COLU
OCRAT,
AND BLOOMSBURG GENERAL ADVERTISER.
LEVI L. TATE, Editor.
$2 00 PER ANNUM.
"TO HOLD AND TIIIM TIIK TORCH OF TRUTH AND WAVE IT O'ER THE DARKENED EARTH."
VOL. 15.--NO. 43,
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA., SATURDAY DECEMBER 28, 1861. VOLUME 25.
OOLUHBIADEH00BAT.
PUBLISHED UVEHY SATU11DAY, BY
LEVI L. TATE.
IN BLOOMSBUnO, COLUMBIA COUNTY, .FA,
0 fITc E
In ti n$ie Urttk likUding, oppotUt tht V.tthangt, fy tidt
oflht Court em. "Dimotratic Head iiuatttri,"
terms or stnisciurxio.v.
91 0) la advance, for one enpy. for six months,
1 73 In advance, fur one copy, one enr.
il Ud If not paid within tliu tirst threw month,
U 35 If not paid within the tlNt six mouth.
Vi 3d tf not mid within the year,
Cy No subscription taken for less tlmu six months,
ftuil do pap.T discontinued until all arrearages shall huve
bgeu paid.
C? Or J InarvA ovkhthejiksti Inserted, and Jud Work
oxveuUd, at the oslablishedpricus
fcia&vsMtrsmjjaEcra
(Original lPoctiiit
ror tht Vvtumbia Demotrat,
Our Couuti y 'a Flag.
DT W 11. 0.
War thou fair embUui expand to H13 breee
ol thy maudates bs honored o'er land and o'er tea.
No tyraulcal power thy folds can depress,
Hut millions will hall tbi thy prciencoo Men.
In childhood thy strength forced niiglaiid.lu despair
''o yield to thy wisdom and crouch in hut lair.
No khadow of danger thy vision o'er cast,
It sum in la tlw futura as thou liat tscn iu the past.
luality thy watchword on thy folds art) entwined
Union and htreugth ou thy folds ure enshrined,
Though rebili will rim and o'er shadow the land,
Thy strength with freemen will stay the foul hand.
Suctssion, li cursud upon tho toil it hath tried,
Tim blood of bravo Lyon tho suit deep h.tth dcd,
Tha Eniigu of freedom waved o'er the bravo head.
When a fratricidal ball laid him low vtlth the diuJ.
Mamvlllo, Duc.Sdtli,
QV-musinrj Storm
" CALL A MAN."
A LOVE AND 8 SAKE STOKY.
John Jackson was a very industrious,
hardworking young man, of twcnty-thrco
years Being tlio eldest child and the
only son liu had always remained at home, '
assistiug his father ou tho farm. John
was much i canceled by every ono in the
neighborhood, aud many n bright eyed
irl had secretly thought that she would
liko to chuuge her name to Mrs. John .
Jackson. Hut John was no ''ladies man."
The fact was John was bashful. Ho
would rather hoc potatoes all day than 1
undergo the ceremony of an introduction
to a young lady. Not that Johu disliked
the dear creatures ; far from it. Wo be- j
liuve that he, in common with all bashful, '
well mcauing men, entertained tho very 1
highest regards and admiration for them.!
And this, ub doubt, was the principal cause
of his bashfulness. lie felt that they 1
wero superior beings, and that he was un
worthy to assoeiato with them upon terms
of equality. Hut wo cannot stop to mora
lue. Nancy Clark was tho daughter of a i
very respectable farmer whoso lands ad
joiuad tho Jackson farm. Nancy was a
pretty, saucy little witch, and sho liked
Johu Jackson. When they wero children
they attended tho same school , and as he
was a few years her senior, was usually
Lor champion in tho childish disputes that
aroso, and her companion in going and
returning. At last John became so much j
of a young mau as to be kept from school,
as sho had been in past years. John dis
covered too, that bo had been growing in
stature and it seemed as if he had been
growing out of shape. His feet and legs j
appeared awkward ; ho didn't know what
to do with his hands ; his faco pained him, '
and taking it all in all, ho was inclined
to-think ho was not wore thun half put
together.
