Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, December 14, 1859, Image 1

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    BY S. B. BOW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., ATEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1859.
VOL. C.T0. 16.
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THE LAST HOO OF ATITU2IN.
'Tia the last hog of Autumn,
Left squealing alone :
All his grunting companions
Are butchered and gone ;
No pig of his kindred,
No porker is nigh.
To help empty the swill-trough,
tJr share in his sty.
111 not leave thee, thou lone one,
To starve in the pen ;
Since thy mates are all pork now,
Die shalt thou with them.
Then thus do I offer
The knife to thy throat,
And thou strait be pickled,
Like every dead shoat.
And may I be present,
V.'hen thou art the treat ;
For ham, souse or sausages,
Who would not eat?
Vi'hen people are hungry,
And beef can't be had.
For calming the appetite
l'ork it not bad.
JCOrTRIGHT SSCURED.J
CLEARFIELD COUNTY:
OR, REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST.
In 15:27, the building which has been re
modelled and is now occupied by L.J. Craus,
Vq., as Lis office, was used by Christopher
Kratrer and George S. Irwin as a printing of
fice. At this period they commenced the pub
lication of a county paper named the Pennsyl
vauii Banner. The establishment was small,
but it was in that day quite an undertaking to
fctart a paper in this neck of woods. The type
wore procured in Pittsburg ; a screw lor the
prts was manufactured in Philipsburg, and
iLe frarue-work of the press was made by Sir.
Kratzer out of a maple tree which be cut in
the neighboring forest. The paper was Dem
ocratic in its proclivities and compared favor
tib'y with its cotemporaries in point of matter
and mechanical execution. Mr. Kratzeronly
. remained in connection with the office a few
months, and then sold his interest to his part
ner. We are not aware that during this time
he derived much reputation as an editor, but
kiicw that since then in his public and private
relations he Las earned the name of a consci
entious and upright officer, a good citizen,
d 1 an honest and worthy man. The estab
lishment soon passed into the hands of Thoni
s Moore and S. Townsend Shugart, the latter
U-ing now first assistant in the Patent Office,
Washington city, a post which ho has held for
many years and where, in the discharge of bis
duties, his promptness and his urbanity have
gained him many friends. In the fall of 18C0
Joseph M". Martin, an Attorney at Law who re
moved here from Milton, Pa., became the edi
tor and publisher. Whilst the paper was con
ducted by Mr. Martin it was warm in its advo
cacy of a National Bank, a high Tariff, and
th favorite measures of the Whig party. Mr.
Martin was not a practical printer. lie engag
ed William L.Moore, of Centre county, to
come out here in 1831, and take charge of the
office. Mr. Moore published the paper until
November 1831, entered into partnership with
Matthew Erown, and they becime the proprie
tors and editors. Brown was at this time en
gaged in the Mercantile business in Clearfield.
"He was a citizen of Lycoming county had
acted as Treasurer there, and then removed to
this county. When he reached here he had
with him a &ix-hors3 load of goods, which he
unpacked and commeuced selling in a room
in an old building where the Mansion House
now stands. He had littlo business tact, was
close and penurious oft, through economy,
going barefooted even when on a journey. He
would sometimes say to his customers, "yes I
have the article the price is so much il you
intend to buy I will show it to you." His
goods were seldom marked at less than one per
cent,(Archy Campbell's per centageof course)
and when other stores were established and
were out of goods his would sell. He left
here some years ago. The Pennsylvania Ban
ner whilst owned by Moore & Brown professed
to be Neutral in politics, and published for ei
ther party such articles as they desired. But
whilst professing neutrality, many political ar
ticles appeared. Moore was a Democrat and
Brown a Whig. Each editor wrote or selected
such articles as he pleased for publication.and
when of a political tendency, signed them Ju
i ior or Senior editor. The Democratic party
was in the ascendancy in the cdunty. The
members were not satisfied with a paper which
professing neutrality only contained articles
wnich neutralized each other, and desired the
publication of a sheet which should be the or
gan of the party. With this object in view
the Clearfield Democrat waa established about
1S34 William Bigler being the editor and
publisher. A split in the Democratic party,
and a change in the management of the Ban
ner, made the rival papers organs of the differ
ent wings of the Democratic party. In the
triangular fight for Governor, the Democrat
supported Henry A- Muhlenberg and the Ban
ker George Wolf. Mr. Brown had sold his in
terest in the Banner to Levi L. Tate a citizen
or this county, now editor of the Columbia
Democrat, and the pajr was then enlarged
and published under the name of the Pioneer
and Banner. The Gubernatorial contest was
conducted with much warmth in the county.
