: JI S B. ROW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, APRIL i8, 1800.
VOL. Q.-NO. U.
PICTUEES IN THE COALS.
! Sitting by my pleasant firelight,
In the dark and dull December,
'.. Making pictures in the ashes
Of a slowly dying ember
Lo ! from out the ashes rising,
Touched as by the sunset gleams,
If the Tillage of my childhood,
That I ever see in dreams.
-' There, between the rows of maple.
If the broad and grass-grown street;
There, behind the shadowing branches,
Stand the houses, plain and neat.
There, beneath vine-covered porches.
Are forms tht never more will come,
Tor those hearts have ceased their beating,
And those lips are cold and dumb.
But upon the sonny hill-side,
Where the village church does stand,
The shadow of the spire is pointing
As the finger of a guiding hand .
Wandering ever in the grave-yard,
From morning red till set of sun,
- Fointing where we. too, shall slumber
When our little life is done.
Yonder is the dim, blue mountain ;
j There, upon the plain below,
t Stands the farm-house, with its windows
Blazing in the sunset glow.
A mist now rising from the Talley
Ebuts the blue-stream from my sight,
But I know upon the surface
Float the water-lilies white.
Tonder are the clover meadows, "
Where the twinkling air is seen ;
There my happy little schoolmates,
Playing on the villnge green !
Forever children still I love them
Tears are filling fast my eyes
The burning ember now has fallen ;
My village in the ashes lies.
O, in Tain we're ever striving
After things beyond our reach,
Little heeding all the lessons
Life's most simple things may teach ;
Little thinking what rare pleasures
pimple joys may bring our souls
Even fading, dying embers
Even pictures in tho coals.
THE FOREST MAIDEN.
BY MRS. D. ELLEN GOODMAN.
It waa a low-roofed, bumble log house in
the heart of a western wilderness. At its rnde
doorway stood two beings gazing ont upon the
wild but magnificent scenery tho proud gi
ant trees, with their tall branches rising to
ward the blue skies ; their glossy leaves tremb
ling in the summer breeze, and forming a cur
tain through which the bright sunbeams pour
ed over the rich sward at their feet the wild
flowers peeping out from the dark shadows of
their hngo trunks, and the scarcely trodden
footpaths winding over the velvet turf from
the narrow clearing about the cottage. . A low,
.thrilling carol, from a fluttering bird, now and
then broke the stillness, and far away down the
shady ravine was faintly heard the soft mur
mur of & rippling stream. ' .
The eyes of the young maiden at the door
wandered delightedly over the qniot scene,
and there was a light in their blue depths, and
a dimpling smile about the rosy mouth which
gave an indescribable charm to her sweet face.
One little hand clasped the strings of the
atraw bonnet which hurg by her side and the
other was raised to her white forehead, half
shading the laughing orbs beneath it from the
bright sunlight, while tho whispering winds
lightly touched her pure neck, lifting the wa
ging brown tresses Irom her shoulders. She
was very young and very beautiful, and every
glance of her bright eyes told that her soul
was full of love and purity. The lady by her
?lde was many years her senior, and there was
the slightest shade of care upon her smooth
brow, and a subdued and patient look upon
her mild face, which told that her life had not
been without its changes and trials. The
glance which she cast upon the young girl was
full of tenderness and maternal affection ; and
when she looked into the deepening shadows
of the surrounding forest, or up to the azure
kies, the soft light of her dark eyes told of
fiopo and contentment, if not of enthusiasm.
All at once the little hand dropped from the
forehead, and a low ringing laugh came from
tho lips of the young girl.
They are coming, mother ! See, there is
father holding Anna and little Eddy upon my
black pony, and Oscar in the rear mounted
upon old Charley! Oh, we shall have such a
bice rid a through these old roads,and down by
the bank of the quiet river."
And with a joyous bound she darted forward
to meet the approaching band,the merry voices
of the delighted II tie ones mingling with her
joyous shouts.
