t
BY S. B. KOW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER G, 1858.
YOL. 5.-NO. 0.
1
4
BETTER Til AS THEM ALL.
A moderate share of wraith is good,
To cheer us on our way,
Fur it has oftentimes the power
To make December Ma j ;
And so is beauty, so is health,
Or genius at our call ;
But a happy, careless, loving heart,
la better than them all.
A heart that gathers hope and faith
From every opening flower.
That smiles alike in winter storm
And gentle summer shower ;
That blesses God for every good.
Or whether great or final ;
h '. a happy, hopeful, loving heart,
Is better than them all.
'TIs well to hold the wand of power,
Or wear an honored name.
And blush to hear the mighty world
lie-echo with our fame ;
'Tis well if on our path the smiles
Of Kings and Nobles fail ;
liut to have a happy, trusting heart,
Is better than them all.
A heart that with tho magic notes
Of music is beguiled ;
A heart.that loves the pleasant face
Of every Ii'tlc child ;
That aideth weakness in distress,
And heareth duty's call;
Oh,! such a loving, human heart,
Is better than them all.
COURTING THE WIDOW,
"You must ccme with me to-night, Shirley,
and I will show you one of the most bewitch
ing little widows you ever beheld. I am sure,
woman-hater that you arc, you will own your
self conquered at once. Say, will you come
and see my beauty 1" 1
"No, 1 thank you," replied his friend,' "I
have something to employ me, especially to
night; but if 1 had not, Ellcry, I shouldbe ofT,
for I hafe all of old Weller's. fear of the
viddcrs. I look on them as a most designing
race with their woebegone voices and ever
ready tears for the 'dear departed.' II I should
ever lose my senses so far as to marry one, I
hope she at least has had the honor of having
her first husband hung; as 1 believe that
would bo the only means I should have to
prevent his virtues being brought up in com
parison with mv faults."
"Ha! ha!" laughed Ellcry. "All this
tirade against widows drawn forth by my luck
less invitation ! But you arc entirely too
verdant, my friend, on the subject. I will bet
something handsome that you will fall in love
with a widow yet. But good evening, I must
go and make myself killing; for, beside the
widow, there will be lots of pretty girls at
lira. Empton's to-night ; and I always, for the
honor of the 'buttons,' look handsome."
This conversation was held at Shirley's
rcotu, where he was sitting, lazily improvising
on the guitar, when Ellcry gave the invitation.
Though not a woman-Aarr, as his friend had
stated, yet, from his retiring habits, he did
riot often seek tho society of the ladies.
When released from official duty, he prefer
red enjoying himself with books, music, and
male iriends ; and this induced some of his
brother officers to bestow upon him tho cog
nomen ol "woman-hater."
"Whore's tho friend yon promised to bring?"
Inquired Mrs. Martin of Ellery.. I must con
less that I have quite a curiosity to behold
Lieut. Shirley, after all you have been telling
me of him."
"I regret exceedingly not being able to re
deem my promise," he replied ; "but a prior
engagement prevented me- trom so doing.
How I do wish you would enter into a little
innocent plot of mine against him for a week
r so. Say yes,' like the child's bargain, be
fore I tell you."
"No, excuse me, Mr. Ellery I shall d no
such thing. Tell nifl, what is your plot ?"
"Tell me, too, Mr. Ellery," said a young
lady of about twenty, who approached, and
whose merry eye betokened a kindred spirit
to his own "tell me too, and I will answer
for it that sister Juliette enters heart and soul
into your plans, whatever they may bo."
"1 shall bo a thousand-fold indebted to yolf,
.Miss Jennie,' said Ellery. "Well, now for
my plot, or rather the outline of it, if you
will accept my arm to lead you to that easy
seat, for I must confess I should like some
woman wit to pcrlect my ldc."
"None of your plots and conspiracies for
. me ; I'll have none of them," said Mrs. Mar
tin, the widow, as she h'ft them to obey her
aunt's previous request for music, and where
we must leave her, seated at the fine toned
piano, discoursing most excellent music, and
.holding her audience enthralled as if by mag
ic. As for Ellery and Jeannie they had "no
music in their souls" at lea&t, lor the time,
and wero therefore the better fitted for"trea
jwns, stratagems and plots;" in which, wc leave
them engaged.