It was characterized by personal abuse and vi
tuperation and engendered much bad blood
fcd hostile feeling. One cause of the inter
na! strife was, that Thomas Hemphill, who bad
hen selected as a delegate to the convention
through the instrumentality of the friends of
Gorertor Wo.lf in Centra and Clearfield conn-
ty, owing to some difficulty at the organiza
tion, voted for Mr. Muhlenberg, and on his re
turn home worked and voted for the nominee
of the Lewistown convention. Mr. Hemphill,
now deceased, was a well known citizen and
politician of Clearfl-eld town. He was a native
of Ireland and had resided for some years in
Bellefonte. He was a radical Democrat, a man
Wot determined purpose and strong prejudices.
lie was for many years the proprietor of the
Hotel which bears his name, and which, being
the place of general resort, gave him consid
erable influence.
The new paper was short lived, it received
little patronage and acquired no celebrity.
When the Clearfield Democrat ceased to exist,
and the dissensions in the Democratic party
were healed, its editor became the Clearfield
Democrat. He was selected as a leader, and
through the partiality of his political friends
acquired name and position. His prestige
was not due to his political friends alone. He
was popular with the mass of the people, and,
when first a candidate for the State Senate,
received every vote cast in the county, save
one. Mr. Bigler deserves much credit for his
success. He has always had in view :one ob
ject political position. If be has not attain
ed the post which his ambition prompted him
to reach for, it is not because he has not kept
the darling project near his heart. He, rising
from obscurity, has received more at the hands
of his constituency than one in a thousand of
those who embark on the sea of politics, ever
attains.
S William Eigler was born in Ferry county
about II is father died whilst he was
young, throwing the support of a family of
young children upon the widow. When able
to assist in supporting the family, the boys
turned their attention to industrial pursuits.
William studied the art of printing under his
brother. He removed to Clearfield county in
August 1S33, and, as we have said, was con
nected with the Clearfield Democrat at its com
mencement. In March 1835 he married a
daughter of A. B. Reed, Esq. He soon en
gaged in the mercantile business. He became
largely interested in the lumber trade. For
several years he was the principal lumber
dealer on our stream. His business relations
thus extended and ramified throughout the
pine region, and through his advances made,
the lenity and forbearance he showed to his
debtors, and the interest which he manifested
in the welfare of his customers, he secured
their friendship. In 1841 he was elected to
represent this district in the State Senate, and
iivl844 re-elected. He served six years, du
ring which time he was recognized as a work
ing member, and a strict supporter of party
measures. He occasionally engaged in de
bate, and made some reputation as a ready,
plain and argumentative speaker. In ISIS he
was named in this and several other counties
as a candidate for Governor. Mr. Longstreth
was the successful man in convention, but was
defeated at the polls by Wm. F. Johnston.
When it became necessary in 1831 to elect an
other Governor, Mr. Bigler received the nom
ination of the Democratic party, and succeed-
led by a largo majority over his competitor,
TThe Christiana . riots and the unfortunate bill
which his competitor kept in his breeches'
pocket, tended to increase Gov. Bigler's ma
jority. It was during this campaign that Si
mon Cameron, thinking an effort to overthrow
Mr. Bigler would prove abortive, brought a
bout the defeat of one of his earliest and warm
est supporters. Pretended opposition to Judge
Campbell because of an unfounded charge of
want of ability, but in reality sectarian preju
dice, caused his defeat. It was a master stroke
of policy in Gov. Bigler to appoint Judge
Campbell Attorney General, on his accession
to office, and then urge his claim for a seat in
President Pierce's cabinet. Had he not pur
sued this course, when personal venom had
caused a political friend to bo struck down
through religious bias, Democratic practice
would have given the lie to Democraticteach
ing, and the party might have been scattered
to the four winds of heaven.
