7
I
-i
i
-ft
If
1
i f
i
COME ANI TAKE ME. Dcvivir.n.
VOL. 1.
CLEARFIELD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1854.
NO.; 12.
(i
as .:;iuj..-fuw;u -nivtui
KAFTSHAS'S JOUR.VAL.
Uev. Jones, Publisher.
... P-r. annum, payable in advance.) : SI 00
If paid within the year, -.- . 1 50
After the expiration of the year. 2 00
No paper discontinued until all arrearages are
paU. ' ' '
, A faiJare to notify a discontinuance at the expi
ration of the term fuberihed for, will be consider-c-d
a nw en-jajfement.
FLOWERSA DIRGE.
From a poem called -Time and tho Ages,'' in
the Shekinah.'" for October, by Fanny Green a
poren in all respects remarkable.
Sleep my children ! Soft and fair
'"""iiams the morn and breathes the air, .
Gentle rain and pearly dew,
Shed their freshness over you !
Children of the early morn,
!;; .Ye are gone all gone.
i. One Ly one I gave yon rest,
In our loving mother's breast.
--' ;Where the chirping swallows play,
r" And the tinging waters stray,
J ' ''And the liirlit is soft as dawn
., Ye are gone all gone-.
Ye were lovely as the flowers .
: That awoke within your bower,
,. ' Gentle as the bleating flocka
Thatyelvd among the rocks,
; But my early hopes are shorn
' Yc are gone all gono.
Children of the sunny clime.
Earliest, fairest born of Time !
; I have hushed in doepest sleep.
' Eyes that scarcely learned to weep,
Hearts that might have been forlorn . .
. Ve are gone-? all gone.
liut your virtues could not die,
They are set like stars on high,
Reaming with a purer light
'Mid the mysteries of Night!
Through the portals of the morn,
Yc are gone all gone.
: (Driginnl Jtioml (Enlr.
l J WK1TTEX FOR THE JOCHXAL.J
' ' . THE
. . :Ot I
COT TRIG II T SKCCKEP.
. . . :o:
Continued from last ircefr.
CHAPTER II.
Valens ascended hastily the lofty flight of
marble steps that led to the door of his resi
dence. He had stopped, however, a moment;
and having turned round, he was gazing
through the surrounding darkness, with a
strange and anxious interest, on the redened
skies.
He could easily see that the flames were
upreading, and the number of fires rapidly
multiplying. ,
While thus intent, the door quickly opened,
and Valencia, his wife, stood before him. Her
face was more than usually pale, and her hur
ried and trembling voice indicated alarm and
excitement.
"Oh, my Lord !" said she, I'm so happy
in your , return ; it's late; but sec'st thou
not ? come in."
In a few moments they were seated in a
chaste,, but richly furnished apartment, en-
r-"-d in conversation, with intervals of
D .
thoughtful silence.
;But as this family is to act a principal part
in what follows, a few facts relative, at least,
to their vrisenl circumstances, may .; not be out
of place.
Valensj as already intimated, belonged to
the Roman nobility ; and his family, for scv
cral centuries, had held a high and distin
cuished raik among the Roman people. Va-
Jen himself had been a member ol the Sen
ate, but had relinquished that honor when the
present- Emperor Nero , Dimitian ascended
the throne. Since then he had been living
mcrel y. as a private citizen, In a ; somewhat re
tired part Q.f the' city, a close and shrewd ob
server, however, of passing events. ; ; ,
; la person, he was slightly above the ordi
nary 'height V and to the advantages of birth,
and a faultless form, there was joined all the
dignity and gravity of the Roman Senator.
He was frugal, but not parsimoneous; and to
Iiis inhentcd estate, he had added greatly by
his economy ; and was now regarded as one
of the most oppulent citizens of Rome.
He was also fond of learning, and the society-of
.learned men, and was thoroughly
h Platonic Philosophy, of
which he had been a great admirer. And then
no one was 'better acquainted than himself,
with all the rites and mysteries of Pagan su
perstition, and few had ministered at her
gloomy alters with a more real and unfeigned
devotion. "
, Two years ago., however, he had received a
new light, and came to the knowledge of a
lietter faith. . The light of the gospel, having
sorcad through all the coasts of Judea, had
reached Rome, and already numbered many
devoted and-ardent disciples.; Among the
first to embrace it, in the higher ranks, was
Prytheuv.an old Philosopher ; and then, after
a time $ j Valens,, : .. . . . .