Now tho truth was, John Jackson was
really a Ono looking young man, aud noth
ing but his admiration of Nancy could
have suggested any such foolish thoughts
about himself.
Ai novelists say, it was a lovely day in
August. Tho heavens wero clear, serene,
aud beautiful, the trees wore laden with
golden fruit, aud tho beautiful birds twit
tered their songs of lovo in tho branches.
Earth (there, we'vo slid down to earth
onco more ; such lofty flights, they make
our head dizzy.) Wo wero about to say
tho earth had yielded her bountiful har
vest of a year's grass and clover, and hon
eysuckles, which tlw noblo ycomaury of
Chestcrvlllo had gathered within their
storo-houses but upon a second thought
wo bavo concluded to word thus : " The
farmers of Chcstcrvillo wero dono haying."
John Jackson's sister had a quilting
that afternoon. His father had gono to
" Keith's Mill'1 to get somo wheat ground
and John was left to repair some tools, to
be ready on tho morrow to commence
snowing tha meadow grass. Suddenly it
occurred to John that if he remained about
tho houso in tho afternoon ho would bo
called in at tea tinio and required to do
the honors of the tablo. To avoid this
Iir quietly shouldered his poylhe and stole
away to tho meadow, a mile distant, fully
resolved that ho would not leave there
until it was so dark that ho could not seo
to mow, aud must avoid seeing tho girls.
Tho meadow was surrounded on all
sides by a thick forest, which effectually
shut out what little brcczo there might
chanco to bo stirring. The sun poured
its rays as though tho little meadow was
tho focus point where the heat was con
centrated. John mowed and swat and
sweat and mowed, until ho was obliged to
sit down and cool ofT. Then it oceurcd to
John if ho took off his pants he might bo
much more comfoitablc. There could bo
no impropriety iu it,.for ho Was entirely j
concealed from observation, and there was
not tho slightest reason to believe that he '
would be seen by any person. So John
(tripped off and no cover save his linen .
commonly called a shirt ho resumed his
work. He was just congratulating him- I
self upon the good t'nno ha was having, and j
the lucky escape ho had made from meet- ,
ing with tho girls, when ho chanced to
disturb a huge black snake, a genuine '
- .. .i ! 1
(..me. iiiui u nuuu uug urouim ms iiccn.
John was no coward, but ho was mor
tally afraid of a snako. " Self preserva
tion'" was tho first "passage" that flashed
upon John's mind, and "leg take care of
the body" was tho next. Dropping his
scythe and spinning around like a top, he !
was ready to ftriko at a 'J,10 rate, when
at that moment tho snako was near enough
to hook his crookod teeth into John's shirt
just above the hem. With a tremendous
spring ho darted oflwith tho speed of a
locomotive.
Ilia fir.-t jump took tho snako clear from
tho ground, and as Johu stole a hasty
glauco over his shoulder, ho was horrified
to find tho reptile securely fastened to the
extremity of his garment, while tho speed
with which ho rushed forward, kept tho
serpent extended to an anglu of ninety de
grees with his body.
Hero was a quandary. If ho stopped,
the snako would coil around h'n body and
squeeze him to death ; if he continued his
race, he must soon fall from mere cxhaus
tion. On lie (lew, scarce daiing to think
how thi dreadful race was to end. In
stinctively he had taken tho direction
home, a feeling a security cauio over him.
Suddenly flashed across his mind the true
state of affairs his father gone tho quilt
ing, and tho worst of all, Ik- gals ! This
new horror sent tho blood back, curdlirg
about his heart, and he came to a dead
halt. The next moment ho felt tho body
of tho cold clammy monster iu contact with
his baro. logs, his tail creeping around
them in asortol a cozening way, as though
his snakeship only wditated a littlo fun,
by way of tickling John upon tho knees.
This was too much for human endurance.
