The agitator., August 16, 1855, Image 1

[ For the Agitator.
Tbe Traveler.
The traveler strove manfully wilh-the winter wind,
Which pierced hm g«r inents 4» vfilll.tlirjjeta of steel;
While bitter thoughts canto ins weary ,mtn
Such (thoughts Ws only aitgnishtd soots era- feel.'
Tito traveler tlw't of hours in early, days Jong past,
When he a child strolled o’er the gay;
As ho with jovial party went to the brook the last,
And how with joy elated they brought thefiabawoy..
Ifotv when a youth he parted from hind red, friendi
and home*
Uow he bade them all fttrbwefl and dropped <hq port*
mg tear,
To ploogn the deep apd in lands afar io roam,
Then lines of love ftoha parents were more thah
doubly dear.
“Pro sealed Egyptian pyramids and looked on Cy-
clop’s cave, }
Mads love lo a prince’s dangbter, yet hero my hones
must lie;
I vo slain full many a ibemui ia conflict cool and
brave—
Oh, grant me, flcaTcn, communion with my kin
dred ere I die.”
Unheard Oiat prayer!—be sank to rest upon the fro
zen snow.
And cnfcked the giant oak as the wind bo fiercely
blew;
Dead by the wayside lay he, the death-damp on bis
brow,
And the wild birds §ang his requiem as past they
swiftly flew 1 Incognitos,
THRILLING SKETCH.
three adventures before
MIDNIGHT.
I have had more than one advonlure in
those East India Jungles, among which so
manv of mv early years were spent, but not
one that possesses more of truth and loss of
the appearance of it than that which befel
mv friend Chisholm. I'or many years he
was mi brother officer ana chum. Wo ar
rived at Madras together, having shared the
problematical comlorls of the same cabin as
passenger on board the David Scott, a vessel
of which the only distinct recollections 1 re
tain are, that it was freighted with young la
dies, cadets and horSes; and commanded by
an uncouth no-sailor, with whom I was in
cessantly getting into all sorts of scrapes
Irom which the cool, manly, affectionate
Deanna of Chisholm was ns incessantly ex
irwatma me Nve were posted to do duly
wilt, the same regiment, drilled together,
omzzed together as the most enormous and
incotWroveriibly green griffins that ever quil
led the oatmeal bannocks of bonny Scotland
for the curry and rice of India, sod studied
together ihe gutturals peculiar to the Hindu
stan language under the same moonshine,—
A: icngih ihe companions were separated.—
Chisholm was ordered tc Charwar; f to
Bangalore; and after two years, when he
obtained a month’s furlough to the latter gay
station to visit me, the incidents t am going
to (ell. in aiiaighlfonvarc, soldier's phrase,
were m effect the adventures of a single eve
mr-
He had pitched his tonf (or the night among
the low, rockv, barren hills, on one of which
stands tho droop, or (ort of Chillledroog, and
oiler spending a part of the dav in inspecting
ibis still considerable possession ofihe Mysore
rDi.ih. one of the strongest fortresses in India,
he resolved on dcvolmg the long afternoon
boiore him to his fowling piece, for he was an
inveterate sportsman, the best shot in his regi
men
Al (hat nenod there was no battalion
garrisoned m the Spotted f ort (lor such is the
meaning of Chiltlodroog,) which, though a
romantic and picturesque station, is yet con
sidered unhealthy. The water is seamy, and
of a baa quality ; and the maidan, or plain,
extending for ten mites from north to south,
and about lour Irom east to west, consists of
that black soil called cotton ground, which
tho natives assert to bo the matrix in which is
generated unwholesome oxhaltations. In the
customary style of Asiatic fortified rocks,
Chiuledrooc is surrounded bv several walls
within one another, the outermosi of which
might be taken wiihoul endangerng the safe
ly of the inhabitants of the central citidel or
lortoiio-
II was towards Uie eastern jungles bevond
the plain, that on a sulirv aliernoon. Chis
holm directed his steps, having told Ins do
mestics not to expect him before duslt, but to
prepare lor an earlv start on the following
morninr-
“I had a villoire lad with me as beater,”
said Chisholm, “and though once or twice he
refused to accompany me in Certain directions,
afiirmmst that there were Users and panthers
in those parts, I found him expert in the use
of his beating pole—a poor substitute notwith
standing. for a pointer: and so successful
was 1 that before five o’clock I had already