" T-As yet, however", Valens was not fully in
nt.nioted in all that belonged to the new faith,
hogh familiar with its few simple rites, and
ardently attached to such of its great truths as
had been presented to his mind. And if in
his character there was any, thing defective., it
was his fondness of the world, and fears of
the cross.
Valencia, his wife, and eldest daughter, Fi
ducia, had abjured Taganism, and embraced
Christianity, nearly a year before himself; and
had been living models of that piety and meek
ness which adorned the lives of most of the
primitive disciples.. '
But his youngest daughter, Vertitia, and
only sou," Valdinus, had, hitherto resisted all
attempts at their conversion. While the for
mer was gay and thoughtless, the latter was
wild and reckless; and the efforts of their
parents in their behalf, seemed only to hare
increased their hatred of Christianity, and
driven them to greater excesses in the plea
sures of the Roman Metropolis " '
At the base of one of the hills on which
Home was built, there was a broad, regular
street, or avenue, lined on cither side, by am-
pie pleasure grounds, and several costly and
magnificent edifices. Every thing indicated 1
the abodes of luxury and wealth, with freedom
from the annoyances of the more densely pop- I
ulated pnrts of .the city.
On this street, and marked out from the rest
by its massive and imposing front, was the res- j
idence of Valens and his family.
A full description of it, however, is needless.
It must suffice to say, that the grounds around
it were .beautified and adorned by the noblest
efforts of taste and genius. The creations of
fancy were nicely blended with those of nature.
Clusters of vines, with every variety of scent
ed flowers, were in the richest profusion ;
while an abundance of statuary, representing
the heroes and divinities of Rome, interspers
ed, set ofTthe whole with an air of classic ele
gance. It is due, however, to say, that some of
these latter., of late, had not been regarded by
a portion of the family, at least, with the
same interest as formerly. Several that stood
in prominent places, Fiducia had managed to
conceal entirely from view, by training around
them some vines that grew in their vicinity.
And two, that had long graced the opposite
corners of the marbje steps, Valens had lately
removed, and placed in a remote corner of
the grounds. Indeed these types of an an
cient and repudiated worship had well-nigh
disappeared, both from within and without the
family mansion ; and many a passer-by had
wondered at the sacraligeous doings of the i
Valens.
In a large, airy apartment, looking out on
the great, broad street, Valens and his wife
were seated, with their eldest daughter, Fi
ducia. "You scv-m alarmed to-night, Valencia,"
said Valens: what lias disturbed thv wonted
V
eace and quiet ?"
"Dost thou not sec it in the red, glaring
skies?" said she, hastilv rising, and seating
herself by his side.
" 'Tis only the city on fire," said he calmly,
but, at the same time, betraying evident emo
tions of uneasiness.
"And hast thou seen rrythcus, to-night ?"
"I have just seen him," said Valens.
"And what thinkest he of our Emperor ?"
"The good man hath studied deeply the
secrets of the human heart, and thinks our
Emperor hitherto may have feigned his vir
tues, ,and hath only thrown aside the dis.
guise." : .
'But thinkest thou that one exalted to such
dignity could be' guilty of such treachery ?
The same baseness that would actuate, the
slave may also actuate the master," said Va
lens, impatiently.
Durimr this conversation. Fiducia had sat
in silence in an opposite corner of the apart-
ment. She was looking thoughtfully at a
child, about six months old, which lay asleep
at her side while the lone, clossv folds of
hair falling v.rofuselv over her neck and
shoulders, partly concealed her pale face, and
- j --oi- -
prevented her parents
K.n.;n hn
- " " n i
tears that occasionally fell from her large,
round, dark eyes.
Her thoughts were of by -gone days of one
to whom she had been early wedded. A few
months before, however, he had sickened and
died ; but not till he had rejoiced with her
self in the hopes of a better life. In her
child, Fiducia had a reproduction of his
image ; and while her fond heart rejoiced in
the loved treasure, she would sit for hours,
gazing upon its mirrored countenance, in sor
rowing thoughts of him who had been removed
by death a few hours only before its birth.