Y During his term, Gov. Bigler showed fair
administrative capacity. Ilia administration
was not characterized by any marked event in
the State, but viewed as a whole it was com
mendable. The Kansas policy of the Nation
al Administration, united with other causes,
disturbed the elements. The political waters
became troubled, and the dominant party in
Pennsylvania seemed in the throes of dissolu
tion when Gov. Bigle rs term was about expi
ring. He was re-nominated by his party. A
new element appeared in the political field,
which, like the child's snow-ball, increased in
size and weight as it rolted along, by its ac
cessions became unmanageable, and then dis
solved in mist. Know-Nothingism reached
its culminating point on the eve of the elec
tion at which Gov. Bigler was defeated by an
overwhelming majority. Like a besom it
swept all before it. Shortly after retiring
from office, Mr. Bigler was elected President
of the Sunbury and Erie Railroad, and held
that post about one year.
(TO BE C0STL5CED.)
Why should society visit with such seventy
the departure of woman from the paths of in
nocence, and refuse her all. chance for refer
H.n? The most lovely type, of purity we
: ever 6aWf ftwater lily, grew Irorn a stagnant,
nadd pool ot green winy w.w ..
ADVENTURE IN A GAMING HOUSE.
- It was the Spring of 182o, that I found my
self gliding upon the waters of the mighty
Mississippi,and bound for New Orleans. With
a single exception, I had formed no travelling
acquaintance .on board of the boat. The in
dividual with whom I singularly enough fra
ternized, seemed like myself, to have but lit
tle inclination to extend his acquaintance a
ruong the passengers, though he seemed to be
constantly upon the look out for some one, and
the close manner in which he regarded the
operations of two or three of those individu
als, whose profuse display" of vest chains and
jewelry, and proficiency . with cards at the
tables in the saloon, betrayed their profession,
made mo at once set him down as some sort
of police detective in disguise.
. He called 'himself George Thorn, of Ken
tucky, so his card read, which he gave me in
exchange for mine. : Full six feet in height,
light curly hair, muscular arms, and the chest
of a Hercules, he challenged the admiration
of more than one of the passengers, as with
his serious never smiling face, he paced the
promenade deck, or sat apparently buried in
thought in the saloon.
"Do you ever play at cards ?" said I to him,
as he left the group that were standing about
a table of four players, and noting the progress
of the game. I had frequently seen him invi
ted, but he invariably, like myself, refused to
participate in the game.
Oh, yes, he replied, "but where is the use
of playing here ? these fellows, nodding to
wards the players, can tell any card in the
pack by their backs, and they are trying to
pluck some poor pigeon from among the pas
sengers, but as yet with indifferent success ;
beware of them, sir."
To convince me of the truth of what he
said, he called the steward of the boat, and
ordered a fresh pack of cards, which were
brought, and he handed the pack to me, bid
ding me to shuffle them. I did so when he
immediately selected nearly every ace and
king from the pack without looking at the face
of them. Next ho dealt them in two parcels,
one to mo and one to himself, when upon ex
amination, I found that all the cards of real
value were in his hand, although! could de
tect no unfairness as he dealt them.
"You see," said he, "the advantage an ex
pert has over even a skillful player."
"I do, indeed," I replied, astonished at my
fellow traveller's dexterity, and beginning to
think he might be a reformed gambler, or one
"playing possum" for some purpose or other;
but as he did not urge or even invite me to
play, nor had played with any one else, and
threw the cards aside with an expression of
disgust too natural to be assumed, I came to
the conclusion that my suspicions were unjust,
and my travelling acquaintance was a riddle
yet to be solved. '
Early the next morning the boat arrived at
New Orleans, and amid the hurried bustle of
debarkation, I lost my friend,the Kentuckian,
not even seeing him to bid adieu. The same
evening, however, after visiting the theatre, I
was enjoying the cool air, and a fragrant Ila
vanna, in the rotunda of the St. Charles Ho
tel, and conversing with a friend from the
North, whom I had lortunately met, when who
should I encounter but my steamboat acquain
tance. After the usual greetings, our conversation
turned upon our trip down the river, our fellow-passengers,
etc., when my fellow-traveller
remarked that, if I would like to visit the
interior of a gambling house, or hell, as it is
sometimes more appropriately called, he would
be pleased to show it to us as one of the sights
of the city. Never having witnessed anything
of the kind, both I and my friend assented,
and after a short walk, we found ourselves
within the precincts of one of those glittering
and gorgeously f urnished establishments ves
tibules to the infernal regions where men are
engaged in various games of hazard. The
interior! of a gaming bo use has been too fre
quently described to need repetition. The
faro bank with its crowd of visitors, the rogue
et noir table.with its anxious circle.and groups
of other games, of which I was ignorant of
the name, were all busily engaged as wo en
tered. We had passed through two apartments,
and reached the third, in which were but four
players, playing in pairs at different tables.
