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W. II. JACOBY, Proprietor. ' Truth and Right Cod and our Country, Two Dollars per Annua.
VOLUME 12. BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA , WEDNESDAY AUGUST 15, 1860. . NUMBER 3&
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VOMER WIHT'S TflEKEASOS ?
BY J- S. BUKFHART.
There's a little lovely valley,
A romantic "Sprucy Dell,"
Where my spirit olten wanders
What's the cause I cannot tell !
There I long to sit and listen,
To the cheerful morning lay,
Of a joyons little feathered tribe,
A singing all the day.
There are gentle summer sunbeams,
Where the fragment flowers grow, .
And they tet my heart a throbbing
What's the cause 1 do not know 1
Over yonder in the valley
Down along the "Sprucy Dell,''.
Lives a lair and gentle Maiden
Wonder whether she could tell!
Wonder whether she is thinking,
Of these singing little bird
Whether sweeter strains of music, '
Could not dell iu little words.
Yes, I wonder whether Cupid,
With hib funny little dart.
Kver writes his sweetest music,
Oa the tablet of her heart.
Shouldn't wonder when I know it
1 have seen her bosom heave '
And a lovely smile upon her face,
That taught me to believe.
But I wonder what's the reason,
Why I love the "Sprucy Dell,"
Why 1 love the ''mowy valley"
Could the gentle Maiden tell?
) am happy when a thinking
Tis a wonder why 1 should,
But I couldn't tell the reasou,
No, 1 wouldn't if I could.
JOSEPH LANE,
OF OREGON.
A RAPID SUMMARY OF HIS LIFE.
. Joseph Lake, the second eon of John Lane
and Elizabeth Street,' was born in North
Carolina, on the 14th of December, 1801
In 1804 the lather emigrated to Kentucky,
and fettled in Henderson county. He had
the benefit of having sprang from Revolu
tionary stock, and, if he learned little else,
imbibed many stirring lessons ol patriotism
and its glorious results from the elders who
surrounded the hearthstone of his boyhood.'
At an early age he shitted for himself, and
entered the employ of Nathaniel Hart,
Clerk of the County Court. In 1816 he went
into Warwick county, Indiana, became a
clerk in a mercantile house, married, in
1820, a young girl of French and Irish ex
traction, and settled on the banks of the
Ohio, ia Vanderburg county.
Yonng Lane soon became the man of the
people among whom he had cast his lot
In 1822, then barely eligible, he was elect
ed to the Indiana legislature, and took his
seat, to the astonishment of many older
worthies. Hon. Oliver H. Smith, a new
member likewise, and since a United States
Senator from 1837 to 1843, describes, in a
work recently pnblished, the appearance
of Lane on the occasion. "The roll-calling
progressed as 1 stood by the side of the
clerk. 'The county of Vanderburg and
Warwick!' said the clerk. I saw advancing
a slender, freckled-laced boy,in appearance
eighteen or twenty years of age. ' I marked
his step as he came up to my side, and
have often noticed his air since : it was
General Joseph Lane, or Mexican and Or
egon fame in after years "
On the Ohio, Lane became extremely
popular as a good neighbor and a man of
enlarged hospitality. Near his dwelling,
the river hait a bar, which never fails at low
water to deain a small fleet ot boais. Lane's
farm-house had ever its doors open ; an in
vitation was extended to all to come and
help themselves, the host never consenting
10 receive remuneration, though hundreds
hf ve partaken of his store. Any boatman
en the river, says a reliable informant, lelt
himself at liberty to take any of his boats
for temporary use without asking. Such
was Joseph Lane on his homestead. Ac
quaintance with rirer life made him a good
pilot of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers,
which gained him an additional meed of
respect from the "river men."
As farmer, produce-dealer, and legislator,
many years rolled over his bead, every year
adding to his popularity as a man, both in
his private and public capacity...; He was
frequently re-elected -by the people, and
'-continued to serve them at short intervals,
in either branch ot lhe' legislature, for a
.period or twenty-four years. ,
? Mr. Lane was a fearless legislator, always
' acting from a conscientious belief in truth
of his ;, views', and following them op with
spirit and uadeviating vigilance." Those
4-who ara best acquainted - with this portion
of his career, delight to dwelt upon the zeal
and! tenacity' with5 which' he upheld the
trusts confided to him, and denounced - the
.trrrri which threatened to thwart hi des
igns for grr J. : lis is, however; a man of
i rcJs raihcr than words though ha does
r.:t lack, the power to exprees his views
Never in favor ol expediency, he was
always for what seemed right to him.
