i
'" THE DUMB CHILD.
i.' '.She.is my only girl, ,-
kcd for her as soiue most precious thing;
rail unfinished was lore's jewelel ring,
Till set with this soft pearl !
ic shades that time brit forth I could not see
.6"sr pure, how perfect, scenic J the gift to n;e '.
'i '. Oh ! raany a soft oil tuno
I used to sing onto that deaicnod car, -
And suffered not thoslijhUvt footsteps near,
" 7- ' - Lest sho might wake too soon ;
And hashed her brother's laughter while sho lay.
Ah ! needless care ! 1 might have let them play.
,- - - t 'Tws long ero I believed
Xhat this one daughter might not speak to me ;
Waited nn l watched God knows how patiently
Vain Lovo was long the untiring nnrse of Fahh, '
adu ii'iiuca licj'e uuiii u siarvvu to ucarn.
Oh ! if she could but hear
For one short hour, till I her tongue might teach
lo call me mother, in the broken speech
- - . That thrill's tho mother's car !
Alas! Hioeo sealed Hps never mav te stirred.
To the deep music of that holy word !
Mv heart it sorely trie?.
fJXo see. her kneel with such a re?erer.t air
EciKi her brothers, at their cvtning prayer;
. Or lift those earnest eves.
To watch our lips, as though our words sho knew,
iuea uiuvo nor own, as she were speaking, too.
i ' I'vo watched her looking r.n
To Ao bright wonder of a Eun.-et sky,
Widi suirh a depth of meaning in her cyo,
That I could almost hope -
Tie struggling soul wculd buret its binding cords,
A 'J tue long-pent-up thoughts Bow forth in words.
The sons of bird and bee.
I he chorus of the breezes', streams, and groves,
in tne graijii music to which nature moves, .
Are. wasted luelodv
fo her ; the world of sound a tuneles void :
While even sileDce hath its charm destroyed.
Her face is very fair;
Ifer blue eye beautiful ; of finest mould
Tho soft white brow, o'er which, in wa fC3 of gold,
Hippies her shining hair.
Alas! this lovely temple closed must be.
J-'r ilo who ma Jo it keeps the masicr-key.
Wills lie the mind within
Should from earth's Huhcl-clamor be kept free
i"cn that II 13 still, small voice, and step might he
ller.nl at its inner jhrine,
' Tirongh thntdeephuih of soul, with clearer thri!l?
, Ifaen should I grieve? O, murmuring heart bo still !
. Jf quiet gladness in hr noiseless play,
) Nho hath a pleasant saiilo, a gentle way,
- YYhoso voicelers eloouecco
,-i-Tout:hps ajl Jienrts, though I had once the foar
Tli.l.., I,,.. f ..?.. 1.1 ,.f ,.. ,. v,-
ihttereu hoi
I 1 Thi
AiiA, when hi
Thank God it is not so !
n his luinn arp Ttlnvil:' merrily.
Slil: comes and leans her head uiion his kneo.
. "J O, at such times, I know,
By bis full eye, and tones subdued ai:d mild,
JirtW hi heart yearns over his silent ciii!d.
' ' 2? of of all gifts bereft.
Bven now. How could I say sho did not speak f
IV hat real language lights her eye end check.
- And renders thanks to Jlim who left
i Fnto her soul jet open acnues
lor joy to enter, and for lore to uso!
' And 'lod in love do!h givo
To her defect a beauty of it? own ;
And wo a deeper tenderness have known
Through that for which we grieve.
Yet shall the t!cai bo molted from her ear
i!oa ; and my voice shall fill it but not hero.
When that new seneo is given,
What raf ture wilt iis first Cir-erience bo,
That never woke to meaner melody
Tl.an the rich rngs of Heaven
T- t.R.'.lt the fu!I-trnod anthein swelling round, '
-Vi'hilo ung'.'ls teach the' ecitacies of toui.d'.
THE DEM O.N IN" IIAWKSO.N'S HOUSE.
