f
r
3
i r
W. II. JACOBY, Proprietor.
Truth and Right God and oar Country
Two Dollars per Annan.
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY; PA., WEDNESDAY AUGUST 15, 1860.
NUMBER 32.
VOLUME 12.
o
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7
STAR OF THE NORTH
rCBLISBED 1TEBT WKDSESMT BT
ttX II. JACOBY,
CHite on Main St., 3rd Square fcelow Market,
TERMS : Two Dollars per annum IT paid
Vithiu nix months from the time of subscri
bing : two dollars and fifty cents it not paid
Within the year. No subscription taken for
a less period than six months; no discon
tinuances permitted until all arrearages are
paid, unlets at the option or the editor.
The terms of advertising will be as follow :
t)rie square, twelve lines? three times, $1 00
Every subsequent insertion, ...... 25
One square, three months, 3 00
tJneyear, 8 00
WOXDEft WAIT'S TEE BEAS03 ?
BT J. S. BUKFHART.
There's a little lovely valley,
A romantic "Sprucy Dell,"
Where my spirit otten wanders
What's the cause I cannot tell !
There I long to sit and listen,
Tot.he cheerful morning lay.
Of a joyous little feathered tribe,
"A singing all the day.
There are gentle summer sunbeams,
Where the fragment flowers grow.
And they set my heart a throbbing
Waal's the cause i do not know i
Over yonder in the valley
Down along the "Sprucy Dell,''.
Lives a fair and gentle Maiden
Wonder whether she could tell I
Wonder whether she is thinking, .
Of these singing little birds
Whether sweeter strains of music,
Could uot d ell iu little words.
Yea, I wonder whether Cupid,
With his funny little dart.
Kver writes his sweetest music, -On
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,
Thai taught me to believe.
But I wonder what's the reacon,
Why 1 love the "Sprucy Dell," "
Why I love the "mossy valley"
Could the gentle Maiden tell 1
) 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 son 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 settled in Henderson county. He had
the benefit of having sprung 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 shilted ior 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 Louse, married, in
1820, a young girl of French and Irish ex
traction, and settled on the banks of the
Ohio, in 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 siuce a United States
Senator from 1837 to 1843, de.cribes, in a
work recently published, the appearance
of Lane on the occasion. "The roll-calling
progressed as I 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 cppearance
eighteen or twenty years of age. " I marked
his step as he cam up to my side, and
have often noticed his air since: it was
General Joseph Lane, of 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 has a bar, which never fails at low
water to deain a s;nall fleet ot boats. 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
io receive remuneration, though hundreds
have partaken of his store. Any boatman
on the river, says a reliable informant, felt
himself at liberty to take any of his boats
for temporary use without asking. Such
was Joseph Lane on his homestead. ' Ac
quaintance with river life made him a good
pilot of the Ohio aud Mississippi rivers,
which gained bim 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 popolarity as a man, both in
his private and , public capacity...' He was
- --frequently re-elected - by the people, and
"continued to serve thera at short intervals,
' in either branch "ot the legislature, for a
.period of twenty-Jour years. ,.
. JMr. Lane was a fearless legislator, always
' acting from a conscientious belief in truth
.. "of his views, arid following them op with
spirit and ondeviating vigilance." Those
who are beet acqcainted - with this portion
of Lis career, deU,hl to dwell upon the zeal
and ;tanacity with ' which1 he' upheld the
trusts ccnSJed to him, and denounced - the
srr-s which threatened to thwart his des
igns for II? b, however, a man of
1j riibsi" than fwor5 though he does
r:t lict (ha power to expfSS3 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 Suite
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 it, then, to
a State of which he was a representative 1
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,
he has become thoroughly acquainted with
the history and politics of the country. Mr.
Yulea observes, "He his written with his
plough and sword, and spoken by his deeds;
and though unused to the ornament of
rhetoric and literature, he is, nevertheless,
powerful kin 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 Buren in 1836 and '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 rpon Indiana for vol
unteers . Lane, then a member of the State
Senate, immediately resigned, and entered
Captain Walker's company as a private.
He chose Walker as bis commander, having
a high opinion of his bravery an opinion
which that gallant officer's conduct and
death at Snena Vista completely justified.
When the regiment met at the rendezvous
New Albany Joseph Laue was taken
from the ranks by the unanimous voice ot
the men, and placed at the bead as Colonel;
and in a very lew days afterward he re
ceived unsought 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 (24ih of July)
he was at the Brazos, with all his men, and
concluded the report announcing his arrival
to General Taylor io these words: "The
brigade I have the honor to command it.
generally in good health and fine spirits,
anxious to engage in active service." On
the 20th of August, he 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 the advance
of troops out of their order of precedence.
