Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, July 04, 1855, Image 1

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COME AND TAKE ME. Dcvivikh.
VOL. 1;
THE LAXI) OF DREAMS.
Br.WI.C. BYRAST. . .
. -A Mighty realm is the land of dreams,
With itecps that hang in the twilight sky,
And weltering oceans and trailing streams,
That gleam where the dusky vallcyslie,
"But over its shadowy border flow
Sweet rays from the world of endless mo n,
And the nearer mountains catch the glow.
And flowers in the nearer fields are born.
The souls of tho happy dead repair
From the bowers of light to that bordering
And walk in the fainter glory there, laud.
With tho souls of the living, hand to hand.
-One calm, sweet smile in that shadowy sph ere
from eyes ma. open on eana no more
. One warning word from a voice once dear
How they rise in the memory'o"er!
Far off from those bill that shine with day,
And' fields that bloom in the heavenly gale?,
The land of dreams goes streehing away
To dimmer mountain and darker vales.
' There tie the chambers of guilty delight,
There walk the spectres of guilty fear,
And soft, low voices that float through the night..
Are whispering sin ia the helpless car. -.
Dear maid1 in thy girlhood's opening flower.
Scarce weaned from the love of childish play!
The tears on who.o checks are but the shower
That freshons the early bloom of May!
Thine eyes are clo.ed. and over thy brow
PajJj thoughtful shadows and joyous gleams,
And I know, by the moving lips, that now
Thy spirit strays in the land of dreams.
. -
Light-hearted maiden, oh, heed thy feet!
Oh, keep, whore that boam of paradise falls !
.And only wander where thou may "at meet
The blessed ones from its shining walls.
. io shalt thou come from the land of dreams.
With love and peace to this world of strife;
And the light that over tha bonier streams,
Shall lie on the path of thy deadly life.
A OADE TO A MUSKEETEK.
You wiked blud suker, why doant
Yoa nrn yoare livin sum wa besides
Litin down on peopcl and insertin ynre
I.ong bill to git blud, Iitin on . .
Foakses noses, an when tha git mad an
Begin to slap, leave? Haint yu got no felinks!
4 irate seezerj! how yu'd git nocked if yu was
As largo as sum tu leged bind sukers as is
ltound here what wares kloas. Wbi doant yu
l.itc douu sli, as tha du. an blede cm foar
Tha no it. witowt holleriu awl tho whyle?
Yur a kanibel! yu du a big biznis on a
Smuwl fkail, yu auk tnoar bind owt of a
Feller than a elcfant can. an yur smcllor
-Aint haffaslong. Yu waik up foaks
"Wen tha ar tdeepin, an tha swair
Vengcns. llou du yu wurk it tu keap
Yur oil so sharpe witbowt grindin? vvnl
Soant yu peck worms out of treas,
A cle insc-v. yu long leggedd cuss?
Wattcwn is it yu syr.g so much,
iioin rownd with yur fethirs shott oph,
Scaktu whume yu ma devower? Yu
.Seam too bee a kou ten-tid burd from yur
Singin, an syng loudist wen yure
Jlungryst. I ?hud thynk yud want on
Butes Ir pantylct's tu keap yur long
I.egg froinm bein kold thys wether,
liitfi-k. yur uslii. yu kiiut chaw, butt
Yur sum oun sukin. kos yu ncvir
5ot weened. Insek, a dew.
THE KAFTSMAN'S SOC.
For Ibc boisterous stream is the raftsman's home;
AnI the storms that march to the thunder's drum,
. . . . . i . i i. .
l or trie rushing stream is me ratismau s uoiuc.
Oh ! the raftsman's life is the life for me,
A raftsman's life, so wild and free;
Jjet sailors love the deep blue sea,
But crystal waves for mc for me.
Then oh ! to us how sweet tho song,
Of the mighty river as it sweeps along;
And our love for its waves is deep and strong,
For our childhood grew with its glad.ning sung.
Oh ! the raftsman's life.ctc.
Hiistf UantoiiB.
THE BATTLE OF TJUNCETOX.
BV EDWARD EVERETT.
Jlr country's standard waved on yonder height ;
. J 1 I.' 1 1 ll...
V. w 7 m . - ' .
II.. M.inwa K innor KtiT-land there displayed.