bagged a brace of (lorikin, that mosl delicate
species of bustard, a hare or two, and a sirus,
which latter bird I presented to the boy, to his
great delight: and as I was unwilling to re
turn so soon, 1 sent him back with the game,
having received instructions from him how to
steer mv cours”
“When ho left me 1 Bung myself down on
the short, crisp herbage, in renose, and there,
in that dreamy sort of wakefulness, which,
beneath the blue sky of India, when the cool
er breezes of coming night breath, but do not
blow, is one of our chicfest luxuries, I might
have peaceably remained pnlil it was time to
retrace my steps tentwartls, had I not been
aroused by the shrill cry of a peacock, rising
slowly, from behind me, steadily winged its
way, scarce two feel from the ground, to (he
woods bevond
"Shall I seek for the vein of gold,” thought
I, “or for the sage bird that avoids it ?” For
I remember the common Uindoo superstition,
which asserts that ibc peacock has so great a
horror for gold, that aware of its presence,
and though averse to make use of its heavy
wings, it (lies over Ihe earth ir which a vein
of the pernicious oar is concealed. Neither
did I forgot the more probable belief, that
wnera peafowl are found, there, 100, inhabits
the tiger. But I had never shot a peacock,
and the sporlman’s lust overcoming both the
miser s greed and prudent man’s caution, I
started up from the voluptuous res, into which
1 bad fallen, and was deep in the thick mazes
of an undeniable, though thick forest, ere I felt
convinced that this was the principal quarter
prohibited by my little guide.
1 had twice raised the gorgeous bird, and
twice fired in vain, when, as I was crossing
a narrow danguar, or ravine, over which ft
naa passed, and through which ran a Jiitle
thread of water, my eyes become all at once
iiveicu op certain marks in the sandy soil—
-11,0 hhmtstakooblo bagh-ka-punju —the traces
<fTEI:
J r-rm ■.! ; ; ■ I,lr ’ 1 -- V: - ’
arttowr to tpt mwtftitwt ot tat area of frmaontatm
0088, STURROCK & CO.,
YOL. 1
of a cheeta’s feet! Knowing that the leopard
and panther frequent the deepest dells, making
their dens in such cool retreats as are likely,
to furnish water as well as shade, I resolved
on infant return ; but had not retraced my
way forty paces ere a loud growl in advance
startled me into the certainty of neap and im
mediate danger. Before ,me, in almpst the
very track I had come, and glaring throUgh-
Ilie acacia bushes, [ saw a pair of fiery globes
—the eyes of the crouching peril-; whilst
lashing its tail, it gave in truth, dreadful note
of preparation.
1 was, as nearly as I could calculate, with
in two springs of it. My Manton was loaded,
but not with ball; to my right was an open
space, leading to a few scattered Icaveet, or
wood-apple trees, between which and me the
ground seemed lo have been recently brokep
up for several yards, for it was here and there
cut up, divested of turf,.the grass lying about,
while leaves and branches were strewed over
all. A glance was sufficient to convince me
that, if attainable, my post of defense would
be the hole of the nearest, which was also the
largest tree ; almost despnring of reaching it
ere the cheeta made his attack, instead of tur
ning back, 1 effected a sudden leap lo the
right, and in another moment gained the de
sired position, yet, not without running anoth
er and an unexpected risk; for in my mo
mentary descent upon the intervening space,
1 found the leaf-strewn soil give way under
me and instantly became aware that beneath
it was a hollow or chasm of some sort.
1q another instant the unsteady footing I
had there occupied was invaded by the pur
suing cheeta ! The enormous and ferocious
creature, lighting within a foot of me, at the
very verge of the pitfall—for such, indeed it
proved—had scarcely touched the treacherous
superstructure, ere the whole giving way he
was precipitated backwards—still, however,
clinging by his fore paws to the margin,
whence his hot and feted breath struck against
my forehead !"' In the utmost terror I could
yet gaze with a strange fascination on the
grand but awful appearance of the animal —
itself full of fear as well os rage, its eyes, red
and ravenous, sent a chill to my blood, while
from its distended jaws, covered with spumy
foam issued the appalm discord of its voice.