I am sure, reader, had yon seen Juliette
Martin, you, like Ellcry, would have called
1icr "a bewitching little creature." Her del
icate form, huge, beautiful eye of light hasel,
her brown hair, nearly approaching flaxen,
needed not the cherry mouth, or complexion
like the Bunny side of a peach, to set her
.down at once as a beauty. Then her manner,
too, was so soft, so insinuating that you could
not choose but love her. She had married at
her father's command, a man w hom she high
ly esteemed, if she did not love with a young
girl's romantic furore, and whose sudden death
fiad left her with an infant daughter, and a
competency, alone in the world at the age of
twenty-one. Many offers of marriage had al
ready been refused by her, although she nev
,er averted that she did not intend marrying
.again.'
' .Jeannie Martin, bcr husband's young sister,
.was now on avisit, toner; she resided with
rher aunt, Mrs. Empton, and from her gay,
cheerful disposition, bad rendered herself a
favorite with every one of their social circle.
The plot disclosed by Ellery was now en
4irely revealed by Jeannie to her sister-in-law,
at bed time ; although sho obtained from her
tho somewhat reluctant promise of allowing
her to pcrsanate the widow for a few days, the
farce beginning the next morning, with an
.excursion planned to the country.
"I do not ask you ofib, sister Juliette,"
said the merry girl, "only not to unmask me. I
wish to teaso that young fellow, somehow or
other, for a pretty little speech of bis that has
coma to my ears." ,
"But I will not lend my aid in the least, if
any one will be injured by your frolic," said
Mrs. Martin.
"I beg you not to frighten yourself in tho
slightest," returned Jeannie. "No one, I as
sure you can be harmed."
"Well, only for a Jew days, Jeisnie. I
think, however, you should let me into the
secret, when you take my name."
"No, no; bide-a-wee," said Jeannie. "I
will promise you a merry laugh, one ot these
days, for its use."
Thus ended their conversation. The next
morning Ellery came before breakfast, to beg
leave to bring a friend to take the fourth seat
in their carriage ; which was the more readily
granted, as Mrs. Empton had already started
with little Annie Martin and the essentials to
where the pic-nic was to take place. Dear
old Mrs. Empton sho was certainly the nicest
old lady on earth for a pic-nic ; always ready
to attend to that most necessary part, the
"eatings ;" but, withal, so deaf, that never a
word of any thing did she hear, unless shout
ed through her ear trumpet.
About ten,-tho ladies were waiting their
beaux. Ellery soon arrived, and oh, "mirable
dictul" accompanied by Shirley, whom, by
some powerful eloquence, he had pressed into
the service. In the hurry of setting out, and
misled also by EUery's description, it is not to
be wondered at if he mistook Jeannie for the
widow ; whilst the girlish-looking blonde
answered his own idea of Miss Martin. He,
therefore, true to his prejudice, left to Ellery
the task of entertaining her the widow with
the merry black eye whilst he was himself
enjoying the bewitching smiles and sweet
toned warbling of his fair ris-a-ris Juliette.
"I am sorry that we can only oiler you such
poor fare, fot your first dinner party with us,
Mr. Shirley, said Jeannie, in her assumed char
acter, "but a hearty welcome and our company
is the extent you must expeet."
This, of course, brought forth a polite dis
claimer from the gentleman, and with more
truth than the generality of such speeches, for
in the mile over which they had passed, he be
gan to think the widow's sister, at least, was
particularly interesting. At this crisis, the
sudden stoppage of the carriage, and the hur
ried exclamation from the driver, "open the
door, Mr. Ellery, quick, please, and get the
ladies out !" showed that something was amiss.
The widow screamed as she elur.g to Ellery's
arm ; and even at the time of danger, Shirley
could not but admire the calmness of the beau
tiful Juliette, for so he had heard her called,
as she endoavored to soothe her sister.
It was found that one of the horses had got
his faot over the trace-,- and was already rear
ing and plunging so as to make the carriage
very unsafe. Alter some trouble they suc
ceeded in extricating him ; but as both the
horses continued very unruly, the ladies pro
posed walking to their destination. So, forth
they set, tu route; tho widow pro tern, on tho
arm of Ellery, and Juliette following with
Shirley, chatting and laughing.
Insensibly Shirley's conversation with his
fair companion took a deeper tone, for their
path led through a thick forest, where the tall,
stately trees, like the pillars in some old hal
lowed minister, shed their peculiar fragrance
on every passing breeze that swept through
their shade. Ellery and his lady were far a
head. Shirley felt surprised at himself, at
this first interview, at feeling such a tender
sentiment springing from his heart for the fair
young creature, leaning so confidently on his
arm, in the depths of the forest.