"The skies are yet red with the - consuming
city," said Valens, returning from the door,
and resuming his seat; "I think, thcy do but
little to arrest the flames."
An interval of some minutes silence follow
ed, Valencia gazing with heart-felt emotion
upon her daughter and child, when they were
suddenly startled by the sound of foot-steps
at the door.
'It's Vertitia and Valdinus returning, 1
suppote," said Valencia ; "an hour ago they
left on some business of pleasure."
"Most strange !" said Valens, rising to his
feet, and pacing the apartment
"Would, they could be persuaded to other
"Most gladly would my hcarkrejoice in it,"
said Valens : "nor can aught of real happi
ness possess my breast, till it is so." :
"But they enter not," said Valens, walking
slowly towards the door, .when it suddenly
opened, and a J'oung officer belonging to one
of the Roman legions stood before him.
Hastily inquiring for Vertitia, and learning
her absence, he stammered an apology, and
left.
"Marcus is frequent in his visits, of late,".
said Valens, as he resumed his scat
Valencia, slightly agitated, cast an inqui. -
ing look at Valens, but made no reply.
IIis rank entitles him to our hospitality,"
said he ; "his courage is worthy, of his Le
gion, and the son of one of Rome's greatest
generals ; but such frequent visits, and unre
strained intimacy, under existing circumstan
ces, may not be advisable. He inquired for
Vertitia, to-night," he added, with some em
phasis. Valencia dropped her eyes on the floor, and
sat as before, in silence. At length, raising
them, and looking at Valens, she said with a
suppressed sigh ;
"If Marcus was only a christian."
"But no young officer in Rome is more faith
ful to. the Emperor, right or wrong ; and none
more hostile to our faith."
"But may we not venture a hope V' said Va-
lencia.
"There is an irresistable power in our faith,"
said Valens, and no heart is proof against it;
but to encourage a family intimacy with one
o strangely attached to the Emperor,, may,
in the end, prove a snare.
The warmest
friendship may be converted into the basest
treachery." -
"Surely," said Valencia, looking at Valens,
with surprise ; "yon would not attribute such
baseness to Marcus so brave and courteous ;
and, with all, so generous and noble-hearted.
Xor can I see aught of peril from his visits,"
she added.
"Our faith is unknown to the Emperor ; and
prudence, at least, dictates that it remain so."
But the reader may as well, at once, be told
the whole truth, though doubtless it has al
ready been, in some measure, anticipated.
To be Continued.
. Old hut Gocd.
Our funny friend, Field, tells the following
goou un ana li s just as gooa as new oi a j
. , ... i . l r - I
Missouri politician, whose fortune it was to put
np for the night, on a certain occasion, with a
hospitable Western family, whose mansion
comprised but one apartment. I
The landlord, it seems, had retired to led,
leaving the old woman, "gals, and "stranger,
to settle any question of delicacy that might
nrisc. .
The candidate yawned, looked at his bed,
went to the door; looked at the daughters;
finally, in downright recklessness, seating him-
self upon the "downy," and pulling off his I
coat. t ell, he pulled off his coat and he
folded his coat and then he whistled and
then he called the old lady's attention to the j
fact that it would never do to sleep in his j
muddy trousers and then he undid his vest
and then he whistled again and then, sud-
denly, an idea of her lodger's possible cmbar-
rassment seemed to flash upon the old woman,
and she cried
"Gals, jest turn your backs round till the
stranger gits into bed."
The backs were turned, and the stranger did
get into bed in "less than no time," when the
hostess again spoke.
"Reckon, stranger, as you aint used to us,
yon'd better kiver up till the gals undress,
hadn't you?"
By this time our friend's sleepy fit was over,
ana louSn nc a,u "Klver UI" as r
I 1 . 1 1 - t .1 Z 9l
somehow or otner, tne om counterpane vas
1 . .
equally kind in hiding his washes, ana lavor-
ing his sly glances. The nymphs were soon
stowed away, for there were neither bustles to
unhitch, nor corsets to unlace, when their
I . .. . , ,
mamma, evidently anxious not to smotner ner
truest considerately relieved mm.