When it was thought that Indiana, overbur
dened with debt, would be compelled to
repudiate, the prospect of the disgrace
which would thereby result to the Stale
aroused all his indignant energies. He
would not hear of such a thing. He felt it
would be a disgrace to him, as a working
man, with the will and the strength to labor,
to repudiate a debt. What was tt, then, to
a State of which he was a representative ?
He toiled untiringly to avert it, and had the
satisfaction of seeing his efforts successful.
In politics, General Lane has always been
of the Jefferson and Jackson school. Pos
sessing a strong intellect, and a memory
retentive of facts, and quick to use them,
be has become thoroughly acquainted with
the history and politics of the country. Mr.
Yules observes, "He has written with bis
plough and jword, and spoken by his deeds;
and though unused to the ornament of
rhetoric and literature, he is, nevertheless,
powerful jin debate, and especially well
qualified in political and Presidential con
flict? on the stump to overwhelm the oppo
nents of Democracy." He supported Jack
son in 1824, '28, and '32, gave his voice and
energies for Van Baren in 1836 aud '40, "as
long as the latter followed 'in the footsteps
of his illustrious predecessor,'" and went
for Polk in 1844. His activity and earnest
ness were contagious, and could not but in
fuse into those about him, and into the
public men of the State generally, the spirit
which bad led him to so honorable a prom
inence. In the spring of 1846, the war commen
ced between the United States and Mexico,
and a call was made upon Indiana for vol
unteers - Lane, then a member of tbe State
Senate, immediately resigned, and entered
Captain Walker's company as a private.
He cho.e Walker as his commander, having
a high opinion of his bravery an opinion
which that gallant officers conduct and
death at Bnena Vista completely justified.
When the regiment met at the rendezvous
New Albany Joseph Latm was taken
from the ranks by the unanimous voice ot
tbe men, and placed at the bead as Colonel;
and in a very lew days afterward he re
ceivedunsought and unexpected by him
a commission from President Polk as brigadier-general.
On the 9th of July he wrote
a letter of acceptance, and entered on the
command of the three regiments forming
his brigade. Two weeks alter (24th of July)
he was at the Brazos, with all his men, and
concluded the report announcing his arrival
to General Taylor in these words : "The
brigade I have the honor to command is
generally in good health and fine spirits,
anxious lo engage in active service." On
the 20th of August, Le wrote to Major-General
Butler, claiming active service. His
brigade did not relish being left in the rear
to garrison towns or to guard provisions
and military stores, while the regular army,
and the volunteers ordered on to Camargo,
would have the honor ot having been ac
tivly engaged.
Lane had ac idea that the Indiana men
were raised to do some fighting, and be
was impatient of delay. The second day
after his letter to Butler, he wrote again to
General Taylor, complaining of tbe advance
of troops out of their order of precedence.
Without being disrespectful, he demanded
for his command a bhare in the dangers
and honors of tbe active service. Despite
his anxiety to go on, he had to remain sev
eral momhsyin a most irksome mood,on the
swampy banks of the Rio Grande, where
his troops, suffering under the sweltering
sun, were decimated by the pestilential
diseases of the c I. mate. -
At length he was ordered to Saltillo, and
made civil and military commandant of that
post by Major-General Butler. After the
battle of Monterey, Lane was ordered to
join General Taylor.
The famous bat'le of Buena Vista was
fought on the 22d and 23d of February,
1847. General Lane was third in command,
and served on the left wing. From the
beginning to the end he was in the hottest
of the fighc On the morning of the 23d;
Land bad the honor of opening the contin
uation of the battle, on the plain, where he
was attacked by a force of from four to five
thousand, infantry, artillery, and lancers,
under Gen. Ampudia. At this crisis, Lane's
force was reduced to four hundred men ;
and wiih this phalanx he received the Mex
ican onset.