"llowglad lam," sorilloqnized he, "that
the widow did not fasten herself on me, instead
of her enchanting sister, for, joking aside,
they are always so exacting, and by no means
dependent. There is certainly an exquisite
charm in the timid reserve of this fair Juliette.
Melhinksl shall begin to play the Romeo in
very truth ; for I wish, even now, that I might
be a glove upon tliat hand, so that I could kiss
her cheek."'
And Juliette, to judge from the bright smiles
dimpling her soft cheeks, and the interested
looks which she turned upon his face ever
and anon, was eqnally well pleased with her
escort. What a delightful listener he found
her. He felt so pleased with her with him
self with the whole world, when they arrived
safe at their destination, that Shirley was ready
to declare it a pertect Paradise, and felt him
self tempted to utter some such nonsensical
speech to her, so entirely bewitched was he by
the charm of her manner. In fact, woman
hater as bis friend styled him, there was not
a more susceptible being on earth than this
same retiring young man ; so ho played the
game into their own hands, a itierreille. They
found Mrs. Empton, "on hospitable thoughts
intent," busy in setting out to the best advan
tage their dinner; whiUt near them lay tho lit
tle cherub, Annie, fast asleep. Shirley, the
more readily answered the question, "Did you
ever see such a beauty ?" from its supposed
mother, as he imagined he detected a strik
ing resemblance to Juliette, who was kneeling
to kiss the solt lips of the sleeping babe ; and
his look and tone would have satisfied the fond
heart of any mother, as he replied, "she is an
angel !" and also stooped to kiss her lips.
Ellcry and Jeannie seemed determined to
enjoy each other's society for that day at least;
and thus J uliette and Shii ley were throwu upon
their own resources. They, however, appear
ed well content, for he had told her all his ad
ventures "by Hood and field ;" whilst she was
almost ready to exclaim with the gentle Des
demona, "thatshe loved him for the dangers
he had passed."
What a delightful day it was to all, nnd es
pecially to Shirley. The former, though plain,
appeared to him delicious ; and what laughs
the absence of many conveniences cause !
How beautiful did Juliette seem in his eyes,
as she held the little Annie in her lap, feeding
her from her plate, though begged by the sis
ter not to tease herself with the child, but to
give her to the nurse. Shirley could not re
frain sharing with the dear child some of the
dainty littlo pate to which his neighbor had
helped him.
"There, there ! That will do, Mr. Shirley.
I LpS y't will not give her any more. ' Carry
her away, Lucy, or these good people will kill
her with kindness." Thus was sho borne off,
notwithstanding her entreaties to stay with
"mamma." Shirley had another fault to set
down against the widow her thoughtless un
concern towards her beautiful child, as she sat
smiling, chatting, flirting so carelessly with
Ellery, whilst Juliette went away occasionally
to see if the littlo one was properly attended
to. About sunset they set out on their return,
and the drive back was delightful as the morn
ing ramble, as they watched the early stars
peeping forth, and ho listening to tones that
to him seemed sweet os the rippling muiic or
the summer rills. He had in truth, begun to
see everything coleur dt rose.
Then the evening was as liappy for him as the
whole day had been ; for the ladies insisted
that their escort should enter and Bpend it
with ttcru. When tte Jea was handed round,
Shirley had the supreme felicity of putting
sugar and cream into Juliette's enp, and bet
ter still, of setting near her for several hours.
Then, too, when tea was over, she was his an
tagonist at chess; and he looked with delight
on her taper fingers, looking still whiter by
contrast with the red pieces she moved so dain
tily and skilfully over the board. Her delight
ful voice was still lingering on his car as ho
closed his eyes in sleep, for no other train of
thought had broken the enchantment.
His friend and himself did not talk much
as they wended their way homo that night;
but Shirley was not quite so morose as to de
cline his friend's invitation, given at parting,
"What say you to calling on the ladies to
morrow, to see if they have recovered from
their fatigue I"
The next day they did indeed call, and paid
them an unconscionable visit if ono can trust
Miss Henderson's account, who lived opposite,
and who actually lost the whole morning, peep
ing through the blinds to see when they would
leave. And the next day, and again the next,
Shirley had an ever-ready excuse for calling.
To-day, it was, "I must take those drawings
I promised," ot other times, "I have a piece
of music which I must take," or a new book ;
till at last, grown bolder, he made no excuso
at all, but visited there quite en famille or,
to use the prying neighbor's expression, as
she watched with envious eyes, the comings
and goings of the handsome lieutenant "he
had hung up his hat there for a dead certainty.'