As we entered we sat down at an unoccupied
table for .a moment, when, as we did so, we
heard one of the two meu'nearcst to us say to
his opponent:
"That's the last dollar ; luck is yours, and
I'm cleaned out.
"But you wear a good ring," said his op
ponent. "See, I will back my ring against
yours on the next game. It's a ring that I
won at play from a Kentucky boy that came to
New Orleans to see the sights," said he care
lessly. As the player, who was sitting with his back
partially toward us, mentioned Kentucky in
his conversation, I saw Thorn listened with
eagerness, and as he twisted the ring which
he offered to bet, upon his finger, ttie Ken
tuckian tnrned deadly pale. His eyes glowed
like fire for an instant, then his countenance
again assumed its usual calm and placid look,
and to our amazement, he rose and walking
across the apartment to the player, who had
lust been left by his companion, courteously
nrnnosed to trv a hand or two with him if
agreeable, and if we, his friends, would ex
cuse him for a short time. Of course, wo
assented so did the gambler, who appeared
at first somewhat surprised at the proposition,
bnt probably resolved to try his skill upon the
new comer. The cards were dealt and the game
commenced. We were sufficiently near to see
that the piece of gold which constituted the
first stake, was won by our friend's opponent ;
so also was the second. The third stake Thorn
gained. And thus they alternately went on,
winning and losing, till at last Thorn careless
ly observod :
"That's a pretty ring you offered to bet a
while ago, stranger ; will you sell it V
"Well, as to that," said the other, "It's
pretty enougb,and cost me enough,for a young
fellow pledged it to me some three years ago,
as a sort of note of hand, which he promised
to redeem with five hundred dollars he owed
me a debt of honor, sir, but he couldn't
come to time very well, for he paid the 'debt
of nature's as they say, the same night, and
that cancelled my obligation. Ah ! the stake s
mine, I believe," said he, as he drew the
money towards him, "suppose we try a larger
stake anything from one to Sve hundred 1
antLho threw a bank note ot that denomination,
carelessly, upon the table.
4n nr surmise. Thorn drew a wallet from
hi Docket, and produced an equal amount of
money, tn6n,sweepiDg wiv
using from the table to the floor, he called for
a fresh pack, and passing them, as the atten
dant brought them to him, rapidly through his
hand, he gave them to his adversary, remark
ing to him as be did so, to "mind his deal this
time," fixing on him a searching glance as he
went through that operation. The game was
that known as "bluff." Thorn and his oppo
nent having glanced at the cards commenced
the game, and ia-a few minutes three thousand
dollars lay upon the table, to be decided by
the cards held by the players, each of whom
seemed, from his bets, to be' confident of
success, though their countenances betrayed
not the least emotion. Thorn called. The
gambler had three Kings and an Ace, while he
had three Aces and a King. With his eyes
fixecLsteadily upon his opponent, he folded up
the money and crammed it into his pocket.
"Fortune favors you," said the gambler,
stoically, too well schooled to betray any e
motion,or chagrin at the result. "But I hope
to meet you again, sir, for I must have my re
venge after such a heavy run of luck as this,
and now I have no doubt your friends will join
us in a social sit down, for if you are as good
at cracking a bottle, or singing a song, or tell
ing a story, as holding a band of cards, those
who are your friends are fortunate."
"I must confess," said Thorn, "that I am
not of a convivial or musical turn though 1
can occasionally tell a good story. I have'a
little history now, sir, upon my tongue's end,
that will be of uncommon interest to you."
