t ■ ■ fbr the Agitator, BEy Cbtldbood’s Homo. - BT'KHv'K. k, SrtVM&' Wh»T*&edi|vapd nondrop, offerings Of badi Whets thnbnpiqth “»*>w. 4 Acdlhe xepoyf is laden with chyinr| » 1 ■Oh.'flrre wtißrf home,TnytMqhptm’a twigs, - r Af,«tii>'ipadgH Wafara v.i ?>■' . - .; - . ,-4»,fe«ialw4oAi» 1: : ■-. ’TbeßUtWßihrwxmooitja'baVoardf'Ught - •■■ : ILo& ,' T tlSMEltilSifini. y>r-»- •< ■"•'■ iPnmP^mVXsgatxnt.] titkii t AiUEirs cAPiirin. . r>r ■/■*■ ■ .v.i>,.,,' -s-.ti—\ - ■ swtiroir ttnouwa pcrmsT.. ' Among the epispdesoMhn ROTototjonoty ■WHr, J Dofi6' is'strangftr' than that of Ethan Alleij W Ertgtfftld-V'tHe ’event, and the' man being equally, uncommon. ; ” ' «■■ 1 Allen seems tohaVebeenacdrious combi nation'of a Hefptilesi a'Joe Miller, aßayard, and a 'fora ‘Hyer; had' aperaon like thtfßel (jian giants* mountain music in him'^ like a Swiss;’ and a hean’plu'mp as aGceur da Lion's. Though born in New England, he exhibited no tfaces of her character, except that his heart beat wildly ipr his country’s freedom. He was frank, bluff, companiona ble as a pagan, convivial as a Roman, hearty as a harvest. His spirit was essentially Wes tern—and herein is his peculiar Americanism —for the Western spirit is the true American one. •' ’ For tt)e most part, Allpn’s manner while i n England was scornful and ferocious in (he last degree; however qualified by (Bat wild, hero ic sort of levity, which in the hour of oppres sion or peril, seems inseparable from a nature like his—the inode 'whereby such a temper best evinces its barbaric disdain of adversity —and how cheaply and waggishly it holds its malice, even though triumphant,of its foes. Aside from that inevitable egotism relatively pertaining to pine trees, spires and giants, there - were perhaps, two special incidental reasons for the Titanic. Vermonter’s singular demeanor abroad. -v Taken captive while head ing a forlorn hope before Montreal, he was treated, with inexcusable cruelty and indigni ty ; something as if he had fallen into tha hands of the Dyaks. Immediately upon his capture, he would have been deliberately suf fered to have been butchered by the Indian allies, in cold bloodnn the spot, had he not, with desperate.intrepidity availed himself of his enormous physical strength, by twitching a British officer to him, and using him for a living target, whirling him round and round against the murderous tomahawks of the sav ages. —Shortly afterwards, led into the town, fenced about by bayonets of the guard, tho commander of the guard,, the commander of (he enemy, one Colonel McCloud flourished hia cane over the captive’s head with brutal insults, promising him a rebel’s baiter at Ty burn, During bis passage to England in the same ship wherein went passenger Colonel Guy Johnson, the implacable lory, he was kept heavily ironed in the hold, and in nil ways treated ns a common mutineer; or, it may be, rather as a lion of Asia, which, though, caged, was still 100 dreadful to behold without (ear and trembling, and consequent cruelty. And no wonder, at least for the fear, for on one occasion, when chained hand and foot, he was insulted on shipboard by an officer, with hia teeth be twisted off the nail that went through (he mortise of bis handcuffs and so, having his arms at liberty, challenged his in suiter to combat. - Often, at Pendeonis Cas tle, when no other nveogement was at hand, he would hurl on' his foes such howling tem pests of anathema, as fairly to shoek .them into retreat. Prompted by somewhat similar motives, both on shipboard and in England, he would often make the most vociferous allu sions to Ticondoroga, and the part he played in its capture, well knowing, thattof all Amer ican names, Ticonderoga was, at that period, by far the most famous and galling to Eng lishmen. Israel Potter, an exiled Engliahtnae, while strolling around Pendeimia Castle* where Al len was confined, chanaed to hear-him in one of his outbursts of indignation and madness, of which (he following is a specimen : •‘Brag no more, old England j consider that you are but an island ! Order back your broken battallions! homo! and