Without being disrespectful, he demanded
for his command a share in the dangers
and honors of the active service. Despite
his anxiety to go on, he had to remain sev
eral monthsn 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 ol the climate. -
At length he was ordered to Saltitlo, and
made civil and military commandant ol that
post by Major-General Bailer. After the
battle of Monterey, Lane was ordered to
join General Taylor.
The lamocs bal'le of Baena Vista was
fought on the 2 2d 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 fighu 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 with 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 lalling back under a terrible
I charge by the collected infantry of Santa
Anna, when Lane, though wounded, came
up with the Indiana men, and with the
Mississippi men, under Colonel Jefferson
Davis, opened a destructive fire upon the
Mexicans, checked their advance, and en
abied the retreating regiments to form aud
return to the contest. -Failing to pierce the
American ceutre, Santa Anna retired irom
the field. V "
In this battle, where all were heroes, it is
the more honorable to find Lane, with four
or five others, particularly noticed. Here
is a picture of' bim i "When the grape and
ruusket-fchoi fie w as thick as hail over and
through thej lines of our volunteers,, who
began to waver before the fiery storm, their
brave general could be seen fifty yards in
advance of the line, waving his sword with
an arm already shattered by a musket-bail,
streaming .with blood and mounted on a
nob's charger, which was gradually1 sinking
under the loss of blood from five distinct
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, his sponse to a call,- Governor Stevens intro
country, and himself. Again, July 7th, , duced General Lane new Senator elect
Wool writes, "I have seen you in all sit- , from the State of Oregon to the people.
nations at the head of your brigade, in I He made a brief speech, in which he said
the drill, and in the great battle of the 22d
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 acd 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, and at Perole by a company
of mounted riflemen, two of volunteer in
fantry, and two pieces of artillery.
Leaving his train at San Antonio Taa ma
ris with a suitable defence, Lane marched
against Huamantla 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., tinder 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
their assailants wi'h the energy of despair;
but the terrible decision of the Americans
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,
son of the former emperor of Mexico. This
was the last field on which Santa Anna ap
peared in arms against the United States.
For this victory Lane was bre vetted major
general. Having rejoined his train, General Lane
arrived at Puebla on the 12th 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
umj -..- v. r rojs whea corn,ng w,lnm about twenty : the scuttle. I went forward, and found the
genui.y and bravery Lane conducted his ; fods &nd in of lhe hoiJS6j the whifker. men near,y lri:lened out of lheir senses.
handful of men. l never he adds be- eJ gentleman ieft them to make the remain They all declared there was no lon-er any
fore could understand how cowards were der of lhe jonruey with the do2 only for an doult that there was a ghost aboard, and
transformed into brave men as by in. racle. I cscort. On arriving at the house the little oue of them, who happened to be awake
The battle of Tehualtaplan was the last rolKo, .v,f lhor uai ... , , ., .,
n I . . K . r. ! ( i n aaiiLI fall ntilh lr Vi -1 f in.
fought in Mexico. Peace was soon declar-
ed; but Gen. Lane who, not inappropri-
ej JCUB..U3, wao bijicu u u.a uiu.u-
er oincers aim soiuiers "ine juarion 01 ine ,
i j .; ,.i ., - , . .
j B
the movements consequent upon the return
ot our troops. On evacuating the conquer
ered land, Lane remarked to a friend. "I
left my plough to take the sword with a
thrill of p'.easure ; for my country called
roe. I now go home to resume the plough
with as sincere joy."
About the 1st of August, 1S48, General
Lane reached Indiana. His fellow-citizens
were rejoiced to see him ; but he had not
time to re-pond to the favors extended to
him, for on 1 8th he without any solicita
tion ou his part were appointed Governor
of Oregon. On the 28th his commission
reacheJ him, and on the next day he set
out for his post.
On 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 aud 60 tribes kept the
whites in a constant slate ot 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 Table Rock, and,
after a desperate conflict, in which he was
severely wounded, drove them from their
position. Following this success np with
his accustomed vigor, be ao severely chas
tised them ths they, jwere glad, to accept
any terras of peace
As Delegate from Oregon, General Lane
was unremitting in his advocacy of the in
terests of the Territory, and ontiriug in his
efforts for her admission into the Union. "
The evening of the day Oregon was ad
milted lo the sisterhood of States, the feder
that a bulwark had been rained that day on
the shores of the Pacific again forego in-
vaders, and a Iresh assurance given of the
perpetuity of the Union. !
