Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, October 05, 1859, Image 1

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BY S. B. ROW.
YOL. 6 -NO.
CLEAKFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1859.
ALL'S FOB THE BEIT.
All's for the be3t! be sanguine and cheerful,
Trouble and sorrow are friends in disguiie,
Nothing bnt folly goes faithless and fearful,
Courage for erer is happy and wise :
All for the best. if a mn would but know it,
Providence wishes us all to be blest;
Thi? is no dream of the pundit or poet,
Heaven is gracious, and All's for the best !
All's for the best ! set this oa your standarJ.
Soldier of sadness, or pilgrim of love,
Who to the shores of Despair may hare wander'd,
A waywearied swallcw, or heartstricken dove :
All's for the best ! be a man but confiding,
Providence tenderly governs the rest,
And the frail bark of Ilia creature is guiding
Wisely and warily, all for the best.
All's for the best! then fling away terrors,
Meet all your fears and your foes in the van.
And in the midst of your dangers or errors
Trnst like a child, while you strive like a man :
All's for the best ! unbiass'd, unbounded.
Providence reigns from the East to the West ;
And, by both wisdom and mercy surrounded,
Hope and be happy that All's for the best !
THE PATTPEB LIEUTENANT.
I did not like to see him there He was too
voting and handsome a man. His phrenolog
ical developments were decidedly good. He
had a fresh complexion, blue eyes, light curly
hair; but lack of decision characterized his
countenance want of firmness was apparent in
his manner. He was reading a newspaper.
"That is not one of your paupers " said I
to the gentleman injeharge.
"I am sorry to say he is, sir," he replied.
"So young ! so promising in appearance I
really cannot understand it," I remarked.
Nor could any one not acquainted with his
history," was the reply; " hut let us resume
our walk. By-and-by come this way ; he will
enter into conversation with you ; he is not
backward about it. I don't know what to
make of the man, really."
"But how old is he ?"
"Twur.ty-nine years ; he looks even younger.
I fear he has lost all proper ambition, and it
may be, will end his life in the workhouse."
We wandered along from one to the other.
The establishment was perfect ; most of the
paupers were old and infirm; many of them
looked shame-Faced on being noticed. Poor
old men ! I suppose they had no children to
care for them. In one of the offices was a
model of a ship. It was a splendid thing.
From keel to mast-head there was no fault in
her. The guns were beautifully rvd Of
ficers stood on her quarter-deck, sailors in her
rigging. Every coil of rope, every shroud
was exquisite in finish and proportion. The
oats were secured, the sails all set. Truly
one was a regal object. Behind this vessel was
a pointing representing the distant port.
My natural question was, "Who did that ?"
"The poor fellow is dead," was the reply.
'He was a genius and a scholar. The noblest
looking man, sir, you ever laid j our eyes up
tin. You have seen that fine stone mansion
on Sedgwick street 1 Well, sir, he built that
house ten years ago, and paid thirty thousand
dollars for it, and yet, five years alter, he was
in the poor-house."
"What did it, sir?"
"Rum."
That was the brief reply. Expressive, was
it not ?
"Yes, sir, rum. Tho last time he went out,
his eves were very much inflamed, the doctor
of the institution gave him a dollar, saying,
"Bob, if yon drink any more you will lose
your eyes."
Bob, looked at the dollar, then turned to the
doctor with a most expressive glance, as he
said : "Then farewell to the eyes!"
"Horrible wasn't it ? In a month's time
they were digging his grave. It was in the
corner of the churchyard. Nobody followed
the miserable body. It laid in a pine coffin,
and we only said, as-we heard of" it 'Poor old
Bob !' That's all the epitaph a drunkard gets,
sir!"
Fifteen minutes after, I was hunting up the
personage who had interested me so much.
I found him in the garden, hoeing potatoes.
We t l!ied together on agriculture. His
fine language astonished me. I felt that he
had an intimate acquaintance with books, with
men, with nature.
We walked along, he showing me the pro
ducts of the soil. Presently wc came to an
arbor overhung with grapes, and sat down to
gether. "Pardon me," said I, "if I take the liberty
of asking you what brought you here at so
early an age ?"
His eyes dropped, ie raised them again as
he answered
"Rum !"
That brief word ! In my mind it is associa
ted with all the horrors of hell.
Presently he continued "I have disgraced
an honorable name, sir; I am bringing my
family shame, and yet I have not the nerve
to Le a better man."
