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VOL. 5.-N0. 43.
CLEAEFIELD, PA, WEDNESDAY; JUNE 22, 1859.
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A
A SOXG.
I love him; I dream of him;
I sin? f him by day ;
And all the night I bear him talk,
And yet he s far away ! .,
There's beauty in the morning ;
There's sweetness in the May ;
There's music in the running stream J
And yet he's far away!
I lore him ; I trust in him ;
He trusteth me alway ;
And so the time flies hopefully,
Although he's far away !
: COPTOIGHT SECURED. J '
' CLEAUFIELD COONTYt
OR. REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST,
Agriculture the most honorable and im
portant of all avocations together with
hunting and fishing, presented to the shiall
community their means of subsistence. The
deadened timber and numerous stumps , of
trees remaining in the cleared fields, seri
ously affected the labors of the husbandman,
but the absence of mechanics, and the want
of necessary and suitable implements, were
greater drawbacks. The manners of the peo
ple were simple and unpretending their
wants were few, but to satisfy these much
difficulty and exposnre were often experi-
enced. The similarity of situation, one
ness of aim. and natural desire for associa
tion, brought about a friendly intercourse a
mong the sparse population, from which has
. sprung one of tho leading characteristics of
our people, who, looking on men as men,
measure them not by those accidental circum
stances which elsewhere produce different
ranks in society, but value them according to
their worth. Shut ont, as it were, from the
rest of the world, distinctire and characteris
tic habits were the result. Their social inter
course was marked by frankness, good hnmor,
and a kindly interest in each others' welfare.
They seemed like one family, laid aside the
stiff expressions of society, dropped formal
salutations and pompous titles, and, like inti
mates, knew each other by some sobriquet, ori
ginating in some peculiarity of character or
person, or founded on some event in life. To
this day their descendants, after the manner
of the Friends, call things by their right
name. With : theni, George is George, and
John, John. Intermarriages among their chil- ;
dren strengthened their social bonds, and there
was no cozening then, for all were cousins.
The county was destitute of roads. To meet
the wants f the settlers on the river, a path had
lecn blazed from Ogden's to John Ferguson's,
who occupied the, next place above Arthur
Bell's, which path served the settlers for some
time as a means of communication with each
other, and for packing their grain to mill.
John Ferguson was born in Ireland, came to
this country in 1775, and was engaged in the
Revolutionary war, as a six months' militia
man, or Border Skirmisher. lie served under
Gen. Sullivan ; and was at Freeland's Fort,
Northumberland bounty, the day before it was
captured by the Indians and a few British un
der Capt. Butler. Ferguson had been depu
ted to convey about 50 or 60 horses, which
were in the neighborhood, to the town of
Northumberland. In going there, he was per
mitted to pass sorie Indians lying in ambush.
Cayt. Brady, father of the famous Sam. Brady,
and a Frenchman, named D'Armond, were fol
lowing, in close proximity. Brady, dressed
in full uniform, was riding, whilst his com
panion walked. lie presented a mark lor the
Indians, who seemed to be lying in wait for
him, and fell, pierced by five bullets. A sixth
had. struck the pommel of the saddle. As
Brady fell from his horse, the animal, fright
ened, ran away at great speed, but not before
D'Armond had grasped it by the mane, and
was thus borne out of danger. , D'Armond,
coming up to Ferguson, assisted him in con
Teying the horses in safety to the place of
destination. .
Ferguson was married In Northumberland
county to Sarah Hanna, a daughter of David
Hanna, of Lycoming, county. In 1803, ho
and one of his sons came to Clearfield, and
mado an improvement on the north bank of
tho Susquehanna, on a delightful spot, now
occupied by his son James. L May of the
following year he brought out his family, and
continued to occupyjhe same place until death
removed him, at the ripo age of 90 years, to
another world. ; He had thirteen , children.
His eldest, a son, his third son, and three
daughters, died young. David, the oldest son
now living, was by profession a surveyor,
served some years, as Deputy Surveyor, and
also acted as Justice of the Feace. There are
but few who are in the habit of attending our
courts, who are not familiar with his smiling
face, which betokens the kind and warm heart
that beats within his portly frame. He had a
strong constitution and great energy, which,
united with skill in his profession, rendered
him one or the most useful men of his day.