With a yell, such as man never utters save
when in mortal terror, poor John again
sot forward at break nock cpecd, and onco
mora had the pleasure of seeing the snako
resume his horizontal position, somewhat
after tho fashion of the tail of a comet.
On they flew! John forgot tho quilt
ing, forgot tho girls, forgot everything but
tho snako. His active ecuue, (ho paid
particular attoi.tipu to his running) to
gether with tho excessive heat, had brought
ou the nosa bleeding, and as ho ran, cars
erect aud head thrown back, his chin,
throat end bosom wero stained with tho
flowing stream.
His first wild shriot had startled tho
quitters, and forth thoy rushed, wondering
if some mad Indian was not prowling
about. 15y this time Johu was within a
few rods of tho barn, still running at tho
top of his spoed, his head turned so that
ho might keep ono cyo ou tho snake, aud
with tho other observo what course he
must take. The friendly barn uow con
cealed him from tho sight of tho girls.
Ho knew thoy wero in the yard, having
caught a glimpse of them as they rushed
from tho house. A fow moro bounds and
ho irould bo iu their midst. For a mo
ment modesty overcame fear and ho onco
moro halttd. Tho snako, evidently pleas
ed with his rapid transportation, manifest
ed his gratitude by attempting to enfold
tho legs of our he io within his embrace.
With an cxploiivo "ouch" and urged
forward by "circumstances over which ho
had no control,'' poor John bounded on.
Tho nert moment ho was iu full view of
the girls, and as ho turned tho corner of
the barn, tlio Eualio c.imo round witu a
whi:, somewhat after the fashion of tho
coach whip.
Having reached tho barn yard, to his
dismay, ho found tho bars up. But timo
was too precious to bo wested in letting
down bars. Gathering all his strength ho
bounded into tho nisuako ditto, and as
he alMittd oa tho ol't "id, bh snake-
ship's tail cracked across tho upper bar,
snapping liko an Indian cracker.
Again John set forward, utterly regard,
less of tho girls, for tho extra ticklo from
tho snake's tail, as ho leaped tho bars,
banished all his bashfulness and modesty,
and again ho had tho plcasuro of finding
tho snako iu a straight lino, drawing stead
ily at tho hem of his solitary garment.
Tho houso became the centre of tlio at
traction, aud around it ho revolved with
tho speed of thought. Four times in each
revolution, as ho turned tho corners, his
suakeship caiuo around with a whiz that
was quite refreshing.
Whilo describing tho third circlo, as ho
came near tho group of wonder struck
girls without ro'.ioving his gaze from tho
snako, ho managed to cry out "call a
man."
Aud away tic whirled again, turning the
corner so rapidly that .the whi: of tho
snako sounded half way between a low
whistlo, and tho repeated pronunciation of
doublo-o.
Ueforo either of tho girls had stirred
from their tracks, ho had preformed au
other revolution "call a man."
Away he flow onco more, but his strength
was rapidly failiug. Nancy Clark was tho
first io recover her presence of mind, and
seizing a hoop pole, she took her station
near tho comer of tho house, and as John
reappeared sho brought it down upon the
snako with a force that broke his back
aud hold upon John's garment at thesamo
time.
John rushed into tho houso and went
to his room, 'and at tea timo appeared in
his best Sunday clothes, but little tho worse
for his race, and to all appearances entiie
ly cured of bashfulness. That night ho
walked homo with Nancy Clark. Tho
next New Year they were mariicd, and
whenever John feels inclined to laugh at
hi wifos hoops, or any other peculiaiity,
sho has only to say : "Call a man," when
he instantly Lobcr.s down.
gy Few people aro able, in conversa
tion, to give tho proper sound to the com
bined consonants Us. They can say Heist
easily enough, but they fail to enunciate
lu-isls. They drop the I betweeu tho ss,
and say ttcis's, Tho following lines aro a
good exercise to remedy this defect. Thoy
should bo rtpeatcd slowly at first, then
more rapidly as tho tongue loams to give
the I always with perfect distinctness :
" Amid tho mists, with stoutest boasts,
ho thrusts his fists against tlio posts aud
still insists ho sees thu ghosts of Egypt's
locusts."
jCSj "Pat, can you tell mo what is a
virgin t"
" To be sure I can, Jemmy."
