s
! ' j r;T
YOL. 3.-AT0. 23.
: M S. B. ROW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., .WEDNESDAY, JAMJAEY 21, 1857.
v ; f BT REQUEST. . .
T2T2 INDIAN MAID'S COMPOSITION.
' Through the dark woods and forest wild,
My father roved, rude Nature's child,
. With tomahawk and bended bow,
To lay the bear and red deer low ;
Whilst my mother in the wigwam stayed,
The various wampums there to grade ;
. To pound the samp, or dress the skiu,
And sew my lather" moccasin ; .-
' Whilst my brother, in his bark canoe,
O'er the great waves, the waves he drew,
" To hunt the wild duck in the creek,
. Or spear bright fish in yonder lake;
'Whilst I, a little Indian Maid,
. With my little hoops and acorns played,
Or sat by my mother's side all day,
1 To pound the splints for painted baskets gay.
' I could not read, I could not sew, ,
My Savior's name I did not know,
And my parents oft I disobeyed,
. And to the Lord I never prayed.
' The white Missionaries to the forest came,
And taught the red man Jesus' name ;
The church they built, the school-house reared,
And the woods with holy hymns they cheer'd.
.- Now I can read, now I can sew,
- My Savior's name I've learned to know;
And now my Savior I implore,
To bless those white men evermore.
IsDtA Moia.
"WILLIAM TELL.
(From 'Remaiknblo Adventures of Celebrated Per
sons," publUued by Hobt. Seare, Icw York.)
. . "In the midst of Ancient Helvetia, that
country so renowned fur valor, three cantons,
enclosed on all sides by the steepest rocks, had
preserved for many ages their simple manners.
Industry frugality, truth, and modest' those
virtues which the conquering kings of the
earth delight to banish took refuge among
these mountains. There they remained long
concealed, nor complained of their-peaceful
obscurity. .Liberty in her turn fixed her seat
on the summit of these mountains, and from
that fortunate moment, none who are truly
brave or wise, have pronounced without re
spect, the names of Uri, of Schwitz, or Uuder-v-aid
j n. - The natives of these three cantons
pursued their daily labor in the fields, and es
caped for mauy ages the misery produced by
the guilty madness of those tierce chieftains
who conquered the Roman Empire. They
Jomied out of its ruins a number of smaller
kingdoms, which they governed by Hits worst
Tiwa that ignorance could invent in f ivor of
tyranny. -But they despised, perhaps, the poor
shepherds and hiisltandmen of Uri, and on that
account permitted llu-m to keep the cherished
name if Iret-dom. They barely submitted to
these new C:cars, and preserved tluir ancient
customs, tln-ir laws, and their virtues.
"Not fr from Aiturtr, their capital, on the
shore of the Like which gives its name to the
town, is a high mountain, from which the trav
eler, who pauses after the toil of climbing its
steep sides, may discover a croud of valleys
" enclosed by rocks of cliff -rent hize ami shape.
"Rivulets, or rapid torrents, sometimes fall
ing in cascades, across the rocks, sometimes
winding through beds of moss, descend into
the valley to water meadows covered wiih vast
flocks, or to supply the clear lake, in which
the young heifers delight to cool themselves.
On the summit of the mountain was a poor
tint, surrounded by a small field, a vineyard,
and an orchard. A laborer, or rather a hero,
though as yet lie knew not his own powers,
whose heart glowed with the love of his coun
try, received from hi father, at the age of 20
years, this small inheritance, and this was Wil
liam Tell, the hero of Switzerland.
'Nature had endowed Tell with a fiae and
lofty soul, a heart full of benevolence, and a
frame strong and active. He was a head tall
er than the tallest of his companions, lie
could climb with a firm step tiie most stupen
dous rocks; could leap over roaring torrents,
or chase the wild chamois in their fullest speed
to the top of the icy summits, t is arms
could alone bend and break down the stubborn
oak after a lew strokes of his axe, and his
shoulders could bear its vast weight with all
its leafy branches.