While Governor Lane was in Oregon, he ;
was named for the Presidency brjbe Con- j io of oJ gra,neaded BOn o
vention assembled at Indianapolis to revise N re , wa8 ,azi,y pac:ns lhe qoarter
the State Constitution of Indiana. The Qn forward i 6aw lhe
Democratic State Convention, which met who,e of the Blarboard watcri come tumb
February 24th 1852, formally presented his np ou q lhj forcasUe hl haste.
claims for the Chief Magistracy, pledging , coulJ meaa WR, beyond tny
the vote of the State to him. On his am- ( ' c ehenioilf for U wa8 but little past
val in Indiana from Oregon, he had a Put- I two bells, and the ship was heading her
lie recption, at which, io the course of an ; wUh g 6aj,a j weut forward lo
address of welcome, Governor Wright thus ascertaili the caUse of their co,ning on deck
briefly viewed the career of the guest of before eight bel! ; pausing-a moment at
the day : J tQe gangway heard the following remarks:
"He bas been the artificer of his own , ,tFiie doin,s lhl9) ,Q call all handfi such a
fortnnes ; and, in his progress from the far- j plea8ailt nigllt as this !!'
mer on the banks of the Ohio and the com- j wonder what dipper's thinking of,"
mandment of a flat boat, to posts of honora-; gag anollier
ble distinction to a seat in the House of , uHe meang tQ work ug up a liue for be.
Representatives and in the Senate of Indi- j in, gQ long bendin at lhal ew mainsail this
ana to the command of a brigade upon morain said a third,
the fields ot Buena Vista, Iloamaiitla, and j VVhal doe8 aI1 this TJiean boys said 1,
Atlixco to the Governorship of Oregon.and 1 6tepping lorward ; what are you on deck
thence to a seat in congress ne na uia-
played the same high characteristics, per-
severance, and energy. The aunals of our i
country present no parallel tor tnese lacis. ,
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 meruoriable campagn by fighting 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 Panther Story.
The last Record rr lhe Times gives the fol
lowing story of the presence of one of these
animals in our vicinity ; !
About three weeks ago two little boys
aged eight and six years, sons of Jesse S
Dodson, who lives in Fairmount township,
in this county, some three or four miles
from the Long Pond aud 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 stood by it.
They at fir-t supposed it to be a deer, and
iKlnl-miT It mranirj that it A, nnt rnn. wpit
lilliiau .. owul.0w . ,
. u ii, .:,k;
vii v rjnug, x -o outs 1(1 .11 J WllltU. 1 WHdlU aani,
fitfe or six feet of the animal, which he by and found that the most 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." lie then dipped up his water - ward ; not one of my men went nigh the
and they started for :he house. The panther j SCuttle, but a little past four bells, however,
followed them alternately before and be- j lne starboard watch made their appearance
hind them, but always within a short dis- i on deck. I was completely taken aback,
tance, the dog (a middle sized one) keeping fur i had been looking forward continually,
between him and the boys and maintain- frora tae moment I came on deck, and was iajy 0f quality, in default, of the appear
in? a threatening DOStUre for about SlXtV corlain nnt nm rf m v men f..ul hran near ' f Lor o ..ao li.r
. - . .
who went on the ground and found their
j corroborated by the track of a full
; gTQWfl pamher jt ,s said ,nat a large pan
lka.'a l.inlf nott Koflll fiflafi SlKfMlt fKfl f l"l fT
-
I lliOl a UUVk H " . . V . . mv-.u. ...v w..
on(li jt nas Den Meverai years sulci one
j f u of W(1J w od$ haa been
seen in that vicinity.
A Delightful Legend. There is a char
ming tradition connected with the site upon
which ihe Temple of Solomon was erected.
It is said to have been occupied in common
i by two brothers, one ot whom had a larr.ilj;
' me o-her had noae. On the spot was sown
' a neId of wheat Ou the evening succeed-
i
ing the harvest, the wheat having been stories till the least flapping of a fail or
gathered in separate shocks, the elder broth- creaking of a block would cause them to
er said unto his wife. "My younger broth-, start as if they exepected to see a ghost ira
er is unable to bear the burden and heat of , mediately.
the day ; 1 will arise, take off my shocks, In the morning I made the affiir known
ar.d place with his, without his knowledge." j to the captain. He promised to solve the
The younger brother, being actuated by the : myMery on lhe following night, provided
same benevolent motives, said within him
self, "My elder brother has a family, and 1
have none ; I will attribute this to their sup
port; l will arise, take oft my shocks, and
place with his, without his knowledge."