. o ; "
... . . t t t r : t. 1.
vAna there tnc ucriinn, who iur iurgn .
llad left his own domestic hearth and made,
War with its horrors and blood, a trado.
Amid tho battle stood ; and, all the day.
The bursting bomb and furious cannonade.
The bugle's ma&tial notes, the muskets' play,
In luinsled UDroar wild resounded far away.'
The news of Washington's victory at Tren
ton was no less a cause of rejoicing to the
Americans than alarm to the English. Previ
ous to this battle, the royal army looked upon
the rebellion' as they styled it, as spent and
exhausted. Cornwallis himself, was on the
point of sailing for Kurope, and the opponents
of freedom were loud in their rejoicings. But
when intelligence came to New York that
Colonel Kalle and bis force had been captured,
..a n.o WovJiinTton was once more in the
miv in". - o
field with a respectable army, Cornwallis in
stantly started lor New Jersey ana tooh. com
mand of tho British forces
(Washington in the mean time had taken
post at Trenton, with about five thousand men,
.of which onlv fifteen hundred were regulars
Aeainst this force Cornwallis marched with
.ei"ht thousand men. artillery, infantry, and
.dragoons. The Americans fully warned of
hi approach fell back, and took post on the
south side of the Assumpink river, just be
yond a small bridge, and sent out parties to
liarrass tho British front. Washington was
, now in a perilous situation. His army was
small and mostly composed of raw recruits
lie could neither maintain his position nor
retreat across the Uelaware, while at irince
ton ten miles in his rear, was a large British
force. But it required an emergency to de
velop the resources of Gen. Washington. His
whole military life illustrated this whether
on tho fierce field of Monmouth or amidst the
snowa of Valley Forge, it required some stir
ring incident to call up, the latent power which
sbimWrd in his heart, lie, tbjirelore, con
sidered his position, and determined to stand
firm if possible, until night, and then, with all
tiia force, to fall upon the British post at
Princeton. It was a desperate determination
but it found favor with the God of battle, and
ended in a glorious triumph.
Colonel Meed, Colonel Handy and Captain
Forrest, with a corps of infantry and a few
pieces of artillery, were sent to check Corn
wallis, while Washington arranged a plan of
defence for Assumpink river. But the British
army urging its way with great impetuosity,
Morgan and Miller, with their riflemen, were
also sent to impede its march; and so close
and galling was their fire, that Cornwallis halt
ed, and ordered up some heavy artillery to
clear the way. This species of warfare con
tinued nearly all day, and so stubborn wore
the Americans, that it was sunset before the
roval troops came to the river's bank. 2o
sooner were they within range of Knox's ar
tillery, than it opened upon them with great
elfect. Cornwallis halted his forces and com
menced a dreadful cannonade. Kvcning gath
ered over the armies as they stood lace to face
upon the banks of that small river, their can
non shaking the earth, while the air was made
lurid by the quick flashes from thousands of
muskets. Amid the din of battle, Cornwallis
heard loud cheers and shouts from the Ameri
can armv, and imagining that it was much
larger than had been reported, he hesitated
and gave orders to delay crossing the river
until morning. This was a great military blun
der, but it saved "Washington and his little
band from destruction. Lord Erskine, it is
said, remonstrated with Cornwallis for delay-
ins? the attack until morning, but the Com
mandcr replied, " There will be plenty of
time; we shall certainly catch the old lox in
the morning!' and gave orders that the troops
lie down on their arms, and wait for daylight.
The firing ceased. The confused sound of
arms died away, as the camp-fires of each army
were lighted, and the wearied Britons prepa
red their evening meal. It was a cold dismal
winter's night, and the soldiers gathered
around their blazing fires, silent and shivering.
But the army of Washington did not rest.
Although its fires burned brightly, and a low
murmur came from the camp, Washington was
on the move, lie silently assembled the bulk
of his force, and leaving a sm-u -u i t
to keep up appearances and delude the enemy,
he sped on toward Princeton with all haste.
All night long tho British pickets heard the
sound of pickaxes and intrenching tools, and
they imagined tho rebels' were throwing up
a field work. But it was only a feint ; aided
by the starlight which gleamed fitfully upon
the snowy earth, tho tired Americans, inspired
by their beloved General, marched steadily to
wards Princeton. No music cheered them on,
no loud, thrilling words of command rung
along- the lines, and as the troops bravely
breasted the cold night wind, Washington and
his staff brought up the rear. Ever and anon
the cautions Chief would command a halt ana
listen to hear if the British were in pursuit.