I was indignant at this confession. He saw
it and continued: "Do not blame me, sir;
you have not had my trial. I have fallen from
a high place. Eighteen months ago, I was a
lieutenant in the navy, sir."
"Is it possible?" I was startled, shocked.
"Yes, sir, possible ; a reality, sir." His lip
quivered a little as he added, "I have a broth
er in the pulpit, sir ; a One preacher, a man
loved and respected. How do yon suppose he
feels ? I have a rich brother in New York.
They have both tried their best to save me.
"I was ruined in my youth. There is a large
"il store on the corner of M. and L. streets.
Tou have doubtless seen it. Before his death
my father carried on that business. I went
there regularly after it was closed for the day,
stealing from my home, often from my bed, for
the purpose to carouse with three young fel
lows of my own age. Do you wonder I was a
drunkard ? Of these boys, I alone am living.
One of these boys shot himself, another was
drowned drunk, and the third was hung for
mnrder only two months ago. The fourth
you see, is not much better off," bo added,
with a sickly smile.
"My habits began to be known, at last, to
ray parents. It came near killing them. Be
fore I was eighteen I was brough home drunk
nearly a score of times. Sir, I fought with
my habit, but it mastered me. The fiend had
nie by the throat.
"Strange to say, once when I was in liquor
I performed a daring feat. I caught a runa
way horse, and by sheer strength succeeded
ia arresting his mad course. Would that some
power could have held me so. 1 was much
applauded for ray heroism. But better than
all the praise I heard were tho sweet smiles
pon the white face of the girl I had saved
tron a horrible death. She was driving alono
in the city, as had been her wont for many
months. I claimed the privilege of driving
her home, she was most thoroughly frighten
ed. Tou Bmile, sir; but the exertion, her
graceful thanks, my own impulses of grati
tude, had sobered me. I sprang into the ve
hicle, and in a short time we stopped at her
lather's door. She invited me in. I thought
I would at least describe the accident, and
make apology for my unexpected appearance.
I told the story of the narrow escape to an old
man whose brow and hair were whitened with
the frosts of eighty winters. It was the aged
grandfather. Childish in joy, he tottered to
ward me, throwing his trembling arms about
my neck, he kissed me on my cheek,
"Many times have I felt that kiss, sir. 1
was unworthy of so pure an ovation from such
a holy man. I felt myself unworthy of that
dear angel's gratitude, as the sweet Annette
came in, a lew minutes after, still trembling,
still pale, and with misty blue eyes and gentle
lips thanked me again and again. In that
house, that day, I was feasted like a prince.
There were cousins and aunts there visiting for
the summer, and among them I was a lion.
"I was a good looking fellow then, sir, and
just on the eve of entering college. Young as
I was, if ever a man fell in love, I did there
and then. Poor child 1 she loved me, and I
clouded her life.
"Well, sir, you wait for my story, I see.
After this, my calls upon Annette were fre
quent. 1 lost my relish for vulgar dissipation,
and preferred her society to that of my former
congenial mates. If I drank and I did it
was secretly, and I always slept it off. My
friends, and those of Annette, prophecied a
match you see my father was wealthy I had
a good expectation, intended to study for the
law, and was deemed a desirable match.
"I believe I worshipped Annette. She was
scarcely more than a child, but such a glorious
gifted creature. She was fifteen, I twenty ;
five years between us. We were engaged in
twelve months lrom that time, while going
through college.
-"For a year I had Successfully resisted my
old disease. I called it a disease; I do now.
Remember I did not let the cursed draught a
lone, as I should. I only kept the appetite in
unwholesome subjection. I applied the knife,
but not to the right place, and there came dis
grace and downfall. One. night the students
had a frolic. I was the foremost reveler.
They tempted me with devilish pertinacity to
drink to excess. I did so, grew quarrelsome,
and raised "a row. -in tiic-i4M..twQ of the
stndents were injuted, and I made so much
noise that we were discovered in our revels.
The blows that were given were proved upon
me falsely ; I never remembered that 1 gave
them. I was convicted, expelled and publish
ed. The disgrace was overwhelming.- I tried
to kill myself when I heard that Annette's
friends had cast me off forever. A note was
put in my hands one day just as I had deter
mined on the means to rid myself of exis
tence. It ran thus :
'Dear Richard : I am sorry for you ; I do
not believe all they say, and surely a man is
not to be cast off for one false step. Come to
Aunt Martha's this afternoon. They have for
bidden me to receive you at the bouse, but I
wiil sec you there. Yours, as erer, Annette.