" Well, thou will jo bo afthcr doin'-
it?"
" Yes, jist It's a woman that's never
been married at all.1'
" )c ye iu earnest, Pat ?"
" Yes, Jemmy."
' Tho saints in heaven be praised, then,
my mother is a virgiu ; my father never
married her at a(T."
Sample. A good story is told of the
lato W. E. Burton which wo havo never
seen in print. Whilo traveling on a steam
boat dowu tho llud'on ho seatsd himself
at the tablo aud called forsoino beefsteak.
Tho waiter furnished him with a small
strip of tho article such as travelers arc
usually put off with. Taking it upon his
fork and turning it over and cxamiuing it
with ouo of his peculiar and serious looks,
tho comedian cooly remarked, "Yes, that's
it, bring mo some."
EST Dr. Hayes recently, at a publio
dinner given to him at Halifax, undo a
speech, in which ho said that it is his pur
pose to renew tho attempt next year to
discover tho North Polo, aud expressed
tho belief that, with steam power, a strong
team of dogs, and a well organized system
of advansod depots, tho North pole can bo
reached.
tigJ'Punch asks tho following "cockney
couumdvum :" "What's tho difference j
between tho late Sultan, Abdul Mcdjid,j
aud his successor I Abdul Mcdjid is Ab
dul as was, but tho present Sultan is Ab
dul Aziz."
A Wife Ciop. A Missouri paper in
forms its readers that tho "wife crop of
Gascouado county, iu 1800, was 'J5,000
gals" The next paper corrected tho cr
i ror by putting "wino" instead of wife.
! EG?" How sadly truo it is in theso times,
that "Not ovory man that dives iuto tho
Select llloctni
From tht Lycoming Oaulte, j
Tho following splendid picco of Poetry,
was written by ilisa Nancy Patton, aged
11 years, of Hallston,to Mr. llccdcr King,
a member of Co. "D," Morehcad's 100th
ltcg. P. V.
Tho Picket Guard.
U'CITllK Ion It, KISO, LS'l. I
Comrades, how goca tho night without? The wind
see n i i wintry cold;
A weary watch 'twill le to-night for our pickets brave'
and hold ;
A ucary watch fur our noMo hoya, hut their hcurta oro
brave tuul true,
And tlioao who wear u aoldicr'B natno, u soldkr's woik
mutt do.
A weary watch tho picket keepp, but liii etout heart
notcrfjil,
Ah IiU laen cje fccnns tlio distant liilli an4 intervening
dales,
Through long dark hours, that endless eocm, u ith&ut
one endless breath i
Tor should lie deep upon hliuntch, tho penalty if
Dath.
IKathl Oh! how tho thujlit mutt bo at mch a timo
and place,
When daiigtr'a evcr-thrcafning form so etnrea him In
the face
With naught to break the atillnefi that lacms as of tho
t:rave,
Kxcept hi own firm, meaiured tramp, that ecems tha
grass to pave.
rcrlup fomo distant musket boom, from out aorao reb
el lair,
Or a comradu's death-shot who cau tall I breaks on
the iiiidiiiglituir.
Tho sound cicites u moment's thought-a, moment's
wonder blight
Aa soon forgot hi thu echo kinks back to tho caves of
night.
lie thinks of what I of war f Ahl no, homo memories
throng liia mind,
And lie thinks of Utters fresh from homo ond of dear
onesKfthehiml;
Of loving ones bvdide tlu hearth, and a llttto form at
priivcr,
And ho, thiukings.iy, "Elsewhere Drgot, they'll not
forgLtine there."
Tho hours creep on, and dajllght breaks ; a comrade
takes the beat,
And tho guard, unfulteringly.true, dare rest and rtst
is hweil.