The State, in order to connect the Western
frontier with the Eastern settlements, had laid
out several roads, among others one leading
from Milesburg to Erie. This road was open
ed in the year 1803. It crossed the Susque
hanna River near the residence of Benjamin
Jordan. Another road was afterwards Pro
jected, running from Huntingdon "and in
tersecting the former road at a point which af
terwards received the name of Packersville.
David Ferguson was selected as tho surveyor
to locate this road. It crossed the River near
his father's place, and was opened about the
year 1811.- From David's entrance into this
county, until recently, when a stroke of apo
plexy disabled him, a great portion of his time
has been spent in the woods, either locating
lands or examining surveys. There is scarce
ly a tree within our borders, into which an axe
has been struck, that it might hereafter serve
as a witness of the artists' work upon the
ground, with which he is not familiar. A life
of industry and privation has been his, and with
him must perish much information which can
only be gathered by those who follow his call
ing with assiduity and for a long period of
time. - . vV Y.-CVt
It may8 not be improper to remark here, that
prior to the settlement of this county, it had
been divided into different districts, and that
surveys had been made. Such was the char
acter of the country that no other evidence of
the appropriation of land could be mado than
by marking upon trees. This, experience has
shown, has well served the purpose. It has
been said that "figures will not lie ;" but no
truer witnesses than the trees thus marked
have ever been produced in Court, to testify to
the date when a survey was made. Every
year, after the tree has been wounded by the
axe of the surveyor, a new ring of wood forms;
and when blocks are cut out of the" tree, by
counting the number of layers of wood from
the dark streak in the tree, caused by the
wound, outwards, the number of years which
have elapsed is ascertained. As the method
of marking surveys may not bo known to all
of our readers, we will describe it. Commen
cing at a tree, if there should be one at the
corner of the land, threo notches are made in
that side of the tree from which the surveyor
intends running, and some saplings in its im
mediate vicinity are also marked in the same
manner, on the side pointing towards the cor
ner. ' Having set the compass the proper
course, the surveyor selects some tree at a dis
tance for a sight tree, which he marks with
two notches, or blazes. He then runs towards
this sight tree, blazing some trees on? or con
venient to, the line. Reaching the sight tree,
he marks it on the opposite side in the same
manner, and thus continues on his course, un
til ho has run his contemplated distance, where
he again marks a tree on the side be approach
es it, in the s.imc way he did the first tree, and
also on the side from which he leaves it, to
serve as a corner. Should there be no timber
standing at the corner, a stake is driven, or a
stono laid, and "witnesses" then marked so as
to point towards tho corner.
Elizabeth, Ferguson, another child of John,
married Joseph Wiley, deceased. Mary was
married to Alexander Reed, known as "Red
Aleck," so called to distinguish him from
'Squire Reed. Her husband meeting with his
death, from the accidental discharge of a gun
whilst hunting on Clearfield creek, she became
the second wife of Thos. Campbell, Esq., of
Bell township. James Ferguson, the present
occupant of the homestead, was Treasurer, a
Representative in the Legislature, served one
term as Sheriff, afterwards became an Associ
ate Judge of this county, and was honored by
having Ferguson township named after him.
John is the name of another son , who has filled
several offices. William removed from here
to Clarion county with his family, and subse
quently located in Adams county, Ohio, where
to now lives. Jane became the wife of Wil
liam Reed, and Margaret the second wife of
Thomas Reed. The last named daughters
are dead.
We have incidentally mentioned the two
State roads laid out and opened through tho
county, at an early date, one of which the
Milesburg and Le Boeuff road became subse
quently an important and leading thorough
fare. It was a road of the worst kind, laid out
with very little skill, and made with a great
deal of dishonesty. It had but one bridge
at Mushannon between Bellefonte and An
derson's creek, and to avoid digging the hill
side, Anderson's creek was crossed three times
in less than two" miles. Large quantities of
merchandize passed over it, principally upon
pack horses, companies of which, exceeding
a score in number, might often be seen tra
versing it. Until the place of this road was
supplied by an artificial road located on or
near its bed, it was the principal road leading
to Erie and the Great West. About the time
the State road was supplanted by the Turn
pike, the almost forgotten Conestoga wagon,
with its heavy horses, walking leisurely along,
their tread measured by the jingling of bells,
afforded a cheaper and better mode of trans
portation for goods. A trip to Philadelphia
to purchase good3, or to "see the sights" of
that village, was then quite an undertaking,
and called for weeks of preparation.