"You can unkiver now, stranger ; I'm mar
ricd folks, and you aint afeared o' me, I reck
on!
Th Kf ranvrr hnnnonod to 1m "married folks"
himself ; he unkivercd, and turned his back
with true connubial indifference.
Scrap of History.
During the revolutionary war Gen.' Lafay
ette being in Baltimore, was invited to a ball
He went, as requested, but instead of joining
tne amusement, as mignt oe expect m
young Frenchman of 22, he addressed the
ladlCS tllUS: .
"Ladies, you arc very hadsome; you dance
very prettily; your ball is very nne uw my
soleiers have no shirts."
jl no appeal was irresistioie. iueu.ui.v-3.u,
the ladies went home and went to work, and
the next day a large number of shirts were
prepared by the fairest hands of Baltimore,
jc-.u rt.:. mintrr
ma v. a m 1 - AAAnA1.
ux ... 6-,.u
' ' - -
C7--'Haus, do yer sec dc red cow vat has
rW.ln,!. riU.J"
..Y.
, a
"Veil, now yer dake dcr fowling piece, and
ven vou sees her nrake her nose under de fence
j load der parrels mit powder and tall, and
J "Yaw, Ich vill."
BILL ATKINS;
'OR, T II E R AFTS M A X.
There is a life, wild, stirring, and manly,
encompassed by the green banks of the Sus
quehanna, of which little has been "said or
sung;" but no oncj.who has dwelt within the
sound of its waters, can hear the word "Raft
ing," without a thrill that semis the blood
wanner and faster through the veins.
"When the snow lies deep over valley and
village, all winter long is heard the ringiug of
the sturdy woodman's axe ; and the dark green
hemlock, the tufted pine, and cyen the "giant
oak," waver before his good steel, and come
groaning and heavy to the breast of "mother
earth." .. , !?
When the spring time coimcs, and the river,
breaking the ice-chains which bound it, swells
fiercely within its sloping banks, there is heard
the din of unceasing labor. Strong hands soon
bind the trunks of the old'iorest lords," and
in a few hours Ihcy are securely lashed togeth
er, and lay; heaving on the turbulent waters."
It is wild life the raftsman leads, when once
his frail island is launched on the soil-stained
waves; but to his hardy spirit, the very toils
and dangers he encounters form the greatest
charm of the rude voyage. If the raft should 1
swing slowly over some. obstacle, ere the moun- 1
tain echoes have answered the steersman's I
loud "Hands over," half a dozen hardy forms
have plunged in the tide, and as many strong
shoulders have pushed it once more on its
trackless path. When' flic star-lit night is
shining over them, their floating home is
lsled once more, out of the . strong current,
and fastened to the shore. And with, the un
ceasing song of the hurrying "waters in their
ears, outstretched on the rough timbers, they
sleep soundly, until the first streak of dawn
melts into the sky.
The raftsmen are, for the most part, hardy
mountaineers, whose whole lives have been
passed in this calling; and it is almost irupos-
sible to imacine the reckless devotion with
which thev regard it.
The story I am about to relate, and "for the
truth of which I will be a voucher, is a fair
illustration of the enthusiasm which governs
them.
Of all the steersmen on the Susquehanna
the very pride and glory was ouc Bill Atkins,
a broaa-snouldereu, athletic young lellow,
-. , . i - , j , i t l
wnn a ray iroiii ins goou naiureu soui, iwinK-
ling in his clear blue eye, and a tone of it in
his lusty voice. It chanced one day JJilI stray-
ed into a camp-meeting, and whatever might
have been the motive that took him in, he
came out, to the astonishment of his brother
raftsmen, a "new man;" and laithlul to his
energetic nature, not content Mith working
onlv-an oar on the wav to heaven. Bill fairly
petrified his old comrades by becoming a
steersman and turned "preacher.,'
Time wore on; Brother Atkins proved him
self a powerful auxiliary to the body Metho-
distical, and was soon settled over the little
church !v the road side, on the river bank
It was said he wielded the sword of the Spirit
with great power; and if any very strong argu-
ment reared itself in his way, he steered clear
of it with as much skill as if it were a rock,
while he exulted over the bearing down of a
weak one in the self-same tone he used to sing
out "heave yo, heave," in time of old.