Upon hi j lowly tamping bed he seeks from cares re
lease, And dreaming still of friends and homc.thc picket sleeps
in pf tire
IUmius, I.YinMiNU Co., 1'a., Nov, 19th, 1)1.
Select iiHisccllani).
A Military Execution.
A sceno was transacted in the Camps
below Washington on Friday, which is not
often witnessed iu this country. It was
the execution of Win. II. Johnsou, of tho
Lincoln Cavalry, in tho prcsenco of 7000
soldiers. He was charged with deserting
from tho army and communicating infor
mation to the enemy. Ho was ou picket
duty ou horseback and left his post to go
to llichniond. Ho fell in with a scouting
party, whom ho took to bo rebels 'and
walked up to them, shaking hands wtih
au officdr, telling him that ho was a rebel
loo and had long tiiud to get away from
tho United States army. As it happened
the party he took for rebels wero Union
men, out on a scouting expedition. They
seized him aud brought him back to camp.
He was couit martialled and ordered to
bo shot. Tho sei.tonco was carried out on
Friday. Tho fuucral procession is do
scribed aa very solemn. Johnson remain
cd in tho chaplain's tent until tho hourar
rived for him to take his place, tho most
couspicuous ono of any in tho mournful
procession. Tho spot chosen for tho im
prcssive scene was a spacious field near
the Fairfax Seminary, a short distanco
from tho camp ground of tho division.
Tho troops fell icto lino, forming threo
sides of a square, iu tho order designated
iu the programme, precisely at threo o'
clock P. M.
In tho mcantimo tho fuucral procession
was formed at tho quarters of Capt. Boyd,
Provost Marshal, of tho Alexandria divis
ion, near tho headquarters of Uenoral
Franklin. Shortly after throo o'clock it
rcacheli the fatal field.
Tho Provost Marshal, mouuted and
wearing a crimson scarf across his breast
led tho mournful cortege. Ho was imme
diately followed by tho buglors of the rcg
imout, four a breast, dismounted. Then
cainc tho twelve men ouo from each com
pany in tho rcgitneut, selected by ballot
who constituted tho firing party. Tho
arms Sharp's breach loading rids h&d
been previously loaded under tho directiou
of tho Marshal. Ouo was loaded with a
blank cartridge, according to tho usual
custom, so that neither of tho men could
positively state that tho shot from his rifle
killed the unfortuuato man. Tho coffin,
which was of piuowood staked, aud with
out an v inscription, camo next in a ouo
horso wagou. Immediately bohiud follow
cd tho unfortunate mau iu an open wagon.
Johnsou prescutcd a most 'forlorn speo
taclo. Ho was dressed iu cavalry uniform
with the regulation overcoat and black
gloves. Ho was supported by father Mc
Afco, who was in constant conversation
on horseback. Tho rear was brought up
by Company 0 of tho Lincoln Cavalry,
forming tho escort.
Arriving on tho ground at half-paEt
threo o'clock, the musicians and tho oscort
took a position a littlo to tho left, whilo
tho criminal desoended from tho wagon.
Tho coffin was plaocd on the ground, and
ho took his placo beside it. Tho firing
party was marched up to within six paces
of tho prisoner, who stood between the
clergymen. Tho final order of execution
was then read to the coudemncd.
While this order was being read John
son stood with his hat ou, his head a littlo
inclined to tho left, aud his eyes fixed in a
steady gazo on tho ground. Near tho
close of tho reading one of his spiritual at
tendants whispered something iu his car.
Johnson had expressed a desiro to say a
fow fiual words before ho should leavo this
world to appear beforo his Maker. Ho
was conducted closo to tho firing party,
and, in an almost inaudible voice, spoko
as follows t
Boys I ask forgiveness from Almighty
God and from my fellow men for what '1
havo dono. I did not know what I was
doing. May God forgivo mo, and may
tho Almighty keep all of you from all such
sin.
Ho was then placed beside the coffin
again. Tho troops wero witnesssing tho
wholo of these proceedings with tho iutcn
scst interest. Then tho Marshal and the
Chaplains began to prcparo tho culprit for
his death. Ho was too weak to stand.
lie sat dowu on tho foot of tho coffin.
