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"I have sworn upon tno Altai- of God, eternal hostility to every form of Tyranny over tlie Blind of Man." Thomas Jefferson.
3 ' PItlNTED AND PUBLISHED BY II. WEBB.
Volume III. BliOOIrlSBUIftG-, COLUMBIA COTOTY, FA. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1839. IVumlicr S.
OFFICE OF THE DEMOCRAT,
Orrosnr. St. Paul's Church, Main-st.
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TOR THE COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT.
A MAY MORNING WALK
On the banks of the Susquehanna.
THE THUNDER STORM.
'Tis morn, and the mountain, the valley
and stream,
Are clad in tho light of orient Loam,
And tho green of tho meadows is glistening
through
The. fast failing drops of the silvery dew,
From the bondage of winter hath nature
awoke,
And away from tho chains that oppress'd
her hath broke ;
In the glow of tho sun she exults to bo free,
And holds thro' her empire a grand jubilee.
......
Tis sweet on tho bright Susquehanna to
stray, . .
When the mists from tho mountains are flee
ing away,
And wood-notes are cheering its waves as
they glido
And Flowers are adorning its verdurous side.
Tho wild pinks with crimson aro fringing
the bank,
And the cowslips with yellow tho meadow
turf dank ,
"While sweet-scented clusters of woodbine
are seen
Onthcveige of tho wood mid tho thicket
of green.
Tho flowors of tho turf, and tho bloom of
tho tree,
Arc fdled with the hum of tho wandering bee,
And the air is all freshness and fragrance,
while floats
On its bosom, the joy of the birds' mellow
notes.
Hark ! list to tho varied lay of the thrush,
And the song of the wood-lark conccal'din
the bush;
While the gold-finch and robin their carols
divine
Pour eweet from the boughs of the elm and
the pino.
Oh ! how does tho spirit exult at the sight
Of the beauties of spring in a morning so
bright,
Forgctting,amid so much verdure and bloom
That this is a world of the curse & tho tomb
How strange so much sin, and misfortune
and caro
Should dwell in a world so enchantingly fair,
That the hearts of its lords keenest anguisl
should ring,
While the birds of the air so exultingly sing
W. T,
WELLERISMS.
" How sharp your too nails are," S3 the
man said ven ho had cotched tho hornet.
u Aro you looking for any one inpartic
ularl" as tho rat said ven ho saw tho cat
watching him.
No gouging," as the chap said ven he
felt tho " critters" in his head.
Let's clinch tho bargain," as the bear
said when he patted the man on the ehou
der.
by oconon d. rnENTicn.
I never was a man of feeble courage.
rherc arc few scenes either of tho human
or elemental strife, upon which I have not
loolicd with an eye of daring. I have stood
in tho front of battle, when swords were
gleaming and circling around me, liko fiery
serpents of the air I havo sat.on the moun
tain pinnacle, when the whirlwind was
rending its oaks from the rocky clefts, and
scattering them piecemeal to the clouds I
have seen these tilings with a swelling soul
that knew not that wrecked not of danger
but there is somo thing in the thunder's
voice that makes mo tremble liko a child.
I have tried to overcome this unmanly
weakness. I have called pride to my aid,
I havo sought for moral courago in tho les
sons of philosophy but all in vain; at the
first moaning of the distant cloud, my heart
sinks, quivers, and dies within me.
My involuntary dread of thunder had its
origin in an incident that occurred when I
was a child of ten years. I had a little
cousin, a girl of tho same age with myself,
who was the constant companion of my
childhood. Strange, that after a lapo of al
most asnoro of year3, that countenance
should be so familiar to me. I can still see
the bright young creature, her large eye
flashing like a beautiful gem, her free locks
streaming as in joy, upon the sunrise gaze,
and her check glowing liko a ruby through
a wreath of transparent snow. Her voice
had the melody and joyousncss of a bird ;
and, when she bounded over fRo wooded
lull, .or the fresh green valIcy,.shouting.a
glad answcr'lo "every voice "pf hatuitf, alld
clapping her hands in the very ecstacy of
oung existence, she looked as if breaking
away liko a fresh nightingale from the earth,
and going off where all things are beautiful
and happy like her.