One morning be sat with his friend Ellery
it was two weeks since the opening of the story
in the same room ; and his face now was as
listless as then, but wore a preoccupied and
rather troubled look, as, turning with a sigh
to his friend, who was watching the wreaths of
smoke curling over his head Irom his cigar,
he said :
"Ellery! what do you think will bo my
chance for success with Miss Martin 1"
"Miss Martin !" replied Ellery, with a pro
voking smile, as he knocked the ashes from
his cigar deliberately against his boot, "why,
to be plain with you, my dear fellow. I think
you have but a slight chance. Tako my ad
vice far better try the widow."
"Oh, hang the widow J" exclaimed Shirley.
"But, joking aside, why do you think so?
Shu appears to like me ; and, without vanity,
I may be considered handsome and agreeable
enough for any girl, with an unoccupied heart,
to love ; more especially when I woo."
"Ah ! yes. But there's the rub, Shirley.
The unoccupied heart ! There ia no apartment
"to let" in that heart, I flatter myseir; at least
if I can trust to woman's vows, cs I am inclin
ed to do in this case." -
"What do you mean, Ellery? That you
love her and that she Pshaw !"
You may "pshaw" as much as yon like,
Sir Irresistible, but 'tis true, notwithstanding ;
I am myself engaged to that very same Miss
Martin !"
"For once in your lifo be serious, Ellery, if
you can."
"Serious! Well. If you do not take my word,
I'll swear to it, Shirley. And if you still doubt
mo, go and ask her yourself ; I give you leave.
But you had better take a friend's advice, and
inform the widow of your matrimonial propo
sals whilst in the spirit."
Shirley came very near saying that which
were better left unsaid, as he rose from his
chair and paced up and down the room. Elle
ry sat smiling to himself, as, tilted back in his
chair, with bis cap set jauntily on the side of
his head he coolly finished his cigar tempt
ing the now thoroughly irritated Shirley, by
his mocking air, to knock him over every time
he approached. At last, having finished smo
king, Ellery rose, and as he was drawing on
his gloves, making ready for a start, he said,
'Come, my good fellow, don't be cast down.
If you can't get Mist Martin, take Mrs. Mar
tiu. 'One of the name is as good as the same,'
as the old saying has it, and I really believe
she has a fancy for you."
He did not stop to hear his friend's answer,
as he left the room with a laugh. Shirley con
tinued his walk now rapidly, then stopping,
again fast till he came to a dead halt in front
of a window.
"Impossible ! There is no truth in this world
if it exists not in Juliette Martin. I have heard
her express an opinion concerning Ellery, and
even laugh at him, which no woman ever does
at one she loves. I will go, by George, and
ask her indeed. If 'tis true, then will I never
never trust woman-kind again !"
And, walking to the glass, he brushed his
dark locks as- carefully as ever did one of the
weaker sex ; and then, taking his gloves and
hat,-started for Mrs. Empton's.
His own heart was thumping as loudly as an
old-fashioned knocker to his nervous rap,as he
stood on the door-stcp. He was ushered into
the comfortable parlor, where the sun's rays
came slyly in through the closed blinds, play
ing at hide and seek with the roses of the car
pet, and where the red, glowing light from the
fire fell on the bright lace of Juliette, as she
sat on a low ottoman, playing with the curly
headed Annie, whose silvery laugh was echoed
by tho mellow, cheerful one of her mother.
There was no one else in the room. After the
morning salutations, Shirley said :
"Has not Ellcry been here ?"
"Yes," she replied," "he and my sister are
out visiting."
Shirley moved his chair closer to the low
ottoman. "Excuse me," he said, "if I ask you
one question, and do not, I beg, deem it im
pertinent; I entreat you to answer me frank
ly, lor I assure you my whole earthly happi
ness depends on the answer. Are you really
engaged to Ellery ?"
- "Who! I, Mr.Shirley ? You must bo dream
ing," said Juliette, and she opened her large
dark eyes still larger in her surprise, her lace
and neck coloring deeply as sho met his glance.
"There is some mistake in this," muttered
Shirley. "He told me, this morning, that be
was engaged to you, and bid me ask you to
convince myself." ,
"Why, the man must be crazed, surely. Yet
I wonder still more at you in believing him.
You to whom " and again the face was bent
over Annie's ringlets, to hide the tears welling
up in those eyes, whilst the child sat demure
ly listening, as if bound to recollect each and
every word. " '.
"I did not I do not now believe him," said
Shirley ; "though he told me that he was en
gaged to Miss Martin."