Captain Boyd then bandaged his eyes
with a white handkerchief. A fow min
utes of painful susponso intervened whilo
tho Catholic clergymen wero having their
final interview with tho unfortunate man.
All being ready tho Marshal waved his
handkerchief as the signal aud tho firing
party discharged the volley. Johnson did
not move, remaining in a sitting posture
for several seconds, aftor tho rifles wore
discharged. Then ho quivcrod alittlc,and
foil over beside his coffin. lie was still
alivo, however and the four reserves wero
called to complete the work. It was found
that two of the firing party, Germans, had
not discharged their pieces, and thoy were
immediately put iu irons. Johnson was
shot several times in tho heart by tho first
volley. Ecach of tho four shots fired by
tho reserves took effect iu his head, and
ho died instantly. One penetrated his
chin, another his left cheek, whilo two en
tered the brain just abovo tho left eye
brow. II died at precisely at a quarter
to four o'clock.
The troops then all marched round, aud
each man looked on tho bloody corpse of
his late comrado who had proved a traitor
to his country.
The universal scntimont was that ho
deserved his fate, and tho example will
prove highly beneficial.
CoL John Noll, of Tennessee.
Cel. John Neil was born and raised in a
pine tent, on tho banks of the Cumberland
river. At the ago of fifteen ho ran away
from his father, and made his way to tho
wilderness of Texas. He there adopted
tho profession of arms, which ho never
moro rclinnuished. lie was Captain of
Hangers, Col. of militia, a guardsman to
Mexican tradcrs.and a general thief catch
er for tho Sheriffs of many counties; and
yet a braver, warmer, moro generous
heart, never beat in human bosom .
Shortly after ho went to Texas,whilo at
tho Star Hotel in Houston, ho got into a
dispute with Scth Allen, a noted blackleg
and duelist. Allen was a tall meagro ath
letic, fellow, with thin faco and hugho mus
tacho. Getting offended at sorno remark
mado by Col. Neil, Allen raised his .foot
to kick tho Col., when tho lattsr, quick as
thought caught tho foot in his right hand,
and then stooping, suddenly thrust his
head between Allen's legs, and fairly rais
ed him on his neck. In that position ho
trotted off with tho famous duelist, and
tossed him iuto a mud holo, whilo roars of
laughter proceed from the spectators. Au
immediate challenge, was tho result. Col.
Neil accepted tho challengo, chose rifles of
tho largest sizo, and fixed the distaueo at
a hundred yards.
"I will only wiug hiin," said tho laugh
ing hero, as ho took his stand ; ho is too
poor to mako good bacon 1"
At tho first iiro ho broko Allen's arm,
and so tho affair ended.
But tho greatest feat that evor mortal
man achieved was tho escape of Neil from
tho Mexicans at tha lima of the tnassacro
of Col. Fannin and his men in 1630. Neil
was of Fannin's partys and the solo jusvi.-.
Fannin and his company as prisoners of
war if thoy would lay down their arms,
This Fannin agreed to, and tho arms were
given up. Hut Neil did not havo confi
dence iu the promises of tho treacherous
foe ; so ho concealed his pair of revolvers ,
in his boots, and thoy remained their uu-
discovered- Tho result of Fannin's sur-
render is iamiliar with every reader of his- j
tory. Aftor thoy had given up their arms j
ho aud his men wero inarched out in pla-
toons and shot.
Col. Fannin fell among tho first victims,
but not so tho giant Neil. With the order i
of tho Mexican officor for his men to flro,
Neil stooped almost to tho earth, so that
tho volley passod entirely ovor him. IIo
waited not for a second j thrust his hand
into the leg of each boot, ho arose with a
couple of six shooters, the deadly revolv
ers of Allen's patent, and commenced dis
charging them with tho rapidity of light
ning, into tho thickest of his foes, his im
inonco strength euabling him to pull off
both triggers together.