As Lane commenced the fight on the
23d, so was he in "at the death " The Ill
inois and Kentucky regiments, suffering
sorely, were falling back under a terrible
charge by the collected iiifaolry of Santa
Anna, when Lane, though wounded, came
up with the ludiana men, and with tbe
Mississippi men, onder Colonel Jefferson
Davis, opened a destructive fire upon the
Mexicans, checked their advance, and en
abled lhe retreating regiments to form aud
return to the contest. Failing to pierce the
American centre, Santa - Anna retired irora
the field. " "v , ...
In this, battle, Where all were heroes, it is
the more honorable lo find Lace, with four
or five others, particularly noticed. Here
is a picture cthim : "When the grape and
musket-shol flew as thick as hail over and
through the .lines of our volunteers,; who
begaa to waver before tbe fiery storm, their
brave ganeral could be seea fifty yards in
advance of. the. lioe, waving his sword with
an arm already shattered by a musket-ball,
streaming with blood,rand mounted on a
nob!tJ chatger, which was gradually sinking
under the loss- of blood from five distinct
.,-, ' t. r ' ": . t t . "
Major-General Wool, writing to Lane, the event. A band serenaded the Presi
May 23d, regrets that he is about to lose dent, Vice President, Mr. Stephens, of
his valuable services, and testifies to his . Georgia, General Lane and others. In re
readiness to do honor to his command, hi j sponse to a call,- Governor Stevens intro
country, and himself. Again, July 7th, , duced General Lane new Senator elect
wool wntes, -i navt, seen yon in an su- ,
nations at the head of your brigade, in j
the drill, and in the great Datlie oi tne zzu
and 23d of February ; and, in the course of
my experience, I have seen few, very few,
who behaved with more zeal, ability, and
gallantry, in the hour of danger." And
General Taylor, in his report, says, "Briga
dier General Lane (slightly wounded), was
active and zealous throughout the day, and
displayed great coolness and gallantry be
fore the enemy."
Remaining encamped near the battle-field
until June, he was ordered, with his brigade,
to New Orleans, where the latter was dis
banded, its term of service having expired.
On his return home, public festivals at New
Albany and Evansville greeted him, while
his appearance everywhere commanded
and elicited the most enthusiastic admira
tion. An order to join Taylor's line, how
ever, allowed him but a short season ol re
pose in the bosom of his family.
. Having been transferred to General Scott's
line of operations, he reached Vera Cruz,
with his command, on the 16th of Septem
ber, 1847. On the 20th, he set out for the
city of Mexico, at the head of two thousand
five hundred men. At Jalapa this force was
increased by Major Lally's column of one
thousand men, aud at Perote by a company
of mounted riflemen, two of volunteer in
fantry, and two pieces of artillery.
Leaving his train at San Antonio Taaroa
ris with a suitable defence, Lane marched
against Huarnantla with over two thousand
men. On the morning ot the 9th of Octo
ber, the people were startled by the ap
proach of the soldiers. White flags were
immediately displayed ; but no sooner had
the advanced guard, under Captain Walker,
entered the town, than volley after volley
assailed it. A deadly combat ensued
Walker gallantly charged on a body of five
hundred lancers and two pieces of artillery
on the plaza. General Lane, advancing at
the head of his column, encountered the
heavy reinforcement of Santa Anna, who
had arrived with his full force. Soon the
roar of battle resounded from street to street.
For a short time the Mexicans confronted
j their assailants wi h the energy of despair;
i but the terrible decision of the Americans
I prevailed, and tt.eir flag soon waved over
the treacherous town. A large quantity of
ammunition was captured, and some pris
oners one of whom was Major Iturbide,
ton of the former emperor of Mexico. This
was the last field on which Santa Anna ap
peared in arms against the United Slates.
For this victory Lane was brevetted major
general. . .
Having rejoined his train, Genera! Lane
arrived at Puebla oa the 12lh of October.
Lane's campaign, from the departure
from Vera Cruz up to this point, was a
series of brilliant movements and victories.