We cannot leave the River settlement, to
glanco at the other settlients which were
commenced at or about the same time, with
out adverting to one other road. Some of the
settlers, conceiving that abetter road than the
blazed path from Ferguson's to Ogden's, would
be more conducive to their comfort and pros
perity, presented a petition to the Court of
Centre county, praying that viewers might bo
appointed to view and lay out a road between
the points named. This was about 1806. The
viewing xf this road was quite an epoch in the
annals of Clearfield county. Every member
of the littlo community was excited in rela
tion to it. The community divided itself In
to three partlt'3-ono seeking its location on
tho north, and another on the south side of the
stream ; the third, more noisy than the oth
ers, thought that the old path, and the facility
the river afforded of travelling in canoes, was
all that was necessary. - The secfet of their
opposition was, that the opening of a public
road would introduce that which was odious
in their sight taxation. Those who were in
favor of the road, believed that it would be the
making of the country, and frit more interest
in its construction than is now felt by com
munities in the construction of-railroads or
other mammoth improvements in their midst.
The viewers reported a road remonstrances
were presented re-views granted and the
road subsequently located near where it now
is, crossing the River near Montgomery creek.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
HEART DISEASE.
When an individual is reported to have died
of a "Disease of the Heart," we are in the
habit of regarding it as an inevitable event, as
something which could not have been fore
seen or prevented, and it is too much the hab
it, when persons suddenly fall down dead, to
report the "heart" as the cause ; this silences
all inquiry and investigation,and saves the trou
ble and inconvenience of a repulsive "post
mortem." A truer report would have a ten
dency to save many lives. It is through a re
port of "disease of the heart," that many an
opium-eater is let off into the grave,which cov
ers at once his folly and his crime ; the brandy-drinker,
too, quietly slides round the cor
ner thus, and is heard of no more ; in short,
this report, of "disease of the heart," is the
mantle of charity which the politic coroner
and the sympathetic physician throw around
the grave of "genteel people."
At a late scientific congress nt Strausburg,
it was reported, that of sixty-six persons who
had suddenly died, an immediate and faithful
post mortem showed that only two persons had
any heart affection whatever : one sudden
death only, in tbiity-threej-from disease of
the heart. Nine out othe sixty-six died of
apoplexy one out of every seven while forty-six,
more than two out of three, died of
lung affections, half of them of "congestion of
the lnngs," that is, as the lungs v.ere so full of
blood they could not work"; there was not room
for air enough to get in to support life.
It is then of consieerable practical interest
to know some of the common every day cau
ses of this "congestion of the lungs," a dis
ease which, the figures above being true, kill
three times as many persons, at short warning,
as apoplexy and the heart disease together :
Cold feet ; tight shoes ; tight clothing ; cos
tive bowels; sitting still until chilled through
and through, after having been warmed up by
labor, or a long or hasty walk ; going too sud
denly from a close, heated room, as a lounger,
or listener, or speaker, while the body is weak
ened by continued application or abstinence,
or heated by the etiort of a long address ;
these are the fruitful, the very fruitful causes
of sudden death in the form of "congestion of
the lungs ;" but which, being falsely reported
as "disease of the heart," and regarded as an
inevitable event, throw people off their guard,
instead of pointing them plainly to the true
causes, all of which are avoidable, and very
easily so, as a general rule, when the mind
has been once intelligently drawn to the sub
ject. Hall's Journal of Health.