Once it rased itself so completely from the
chasm into wich its hinder parts depeued, that
I made sure it would effect its escape ; and
with a las’, effort I raised my fowling piece,
leveled it at his eyes and fired. The cheeta,
yelling hideously, fell into the pit ; and brea
thing a fervent thank*fiivlng for euch an is.
sue to my well-founded apprehensions, I sank,
utterly unable to stand, upon the ground.
"Bui it was no lime for delay, the evening
was fast advancing, shadows were already
lengthening into gigantic grolcsquencsa ; and
I had so entirely entangled myself in the
jungle, that I could not be certain of my way
out of it. On, however, f struck, (ill finding
myself more deeply involved in tits fastnesses
I paused to reflect. The sun was selling ; its
golden light falling like the intangible shad-
ows of a troop of bright spirits on the green
branches of the trees, reminded mo, that as I
had come towards the east, 1 should now turn
my face towards the sinking luminary. Hut
the thickets increased in size, the jungle llick
ened—there wore numerous ravines and gul
lies in the course I had taken ; and I really
felt very uncomfortable. Presently I found
myself at Ibc mouth of a sort of cave, and
concluding it might be the lair of the cheela
or his mate, I turned away from it, ana as
cended a slight mound covered with soft moss
and parasite plants, which, indeed, proved to
be the roof of the nntre ; for, whilst I groped
on hands and knees, escalading the slippery
yet gradual ascent, a sound of human voices
reached me, and I paused to listen ere, lo !
the whole gave way, whilst, as if in ridicu
lous imitation of my recent foe, down I fell,
unhurt, but sorely alarmed—amongst a group
who were assurcly more terrified than my
self! Screams, cries, imprecations assailed
me I
“Bkavg ! Bhavg! It is a tiger,” cried
one.
"Afreet! gkoirl! pceshash ! It isa gob
lin, a speclor, a demon,” said another; and
when at length I got up, picking up mjt un
injured limbs and Manlon, I found myself jn
the centre of a subterranean hut; the occu
pants of which were an old man, a woman
and a boy,—all of whom had evidently been
busily lending a great fire, on which were
placed the simple utensils employed by the
natives in the distillery of smuggled arrack.
It w'as, in fact, the secret retreat of a kulal,
or distiller of spiritous liquors.
“In a few words I explained the - nature of
the accident—the adventure of the cheeta —
and my desire to bestow a buchshish (gratu
ity) on whoever could point out the path I
should lake. Great was the joy of the poor
people to bear the cheela had been snared ;
they assured me its escape from the pit was
impossible, and its mate had been killed some
weeks before. Beseeching mo to retain the
secrel.of their retreat between the lips of si
lence, they directed the boy to put me in Ibc
right track, from which I hod considerably
deviated, and I left thorn. But the terrqrs of
the night were not yet over.
“It was now dark, very dark. The sud
den and brief twilight of our Indian climes
had come and gone whilst 1 remained in the
underground hut, which, indeed, I found lo be
on ihp very borders of the plain, hidden
among iho last thicket of the jungjp.... We
had not gone a mile of the six which I was
1 told I had to proceed, before my little guide
; tumbling over something in the narrow path
way, cutting his right kneo against n stone.
I had, fortunately, dhe East Indian’s usual
supply of diachylon about me, which I ap
plied lo the wound; hd l * as fit o P oo ' cMd
walked with difficulty and seemed unxigus lo
WELLSBOEOUGH, TIOGA COf HTY. TA., THUESDAY AIK?
1 made him describe the direction I
had to pursue and dismissed him, enriched
allformed beyond experience—in (he posses
sion of a. rupee, tie toltf ime I had but lo fol
low tbq straightforward track to reach my
place of, encampment, pntl I did not think it
likely 1 pould tJivergOjVpm tlje one limited
path ipto any soil tjapre rugged and unbeat
en. There was no mpon as yet, anti the. wide
open plain, here and there intersected by slight
gravelly ravines,,'the 6ummer-dji,ed heads
of mountain torrents, in the monsoon, and
here and there a tuft of bushes or a c|ump of
t rees seemed almost, boundless. Behold me I
could define the dusky shadows of wood and
hills, but in front all was level vacancy, ex
cept far, far in advance, where a twinkling
light denoted the night-fire of a pilgrim, the
habitation of a man, or the shrine of a faquir.
This was the point given me to march up,
and whilst it lasted all went well; but it soon
disappeared and I saw it no more.