"On d-iys tf rejoicing, in the mi 1st of the
pamcs which the young archers carried on,
Tell, who had no equal in the art of shooting
with a bow and arrow, was obliged to be idle
while the prize was disputed, lie was seated
In spito of his youth, among the old men, who
were there as judges. Confused at this honor,
bo could scarcely stir or breathe, in his eager
ness to watch Hie flight of tho swift arrows,
lie applauded with rapture the archer whose
aim was the truest, and held out his firms, as
if to cmbrac - a rival worthy of himself. But
if it happened that the quiver was emptied in
rain, and no one had struck the dove ; if the
bird, tired of its useless struggles, was perched
upon the top of the mast, and looking down
with a fearless eye upon its feeble enemies,
then William would rise, and taking his great
bow with three of the fallen arrows, with the
first he would strike the mast and put the bird
to flight, with the second he would cut the
string which hindered it from soaring on high,
and with the third seek it in the midst of the
clouds, and bring it palpitatiug to the feet of
the astonished judges."
' Shortly alter Tell came into possession, he
.resolved to follow his father's advice and mar
ry. He became enamored of a beautiful or
phan girl, called Edmea, was united to her,
land bore her to his cott ige. Soon after, bis
lieart rejoiced in the birth of a son, whom he
called Genimi. Near his own abode, resided
a rained friend, Melctal, and the two families
were united bvthe strongest bonds of friend
ship. But while in the midst of their happi
ness, the death of Rodolphus, the Austrian
Sovereign, threatened to put an end to their
Ireedom, and their peace of heart.
"Rodolphus, whom fortune had seated on
the tl.rore of the Ciesirs. had always respect
ed the lilierty of Switzerland. The haughty
Albert who succeeded him. puffed up with his
rain titles, his vast dominions, and the com
mand of all the armies ol the empire, was en
raged that a few laborers and herdsmen sboujd
dare to think of being independent of his gov
ernment. He sent a Governor among them to
en hd no the!.- noble spirit: and this Governor
was Cosier, the basest and most insolent of the
Sew Emperor's servants.
Gesler, followed by armed slaves, ol whom
fee mode aca?o8rp hi j-'eesnre, took op
his abode at AltortT. Of a violent temper, and
consumed by a restless spirit, which could on
ly be gratified by wicked actions, Geslermade
himself still more miserable by tormenting
those who were in his power. Trembling at
the very name of Liberty, as a wolf shudders
at the whistling of the arrows which the hun
ters send after him, he resolved, he vowed, to
destroy this empty name. Allowing his info,
mous soldiers to glut themselves with crime,
he himself gave them an example of rapine,
murder, and the most horrid insult.
"In vain did the people complain; their
murmurs were punished as guilt. Virtue af
frighted, hid herself in tho interior of thecot
tage& The laborer cursed the ground for giv
ing to his toil an abundant harvest, which he
must never reap. The old. rejoicing in their
feebleness, which promised them that death
would soon come to their release, joined their
prayers to those of their sons, that they might
not survive them. In short, the verl of mis
ery was extended like a funeral crape over the
three Cantons by the cruel hand of Gesler ;
from the instant of whose arrival, Tell had
foreseen the wretchedness to which his coun
try would be brought. Without letting Melc
tal know his thoughts; without alarming his
family, Tell's great soul prepared itself, not to
suffer slavery, hut to rescue his country.
Crimes grew more common ; the three Can
tons, struck with fear, lay trembling at the feet
of Gesler. Tell trembled not; ha was not
surprised. He watched the crimes of the ty
rant with the same eye with which he was ac
customed to observe on the rocks the bramble
armed with its thorns. And when his ardent
friend Melctal poured forth his indignation in
his presence, Tell heard him without reply.
He shed no tears, nor did a single change of
countenance betray his secret project. He es
teemed his friend, and was certain of his hon
or, but he distrusted his impatience, and dared
not yet confide to him the purpose of his soul,
lie resolved to cenceal bis design from him till
the moment of execution, a moment which he
knew must soon arrive, lie grew stern and
thoughtful; spent long days without embra
cing his child, or beholding his wife, lie rose
even before his usual time; harnessed his
team, led them into the field, and guided the
plough with an unsteady hand ; often he drop
cd his whip; ami suddenly stopping in the
middle of an ill-traced fiirrow, his head bnnjr
down on his breast, while his eyes were fixed
on the ground. In this thoughtful posture he
stood, scarcely breathing, considering the
power of the tyrant, and his own feeble means
of opposing him. On the one hand, he had to
weige the cruel Gesler, surrnuded by his
creatures, and armed by boundless power; on
the other, a ioor laborer determined to be
fice."
One day as bis friend Melctal. with his aged
father, were engaged in their fitdds, an Aus
trian soldier rode up and attempted to unyoke
the oxen and drive them off. This so enraged
Melctal that he secured a stick and attacked
the soldier so vigorously that be took to flight.