It was now past midnight. Absorbed in the
excitement of the game, we had scarcely no
ticed the flight of time or that the adjoining
rooms were now nearly deserted by their oc
cupants and that the players at the other end
of the apartment in which we were, had finish
ed their own game and been spectators of that
between Thorn and his opponent, and were
now apparently interested listeners.
"About three years since," began Thorn,
"a young man in Kentucky, a confidential a
gent of a large business firm, was intrusted
with a sum of money, and commissioned to
transact some business in New Orleans ; it was
his first visit to the city ; he started happily,
leaving behind him a young wife and infant.
Unfortunately, upon one of the Mississippi
boats or immediately upon his arrival in New
Orleans he fell in with a "professional" man
man of play, I mean. By the management
of this "professiorial," the young man was en
ticed to a "hell" introduced to play,plied with
wine, stripped of his money, in shoit, to use
a professional word, plucked.' The young
man was perfectly sobered by his loss ; he re
turned to his hotel,stung with remorse and half
crazy with excitement, he placed a pistol to
his head and blew out his brains, leaving a
tarnished name as an inheritanoe to his wife
and innocent child."
"But what is all this to me ?" said t he gam
bler, now as pale as ashes, beneath the flash
ing eye of the speaket. "Is it a moral lesson
you are about to read here or a sermon you
have to preach 1"
"What is it to you ?" continued Thorn, his
voice quivering with excitement. "Ah ! I'll
tell you what it is to you. This meeting of
you and me to-night, which, lor three long
years. I have sought, is not mere chance. The
amount he loot was just the amount I have
this night worrirom you that very ring upon
your finger, is his ! I am his brothcr,and you
are his assassin !"
Thorn pronounced these words in a firm,
clear voice, and as he concluded, brought his
hand down with a blow upon the table at which
they were sitting, which was instantly over
turned as he aud his opponent started simulta
neously to their feet. They were scarcely six
paces apart and both drew their weapons as
they arose.
"Die, liar !" shouted the gambler, discharg
ing his weapon the moment he gained his feet.
The bullet ripped open Thorn's waistcoat, and
his watch flew in fiagments from the pocket,
dangling by its chain, at the same time the
pistol he held exploded, and the gambler fell
back a corpse upon the carpet. This all passed
so suddenly, ere we could interfere, that we
stood as if paralyzed for an instant-the ser
vants and the police alarmed by the noise,came
rushing into tho apartment.
Thorn quietly surrendered himself, merely
turaing to us and the other two who were in
the room saying, as he did so, "Genllemen,
bear witness, I tired in self-defense, and that I
received the villians's fire here," and he point
ed to his shattered watch, and turning, left
the room with the officers. He was tried, and
acquitted, as it was clearly proved that his ad
versary fired upon him first. The fact that
the gambler being a notorious rascal, whom
the community could well afford to spare,
might have had some influence with the jury.
I have never seen Thorn since, but the re
collection of that fearful scene is yet fresh
and vivid in my rnind,though many years have
passed since it was enacted.
For a long time it has been well known that
an extensive gang of horse thieves had been
in operation in the southern counties of Illi
nois, and so daring and successful have been
their forays, that there is hardly a farmer but
has suffered more or less from them. During
one of their excursions lately, one of them was
shot, and being captured, revealed the names
and whereabouts of his companions. The dis
closure reveals the astounding fact that sever
al of the most respectable persons hitherto,
have been engaged in tho business. One
young man was arrested in Princeton, the son
of one of the most prominent families in the
place. The various depots were disclosed,
and in one farm of ten acres, in a cane brake,
forty-three brood mares were discovered. Res
pectablo parties in Peoria and other places,
have also been arrested, and will be taken to
Springtield for trial.
The richness of the soil in some sections'of
the interior of. California, is strikingly shown
by the fact that, an old axo which was recent
ly recovered from the ground after several
years of burial, was found to be coated with
gold dust which some of our men of science
deem conclusive confirmation of the theory,
that gold is continually forming in all the re
gions where it is known to be a product. Bet
ter bury the old axe again, and in a few years
it will come out a perfect lump ot gold.