“All the sounds and sensations peculiar to
an Asiatic night were gathering around me
as I slowly proceeded. The air was agroon-,
blycool, a myriad of insec's, born of dark-1
ness, filled the atmosphere; the fetid green!
bug stuck in my hair, mosquitos buzzed hun- i
grily about my ears, and large while winged
moths, with obtuse pertinacity, mistook my ]
eyes for some luminous food ; crickets and
grasshoppers chirped loudly around, occasion-'
ally a night-owl honied across the waste, and
as ( crossed a small runnel of water a flock
of huge while herons; called pnddi-hirds from
their frequenting the wet paddi, or rice fields,
rose simultaneously from their drink, looking
as they flew lazily away like a troop of ghosts
in snowy shrouds.' There was the boom ofn
bittern, and the croak of many bull-frogs ;
and, by and by, beautiful in the pitchy dark
ness which precedes the rise of the moon,
the sky was thronged with fire-flies. They
danced, and gleamed, and glittered around
me, like floating gems ; they decked the trees
of a tope or grove, through ■which 1 passed
till every branch seemed festooned with fairy
lumps, every leaf dewed with drops of dia
monds, and rubles, and emeralds; and I
paused in mule admiration to look at them.
Suddenly, as suddenly as they had appear
ed before me, and as if swayed by some in
scrutable policy of their own, they vanished,
and all otrain was obscurity. Indeed, it was
now so dark Jhat 1 knew the moon must soon
arise, and feeling a certain security in remain
ing stilt, I resolved to wait till the night grew
lighter. I had descended a slight sandy defile
and ivai coo tod on n bank near the Hole rill
which in breadth was not a yard across; the
delicious coolness of the breeze, the rich odor
that come wafted from the golden blossoms
of some babools (gum-arabic trees) near me,
the disappearance of the annoving insects,
and a considerable degree of fatigue; com
bined lo drowse my faculties, and I was su
pinely yielding to the irresistible clasp of
slumber, when, all at once something hurled
past me, a whirring sort of noise was heard,
some sharp substance struck me painfully on
my extended leg, a sound ns of the clat'ering
of many rods struck together in quick suc
■ cession followed, and all was again silent !
In violent terror, 1 put my hand to my leg,
and found that, in truth, something had pierced
through my trousers, for blood was running
from the wound. I could see nothing, pul 1
drew something from the ground. Gould it
ibe on arrow ? Nay, it was the newhj-drop
ped quill of a porcupine! The shy animal,
so rarely seen, had come lo drink, and, in un
expected contact with my leg, had been de
prived of a quill ; one ol those beautiful dot
ted quills, of which the expert natives of some
parts of India make such elegant work-box
es.
“It was still dark, though the pitchy dense
ness of the atmosphere had subsided. I how
ever, deemed it advisable to remove from the
proximity of water: and creeping up into the
plain, threw myself down on the dry hispin
spsar grass, where I contrived fora few min
utes to keep awake ; but alas ! (a word which
the clover young author of Eolhen avers,is
never spoken, (hough often written) just as I
was conscious of a coming grey to the skies,
(he god of sleep 100 strong for me, attacked
me and I succumbed.
“No doubt of it; I slept soundly—sweet
ly ; no doubt of it. I hive never since then
slept in the open air either soundly or sweet
ly, for my waking was full of horror. Before
I was folly awake, however, I had a strange
prcccplion of danger, which lied me down lo
the earth', 1 warning me against all motion. I
Ifricw that there tvas a Shadow creeping over
mo beneath which to lie in dumb inaction was
the wisest resource. I fell that my lower ex-
Iremoties were being invaded by (he llertvy
coils of a living chain ; but, as if a providen
tial opiate had been infused into my system,
preventing all movement of thew br sinew, !
knew not till I was wide awake that on enor.
mous serpent covered the whole of my neth
er limbs, up'to the ItneeS.
“My Gbd, 1 am lostwas the mental ex
clamation I made ns every drop of blood in
my veins seemed turned to ice ; and anon 1
shook like an aspen leaf, un|i! the very fear
lha( my sudden pa'sy niijrht rouse the reptile
occasioned a revulsion of feeling, and I again
lay paralyzed. It'slept* or at all events, re
mained'slirless ; and ho\v long it so remained
I know not, for lime to the fear-struck is os
the ring of eternity. All nt once the sky
cleared up, the moon shono out, tho stars
were over me; I could seo them all as I lay
stretched on my side, one hand Under my
bead, whence I dared not remove It, nor dar
ed I look clown wards to the loathsome bad
fellow’which my evil stares had sent me.