From the FLil'a. Xorth America.
The coals are glowing in the cr.de. A rcl
? and cheerful li.ltt spreads over the little sit-ting-room'of
William Ilawkson's Iiojsc, show
ing (ho plain! but neat and clean carpet, and
chairs and tables, wiih the jr;;tty prints frani
od upon the wjll Mary's guitar and William's
viol.n presiding, nice the spirit of harmony,
iovcr the domestic cwufort of the apartment.
Baby Hell lias bummed herself to sleep, rattle
--4irHaal, iri the rr.idle, and her, brother, of
three years, romping Harry, has paused in bis
"pl.iy to watcTi the Hitting smiles upon her dim
plod face. From 'the room back, used both as
kUchen and dining room, conies a warmer
glow, and the inviting savors of cooking meat,
while the- song of bristling Mary Ilawksoa
- i.. .. , ..-!. ...T...1'.. I. 1
lings ujerruv.iu u'juuai uiu n.v iuu anue
ing and moaning among the snow-drifts out of
doors. Sis o'clock, has struck, and William is
expected from his carpenter shop. William
works hard, and steady, for be has a precious
object in view that of securing a house of his
own.' At the end of every week, a portion of
Lis earnings Js placed iu Mary's hands, to bo
1 ' ndd-d to the store in the corner of the topni&st
drawer in ths bureau, for the money is too val-
liable in the carpenter's eyes, to be entrusted to
tho keeping, oft ho best established saving fund.
is isaiurway iiijiiiu. i 1111. mi i ivutu
j-ives w.etried, and covered w ith' snow. But
Vis manly checks glow, and his blue eyes
r7, : "Tten " as be shakes tho . snow from bis
: fx overcoat and cap, and enters the home
!j lieart, Mary advances to greet bim ;
tlio color flies from bur cheek, the song
inly ceases, and "she heaves strange sighs
a eiKta to nivc her husband the welcome
W'hat can produce such a change amid
fiany endearing comforts? ' f
Hurrah I Mary," cries the bold, frank voico
,be carpenter, ''its bard work, but thank
(l and yoi, Mary, two more weeks will
ce up ' tho sum that shall placo us in our
it homo J Conio ! give me a hearty bug and
( more kiss! That's the way ! Bless tbo lit-
darlini- she's asleep. ..-Harry, take euro ot
:; Al t coat, it s too wet for you to nannie.
-'Iis the money. Mary, and now ?t us go
l tapper, for I am very hungry '
, . ,
, In tho ccstacies of j ioy like a sailor,
whose heart bounds, as ar a voyage ot peril,
land comes in view, ho VS not observe the
toar trembling in Maiy'a c;, or the fluttering
voice with which she rcspVu to his greet
ingsand then they procceWith the evening
meal in the carpcnter'3 houii
The two weeks have passeway upon the
path that has no returning sfih; It is Satur
day night again in tho carpel's home, and
William is espected from wo.-l Mary Ilawk
son has been seated before titrate for a full
hour, to tho neglect of snpperjlaby Boll, and
even the importunities of little Harry. Tho
glow of the fire falls upon a face, pale and
deathly in its expression and meets tho fire
of eyes in which wildnets and sadness strange
ly mingle. Suddenly ilie starts up, and her
thoughts .speak out J
'-I will, I must m jio another risk!" and
then sinking iuto the thair again, falters forth,
' but Goi in heaven, V. hat will that avail ?"
A foofstep id heard approaching tho housa.
She driss her tears ss well ns she can, and
awaits with a fearful tremble, the coming of
Wi I'.iam. His hand 13 upon tho knob.and as a
ppasm shoots through tho lieart of tho wife, tho
joyful carpenter bounds into the room shonting
'It's- done, Mary it's done. Here's tho
money, the last of the sum we wanted.
Quick ! bring down the box, and let us count
the whole, to bo sure that we have not been
mistaken Quick?"