A surgeon attached to his command wrote
home, about this period, that no writers
only the soldiers could tell with what in
genuity and bravery Lane conducted his
handtul ot men. l never ' be adds "Oe
fore could understand how cowards were
transformed into brave men as by miracle "
The battle of Tehualtaplan was the last
lougnt in Mexico, teacewassoon deciar -
ed; but Gen. Lane who, not inappropn-
ately, says Jenkins, was styled by his broth
er officers and soldiers "the Marion of the
army" remained some months directing
the movements consequent upon tbe return
ot our troops. On evacuating the conquer
ered land, Lane remarked to a friend. "I
left my plough to take the sword wilh a
thrill of pleasure ; for my country called ,
me. I now go home to resume the plough '
with as sincere joy."
About the 1st of August, 1S48, General j
Lane reached Indiana. His fellow-citizens i
were rejoiced to see him ; but he had not '
lime to re-pond to the favors extended to '
him, for on I8th he without any solicit
iion ou his part were appointed Governor
of Oregon. Ou the 28th his commission
reached him, and on the next day he set
out for his post.
Oa the 2d of March, 1849, about six
months after his departure from home, he
arrived safely in Oregon City. This jour
ney cost the Government nothing General
Lane not making any charge for his expen
ses, besides which, be aided largely in sub
sisting the troops the greater part of the
time with the product of his riflle, as he!
was both the pilot and the hunter of the
party.
The Indians of Oregon of whom there
were between 50 and 60 tribes kept tbe
whites in a constant state ol jeopardy. The
progress and settlement of the territory
were greatly impeded by their depredations.
In 185, a formidable outbreak took place
on Rogue River, in the southern part of
Oregon. Governor Lane took the field in
person, collected a force of settler., miners,
a few officers and men of the regular army,
attacked the Indians at Taole Rock, and,
after a desperate conflict, in which he was
severely wounded, drove them from their
position. Following this success up with
his accuitomed vigor, he so severely chas
tised them that they, were glad, to accept
any terras of peace.
As Delegate from Oregon, General Lane
was unremitting in 'his" advocacy of tbe in
terests of the Territory, and untiring in his
efforts for her admission into the Union. N
. ! Tbe evening of the day Oregon was ad
milted to the sisterhood of Slates, the feJer-
irora me state ot uregon iu . FF. j
He made a brief speech, in which be Ba"l j
mat a bulwark- naa oeen raiseu uui uj uu
the shores ol tne racinc againbi iureau ,
vaders, and a iresn assurance give.. U m
.u
perpetuity of the Uuion
While Governor Lane was in Oregon, he
was named for the Presidency byjhe Con
vention assembled at Indianapolis to revise
the State Constitution of Indiana. The
Democratic Slate Convention, which met
f eoroary Z4tn isoz, lormauy present ....
claims for the Chief Magistracy, pledging ,
.. r it .iu:.
the vote of the Slate to him. On his arri
val in Indiana from Oregon, he had a pub
lic recption, at which, in the course of an
address of welcome, Governor Wright thus
briefly viewed the career of the guest of
the day :
'He has been the artificer of his own
fortunes; and, in his progress from the far- j
mer on the banks of the Ohio and the com
mandment of a flat boat, to posts of honora
ble distinction to a seat in the House of
Representatives and in the Senate of Indi
ana to the command of a brigade upon
the fields ot Buena Vista, Huarnantla, and
Atlixco to the Governorship of Oregon,and
thence to a 6eat in Congress he has dis
played the same high characteristics, per
severance, and energy. Hie annals of our
country present no parallel for these facts.
He entered the army a volunteer in the
ranks, looking forward only to the career of
a common soldier. He left a major gener-
al, closing his ardent and brilliant services
in that memonable caropagn Dyngnung its
last battle and capturing its last enemy."
We must acknowledge our indebtedness
to the book entitled "Our Living Represen
tative Men," by John Savage, Esq., for
several extracts embodied in these sketches.
A Fanther Story.
The last Record rlhe Times gives the fol-
lowing story of the presence ot one ottnese Up0n them by some one in the watch; ques
animals in our vicinity : ! Zoning my men they all denied it so earn-
About three weeks ago two little boys
aged eight and six years, sons of Jesse S.
Dodson, who lives in Fairmonnt township,
in this county, some three cr four miles
from the Long Pond and on its outlet, went
to a spring about eighty rods from the house
lor water. When they came within a rod
or two of the spring a panther ftood by it.