C/noxpeclediy a new object of terror super
vened ; a curious purring sound behind me,
followed by two smart tups on the ground,
put the snake on the alert; lor it moved, qnd
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“TUB AGITATION ,OF. THOUGHT IS THE BEGINNING oy WISDOM."
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I felt that it was crawling Upwards m my
breast. At thal momeritj-wheh I was almost
maddened by insupportable apprehension into
starting ufGto'meet, perhaps, certain destruc
tion, something sprang updri my shoUlder-t
-upon the reptile. There was a shrill ery
from the new assailant, a loud appaling hiSs
from the serpent; for an instant,' I'fcbuldfeel'
them wrestlihg, ns it tore, on my body ; in
the next, they Were beside me on the turf, in
another, a few paces off,- struggling, twisting
round each other, fighting furiously-, i be
held them—oi munghoos, or ichneumon, ond
a cobra dicapello, I started'up and-watched
that most singular combat, for all was now
ns clear as day. I saw them stand alone for
a moment; the deep venomous facination of
the snaky glance powerless against the quick,
keen, restless orbs of-its opponent; I saw
this duel of the eye exchange once more for
clospr conflict; 1 saw that the munghoos was
bitten, that it darted away, doubtless in
search of that still unknown plant whose jui
ces are its alleged antidote against snoko
bite ; that it returned with fresh vigour to the
attack ( and then, glad sight ! 1 saw the
cobra di capello, maimed from hooded head
to scaly tail, fall lifeless (rom its hitherto erect
position, with n badied his; whilst the won
derful victor, indulging itself in a series of
fierce leaps upon the body of its antagonist,
danced and bounded about, purring and spil
ling like an enraged cat!
“Tittle, graceful creature! I have ever
since kept a pet munghoos, the most attach
ed, the most playful, and most (rog-devour
ing of all favorites. .
“I very soon found my way to my tent,
where there were some strange surmises
ahoulj my absence. Need I tell you how I
enjoyed my curry and rice that night late as
it was] or how I countermanded the march
ing orders next morning 7 or how sound! y 1
slept afler those ‘Three Adventures before
Midnight?”’
Cuugllt In his Own Trap.
A girl, young, pretty, but above all gifted
with an air of adorable candor, lately present
ed herself before a Parisian lawyer.
‘.Monsieur, I come lo consult you upon a
grave affair. I want to oblige a man that I
love ‘.o marry me in spite of himself. How
shall I proceed?’
The gentleman of the bar had of course,
a sufficient elastic conscience. He reflected
a moment, then being sure that no third
pprsqb oyetheat'd him', replied unhesitatingly.
Mademoiselle, according to our taw you al
ways possess the means of forcing a man lo
marry you. You must remain on three oc
casions alone with him, then you can go be
fore a judge and swear that he is your lover.
‘And that will suffice. Monsieur?’
‘Yes Mademoiselle, with one further con
dition.’
‘Well?’
‘That you will produce witnesses who
will make an oath lo their having scon you
remain a good quarter of an hour with the
individual said to have, trifled with your af
fections.’
‘Very well, Monsieur, il will rqtain you as
counsel m the management of this affair.—
Good day.’
A few days afterwards the young girl re
lumed. She is mysteriously received by the
lawyer, who scarcely giving her lime to scat
herself, questions her with Ihe most lively
curiosity.
•Well Mademoiselle, how do matters pros
per?’
‘Capital, capital!’
‘Persevere in your design. Mademoiselle
but mind, the next time you consult me you
must tell me the name of the young man
we are going to render so happy in spite of
himself.’
‘You shall have it without fail.’
A fortnight afterwards (fie young person
more noire than ever, knocked discreetly at
the door of her counsel’s room. No sooner
was she within than she flung herself into a
chair, saying, that she had mounted the
steps too rapidly, and that the emotion had
made her breathless. Her counsel endeav.
ored to re-assure her, and pttuje her inhale
salts, and even proposed to release her gar
ments. i
‘lt is useless, Monsieur,’ said she, T am
much bettor.’