A merry - laugh broke from her lips, as she
quickly raised her face, still crimsoned with
bright blushes. "Ah, yes, I see it all now,"
she said. "He really is engaged to Mist Mar
tin. But who on earth do you take me for?'
"For Miss Martin, of course liss Juliette
was the amazed reply..
- "I am Mrt. Martin, and the mother of this
little girl," she replied ; and she stooped to
kiss. Annie, for she was sadly afraid the laugh
would again break forth, such a bewildered
face met her view. '
It would be impossible to delineate the dif
ferent emotions that chased one another thro'
Shirley's mind, as he thus sat gazing upon the
graceful creature, as she sat in that rich light.
I'ride, shame, a wee bit of anger, at being thus
doped by Ellery. But high above all, tho
enduring, struggle for mastery. Of course,
the last conquered ; and tho iittle cherub, sit
ting on her mother's knee, listened to a dec
laration as ardent and impassioned as the heart
which prompted it.
What she replied J leave to the reader's im
agination; but when Jeannie and Ellery en
tered from their visit, they found them sitting
tcte-a-tete and smiling. All was explained,
Jeannio and her fiancee magnanimously taking
the blame, while Shirley, in his happiness,read
ily pardoned the plotters who had been the
means of giving him such a store of present
felicity.
' BURNING OF TIIE AUSTRIA.
The terrible reality foreshadowed for some
days of the burning of the steamship Austria,
has been fully confirmed. The Austria sail
ed from Hamburg on the 2d, and from South
ampton on the 4lh, with about 500 passengers.
Including officers and crew, there were COO
persons on board. She had bad weather until
the 12th, when it became more favorable, and
all were expecting to reach Xew York by the
18th. At 1 p. m., of the 13th, a Are broke out
in the forward steerage, occasioned by the up
setting of some burning tar, used in fumigat
ing the ship. A panic arose instantly, and
scarcely any attempt was made to extinguish
the flames. She was running head to wind,
and the fire ran aft rapidly, bursting out amid
ships soon after, when the magazine exploded,
whereby it is supposed the engineers were suf
focated. The helmsman for a few minutes
put the ship aback, but was probably soon
driven from the wheel by heat and smoke,
when the ship became unmanageable. Two
boats were let down, and immediately swamp
ed. The mass of the passengers crowded on
the poop, and the vessel heading up to the
wind tho flames and smoke enveloped them on
every side. Hero the scene was terrible : all
hope vanished, husbands and wives, parents
and children, leaped into the sea locked in
each other's arms, many of the women with
their clothes on fire, to escape a more fright
ful death. Two men succeeded in reaching a
swamped boat,but were soon left far behind the
steamer. In halt an hour the only persons re
maining alive on the Austiia were some 30 or
40 who had crowded out upon the bowsprit.
Fortunately the French bark Maurice, Captain
Earnest Kenaud, discovered tho burning ship
and hastened to the succor of the survivors.
Before dark she succeeded in rescuing 40 per
sons, mainly from the bowsprit, a few being
picked up in the water. At 8 o'clock a boat
came up with 23 more, making altogether 67
persons taken on board the Maurice, of whom
67 were passengers. These arc all positively
known to have been saved, and some of them
were very badly burned. The next morning
the Maurice saw a Norwegian bark cruising
about the burning ship ; but it is hardly proba
ble that any more were found alive. The Mau
rice sailed for Fayal on the 11th, and the same
day fell in with the bark Lotus, Captain Trefy,
bound for Halifax. Twelve of those saved
from tho Austria were put onboard the Lotus,
arriving at Halifax on Sunday afternoon. It is
from these that wo get our accounts. On ar
riving at Llalifax, ten ,of the twelve were re
ceived by the Captain of the propeller Prince
Albert, who offered them a passage to New
York. ,-They sailed for that port on Sunday
afternoon.
Scientific Pahadox.es. The water which
drowns us, a fluent stream, can be walked up
on as ice. The bullet, which, when fired from
a musket, carries death, will be harmless if
ground to dust before being fired'. The crys
talized part of the oil of roses so graceful in
its fragrance a solid at ordinary temperatu
res, though readily volatile is a compound
substance, containing exactly the same ele
ments, and in exactly the same proportions,
as the gas with which wc light our streets.