Af'ler ho was gone, the aged Melctal Iwcime
alarmed for the safety of his son, a id urged
him to fly to secret passes in the mountains
until Gesler's indignation at the treatment his
soldier had received, should le over. The old
man's son complied, but scarcely had he de
parted when a body ol soldiery came to seize
upon him. Finding that he was fled, they
dragged off the old man to the presence of
Gesler. The tyrant endeavored to force him
to reveal the hiding place of his son, but un
able to accomplish his purpose, and enraged
at Melctal's obstinacy, he fiendishly ordered
the old man's eyes to lie burned out with red
hot irons. The ruthless act was done, and the
blind Melctal then driven out of the pal ice.
His grand-daughter had followed him, and was
awaiting without the palace gates, and when
tdic saw her aged sire, thus mntillated, she
hastened to guide his steps up ttic mountains
to bis hut.
When this news reached Tell his indignation
knew no bounds. He felt that delay only aug
mented the sullerings of his countrymen, and
that the time had arrived to strike the blow
for freedom, which ho had lieen so long medi
tating. Gemini was immediately despatched
with secret instructions to Melctal in his con
cealment in the mountains, while Tell himself
departed for Schwitz, for the purpose of con
ferring with his confederate. Vomer.
A plan was soon consummated between them
and a large pile of arms, which had been col
lected in Verner's cottage, was secretly dis
tributed among the friends of their cause.
They then repaired to the cave of Grutti,
where Melctal had been signified to meet them.
Within the cave they met, and ere they de
parted, the details of their plan were all ar
ranged, and they took a solemn vow to cease
not in their efforts until Switzerland were tree.
Melctal. Vemcr, and a fast friend called Furst,
were each to asemble what men they could
and hold them in readiness. Meanwhile, Tell
was to repair to Altorff, and observing a favor
able opportunity for the attack, he was to com
municate the signal to his Iriends by firing a
large pile of wood and straw, which he should
have in readiness on the mountain top. When
their conference was ended, each departed on
his especial mission.
Meanwhile as Genimi w.13 returning from de
livering his message to Melctal, he was over
taken by a traveler, who desired the boy to
guide him to Altorff. The boy complied, but
oi the way, in answer to some queries of the
traveler, he evinced that indomitable love of
freedom r.hich so characterized his father, that
the traveler in surp: ise demanded to know his
father's name. The boy, suspecting treach
erv, refused to inform him. But when they
ea'me to Altorff". a guard of the city approach
ed the traveler, when he ordered the arrest of
the boy, revealing himselt as Gesler. The ty
rant had become so enraged at the spirit of the
boy, and so alarmed at the thought that if the
children of the mountaineers manifested such
an independence of feeling, the fathers must
Ikj men to be feared and crushed, he resolved
to arrest Gemini, and hold him in confinement
pntil his parent should appear to claim him.
The boy was dragged iuto the fortress and
thrown into prison.
Alarmed at that spirit of freedom which in
the hardy mountaineers he found so difficult
to subdue, he hit upon a plan to test who were
the refractory spirits of the country. For this
purpose he ordered Sameni, his lieutenant, to
take a long pole- place Gesler's hat upon it,
rf'wi t T.rooeed ficm village to village, in all
places compelling the people to bow down and
do it homage, and those refusing to bo arrest
ed or sl ii" upon the spot.
"Sarnem hastened to obey his orders, and !
when Tell entered Altorff, he was astonished j
t find I PMh aqwu a ht placed ijjk
a pole, to which many of the citizens were i
bowing, who in the act of homage received
kicks and blows from the brutal soldiery. The
blood of the patriot boiled at the sight. Sar
neru soon perceived a man standing aloof, lean
ing upon his bow, and gazing upon the scene,
with ill-restrained indignation. He flew to
wards him, and glancing upon him, eyes in
flamed with rage, 'Whoever thou art,' said he,
tremble, lest 1 punish thy slowness in obeying
the orders of Gesler. Host thou not know
that a law is published to oblige every citizen
of-Altorff" to bow with reverence to this sign
of his power V
"I knew no such law," replied Tell, "nor
could I ever have Injlieved to what an excess
of tyranny and madness, the possession of un
bounded power would lead. But when 1 see
the base submission of this people, I could al
most excuse, nay approve of Gesler's lolly.
Well may he call us slaves ! He can never
sufficiently despise those who will thus de
grade themselves. As for me, I bow to God
alone!"