In New Orleans, during the month ofjing
her and the first three days or.Sfthtssa
there were no less than twerO'i'Oved far
affrays and twenty cases ortbvorabic termi
three w ere accidental, aw3r treatment A
tal, with the prospective should eay.
nation in several '
XIeaaant nlace '
THE BEOWN PLOT.
The confession of John E. Cooke, taken in
connection with the letters found in John
Brown's carpet-bag and those of Mr. Forbes,
afford the means of forming a petty distinct
idea ot the origin, progress, nature and extent
of the plot which has thrown Virginia into
such a commotion. Brown appears to have
begun about two years ago with enlisting, a
mong the young men who had taken an active
part in the late civil war in Kansas, recruits
lor the purpose, as he expreased it, of putting
a stop to the aggressions of tho Pro-Slavery
men. Cooke, who had served under Biown
the year before, was one of his earliest re
cruits, but though he understood that he and
his associates were to spend the Winter in re
ceiving military instruction, for which pur
pose they were to betake themselves to Asta
bula county, Ohio, in which vicinity Brown
had one or two sons, Cooke supposed at this
time that Missouri was to be tne scene of the
enterprise. The first muster of the adventu
rers, ten in number, including Brown and one
of his sons, took place soon after at Tabor, in
Iowa, where Brown first disclosed bis inten
tion of operating against Virginia. At Tabor
were stored the two hundred Sharp's rifles, and
the two hundred revolvers, of which we have
heard so much, and which formed the maga
zine, or the principal part of it, for the inva
sion as finally carried out.
It was by the route ot Tabor, after the State
of Missouri had been closed against the Free
Labor emigrants, that several large parties of
Northern and Western men had, tho year be
fore, made their way into Missouri, and it was
for the purpose of this emigration that these
arms had been deposited at Tabor, and that
John Brown, one of the most active partisans
on the Free-Soil side, had at that time obtain
ed an order for their delivery to him. This
fully explains how he came into possession of
those arms, and that they were intrusted to
him for a totally different purpose from that
to which he ultimately put them. The arms
were sent on to Ohio ; but as Brown could not
raise the means to send on bis recruits, it was
arranged that they should remain during the
Winter in Iowa, where they were drilled and
instructed by Stephens, one of tho party, who
took the place of the redoubtable Col. Forbes,
who, it seems, was originally intended to be
the drill-master, but who quarrelled with
Brown as to the leadership and management
of the enterprise, and returned back to New
York. There can be little doubt, that the first
intimation that anybody at the East had that
Brown entertained any project of invading
Virginia, was from the letters and statements
of Forbes, begging compensation for his ser
vices in going out to Kansas; and it appears
from Forbes'a own account ot the matter, that
although he begged pertinaciously of almost
everybody he could meet who took any inter
est in the freedom of Kansas, it was only to
three or four persons that he made any disclo
sure of Brown's Virginia scheme. That scheme
was so absurd and xtravagant in itself, that
those, to whom this communication was made
might well regard it as a chimera unworthy ot
serious attention. It would appear, however,
from Cooke's narrative, that the most effectual
means were taken to put a stop to Brown's fur
ther proceedings, by giving him to understand
that Forbes had bctra3-ed bis scheme to the U
nited States authorities. Meanwhile, howev
er, at the opening of the Spring the party pro
ceeded to Cleveland, Ohio, by the way of Chat
ham, Canada West. It was at Chatham, in the
vicinity of the settlements of runaway negroes,
where the party stopped for some time, that
the famous Previsional Government was insti
tuted, which has been made the foundation of
the charge of treason agasnst Brown and his
confederates. Some twenty-five or thirty cir
culars were sent to persons to atteud this Con
vention. Cooke does not know to whom ; but
nobody attended except Brown's own party,
and a number of the negro refugees of Cana
da. Just, however, as this Convention had
concluded its labors, the information above al
luded to reached Brown, that Forbes had be
trayed his plot to the Government. This, to
gether with the failure of pecuniary means,
and Brown's want of success in a journey which
he made East, for the purpose of raising funds,
put an end for a time to the whole enterprise,
and led to the disbandment f tho party.