They at fir.-t supposed it to be a deer, and
thinking ii strange that it did not run, went
on to the spring, the oldest passing within one ia -rjy watch. 1 went lorward again,
five or six feet of the animal, which he by and found that the n.ost superstitious of the
this time discovered was not a deer. It men believed that there was a ghost on
made a spring passing close by him, he board.
said, "he thought it was going to jump right The next night 1 kept a sharp lookout for
on him." He then dipped up his water 1 Ward ; not one of my men went nigh the
and they started for:he house The panther j scuttie, but a little past four bells, however,
followed them alternately before and be- j e starboard watch made their appearance
hind them, but always within a short dis- ; on deck. I was completely taken aback,
tance, the dog (a middle sized one) keeping
ping
tain-
between him aod the boys and main
ing a threatening posture for about sixty
i rods, when coming within about twenty
todi an(J -n Bi;jht of lhe hoil&e tne whifker-
ed entleman left them to make the remaiir-
Jer oflhe jonroey wilh the j0i, ony for an
( con Qa arr;ving at lhp house the little
j f ,low- told lheil father whatthey had seen.
; uho went on the gronnJ anJ found their
. corroborated bv the track of a full
grown panther. It is said that a large pan-
i ther's track has been seen about the Long
i Pond. Jt has been evera! years since one
of these relics of the wild woods has been
,. , , , , . . .
seen ia that vicinity.
A Dclightfcl Lcgknd. There is a char
ming tradition connected with the site upon
which ihe Temple of Solomon was erected, to rea- on with them, although I must con
It is said to have been occupied in common ie&s that things did begin to look a lit.le
by two brothers, one of whom had a family; mysterious. I could not prevail on them to
the o her had noue. On the spot was sown go below for the remainder of the vaich.
a field of wheat Ou the evening succeed
ing the harvest, the wheat having been
gathered in separate shocks, the elder broth
er said unto his wife. "My younger broth
er is unable to bear the burden and heat of ,
the day ; 1 will arise, take off my shocks, j
ar.d place with his, without his knowledge."
Tbe younger brother, beiog actuated by the
same benevolent motive, said within him
self, "My elder brother has a family, and i
have none ; I will attribute this to their sup
port; I will arise, takeoff my shocks, and
place with his, without his knowledge."
Jude of their mutual astonishment, when
on the following morning, they found their
respective shocks undiminished. This course
of events transpired for several nights,
when each resolved in his own mind to
stand guard and solve the mys'ery. They
did so, when on the following night, they
met each other half way between their re
spective shock, with their arms full. Upon
ground hallowed wilh such associations as
this was the Temple of Solomon erected
so spacious and magnificent the wonder
and admiration of the world. Alas ! in
these days, how many . would sooner steal
their brothers whole shock, than add to it a
single eheaf !
"GiNTLiMts of the Jury," said a West
ern lawyer, ''I don't mean to insinuate that
this man is a covetous person, but I'll bet
five to one, that if you Bhould bait a steel
trap with a new three cent piece, place it
within three inches of his mouth, you would
catch his soul. I would not the Court and
gentlemen of the jury I would not trust
A GHOST ON SHIPBOARD.
BT CDGAB S. TARN'iWOHTH.
Several years ago, I occupied the station
of chief mate on board the old ship Flavin.
w wefe homeward bound from Canton
The n ,2h, after we cleared the Straits of Sun-
. , . . . , t untU
, aa a hMn.;,1 aiarli-rht niht.
""
and the wat w-ih ,he e t;on of my.
eelf and the man at the wheel, were for
ward on the top gallant forecastle, listening
to the yarns of an old graj-headed 6on of
Neptune. I was lazily pacing the qoarter
deck, when, on looking forward, I saw the
whole of the starboard watch come tumb-
np mU Q, ,he forcaslle iM haste.
" . , , bevond mv
comprehension, for it was but little past
two bells, anJ the ship wan heading her
course with all sails set. 1 went forward to
ascertain the cause of their coming on deck
before eight belli ; pausing-a moment at
the gangway I heard the lollowing remarks:
"Fine doin's this, to call all hands such a
pleasai(t nihl as thi- ;
"I wonder what skipper's thinking of,"
says another.
"He means to work us up a little for be
in' so long bendin' at that new mainsail this
morning," said a third.