"Rash man !" replied Sarnem, "soon wilt
thou repent for thy insolence. Fall instantly
on thy knees, if thou would'st prevent this
arm from chastising thee."
"I will not obey," rejoined Tell.
In an instant a score of soldiers flung them
selves upon him, and dragged him to the pres
ence of Gesler.
Calm in the midst of the soldiers, deaf to
their rude threats, and folding his arms across
his breast, William stood before the tyrant.
He regarded him disdainfully, and allowed his
eager accusers to speak without interruption,
waiting in proud silence till Gesler should
think tit to question him.
And when in reply to the tyrants interroga
tions, he manifested so undaunted a spirit, and
so lofty a soul, that Gesler became convinced
that the boy arrested by him, coirld be no oth
er than the son of Tell. The boy was secretly
ordered to be brought before him, and no soon
er did he enter than Tell sprung forward to
embrace his son. The tyrant's suspicions be
ing confhmed, he resolved on a refined cruelty
as a punishment for his enemy, lie had heard
of 'fell's matchless skill with his bow and ar
row, and he resolved to put it to test. He or
dered that an apple should bi put on
the youthful Geiumi's head, while Tell should
be compelled to shoot it off. Hid he consent
he was to be free, but to refuse, the boy was to
be put to death before his sight. Tell, with
horror at the tearful alternative, at fir.t refus
ed the trial, beggingGesler to let his vengeance
fall on him and spare his sou. But the brave
boy would not hearot his father's proposition,
and begged of him to make the trial, assuring
his father that he did not fear the result. At
last Tell yielded. The trial was ordered to
take place at once. The ground was measur
ed out. and the young boy placed on his knees
with his back to his father, and the bow ami
arrow placed in the hands of Tell. "His bow
was given to him with an arrow only, the point
ol which he tried, it broke, and he thiew it
away, demanding his quiver. It was brought
to him : as it lay at his feet, he stooped clown,
and appeared to be making choice of an'nr
row ; but when he had a favorable opportunity,
he bid one in his clothes, and seized another
with which he meant to shoot. Then grasping
his bow and arrow, und turning his eyes to
wards the beloved mark to which he must di
rect his aim, twice he endeavored to shoot,
but in vain. The bow fell from his hands. At
last, rousing all his skill, his strength, bis cou
rage, and wiping away the tears which had
dimmed his. sight, he invoked that all-powerful
Being, who b-holds from the highest Hea
ven parental angjish ; then nerving his trem
bling arm, he forced, he accustomed his
eye only to look at the apple. Seizing the
moment, as rapid as thought, in which he could
forget his son's danger, he took his aim ; he
drew his bow, and struck the appb, which the
arrow carried with it as it Hew. The market
place echoed with shouts of joy ! Gemini ran
to his lather's arms, who, pale and motionless,
exhausted by his amazing effort, could not re
turn his embrace. He looked ivildly about
him ; he could not stand, and would have fal
len but for Gemini, who supported him. The
arrow concealed In his clothes fell to the
ground, and was perceived by Gesler, who was
instantly by his side. Tell.who was beginning
to recover his senses, turned away his head at
the sight of f.ie tyrant.
Incomparable archer !" said Gesler to him,
'I shall keep my promise, and pay thee the
price ol thy matchless skill. But, first, let
me hear for what purpose thou hast reserved
this arrow which thou hadst concealed 1 One
only sullici-d for thee, why then didst thou
hide this V "Tyrant." said Tell, "this arrow
was to have pierced thy heart, if my ill-fated
hand had been the cause ot my son's death !"
At these words, wrung from a father's ogony,
the tei rifled Gesler, retreated in the midst of
his guard.
Revoking his promise, he ordered Sarnem
instantly to load Tell with chains, and conduct
him to" the lort He was obeyed. They tore
him from Gemini's embrace, who vainly de
manded to accompany his father. The guards
drove him away. The people murmured, and
appeared moved 5 Gesler hastened to his pa
lace, and ordered all his soldiers to arms. Vast
bodies of Austrian troops marched in all p rts
of the city, and obliged the terrified people to
hide themselves in their habitations. Terror
reigned in every street ; and the soldiers were
ready to glut themselves with the blood of new
victims.