The tea w hich we daily drink, with benefit
and pleasure, produces palpitations, nervous
tremblings, and even paralysis, if taken in
excess ; yet the peculiar organic agent called
theine to which tea owes its qualities, may be
taken by itself (as theine, not as tea) without
any appreciable effect. The water which will
allay our burning thirst, angments it when
congealed into snow; so that Capt. Ross de
clares the natives of the Artie regions "pre
fer enduring the utmost extremity of thirst
rather than attempt to remove it by eating
snow." Yet if the snow be melted, it becomes
drinkable water. Nevertheless, although, if
melted before entering the mouth it assuages
thirst like other water, when melted iu the
mouth it has the opposite effect. To render
this paradox more striking, we have only to
reroemlier that ice, which lueltes slowly in tho
mouth is very efficient in allaying thirst.
Blackwood.
TlIK FlLLIBl'STKRS IS MOTION. It is HOW
stated, with no little confidence, that General
Walker, the celebrated fillibustero, is on his
way to Nicaragua, at the head of several hun
dred men. Arms and ammunition have alrea
dy gone forward, and the force is to land from
the Pacific side. - Rumors of a similar char
acter have been in circulation for some time,
but they attracted little or no attention. . They
have now, however, assumed a tangible form,
the Government having been duly apprized of
the movement. The result it is impossible to
imagine. . Tho last expedition of Walker was
a signal failure, for he was arrested and sent
back, before bo was fairly in operation. But
he succeeded in escaping conviction at New
Orleans, and appears to be determined to try
his fortune once more. Whatever may be
thought of this adventurer in other respects,
he possesses indomitable energy, and it is to
be regretted that his talents are not devoted
to a more praiseworthy cause.
A New akd Broad Platform. The South
Carolina Guardian publishes a platform for the
approaching campaign. The principal plank
is the dissolution of the American Union, the
perfect independence of the cotton growing
States, and the establishment and rigid en
forcement of a non-intercourse act, cutting off
all communication and trade between the peo
ple of the Northern States and the entire
Southern section,.
TERRIFIC ADVEXTl'RE.
From the Louisville, Kentucky, Journal.
At the supposed end of what has always been
considered the longest avenue of the Mammoth
Cave, nine miles from its entrance, there is a
pit, dark, deep and terrible, kuown as the
Maelstrom. Tens of thousands have gazed in
to it with, awe, whilst bengol-lights were
thrown down to make its feariul depths visi
ble, but none ever had the daring to explore
it. The celebrated guide Stephen, who was
deemed insensible to fear, was ottered six hun
dred dollars by the proprietors of the cave if
be would descend to the bottom of it, bnt he
shrank from the peril. A few years ago, a
Tennessee professor, a learned and bold man,
resolved to do what do one before him had
dared do, and making his arrangements with
great care and precaution, he bad himself low
ered down by a strong rope a hundred feet, but
at that point Lis courage failed him, and he
called aloud to be drawn out. No human
Iower could ever have induced him to repeat
the appalling experiment.
A couple of weeks ago, however, a young
gentleman of Louisville, whose nerves never
trembled at mortal peril, being at the Mam
moth Cave with Professor Wright, of our city,
and others, determined, no matter what the
danger and difficulties might be, to explore
the depths of the Maelstrom. Mr. Proctor, the
enterprising proprietor of the Cave, sent to
Nashville and procured a long rope of great
strength, expressly for the purpose. The rope
and some necessary timbers were borne by the
guides and others to the point of proposed ex
ploration. The arrangements being soon com
pleted, tho rope with a heavy fragment of rock
affixed to it, was lot down and swung to and
fre to dislodge any loose rocks that would be
likely to fall at the touch. Several were thus
dislodged, and the long continued reverbera
tions, rising up like distant thunder, from be
loiv, proclaimed the depth of the horrid chasm.
Then the young hero of the occasion, with
several hats drawn over bis head to protect it
as far as possible against any masses falling
from above, and with a light in bis -hand and
tho rope fastened around his body, took his
place over the awful pit, and directed the half
dozen men who held tho end of tho rope, to
let him down into Cimmerian gloom.
Wc have heard from his own lips an account
of his descent. Occasionally masses of earth
and rock went whizzing past, but none struck
him. Thirty or forty feet from the top, he saw
a ledge from which, as judged by appearances,
two or threes avenues led otf in different direc
tions. About a hundred feet from the top, a
cataract lrom the sido of the pit went rushing
down the abyss, and, as he descended bv the
side of the falling water and in the midst of
the spray, he felt some apprehension that his
light would be extinguished, but his care pre
vented this. He was landed at the bottom of
the pit, a hundred and ninety feet from the top.