Why docs he turn a glance of surprise upon
Mary snrpric even in tho glow of joy?
The wife rises to her feet, but seems scarcely
cblo to stand : sho turns upon her doting hus
band a look of utter despair, and then sinks
down at his feet. " " .
'William husband forgive forgive 1"
sho uttered, but could not proceed.
"Why, Mary how what's the matter ?
there is nothing to forgive, love.. Hero's the
balance ot the money we shall have a house
of our own. and then when there's no rent to
pay, you shall not Bpoil your pretty hands in
the kitchen any more," says William, cnloa
voring to make her rise.
"William William you bavo no money,"
sho answers, and sinks to the floor.
The carpenter stands like 0110 stricken with
the thought of approaching death.
"What do you mean ? Have you been rob
bed V be at length asks in a husky voice, and
the glow of his chocks change to an ashen hue.
"Xo, no you have been robbed, and I am
the thief! Williaru" sho now musters
strength enough to sa3', "hear me, and then
let mc die, as I deserve. I have abused your
confidence. The money you have given to
my care, has been spent in tho policy shop,
even to the last cent. I was induced to try
my fortune there, and have ruined both you
and myself. Oh ! forgive mc !"
But the agonizing cry for forgiveness falls
upon ears tiiat convey out unmeaning sounds
to the carpenter's brain. He has heard but a
prti.n of the narrative of ruin, and the ap
peal for forgiveness is answered by a mani
ac's hollow laugh ! The carpenter utters but
tho one word ''devil" dashes his wife to
the floor, and rushes wildly from a home that
he can know no more-!
Days pass away days of fearful agony and
despairing search on the part of Maty ILiwk
son and of grief on the part of tha poor car
penter's many friends. And then, among tho
Masses of floating ice in a dock on the Dela
ware, tli3 hair of a corpse was discovered
matting upon tho temples, and the eyes were
8.'cn gleaming with a frozen stare. The body
was hauled upon tho wharf, and before the
Coroner arrived, a woman's wild shriek start
led tho laborers on the wharves, and Mary
Ilawkson was raving over her husband's body.
And, though tho corpse now moulders be
neath the snows of the church yard, never
since has tho wife, so fatr.liy weak so sinned
against, yet sinning ceased to rave, liko a
fury, over tho rain (ho policies wrought.
THE MATTEIl-OF-FACT MAN.
Here is a very amusing picture cf that spe
cies of odd fish known as the Matter-of-fact
Man :
"I am what tho old women call "An Odd
Fish." I do nothing under heaven without a
motive never. 1 attempt nothing unless I
think there is a probability of my succeeding.
I ask no favors when I think they are not de
served, and finally, I don't wait upon the girls
when I think my attentions would be disagree'
able. I am a matter-of-fact man I am. I do
things seriously. I once offered to attend a
young lady home I did, seriously; that is, I
meant to wait on her home if she wanted me
Sho accepted my oflfer. I went home with
her; and it has ever since been an enigma to
mc whether sho wanted mc or not. She took
- my arm, and said not a word. I bade her
! 'Good night,' and the said not a word. ' I met
1 her tho next day, and I said not a word. Met
j her again, and she gave nie si two hours talk.
j It struck ma as curious. She fearod I was of-
j fended, and couldn't for the life of her con
j ceive why. She begged mo. to . explain, but
1 didn't give me tiie ghost of a chanco to do it
j She said she hoped I wouldn't be offended ;
! asked mc to call ; and iLha3 ever since been a
mystery to me whether; she really wanted me
' to call or liot. .
"I once taw a lady at her window. I tho't
1 would call. I dii. I inquired for the lady,
and was told that she was not at home. I ex
pect she was. I went away thinking so. I
rather think so still. I met her again. Sho
was offended said I had not been neighbor
ly. She reproached me for. my negligence;
said she thought I had been unkind. And
I've ever since wondered whether she was sor
ry or not. '
"A lady once said to me that she should like
to bo married, if she could get a good conge
nial husband, who would make her happy, or
at least try to. iSlio was net diflicult to please,
she said. I said, 'I should like to get married
too, if I could get a wifo that would try to
make 1110 happy.' She said, TJmph!' and
looked as if she meant what she said. Shedid.