Meanwhile Genimi alarmed for tho fate of
his father, sped lo the mountains to convey
the news to Melctal, while Clara, Melctal's
daughter, who was in the town, hastened to
Tele's cottage to apprise Edmea of her hus
band's situation. The sad news pierced trie
heart of Edmea with anguish, and fired the
blind old Melctal with new vigor. He propos
ed that they should set out at once for Altorff
where he had friends, and where he hoped to
excite the citizens to a revolt, while his son,
apprised of Tell's .situation by Genimi, bo felt
assured would be hastening to the town with
his friends. Edmea, unknown to her husband,
had become aware of the signal to bo used by
him -to acquaint his friends of the appointed
time for the rising, and therefore proposed
that they should fire her cottage, as there was
not time to raise a pile of combustible mate
rials, and by that means arouse the friends of
freedom through tho three Cantons. This plan
was speedily put In execution, and as they de
scended tho mountain, tho fire spread rapidly
through tho building and soon it was in a
bright blaze, throwing a vast light all aiound,
w hich might bo seen far and near. Vcrnersnw
it in Schwitz the impatient Melctal, whom
Qmml bsd mo ys-t reeebbd, hpd with Joy
at the sight and Furst, in tho mountains of
Urseren, doubted not that Tell, at the head of j
the brave inhabitants of Altorff, was expect
ing hitn to obey his signal.
These three chiefs armed themselves almost
at the same instant, left their dwellings to seek
out their faithful followers, and rouse them in
the name of liberty ! The friends awakened
from sleep, seized their arms, assembled in si
lence, and formed into battalions. From three
different quarters, at the same hour, these
three chielUins began their march to Altorff",
followed by troops who made up tor want of
numbers by their courage and resolution to
die or deliver their country.
All pressed forward with impatience.
They dreaded lest the snows, the torrents, the
untrackod roads, should retard their march,
and occasion them to arrive too late at the fort
t that" gloomy lortr.-ss which they have re
solved to attack and to conquer, along with
the tyrant.
But Gesler, whose fears never slumbered,
alarmed at the signs ol the revolt which he
had witnessed in the multitude, fearing to lose
his prisoner, and trembling for his own safety,
had already taken measures of which one a
lone was sufficient to disappoint his brave ene
mies. He resolved to remove Tell to the tow
er of Kuznach, at the other end of the lake of
Lucerne, from which place he would bring re
inforcements to crush the revolt. A boat was
hastily got ready.forty chosen archers embark
ed in her, and fell loaded with chains was cast
into the bottom of the boat. At midnight they
sailed from Altorff', unknown to the inhabi
tants, and took their way across the lake. As
Tell lay in the bottom of the boat looking up
towards heaven, he suddenly to his great as
tonishment, perceived on the side towards Al
toWF, a red and streaming light. His heart
bounded at the sight, but he had confided the
secret to no one. Meanwhile his captors were
greatly wondering as to the cause of the light,
the boat passed on through the first lake and
a narrow straight which led them to tt'.e deep
waters of the dangerous lake of Underwalden.
Here a furious storm arose wmch threatened
them w ith destruction. The north wind send
ing storms In-fore it stirred up the waves into
niountajr.s, and carried them roaring to the
side of'the vessel, where they broke, and by
redoublinc their attacks, forced it to yield to
tiieir violence. Forsaking its path in spite of
the efforts of the rowers, it flew sideways to
wards the coast, while the west wind bringing
clouds, hoar frost, and snow, covered the sky
as with a funeral veil, spread darkness over
the waters, and striking the faces and hands
of the rowers with icy d irts forced them to
row more feebly, and, obliging them to hold
down their eyesxoncealcd from them the sight
of their d anger. The boat was soon filled with
ice and abundance of snow ; and this cruel
wind opposing it progress, comoarted the
north wind which attacked it towards the side,
and forcing it rapidly to turn on its keel, kept
it suspended on the foaming waves; then a
bandoning it for a time, threatened to hurl it
to the bottom of the lake !
"The pule and terrified soldiers, not doubt
ing that death was near, lell on their knees to
implore the aid of that God whom they had so
long forsaken. The base Geslei, more cow
ardly than tho rest, went from one boatman to
another, promising them all bis treasures if
thev would give him hopes of saving his life.
Sullen and motionless, they answered him on
ly b tiieir silence. Tears, the disgraceful
tears of weakness and cowardice, bathed for
the first time the evs of the fierce Gesder-
Certain that his end drew near, neither his
riches nor his power, his tortures, nor his as
sassins, could secure him from a watery grave,
lie wept, he wished for life, and lost his thirst
for blood.