“Well, now tell mo tfie name of the un
fortunate mortal you are going lo expose.’
‘Well, then, the fortunate mortal, boil
known In you, is—ynutself,’ said iho young
beauty, bursting into a laugh. ‘I love you,
I have been three times tete-a-tete with you
and my four witnesses ave below, ready and
willing lo accompany-me lo ihe magistrate,’
gravely continued the narrator.
The lawyer thus caught, had the good
sense not to get angry. The most singular
fact of all is that hendores his young wife,
who, by the way makes an excellent house
keper.
What a melancholy spectacle it is when
n young man is sebn wandering through the
slrccls of a slrange'clty, alO’h'Sln ihe crowds,
solitary in the multitudes, mecling niy’exieAd
ed liatid, no smile of welcome, destitute of
money and friends • nnd““with corns fend
light bools on his feel.”
‘‘People may’ say what they will about
the country air being good for'cin," said Mr?.
Partington, “and bow they fat up' on ifj'for
my part, 1 shall always think it’s qwin’ to
the villlc?,”
Old Mrs. Pilkins was reading the foreign
nows by a,late arrival. “Colton is 'declin
ing exclaimed the old My., “Well, I
thought ns mnc.lt—the last thread 1 used was
remarkably feeble,”
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& PR^PRiETO!^;..'
JST I6, \m.
■MiMINiaTIOM.
For tht Agitator.
Common Sglio4lB.—No.-3. >
, school iiousks.
To the School Directors, and eiifceos gene
rally of TidgaGo, • <
Gentlemen and Lattes. —We purpose
in this letter,,to give you tho result of our.
observations respecting the school houses of
your county.
In our previous letter we mentioned fh'al
nil these hud been graded, and each put in
one of five classes; the first aery good, the
last very poor. Our ideas ol a good school
house are, gobd location, with opiplo yflrd,
good foundation of stone, and the ground
properly graded around it, so that the water
will run in every direclion from the house, a
substantial and neat, but not necessarily ex
tensive or expensive structure, the sealing and
other inside arrangements executed afler some
approved plan, the healing and ventilating
machinery safe and effectual, and the whole
wood work painted outside and in. Such a
school house we believe can ho built for less
money than Directors in-most of our rural
districts are how giving for school houses
lima we-have been compelled lo mark in the
third a middling grade. Such aschool house
is not lo he found in this county—not one of
the first class, VVe have examined school
houses costing probably from thirty to a thou
sand dollars, and not one but fails of being a
first, class house, by more than two of the
tests mentioned in litis letter. Wo find in
our notes twenty bouses in iho county marked
good. But wc fear a judicious committee
would not confirm our judgment in every
case. Of the third class there are fiflv-twoj
houses; we have called this class middling.
Some would call those middling good, and
some middling bad. But middling is ail we
could say of them. Of the fourth class called
poor, there are in our estimate sixty three;
and in number five we have marked
fifty one. These arc bad specimens Indeed, 1
they have a bad effect on the morals of the !
bovs, tempting them to throw stones, and 1
touch matches lo venerable insulations of 1
learning. This then is (he grade, very good, ,
.none; good, twenty; middling, fifty-two;;
poor, sixty-three; very poor, fifty ; and none |
in twenty-one places where schools-have been 1
or are taught in temporary rooms. Many of]
these last localities are called sub-districts, I
bemuse the bouses them have been very sub-,
jcul to fin., OuU'vltatiiua wf v| ( i« -»K«.racier |
are, and we believe always have been quite]
numerous, though like all sub-districts in (his I
state, they are contrary lo law. We had tie- 1
signed to give tlinfbanner town for good I
school bouses. Of the villages, Bloss and 1
Lawrence are first, but the latter we lielicve I
is jtol the property of the district. Of the!
rural towns, Clymer, Westfield and Farming- .
Inn are among the best provided for. Chat-1
ham, Sbippcn, Gpitics, and Liberty are the |
worst off. Qhalham needs lo expend more I
money ami faster titan any other town ; yet I
the board of Directors there ore doing full as i
well as they can, and a better state of things t
will soon appear. Middlebury, Rutland, Del- 1
mar and Union are making progress faster I
than other towns, and if they continue for
two jears to come, as for two years past,
they will show the best school houses in the
county. Of the villages, Covington and
Krioxville are the worst provided for. But
they are moving we trust for union schools,
and we wish them, and all the little villages
of obr county success in this enterprise.