Judge 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 reoolved 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 shockx, with their arms full. Upon
ground hallowed with 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 !
"Gentlcmeh cf 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 should bait a steel
trt with a new three cent piece, place it
wilhin three inches of his month, you would
catch his soul. I would not the Court and
gentlemen of ibe jury I would not trust
- 1 hirrunjaj,o"ar''"c"'"
A GHOST ON SHIPBOARD.
BT XIiGAR S. FARNSWOBTH.
" Several years ago, I occupied the station
of chief mate on board the old ship Flavin.
We were homeward bound from Canton
The night after we cleared the Straits of Sun-
A j ma u-atol- l.nt thf AcoV frUT eijht Until
, u & beau.jfnl Blarliahl nightf
and thj watch whh lfae exception of my.
self and the man at the wheel, were for-
, aia, (nTxP. nn!
beiore eight bells for ?"
Thev all locked at me in otter astonish
menl
t(j ax pardon 5;r 6aid on iut wasn't
we called 7"
"No: a bit of it," said I ; "you must have
been dreaming, for it has only 6iruck two
bea Go beJow and lnrn in and raiud bow
you dream."
"If 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, stenoins forward, "lor 1 was as
wide awake as I am al this blessed minute,
and I'm i ergared if somebody didn't come
to the scuttle and sing out 'All hand ahoy."
I now suspected it was a trick played
upon them by some one in the watch; ques
tioning my men they all denied it so cam
elly, that I immediately came to the con
clusion that some of the off watch had in
dreaming, imagined he heard the watch
called, and arousing up on the instant
had
awakened the rest. I sent the off watch
beiow agnin, and went aft.
Judge of my surprise, when, at teven
bells, the starboard watch aiain came on
deck. I was provoked, for i was now fully
n t. . u . i, - u v.. .
LUUUUClll IUCV UdU UCCU Vl:u Ul uy colli D
3 , ...
Of
didn't sound like any one of the crew, "but
kllldo unearthly like."
i I laughed at the idea of a "host calling
... .....
. V. .. ..,...,.1 V . . I I I, ....... .1 4
main., liui die mail rniuu. ui.i itcau.auu
declared he had seen too many ghosts in
his day to doubt that there was one on
board the Flavio now. This was concluive
evidence, lor the man who had spoken had
been in nearly every pan of the world, and
was a great favorite with the crew. 1 tried
to rea-on with them, although 1 must con
less that things did begin to look a lit.le
mysterious. I could not prevail on them to
go below for the remainder of the watch.
They all stayed upon deck and K id ghost
ine 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. The
! next night, oon after my watch came ou
deck, the captain came up, and going to
leeward into the thade.of the bulwarks,
crept forward and went down ir.to vhe fore
castle without being seen by any of the
watch on deck.
His kui was to station himself in the
forecastle o that no one ould come inch
the scuttle without being seen by him, for
he thought, as 1 had done until convinced
to lhe contrary, that it was one of my men
who had cursed the disturbance I station
ed myself in the 6tarboard gangway, where
I could con.taund a view of everything for
ward without being seen, and awaited pa
tiently the result of the captain's investiga
tion. I 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 yon to"
Hen he stopped as suddenly as if he had
been struck by lightning, for not a soul was
j near the scut'le excepting the captain Tim
I KenfieU. The men were all forward, loung-
the forecastle door. On my informing him
that not a soul had been near there, he stop
ped aie short.
"I know better," said he, "some one
came to the scuttle of the forecastle, and
called the watch, or began to, at least, but
I stopped 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 io call the watch before
ei"ht 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
ding half an ounce of cold lead to the ra
tions of the first man whom he should de
tect in alarming the watch before eight
bells.
1 resolved to solve the mysiery that very
night, however, if possible, which 1 did in
the following way. As soon as the captain
had gone below, I went 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 my 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 6trangely, that I
was not a little startled, and if, at any one
period of my life more than another, 1 have
become nigh believing in the existence of
ghosts, I firmly believeit was that moment;
but I sparcg immediately on deck. As I
did so, I heard a sort of whizzing noise, and
the next instant 1 caught a glimpse of some
thing crowdingltself between the slats of a
hencoop, that was lashed by the mainmast
I vent 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 were stopping at the "Straits,"
the ship Vancouver put in there for the pur
pose of trading with ths natives. Upon ex
amining the parrot, I at once found him to
be a deserter from that tliip. 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 had been taught
to call the watch, and I suppose be 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 naritcular as to the time. As
! soon as he had alarmed the watch, he would
, . i- . I i- ll .L
immediately secrete himself in the coop
with the hens. It was sometime after this
before he ventured to make his appearance
,in the day lime, 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
triiiuannte at the opera, who seerad to be a
down in his own. She consented, and her
vtilct de pied mounted the box. The ac
quaintance was mutually pleasing, and re
sulted in an appointment to meet the next
noon. The young man, surprised that the
valet did not follow his lady, when the en
tered her home, learned that he resided a
long distance off. In the goodness of his
heart, he offered to set him down also at
... ... j- .