Tell. tranquil where he was first laid, and
far less disturbed by the cries of the soldiers,
the noise of the waves, or the roaring of the
unchained Boreas, than he had on perceiving
the light towards Altorff Tell awaited death,
considering only the advantage which his
country might obtain by the death of the ty
rant. But now .the bcJaimui, aware of Tell's
great reputation in the management of a boat,
besought Gessler to free him that he might
conduct them safely to the shore. The trem
bling tyrant yielded, and the soldiers hasten
ed to set Tell at liberty ; his irons fell off he
rose, and, without speaking a word, seized the
rudder. Guiding the boat with his hand as a
child bends at his will the wand that he plays
with, be opposed its prow to both winds, and
thus dividing their force, he kept it equally
balanced. Just then profiting by a moment's
calm, he rushed like lighting from the prow to
the stern, kept the boat in the directum which
alone could save it, made the boatmen take
their o irs once more, ai d, directing their la
bors, advanced in spite of the w inds and waves
into the strait through which he wished to re
turn. The dirkness prevented Gesler lrom
perceiving that he was going back to the place
from w hence he began his voyage.
William continued his course; night was
nearly over, but they were once more in the
lake of Uri. He saw the expiring flame of the
signal given on the mountain of Altorff. This
light was his guiding star ; he had long known
the lake, and avoided its dangerous rocks, tho'
he approached the shore which bordered on
the Canton of Schwitz. He thought of VeT
ner, and was certain that he must already be
on his inarch, and that the snow which cover
ed the roads would oblige him to keep close
to the lake-side. With this feeble hope, h
steered the boat along, and, to increase the
terror of Gesler and his soldiers, seemed to be
ignorant where the tempest had carried them.
At last the east began to grow red, and tho
Storm to abate at the approach of dawn. Toe
daylight discovered to Tell the rocks near to
Altorff, before tho dreaded tyrant had time to
recognize tnein. William steered towards
them with greater velocity. Gesler, whose
cruelty returned as the danger grew less, watch
ed Tell with gloomy frowns, lie wished, but
had not yet courage to chain him again. His
soldiers and sailors soon perceived where they
were, unci informed the Governor, who, ap
proaching Tell with anger, demanded n a ter
rible voice, 'wbv he had rowed the bcat baok
to Altorff
"VilIiam,withoHt replying, pushed the boal
against a rock very near to the shore, and,
seizing hastily the bow and arrow which ono
of the guards held in his hand, darted like
lightning from the boat to the rock.over which
he bounded like the wild ch tmois. und leaped
from it to another rock ' which was nearer to
th.e shore. This he climbed with a firm step,
and stood on tho summit like the eagle on the
Alps, which rests its wiog among the clouds,
and survevs with piercing ! flocks of
M nllcjf;
T!ia aotnnished Governor uttered a cry of
fury and rage ; he commanded his men to land
instantly and surround the rock on which he
saw the hero. Thev obeyed ; the archers des
cended, and had already bent their bows
Gesler, marching along witn iiiem.wisneu ma
taeir united arrows might drink tho life-blood
of bis heroic enemy. Tell was prepared for
then he stopped, he showed himself only to
draw on the enemy ; he suffered his armed
body to approach till they were within reach
of bis deadly arrow. Then looking sternly at
Gesler, he fixed his arrow in the string, and
aiming at the tyrant's heart, he bent his bow.
The weapon, w histling as it flew, made its way
through the heart of Gesler. who fell vomiting
black blood, and stammering out his hatred
and his rage.
"While he breathed out his atrocious soul
in curses.Tell had already disappeared. Light
er than the fawn, he lushed from the summit
or the rock ; be ran, he flew over the ice ; he
gained and crossed the solitary paths that led
to Altorff. He soon discovered In the snow
the fresh traces of the footsteps made by Ver
ner's frivnds, whom he had conducted that
very night from Schwitz. Following these
traces, he soon approached tln-m, and his ear
was struck with tumult, cries, and the clashing
sound of arms. He flew to the market-place,
aud found it full, occupied by three battal
ions oi heroes. Verner at the head of the
warriors f rom Schwitz, was eager to secure
the city gates lefore the attack upon the fort.
Furst, with the brave troops of Uri, desired to
be jdaced at the most dangerous post. Melc
tal, with the brave men of Underwalden, rais
ing his battle-axe in tho air, cried out loudly
for the assault. Gemmi was at his side. Arm
ed with a long siear, he uttered the name ot
William, and, calling on the soldiers to rescue
his father, Iih pointed to the distant prison in
which he believed thnt he was still immured.