The Zouaves. The Zouaves, one of tho
most efficient arms of the French service, are
thus described : "The dress of the Zouave is
that of the Arab pattern ; the cap is a loose
fig, or skull cap, of scarlet felt, with a tassel ;
a turban is worn over this in full dress ; a cloth
vest and loose jacket, which leave the neck
unencumbered by collar, stock or cravat, cov
er the upper part of his body and allow free
movement of the arms ; the scarlet pants are
of the loose Oriental pattern, and are tucked
under garters like those of the foot rifles of
the guard; the overcoat is a loose cloak with
a hood ; the Chasseurs wear a similar one:
The men say that this dress is the most conve
nient possible, aad prefer it to any other. The
Zouaves are all French ; they are selected
from among the old campaigners for their fine
physique"and tried courage, and havo certain
ly proved that they are, what their appearance
would indicate, the most reckless, self-reliant
and complete infantry that Europe can pro
duce. With this graceful dress, soldierly bear
ing, and vigilant attitnde, the Zouave at an
outpost is the beau ideal of a soldier. They
neglect no opportunity of adding Jo their per
sonal comforts ; if there is a stream in the vi
cinity, the party marching on picket is sure to
be amply supplied with fishing rods, &c; if
anything is to be had, the Zouaves aro quite
certain to obtain it. Their movements are the
most light and graceful I have ever seen ; the
stride is long, but tho foot seems scarcely to
touch the ground, and the march is apparent
ly made without effort or fatigue."
Frosty Summers. On the night between
tho 17th and 18th of May, 1794, a heavy frost
fell in tho New England States, and destroyed
a great part of the rye and apples.
In 1798, snow fell Nov. 17th, and lasted
nearly all the time until April.
"The cold year" was 1816. That Summer
there was frost in every month. On tho 7th
of Juno there was snow ; on the 8th it was too
cold to ride comfortably toward the north,
even in Winter clothes ; and for three succes
sive nights there were largo white frosts,
which cut the corn down to the roots. Corn
was so thoroughly frozen on the 25th of Sep
tember that it was hardly worth harvesting.
In 1818, tho season was very backward.
In 1814, about tho 23d September, several
inches of snow fell in the mountain region of
Pennsylvania.
Match Making The Utica Herald says that
Mr. Gates of Frankfort, Herkimer county, N.
Y., has made during the last 18 years about
6,455,000,000 of matches, using l,250,00OTeet
of lumber. He now makes 2,750,000 matches
daily, making use of 500 feet of lumber. He
uses five pounds of phosphorus daily, which is
about the amount found in tho bones of a sin
gle horse. He has thus used up the skeletons
of about 2,300 horses a host of "matched"
teams. No wonder that a horse starts at "the
fiz which follows the primitive scratch."
Tho price of "muzzles" has fallen. Reason ;
there were not dogs enough to wear them. An
essay might bo writtei on supply and demand.
Trot out your Cobb's. and give us light.
MY FIRST LOVE.
That I was in love was a fact that did not
admit a shadow of doubt. I deported myself
like a person in love ; I talked like a person
in love; I looked and felt like a person in
love. The affection that had takei possession
of my youthful heart was no every day one I
assure you of that. There were'nt words e
nough in the English language to describe the
height, depth, length and breadth of its gran
deur. It was destined to be a grand accom
paniment of the ages yet to be ; a fixed princi
ple throughout eternity ; a planet of surpas
sing beauty in the broad heavens of home
lections. , 3Iy love was returned the strong
yearning of my nineteen-year-old heart went
out into the direction of tho most beautiful
young maiden in all sbire,and she in return
sent the yearning of her heart to meet mine.
Twice a week as often as the week came around
I went-up to the old brown home of Dr. Stod
dard to tell his daughter my love, and as reg
ularly listened to a recital in return from the
red lips of my charming Janet. The good
doctor made merry at our expense, and his
jolly wife took a wicked pleasure in constant
ly reminding us of our youth. Janet was
tortured by sly references to ber play-house
in the shed, her long-sleeved pinafores and
pantaietts of six months befo re ; while I was
offered an old coat of the doctor's for my
mother to make into a dressing gown for me.
We were nevertheless, determined to he
married. We would slyly steal away from the
house while our cruel friends reposed in the
arms of Morpheus ; hie us, on "the wings of
lore," to the nearest city ; Janet would be
come, in a moment's time, Mrs. Jason Brown.