This expedition having been broken up,
Brown went back again to Kansas and there
entered upon the enterprise of retorting the
forays and plundering parties of the Missou
rians during the lafe civil war, and by which
Southern Kansas still occasionally suffered, by
running off a body of slaves from that State,
which he succeeded in conveying through Io
wa to Canada. His success in this seems to
have led him to revive bis Harper's Ferry
scheme, and of the small suras of money
which he was enabled to obtain from a few
radical Abolitionists it is probable that the lar
ger part was contributed undei the idea that
he was about to undertake a secound edition
of his late Missouri adventure.
It appears from Cooke's statement that six
or seven of the party did not know anything
of Brown's intention of seizing the arsenal till
the morning of the attack ; and if Brown was
so reserved with those who were to risk their
lives in the enterprise, it is not likely that he
was more communicative with those ot whom
he asked money. It is not likely that half a
dozen persons knew any thing of Brown's
schemes beyond the general idea that he was
engaged in an operation for running off slaves.
Nor even of those who knew this much, did
the number amount to anything considerable.
Neither is it to be supposed that more than a
few of those who admire the courage and self
devotedness of Brown, in risking his life on
u. , vtiuui,oii vi jt v- ii, ill nonius u i J mc uu
, . . " . . .. . .
so aesperaie an enterprise lor the benent, nof,
of himself, but of others, would before!"
have encouraged him or any one els
gage in so foolhardy an undertakifanj up.
air.
I know.
"First class in natural p's" to her lover."
What's attraction ?" j what inertia is ?"
Tho look that a bIu?iT to remain where you
"Right, sir, noH piece of calico experien
"Inertia, sirJf'against a colored velvet."
are; a ftt!i , . . .
ces wKoense pigeon roost is now establish
i'henango swamp, Crawford county, Pa.
Ue pigeons are numbered bv millions. The
hunters are slaying them by thousands.
"My wife," said a critic, "is the most even
tempered person in the worhi she's alwavs
mad." V
It is a good horso that never stumbles, and
a good wife that never grnmbles.
A BAKE NIGHT
I remember, said a British officer at tho
mess table, passing a winter's night in a very
strange mauner. When I was about eighteen
years old, being quartered near a country vil
lage, I bought a tine game cock not to h'ght,"
but through a mere freak. He was as fine a
feathered biped as ever strutted on a pair of
legs. I had carried him home, where he and
I had arrived about five o'clock on a winter's
evening. It so happened that another youth
and myself were obliged for a time to occupy
one small sleeping apartment. I had a full
sized bed in it ; my companion occupied a
small traveling bed, which fitted him" like a
coffin, folded into a portmanteau in the day,
and was laid out at night by his servants. No
sooner had I arrived than I was summoned to
dinner; but what must I do with chanticleer?
I was puzzled ; so I put him, for the time, into
a dark wooden cupboard, close to the door, a
mong a parcel of old shoes, coats and pants,
and shut the door. Chanticleer, no doubt,
made the best of his quarters, and went to
roost. I went off to dinner, and in the hurry
and bustle of a party forgot the roostef as
completely as if he had never existed. -
Now it so happened that my friend's littlo
bed was planted with the pillow end close to
this same cupboard, the sleeper's ear almost
touching the key hole, the cupboard not be
ing bigger than a good sized box. About 12
o'clock I came home, got into my bed, and
fell fast asleep, still oblivious of chanticleer
and all that was soon to ensile. My friend had
been fast snoring in tlp arms of Morpheus for
an hour gone.
How long I slept I cannot tell, but I was
startled with a lengthening roar, which mado
me think some horrid convulsion of nature
was taking place in the w hole country. All
aghast and half asleep, I listened, and present
ly was made fully aware of what had taken
place, and would bo persisted in ; for thesa
birds, be it known, crow full twenty minutes
at a stretch, quarter minute time. I thought
it quite unnecessary to awake my friend, since
to sleep was impossible.
On went the cock, yelling, at short stated
intervals, more like a horse than any other
noise I know. The cock was not aware that
my friend's ear was only an inch distant from
his back. Nor was he aware that the cup
board door acted as a perfect sounding board.