"What does all tht3 mean, boys ?" said 1,
stepping lorward ; "what are you on deck
beiore eight bells for ?"
They all locked at me in utter astonish
ment. "1 ax pardon sir," said one, "but wasn't
we called V
"Not a bit of it," said I ; "you must have
been dreaminz. for it ha. only struck two
be3 (Jo beiow anJ lnrQ iBj and raind how
you dream."
"It all hands warn't called, then my name
aim Bob Wilkins," said another of the rren.
"Shiver my timbers, if we wasn't," spoke
a third, stepping forward, "for I was as
wide awake as 1 am at this blessed minute,
and I'm beggared if somebody didn't come
to tbe scuttle and sing out 'All hand ahoy."
I now suspected it was a trick played
etly, that I iramediaiely came to the ccii-
elusion that some of the off watch had in
dreaming, imagined he heard the watch
called, and arousing up on the instant had
awakeued the rest. I sent the oil wxtch
Deiow again, and went aft.
, Judge of my surprise, when, at seven
bells, the starboard watch aain came on
deck. I was provoked, lor i was now fully j
confident they had been called by by some ;
for I had been looking forward continually,
from (he moment I came on deck, and was
certain not one of my men had been near
: the scuttle. I weit forward, and found the
men nearly lriluened out of their senses.
They all declared there was no longer any
doult lhal there was a ghost aboard, and
one of them, who happened to be awake
when they were caJled, said the voice
didn't sound like any one of the crew, "but
t-;,,,! m,Mnhlv lik.
. ,ahed lhe idea of a host caii;02
hj , b ha raao ghook fais heaci at)j
, . .,,,! ha un,. - ... v,n.,a ;n
' ....... j b ...
his day to doubt that there was one on
board the Flavio now. This was conclusive
evidence, lor the man who had spoken had
been in nearlj every art of the world, and
was a great favorite with the crew. I tried
They all stayed upon deck and tcld ghost
stories till the least flapping of a sail or
creaking of a block would cause them to
start as if they exepected to see a ghost im
mediately. In the morning I made the affair known
j to the captain. He promised to solve the
mystery on the following night, provided
the watch came on deck before eight bells
again. Not much was talked of during the
day by the men, but the ghost that called
the starboard watch the night before. Tbe
next niht, soon after my watch came on
deck, the captain came up, and going to
leeward into the taade.of the bulwarks.
crept forward and went down ir.to the fore
castle without being seen by any of the
watch or. deck.
His -Ian was to station himself in the
forecastle o that no one could come mgh
the scnitle wiihou. being seen by him, for
he thought, as 1 had doue until convinced
to the contrary, that it was one of my men
who had cursed the disturbance. I station
ed myse.f in the starboard gangway, where
I could command a view of everything for
ward without being seen, and awaited pa
tiently Ihe result of the captain's investiga
tion. 1 had been waiting nearly an hour,
when the captain made a furious rush up
on deck, exclaiming, as his head made its
appearance above the scuttle :
"I've got you now, you salt water ras
cal .! -; I'll teach you to "
Here he stopped as suddenly as if he had
been struck by lightning, for Dot a soul was
near the scut'le excepting the captain Tim
I Kenfield. The men were all forward, loung
, , ,
ii
the forecastle door. On my informing him
that not a soul had been near there, he slop
ped :ne short.
"I know better," said he, "some one
came to the frcuttle of tbe forecastle, and
called the watch, or began to, at least, but
I slopped him by springing upon deck.
The rascal was too quick for me this time,
but he won't escape again."
The captain, thinking it not at all likely
that the attempt lo call the watch before
eight bells would be again made that night,
went aft and ' turned in," although he an
nounced to me his determination of watch
ing again on the following night. He also
declared his intention ot immediately ad-
d:ng half an ounce of cold lead to the ra- j
tions of the first raari whom he should de- ,
tect in alarming the watch before e'gtt
be8 I
1 resolved to solve tne mysiery :nai very f
night, however, if possible, which 1 did in
the lollowing way. As soon as the captain
had gone below, I weut forward and de
scended into the forecastle. I satisfied my
self that the off watch were all fast asleep,
and then stationed myself as far up on the
ladder as I could without having ray head
seen from deck, and there 1 awaited the
coming of the ghost. I did not have td wait
long, however, before a voice directly over
my head cried out, "Starboard watch ahoy!
eight bells, bullies ! arouse up there !"