"O! sir, that made my heart leap into my
throat with joy and grief. She did not know
that this was far from mj- first 'false step.'
Dear angel, she had faith and wanted to com
fort me. Besides, she was young, impulsive,
loving. At three in the afternoon I went to
the place she had designated. It was a poor,
plain house, for her Aunt Martha was far from
rich, and, as I sat in the little parlor, Annette
came in and made it all alight. Her low 'dear
Richard!' was the sweetest music I ever heard.
Then as I caught her to my bosom, she press
ed back my hair with her loving fingers, and
said with a smile that seemed angelic 'They
can't make me believe you, wicked, dear
Richard.while I looji on that face.' Her voice
inspired me; her perfect fiith for the time
elevated my manhood, I silently vowed that
such a thing should never again happen-that I
would not die, but make myself worthy of her.
"You do not believe all they say of me
then I" I asked.
"No, Dick ;' the beautiful eyes were raised
lovingly to mine. 'No, Dick, and I wouldn't
believe, though they had made yon appear
guiltier than you are. You know, Dick,' she
added, as if to apologize for, and soften the
apparent reproof, 'It is very wicked to drink
at all."
"But I did not injure the students,' I said
evasivelv, I distinctly saw Hal Burt and Joe
White strike at them. It is all done through
jealously."
"I knew it; I told them so at home,' said
Annette.triumphantly. 'Said I, Dick is smart,
and the foremost of his class, and they hate
him for it. They will injure him for it it they
can, but never in my estimation."
"God bless you, my love," was all I could
say. There were tears in my eyes and promi
ses in my heart ! O! she was so beautiful ! so
good that alternoon ! I can see the dear eyes
that I oave made shed many bitter tears, look
ing up at me now with that same solt, loving,
pleading, yet trusting glance. lean seethe
dear red lips with my name trembling upon
iuem.. We parted. I to go to my disgiaced
home to meet cold, averted looks ; she to be
sheltered and petted and loved by all who
knew her."
"My father with incredible exertion, procur
red me a situation in the service. It was the
worst thing that could have been done forme,
though as thero was soon to be fighting ; pro
motionif I lived was possible, nay almost
certain. But temptation was on that vessel,
on deck and in her cabin. I took leavo of
Annette and went to sea. Once on the ocean,
I forgot prudence, love, Annette, all things
pure and good, in my devotion to the cup.
There was wine at table. A dashing young of
ficer who 'took' to me had supplied himself
with champagne and various liquors. I was
always to a certain extent, drunk. Onr desti
nation was Mexico. There, for the exhibition
of drunken valor, I was appointed second lieu
tenant before I had been third. Ah! sir, I
lived a gay life. I dare not tell, or even think
of my excesses they were horrible. Once a
gain I was promoted, and came home with the
honors of first lieutenancy thick upon me.
Then I was lionized. Annette's friends forgot
my weakness. The glitter of my epaulettes
filled their vision. They could not Bee the
drunkard in a uniform. I went to Annette's
home as I listed.
"One Dight I called upon her. I had been
drinking freely, and was not sensible of my
situation, or I would have shot myself belore
I would have ventured in ber presence. She
never looked more beautiful. What I said or
did that night I never knew distinctly. I re
member her wild look of affright her hands
pushing me frantically from her ber spring
ing away and my chasing her her cries of af
fright finally her locking herself in her room,
which I made fiuitless attempts to enter, then
my leaving the house with all the doors open,
and then comes a blank.
"The next morning dawned upon me in the
chamber or a friend. As I looked up with ach
ing brain, a noble lace bent over me the face
of one who had been a fellow collegian, and
who was studying then lor the ministry. I
asked feebly where I was."
"Horace and I found you prostrate in the
street, a few rods from here. You were utter
ly helpless. We lifted you against your most
impotent struggles ; you cursed us with every
breath, but we finallj' brought youhere, and
here you have slept till now. It wants a quar
ter of eleven. I closed the blinds that you
might sleep it off."
"I did not ask what he meant by it. I was
ashamed; too much ashamed to look at him.