It was a moment of intenso anxiety, but lie
who maketh the thunder his artillery, gave
hone and good cheer to every patriot
The morning of January 31, 1 '0, was clear,
cold and frosty, and it was a little after day
liht aa the Americans were within a short
distaucc from Princeton, that they came sud
denly unou two British regiments marching
towards Cornwallis' army. Washington at that
moment was iu front of his column, and he at
once closed up his men and prepared to enter
tho battle. General Mercer, with about three
hundred and fifty men, was at that instant ad
vancing bv another road directly upon the
British force. His men were riflemen, aud
did not observe the British until very near
them -and thev had only time to seek shelter
behind a rail fence and deliver ouc volley be
fore the enemy came down upon them with
the baronet. Being armed only with rifles,
Mercer's men could not hold their ground,
and in a few moments broke aud fled down a
small hill, the regulars in hot pursuit. Mer
cer, deeply mortified at the conduct of his
men though they could not be blamed leap
ed from his horse and endeavored to stop the
retreat. While in the act of waving his sword
and ordering a halt, he received a blow from a
musket that stretched him to tho earth. As
the morning was cold he wore a grey overcoat,
which, falling opon, disclosed to the British
his general's uniform. He was at once taken
for General Washington, and tho cry went up
c The rebel General is taken !'
A furious rush was made around the woun
ded man, and several soldiers putting their
bayonets to his breast, cried out: 'Call for
quarter, you d d rebel, call for quarter '
But the brave man disdained to beg for his hie.
He struck at the grenadiers with his sword,
which so exasperated them that they pinned
him to the earth with their Dayonents, and left
hiin for a dead man. He, however, lived a
few days long enough to say that he did not
o-ive up his sword it was taken from him !
Watihinffton saw the rout of fiercer s ntie-
nin. and pushed on with his sturdy coutinen
tals to the rescne. Col. Maywood, wno com
manded tho British forces, met him in gallant
Ktvle. and so pressed the Americans that they
Wan to break. This was a critical momeni
....
Washington saw that the struggle tor victory
- ,
had arriTed, and galloping up to a color-bear-
er. he seized his flag and rode uirecu be
tween his troops and the enemy, shouting to
hj men to charge. The muskets oi can en
CLEARFIELD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1855.
vision were leveled, and the general was be
tween them.
Escape seemed impossible. Col. Fitzgerald,
Washington's Aide-de-Camp, who was just
outside the line of fire, dropped his reins, and
drew his hat over his face that he might not
witness the death of his commander. Again
Washington waved the standard, and gave the
charging word. A roar of musketry ensued
from both armies, and the Americans, rush
ing forward, swept patt their General, hurst
the British ranks and forced them back scat
tered and Lrokt;n, while a cheer of triumph
rent the air. But another British regiment,
firm aud unbroken, appeared like a living
wall, and again the Continentals, with Wash
ington at their head, dashed into the volcauo
of flame and smoke, and again was the field
swVpt as with a tornado !
Col. Fitzgerald galloped to the side of his
commander, and grasping the Cliiefs hand,
said, while his eyes streamed with tears :
Thank God, your Excellency is safe !'
Washington, ever calm, returned the friend
ly grasp, aud answered ' Away, my dear Col.
and bring up the troops the day is won !'
This was. one of the first instances, if we re
member aright, where the Americans success
fully drove back tho British at the bayonet's
point ; and Washington, speaking of the cir
cumstance alterwards, commended the troops
in high terms.
The British lost about two hundred men in
the contest, and the disorganized troops fled
kin double-quick time towards Trenton, to join
Cornwallis. The Americans hurried on vic
toriously to Princeton, and soon met another
body of Britons, the fifty-fifth regiment, whom
thev defeated after a brief conflict. Another
bodv of the enemy took refuage in the Col
lege Building, but a few pieces of cannon be
ing brought to bear upon the edifice, the men
surrendered.
The battle of Princeton was very severe,
perhaps, for the number engaged, the most
bravely contested fight in the whole war; and
it proved to the enemy that Washington's
men could stand tho " cold steel" and use it
also, with deadly eflect. The British loss was
three hundred killed, wounded and prisoners.
