'he floor by his side ; no eye was up
on him, and thrice did Jinks dilute his milk
with a large measure filled from the tub, be
fore the maid brought up her jugs. Jinks ser
ved her and went on. While he was bellow*
ing down the next area, his first customer’s
footman beckoned to him from tho door,
Jinks returned, and was immediately ushered
into the library. There sal my lord, who
had just tasted the milk.
“Jinks!” said his lordship.
“ My lord !” replied Jinks.
“ Jinks,” continued his lordship, “ I should
feel particularly obliged if you would hence,
forth bring, me the milk and water separately
and allow me the favor of mixing them mv*
se|f.” [
“ Well, my lord it’s useless to deny the
thing, for I suppose/ your lordship watched
me while ”
" No,” interrupted the Nobleman. “ The
fact is, that my childreojiaihe at home, Jinks,
and the tub in the hall w\s full of sea water,
Jinks.”
FajTiiek did, you over-have another wife
beside mother ? “No my son j what poss
esses you to ask such a question ?” “Be
cause 1 saw in the old family Bible whore ; j;oU
married Anna Domini) , 1838, and that nipt
molbefs’ name, for-her name is Sally Smith/’
Boy destined for the Presidency.
Grief and Widows.