At once we set about making preparations
for this important journey. Everything, of
course, must be conducted with tho greatest
sccresyl At twelve o'clock 1 was to leave my
homo stealthily, get my father's grey nag
noiselessly out of the barn and harness her,
and then proceed to Janet. Janet was to be
waiting for me at her chamber window. I
was to place a ladder at the same window ; she
was to descend that ladder ; we were to fly
down to the old lane, to the spot where the
horso was fastened, and then the wind should
not outrun us.
There was but one difficulty in tho way.
Janet's room was shared by her sister Fanny,
a little raischievious wicked creature of elev
en years, who to use Janet's words, "was a
wake at all hours of the night." There was
but one way : if Fanny was aroused, she must
be bribed into silence. For that purpose I
placed in Janet's hand a round, shining dollar.
But Janet needed assistance, so she concluded
to make Fanny her confident the very after
noon before we started, and in that case pre
vent all possibility of raising the house by a
6udden outcry.
Well the long laoked-for, hoped-for, and
yet dreaded night arrived at last. How slowly
its leaden feet carried away the hours, and
what a strange heartful of emotions I bore up,
as I sat by my chamber window looking out,
as I thought, lor the last time, upon the home
of my father. The moon was out in all her
splendor ; she was kind to me, lighted up with
her silver touches all the spots my eyes might
wish to rest upon before 1 went ont into the
world a wanderer. The broad field lay out
smooth and shining before my gaze ; tho
fields in which I had woiked by my father's
side since I was a little boy ah ! a dear kind
father he had been ! (At this juncture my
throat began to swell.) I turned away from
the window.
I sat down in a chair and sobbed outright.
I looked around for something to take with
mo that my mother's hand had bleescd with
her touch. There was a spinning wheel in
the room where I slept ; at the end of tho
spindle hung a woolen roll. With my knife I
half cut and half tore it off, pressed it fervent
ly to my lips, and then placed it tenderly in
my vest pocket, I had not time to do more ;
the old clock in tho kitchen warned me sol
emnly that my appointed time had arrived ;
and with a slow sad, yet noiseless step I left
the house.
Once out in tho open air, my wonted light
ness of spirit returned. 1 consoled myself
with the thought that iu a tew years I should
return again, a strong, healthy, wealthy, re
spected and influential man, an honor to my
parents, and a blessing to my friends and the
husband of Janet.
I have often wondered since,how I succeed
ed in getting away from home with my horse
and cart without arousing any one. But as
good luck would have it, I mado a triumphant
exit from the old place and in a few moments
was jogging fearlessly along towards the home
of Janet. My only dread was the little sprite
Fan ; if after all she should betray us, what
a dreadful, direful, desperate mischiof it would
be ! what a wretched predicament affairs
would be in ! I groaned aloud at the thought
yet I put a bravo face upon tho matter ; I said
that if it was right that we should go, we
would go ; it it wasn't right,in all probability,
we should stay at home ; yet right or not right,
if that miserable littlo Fan did betray us, I'd
spend all my days in avenging the wrong that
was certain. Was I in earnest? did I mean it ?
But we shall see.
How earnestly and anxiously I gazed to
wards tho chamber window of Janet, as, af
ter fastening my horse by the roadside,I walk
ed cautiously up the long lane that led to the
doctor's house. O joy inexpressible! tho
waving of a white handkerchief in the moon
light told me that everything was right, that
in a few moments I should clap Janet fondly
to my breast, mine, mine forever! Ah, how
happy I was ! so happy, indeed, that I stood
still there in the moonlight,with my two hands
pressed firmly to my left side, for fear my
overloaded heart wonld burst from mo entire
ly. What a figure I must have cut then!
What an Apollo 1 must have looked, with my
fino proportions wrapped up in my wedding
suit ! I was slender ; I was tall ; I was gaunt ;
I am sure I was ugly looking at that moment.