I hinted at the effects of a southern fever, but
from nnder my nearly closed lids I saw some
thing like a sneer on his face. He sat down
by my bedside, and he plead with me for an
hour. For God's sake he besought me to
break from this ruinous habit. lie held up
the very flame of hell till I shuddered. Then
he spoke of Annette, and I knew by the tre
mor of his lips, the huskiness of his voice,
that he too lov ed my darling. I had suspect
ed it before, but now I was certain, and it
roused the wildest feelings of jealousy. Mad
ly I boasted of her unconquerable attachment,
fool that I was! With a coarse, unskillful
hand I bared his own heart to his view, till he
shrank from me in agony. Then I arose, for
getting all gratitude for his great favor in
bearing me, senseless, disgusting as I was,
from the clutches of the police or watchman !
saving me the shame of opening my eyes in
the station-house, and having my name bruited
about in the public prints.
"I went to the dwelling of Annette. I was
ushered into the side parlor, where she lay up
on a lounge, her cheeks as colorless as-death,
her large eyes shining fitfully and looking as
if they had never closed in sleep. As I bent
over her, she said softly :
"Please don't come so Rear me, Mr. Isling
ton ; I am ill."
"I started at that as if I had been shot.
'Mr. Islington !' I repeated my own name,
looking at her with a wondering glance.
"Uii nri fcuuia-Dt-ncvc tiths v-y.ULrw-some
other," she said sighing in a weary wa,
and shutting her eyes tightly, tho' not so as to
prevent the tears that would ooze through.
"What can you mean ?" I asked ; and my
look of extreme credulity must have aston
ished her.
"O, Richard, Richard, yon do not know
what you said last night," she cried convul
sively, passionately. "You don't you can't
know what you did. O, Richard, the very re
collection crazes me. Don't come near me ;
indeed, I can't ' bear it. The recollection
oh! terrible, terrible ! '
"For God's sake, Annette, what did I say ?
What did I do ? Tell me, that I may ask your
pardon on my knees, aud then I will leave you
forever."
"O, Richard, Richard," she moaned. Then
she caught my hand with impulsive tender
ness, drew me towards her, laid her head on my
arm, as she said in a tone that haunts me still :
"I will tell you a little, and then you must
go. It will be best for both of ns, Richard
lor both. It may break my heart; but it
would be broken some time, you know. Rich
ard, I cannot say in words what you said to
ne. No, it would kill me to hear them. O 1
I never thought this would happen after all I
have said all I have felt for you. Richard,
you revealed some horrible things to me. O J
were you so wicked in that foreign country ?
Did you love and deceive that poor Spanish
girl ? O, God help you, poor Richard ! God
help you if you did."
I sat stupefied pale with horror. She
looked once in my face, and shuddered, as she
said brokenly : I could forgive all but that.'
I felt like a condemned criminal. For a
while I sat there struggling for voice, and
then I told her that, however wicked I had
been, I had never deceived woman.
"O, I am so glad !" she said, sinking
from my arm to the pillow of the lounge.
But, Richard, how can I forget last night.
Don't get down to me in that way. I know
now I knew then you were not yourself ; and
for that reason, because you will not conquer
that fatal habit, we must part. Don't say an
other word, my dear ; weak and yielding as I
seem, I can be firm. Remember thatyonr own
band has thrown the cup from your lips. I
have tried to believe her voice grew broken
and sobbing 'I have tried so hard to believe
that you were everything good and worthy.
You don't know how I have idolized you,
looking on you as the saviour of my life. That
is what I have said so often when they reason
ed with me 'Father, he saved the life of your
child. How can I help loving him? O, yes,
they all knew it, everybody knew how I loved
you. I never took pains to conceal it; but
now now I must,"
"I walked that floor in anguish of body and
spirit. Then I went to her and said :
"Annette, you love that canting George
nerick better than yon do me. Don't dissem
ble I know it all know what he thinks of
you, the hypocrite !"
"I had lashed myself into a fury that was
not to be calmed by her gentle repetition of
my name, her pleading looks.
"Yes, it must bo so. If you loved me, you
would overlook what happened when I was not
myself. Little things like that would not
cause you to dismiss me."
"Little things !' she repeated, with a re
proachful look. 'Richard, if you knew what
you said last night,, how you insulted me, you
would never look me in the lace again."
"Farewell then, forever," I almost howled,
and seized my hat to go I know not where.
"Richard, just one word more."