We have been very happy in consulting
with Directors generally throughout the coun
ty, to find that they are for diminishing the
number of school houses, and building a bel
ief class in more central localities. Though
(here is much difficulty in doing this, on ac
count of ailachmen’s to old locations, much
difference of opinion and strife among the
citizens, where ihe new house shall be, yet
we arc still convinced that Ihe Directors are
wise in merging two or more schools in one,
where it can bo done without causing the
scholars to travel more than one and a half
or two miles lo school. The difficulty en
countered by Directors in finding economical
and convenient plans fur houses, we trust
will soon bo overcome by drawings from the
department, and we would recommend them
to let no jobs of building houses until these
plans arrive. Of the manner in which school
houses have been too often built a few years
past; justice lo (lie lax payer demands that
we should speak out with most emphatic dis
approbation. Buildings have been let in the
most indefinite manner on sham, verbal con
tracts, to incompetent and irresponsible men,
and such buildings have been accepted by
bqat'ds ol Directors, not one of whom would
have accepted the job, had it been his own
property. • Often not a single thing about rhe
house, from the- foundation stone lo the top
brick dr joint of stove pipe, is done rightly or
safely. The furthcoming work on school-
House-architecture will in part obviate this
groat evil. The people have lost money
enough on sham school houses. We had in
intended f 6 have elaborated our notes on
school house ftfrnilurc in (his letter, but' we
must not pet too many bad things in one
letter.' Yours truly,
J.'F. CALKINS, Co.'Sup't.
Eloquent Passage.— The light of the
lamp was dying in the socket, the midnight
clock swung heavily aloft, and its brazen
tones sounded loudly on the frozen air \ it
was the hour when disembodied spirits walk,
and when murderers like tho stealthy wolf,
prowl for their prey ;-lho lonely watch shud
dered ns ho heard the slight poise at the door ;
big drops stood on his pale brow, the door
gently opetred and in cumC a strange cat.
Don’t Depend on Father.
Standruft and let us talk
to-you>*4fe« l y OU . ltf ( ftte( j, Btone ,,, a
of ‘tel lifr'fair fame
decks'- to* flostobtfe..
Tftlwft yeti thill “father*’htt» attained to ttoifa'
nencttinhisprofegsion but By unWeStied -hPi
dilstry T to that k has amassedafbrtunehoiii''
estly, without energy to aciiv'rtyi i ’Ybt»i
Should know thaMhe faculty requisite Tot ttoi'
acquiring Of.fitme'and fort'uile, is essential-too,,
nay toseptoatble Oflm'lhb retaining ofehhee
of these!' Suppose that “father”' basthe
“rocks”'in abundance: if you never entnedt
anything for have no more Buaiflesa
with those M rockS ! ’ than a gosling withr'a topi I
toiSc! and it he allows you 10 meddlb
them till you baveearned ibeirtalbe by yOur"
own industry, he perpetrates oatold mischief.
And if the old gentleman ia lavish Of his cash. '
towards you, while' he allows you to idle l:
o way your lime, you’d bolter leave him,- yea’
run away; sooner than lie' made arrimbeciltr
or a scoundrel through! so IdorrUjuing aotnil
fluence. Sooner or later you 'must <le«ita ul’
rely on your own resources/’or’yon wfllsoi
be aay bod y. If you have neVer helpedyoorv’'
selfat all, if you have become idle, if you
have' eaten father’s bread and buttes, aodr
smoked father’s cigars, and cul *• swell iiv
father’s buggy, andiried to put on father’s in*’
fluence and reputation, yon might rather have,
been a poor canal boy, the son of a chimney*
sweep, or a boot black—.and indeed we would’
not swap with you the situation of a poor,
half-starved motherless eolff Miserable Ah'
jecls you pro to depend upon your parents,
playing gentleman, (alias dandy
VV hat ia the name of common sense nip you
thinking of? Wake up here! Go to work
with either your hands or brains, or bpth K .
and be something! Don’t merely have it to
boast of that you have grown ia father' 9
hojise—(hot you have, vegetated as. other
greenhorns! hut let folks know that you
count one.
:>i i i i
*■.,}/ ' 1
m. 5.