Spring was coming on, and the snow had
melted so gradually from the hills, that the
river, as yet, wound its way along as much
like a silver thread as if it were midsummer.
rroduce was spoiling, and the timber was wait-
jng for the freshet. Raftsmen were watching
sky and water anxiously, and Brother Atkins,
with commendable faith, betook himself to
prayer, that the "windows of heaven" might
w openeu, ana enougu ium w na u
V 1. t V.- r. ai . n
1 . . a -x l A I
"raiting iresn. i ernaps n as uusucr i
hiS unique petition, tuat me next vceK iuc
"windows of heaven" were opened, and the
rain came pouring down in torrents
j The river banks were smooth, and sloping
I - . ... .. . ....
near the churcn, ana irom time immemorial it
was here that ratts nad Deen maae. giant
old elm still bears the girdling marks of the
rope which bound them to the shore.
I i ne river Jiau risen iu nuiuus litigm, u
nf ill the rain came pouring down. The rafts-
men worked cheerily and steadily at the huge
timbers, while the preacher was frequently
seen among them, showing how this point
should be secured, and how long that timber
should be, until, as the work drew near com
pletion, Brother Atkins felt all the interest one
naturally feels in the resuit of one's own skill
ith all h;3 dcxtcritv in his new vocation,
he mQ of ol(i haWtg wa8 hurrying poor Bill
I fief, nnnn daiiffprona rocks.
After giving the matter due reflection he
I - - I o
mae a sort of compromise with his minister!-
ai ,int;s. and offered to run the raft, as of old.
1 .' -
to tho "Island," "provided," that there should
n0 swear-,ng among his comrades' during
the tr;p. This was readily agreed : to, and,
with his conscience at ease, Brother Atkins
. v
threw oa Ul8 coat, as u ne WOuia nave iurou
I . t it, - -w-Sf li if o r I TV Ant, npfirtl I V TO
uu lu l'4,suu " . ,
WO HU ":v",t""'
4V. -it,-,- 1 IImnnr Hpw ticrer
timbers rolled together witn a iresn impetus,
I and soon the raft lay completely in the deep
BU 8UU" k" ' . . . r
I wai. ,
Saturday morning came; sun tne ram pour
ed, and still the river rose ; but at .noon the
dark clouds rolled away, over the mountain
tops, and the sun came smiling out, over val
ley and hill. .. , . t ....
The stormy waters were, as yet, at too great
height to be ventured upon, and Atkins gave
it as his opinion, that very early , on Monday
morniug the river would be at the right level.
It commenced falling rapidly, however, before
night ; and it was-said, that the pastor's step
was more than once heard, during the still
night watches, crossing his chamber-floor to
the window; but then his mind might have
been troubled with thoughts of leaving deso
late his little flock.
Sabbath morning broke brightly, upon the
world, and the sound of the church bell was
heard in thevalley Brother Atkins was seen
issuing from his door, and wending his way to
the church. It must be confessed, hisface
wore an anxious Iook as he ncared it; for in
full sight lay the raftj chafing the shore, as if
impatient at the extraordinary delay. A heap
of carpet-bags and valises were thrown togeth
er in the centre, and a knot of athletic fellows
stood near, in earnest conversation.'" It was
not an unprecedented thing, when sky and
water were favorable, to commence the voyage
on the holy Sabbath ; and when Atkins saw
the group about to join him, he well under-
stood their wishes and could only say to them,
with a ghastly smile, "Well, boys, if you go,
it will be without me." There was u general
cry of "Xo, no," to this; but wlnfe cr might
have been the inward struggle, Atkins came
nobly through it; and proceeded to the little
church, and took his scat in tho" pulpit; but,
alas! so near, that he could not keep his eyes
from it, was still the picture of the noble raft,
and the broad, vigorous forms of his old com
rades upon it. He arose and prayed, but there
lurked in the corner of his eye .in irresistible
longing towards the river and it would open.