repent in ash es 1 Long enough lijfve your hired lories across the sea forgotten the Lord their God, and bowed down to Howe and Kniphausen— the Hessian! Hands off, red-skinned jack all I, . Wearing the king’s plate, ai I do, (meaning, probably, certain manacles,) I have treasures of wrath against you British.” Then came a clanking, as of a chain:— many vengful sounds, all confusedly togeth er, with Then again the voice: “Ye brought mo’ out here, front my dun geon to this green—affronting yon Sabbath bod— to see how a rebel looks. But I’ll show ye bow a true gentleman and a Christian can conduct in adversity. Back dogs I Respect a gentleman and a Christian, though he be in rags, and smell of bilge-water. Yes, shine Ob, glorious sun! ’Tis the same that warms the hearts of my Green Mountain Boys, and lights up with its rays the golden hills of Ver mont 1” Filled with astonishment at these words which came .from pver a massive yell, inclo sing what sfeeraed ati open parade , space, Is rael pressed forward,' arid soon-name to a black aiohWay, leading far within, underneath, to a grassy tract, through a tower.. Likelwo boar’s tusks, two sentries stppd on guard at either side of the open jaws, of the arch.— Scrutinizing our adventurer a momoitl.lhey signed him permission to enter. Arrived at thoend ofthe arched way'where the juushone, Israel stood, transfixodai l{ie scene, Like some bailed bull in the ting, crouchr ed ihePetagOniap looking captive, handqup fed aahefpre; -the grass of tfie.greenf lrani pled apd gated up all about : him, both hip. own nmvetaents arjd.l}tpse of the’ people of- 1 seemed Jipwsily/town’e-people, collected he)©, °ut of corjosity. .The stranger was putlao dishly arrayed' in the-sorry remains of shelf Indian, half Canadian, sort of a dross, con- -- [M:v-.M^JwiWM*S^ *-' .tt- .*!?/-»•s fe „w^ W , ! r t w Ss^!2S?^!? , S , -#fiß»#«wn«s?... T "' ■ ■■' ■■ *-* ■• --* ‘-ri-- ! t ! "i i i t ■ i u •-' i * . , , ... , .V.»»4—ftag’i* .rtiT > ft* - i» t U.» / _'- s -. ...... .y V> ••:«.; v. -; t ,. , rr .■>. ~\TIT^^ — • 1 - !;<« i 1 I*M-ig tell'.yonrthal" beards of red-haired devils are aborting to ladle Lord Howe with all his gang (you in eluded) into the seethmgesl syrups of Tophet’s flames.” . At this blast, (he wasp.waisled officer was blown, backwards as from the suddenly burst head of a steam boiler. Staggering away, with a snapped spine, he muttered something about its being beneath his dignity to bandy further words yvhh a low lived rebel. “Come, come. Colonel Allen, ’here sqid a mild (poking man ia a sort of a clerical un dress; ’respect the day belter than to v lalk thus of what lies beyond. Were you ,16 die this hour, or what is more probable, be hung next week at Tpwer“vharf, you know not what might become, in eternity of yourself." “Reverend Sir,” with a mocking bow, when not belter employed braiding my beard, I have a little dabbled in your theoligies,— And let me tell you, Reverend Sir,’ lowering and intensifying his voice, that as to the world of spirits, of which you hint, though 1 know' nothing of the mode or manner of that world, no more than you do, yet 1 expect when 1 ar rive there to be treated os well as any other gentleman, of my merit. That is to say, far belter than you British know how to treat an honest man and meek hearted Christain, cap tured in honorable, war, by— s —l Every, one tells me as yourself just told me, and as, crossing the sea, every billow dinned in ray ear—that I, Ethan Allen, am to be hung like a thief. If 1 am, tho great Jehovah and tho Continental Congress shall avenge roe {.while I, for my part, will show you, even on the tree, how a Christian gentleman can die,— Meantime, sir, if you are the clergy man,you look, act out your consolatory function,, by getting an unfortunate Christain gentleman, about to die, a bowl of punch.” The good natured stranger, not to have ids religious courtesy appealed loin vain, drams* diately despatched his servant, who stood by, to procure the beverage. At this juncture, a faint rustling sound, as of the advance of an array with banners.was heard. Silks, scarfs and ribbons fluttered in the background.