u
BI S. B. KOV.
CLEARFIELD, PA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1858.
YOL 4.-NO. 42.
LET US ALL HELP ONE ANOTHER.
Let us all help one another,
And a heart of kindness show,
Ai down Time's flowing river
In tho boat of life wo row J
For rough may be the weather,
And the sky bo overcast.
If we only pull together,
We can brave the storm at last.
- Let ns all help one another
In misfortune's wintry day,
' And be kinder still, as ever
Earth's best gifts are snatched away ;
When bright fortune gilds the morrow,
Hollow hearts will fawn and cling,
' But when comes the nilit of sorrow,
Only true heart comfort bring.
j; Let us help one another.
. And do ood where'er we can
. Who withhold:) the hand of kindness,
Scarce deserves the name of man ;
For the one great law of nature,
Which was meant mankind to bless,
Bills tu help a fellow creature,
When we find htm in distress.
A WONDERFUL, ESCAPE.
FROM THE J.OTE BOOK OP THE LATE CAPTAIN
EOBEKT UKNIIAM.
It was in the autumn of 1799 that a part of
B8 left the Falls of tho Ohio, in kccl-boats,
voder the command of Major Rodgcrs. for the
purpose of making an attack upon the Indians
at the old town of Chillicotlie. On onr way
up the river we jnet with no remarkable ad
venture, till we approached the month of the
Licking which we did about sunset of a de
lightful day. We observed a few Indians
funding upon a projecting sand bar, at a
point where the two streams unite, apparently
watching some companions in a canoe, who
were crossing to them froni the opposite bank
of the smaller stream. If they saw us there
was nothing in their manner to indicate the
fact; and thinking it possible to take them by
surprise, Major Rodgers ordered the boats to
be run up under some bushes along the shore,
and all the men, save five some seventy in
number to advance cautiously through the
wood, and completely surround the spot where
the savages were.
We all set ofT in fine spirits, thinking only
of the surprise wo should give the enemy.
Quietly, stealthily, we pushed onward, spread
ing out as we advanced, till at length we
reached and fairly encircled the fated spot ;
when, just as the order was being given to
rush in upon the foe, wc were startled and
thrown into the greatest confusion by the up
rising on every side of us several hundred
yelling Indians.
We bad been drawn into a complete ambus
cade had been taken by our enemies in the
rery trap we had set for them. Instantly they
poured in a destructive fire, and then fell upon
us with knife and tomahawk; when the panic
on our part became tearful, and the slaughter
tremendous. Like frightened sheep wc hud
dled together; and then, finding ourselves
hemmed in by onr foes, who hewed ns down
as fast as thej- reached us, we turned at bay,
and poured back a voile- from our side. Then
with yells as wild and savage as their own, wo
broke through their lines, and rushed for our
boats. But the Indians, comprehending our
design reached them before us, and made a
capture of all sivc one, in which tho men left
In charge had made their escape. Our only
chance now was to break their lines again, and
tart through the forest to the station of Ilar
rodsburgh. Favored by the gathering shades
of night, some twenty of our whole party es
caped, though hotly pursued by our blood
thirsty foes.
But I was not one of that fortunate few ;
for, as I was in the act of clearing some five
or six of the enemy, who barred my way to a
dense thicket, and just as I had cut down a
couple of the nearest, a- ball passed through
my hips, shattering the bones. At onco I fell
but luckily among some thick bushes, which
for the, moment concealed me ; and the others,
probably thinking me dead or escaped, imme
diately darted off" in pursuit of my flying
friends. I had my rifle still in my hands; and
wounded and suffering as I was, I proceeded
to load it as I lay on the ground my only hope
now being that I should succeed in killing one
more of the wretches before a terminus should
be put to my own existence.
As minute after minute went by however,
and the yells of the savages grew more and
more distant, and night began fast to envelop
me in her welcome pall of darkness, a new
Lope sprnng up in my breast, that I might
possibly so secrete myself as to escape the
observation of the enemy altogether. Slowly
dragging myself through the bullies to a fal
len tree, which lay within a few feet of me, I
with tho most excruciating pain crept under
tho branches, which I disposed above my per
son in the best manner I could.