It was a morning in the middle of Au
gust1 The little girl had been somo days
at my father's house, and she was now to
return homo. Her path lay across tho fields
and I gladly became the companion of her
walk. I never knew a summer morning
more beautiful and still. Only one little
cloud was visible, and that seemed as pure,
and white, and peaceful, as if it had been
the incenso-smoko of somo burning censer
of the skies. The leaves hung silent in the
woods, the waters of the bay had forgot
ten their undulations, the llnwcrs were
bonding their heads, a3 if dreaming of the
rainbow and the dew, and tho wholo atmos
phcre was of such soft and luxurious sweet
ness, that it seemed a cloud of roses, scat
tcrcd down by the hand of a Peri," from
the far-off gardens of Paradise The green
earth and tltc blue sea, lay abroad in their
boundlessness, and the peaceful sky bent
over and blessed them. The little creature
at my side was in a dolirium of happiness,
and her clear sweet voice came ringing up
on the air as often as she heard the notes of
a favorite bird, or saw some strango and
lonely flower in her wanderings. The un
broken and almost supernatural tranquility
continued until nearly noon. Then, for tho
first time, tho indications of an approaching
tDnmcst were manifest. Over tho summit
4
of a mountain, at a distance of about a mile
tho folds of a dark cloud became suddenly
visiblo, and at tho same instant, n hollow
roar came down upon the winds,as if it had
been the sound of waves in a rocky cavern
flic cloud rolled out liko a banner fold up
on tho air, but still tho atmospliero was
calm, and tho leaves as motionless as be
foro, and there was not oven a quiver upon
tho slooping waters, to toll of the coming
hurricane.
To escape tho tempest was impossible
As tho onlv resort wo fled to an oak that
.
stood at tho foot of a tall and rugged preci
pice. There wo remained and gazed al
most breathlessly upon tho clouds, marshal
ling themselves liko bloody giants in tho
sky. The thunder was not frcquont, but
every burst was so frightful, that the youn
crcaluro who stood by mc, shut her eyes
convulsively, clung with desperate strength
to my arm, and shrieked as if her heart
would break. A few minutes and the storm
was upon us. During the height of its fury
tho little girl silently raised her finger to the
precipice that towered above us. As I
looked up, an amethystine flamo was quiv
ering upon its grey peaks, and the next
moment the clouds opened, the rocks tot
tered to their foundations, a roar like a
groan of tho 'universe, filled the air, and I
felt myself blinded and thrown I knew not
whither, How long I remained insensible
I cannot tell, but when consciousness ic
turned, tho violence of tho tempest was a
bating, the roaring of tho winds was dying
in the distant tree-tops, and tho deep tones
of the clouds were becoming in fainter and
fainter murmurs from the distant hills.
I arose and looked tremblingly and al
most deliriously around mc. She was
there, the dear idol of my infant lovc,strctch
cd out upon the wet green earth. After a
moment of irresolution, I went up and look'
cd upon her. The handkerchief upon her
neck was slightly rent, and a single dark
spot upon her bosom told where tho path of
death had been. At first I clasped her to
my breast, with a cry of agony, and then
laid her down and gazed into her face, al
most with a feeling of calmness. Her
bright disshevcllcd ringlets' clustered sweet
ly around her brow; the look of terror had
faded from her lips, and an infant smilo was
pictured most beautifully there; the red rose
tinge upon her check, was as lovely as in
life; and, as I pressed it to my own, tho
fountain of tears was opened, and I wept as
if my head were waters. I have but a dim
recollection of what followed. I only know
thaLljcmajned weeping and motionless,
ti
11 the coming on of Twilight, 'that I 'was-
taken tenderly by the hand, and led away
where I saw the countenances of parents and
sisters.
Many years have gone by upon their
wings of light and shadow, but the scenes I
ave portrayed, still come over me, at times,
with terrible distinctness. Tho old oak yet
stands at the base of tho precipice, but its
limbs are black and dead; and its hollow
trunk looking upwards to the sky, as if
calling to the clouds for drink," is an em
blem of rapid and noiseless decay. A year
ago I visited the spot, and the thoughts of
by-gone years came mournfully back to me
thoughts of tho littlo innocent being who
fell by my side, like some beautiful tree of
spring, rent up by tho whirlwind, in tho
midst of its blossoming. But I remember
ed, and Oh! there was joy in the memory,
that she had gone where no lightning slum
bers in tho folds of tho rainbow cloud, and
where the sun-lit waters are never broken
by the storm-breath of Omnipotence
THE NATURE OF BETROTHMENT.