The aged Henry and Edmea, mixing with the
brave soldiers, went from rank to rank, from
troop to troop, urging thrni on to the attack.
"All at once William appeared in the midst
of the battalions. A general cry is heard and
re-echoed among the mountains. Tell secur
ed the standard of Uri, and with a battle-axe
in his hand, placed himself at the head ol his
friends to attack the fortress. They rushed
impetuously upon it, determined to raze it to
the ground that no more tyrants should make
it their strong hold. They met with a tierce
resistance, but they overcame every whsUcle.
mounted the battlements, wreaked a fearful
vengeance on their tyrants, and as the stand
ard of Uri waved from the fort, Swiizoiland
became forever free."
DR. LIVINGSTONE'S DISCOVERIES.
The N. V. Tribune says : The secret of Af
rica has ceased to be. That myterious quar
ter of the globe, last in civilization for in the
geography of human advancement, as will as
in physical geography, Egypt lias alwasbeen
a part of Asia fortified ugainst foreigners by
its compact form, its fatal fevers, the fabulous
savagery .f its inhabitants, and more than all,
the uncertain terror which is everywhere pro
jected like a shadow from the unknown, has
within a few years past, lost a part of its mys
terious character. The sources of tho Nile
have leen almost reached. Tho countries to
the south of Sahara have lecn crossed and re
crossed by white men. Steam has vexed a
thousand miles of the waters of the Niger,
and Tribune have been regularly sent to with
in three or four hundred miles of the geogra
phical center of the country. North of the
Cape of Good Hope, Lake Ngami has recent
ly added something to our knowledge, and its
discoverer, Dr. Livingstone, is now astonish
ing the lovers of heroic perseverance and per
fect maps, by his details of a walk of -,000
miles from St. Paul de Loando on the Atlan
tic, to Quillimane on the Indian Ocean.
Dr. Livingstone is nenrlv fortv rears old.
His face isfutrowed by hardships and thirty
fevers, and black with exposure to a bnrning
sun. His left arm is crushed -and nearly help,
less from the too cordial embrace of an Afri
can lion and sixteen years among sivages have
given him an African accent and great hesi
tancy in speaking English. Passing through
all privations with the heart of a true hero, not
as sacrifices but as victories, he reached St.
Paul de Loando, in May, lSjl, after a loot
journey of a thousand miles from his mission
among the Bechuanas. He remained at St.
Loando until the close of the year, when he
set out for the unknown East. In March he
arrived at Quillimane, where he was taken up
by a British man of war. On the war lie
tract! the Lecambyo down to the Zambezi,
thus demonstrating the existence in the cen
ter of this unknown land..of a river some two
thousand miles long.
This immense stream, whoso discovery is
the great fruit of the journey, is in itself an
enigma without paralel. But a small portion
of its waters reach the sea-coast. Like the
Abyssinian Nile, it falls through a basaltic
cleft, near the middle of its course, w hich re
duces its breadth firm 1,000 to 2 yards. A
bove these falls it spreads out periodically in
to a great sea, filling hundreds of lateral chan
nels ; below it is a tranqnil stream of a totally
different character. Its mouths seem to bo
closing. The southernmost was navigable
when the Por'uueso first arrived in tho coun
try, 300 years ago, but it has long since ceas
ed to be practicable. The Quillimane mouth
has of late years been impassable, even for a
canoe,' from July to February, and for tl'JQ or
300 miles up the river navigation is never at
tempted in the dry season. - And in this very
month of July, when the lower portion of the
river, after its April freshets, has shrunk to a
mere dribl Ie, abovethe falls the river spreads
out like a sea oyer hundreds of square miles.
This, with frequent cataracts, and the hostili
ty of the natives, would seem to be an effectu-
J law hi tops- ft
busterinj in which English merchants ai.4
joiirn ls are now indulging.
During this unprecedented march, alone
and among savages, to whom a whit j face was
a miracle, Dr. Livingston was compelled ta
struggle through indescribable hardships.
The hostilities ot the natives ho conquered by
his intimate knowledge of their character and
the Bechuana tongue to w hich theirs is related.