So on he went, roaring his orisons in a stylo
which set the furniture of the room iri a stato
of tumult. I beg that you will' not imagine
an abrupt, short, deep crow ; every crotchet
of it came from the throat, clear', angry, loud,
and above all, long, very long. Piesently I
heard manifest proofs of uneasiness from the
tenant of the other bed. On went the bugle,
again and again repeated. At last I heard a
voice say : "O lord, what is that " The cock,
was silent ror a moment, then again blew its
angry pipe. "What is that horrid noise?"
Again it was repeated loud enough to tear
down the house. I could bear it no longer.
The desire to laugh was icsupportable ; sol
crammed the bolster into my mouth. Tho
cock continued his matins; my friend strug--gled
with the horrid annoyance, and aiso w ith?
sleep, till at last chanticleer, with one violent
effort, upset some metallic vessel or pariupon
which, no doubt, be was perched. Tins' com
pound clamor raised my friend upon his legs.
In a dreadful rage, mixed with amazement and
curiosity, he flew to the tinder-boi to strike a
light. When I saw the expression of his face
puffing at the match, it was indescribably com
ic ; but it would have required ribs of steel
not to explode with laughter, when his ques
tion to me of "Oh ! dear, dear, what is this
noise V was drowned by a yell from Chanti
cleer ; and to see bis look, when, alter allow
ing the cock to finish, I replied, as if awaken
ing from a deep sleep, "what noise do yon
mean ?" At last, wearied with laughter, I told
him all, and showed him where the hero was
deposited. Instantly he removed the bed.
Determined on vengeance, he opened the -cupboard
door, which was no sooner done than
the terrified bird battered out the light with
his wings, and escaped into some corner of the
room. The candle was lost ; so down lay my
friend, grumbling. At break of day chanti
cleer again commenced, but he was quickly
assailed with boots and shoes, and alt kinds of
missiles from both beds, which silerced him
until rising time. Such anight of restlessness
and fun I never did pass before, and I fear
never shall again. It is not often one gets so
hearty and so innocent a laugh, although to
be sure, my friend and chanticleer were suf-fereis.
The contents of the dead letter office are ad
vertised to be sold, the department being un
able to find their owners. They consist of
coats, hats, socks, draweis, gloves, scarfs, sus
penders, patent inhaling tube, gold pens, pen
cils, aBd all kinds of gold jewelry imaginable,
under-sleeves, fans, handkerchiefs, box of dis
secting instruments, pocket bibles, children's
dresses, lace collars, books, buttons, cloth,
purses, slippers, chemises, bed-qui'ts, boots,
shirts, gafls for game fowls, . cornfield hoe,
black silk basque, hoods, shawls, gaiters, cigar
case, snuffbox, spectacles, false teeth, night
caps, brogans, aprons, pantaletts, ear-trumpe'
shoulder braces, silk flag, razors, one hnr'"
catechisms, watch crystals, r.ipple-pl"""'nSf '
mi-veils, edging, and a thousand '-'oroker's
such as usually embraced in
sale of unredeemed pledoibtinruished Dem
Col. Aaron Fitch "l?, d aome
ooratir. nnl!tii.- uu meei-
thomrht nf . "' vl luc country.
i!"g- at were th? Inducements to re!
, . r ' irom tua
ask.r" -,bte Particularly he inquired
the soil. The eenfu-ni.in inO..
I n . ' .. m , 4J 1 111
I. it th anil irao trr,A :
dy. Col. Fitch then asked about tho ri;:
" . ", t " some parts san-
of Arkansas, and the prospects of a stranger
getting ahead. "Very good," was the reply.
"The Democratic party is strongly in the ina
jorlty ; but to succeed a man must load him
self down with revolvers and bowie-knives and
fl?ht his way through." "Oh, well," said the
Colonel, "on the whole, from what you say I
think Arkansas wouldn't suit me. I rather
think the soil is a little too sandy '"
Some think that since the triumph of V'
1 ankees in steaming and sailing, Yanker0- .
die-do, should be changed in Enirla
kce-doodle-Did.
j& night and
The patient mule, whicrv1"
day, will, in the end.
than the Ara
bian courser. -. . "T:-
7 PrCnts can
A friend that, . '
bought froarr , - '
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