For when I asked her if sh3 could be persua
ded to mn-ry mo, she said she would rather
bo excused. 1 excuse! her. I have often
wondered why I ejeusod her.
"A good many things of this kind have hap
pened to me that are doubtful, wonderful,
mysterious. What, then, is it that causes
doubt and mystery t attend the ways of
men? Jl is the want of fact. This is ft matter-of-f.ict
world, and in order fo act well in if,
wo must deal in matter-of-fact."
ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN -AMERICA.
Read the following extract from a Ivoman
Catholic paper of wide circulation in Western
New York, edited by Father Oertcl, of the
fjoman Catholic persuasion. Says he :
44 Whoever undervalues the spiritual power
of the Church in the United States, wanders
in a fearful labyrinth. Wo have not only sev
en Archbishops, thirly-three Bishops, and sev
enteen hundred and forty Priests, all in the
service of the Pope and the Church, but we
have also thirty-one colleges, thirty-seven
seminaries, and a hundred and seventeen fe
nialo academies, all founded by tho Jesuits,
bringing danger and death to unbelief, and
mischief, to American Know Xothingism and
radicalism. And the hierarchial band, which,
liko a golden thread, surrounds forty-one dio
ceses and two apostolic vicariatcs,and stretch
es r.-om the Atlantic Ocean to the still wators
of tho Pacific,and maintains an invisible,secret,
magnetic connection with Rome this Hierar
chy is to ns a sure guarantee that the'Church,
pcrhnps alter severe struggles and suOerings,
will one day come off victorious over all the
sects of America. , It is computed that there
are at present, more than two millions of
Catliolic inhabitants in the United States, who
are baptised and confirmed Catholic soldiers
of the Lor and who, at the first summons,
will assemble: in rank and file. Then will men
not undervalue the power of the Catholic
Church in the United States. I will scatter
sand in no one's eyes, and therefore I stand
foith openly, and directly declare, that the
power and influence of the Catholic Church
are stronger :han many believe. Whoever
doubts this must be cither a fool or blind."
We learn further, from an incidental remark
in the same article, that the Catholic Church
last year, had already teen hundred and
twenty-four churches, and at present the num
ber is still larger; that besides Cincinnati, St.
Louis, New Orleans, Charleston, Georgetown,
and New York, whii h svi article in the All-
geniine Augsburg Zeitung, on the same sub
ject, designates as tho bulwarks of the Cath
olic Church in 2rorth America, Baltimore, tho
metropolitan saat, the bead-quarters of the
Fathers cf Redemption, who there have their
provincial, is a Catholic division; that Phila
delphia with its Jesuits, Kedeniptorists, Au
gustiucs, and with its distinguished clerical
seminary, possesses rich churches and the re
gard of tho ruling clerus; and that Pittsburg,
ItuQ'alo and Milwauuic are each the residence
of a Bishop jwho, without noise indeed, but
with astonishing results, labors in bis widely
extended diocese, but who is surrounded by a
clergy as distinguished for wisdom as for zeal
and self sacrifice."
., Father Oertcl thus presents the great and
disciplined army of 11 is wily church and then
turrs to upbraid the miserable heretics, who
hesitate to woiship his relics and be overawed
at his mummeries. How long Sons of Anicr-
ic.ij will this intriguing and ambitious Catho
lic priesthood permit r.s to rule our own coun
try? Archbishop Hughes has already notified
us, that if we don't like Romanism, we must
move out of its wav. Conn. Cunrant.
Savage Pc.nxino. A Western paper having
stated that Judge Douglas was a man of loose
habit3.' Prentice replies that on tho contra
ry ho is often very "tight." Another remarks
that ho has gone to Cleveland to try "the wat
er cure," and to this is added that drinking
water only will retuove his malady.