i . . . n . 1 . I . . r f nnn.Tl ItlfT t Ft A T 1 I . . t a w
; ins uuiuo. ucwic tcuoiouiii, no .aici ou-
proached the window of the carriage and
made a li'lle 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 at-k why, 6he will say, "uothing.only.
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 yon
would pay 528 fs. For gentleman on foot
the sum is only 211 fs.
If you pay, as it is possible yon 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 and blue spectacles. You can
scarcely imagine, sir, 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 my buck. I wish you a good evening,
sir. The young man kept the appointment
and found everything according to the pro
gramme except that instead of I,174fs, he
gave a Nop, to the constable and slipped
out ot the door with a hearty laugh.
A remark. ble inutvlalion oconrred in
Scotland in the year 1771, which ever since
that period has been known as the "flood."
A little town railed Paradise is situated
wilhin 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 he knew Mr. t
"Noa," he replied, "but aw keud his faith
nr." "Whan wafc that?" "Belore 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 V A roar of laughter
Child Charmed by a Snake;
We liave heard the particulars of a won
derful case of snake fascinaiic.i from on 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 lamily
by the name of Davis, the head of the fami
ly being employed in a nursery. Mr. and
Mrs. Davis have a daughter 16 years of
age, who has become attached to a suake,
which came in the ycrd from an adjoining
field a lew days since, and bas become so
much unier the influence of the reptile that
it appears to think of but little else. The
snake and the child first met, no doubt,
while the latter was at play in the yard
near the house, but just how long since, the
parents do not know. One day Mrs. Davis
found the snake in the arms of the child,
and the little girl was fondling it as she
would a kitten. The mother was naturally
much alarmed by the apparent peril in
which the saw her child, and seized a stick
to destroy the reptile. The snake retreated,
showed its tongue, and hissed 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, ihe child a very pretty little girl has
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
the apparent emotions of friendship and at
tachment that can exist between two living
beings. Oily yesterday Mrs. Davis came
to 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 bas attracted the attention of
the neighbors of Mr. Davis and many have
urged that the child be allowed to play
with 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 6udden
step in the matter and have not yet done
an j thing to avert the consequences they
feav.
Our informants are men who are reliable
and who have conversed with the family
and have seen the child reierred to. They
represent the parents to be worthy people
and the child lo be a pretty one, bright and
intelligent but evidently in declining health.
Rochester Union.
Simplicity A little unbreeched fellow,
the idol of his mother, and plague of his
father, went to the post office and inquired
if there was a letter for hi "Dranpa V
"For whom inquired the Postmaster.
"For dranpa," answered the little fellow.
"Well, what is your grandpa's name V
"Why dranmama calls him Josh"
" Well,what does your grandfather call her?
"He say, "Oh thunder, diets, do keep
your clack ttill for once."
The Postmaster batfled by the urchin
simplicity dismissed him, with the request
that he should re: urn home and ask hU
"Dranmama her name.
"Sat, madam fair, why dost thou weep ?
Some secret sorrow, hidden deep within
j thy heait, is bringing into thine eyes those
', pearly tears, sveet memory of by-gone
I years, tlus fountain, like up springing of
unrequited love, a dream walks from some
hidden source, the stream that down thy
cheek is stealing ?"
"Nay, 'tis not love "
"What then, oh, say f "
"Well, then, we dine on goose tcilay ;
the onions I have been peeling."
The most amusing man in the world is
a Frenchman in a passion. "By gar, you
call my vife a woman two tree several
limes once more, and 1 will call yon to the
vatch-house ; and blow out your brains like
a candle.
Timothy says the first time ha went a
courting, he felt as if pink angel had hand
ed him down a rainbow with a piece of
chain lighting, 6mack into a pile of feathers.
Turse palicetnan and two surgeons ran
a mile, on the first of April, io see the body
of a man who was reported lo have blown
out his brains with a "trombone."
There's a man at Camberwell sq fat that
they grease the omcibus-wbeels. with his
shadow.
"Miar," aked Charles, "What animal
droped Irom the clouds V "The rain,
daar !" was the whispered reply.
. I