- Presently, a bright squad ron of fair ladies drew nigh,- escortedJjy cer tain outstriding gallants of Falmouth. , . “Ah,” sighed a soft voice, “what a strange sash, and furred vest, and what leopardlike teeth, and what flaxen hair, but all -mildew ed ; is that he 1” "Yea, is it, lovely charmer,” said - Alien, like an Ottoman, bowing over his broad bo vine forehead, and breathing the words out like a lute; “it is he—Eathao Allen, the sol. dier: now, since ladies’ eyes visit him, made trebly a captive.” , “Why; he talks like a beau in the parlor —this wild, mossed American from the wood,” aighed'anpther fair lady to her male-; “but can this be he we came to seel I must have a look of hiit’Hair." • ’ ’ ' “It is be, adorable Delilah; and fear hot, though incited by th'o foe, by clipping mf locks, to dwindle my -strength. Give me your sword, man, turning to an officer. Ah I’m fettered. Clip ii ypurself, Jady.” “No, no—l am——' ; - “Afraid wopld you say l . Afratd of the vowed.friend ahfl.oharopion pf‘alf jadiesVaif around tha.woiltU Nay, nay.com'o hilh erJ’’-. . ■ • ■ - ; ; , ThHady- advanced; arid soon. Pvercorh : iijg herJiroidjty, her white , hand, 1 whipped ma^ On Jbnir.: '^. “Ah, this Is like clippings tapgled .taga .of gold lace, 1 ’ cried she; “but see,"it is-half istratrlS'ife-! -;* , !fv , *> i lherwepter isDomanftC-«ttftw k lady; -vwere 1 freehand youhdd teh. ifoofAnd. .dragohharrhoii; Jike 4 «; fftiend- Ecimldflghtfor you yoihaye robbed me of my hair—letmerohyburrjain* ty hand of ils'prlce; What nfrqid ngain ?” : “No, not lhaff-bul— -a-” 1 -"J “I see, lady; I may do it, by.your^.lettvp,, thag-AhabifteP heaft,«f ilhq.cbprpy^j.,;., ■> n Wheaatlangth tb«,lady , was haiby hetwithiher, companions i about •omtwayoffelitjvingthetlardjotiofehkitight: {■T* an aptyttanattk! .Whwwpoa a.tvortby, judiciduagentlemtOrof middle.agp, in fallen,-! dance, suggested a boitlebfigoodiwineevery ddy,Mnd clean linfemonpe-evefy week. •'< And these- the 1 gentle Englishwoman—too- polite and toe good to bo faslidiouS—did indeed add* ally send'to Ethan Allerijlso long as ha tar ried ’• ■ - The withdrawal of this company was fol lowed; by a different s^'neurP,/,- • ; . A perspirjngmaa in topbqots, a riding whip in hijs hand, and having .the airi .pf a prosperous former, brushed in, like ,a stray bullock, amongst the rest, for a .peep at' the giant—having just entered through the arch as the ladiespassed out. . . “Hearing (hat the man who took. Tico nderoga was here in Pendennis Gastle, I’ve rid den twenty-five miles to see him, and (o-mor row my brother will ride forty for the same purpose. So let me havetbe first look. t“Sir,” he continued, addressing the captive, “will you let me ask your a few questions, and be free with you,” “Be free with me? with all ray heart.- I love freedom above all things. I’m ready to die for freedom; I expect to. So he as free as you please. What is it V "Then sir, permit me to ask what is your occupation in life ? in time of peace, I mean.” “You talk like a tax-gatherer,” rejoined Allen, squinting tjiabolicn'ly at ' him?’“what is my occupation In life? 'Vhy.in my youn ger days’! studied divinity, but at present 1 ami a'conjurer by profession.” - Hereupon every body laughed, as well at the manner as the words, aqd tbe nettled for mer'retorted: “Conjurer, eh ? Well, youconjuredwrong ibat limeyou.were taken.”.. “Not so wrong, though, as you-British did, that time I look Ticonderoga, my friend." „ At this juncture the servant.cattle, with the punch, when his master hade.Mm present,,it to the. captive.• ■ . “Nol—give it to me, sir, with your own hands, and pledge me as gentleman to gen tleman,” t “I cannolpledge a state-prisoner, Colonel Allen, hut I will hand you the punch with my own bands, since you insist upon it,” “Spoken and;dona like; a^rne.gentleman, sir,' I am bound to you.” , Then receiving (he bowl into his gyved hands, the iron ringing against the china, be put it to his lips, a,nd saying, “1 hereby give the British nation credit for half a minute’s good usage,” at one draught emptied it to the bottom. “The rebel gulps it down like a swilling hog at a trough,” here.acoffed a lusty private of the guard, off duly. “Shame to you !’’ cried the giver of the bowl. “Nay, sir; bis red coat is a standing blush to him, as it is in the whole scarlet-blushing British army.” . Then turning derisively up on the private; “you object to nay way ofta king thing, do ye? [ fear 1 shall never .be able to please ye. You objected to the way, too, in which I took Ticonderoga, and the way in which I meant to take Montreal. So lah! .But, pray,, now.that Hook to you, are you. not the hero I caught dodging round, ip his shirt, in the cattle-pen, Inside the fort? It was the break or day, you remember.” “Come, Yankee,” here swore, the incensed private-: “cease-this, or I’ll darn -your old fawn-skinsfor ye, with the flat of this sword; for a specimen, laying it lashwiae, but not heavily, across the captive’s back. - . Turning-like a liger. lhe giant, catching the steel between his teeth, wrenched it front, the private’s grasp, and striking it.with his manacles, sent it .spinning like a. juggler's dagger into the air; saying, “lay yourdirly coward’s iron on a lied gentleman again, and these,” (lifting his handcuffed flats,) “shall be the beetle of mortality to you!” The now furious soldier would have struck him with all bis force; but several men of the town interposed, reminding him that it were outrageous to attack a chained captive. “Ah,” said Allen, “I am accustomed, to that, and therefore I am beforehand with you; and Ihoextremity of that I say against Brit ain, is hot meant for you, kind iriends, but for my inaulters, present and to come.” Then recognizing among the'inierposersjlhe giver of the bowl, he l turned with a courteous bow saying, Thank you again and again, my good sir; you may not be the worse for it; ours la an unstable world; so that one gaff lleman naver knows when it may be his turn to be helped of another.” •.. t But the soldier'still making a riot, and the commotion growing general, a superior officer stepped up, who terminated the,scene by-re* manditfg ihe prisonar to bis. cell dissmissing' the - townspeople; with ■ all .strangers, Israel amonglherest, and closing the castlei gatft '.aileMhem. ■; v: •••- u - /■•.-.. - ’’ A Onn-p is, born. Now. take' the and make a -bud -of moral .beauty.' . Let the, dews of .knowledge Ibe Tight of;,virtue wake in tilth? richest.virtue hu«9,; and, above ,ntl,T«ee..that. you' keep Ua, .face affd/fpeh deatu ■. . * Horrible Practice— A St. kouis editor compMirik ;wfth ttfeiftotw wound' lovingly'around their; wivds,"a fraction bttohßlo'rsand' jaKea ifheit' mthdrfrom Wr'wpili^atkwot '• !f •' r it -»y» ‘ Wtitris a msrriodmaplikoacandiedßOr cause he sometimes.' goes out airtight when he bughten’l to.. ■■■• . . 9 •» 'rw^HSrm' #.-rift. 1 ' riHrigWi' y-v 1 * JJk' / \ •. I : jv «-l? ■•># «««-aI »|feftgrjMa|g&gk ju -fl - ' :i ‘*-‘ rHf»r l,ii M'StH r$ ii. ; ' **■ Vf>.wy ftjt PkiVJ 1 Jijf •** »iji iC„Vi«• fl K !^’Vs’-r-, ‘.^^^ > -‘‘*\ pii ;iff ■ 5; ■' ~ L ■ Iflwnßrt'taJHi^lrt^-'! 4 ‘ > t |T c>'» Atai^tbitttodrftbtf'beat* ikl ‘c ; , _ SbodU keep - ' -,u r-„ BrighUpMMiritan sfigelio Inon .. - ’■ W etejhfcy-%«y left; ■•> Howweretoe berlh-ofgloryßhorti. ■ . >Vti««itof;flowBnbeiefl,J ; ~ .. Vi .i'j. They teemble-ontho'AJplne bfeighta, ’ •--> r-■‘■f-s-i 'iWfimaredrocke-thejr preset S t/*"»-v *Oi,T ;-^'J The (teoerlrJpiW wUbbiftt end *ftnd, ,; . w U ■ i , And )v_heresp6’ermß weary heart, ~ . TiuWuiits'diiridespaiiy * - v:i The btowom'ttpwdrJ Idokef^ ’ IneiUiijjpit to pr»yer!.t■ • ,-i , ■ SCIENTIFIC. SOIOETBINO NEW ABOUT' THE AVRORA. To say that attempts have longaod often been made to explain the cause of the auro ra, is not new ‘ but it wi|l be. new to many readers to hear that progress has been made in reasoning-about this interesting phenome non, as well as in the demonstration of facts less difficult ofpfodf. According to theq rists, the cause was to be found in certain ef fects of ; refracrioni or antagonisms of cloud strata, or the presence of metal in a gaseous form id : the atmosphere,; or to cold,- or to electricity j while others' regarded h as cos mica!