Political Wit. A latter-writer speaking
of those Freesoilcrs who prefer Lewis D. Cam
pbcll to Nathaniel P. Banks, for Speaker of
the House, compares them to the Scribes and
Pharisees, who "sroi at a A'ai and w-alfouj a
Campbell." , -- ;
i ' "That's So !" New clothes are great prom
ottrs of pietyL A new bonnet or a new dress
will induce a girl to go fo church at least twice
on Sunday, where sho did not go once before
she got it. . - - - .
Ba attentive to your neighbor at the dinner
f.-.hlnr nass her everv thincr she remiiros ; and
-.. - j . J
if she would unwittingly make an ill-natured
remark, pass that also.
- LAST DAYS OF JUDGE J JEFFREYS. '
In the new volumes of Macauley's History
of England is the following account of the last
days of the notorious Judge Jeffreys : '
"Among the many Offenders whoso names
were mentioned in tho course of these inqui
ries, was ono who stood alone and unapproach
cd in guilt and infamy, and whom whigs and
tories were equally willing to leave to the ex
treme rigor of the law. On that terrible day,
which was succeeded by tho Irish Night, the
roar of a great city disappointed of its re
venge, had followed Jeffreys to tho drawbridge
of the Tower. His imprisonment was not
strictly legal ; but he at first accepted with
thanks and blessings the protection which
those dark walls, made famous by so many
cries ami sorrows, afforded hhn against the fu
ry of the multitude. Soon, however, he be
came sensible that his life was still in immi
nent peril.
For a time ho flattered himself with the hope
that a writ of habeas carjm.i would liberate him
from his confinement, and that ho should be
able to steal away to some foreign country, and
to hide himself with part cf his ill-gotten
wealth from the detestation of mankind ; but
till the government was settled, there was no
court competent to grant a writ of habeas cor
pus, and as soon, as the government had b"cn
settled, tho habeas corpus act was suspended.
Whether the lfgal guilt of murder could be
brought home to Jeffreys, may bo doubted.
But he was morally guilty cf so many murders
that, if there had been no other way of reach
ing his life, a retrospective Act of Attainder
would havo been clamorously demanded by the
whole nation. A disposition to triumph over
the fallen has hover been one of tho besetting
sins of Englishmen ; but. the hatred of which
Jeffreys was the object was without a parallel
in our history, and partook bat too largely of
the savageness of his own nature.
The people, where ho was concerned, were
as cruel as himself, and exulted in his misery
as lie had been accustomed to exult iu the mis
ery of convicts listening to the sentence of
death, and of families clad in mourning. The
rabble congregated before his deserted man
sion in Duke street, and read on the door, with
shouts of laughter, the bills which announced
the . sale of his property. Even delicate wo
men, who had ter.rs for highwaymen and house
breakers, breathed nothing but vengeance a
gainst him. The lampoons on him which were
hawked about the town were distinguished by
an atrocity rare even in those days. Hanging
would bp too mild a death for him; a crave
under the gibbet too respectable a resting
place ; he ought to bo whipped to death at the
cart's tail; he ought to be tortured to death
like an Indian; he ought to be devoured alive.
The street poets portioned out all his joints
with caunibal ferocity, and computed how ma
ny pounds of steaks might be cut from his
well fattened carcass. Nay, the rago of his
enemies was such, that, in language seldom
heard iu England, they proclaimed their wish
that he might go to the placo of wailing and
gnashing of teeth, to tho worm that never dies,
to the firo that is never quenched. They cx
bortvd him to hang himself in his garters, and
to cut his throat with his razor. They put up
horrible prayers that ho might not be able to
repent, that he might die tho same hard-heart
ed, wicked Jeffukys that he had lived. His
spirit, as mean in adversity as insolent and in
human in prosperity, sunk down under the
load of public abhorrence. His constitution,
originally bad, and much impaired by intem
perance, was .completely broken by distress
and anxiety. " ; .