"If death had been the penalty, 1 could not
have resisted that plaintive appeal. She held
forth her arms, pulled me down again beside
her, and sobbed on my neck as if her heart
would burst. Again and again she essayed to
speak, and again fresh tears and choking sobs
followed. 1 was almost dying with shame, and
the hot tears pressed to my burning eyeballs,
but I bit my Hps and kept them back. My
whole frame was shaken, but not alone with
anguish. There was a scene held np before
my soul a black, disgraceful scene."
"Only to ay, dear Dick," she gasped forth
at last, "that if I life, 1 shall neTer, never mar-
'1
ry anybody else ; and if any time I know that
you have thoroughly reformed, oh ! then if
you will take me, and love me still, I will be
yours ; yours through all time, through all
eternity."
"I kissed her many times, and desperate,
maddened,hating myself and cursing mankind,
I left her, for what ?"
His manner startled me; his voice was
hoarse and fleice.
"To come to be a beggar and a pauper, at
the age of twenty-nine, through love of rum !"
Another moment, and I was alone. A fearful
page in the book of man's history had been
unfolded to me. I shuddered as I left the
arbor. He who talked to me was nowhere to
be seen.
Three years after that I was travelling in a
stage coach, when an accident happened of a
somewhat serious nature. The coachman was
dragged from his seat and. trampled upon by
the horses, till his body was in a shocking
condition. He was carried to the nearest
house. I was somewhat injured, and not think
ing it advisable to go on, applied for shelter at
a pretty cottage pointed out to me. The door
was opened by the same young man who had
told me the dismal story in the N poorhouse.
At first sight we recognized each other. He
led me in saying joyfully :
"I have conquered!-'
I forgot my pain in the joy of hearing snch
news, and willingly heard what seemed like a
continuation that had not had a three years'
imerval since I had listened before.
"You remember the day we talked togeth
er," he said. "I have little to say, but it
seems wonderful, too wonderful for me to be
lieve. After you had gone I went to work,
but as I struck the earth, a strange, unearthly
feeling came over me. I seemed for the first
time to open my eyes and look about me.
Good God !' .said I, as I thought on my sit
uation. 'Lieutenant Islington Lieutenant
Islington, a pauper in the old N work-house,
hoeing potatoes ? It won't do!' Sir, I threw
my hoe as far as I could hurl it with this right
arm, turned straight about, walked out of that
place, redeemed my name, my character, and
my Annette, and now I own this house and
land, and am a happy man, thank God !"
Great tears were rolling down his cheeks; I
will not say anything about my own. The
reader can judge whether I was unmoved.
Then he told me the history of his finding An
nette an orphan and poor, earning a livelihood
by her needle, of his waiting and working
nearly three years, and now they were just
married. ...At. tbt numjent a blooming crea
ture entered.
"My Annette," said the proud husband pre
senting her "She has come in from a sick
neighbor."
"Your wife is a lovely crealure. No won
der you thank God," said I, aside, just as I
retired to rest.
He smiled. I could not blame him that the
smile !was an exultant one. He had conquer
ed himself. God had written him "Greater
than those who take kingdoms!"
A Real "Hunter." Once upon a time, a
Yankee, travelling through Kentucky, had a
fine horse and no money, ne had taught the
animal to lie down or sit on his haunches when
the bridle was pulled pretty hard. Our trav
eler saw no way of replenishing his purse but
by selling his horse, and this he resolved to
do on tho first favorable opportunity. As ho
was going along slowly, he saw a hunter at
some distance from the road, whom he rode
np to and accosted. In the course of the con
versation, be told the latter that he had an in
valuable horse to sell a horse that would act
precisely like a setter, when he was In the vi
cinity of game. Casting his eyes around, and
at the same time discovering some fresh rab
bit tracks, he gave the bridle a jerk, and the
docile quadruped immediately lay down.
"There are some rabbits here," said his ri
der, "I know by his cars."
The Kentuckian, curious to test the reputed
sagacity of the horse, seaached around, and
surijnougb, started three or four rabbits.
He was greatly surprised, but the Yankee took
the affair as a matter of course. To make a
long story short, the wonderful horse changed
owivers on the spot, $300 being the considera
tioif. His new owner mounted him, and with
characteristic hospitality, told the Yankee to
accompany him home. They soon came to a
stream which they had to cross, and which was
rather deep for horsemen. . J udge of the Ken
tuckian's dismay, when, on pulling the bridle
in the middle of the river, his steed subsided
in the running waters as if he were a hippo
potamus. "How's this ?" he roared out noth
ing but his bust visible. But tho Yankee, who
was mounted on the hunter's other horse, was
not disconcerted in the least.