—belonging to .remote space. Among’ so many explanations,* which was the 1 true one? This was a question'hot easy to de cide, and so.savans bale gone on experimen ting find speculating with praiseworthy dili gence and curiosity ; for the one as' Well as the other is essentia) to the prbgress of sci ence,’ Professor de In Rive,' of Geneva, is one of the few who have made the aurora d special, object of study,-; Nearly twenty years, ngo, he suggested that to due and the same cause was due the origin of bail, of electricity, of the variations pfllhe magnetic needle, and of the aurora; and- he now finds himself in a position -to slate,; that the view then put fprth hap been .confirmed by, all .subsequent, obser vations. As' chroniclers of the advance of science, we .think we- may worthily. offer a brief ’outline of his theory* as developed by him in the Bibliothpqw de' Ge neve. . Let us presume that an aurora borealis is always preceded by the formation of a.sort of vaporous veil, pn the horizon; which rises slowly to a height- 6T; fi*orn four to ten de grees. Presently that portion of the sky which is in the magnetic meridian of the place of observation, Wgios to' darken with a brownish hue passing into violet, and embrn-. cing the segment of a circle. The edge of this segment is boarded hy a luminous arc of - brilliant-white light, that sometimes quivers and dances, and appears in a strange kind ol effervescence for hours together. A'play of colors, through every lint, from-the' darkest to the lightest, with bewildering rapidity, long streamers flash upwards to -the zenith,-and a sea of flame, traversed by dark-rays; floods the northern sky. Then at that spot to which the magnetic needle points, the rays curve together, and form what is called the crown of the aurora. This result Is, howev* er, rare; when it does take place, it'always announces the conclusion of the phenomenon. The vivid colors and undulations disappear, and soon nothing but a few. pale ashen gray clouds are seen in the heavens. These appearances, which are familiar to many persons, are attended by certain re markable phenomena; a. crepitating noise, for example, not unliko the rapid flutter of a distant sail, which has been popularly des cribed as the nbiae made by the petticoats of the merry dancers; and this sound la accom paoied by a peculiar sulphurous odor,- itive electricity, (bo, has at such times been found in the air-, the direction of the mag netic needle undergone perturbations more br less intense, and so unfailingly, that M. Arago, when pursuing his researches in.the lower vaults -of the observatory at Paris, could, al ways announce the appearance of the aurora in our hemisphere from the movements of his needles. During an aurora in November, 1848, the instruments of the electric telegraph between Florence and Pisa were as strongly magnetized its though the batteries—which was not the case—had been in action.' The Thb compasses of ships at sea have been at times so disturbed by the aurora, that the vessels steered, a false route j and the error was only detectedafter the phenomenon pas sed away. - . ■ We thus see a very intimate relation.be tween the aurora and Certain magnetic or electrical effefcts j and now- we may proceed toM. de la Rive’s theory. The atmosphere, he'say6, in its normal ataiesitf Constantly charged'witfia considerable ijuontity pf pos itive electricity, which increases in proportion to 'the height; while the earth, on.th'e contra ry, is 'B6-‘ tween (heae. jt?qp pijpcess uf repOmpdsitfOrf denaturalization laker place $ mbat frequently by the humidity pf the airat times, by thd Tall of rain or snow j' and, Ibss frequently ■ ihunder-siornii and water spoiitfi Which, tri'a very the tendency ‘of these. two accuopiated, elatft|ici(ieaj[o Unite. The,'winds also, to,, ing ffie the ndgitive, iudthbvre ; th£ : &rtfi’Ta , hn •aFmost jia iconplantlk traversed, by'.elept^Wj^ra#, 1 pole, bapansja being" always ereiby,con,dpDS'e4ryoijo^».!P r p e ui./ l conducting medium. "This is thp ,normal. ‘ ' OAEBrUam