-, What possessed me I cannot tell, but from
an old chest I had taken a blue broad cloth
swallowtail coat that had belonged to my
grandfather in the time of the wars, and in
the pride of my youth had got into it. Tho
tail came nearly to my heels, while tho waist
was nearly to my arm-pits. , Tho sleeves reach
ed to the tips of my fingers, hiding entirely
from view tho luxuriant pair ot whito silk
gloves, which I had allowed myself for tho
important occasion. Above this uncouth pile
of blue broad cloth was a perched hat.: O ye
stars and moon that looked upon it, testify
with me that It was a hat ! a hat and not a
stovo pipe,a hat and not a boot leg ! that hat!
looking back through the mist of twenty
years, it seems to have arizen to tho stature
of two full feet, while its brim appears littlo
wider than my thumbnail. My eyesight isn't
quite as perfect as it used to be, and so 1
may not see quit rightly. Make all allowan
ces, dear reader.
I say that I must have looked ugly at that
moment. Be that as it may, I thought that I
was looking splendidly ; I thought the figuro
I cut was an honor to the name of Brown and
I was prond of it ; proud as I walked up to
Janet's window, and placed carefully there
the ladder that was to bear her to my side.
Everthing was silent about the house. Fate
was surely with us, Fanny has been bribed
into service. As I stood there, I could see
her little figure flit noiselessly to and fro by
the window, and how I blessed her from the
bottom of my heart, for her Kindness !
At last Janet commenced descending the
ladder, and as she did so the moon crowded
in out of sight under a huge black cloud.
The heavens favored us; our success might
be looked upon as fixed. Three ; steps more
upon the ladders's rounds, and Janet's dainty
littlo feet would stand upon terra firma my
own. The steps were taken, and she held for
a moment fondly by tho sleeves of my blue
broadcloth, before we looked up to the win
dow, both with upraised hands, to catch a
small bundle of clothing that Fanny was to
throw down to us, and which wo had no other
means to carry with us. - .
"Be quiet, Fan," whispered Janet, as her
sister appeared at. the window and poised the
bundle above our heads. "Be quiet Fan, for
heaven's sake, and drop it quickly !"
But Fanny still stood there swinging back
ward and forward the huge bundle, without
heeding Janet's earnest entreaty.
"Do, do, throw it, Fanny dear! Do have
some mercy on me ! What if father should
know of this ? What if he should be awaken
ed?" "La, give it to her, Fan : don't plague your
sister, she's in a hurry!" called a voice at
that moment from the closed blinds at tho
parlor windows, which belonged to none other
than Dr. Stoddard.
"Give her tho things ; and tell the boys to
cany out a bag of corn, a cheese, some wheat
and butter to tho cart. Janet must have a set
ting out. Only be still about it, Fan."
For a moment we were petrified upon spot ;
I thought I should fall to tho ground. What
should we do run, faint, die, evaporate or go
mad ? While we stood undecided, two huge
mattresses fell at our feet from the window
followed at once by sheets, pillow cases, table
cloths, and sundry other articles necessary to
the setting up of a respectable housekeeping
establishment.
"Mother, mother, don't one of these new
feather beds belong to Janet ?" called Charlie
Stoddard, from one patt of the house.
"Yes, yes, and a bolster, and a pair of nice
pillows too. Carry 'em right out of tho front
door," was the answer.
"Whose horse have you, Jason ?" asked
the doctor, pushing up the blind, "Your fath
er's?" "Y-e-e-s sir," I stammered. -
"Humph! didn't you know better than
that 1 that old grey isn't worth a button to go.
Why didn't you come up to my barn and get
my black mare 1 Sam. Sam, hurry away
straight to tho barn and harness black Molly
for Jason. If you'll believe it, he was going
to start off with his father's old horse ! Be
quick Sam work lively they are in a hurry ;
it's time they were off."
"Have you anything with you, Janet, to cat
on the road ?" put in Mrs. Stoddard, poking
her head out of the window.
"No ma'am," faltered Janet moving a step
or two from me.
"Well, that's good forethought. And as I
live, there isn't a bit of cake cooked in the
house, either! Can you make some white
bread and bacon, and some brown bread and
cheese do, Jason ? It's all we have."
"Yes.ma'am," I said meekly stepping easi
ly as I could a little further from Janet.
"Look, father and mother, quick, now the
moon is out, and see Jason's new coat and
hat!" called Fan from the window,her merry
voice trembling with suppressed . laughter,
"Isn't that a splended one, father ? just look
at the length of its tails !"
"Just give me my glasses, wife," said the
doctor. "Is it a new one, Jason ?"