Here for hours I lay, suffering agonies of
;l)ody and mind which no language has power
to describe. I dare not stir again, scarcely
to breathe. I heard the Indians return, and
I could tell by the sound that they were going
over the ground and butchering all the woun
ded they could find. About midnight, as near
as I could judge, they once more drew off" and
lit their camp fires, the glimmering of which
I could faintly perceive through the thick fo
liage which surrounded me.
Let me pass over that night of horror. If
any ono would have the faintest idea of what I
suffered, he must imagine himself in my sit
uation there in the branches of that tree
with both hips shattered surrounded by my
dead friends and, worse still, my living foes.
J dare not change my position, nor give vent
to a single groan ; and at times it seemed that
nature must compel from roe some expression
of pain, in spite of my utmost will. O, it was
a horrible night ! and may God deliver me
from ever passing such another.
But the end was not yet. Horrible as that
was, I dreaded to see the morrow. How could
I expect to escape tho lynx eyes of so many
savages, when they should begin to beat over
the ground for plunder 7 And at times the
thought of this so worked upon my feelings,
that I was more than once tempted to shriek
out, and let my position be known, and thus
bring upon myself the rcliefof a speedy death ;
for I knew, from my disabled condition, that
the Indians would not think of taking me
prisoner, but butcher me at once. And yet
the instincts of life were greater than the temp
tation I speak of. And these same instincts,
by the way, seem wisely sent for our preserva
tion to act when reason tells us that hope is
lost, and we had bettor end our woes at once.
How painfully I watched the dawning of the
day! how eagerly and tremblingly I listened
to every sound ! At length I could hear the
Indians astir ; and soon alter they began to
traverse the sci'ne of slaughter, and gather up
the arms of my companions, and strip their
bodies of every garment. They were hours
at their work ; and to me those hours were
ages. At times when some of them drew
near the spot where I lay, I felt my heart in
my very throat, and it seemed as if I should
die of suffocation. Twice a small party of
them were so close that I could see their half
naked, hideously painted forms through the
leaves ; and once a single warrior stalked by
me, within reach of my rifle. Up and down,
and over the ground they passed and repassed
many times, till they were evidertly satisfied
that none of the dead or the wounded had es
caped their notice. They then drew off in a
body along the bank of the river, where they
remained for Lours in fact, till late in the day
when, being joined by the rest of their com
panions, who had probably made a long journey
in pursuit of the fugitives, they repaired to
the boats.
With a feeling of thankfulness which I can
not exprcs., I heard them put of! from the
shore, and every sound gradually die away to
silence. And yet shortly after, there came
an awful revulsion of feeling ; for I now felt
that I was alone alone in tho wilderness
afar from friends so crippled that I could not
walk could only move my body, in fact, by a
great eflort suffering all the time the most
excruciating agonies, and in danger of per
ishing from starvation. Had I been able to
move about, even though never so slowly and
feebly, I could have rejoiced In my good for
tune ; but situated as I was I felt that an over
ruling Providence, such as had so far preserved
me, could still save me from even a more hor
rible doom than 1 had escaped.
As I thus lay on my back, in a position
which had scarcely been changed for more
than twenty hours, I looked up through the
leaves, and to my surprise, I might almost
say joy, beheld a racoon in the act of descend
ing the trunk of a large tree, some of Khose
branches even canopied the spot where I lay.
Was this poor animal a messenger of hope I
Had Providence directed it hither for my pre
servation ? I fancied so then I almost fancy
so still. At all events I cautiously raised my
only remaining friend, my rifle, took a quick,
but certain aim, and fired. Tho ball sped to
its mark, and the' animal dropped dead with
in a few feet of me ; and as I raised myself
among the limbs, with the intention of drag
ging myself to it, I was startled by hearing a
human cry. -
Fearing the Indians had not all gone, I
hastily reloaded my rifle, and then remained
perfectly still, trembling at the thought of
what I might next behold, but determined to
sell my life dearly, and shoot the first human
figure I should sec approaching me. Present
ly I heard the same loud, startling cry repea
ted, but this time much nearer than before.