He read a hymn, but still the temptation was
there. What was to be done ? He ran it all
or in his mind, and, with a desperate effort,
formed his resolution.
The moment the voices of the singers had
ceased, he arose, and commenced, in a start
ling tone, "Boys!" That wouldn't do ; so
coughing a little, and coloring a great deal,
he began again; "Men and brethren, it. has
long been a, settled point with me," hy refer
ence to the corn er of his eye, he saw coats
thrown off, and the steering pole in the hands
of the steersman,) but he continued, "that we
don't improve God's blessintr enough. "
"Amen," was responded. At that moment
the bright gleam of a knife-blade caught his
eye, and an outstretched arm was actually
about to apply it to cut the rope, the very last
iinK wmcn iouna tnem to the lana. . Jt was
too much. Without waiting to explain, and
M ith a mental ejaculation of "Try me, oh
Lord, any way but in a rafting fresh !" he had
given one bound, over pulpit and altar, and
was springing, as for life, over the green slope.
Too late ! too late ! the-raft was gliding into
the swift current five, ten, fifteen feet of deep
water lay between it and the shore. Swing
ing his brawny arms for impetus, with a glori
ous leap he reached the raft; and ere his de
serted congregation had time to turn their
wonder-stricken eyes from each other, a shout
arose from the joyous raftsmen, that scared the
very owls on the pine-tipped mountains.
The Preaching Monkey.
There is a curious animal, a native of South
America, which is called the preaching mon
key. The appearance of this is at once gro
tesque and forbiddimr. It has a dark thick
rf -n h j hanging down from
the chin. This gives it the mock air of a Ca
puchin friar, from which it has acquired the
name of the preaching monkey, lhcj' re
generally found in groups of twenty or thirty,
except in the morning or evening meetings, I
whcn thcy asscmbleti in vast multitudes. ; At
thee time ong pf then wLo appearg by
common consent to be leader or president;
mounts on the highest tree which is near, and
the rest take their places below. Having by
a sign commanded silence, the orator com-
menccs his harangue, consisting of various
modulated howls, sometimes sharp and quick,
then again slow and deep, but always so loud
as to be heard several miles.
The mingled sounds at a distance are said to
resemble the rolling of drums, and rumbling!
an1 crekinff of.cart wheels ungreased. Now
and then the chief gives a signal with his hand,
when the company" begin the most, frightful
chorusimaginable,and with another sign,silence
is restored. The whole scene is described as
most ludicrous, and yet the most hideous, that
the imagination can conceive.
K7Mr. Jones, have you got a match ?"-
"Yes, sir a match for the d 1 ; there she is
mixing up dough.' Jones pointed to his wile,
and then put for the front yard. The last we
1 ... - aj
seen ot mm he was putting down the road,
closely pursued by a red-headed lady and a
cistern pole. '
. - ' ' .u,
Stop Him ! "Miss, can I have exquisite
. - of
I 0
around the axletree ot your understanding a
few minutes this evening V
The lady faint-
ed'
Dp" I say, mister, how came your eyes so
all-fired crooked Vs ' ;
' By eittiog' between two gals,' and trying to
look love at both of- 'em at the same' time."
The Father of out Country.
We find; the following on the. death of
Washington in the New York Courier and En
quirer, which cannot fail to be of.inlcretst to
the reader :
Proceeding still further over a very bad road
we came suddenly in view of the " Potomac ;
and Mount Vernon, with its mansion-house and
smooth green lawn, jvbeforeiis.yJng
sent in our address, we Received permission
from the courteous branch of the family, who
now hold the'estate, to enter, and snrvey the
interiorT wTwere struck with its extreme
simplicity, the lowncss of its walls and ceil
ings, and the bare floors" which were , waxed
not as with us, carpeted, , t -. . :
Passing through the great hall ornamented
with pictures of English hunting scenes we
ascended the oaken staircase, with Its carved
nd antique balustrade. We stood aft he door;
we pressed the liandle the room and the bed
where he died were before us. "Xothlng in
the lofty drama of his existence, surpasses tlic
grandeur of the final scene., The cold which
he had taken from . exposure, in overseeing
some parts of his grounds, and which had re
sisted the earlier domestic remedies that were
applied, advanced, in the course of two short
days into that frightful form of the disease of
the throat, laryugiiis. It became necessary
for him to take to Lis led.