"Yes sir, rather new," I said giving an ea
ger look in the direction of the lane.
"Well," drawled the doctor eyeing me sly
ly, "that coat is handsome !"
"And his hat, father!" called the wicked
little Fan.
"I de-clare !" exclaimed the doctor, "Wife,
wife, look here.and see Jason's coat and hat !"
What should I do stand there till morning
before that incessent fire of words ? Should
I run 1 Should I sneak off slowly, as Janet
was doing ? What, oh ! what should I do
"Don't they look nice, mother ?" asked the
doctor, putting one broad brown hand over his
mouth, and doubling his grey head almost
down to his knees. "He-haw-he-haw, hi-he-haw
! Mother ho-haw don't they look nice,'
roared the doctor.
I could not stand it any longer. The doc
tors laugh was a signal ; it was echoed from
all parts of the house. Fan cackled from the
chamber window ; Sara shouted from the barn;
Mrs. Stoddard "he-hi-ho'd" from the kitchen;
while Charlie threw himself down in tho door
way and screamed liko a wild Indian. I turn
ed around ; I gave a leap across the garden.
Every Stoddard called after me. I am wrong;
every Stoddard but Janet ; she remained si
lent. One told me to come back for the bread
and cheese ; another that I had forgotten my
bundle and bride ; another bade me wait for
black Molly and the new buggy ; Fan bada
me hold up my coat tails, or I should get
them draggled.
I didn't heed any of these requests j I went
directly for home, which I reached feeling very
sheepish no, sheepish is a weak word for it
I can't express to you how I felt. I had a
great idea of hanging myself ; I thonght I had
better be dead than alive ; that I had made an
idiot of myself. It was all plain. Fan had
betrayed us. 1 vowed vengeance npon her
until day-light, then sneaked out to the barn
and hid in the haystack. I staid there until
Charlie Stoddard brought my father's horse.
Tho old gentleman was frightened, wanted
to know how he came by the horse. He was
told to ask me.- He did ask me, and I made a
clean breast of it. I didn't promise him not
to repeat the offence ; there was no need of
it ; but I am sure of this, I did not look at a
girl for seven years no, not for seven years.
When tho eighth year cam round. I remem
bered my eld . vow against Fanny Stoddard.
Well, to make a long story short, I married
Fanny. Janet became a parson's wife.
And here let me tell you in confidence,
reader, that I really think littlo Fanny Stod
dard had a very deep motive in her head when
sho betrayed Janet and me, though she was
but a child. She liked me even then, I be
lieve. Well, at any rate she declares every
time that the affair is mentioned, that I have,
had my reTenge upon her. Bless her faithful'
heart, it has been indeed a sweet one I
CONSIDER ME SMITH.
There is a very good story in the papers of
the day .which was played by old Dr. Caldwell
formerly of the University of North Carolina.
The old doctor was a small man, and lean,
but as hard and angular as the most irregular
of pine knots. Ho looked as if he might bo
tough, but he did not seem strong. Never
theless ho was among the knowing ones, repu
ted to be as agile as "a cat ;" andin addition,
was by no means deficient in knowledge of tho
"noble science of self defence." Besides, ho
was cool as a cucumber. Well, in the Fresh
man class of a certain 3ear was a burley beef
mountaineer ot 18 or 19. This genius con
ceived a great contempt for old Bolus' phy
sical dimensions, and his soul was horrified
that one so deficient in muscle should be so
potential in his rulif.
Poor Jones that's what we'll call him had
no idea of moral force. At any rate be was
not inclined to knock under, and be control
led despotically by a man that he imagined he
could tie and whip. He at length determined
to give tho old gentleman a genteel private
thrashing, some uight in the College Camputf,
pretending to mistake him for somo fellow
student. Shortly after, on a dark and rainy
night, Jones met the doctor crossing the Cam
pus. Walking up to him abruptly, said he"
'Hello, Smith ! you rascal is this you "
And with that he struck the old gentleman
a blow on the side of the face that bad nearly
felled him. Old Bolus said nothing, bnt squar
ed himself, and at it they went. Jones4 youth,
weight and muscle made him an "ugly custo
mer," but after a round or two, the doctor's
science began to tell and in a short time he
had knocked his beefy antagonist down, and
was astraddle on his chest, with one hand on
his throat, and tho other dealing vigorous'
cuffs on the side of his head.