Still I kept silent, my rifle firmly grasped,
for I could recognize nothing like the voice
of one of my race. Again I heard the same
singular sound, but still nearer yet, and a rust
ling among the under brush, apparently at a
distance of twenty yards. I now cocked my
rifle, and poised it, resolved to shoot the first
object that should appear. But fortunately
nothing did appear, till my heart had been made
to leap for joy, by the utterance of words, in
my native tongue, which fell clearly and dis
tinctly upon ray car, and assured me it was a
countryman, perhaps a companion.
" Who are you 7 where are you 7 For God's
sake, speak !" cried the voice.
I now gave an answering shout ; and soon I
was gratified by the sight of a human figure,
pushing rapidly through the bushes, whom,
notwithstanding his haggard and bloodstained
features, 1 at once recognized as Peter Brent.
On getting sight of me, he stopped, and ex
claimed, "My God ! Captain Benharo, is this
you 7 How did you ascapo 7 I thought I was
the only being left alive by the butchering
wretches!"
"Alas !" I returned, "I am as good as dead;
for I am badly wounded in my hips, and can
not walk a step."
, "See!" he rejoined, "I'm no better off
both my arms aro broken ! and I've no power
to nse a weapon, and could not feed myself if
I had anything to eat. I think, of the two,
Captain you're the best off, after all ; for you,
at least, can shoot same, and so won't starve!"
"Aye," 1 said ; "but how am I to get it
when I have shot it!"
"I sec," he replied, with a sort of laugh,
"the two of us only make one decent man.
You've got arms and I've got legs ; and if we
ever get out of this infernal scrape at all, I
reckon we'll have to work out together. And
if Heaven is willing, and the red devils will
let us alone, we'll be able to do it yet, and
cheat the howling imps of two scalps, anyhow!"
It was a very singular and remarkable oc
currence, that only two men should have es
caped from that scene of slaughter; and of
these the one with his hips broken, and the
other with his arms. Brent, like myself, had
nothing to eat for more than twenty-four hours.
And like myself, too, he had escaped, after
being shot, by crawling into a thicket, and ly
ing flat upon the earth, at a point where the
Indians had passed within a few feet of him.
Here he had remained eonccaled through the
night and day, till the savages had departed,
when the pangs of hunger had brought bim
forward in search of food, which he had little
hope of finding, and be knew not by what means
he might get it into bis month, if obtained.
On hearing the report of my rifle, a faint hope
had sprung up in his breast that a companion
might bo near; but whether it should prove
to be a friend or an enemy, ho determined to
make himself known, and risk captivity, or
even death, rather than remain in his hopeless
condition.
We now began our singular mode of living,
which probably has never been paralleled in
the world's history. The first thing Brent
did, was to search for the raccoon I had shot,
and push it along to me with his feet. I then
dressed it ; and kindling a fire with sticks
which he also pushed up to mc in the same
manner, I broiled it, and on this we made our
supper as hearty and as palatable a meal as
ever I ate in my life I feeding him as he sat
beside roe. Our hunger appeased, we felt
more sensibly the pangs of thirst; and at first
we could devise no means for obtaining the
water so near us. Necessity, however, is the
mother of invention; and luckily bethinking
me of my hat, I placed the rim in my compan
ion's mouth, and told him to wade into the
river, until he should be able to dip the hat
under, and then, by returning quickly, 1 fan
cied a good portion of the water might be re
tained, after allowing for the leakage. The
plan succeeded ; and taking the half-filled hat
front his teeth, I held it for him to drink, and
then drank myself, the most refreshing and
invigorating draught that ever passed my lips.
The immediate wants of nature being now
fully supplied, we began to be more cheerful
and hopefnl, though still suffering extreme
pain from our shattered limbs, which I next
proceeded to dress as well as our circumstan
ces would permit. Making some rude splints
with my knife, I took of my shirt and tore it
into strips, and then putting tho bones of
Brent's arms together as well as I could, I
bound the splints around them. This done, I
proceeded to dress my own wounds in the
same incomplete way.