Tim Americans had about one hundred men
killed and wounded, besides several eminent
officers, among them the gallant General Mer
cer. This bottle being over, Washington called a
council of war, a hurried council, for Cornwal
lis, angry and mortified was close at hand, and
it was eoucluded to push on to Morristown.
Accordingly the tired army was put in motion,
nor did they halt until the broken bridge at
Kingston was left to impede the British army,
llesting a short time, tho American forces
inarched to Morristown and went into winter
quarters.
Early on the morning of the battle, Corn
wallis prepared lo cross the river. As he was
reconnoitering the American camp, a dull
heavy sound echoed upon the frosty air. It
came from the direction of Pnnceton. They
listened, again
That heavy sound, breaks in once more
A if the clouds its echoes would repeat,
And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before'
told the astonished Britons that Washington
was fighting the royal troops at Princeton.
To arms!' shouted the English General,
Washington is at Princeton ! Let us fly to
the rescue !' But it was too late. The vic
tory was fought and won : and when the Brit
ish army entered Priuceton not an American
was to be seen. The snow all trampled and
dyed with blood, the earth strewed with dead
and woundod men, the sulphurous clouds yet
lingering in tho air, told a dreadful struggle
but the old fox' was far away.
Beautiful Extract. When the summer of
youth is slowly wasting on the nightfall of age,
and the shadow of the past becomes deeper
and deeper, and life wears to a close, it is
pleasant to look through the vista of time up
on the sorrows and felicities of our earliest
years. If- we have a home to shelter, and
hearts to rejoice with us, and friends have
been gathered together around our firesides,
then the rough place of our wayfaring will have
been worn and smoothed away in tho twilight
of life, while the many spots we have passed
through will grow brighter and more beautiful.
Happy, indeed aro they whose intercourse
with tho world has not changed the toue of
their holier feelings, or broken those musical
chords of the heart, whose vibrations are so
melodious, so tender and touching m the
eveni ng of age.
Boxapete's Orixiox of his Wives. Their
characters were diametrically opposite.
ver were there two women less alike each oth
er. Josephine had grace, an irresistible se
duction, and an undeserved devotedness. Ma
ria Louisa had all the timidity of innocence
When I married her she was a truly virtuous
novice, and very submissive. Josephine would
sacrifice millions upon her toilet, and her lib
eralities. Maria Louisa, on the contrary econ
omized what. I gave her, and I was obliged to
scold, in order to induce her to make her ex
penditure consistent with her rank. Joseph
ine was devoted to me; she loved me tenaeriy
no one ever had a preference to me in her
heart I uniformly held the first place her cnu
dren the next. And she was right, for she was
the being I most loved, and the remembrance
of her is still all powerful in my mind.
THE FRENCH EMPKEiS.
The London Press thus speaks of the Em
press: "The sight of the beaming looks around
her, the souud of the countless cheers of wel
come, the fineness of the weather, the thor
ough cordiality of the reception from the peo
ple at large, and an exulting sense of the
greatness of the occasion, brought a flush of
pleasure into the countenance of the Empress,
and as she drove slowly up Pall Mall her beau
ty never looked more dazzling, and its resplen
dent ell'ect was hailed with perfect admiration.
It was a constant remark, 'The picture had
not done justice to the Empress.' Wc aro de
cidedly of that opinion. The expression of
her mild blue eyes, and the sweet serenity of
her lace in repose, has never been perfectly
portrayed. The artists appear to us to have
succeeded in catching only the physical out
lino, and not the sentiment of her most pecu
liar and distinctive style of beauty. We ad
mit tlie merits of Winterhalter's portrait, but
it has the coldness of the German school, and
we can conceive what an incomparably liner
presentment of such a face would have been
given on canvass by Reynolds, or Lawrence,
or Francis Grant. It is rarely that so dis
tinctive a type is seen in female beauty as in
the French Empress.