The valued friend, Dr. Craik, was instantly
summoned, and assisted by the licst medical
skill of the surrounding country, exhausted
all the means of his art, but without affording
him relief. He patiently submitted, though
in great distress, to. the various remedies pro
posed, but it become evident from, the deep
gloom settling upon the countenances- of the
medical gentleman, that the case was hope
less, advancing insidiously, the disease had
fastened itself upon him. Looking with calm
ness upon the sobbing group around him, he
said : "Grieve not my. friends ; it iss I an
ticipated from the first, the debt which we all
owci is now about to be paid ; I ;am resigned
to" the ej-eut."
Requesting Mrs. Washington to bring two
wills from his escruUoirc, he directed one to be
burnt, and placed the other in her hands, ak
hisjast testament and Jljcn. jjaxc.sgmcL iial
instructions t Mr. ; Lear, his secretary and
relatives as to the adjustment of his business
affairs. He soon after ln-came greatly dis
tressed ; and as the paroxvsms became more
frequent and violent, Mr. Lear who was at his
side, assisting him to turn, he with kindness
but with great ditliculty articulated "I fear I
give you great trouble sir, but perhaps, it
is a duty, which we all owe to one another I
trust that you may receive the same attention
when you shall require it." .
As the night waned, the fatal symptoms be-
came more imminent nis Dream more laoor
ed, and sullbcating nd his voico soon failed
him. Perceiving his end approaching, he
stretched himself to his full length, folded his
own hands in the necessary attitude upon his
chest placing his finger upon the pulse of his
left wrist, and thus calmly prepared, and watch
ing his own dissolution, awaited the summons
of his Maker. The last faint hope of his
friends had disappeared. Mrs.. Washixcton,
stupified with grief, sat at? the foot of the bed,
her eyes fixed steadfastly upon him ; Dr.
Craik, in deep gloom stood with his hands at
the fire ; nis faithful black servant Christo
pher, the tears uncontrolled came trickling
down his face, on one side took the last look
of his dying master; while Mr. Lear in his
speechless grief, with folded hands, bent over
his pillow on the other. . ' ' ' '
Nothing broke the stillness of his last mo
ments but the suppressed sobs of his affec
tionate servants collected on the stair case;
the tick of the large clock in the hall
as it
measured off with painful distinctness, the last
fleeting moments of his existence, and the low
moan of winter wind, as it swept through the
leafless snow covered trees. Tho laboring
and wearied spirit drew nearer and nearer its
gaol ; the blood languidly coursed slower and
more slowly through its channels and the
noble heart stopped struggled fluttered;
the right hand slowly slid from the wrist,
1 upon which its finger had been placed it fell
J at the side and the manly , effigy of Wash-
ixgtox was all that remained upon- the death
couch
A Caitiox TO-Gossirs. The following act
j of assembly was passed in Virginia fn 1762:
.f Jlct for the .Punishment of Scandalous
Persona. Whereas, many babbling -woman
slander and scandleize their neighbors, for
which their poor husbands arc often involved
in chargeable and vexations suits and costs in
eat damaees:
,ije it therefore enacted by . the authority 4
Urci-i w in action of slander, occasioned!
1 ""T
by the M-ife, after judgement" passed for dam
ageS) the woman should be punished by duck j
ing; and if the slander Bhould be so enormouM
as to be adjudged at greater damages than
u.-vjuuBv fe .
five hundred pounds of tobacco, then tne wo-,
I 4-1. A W - V- .,- fivA rtitw
man is to suffer a ducking" for each five hno-
dred pounds of. tobacco adjudged against the
husband, if he refused to pay the tobacco." j
- Oditj.-g Orders. 'I wish ,700.-would pa"
a little more attention,' exclaimed a carpenter
t-ohiK careless apprentice - Well, ix' I ar
paying as little as I can, was th calm reply.
f
If:
!0
1 1
a
-
if
Vi
71 -
Hi
HI
I
4
t
i
I
i
t r
h :
'if
I) j
mi
St
ft
nn
11