Another night now set in, which we passed
together, lying close in the thicket, and suf
fering a geat deal of pain. We slept little,
but spent the tedious hours in talking over the
dire events which had happened, and mourn
ing the loss of our brave companions.
The second day, beginning early in the
morning, and keeping a sharp look-out for
game, I was fortunate enough to shoot two
sqnirrels and a wild turkey, the latter being
quite numerous in that region. This served
ns for food through the day, and on the third
I succeeded in shooting a couple more squir
rels and a few birds, my companion always
kicking the game to me with his feet, and
pushing up sticks and brush in tho same man
ner, and I dressing and cooking the animals,
and feeding him.
So matters went on for several days, the
game gradually becoming scarcer, and requir
ing a great deal more labor on Brent's part to
drive it within reach of my rifle. Days thus
passed on, and even weeks, before my wounds
were so far healed as to permit me to hobble
about on crutches, and during all this time we
saw net a human soul, though anxiously watch
ing for some chance boat to pass down the
river and take us off.
Our garments being thin, and onr shirts torn
np for bandages, and the weather setting in
cold, our future prospects looked cheerless in
deed, and we were much concerned lest we
should be obliged to winter where wo were.
To be prepared for any emergency, we, with
much labor, put np a kind of rude shanty,
which served in some measure to protect us
from the almost wintry blasts which now began
to sweep over the desolate scene.
As the season grew colder and more incle
ment, the game became so scarce that my
companion with difficulty drove enough within
rifle-shot to give us a single meal a day ; and
with all the rest, our powder was so low in the
horn that I could count the charges, and dared
not fire except when certain of ray mark : then
it was wo began to feel the horrors of despair,
and sometimes to regret that we had outlived
tho dead aronnd us. Almost naked,' with un
shaven haggard faces, hollow cheeks and sunk
en eyes, we now indeed looked pitiable, even
to each other j every day, too, pur condition
seemed to grow worse, instead of better and
at last, with a sinking heart, I informed Brent
we had but four charges of powder in our
horn.
"God help tis !" was his reply
Matters were thus at their very worst, when,
one day, Peter burst suddenly into pur shanty,
where I sat shivering over a few embers, and,
with tears in bis eyes, exclaimed, "Blessed be
God! Captain Benham, we're saved! there's
a flat boat Just turning the bend above us!"
Who shall describe my feelings then I I
started np and hobbled down to the bank of
the river, shouting wildly as I went, lest the
boat, scarcely yet within sight, should pass us
ere I could reach the beach. Oh ! how pain
fully anxious we watched its slow approach,
continually shouting to attract the attention
of men too far distant to hear us, and making
every kind of signal we could possibly think
of for the same purpose.
Gradually the boat neared ns, and at length
wo could see its crew gathered together, and
pointing toward ns. But, oh Heaven ! ima
gine, if yon can, onr horror, when we saw
them suddenly betake to their oars, push over
to the Ohio shore, and then row past ns with
all their might, amid our frantic gesticulations
and piteous prayer for help ! On they swept
down the river, and then Brent and I, looking
at each Other with silent horror, snnk down
together upon the cold beach, and mentally
prayed for death to end our sufferings.
Suddenly oh, sight of agonizing joy t we
saw a canoe put off from the larger boat and
approach us, and then we got up, and fairly
screamed and begged for assistance. When
the rowers had come near enough to converse
with ns, they stopped, and told us they feared
we were decoys, put there to draw them to
the shore, that the Indians might fall upon
and murder them, and it took no little time,
and the roost earnest asseverations and piteous
appeals, to convince them to the contrary. At
last, after rowing past us two or three times,
and closely inspecting the shore, and getting
us to come far out on the sandbar, they ven
tured to take us aboard. We were kindly
treated by these men, when they came to hear
our story ; and being taken by them to the
garrison at the Falls (now Louisville, Ky.,)
we were placed under the care of a skillful sur
geon, and soon restored to our usual healthful
strength.