Como, olf, with your coal, clinch the saw,
the plow handles, the scylhe, the axe, Ihe
pick-nxc (Ke spade—anything that will en.
able you to stir yopr blood ! Fly around and
tear your jacket rather than bo the passive re.
cipicnl of the old gentleman’s bounty 1 Soon
er than play the dahdy at dad’s expense hire 1
yourself out to some potaloe patch, let your
self out to some potato patch, lot yourself la
slop hog-holes, or watch the bars, and when
you think yourself entitled to a resting spell
do it on your own hook. If you have no*
other means of having fun of your own, buy
with your earnings, on empty barrel, anil
pul your head into it and holier, or get into
It and roll down bill; don't lbr pity’s sako
make the old gentlemen furnish everything,
and live at your ease. ,
Look about you, you well-dressed, smooth,
faced, do-nothing drones? Who are they
that have wealth and influence in society I
Are. they those that have depended alone on
the old gentleman's purse, or are they those
that have climbed their way to their posses,
sion by their own industry and energy !
True, the old gentleman's funds, or personal
influence, may secure you Ihe forms of reg.
peel, but let him lose his properly, or die, and
what are you? A miserable
bunch of flesh nnd bones that needs Ip bet
taken care oi l
Again wc say, wake up—gel up jo iho
morning—turn round, at least twice before
breakfast—help the old man—give him now
and then a generous lilt m business—learn
how, take the lead and don’t depend forever
on being led; and you have no idea how ilio
discipline will benefit you. Do this, and our
word for it, you will seem to breathe a new
atmosphere, possess a new frame, tread a
new eanh, wake to a new destiny, and you
may then begin to aspire to manhood. Take
olf, then, that ring from your (illy finger,
break your cone, shave your upper lip, wipe
your nose, hold up your head, and by all
means, never again eat the bread of idleness,
nor depend on your father.
“Whose Ale is it I”—Will you give roe
a glass of ale, please V asked a rather seed
yish looking person, with an old hut well
brushed coal and a’most too shiny a hat.
Jt was produced by the bar-tender,, cream
ing over the edge of the tumbler.
■‘Thank ye,’ said the recipient, as lie
placed it to his lips. Having finished it at
a swallow, he smacked his lips and said—
“ That is very Sae ale!— very. Whose is
ill”
“It is Harman’s ale.’’
“Ah! Harman’s, eh 1 Well, give us bi£
other glass of it.”
It was done ; and holding it up to the lighl
and looking through it, the connoisseur said
—“Pon my word it Is superb ale, evperb !
clear as Maderia. I must have some more of
that. Give me a miig of it.’’
The mug was finished ; but before putting
it to his lips, the imbiber said.
“ Whose ale did you say this was?”
“Harman’s,” repeated the bar-tender.
The mug was exhausted and a'lso the vo
cabulary of praise; and it only remained,.for
the appreciative gentleman to say, as he wiped
his mouth and went towards the door : “Har
man very well—-I shall see him soon', ond
settle with him for two glasses and a mug of
his incomparable brew. Good raawning (’<-*
Knick.
Too Akxious, bit Haaf. —An amusing
affair happened lately between a coal dealer
and and a purchaser. The latter w in vfity
anxious to see that the former did not cheat
him, so he (the. purchaser) inspected' Ihe
weighing of the coal himself, and felt .perfect
ly satisfied that he had got his lull .allowance,
without any desire on the pari qf, the goal
dealer to “shave.” -However, while the coni
was weighing, the driver of the Icain flojiid
uot holp laughing, aware at the Umo.tlkM tiro
purchaser about his full weight of qoai. Tho
purchaser noticed the driver laughing, ashed
him, wltea.he received bis coal, what h.waa
all about, so (he driver told him: —“Why,
said he, when your coal was weighing, you
were standing on the scales, and was. weighed
with it.” “Is it possible? wby 1 weigh near
ly two hundred pounds!” . “Well,sir,” said
the driver, “you nro.syZti,” “Yes,’ 1 wpe
the reply, “and I have bought myselft IOO.V
“Do you think I’ll get juslieodqnp.tpp ?”
said n culprit to. his counsel, “i.fjo,npV)/wuk
you will,” replied the ,qlhcr,i ; “f^ r f'seq awn
men on the jury who ' arp oppijspiilh hanff
' ~ ; ' , . 0 „
M*