She belongs to one of the rarest of all styles,
that of the Spanish blonde. .Stamped bv
nature's impress, there is an unmistakable evi
dence of blood in her refined and spiritual face
Extremely fair, with gentle blue eyes, aud a
charming natural color, the Empress Eugenie
possesses the additional charm of a most ex
pressive mouth. The classical elevation of
her countenance reminds one of the chiselled
masterpieces of Grecian art. She has more,
however, of the outward and visible signs of
hiirh Spanish race in the long and delicately
drawn features, and especially In her noble
Castillian air, so remote from aught that is
suggestive of vulgar associations. Nor are
her voice and manner the least of her attrac
tions. She can sustain dignity without losing
aflability, and in her courtesy there is none of
the affected condescensions that wounds more
than wins. Her words, and deportment, are
those of a noble lady, of an illustrious gentle
woman, formed to grace a throne and cast an
additional lustre on her position.
"On Thursday, the heat of the weather and
the prolonged exertion of receiving the accla
mations of what we should call the levee of
the Londoners, gave rather the appearance of
langour to the Empress. But in the evening,
at the Opera, her loveliness was heightened
by the attractiveness of her dress and by her
brilliant jewels. As she acknowledged the
greetings of the house with radient smiles, it
seemed that If ever clay was cast in an impe
rial mould, it was when Nature fashioned that
Grecian head, with its graceful neck and bust.
It is gratifying to know that her amiability is
enual to her beautv; she is adored by her at
tendants; and the words, 'Elle est si bonne, si
amahlcS are in the mouths of all who know
her. We cannot close this notice of one so
lofty in station, and so highly endowed, with
out recording that her imperial Majesty's in
fluence has been directed to raizing the tone
and character of the Court of tho Tuiller'es."
Valuable Investigation. The U. S. Com
missioner of Patents has now in his employ
Mr. Townsend Glover, a well known artist and
naturalist, who has been detailed by the Com
missioner to investigate the habits of insects
iniurious and beneficial to crops. During the
past year he has been engaged in watching the
corn and grain-insects of the Northern nd
Middle States, as also those which attack vines
and fruit trees, and the operations of the rice
and cotton insects of tho South. He is now
turnins his attention entirely to the insects
pernicious and beneficial to the rice, cotton,
sugarcane, and orange plants, and for this pur
pose has gone to Florida, where, also, ho will
endeavor to asertain the cause and remedy lor
white rot in live oak.
TnE Shortest Sermon ever Treacued.
The shortest sermon on record was preached
by probably ono of the most eloquent preacn-
ers who ever adorned a pulpit, tho late Dean
Kirwin. He was pressed (while suffering lroin
a severe cold) to preach in the church of bt
Peter's in Dublin, for the orphan children in
the parish school. He tried to excuse himself,
but at last yielded, ill as he was. After mount
in"- the pulpit, while the church was crowded
to suffocation, and having given out the text,he
merely pointed to the orphans, in the aisle, and
id- "There thv are!" It is said the collec
tion on that occasion exceeded all belief.
rt"P- A Methodist preacher at a campmect-
ing perpetrated the following piece of sublime
nonsense:
"It is as impossible for an unregenerated
soul to enter into the kingdom of heaven, as
it would be for tho best horseman among you
to ride down the clouds upon a thunderbolt,
through the branches of a crab applo tree,
without getting scratched." Grand idea that.
Preacher's bump of comparison in the ascen
dant.
A Feeling Reply. "Would you like to
subscribe for Dickens' 'Household Words?'
asked a sombre magazine agent. '.Household
words have played the Dickens with me long
enough! " was the feeling reply. The agent
absconded.
HOW STATUES AKE MADE.
Dick Tinto, the Florence correspondent of
the N. Y. Times, writes that the inducements
for American sculptors to remain in Italy
Powers. Hart. Crawford, and others art that
they have constantly on hand more orders
than thev can execute, and employ, numerous
workmen at cheap wages- We quota :
These workmen, who actually perform the
whole or nine-tenths of the chiseling, cutting
in marble what their employer sets before
them in plaster, receive Italian wages a small
daily pittance. If taken to New Ifork they
would at once triple and quadruple their Ital
ian earnings, and would probably soon set up
for themselves as carvers, in a small way, or
as decorators and oruaiuentors of churches and
public buildings. The chisel is no longer the
tool of the master sculptor his instrument is
an odd bit of -stick, with which he scoops away
the figure of clay, or "at the mud," as he will
tell you himself. When finished as nearly as
such material can be, a mould is taken, and
from that a cast is still further finished- and
saud papered, and it is then handed over to
the cutter, whose duty it is to make an exact
fac simile in marble.