He found it almost perfectly circular, about
IS feet in diameter, with a small opening at
one point, leading to a fine chamber ot no
great extent. He found on the floor beautiful
specimens of black silcx, of immense size,
vastly larger than were ever discovered in any
part of the Mammoth Cave, and also a multi
tude of exquisite formations as pure and white
as virgin snow. Making himself heard with
great effort, by his friends, be at length asked
them to pull him partly up, intending to stop
on the way and explore a cave that be had ob
served opening about forty feet above the bot
tom of the pit. Reaching the mouth of the
cave, he swung himself with much exertion
into it, and holding the end of the rope in his
band, he incautiously lot it go, and it swung
out apparently beyond his reach. The situa
tion was a fearful one, and his friends above
could do nothing for him. Soon, however, he
made a book of the end of bis lamp, and, by
extending himself as far over the verge as pos
sible without falling, he succeeded in securing
the rope. Fastening it to a rock, he followed
the avenne 100 or 200 yards to a point where
he found it blocked by an impassable avalanche
of rock and earth.
Returning to the month of this avenue, he
beheld an almost exactly similar mouth of an
other on the opposite side of the pit, but not
being able to swing himself into it, he re
fastetied the rope around his body, suspended
himself again over the abyss, and shouted to
his friends to raise bim to the top. The pull
was an exceedingly severe one, and the rojwj,
being ill adjusted around bis body, gave bim
the most excruciating pain. But soon his pain
was forgotten iu a new and dreadful peril.
When he was ninety feet ' from the mouth of
the pit and one hundred from the bottom,
swaying and swinging in midair, he heard
rapid and excited words of horror and alarm
above and soon learned that the rope by which
be was upheld had taken fire from the friction
of the timber over which it passed. Several
moments of awful suspense to those above and
still more awful to him below ensued. To
them and him a fatal and instant catastrophe
seemed inevitable. But the fire was extin
guished with a bottle of water belonging to
himself, and then the party above, though al
most exhausted by their labors, succeeded in
drawing him to the top. He was as calm and
self-possessed as upon his entrance into the
pit, but all of his companions, overcome by
fatigue, sauk down upon the ground, and his
friend, Professor Wright, from over exertion
and excitement, fainted and remained for a
time insensible. The yonng adventurer left
his name carved in tho depths ot tho Mael
strom the name of the first and only person
that ever gazed upon its mysteries.
The young adventurer was the eldest son of
the editor of the Journal William. Conrtland
Prentice.
Swapping Wives. The Danville,' Virginia,
Transcript says: A friend informs us that au
occurrence in Patrick county came to bis
knowledge a few days since, which we consid
er decidedly rich. Two oX the citizens of that
go-a-head State, having each about a dozen
children, concluded to make a swap of an un
heard of character. One proposed to exchange
wives, but the other thinking his wife the
most likely woman, said he must have some
thing to boot. It was finally agreed that the
one should give the other two and a half bush
els Of potatoes, and the swap was made. This,
we doubt not, is a fact to which our friend can
furnish vouchers.
Col. Forney was in New York a few days a
go, and some of his old friends, who hold of
fice under the Government, entertained bim.
And now it is said that their beads are to fall
for the offence. The President seems to be
digging down to cw deptfca (ojeness ev
j?ry diy.
More Public rtcsDER. Th tremendous
estimate of five millions of dollars for the ex
penses of the Oregon War, that nobody ever
heard of until the claim was presented in Con
gress, has already been regarded aa a mystery.
The Washington State promises ere long to
unravel it. It says certain facts have come to
light to enable it "before the meeting of Con
gress, to show np, in its true light, this mon
strous claim on the Treasury ol the United
States, amounting to over $5,000,000. A com
bination of men, in high and low positions,
composed of bankers, and it is said Senators,
and their abettors, are getting, or Lave already
got, the control of this immense claim, and
will attempt to force it through Congress at
the next session. These speculators, we un
derstand, have had their agents at work' in
Oregon, bnying up the different claims against
the Government, based on the most extrava
gant rates, for a few cents on the dollar." . We
have never doubted that this Oregon Warwrs
a bogus affair solely for ihe benefit of a few
speculators in public plunder. The promhwd
exposition of th Staff will be looked lor with
curiosity. The people have ceased to feel any
anxiety upon such subjects. Like the eel
that got used to being skinned, they are per
fectly accustomed to see the Treasury plun
dered under the present Administration at
Washington. .
A Short M. re Prater. The Rev. Mr.
Derwcll, a piou and curious old Methodist
minister, went from Tennessee to Kentucky,
in 1812, to visit his relative, the Hon. William
Bolton. The man was not a religious man,
but was a gentleman, and invited the minister
to have family worship every evening. While
he was visiting there, Judge Cose and his
wife, from Nashville, arrived to pass the night,
and Mr. Bolton being a littlo embarrassed
said to the old minister aa he brought out the
Bible, that he had better be short, as tbe
Judge was probably not accustomed to such,
things. ' ' - ...