The voice sounded bo strangely, that I
was not a little startled, and if, at any one
period of my life more than another, 1 have
become nixh believing in the existence of
ghosts, I firmly believeit was that moment;
but I sparrg immediately on deck. As I
did so, 1 heard a sort of whizzing noise, and
the next instant 1 caught a glimpse of some
thing crowdingltself between the slals of a
hencocp, that was lashed by the mainmast
I went immediately to the cabin and pro
cured a lantern, and upon searching the
hen coop, I found not a ghost, but a large
parrot sitting quietly on the perch with the
hens. The mystery is now fully explained
While we w ere stopping at the "Straits,"
the ship Vancouver put in there for the pur
pose of trading with th3 natives. Upon ex
amining the parrot, I at once found him to
be a deserter from that t-bip. I had seen
him on board of her the morning before we
sailed, and one of the Vancouver's men had
given me a full account of his wonderful
powers as an orator. He bad been taught
1 to call the watch, and I suppose he consid
ered it to be his duty to do so now that he
was in a new ship, although he did not
seem to be paritcular as to the time. As
soon as he had alarmed the watch, he would
immediately secrete himselt in the coop
with the hens. It was sometime after this
before he ventured to make his appearance
in the day time, and never would allow
himself to be caught, although he was very
tame on board the Vancouver.
A Scene In Taris Life.
A young blade, meeting a handsome in-
j triijuannte at the opera, who seemd to be a
; lady of quality, in default, of the appear
! ance of her carriage, oflered to see her
down in his own. Siie consented, and her
valet de pied mounted the box. The ac
quaintance was mutually pleasing, and re
sulted in an appoiatment to meet the next
noon. The young man, surprised that the
valet did not follow his lady, when she en
tered her home, learned that he resided a
long distance off. In the goodness of his
heart, he oflered to set him down also at
- l his home. Before separating, the valet ap
i nroarhd the window of the carriage and
r -- O
made a li'tle Frency speech as follow : He
informed our friend exactly what would
occur if he went to the house at two o'clock
At three precisely, the door bell will ring.
Madam will be thrown into a fright, you
will ask why, 6he will say, "nothing.only.j
a constable is come to levy on the furniture."
Lady will faint, and you will pay the bill.
Having a carriage of your own you will pay
l,l74fs. If you had a hired carriage you
would pay 528 fs. For gentleman on foot
the sum is only 2 1 1 fs.
If you pay, as it is possible you will, and
as all your predecessors have done, you
will place the money in my hands, for it is
I that am the constable, thanks to a red wig,
a black coat aud blue spectacles. You can
scarcely imagine, eir, how much a red wig,
a black coat and blu glasses gives one the
air of a constable. I see by your expres
sion that you do not believe what I have
told you. So you had better come to-morrow
at two o'clock, and if the programme is
not executed, point lor point as I have de
tailed it to you, you may break your cane
over ray back. I wish you a good evening,
sir. The young man kept the appointment
aud found everything according to the pro
gramme, except that instead of I,174fe, he
gave a Nap, to the constable and slipped
out ol the door with a hearty laugh.
A remabxablk inundation ocourred in
Scotland in the year 177, which ever since
that period has been known as the "flood."
A little town called Paradise is situated
within the district which suffered from this
disaster. At a subsequent trial, a Scotch
man of sixty years of age, who was a wit
ness, was asked if be knew Mr. 1
"Noa," he replied, "but aw kend his faith
ur." "When was thatV "Beiore the flood."
"Now, ray man,' inquired the -learned
counsel (who knew nothing of the flood of
1771, and thought to be "down" upon the
witness,) "where did you live, then V "In
Paradise, to be sure !" A roar of laughter
Child Charmed by a Snake;
We liave heard the particulars of a won
derful case of snake fascination from an au
thentic source, which we will briefly relate,
however much they may shock the sensi
bilities of the delicate portion of our readers.