"O, I forgot to tell you ; he Is as good for
fish as he is for rabbits !"
Government Promgalitt. Greeley's let
ter treating of the condition of our army in U
tah, lays bare the extravagance and rapacity of
those who have the administration of the Gov
ernment. The favorite speculators who sup
ply the grain for the army charge and get only
eleven dollars per bmhel for corn, when it can
be bDught on the spot in any quantity for two
dollars. The samo rate is charged for flour,
and all the necessaries of life. A sale of gov
ernment mules took place there, where nobodj
else wauted them, for less than half their val
ue, when the army will be compelled to pur
chase new ones at exorbitant prices whenever
it is ordered home. The chief end of the U
tah war seems to have been to proenre the en
richment of a gang of buzzards and specula
tors at the expense of the people, who have
to pay smartly for all this folly.
Terrible Suffering. A late Kansas paper
gives an account of two men, father and son,
named Frost, from Pottsville, Pa., who, re
turning from Pike's Peak, were nearly starved
to death, when relieved by Lieut. Griffin and
two soldiers from Fort Riley, who went with
provisions to them. The Frosts had been at
an abandoned express station for eight days,
living on grasshoppers and mildewed eorn
picked np among the excrements of animals
that had been fed at the station. They caught
twenty to thirty grasshoppers every morning
until too weak to do so, and made a stew of
grass-hoppers, corn and buffalo-bide.
An ingenious Scotchman, It is. said, has
trained a couple of mice to turn ' a reeL tor
twisting twine. The laborers run about ten
miles a day and reel from 100 to 120 threads
A half penny's worth of oatmeal lasts a mouse
six weeks ; and the clear annual profit on each
apimal per year is computed at six shillings.
F0BENSIC ANECDOTE.
The following anecdote was received many
years ago, from a venerable Kentuckian.whose
locks were then whitened with the frosts of
many winters. He was a personal acquaintance
of the gallant hero, and an actor in some of
the stirring scenes of the early times in that
settlement.
There lived near Lexington a very poor wid
ow, who, by dint of rigid economy, amassed
enough to purchase several pigs, which she
put pto a pen to fatten for the snpport of her
self and numerous family. When her pigs
were grown and fattened, one of her neigh
bors, upon a slight claim or pretence, went to
the old lady's sty, deliberately razed it, drove
her hogs off", slaughtered and snugly deposited
them in his own tub. The poor woman remon
strated, but in vain, and not being able to in
cur the expense of a legal prosecution, she
was left without a remedy.
On quite a pleasant afternoon in November,
a man dressed in a blanket coat and leggings,
with a rifle, called at the humble dwelling, and
asked for a drink of water. She furnished
him with a gourd, which, if it could not boast
of splendor, did of cleanliness. After he had
refreshed himseif with a draught from the
homely cup, leaning npon his rifle, he inquir
ed where the widow lived who had been so
basely robbed, relating to the circumstance of
the theft. The maternal tear that coursed
down the injured widow's cheek answered
most eloquently. "Dry up your tears, good
woman," said the stranger, "I have no doubt
some one will assert your rights and defend
them." "O, no," said she,through her tears,
"I know of no lawyer but Harry Clay that will
nndertake a suit without a fee, and he has gone
to Congress." The hunter still endeavored to
console her, and then, shouldering his rifle,
and followed by his faithful dog, soon was lost
in the woods.
The case was duly instituted, but by proper
process was removed to a distant county by the
defendant. When it was called for trial, a
man in a blanket coat was seen to arise and
address the court thus : "Your honors, and
gentlemen of the jury, this is a case of pecu
liar charracter the case of the widow and the
orphan." After the testimony was examined,
which was very pointed,the blanket coat again
arose, and after recapitulating the evidence,
very pathetically spoke of the labor and toil a
poor widow had undergone to gain a scanty
pittance for a helpless family ; which soon a
wakened a universal sympathy in her favor,
and caused the sturdy jurors to drop their
heads to hide a lurking tear and the stern
judge, it was said, was seen to dash an unwel
come visitor from his ej-c. He then commen
ted upon tho punishment that ought to be due
to a villian that would rob her, and leave her
helpless babes to starve. After this, lie turned,
with a most piercing and withering look upon
the defendant, and, with masterly eloquence
held him up to the court as the very wretch
who had robbed the widow, and taken the
food from the mouths cf her orphan children.