He was tormented by a erm 1 internal dis
ease, which the most skillful surgeons of that
age were seldom able to relieve. Ono solace
was left to him brandy. Even when ho had
causes to try and councils to attend, ho had
seldom gone to bed sober. Now, when he had
nothing to occupy his mind, save terrible rcc
olfactions and ten ibid forebodings, he aban
doned himself without reserve to his favorite
vice. Many believed him to bo bent on short
ening his life by excess. He thought it bet
ter, they said, to go off in a drunken fit than
to be hacked by IvETCiijOr torn limb from limb
by the populace.
Once he was roused from a state ot abject
despondence by an agreeable sensation, speed
ily followed by a mortifying disappointment,
A parcel had been left for him at the Tower.
It appeared to be a barrel of Colchester oys
ters, his favorite dainties. Ho was greatly
moved; fur there aro. moments when those
who least deserve affection are pleased to think
that they inspire it. "Thank God," he ex
claimed, "I have still some friends left !" He
opened the parcel, and from among a heap of
shells out tumbled a stout halter.
It doas not apjxsar that one of the flatterers
or buffoons whom lie had enriched out of the
plunder of his victims, came to comfort him
la the day of trouble. . But he was not left in
utter solitude. John Tutchin, whom ho had
sentenced to be flogged every fortnight for
seven years, niado his way into tho Tower, ftnd
presented himself before tho fallen oppressor.
Poor Jeffreys, humbled to tho dust, behaved
with abject civility, and called for wine. "I
am glad, sir," lie said, "to see you." "And I
am glad," answered the resentful whig, "to
see your lordship in this place." "I served
my master,'.' said. Jeffreys; "I was bound. in
coascicu.ee to do so." "Where was your con
science," said Tutchin, "when you passed that
sentence on mo at Dorchester:" "It was set
dowu in mv instructions;" answered Jeffreys,
fawningly, "that I was to show no mercy to
men like you, men of parts and courage.
When I went back to Court I was reprimand
ed for ray lenity." -
Even Tutchin, acrimonious as was his na
ture, and great as were his wrongs, seems to
have been a little mollified by the pitiable
spectacle which lie had at first contemplated
with vindictive pleasure. He always denied
the truth of the report that ho was the person
who sent the Colchester barrel to the Tower.
A more benevolent man, John Sharp, the
excellent Dean of Norwich, forced himself to
visit the prisoner. It was a painful task, but
Sharp had been treated by Jeffreys, in old
times, as kindly as it was in the power of Jef
freys to treat anybody, and had onco or twice
been able, by patiently waiting until the storm
of curses and invectives had spent itself, and
by dexterously seizing tho moment of good
humor, to obtain for unhappy families some
mitigation of their sufferings. The prisoner
was surprised and pleased. "What!" he said,
"dare you own mc now ?"
It was in vain, however, that the amiable di
vine tried to give a salutary pain to that sear
ed conscience. Jeffreys, instea I of acknowl
edging his guiltjcxelaimeu vehemently against
the injustice of mankind. '-People call mc a
murderer for doing what at the time was ap
plauded by some who are now high in public
favor. They call mc a drunkard because I
take punch to relieve me in my agony." He
would not admit that, as President of the High
Commission, he had done anything to deserve
reproach. His colleagues, he. said, were the
real criminals ; and now tluy threw all the
blame on him. lie spoke with peculiar asper
ity ot Spart, who bad undoubtedly been the
most 'humans and moderate member of the
board.
It soon became clear that the wicked judge
was fast sinking under the weight of mental
and tol:ly suffering. Dr. John Scott, pre
lnrndary of St. Paul's, a clergyman of great
sanctity, and author of the Christian Life, a
treatise once widely renowned, was summon
ed, probably on the reccnimondaf ion of his
intimate friend Sharp, to the bedside of the
dying mas. It was in vain, however, that
Scott spoke, as Sharp had already spoken, of
tho hidiov.s butcheries of Dorchester and
Tanntoa. To the last, Jeffreys continued to
repeat that those who thought him cruel did
not know what his orders were, that he de
served praise instead of blame, and that his
clemency had drawn on him the extreme dis
pleasure of his master.