BY THE ItEV. J. M. DAVIS.
What is tho nature of a botrothmcnt ?
And what are tho circumstances which will
render it null and void.
First I remark that a matrimonial en
gagement docs not consist in any of tho ci
vilities and courtesies of life which a gen
tleman may extend to a lady.
It is not unfrequently the caso however,
that theso aro mistaken for declarations o
lovo and the announcement is mado at once
that such personsaro engaged. Such is the
imprudence of friends often, and more fre
quently of tho lady herself that tho com
mon politeness and attention, winch arc cv
er due between tho sexes, are construed into
proposals of matrimony,&ayonnggentlcman
hears tho report of his engagement, while
as yet, not cvon tho dream of tho thing has
passed through his own mind. By such
imprudence tho lady sovera herself from
tho society, perhaps of an honorable and
polished mind, and brings upon herself and
friends tho mortification and disappointment
whii'.h would inevitably follow in such ca
ses. If a trentleman attend a lady to church
if 1m escort her to tho public assembly ; if
he walk with her in tho street; if lie occa
sionally visit licr for her good society, th
report is not unfrequently set on foot, by manner her acceptance of his proposals.
some mischief-maker, or indiscreet friend, But if after due considerations, and inquiry
that the parties arc engaged to be married, and deliberation, she is conducted to a con-
Second Neither does an engagement trary conclusion, she should loso no timo
consist in any politeness or social inter- in informing him of the fact, in a way
course which a lady may extend to a gen- least likely to wound his sensibilities or
tlcman. mortify his pride. She will consider it, too,
There aro young gentlemen, however, of both a dictate of modesty, and prudence,
such consummate vanity as to suppose that aud honor, to disclose the circumstances to
such treatment is nothing less than the stron- no living being.
gest intimation of personal attachment. If a Fifth A matrimonial engagement, then
lady so much as look at them, they fancy is when tho parties, having made mutual
that it must be a love affair and equivolent disclosures of affection for each other, in
to the most direct proposals for matrimony view of such disclosures bind themselves
A smile, a compliment, a social interview by promises, to becomo each others wed
a walk or ride of pleasure, is set down by ded companion fdr life. There must be a
such conceited coxcombs,as the most cquiv- contract formed in which the parties plcdgo
ocal declaration of love. They tell of the themselves to each other for life, or thero
conquests they have made with an air of can be no matrimonial engagement. No
triumph, and never know their mistake till thing short of this can bo accounted a be?
they leain it in that reserve and neglect trothment, and nothing more necessary to
which their conduct so richly deserves. perfection.
Third Neither does an engagement con
sist in any of these preliminary stops which Singular Verification of a Dream. A
are so important, in order to form a just cs- letter from Hamburg contains the following
timalc of tho character and qualifications of curious story relative to the verification of
tho person with whom you would bo united a dream. It appears that a locksmith's ap-
for life. prentice one morning lately informed hia
Many persons.howevcr, imagine that eve- master (Claude Soller) that on tho previous
ry such step is a step of committal. While night he dreamed that he had been assas-
tho individual is only forming that wise es- sinated on the road to Bergedorf, a littlo
timate and making those judicious investi- town about two hours' distance from llara
gations which every one is bound to make burg. The master laughed at tho young
in this afl'air, by a regard to his own happi- man's credulity ; and to prove that he had
ncss and that of others, he is considered as little faith in dreams, insisted upon sending
fairly committed, without possibility of hon- immediately to BergedortT with 140 six
orable retreat. But this is all wrong, wheth- dollars, (J222 8s.)which ho owed to his
er it be tho sentiment of individuals, or brother-in-law, who resided in the town,
public sentiment. The very object of his The apprentice, in vain implored his mas
researches is to ascertain if the character t" to change his intention, wa3 compelled
and qualification of the person are such as to set out at about 1 1 o'clock. On arriving
will make him a happy companion for life, at Billwccdcr, about half way between
'Jrithoutsuch invcstotlQn, h might o 1 V"uurS "fitgouoni. itn recouecieu
well commit his interest in this matter to a his dream with'tsrrqr but perceiving tho
lady whom he had never beheld. He bailliccf the village at a little distance, talks
might as well be betrothed, as heathen chil- '"g to some ot his workmen, he accosted
ren by their parents.without his consent or him wim jus singular dream; at the samo
knowledge, and while yet in a state of in- requesting that, as he had money about his
fancy. Ho might as well blindfold himseir, person, one oi nis workmen migm oo ai
and rush into a great assembly, and select lowed to .accompany him for protection
companion at random. Parents must across a smalt wood which lay in his way.