"Ah ! stop! I beg pardon,' doctor ! Doc-'
tor Caldwell a mistake for heaven's sake
doctor !" groaned Jones, who thought he was '
about to be -eaten up "I I really thought it
was Smith!"
The doctor replied with a word and a blow '
alternately
"It makes no difference, for all present pur
poses consider me Smith !"
And it is said that old Bolus gave Jones such'
a pounding, then and there, is probably pre
vented his making another mistake as to per
sonal identity, at least on the College Campus !
CULTURE OF BUCKWHEAT.
This is an important crop, and we present a''
few hints in regard to its cultivation and uses,"
for the consideration of our readers. The time
of sowing, varies with the season and place,
but from the 20th of June to the 4th of July is
regarded as the best and most proper season ;
but we have known good crops from that sowrr
on tho 12th of July. If sown too early it is "
liable to blast, and if too late it is liable to be
hurt by the frost. Tho land best adapted to
this crop is a light loam, and it is also a good
crop to subdue and ameliorate newly clearedr
or recently drained land. The general prac
tice among farmers has been, to sov buck
wheat on their poorest land, when there is no
crop in fact,"Jwhich will better pay for liberal
and generous manuring. The quantity of seed
per acre should receive due attention. It is a
crop that spreads very much, and therefore
less seed is just as good as more. From re
peated trials, we have found that half a bushel
is amply sufficient for an acre of ground and
if this is sown early over that surface, will ;
give as many stalks as can comfortably grow;
for if a larger quantity were sown, tho growth '
of straw would be so abundant that it would
lodge down, and thus would not fill so heavily,
or ripen so evenly. .After being cut it should
lay for a number of days upon the ground, and
if out in tivo or three showers, no damage is
done, if it be turned over so as to dry off.
When hauled into the barn it should be' thrash
ed immediately, as at that time it shells out
more readily, and it can as well be done then,
and it is ont of they way. The average yield
is from twenty to twenty-five bushels per acre,
although some accounts of the yield of this
crop seem almost fabulous one of which oc-
curs to ns at writing that of Mr. Samuel A1-"
len of Benton, Yates county, Missouri, who,'
in 1855, raised one hundred and twenty-seven ;
bushels lrom one bushel sown, on about two '
and a half acres. The seed is valuable fof 1
food to both man and beast, and the straw, If
cut before being killed by frost, is a most ex-
cellent fodder for sheep, they being particu--larly
fond of it. It seems that this crop should1
receive more attention from our farmers, as its'
merits certainly demand Country Gentleman.
Idol Worship is Califorkia.A corres
pondent of the New York Times, writing from
San Francisco, says that the Supreme Court
of that State has decided that idol worship is
not forbidden by the Constitution. The case
was that of Eldridge vs. the See Yup Compa
ny, wherein the plaintiff attempted to get pos
session of the asylum erected by the Chinese
Company. Among the plaintiff's averments
was one that the trusteeship under which tho
Company holds was void, because the building
was erected for the purpose of being nsed
partly for idol worship. The Supreme Court
says : -'There is no force in the objection thaW
a trust, created for tho purpose of idol wor
ship, is void.: ' Cuder our Constitution, all men
are permitted the free exercise of their reli
gious opinion,' provided it does not inTolve
the commission of a public offense'; nor can
any distinction be made in law- between the
Christian or Jew, Mabonredan or neathen.
The Courts have no power to determine that
this or that form of religious or superstitions
worship-unaccompanied by acts prohibited by
law is against public policy or morals.': i t
It appears that the Chinamen who come here
are made to pay roundly ; for the . privilege of
entering the temple, and worshiping .these i
dols. Thousands of readers will find it difficult
to realize that idol worship, with all its hea
themshlforms, is actually praoticed in a great
city of tho United Statos and in this centUTjv .
; 1 - ' ' . vi'.f :
Snow fell at Coudcrspork Potter county on
the 4th of June. . ' v .:. .I ?.., , j -
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