"Very woll, very well," said bet and read
ing a single verse, he knelt down and prayed.
"O Lord, we are very poor and needy crea
tures, and we know thou art able to supply
all our wants, but Consin William aayi that
Judge Cone and bis wife from Nashville arc
here, and are not used to family worship, and
however needy we are," there is m time to
spare in telling thee our wants. Aaaen,
The Judge was taken all aback, and so was
Cousin William. They both pressed the okl
gentleman to conduct the servtees in his own
way, which he did, to their great edification.
Rcxxisg a Bend. A good thing occurred at
Warren between an old Democratic lumberman
and Senator Biglcr, the morning after the lat
ter made his recent speech there. The Conrt
room had been very warrn, and jut at tho point
in his snpeeh where "Mr. Kio-)r- tr.n ; - tA
t C . J V
justify bis own and Gillis' votes in Javorof Lc-
Mnn,..fnn k . a-.. . . ...... ...4 . . T" C . Z a
vuiuiuu, I 111. 0-jif lyuicu UU Vt 11 Lilt IU 11QO
style. The next morning, the old lumberman
remarked to Mr. B. that be appeared to be very
warm last night. Senator Bigler replied that
be was very warm indeed, it was very oppres
sive. "But," said the Lumberman, "you
should have done as we do on the river in a
hard job, take your coat off." "J)o yon al
ways take your coat off," said Bigler rather
patronizingly., Well, not alwaya," s.iid he,
'but we always do in a tight spot when tr
ran a short bend I
How to Keep Poor. Buy two gluneea of ala
every day. at five cents each, amounting in one
rear to $30.50 ; smoke three cigars, one after
each meal, counting up in the .course of a year
to $54.7ii ; keep a big dog which will consume
in the course of a year at least $15 worth of
provisions, and a cat S4 more altogether thin
amounts to the snng little sum of $110.25
sufficient to buy several barrels of flour, one
hundred bushels of coal, one barrel of sugar,
one sack of cofl'ee, a good coat, a respectable
dress, and a frock for the baby, besides a half
a dozen pairs of shoes more or lets. Just
think of it!
A strong verdict was rendered by a coro
ner's jury and is now on file in the clerk's of
fice in one of the counties of Iowa. It is in
these words :
We find the deceased came to his death
by a visitation of God, and not by the hands
of violence. We find upon the body a pocket'
book, containing $2, a check on Fletcher
Bank for $2-0, and two horses a xcagon, and
tome butter, egg, and JcathertS'
The inquiring mind imagines the size of
the pocket book, and the capacity ot the
pocket in which the horses were stabled.
Copper-Uead Sxake Evacuated from a
Child Stomach. The Cleveland, Ohio. Re
view says that a few days since aeon ot Capt.
Connelly, about fourteen years of age, sraa re
lieved by passage through bis bowels, of a
"copper-head suake," a loot and a half long.
How it found its way inio his stomach is a
matter of conjecture merely. The boy for a
long time had a ravenous appetite which exci
ted notice, and had frequently spoken of feel
ing "something crawling in his body."
Parson Browxlow. The quack parson
Brownlow, of Tennessee, after his recent dis
cussion on slavery with Pryne, at Philadelphia,
has given it up as a bad job, and has goci
home. After all the boasting of Brownlow,
that he would travel through all the Northern
States and show us the blessings of slavery, be
has ben disconi fitted in his first etfort, and
has been compelled to sneak home, leaving no
favorable impression of his power as a deba
tor, or of the institution which be defends,
upon tho public mind. . . . .
How to Stop BtooD. Take the fine dust of
tea. or the scrapings of the inside of tanned
leather, and bind it eloee upon the wound, and
blood will soon cease to flow. Thpc art;-!.
are at all times accessible, and aev t ai,
tained. After the blood has ceased to flow,
laudanum maybe advantageously applied to
the wound. Due regard to these i
will aave agitation of mind, and i-nnnr r
the surgeon, who would probably make so bet-
piesvaiiHioa u presenj-ricitniiclmer..
It is stated that the actual statistics show
ttat during Tthe last fifty . year, "the number
of members of tho evangelical churches in
the United States, 'has increased from four
hundred thousand to three million and a half,
being an increase of tight-fold r wrflle our
population baa increased lour-lold.' .
M oving for uew tjial coartjBj a second