He waded rivers and slept In the sponge anl
ooze of marshes, being often so drenched as
to be compelled toturn his armpit Intoa watch
pocket. His cattle were destroyed by tho ter
rible tse-tse fly and he was too poor to pur
chase a cjnoo. Lions were numerous, being
worshiped by many of the tribes as tLe recep
tacle of the departed souls of their chiefs ; dan
gerous, too, as his crushed arm testifies. How
ever he thinks the fear of African wild beasts
greater in England than in Airica. Many of
his documents were lost while crossing a river
in which he came near losing bis life also, but
lie has memoranda of the latitudes and longi
tudes of a multitude of cities, towns, rivers
and mountains, which w ill go far to fill up the
"unknown region" in our atlases.
Toward tho interior ho found tho country
more fertile and more populous. The natives
worshipped idols, believed in transmigrated
existence alter ds.ath, and jnirformed religious
ceremonies in groves and woods. They were
less ferocious and suspicious than the seaboard
tribes, had a tradition of the deluge and mor
settled Governments. Some of them practi
ced inoculation, and used quinine, and all
were eager for trade, being entirely dependent
on English calico for clothing, a small piece
of which would purchase a slave. Their lan
guage was sweet and expressive. Although,
their women, on the wholo, were not well trea
ted, a man having as many wives as be chose,
they were complete mistresses of their -wn
houses and gardens which the husb-iid uir.'d
not enter in his wife's absence. They were
fond of show aud glitter, and as much as SI 50
had been given for an English riff-'. On the
arid plateau of toe interior water-meloiij'sup
plied the place-of water for some months of tho
year, as they do on the Plains of Hungary ia
Summer. A Quaker tribe on the rier Zjnga,
never fight, never have consumption, scrofula.
hydrophobia, cholera, small-pox or measles.
These advantages, however, are counterbalan
ced by the necessity of assiduous devotion to
trade and raising children to make good their
loss from the frequent inroads of their fight
ing neigbltors. '
Dr. Livingstone" discoveries, In their char
acter and their commercial value. Iiavo beeu
declared by Sir. Uoderic Murcldson to be su
perior to any since the discovery of the Cap
of Good Hope by Vasco rte Gam i. ' But great
er than any commercial value is the lesson
which they teach that till obstacles yiuli to
a reiulutw laan.
WA'HITGT37 G3-SIP.
TEREITORIAL COMMITTEE.
The Committee onTerritories have prepared
a report ail verse to the petition of the citizens
of Carson Valley, asking for the annexation of
that portion of Uth Territory to California.
One of the reasons for refusal it t hat Calwor
nii is too largo already, and would be made
more unwieldy by such an extension of its
boundaries. Tin committee believe 5h.1t some
measure of wid-r scope is necessary to t-ffl-ct a
cure ol the evils of which the citizens of Carsou
Valley complain, namely, Mormon oppres
sions; and accordingly recommend the pss
ssge of the bill now on the calendar, forth
prevention and punislwient of bigamy. This,
they add, would remove the moral and politi
cal pestilence which makes Utajr tLe scandal
of the Amurica!i peop'o.
TtnEITOET.
The Territorial Committee hare prepared an
unfavorable report on" the petition for the or
ganiz ition of a Teriltorial Government in Ar
izona, ia the Gaisicn purchase. From tha
statements to tho committee, it appears there
are from eight to ten thousand inhsbitsnts
therein, and by the lowest estimate, from two
to three thousand. Taking the medium, there
are from five to seven thousand white inhabi
tants, and this number is deemed too small for
a seperate government, and will not warrant
the large expenditure necessary. The Com
mittee intend reporting a bill establishing s
Judicial Distiict south of the Gila, creating
the office of Survc or General, providing for
the adjudication of certain l uid claims, grant
ing donations f lands to actual settlers, aud
providing for representation in the Legislature
of New Mexico. This is all iha redress the
case requires, in the opinion of the committee.
ALLEOID coBBcrrioss.
The Select Committee to examine Into the
alleged corruptions, adopted at their meeting
astringent rule, with a view to the preven
tion of permature exposure of their proceed
ings, and took initiatory steps for summonine;
witnesses. They likewise instructed their
chairman to offers resolution asking the Uoc
to enlarge their powers. This was done, and
the House granted the oiost ample scope fo
the inquiries of the committee. The commit
tee are in earnest. They hr npwarus of thirT
ty persons on their lit of witnesses." Among
them a nnmber of ij.iei:! j.d ui-ihIh-is of tho
1bby, and ex Lieut. Governor Raymond, f
tho New- York Times. A number of s ;.!: ce
nses have been issued. Quite a liV.riiLer d lo'j
by members have left the ait eQo i oiXUf
tatae lum eruujred.
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