Reader, is not this story remarkable for the
fact that two men should so singularly escape
from the savages, and live six weeks in the
wilderness the one with useless arms, the
other with useless legs the two together mak
ing, as it were, only one whole man ! Who
ever shall to-day stand upon tho levee of the
now large and flourishing city of Cincinnati,
and glance his eye across the beautiful Ohio,
shall behold the very spot where these remark
able events occurred at a time when all around,
on either shore, was a wild howling wilderness.
Mr. Hask is 's Report, summing np the tes
timony taken by the Committee appointed by
the lower House of Congress to investigate
the Willett's Point job, was made on the 8th
Although influences have been brought to bear
to prevent the concurrence of a majority of
the Committee in this Report, its statement of
facts cannot be disputed, and from these any
intelligent mind can judge tho nature of the
transaction exposed. That both Secretary
Floyd and Collector Schell were inclined to
favor the speculators that a monstrous valua
tion was put on the property by Messrs. A.
Schell and Fowler, with the intent of favoring
those interested in"the sale that Mr. Floyd
too readily accepted their appraisement and
gave $200,000 for a property which had been
offered him barely one month before for $100,-
000 and that law, usage and propriety were
overridden in accepting the property without
due scrutiny of the title, and loaded with a
mortgage for $85,000, thus agreeing to pay
$200,000 when Congress had only appropriated
$150,000 so far, there can be no dispute
For whose benefit this was done, and whether
any of the official actors in the premises de
rived any direct pecuniary advantage there
from, are problems which the testimony does
not solve. But it must not be forgotten that
this job was but one of a series that the sale
of Fort Snelling and the purchase of sites for
new forts near New-Bed ford, Mass., at the
mouth of the Kennebec, Maine, and on Mare
Island, near San Francisco, were conducted on
the same principle, and effected, so far as has
yet been developed, by the same parties.
Willot's Point is on Long Island, N". Y., and
the property purchased as above mentioned,
was designed for fortification purposes.
Birds and Toads are among tho best helps
in the destruction of insects, and both should
be protected. Robins have a fancy for eating
curculios. This is a merit in the robins al
most sufficient to cause every fruit-grower to
take off his hat to every robin that visits his
grounds. One hundred and sixty-two curcu
lios were last year taken from the craw of one
robin. Let the robin live, even it they do
claim a share of tho fruits. Let more fruits
bo grown for robins-and human kind.
Gribblns is a neat fellow. He says he can't
spare time to take 'a1 bath; besides, it costs
money for soap and towels. We asked how
he managed to keep clean (7) "O," said be,
with a highly inventive smirk, "1 sand-paper
myself every Christmas."
THE LITTLE COURTESIES OF LIFE.
"A kindly word, a pleasant smile,
Are better far than gold."
A friend, some time since, came to us and
expressed great annoyance at what he regard
ed as an act of marked discourtesy on the part
of a gifted and accomplished gentleman, to
whom he had rendered a valuable service. He
was qnite excited at the time, not that he cared
so much for the circumstance, but because it
was calculated to dim the high picture which 1
he had formed in his mind of the nature of the
man. lie had set Dim np as me moaei 01 a
Christian gentleman, the very embodiment of
a finished, ;polished, graceful and dignified
character. And yet, to bis surprise, he found
that he lacked one of tho great essentials,
namely, common courtesy or ordinary polite
ness. In other words, he bad either refused
or declined to answer a note that bad been
sent to him on his own business, and this refu
sal was kept np for days, until it became ne
cessary to refresh his memory and offer ono or
two sharp admonitory remarks. It is but one
of thousands. The little courtesies of daily
life, the kindly and graceful amenities which
are so admirably calculated to sweeten the re
lations between man and man, and to impart a
genial spirit to our social evcry-day inter
course, are too frequently neglected. We ei
ther forget, or we overlook them. We do not
sufficiently appreciate our own self-respect, or
the foelings and good wishes of others. This
is the more culpable, for courtesy and kind
ness are at the command of all classes the
poor as well as the rich, the bumble as well as
tho elevated. There are some persons who
never think it worth while to reply to a note
or an invitation nnlcss some especial business
matter be involved. There are others again,
who never omit such an act of courtesy and
duty. In the first case, misunderstandings,
irritations aud unkindnesscs will inevitably
occur, and in the last, all these will be avoid
ed. Somo one has observed, truly and forci
bly, that the little courtesies of life should be
regarded as among the minor virtues, and their
practice should be encouraged ahd cultivated
from early youth. What, indeed, could be
more delightful than the interchange of civili
ty, kindness and good will on all proper occa
sions between friends and neighbors 7 What
is so well calculated to soften the rugged path
of existence, and to give to the human heart
agreeable feelings 7 Some years since, a gen
tleman and lady were betrothed, and the pro
posed union was looked upon in the most ap
proving manner by the parents of both parties.