The sculptor proper may never touch this
marble, and when ho is told it is done, he is
ready to deliver it to its owner. The workmen
in Mr. Powers' studio have executed not far
from 40 Proserpines from one plaster which is
originally composed by the nias'er, and the
Greek f?!ave has in the same way been re-produced
three or four times. The best bustma-i.-.-.p
;i lt:ilv never touches tho marble. He
may suggest or order Lair-strokes here and
there, but he does not handle the scraper him
self. Iu nil this the workman, t!yugli he may
execute uuassistedly the statue, the head, or
the group, is no more the author of his work
than is the clerk who copies the Prime Minis
ter's rough draft, or the caligrophist who en
grosses a set of resolutions. You can see how
impossible it would be for sculptors, occupy-
ing and requiring in this way the work of
many men, to transport their studies to Amer
ica.
The Princess anp the Tutor. An Em
poror's daughter, who was delighted with the
profound learning, the lively wit, and the
strict adherence to the precepts ol morality
and religion, which characterized her tutor,
one day inadvertantly male this remark to
him: "What a pity that so fine aoi;las yours,
is not in a more agreeable body!"' He made,
in reply, the following inquiry; "In what
sort of vessels, madam, is your father's wine
preserved?" "In earthen vessels," was the
answer. "Can that be possible?" replied he.
"Why, every citizen preserves his wine iu
earthen vessels. I should have thought that
gold or silver ones would have been more sui
table to the dignity of an emperor." "You
arc right!" exclaimed the princess, "and
henceforth this mark of respect shall not be
omitted." In a few days, however, she again
accosted her tutor, on this subject, saying,
"In the gaudy vessels you recommended, my
father's wine was spoiled, the spirit evapora
ted; while that which was placed in earthen
ones improved in quality." "Very possible,"
rejoined the philosopher. "So, also, with vir
tue and knowledge; the humbler the exterior
of that in which they arc contained, the more
luxuriantly will they flourish, and the more
forcibly excite our ambition.- Southern
Times.
An Axecpote from the Seat of War. rThe
Buffalo Commercial advertiser gives the fol
lowing extract from a letter from an officer in
the Crimea:
"A curious thing occurred yesterday. A
sapper was brought from the trenches with his
jaw broken, and the doctor told me there was
a piece of it sticking an inch and a half from
his face. The man said it was done by a round
shot, which the Doctor disbelieved; but the
poor fellow insisted, and said, Yes, and it
took off the head of the man next to me. This
was conclusive, and the surgeon proceeded to
remove the bone; it came out quite easy, when
the Doctor said to tho man, whose face ap
peared to preserve its form pretty well, "can
you move your jaw ?" "Oh, yes, sir," was the
reply. The Doctor then put his ringer into
the man's mouth and found the teeth were
there, and at length assured tho soldier that
it was no jaw of his that was broken, but that
of his headless comrade, which had actually
been driven into his face, inflicting a severe
wound. Upon this the man's visage, which
had been rather lengthened, rounded up most
beautifully."
A Curious Anecpote of the Rev. Syd
ney Smith A Decided Sell. Lady Cubebs
had a creat passion for the garden and the hot
bouse, and when she got hold of a celebrity
like the Rev. Sydney, was sure to dilate upon
her favorite subject. Her geraniums, her au
riculas, her dahlias, her carnations, her aca
cias, her lillia regia, her renunculns, ner ma-
.-v-n-.d.U hor nponies. her rhododendron pro
rn mossv ooiupone and rose pubescens
,iic,,,l with all the flow of hot-house
Mv Ladv." asked the reverend
rM ever have a psoriasis scptennis.-
" . --j i.
cvw mnt b-e-a-U-tUUI One- ioren.o
..u,-.un nf Canterbury. Dear man!
,r out so in the spring!"
The psoriasis septennis is the medical name
for the seven-years ttcn.
NO. 48.
CliHlST,S COMPASSION.
. matt. ix. 35 3S. I
llo saiw them tasked with heavy burthens all. r
Bowed down and weary "neath the heavy load.
With none their faltering footseps home tocall'
Or point them out the straight and uarrow road.
His spirit bore their burthens as his own; ,
He healed tho sick restored the sightless eyes;
lie heard themournerfor a loved -one moan,
And bade the dead from out the grave arise.
Truly on him thespirit did decend;
For he by works divine its influence proved.