Disease, assisted by strong drink and misery
did its work fast. The patient's stomach re
jected all nourishment. lie dwindled in a
few weeks from a portly and even corply man
to a skeleton. On the 18th of April he died,
in the 41st year of his age. He had been
Chief Justice of the King's Bench at. S3, and
Lord Chancellor at S7. In the whole bistory
of the English bar there is no other instance
of so rapid an elevation, or of so terrible a
fall. The cmatiated corpse was laid, with all
privacy, next to the corpse of Monmouth in
the chapel of the Tower.
Ax Aekaxsas Legislator. A member e
lect of tho lower chamber of the Legislature
of Arkansas, was persuaded, by some wags of
his neighborhood that if he did not reach the
State House at ten o'clck on the day of assem
bling, he could not be sworn, and would lose
his scat. . , . .
He immediately mounted, with hunting frock,
ride, and bowie knife, and spurred until he
got to the door of the capital, were be hitched
his nag.
A crowd was in the chamber of the lower
House, on the ground floor, walking about
with their hats on, and smoking cigars.
These he passed, ran up stairs into the Senate
chamber, set his riflo against the wall, and
bawled out :
" Strangers, whar's the man that swears me
in ?" at the saxne time taking out Lis creden
tials. ' ' . .
Walk this way." : said the clerk, who was
at the moment igniting a real Principe, and
bo was sworn without inquiry.
When the teller canio to count noses, he
found that thcro was one Senator too many
present. Tho mistake was soon discovered,
and the huntsman was informed that he did
not belong there.
"Fool tc'iowith your corn bread ?" lie roar
ed ;" you -can't flank this child, nohow you
canjfix it I'm elected to this ere Legislature,
and I'll go agin all banks and eternal improve
ments, and if there's any of your orratory gen
tlemen wanis to get skinned, jest say the
word, ana I'll ligbt upon- yon like a nigger on
a woodcock. My constituents sent me-here,
and if you want to floor this two-legged ani
mal, hop on, jest as saon you like, for though
I'm from the country, I'm a little smarter than
any other quadruped you can turn out of this
Th-ove." ' ; '
After this admirable harangue,' he pnt bis
bowie knife Ijetween his teeth, and took np his
rifle with, "Come iiere, old suke, standby me,
at the samo time' pointing at tha Chairman,
who however, bad seen sch people before..
After some expostulation, tho man wasper
snaJcd that be belonged to the lower cham-
ber, uftfiki. which he sheathed Lis knife, "fluc
his gun'V'V-?l'vder and with a profoai.d
congree, ramr""
"Gentlcmanf ot'g your pardon. But if I
didn't think that lower room was a groggery,
may I bo shot.
"''' A SPORTING ADVENTURE. :
rr A BACKWOODSMAS.