And what aggravated the crime still more, she
was so poor that he thought ho could rob her
with impunity, for no one would espouse her
cause and protect her. "But,thank Heaven,"
said he, "I am permitted to be here, and she
shall have justice done her, or my name is not
Jo Davies !"
It is needleas to add, he gained a handsome
indemnification, which the widow received
with heartfelt gratitude towards her noble
champion.
There is another anecdote in our memory
respecting this distinguished advocate, which
may as well bo inserted here. A difficult ques
tion came up for decision before the court of
Kentucky, involving an important point in re
gard to the title of an estate.
The case embraced a long concatenation of
facts and sundry technical niceties?. When it
was called, a Kentucky hunter, with his rifle
and bird-bag, loaded with provisions, entered
the hall and took his seat among the lawyers.
There was a grin on the faces of the court,
jury and spectators. He,all unconscious, took
out his provisions and began to eat with the
greatest composure. The lawyer on the part
of the plaintiff rose and made a long argument.
"And who answers for the defendant I" in
quired the Court. "I do," replied the hun
ter, and rising, broke forth into a torrent of
eloquence that astonished the court and the
jury. Away went the plaintiff, law and evi
dence ; and so complete was the discomfiture,
that the opposite counsel made a most pitiful
reply.' The jury found a verdict for tho de
fendant, and when the court adjourned, invi
ted the stranger to their lodgings. -'No, 1
thank you, gentlemen, and unless you will
take a cold cut with me,I must be gone." So
saying, he shouldered his rifle and departed.
Col. Jo Davies, of Kentucky, was, as these
anecdotos indicate, a lawyer of great acute
ness and powerful eloquence, w hose character
was tinged with the eccentricities of genius.
He was brave aud chivalric in his feelings,and
having joined the American army under Gen
eral Harrison, he fell at the battle of Tippeca
noe ere he had reached the prime of life. His
memory is yet dearly cherished in his native
State.
Manure. The sweepings of a blacksmith's
shop, where charcoal is used and horses shod,
are excellent for manure. Everything cf a
horny or bony substance is of great value. So
woolen rags, old boots and shes, hair, wool,
feathers, all should be carefully saved, and
put into the compost heap. Dirt under build
ings, particularly under barns and stables, is
often worth more per load than the droppings
and straw in the stable or manure pile. Take
up the floors, and -dig it out. An article be
fore us says : "About the best field of wheat
we ever saw belonged to a comb-maker, who
had used the horn shaving for manure. One
of the most effective manures we ever used
was the refuse from a woolen factory."
Going to Law. The Agriculturist contains
a very good and suggestive picture, entitled
"going to law," from which quarrelsome peo
ple can derive a valuable lesson. It represents
a cow, with the plaintiff pulling ferociously at
the horns, and the defendant tugging just as
hard at the other extremity, whilst a sleek
looking lawyer, seated on a pile of law books,
is milking the cow's well-filled bag. That's
about the fate of all who go to law. The par
ties to the suit wrangle and fight, and the law
yers get the cream.
Indians lie around loose in Marysville, Cali
fornia. An honest citizen complains, in a lo
cal paper that they incommode his door eteps
by reclining, on them very druak, and having
to be stepped over.
OBIGIK OF THE COBOSEB'S JTBY.
A gentle-woman in London, after having bu
ried six husbands, found a gentleman hardy e
nough to make her a wife once more. For"
several months their happiness was mutnal, a
circumstance which Beemed to pay no great
compliment to the former partners of her bed,
who, as she said, had disgusted her by their
sottishness and infidelity. With the view of
knowing the real character of his amorous
mate, the gentleman began frequently to ab
sent himself, to return at late hours, and when
he did return appear as if intoxicated. At first
reproaches, but afterwards menaces, were tho
consequence of this conduct. The gentleman
persisted, and seemed every day to become
more addicted to the botile. One evening,
when she imagined him dead drunk, she un
sewed a leaden weight from one of the sleeves
of her gown, and haing melted if, she ap
proached her husband, who pretended to be
still asleep, in order to put it into his ear
through a pipe. Convinced of her wicked
ness, the gentleman started np and seized her ;
when, having procured assistance, he secured
her until the morning, and conducted her be
fore a magistrate, who committed her to pri
son. The bodies of her six husbands were
dug up, and as mark." of violence were still
discoverable upon each of them, the proof of
her guilt appeared so strong upon her trial,
that she was condemned and executed. To
this circumstance is England indebted for that
useful regulation by which no corpse can be
interred in the kingdom, without a legal in
spection. A Campaign Against the Bears. Bruin
has invaded the northern counties of Wiscon
sin in earnest, disputing the possession of the
soil with the voting classes, by virtue we pre
sume, of earlier preemption!. Scores of the
animals have been killed in the counties of
Sank, Richland, Bad Ax, Trempelean, Eavt
Claire, Waupacca, Oconto and Brown. They
have ventured, even into the towns of Barba
roo, Plymouth, Eau Claire, and Portage City.