Of all our race Consoler, Guide, or Friend,
By heavenly Love, divine Compassion moved; -O
that hi spirit might on us abide,
' And flow tu healing streams on every side!
GETTING OLD.
We arc all travelling one common highway.
Some are falling by the wayside early; some
are sinking beneath the tierce rays of the hoL
aud dusty noonday ; a few sustain the heavy
burden to the end, and lie down n death in the
soil cirulgence of the setting sun. The jour
ney, at best, is one of hard and, sorrowful ex
perience. The most fortunate cannot escape
all its terrors; the most saintlike cannot aoid
its contaminating associations; for Sin and
Sorrow and Death are the pilgrim's travelling
companions. Ardently as he may strive, he
cannot avoid their presence or escape lrora be
neath the shadows of their terrible frowns.
They will bear him company to the end,where
the mysteries of fife are swallowed up iu the.
profounder mysteries of death! But long and
wearisome as is the great thoroughfare along
which, with feeblo and timid footsteps, we are
hurrying, it has an end. Death meets us
there and hurries us hence we know not
how we know not where.
To live loug and yet avoid the bitterness of
age, is thocommon prayer, and common hope
of all. Old age, with its palsied limbs and gar
rulous tongue, we look upon with mingled pity
and horror. When the body has outlived alike
heart and brain; when all the springs and gra
cious fountains of humanity have leen dried
up ; when all that was lovely and beautiful in
life has died out; when the fires of intellect,
sentiment, and humanity have been, one by
one quenched, and Idiocy has become keeier
of the tenement ; who would not pray for the
loosening of the silver cord J But old age
that is calm, serene, clear-visioned; that looks
up the Tast with joy, and the Future with
hope; that sits in tho calm twilight, waiting
with joyous patience the coming of the mes
senger that shall bear him home; how glori
ous an exodus from life were this!
PBACTICAL PB AYEK.
In the vicinity of B lived a poor but
industrious man; depending for support upon
his daily labor. His wife fell sick, and not be
ing able to hire a nurse, he was obliged to con
fine himself to the sick bed and Tamily. His
means of support being thus cut off, he soon t
found himself in need. Having a wealthy neigh
bor near, he determined to go and ask for two
bushels of wheat, with apromisc to pay as soon
as his wife became well enough to leave, that
ho could return to his work. Accordingly he
took his bag, went to his neighbor's, and ar
rived while they were at family prayers.
As he sat on the door stone he Tieard the
man pray very earnestly that God would clothe
the naked, feed the hungry, relieve the needy,
comfort all that mourn. The prayer concluded,
the poor man stepped in and made known his
business, promising to pay with the avails of
hislabois. The farmer was very sorry he
could not accommodate him, but he had prom
ised to lend a large sum of money and he had
depended upon his wheat to make it out; but
he presumed, neigbor A would let him
have it.
With a tearful eye and a sad heart, the poor
man turned away. As soon as he lelt the
house the farmer's little son stepped up and
said:
"Father did you not pray that God would
clothe the naked, feed the hungry, relieve the
distressed, and comfort the mourners ?'
"Yes why!'
"Because, father, it I bad your wheat
would answer that prayer. It Is needless to
add that the Christian father called bacK nis
suffering neighbor, and gave him as much
wheat as he needed.
Now, Christian readers, do you answer your
own prayers.
VIKTTJE IN MATf.
Wc love to oelieve that there is more good
ness than depravity in human nature. When
we see one tear of pity from the eye, it, gives
us more pleasure than would the finding of a
diamond. There is goodness-real and unsel
fish, in the heart, and we have seen it manifest
itself to the making of a scene oi, sorrow uiC
..t;i.nl of heaven. For him wno is always
nickin-out flaws in his neighbors character,
we have no sympathy, lie reminas u
birds which resort to dead and decayed limbs
, - rr.a n fMst on the worm. Inthecnar-
acters of most men we shall find more good
than evil, more kindness than hatred, ana wny
should we pick out the flaws, ana pass -sterling
traits of character? : We hold this to
be the true doctrine: to portray reai go--,
and hold it up to the gaze and admiration of
,mi. w ivftr the evil to remain i
shade and die. If every picture of hum na
ture weie only pure and beautuui, we mv
have such characters living arouna u. . . . ,
i
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