It so happened that the former had occasion
to visit Europe, and to remain abroad some
thing like six months. He wrote home elabo
rately, or a few words by every packet ; but
during the whole of this period he received but
three letters in reply, and of a character so
brief as to show that the fair correspondent
took very little interest either in the subject
or the object to whom the epistles were ad
dressed. The effect was to annoy, irritate,
create a coolness, and finally to break off the
match. The truth is, no one likes to be treat
ed either with indifference or contempt. A
sense of self-pride revolts against such con
duct. The courtesy we extend to others, we
naturally and properly desire to see extended
to ourselves in return. Reciprocity is the
very soul of harmony, friendship, and good
feeling. A sensitive individual may be ag
grieved and wounded, just as readily by indif
ference and neglect, as by an open and studied
insult. By courtesy, we do not mean affec
tion, hollow pretence, shallow hypocrisy, and
artificial manners. On the contrary, these are
all miserable counterfeits. But we refer to a
genial, generous and kindly spirit, a sense of
appreciation, a recognition of equality, a
truthful air, and a frank and manly bearing.
Not a day goes by, in which all these quali
ties cannot be exhibited more or less, especi
ally In the sphere, and among the friends with
whom we move and mingle. There Is, on the
other hand, nothing more unworthy, unmanly,
pitiable and mean, than a disposition to tyran-
ize over and insult, not directly perhaps, but
indirectly, those who in some sense may seem
to be dependent upon ns, or whom, in the ex
ercise of a false pride, we may imagine we can
outrage with impunity. The little courtesies
of life never shine so sweetly or brightly, as
when they are manifested by the rich towards
the poor, or by the powerful toward the weak.
They then become a grace and embellishment
of the character, and while they adorn the one
party with a moral lustre, they kindlo in the
hearts of the other feelings of kindness, affec
tion and good-will. But courtesy Is never out
of place. It is never thrown away. It always
has its effect, and sometimes it tells far more
efficiently than formal services, or even heavy
obligations.
Cultivate well, asd sot too Widely.
The great evil in our agriculture is that we at
tempt too much with too little means. We
spread over too much ground, and the conse
quence is, no field is cultivated as it ought to
be. Kature is a bountiful mother, but if neg
lected she withholds her gifts. If we scatter
our manure and our labor for her crops, she
will increase tbem ; but if we withhold what
is needed, we may dig in vain. We believe
that if our farmers would bestow the manure
and labor upon thirty acres which they now
bestow upon sixty, they would harvest heavier
crops and be richer every way at tho end of
the year. ; -. , ,
PADDY'S COOX nUNTIXG.
An Irishman of our acquaintance, named
Michael O 'Rodger, who settled in this part of
the country some years ago, lately received
an unexpected visit from bis brother Pat, who
was direct from the "sod." Mike heartily
welcomed his brother and resolved to do et
erything in his power to make his visit an a-
greeable one. Accordingly at the end of the
second day after Pat's arrival, which had beett
spent by them in general carousal, Mike armed
his brother with a shillclah, and immediately
led off in the direction of a cornfield about
half a mile distant, where ho assured Pat that
they would enjoy a rare evening's coon hnat
ing. ' ! ' -' I -
Tho night was too dark to distinguish tho
objects of their search at any great distance,
but on entering the field and setting np a wild
yell they soon discovered by the rustling of
the cornstalks in various directions that they
had been successful in routing several of tbem
from their hiding places. Mike's keen eyes
were now fixed upon a large tree, which stood
a few yards distant, and he soon bad the satis
faction of detecting an object moving np its
trnnk at a rapid rate. This be knew to be a
coon, and with a shout of joy he rushed to
wards the tree, calling bis brother to follow
up. In a moment the two sportsmen were tin
der the tree. Mike prepared to climb, and di
rected Pat how to act when the coon reached
the ground.