I have often seen accounts of "hair breadth
'scapes" in snch cases, which very wise peo
ple wtio know nothing about it in more civ-,
ilized places, have charged to the marvellous,
but which we of the woods, at least many of ns,
know to be not only possible, but highly prob
able, and in some instances, by sad experience
in illustration of which, I will endeavor to de
scribe an adventure of my own. In 1837 I re
sided on the bank3 of the Mississippi, (C. W.,)
as I bad done from my Infancy. I was then,
about 19 years ago, stout and athletic, and pas
sionately fond of wild scenery and sporting
adventures. The mo;!tli of October had ar
rivedthe great season for partridge and deer
shooting ; and in accordance with my almost
daily custom, I saHied out with my fowling
piece one barrel charged with a ball, and tho
other with small shot. I had succeeded ia
bagjing some small wares, and in passing s
creek observed a raccoon busily employed turn-
ing over the stones in search effrc, worms,
&c. Without giving the matter much thought
I succeeded in removing "Ursa Minor" to an
other, if not a better world; and being rather
corpulent to carry through the woods, I hung
bim upon a sappling, intending to send for
bim the next day ; and as the part of the coun
tiy in which I was did not afford large game,
I charged the second barrel with shot also. I
bad proceeded perhaps a mile, and was cross
ing the outskirts of ft Tamarack swamp,
through a succession of narrow and rocky glens,
with high and precipitous sides, and had sprung
from a rather high rock into a rift of nor more
than three feei.wide, when I perceived tho
eyes of an immense buck glaring at me, at not
over ten feet distance. A glance showed me
that he had no means cf escape csccpt over
myself; and aware of tho desperation cf this
otherwise timid creature, under snch circum
stances and at this particular season, I formed
my resolution in an instant. I cocked both,
locks, placed my fiagers on tho triggers, and
resolved to wait his spring, as I did not think
my charge would injure bim except at tea very
muzzle; I then knelt upon one lenca and
watched his eye. All thi3 took place in a very
few seconds.
At length the haunches and ears wera drawn
back, and whh a tremendous snort he bounded
ia the air, with the evident intention f de
scending uponius; quick as lighting bcth
barrels were discharged full into his breast,
and I received a shock as if from a pile en
gine, w hich deprived me of all sensation. A
bout threo hours afterwards, I was brought lo
a state of partial sensibility by something lick
ing my face, and something growling and
scratching my clothes ; but being very faint I
did not look up until enormous paws tore flesh
with them ; then, indeed, I did lock up, when,
what was my horror, to see a huge beer, coolly
licking tlio blood from n-y lacerated breast.
Weakness, more than seif-possecsion,' kept mo
still a moment, while fa o isalf-.gttr.va cubs vera
tearing and scratching uy ie cs and feet. . The
desperation of the case aroused me to sudden
energy, and, my right arm being broken, I
slowly stretched my loft hand to my back for
ray hunter's knife, resolved, if such can. ba
ca'U-d resolution, to save my life if possible.
I had got it drawn from tbj . thcatn, and was
watching a favorabio cppovtunity to plunge it
into the brute's throat, y.lien, with a frightful
roar, it foil across my body, spparjnlly in tiia
very agonies of death. A fearful struggle en
sued, which soon put ft stop to my feeble ex
ertions. When I next becama conscious, I
was seated leaning against a rock, and a stal
wart Indian youth, w ho "had been my compan
ion in many a hard day's hunt, was busily en
gaged in binding up my wounds, with, leaves,
and strips torn from lii3 o,vn scinty garments.
Not being able to take me home that night, ho
made a fire and nursed me as a mother woul!
a child,, and the next day carried ma by easy
stages to my parents. . - c ;
It appeared that ho had called for me, bat
being told that I was only goue a few minutes,
thought that Lc would make up to nae he ac
cidentally came to where I had shot and buns
up tho raccoon, but found that some Dears had
brokca tho sapling aud eatea their cousin.
Ilo then strnck their trails, and followed thc.nl
to where ho saw tho old cue apparently devour
ing something, he did not know what. ..Ha
fired, and being awaro of their tenacity of life,
waited to re-load his rifle ero ha ventured to
advance a sad job for me, as by its dying
struggles I have been maimed for lift;' It Is
worthy of remark that the deer had lecn so
close upon rae when I fired, that his -chest was
singed, and that the barrels of tho gnu ircra
found nearly eight ir.chei deep in tho wound
formed . by their own disthaifC, wbil I and
tho tock had been driven upwiru3 cf thirty
feet by tho forco.cf Li spriits". ' " i -"'
".Such aresomo of "thff. perils' cfth hock
wood's sportsman, and which with many' oth
ers, equally romantic," is an o'er trua tale,' as
I and many Others hnofr hy hard experiencs.
. No franking pi ivilego exists in EngTacJ- -Even
the'Qucen has to pay herpenwr-
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