Panic stricken with surpiso and fear,tho
Mexicans recoiled and opened a passage,
through which Neil bounded, with tho
spring of a panthor, and tied away, as if
wings were tied to his heels, whilo half a
dozen horsemen gavo chase. For a whilo
it seemed doubtful whether tho giant Col
onel would not distanco even theso, so
much had the perils of tho occasion in
creased the natural elasticity of his mighty
muscles. But presently a charger fleeter
than tho rest might bo discerned gaining
on his human rival, and approaching so
near that the dragoon raised his flashing
sabro for tho coup dc grace. Neil beinj;
,,. , . .., , ,. i
conscious of his danger, hastily slacking!
his speed, till the hot stream of smoko ,
from tho horses nostrils appeared to min-
. ... , . , . , ., , ,.
glo with his vory hair ; and then wheeling
suddenly, ho fired another round from his !
revolver, and tho rider tumblod from his
saddle. Tho viellm then renowed his
flight.
A mad yell of grief and rago broko
from tho remaining trooper as thoy wit-
ncsscd tho fato of their comrado, and its
effect was immediately evident in tho aug-
mcntcd caution of their pursuit-for they
galloped afterwards in one body, thereby
greatly retarding their progress, so that
Neil reached beforo them. He paused not
a moment, but plunged headlong down tho
steep bank into tho currant, and struck
off for the other shoro. Tho dragoons
discharccd their side arms ineffectuallv.
and gavo over tho chase 1
In a few minutes Neil landed, aud as
soon as he felt satisfied that ho was really
saved, burst iuto a fit of laughter,cxclaim
ing: "It will kill ma ! Just to think how
astonished tho yollow dovils looked whon
I hauled tho revolvers oat of my boots !''
A Real Incident.
In tho autumn c: 1823, a man was do-
i- ,i m -.i .i ii
scendint' tho Ohio river, with threo small
children in a canoe. He had lost hiswifo,
and with tho emigration spirit of our poo-
plo, was transferring his all to another
country, whero ho might again begin tho
world,
Arriving toward evening at & small is
land, ho landed them for tho night. Af
tor remainiug a short timo, ho determined
to visit tho opposito shoro, for the pur-po.-e,
probably, of purchasing provisions ;
and telliug his children that ho would soon
.......... . ii. I. u.i n- l
4uu w tuuu., p , ...-wis
tliem alono on tlio istanu. untortunale y,
.
ho met with some loooo companions ou the
, , . ., ,., . ,!, ,
lmrn lrlirt invifpil linn A ilrmL' lln lmu
: . ; s".t .
camo intoxicated, aud in attempting to
cross tho river after night, was drowned.
Tho canoo floated away, and no one knew
of the catastrophe until the following day.
Tho poor, doserlod children iu tho
moauwhilo wandered about tho uninhabit-
cd island straiuing their little eyes to get
a glimpso at their father. Night came,
and thoy had no firo nor food no bed to
rest upon, no parent to watch over them.
The weather was extremely cold, and tho
elder child, though but eight years of age
remembered that persons who slept in tho
cold wero sometimes chilled to death. Sho
continued to wander about, and when tho
younger children wero worn out with fa
tiguo and drowsiness, and wero ready to
drop iuto slumber, sho kept thenj awako
by telliug them amusing aud alarming sto
rics. At last naturo could hold out no lon
ger, aud tho littlo ones, chilled aud aching
with cold, threw thoiuselvcs on tho ground.
Then tho sister bat down, aud spreading
out her garments as wide as possible, drow
them into her lap, and endeavored to im
Morning camo, and tho dcsolato children
sat on tho shoro weeping bitterly. At
longth thoy were filled with joy at the sight
of a canoo approaching tho island, But
they, soon discovering that it was Gllod
with Indians, their delight was changed
into terror, aud they fled iuto tho woods,
Believing that tho savogos had tnurdorcd
their father and wero now como to scok
them, they crouched under bushes, hiding
in breathless fear, liko a brood of young
partridges-
Tho Indians having kindled a fire, tat
down arouud it and began to cook their
morning meal j and the eldest child, as
she peeped from hor hiding placo, began
to think thoy had not killed her father.