ne'll be af ther makin' a great noise to get
away," said Mike, "but for your life don't let
him escape ye."
"Och, be off np the tree widye," answered
Pat, flourishing his shillclab and evidently
growing impatient lor the sport ; "niver fear
but I'll put an ind to him when be cornea
down."
Mike now commenced climbing the tree with
all possible baste, and succeeded very well In
the ascent until he reached the first branches
and became bid from tho wild gaze of his bro
ther, when he paused a moment to ascertain
in what part of the tree the coon had taken)
lodgings. While matters wcro in this state,
the coon made a sudden move among tbe bran
ches, which so startled Mike that he unfortu
nately let go bis hold and fell headlong to the
ground.
Pat supposing him to be the coon, rushed
furiously upon him with his club, and com
menced that delightful operation of "putting
an ind to bim."
"Murther! murther!" cried Mite, attempt
ing to raise to bis feet, "in the name of Saint
Patrick don't be afther bating me to death."
"Ye needn't be givin' me any uv yer dirty
excuses ; shuro me brither tould me ye'd bo.
afther makin' a great noise to git away, but not,
a fut ye'll move out o this alive."
Mike now supposing bis brother to be crazy,
thought it time to make a desperate struggle
for life ; so seizing Pat by the legs be suc
ceeded in throwing him to the ground, where-,
upon a rongh and tumble fight commenced,
which lasted for some time without either of
the brothers uttering a word. After a violent
contest, however, Mike came ofT victorious,
Pat being so completely subdued as to render
him helpless. But fearing- it was all over with
him, he began to call Mike to hasten down the
tree and assist him, or the "ugly baste" wouldl
have bis life.
By this time Mike fully comprehended tho
error into which bis brother had fallen, and
commenced using every means in his power to
bring bim to bis senses, which after a great
deal of persuasion he succeeded in doing.
But the coon was alio wad to escape unharm
ed, as neither of the adventurers felt in a ba
mor for continuing the hunt that night. In
deed it was Pat's first hunting scrape, and. h;
swore by all the saints it should be tbe last.
Newspaper reporters should not drink.
nere is a story handed in by one of the craftj.
which shows in Tery strong colors the manners
in which things become distorted by viewing
tbem through the bottom of a tumbler:
"Yesterday morning, about 4 o'clock P.
a man with a heel in the hole of bis stocking,
committed arsenic by swallowing a dose of su
icide, The verdict of the inquest returned a -jury
that the deceased came to the facts in ac
cordance with his death. He leaves a child
and six small wives to lament tbe end. of. his,
untimely loss. In death we are in the midst
of life."
A Texas and an Illinois farmer were-spcakv.
ing of raising corn, &c, and the Illinois man
was boasting of the snperior yield of prairie
land, and telling large stories, as all western
men do, to which the Texan replied: "KH
tell you what, stranger, they may make larger
corn in your clearing, but it ain't a circum
stance to what we raise in the Colorado bot
toms. Why, the corn there averages thirty
feet in height, with twelve ears to stalk, aad:
a gourd full of shelled! corn on tbe top !" "
Rev. Theodore Parker said in a recent ser
mon that you couldn't transport a, lady or a
barrel of flour from New York to Boston-without
springing a hoop. . . " ,
A fastidions lady was greatly shocked ' the
other day, on reading that male and female
strawberry plants, are frequently found occu
pying tbe same bed. " , '
fclThe 4th of July comes on Sunday this year. .
Bad day for fire-crackers and pop-guns