There is residing on Monroe street, near
the eastern line of the city, a worthy family
by the name of Davis, tbe head of the fami
ly being employed in a nursery. Mr. and
Mrs. Davis have a daughter tn 6 years of
age, who has become attached to a snake,
which came in the yard from an adjoining
field a few days since, and has become so
much unier the influence of the reptile that
it appears id think of but little else. The
,iake anJ lho chijd fir8t met no dobt,
whi!e the ,atter wgs play in the yard
r4ear the house, but just how long since lh
parents do not know. One day Mrs. Davis
. . uk - :h f h-,d
and the little girl was fondling it as she
would a kitten. The mother was naturally
much alarmed by the apparent peril in
which t-he saw her child, and seized a stick
to destroy the reptile. The snake retreated,
showed its tongue, and hitsed at the mother.
The child cried, and begged so hard of its
parent to desist, that she allowed the snake
to retreat to its hiding place.
It soon became apparent that the little
girl thought of little else but her compan
ion, the snake, and would return to the yard
ic search of it as often as she was allowed
to do so. Under the fascination ot this rep
tile, the child a very pretty little girl hat
begun to decline, and now weighs but eigh
teen pounds. Respectable physicians were
consulted, it is said, and advised that no
violence be use toward the snake, as it
might prove fatal to the child. How many
meetings the child and the snake have had
we are not positively informed, but we in
fer that they have been frequent- When
they meet they rush to each other with all
tbe apparent emotions of friendship aud at
tachment that can exist between two living
beings. O.ily yesterday Mrs. Davis came
lo the city with the little girl, and when
6he returnd the party left in charge of the
Louse informed her that the snake had been.
more bold than U5ual, and had actually
been upon the steps leading to the door,
awiting the appearance of the child.
As to the size and variety of this reptile
we are not advised. We suppose however
it is one of the common brown wood snakes
which are regarded as harmless and which
seldom attain a length of more than three
feet.
This affair has attracted tbe attention of
the neighbors of Mr. Davis and many have
urged that the child be allowed to play
wiih the snake for their amusement; but
this has been denied we understand. The
parents feel much alarmed and desire to
remove their little girl from the fascinating
influence of the snake without prejudice to
her health and existence. They have been,
told that it is dangerous to take any sudden
step in the matter and have not yet done
an j thing to avert the consequences they
fear.
Our informants are men who are reliable
and who have conversed with the family
and have seen the child referred to. They
represent the parents to be worthy people
and the child to be a pretty one, bright and
intelligent but evidently in declining health.
Rochester Union.
Simplicity A little unbreeched fellow,
the idol of bis mother, and plague of his
father, went to the post office and inquired
if there was a letter for his "Dranpa V
"For whom 1'' inquired the Postmaster.
"Fur dranpa," answered the little fellow.
" tVe'l, what is your grandpa's name V
"Why uranmama calls him Josh"
"Well, what does your grandfather call her!
"He say, "Oh thunder, J3ets, do keep
y0Ur clack still for once."
The Postmaster batfled by the urchin
simplicity dismissed him, wiih the request
that he should re' urn home aad ak his
"Dranmama her name.
"Sat, madam fair, why dost thou weep ?
Some secret sorrow, hidden deep within
j thy heatt, is bringing into thine eyes those
pearly tears, s"eet memory of by-gona
years, tlus lou&tain, like up springing of
unrequited love, a dream walks from some
hidden source, the stream that down thy
cheek is stealing V
"Nay, 'tis not love "
"What then, oh, say !"
"Well, then, we dine on goose tcilay ;
the onions I have been peeling."
Tut most amusing man in tbe world is
a Frenchman in a passion. "By gar, you
call my vife a woman two tree several
times once more, and 1 will call you to the
vatch-house ; aud blow out your brains like
a candle.
Timothy says the first time he went a
courting, he felt as if pink angel had hand
ed him down a rainbow with a piece of
chain lighting, smack into a pile of feathers.
-
Turks paliceznan and two surgeons ram
a mile, on tbe first of April, lo see the body
of a man who was reported to have Uowut
out his brains with a "trombone "
Thcrk's a man at Caraberweit so fat that
thay grease the oncibus-wheels with bit
shadow.
"Mart," aked Charles, "What animal
droped Irora the clouds V "The rain,
dear !" was the whispered reply.