Sho rcflectod that thoy must inevitably
starve, if loft on this lono island) whilo,
on tho other hand, there was a possibility
of being kindly treated by the Indiana."
Tho cries, too, of her brother and sister,
who had been begging pitcously for food,
had pierced her heart and awakened all
hat energy. She told tho littlo ones, over
whose feeble minds her fino spirit had sc.
quired au absoluto sway, to get up and go
with her ; then taking a hand of oach, she
fearlessly led them to tho Indian camp fire.
Fortunately, tho savages understood our
language, and as tho littlo girl had ex
plained to them what had occurred, thoy
received tho deserted children kindly, and
conducted them to tho nearost of our
towns, whero thoy wero kept by soino be
uovolcnt pooplo until their own relations
claimed them.
gtr&ngo Adventure Of a Picket,
...
While on my lonely beat, about an hour
,. , , . .
nS a 1'fiht tread attracted my attention j
0D look,S UP IfboLcld ono of SeccsU s
pickets standing before mo.
1 n
" Stranger," says ho, "you remind me
of m.T grandmother, who expired beforo I
was born, but this unnatural war has inada
us enemies, and I must shoot you. Givo
,ne a oha,T twbaokor."
was a young man, my boy, in the
I Pr,me of llfo- aud descended from tho First
' ran,lllcs of ir6inia- Alleait thlt's wuat
' J understood by tho First Families of
A lrlma- 1 looked at Lim antl saJs !
I " Let'3 compromise, my brother."
! " Xevor ss ha "tha South is
,DS for licr llberty. licr firesides, and tho
Pursu" of U3rPlness) "d I desiro most
respectfully to welcomo you with Moody
U3nus 10 a uosP'"u'o Eve."
" Stand off ten paces," says I, "and lot's
see whoso name shall come beforo tho ooro
nor first."
IIo took his placo, and wo fired simul
taneously. I hoard a ball go whistlingby
a barn about a quarter of a mile on my
right, and when tha smoko cleared away
I saw tho Sceesh picket approach mo with
an awful expression of woo on his other
wiso dirty countenance
" Soldier," saye ho, "was thcro any
thing in my head beforo vou firod !"
b J ""jmiii
I , f oth,nS; "J8 h "vo a few barm.
less insects
1 , 1 not of them" says ho. "Was
( tIf"0 'T S my
" Well," says he, "just listen now."
Ho shook his head mournfully, snd I
heard something rattlo in t.
"What is that?" I cxelaimcd.
" That," said he, "is your bullet, whioh
has pouctratcd my skull, and is rolling
arouud in my brain. I dio happy, and
whh an ( stomach, but tbero is one
... , , , , . , T
thing I should like to seo beforo I pensh
, , . ,T ,
for my country. Have you a quarter
.
ab '"
Too much affected to speak, I drew a
ooiu from my pocket and handed it to him.
Tim dvitur mftn nlnffiltfvl it i-int.u1ai,ilw
stanjd t fcvcr-ishly .
I n This," said he, "is tho first quarter X
j havo seen since the fall of Sumter, and had
I wounded you, I should havo been totally
J unable to givo you any qunrter. Ah, how
beautiful it is 1 how bright, how exquisite,
! ana i,ow R00d for four drinks ! But I hav
uot time to say all I feel."
Tho cxpiiing soldier then laid down bis
gun, hung his cap and overcoat on a
branch of a trco, and blow his noso. He
then died.
And thcro I stood, my boy, on that
louely beat, looking down on that fallen
typo of manhood, and thinking how singu
larly it was ho had forgotten to give me
back my quarter. Tho sight and the
thought so affected mu that I was obliged
to turu my back on the corpse and walk a
littlo way from it. When I returned to
the spot the body was gone I Had it gone
to Heaven i 1 eruaps bo, my tioy per-
1