pnose their daughters little less than an- The baillie smilcd and in obedience to hia
gels, if they expect to betroth them in this orders, one of his men set out with tho
manner. And if young ladies aro so su- y""g apprenuco.
perficial in character and accomplishment, I he next day the corpse of tho latter
as not to admit such honorable and wise was conveyed by some peasants to the baiU
scrutiny, they had better give up the idea of lie alonS with a reaping hook, which had
marriage life and become nuns at once, peen iouna Dy ins siae, anu wim wnicn
Such should bo the sentiments on this sub- the throat of tho murdered youth had been
jeet, that every young gentleman should cufc The baillio immediately recognised
feel himself at liberty to make ecry neces- mcinsirumeni as one which uc imu u mu
sary investigation of character, without sub- previous day given to the workman who
jecting himself to the report of being en- served as me apprentice s guiue, lor
rared, or of other than honorable intentions purpose m pruning boiuo wiuw. un
f. disappointed, he sees fit to retire. workmen was apprencnucci, ana, on Doing
, . , . .. ICUllllUIllCU Willi II1U UUUJ Ul 1I1S VlUllill,
llllll "HUIlHl UUUJ M
consist in the most unqualified declaration
of love on the paft of either gentleman or
ady. This may all be, yet no obligations
aro assumed no contract is formed. And
yet there are those who suppose that such
declarations of attachment impose an obli
gation on their friend, which cannot be re
sisted or violated. Tho gentleman whose
nrovinco it alway is to make such disclo
sures, considers that when he has done this
he has secured, by right, his object. But
. nu. V.l.r miv tin whnllv nnnrnnrir-
n.0V so. x.ioiauv .....j - , nmi An !,.:,, fcrnn-htliefnralliir.aviii,-
n,i fnr snr-.h an event. Such a disclosure " . ?. .. J.
made a full confession of his crime, adding
the recital of the dream had alone prompted
him to commit tho horrible act. The as
sassin, who is 25 years of age, is a native
of Billwaider, and previously to the perpe
tration of the murder, had always borno
anirreproachablo character.
Jonathan Mason, a soldier of the revolu
tion, died recently, at Tamworth, N. II. in
the 71th year of his age. It is related of
him that he was taken prisoner by the Bri-
,. that General said to him,
"well, my lad.
His
... i UrtfM-rt clio Vina mndft tho nnn-
cssarj U14U u 6 , j tllink jj all be prjs6n.
o.-.l. ,t nsiirn mw llfl mnlln When SllO "'1IV . ' J r
TT. J" J; ," wt l.u U within two weeks."
nau no -v exclaimed with an oath, All the Yankees
inc and vh e her own engagements and f1 , ' .
"'8 , . i:7f in America cannot make a prisoner of mel"
circumstances uo nui aimm ui
,,-r ai,i.h nrnnosals for a moment. It is
IU1!IIU 11
prisoner
In three weeks from that day he and his ar
my were prisoners.
true, such a disclosure on the part of the
irentlcman imposes certain duties on tho te-
male. If her circumstances are such as to
render an engagement impossible, she is
. Avxrv nrincinlo to acquaint him
UUUI1U JJ u.w.y ( j
,1-1 :.u fnf Ucpn tlin trans-
MKimntnr. and entertains such an affection -
for him as will render a union with him Littlo minds rejoice over tho errors o
happy, sho has nothing left but to make men of genius, as the owl rejoices a,t 31
known to him in a modeet and affectionate eclipse.
A young lady taking a walk one morn
ing, mot a gentleman of her acquaintance,
to whom sho said, " you see, sir, I am for
a little sim and mY." "You had better get
oil