Several persons have been "treed" by the
enterprising bears and bearessess. One of
them, recently went into Portage City on the
Sabbath and proceeded to a place of divine
worship. " ne frightened the congregation
considerably, but they finally drove him into
a tree. Seeing preparations being made to
despatch him, he warped himself down to the
ground, made a tremendous stampede among
his enemies and escaped unhurt to the woods.
A couple of hunters were recently started
from cover by an old veteran of the forest,
and being hotly pursued, one of them turned
suddenly and fired, killing his own dog, bnt
surprising bis black antagonist so that he made
a hasty retreat. Several other persons have
been pursued by these TJ. S. Marshals for the
Northern District of Wisconsin, but,we have
heard of none being killed or vpry violently
hugged as yet. It is supposed that the long
severe drought in that region has forced them
into the setlements to procure the necessaries
of life.
Horrors of Poltgamy. A Camp Floyd cor
respondent of the Boston Traveler, says that
polygamy stalks abroad in all its horrid forms
in the presence of Judges of the United States
Courts and the army. The young women of
the Territory are daily being married to gray
headed old men that have already tix, ten and
twelve wives each, and a score or two of chil
dren. The writer a short time since dined
with a Mormon family in vicinity of Spring
ville, where there were seventeen children un
der the age of four years ; the family consist
ed of ten wives ; three of the number were sis
ters and nieces of the husbaud ; a fourth niece,
only thirteen years of age, openly boasted
that she shortly was going to marry the same
old blue beard.
The Revival in Ireland continues to
spread. Scotland and Wales are now awaking,
and England itself is welcoming the gracious
visitations. Even France begins to look np.
There is a prospect that this new interest will
be more telling in the United Kingdom than it
was in this country. These examples of
spreading religious excitement show how rap
id and pervading the power of the gospel may
yet become among the nations. The Protes
tant world seems now more than ever to be
praying, "Thy kingdom come." It will yet
come and fill all the world.
Walking on the Water is now becoming no
uncommon feat. The Toronto Globe reports a
case in which a Mr. llickok walked a distance
of two or three hundred yards with complete
success. The water shoes which he used are
the first ever made ; and as the idea of walk
ing on the water did not strike him until a
fortnight ago, he had but little time to prac
tice. He showed no difficulty, however, in
keeping his equilibrium, sometimes with a
wand, and sometimes with nothing in his
hand. Pretty tough story to believe, that.
The Columbus, Ohio, Statesman says that a
young lady aged about sixteen, of considera
ble intelligence and prepossessing appearance,
is now residing with the Sheriff of Ottawa
county, preparatory to her removal to the lu
natic asylum, having become insane from
viewing the Aurora Borealis a short time ago,
which she was induced to believe betokened -the
approaching end of the world.
Mr. Fisher, of Paterson, New Jersey, has
constructed a steam carriage, which promises
excellently. A few days since, it steamed to
Acquackanonk,on the common road. Twelve
passengers were on board, and the carriage
went on the level fifteen miles an hour. One
mile was run in three minutes. The builder
has no doubt that, when completed, the car
riage will run anywhere.
A dictum of Washington Irving's which will
apply years hence as well as now: "In all
ages the gentle 6ex have shown a disposition
to infringe a little upon the laws f 'decorum,'
in order to betray a lurking beauty, or an in
nocent love of finery." ;
It is asserted that the nurse of the young
ladies of a noble English family, tha Bacbe
rfales, who rendered her account annually for
little nursery et ceteras, among other tbiaga
put down the modest sum of ,$350 for brandy :
to sponge the children with.: - -i. -. -.
J eSersou says that soma men imagine that i
they came into the world booted and sparred 1
by the graco of God ; 'and we may add, that, -
ft they don't behave themselves, they deeerv
to go out "booted" by the grace ol mankind.