"Oh, sister Esther !" cried little Anna, "wo
have had such a grand time ; Eddy and I riding
around throiigh tho forest, with father to lead
jour dear little pony j and he is so clever,
and steps so carefully over the green sward and
pretty flowers. Oh, I wish we had not got
borne this whole hour vet !"
But the chubby pratler was lifted from her
coveted seat, and stood dancing at the feet of
her mother, whilo the baby boy clapped his
lny hand, and sent out his infant carol from
the arms of hia smiling sire. Esther had tied
her straw bonnet over her curls, and sprang
gracefully to the hack of her favorite ; and
now he pawed the turf impatiently, and shook
his glossy mane, as if quite eonsclous of the
lovely weight he bore, and longing to dart away
down the mossy path, and through, the dim
shades.
Her brother, a tall, noble looking youth of
twe.n.ty, soon smilingly joined the company,
.and alter kissing her gloved hand to the dear
group, they gajloped away down the foot-path,
and were lost to .view. After riding a mile or
two beneath the drooping boughs of the old
trees, they suddenly came to the steep bank of
.rver ot considerable size, and turning to
the right, had a full view of the open country
n'jny tnile8 around No obstruction was
.offered to their progress, and they rode gaylv
,on over a surface of downy moss and yielding
sward, besprinkled with wild flowers of every
hue and variety. Far to the left on the oppo
site shore, the forest was deep and unbroken,
nd a steep grassy declivity which rose from
the river's pure waters was now aud then bro
ken by a chain of massive rocks extending far
out into the stream, and losing their dark toDS
amlt u 1 i i
-"u mi: Buruuuerv ana srreaimr hvrka
The
cheeks of Esther Dunham gloved, and
v. . . . IU
Bright smiles deepened the dimple ihrmt ho.
mail mouth, while her brother's eloquent dark
yes beamed with inicnser light as they rode
JL ' the mu,ical tone of one blending
with the deep, mellow voice of the other in
"r" ! conversation. At last the horses slack
ed their pace, walking almost noiselessly a
""g over the flowry gronnd, as if, like their
mrs, subdued to pleasant thought by nr-
ronnding influences Just as they came to a
clump of trees, which bent over the stream
and threw their dark shadow far out Into the
sleeping waters, a low, warbling murmur, not
exactly like the carol of a bird, but quite as
sweet and full of melody, fell on their ears;
and instantly checking the tired horses, they
bent brethlessly over their saddles, and peer
ed down through the thick leaves, for the
sound seemed to proceed from their midst.
A low, faint cry of wonder half burst from
Esther's lips, btt her brother's hand smother
ed the sound, while he pushed his way nearer
to the edge of the bank that ho might have a
more distinct view of the strange, wild crea
ture thus thrust upon their vision. She had
grasped with one small, brown hand a pliant
branch of one. of the trees that overhung the
dark waters, and swung herself from the slight
foothold beneath, while with the other reach
ing far up amid the clustering vines that wound
themselves around every limb, she was trying
to grasp a bunch of purple grapes which swung
to and fro, constantly eluding the clasp of
her slender fingers. Her large, wild, brown
eyes, with their thick silken lashes, were fixed
eagerly upon the capricious treasure, and her
full, red lips halt opened in their impatience,
while the long, jetty ringlets of her hair in
their lavish abundance fell, back from her
dark, high forehead, and hnng trembling over
the deep waters. The same exquisite music
now came again from her full heart, for the ex
treme peril of her situation seemed unable to
restrain its outgushings of gladness; and the
golden bird which had just lighted upon a
bough above her head seemed to hesitate be
fore pluming its wings for flight.
She was strangely beautiful, and as she bung
there with only that frail line for a support,
and the notes of joy upon her lip, Oscar Dun
ham and his sister turned pale with terror.
She had just reached the purple fruit and torn
the rich cluster from its vine, when the bend
ed bough broke with a sudden crash, and with
one faint cry the daring girl sank beneath the
dark surface below. She rose again almost in
stantly, and the next moment the strong arms
of the bold youth had borne her up to the
grassy bank, where he gently laid her with her
head in Esther's lap. The little hand still
grasped the luscious fruit, but the bright drops
dripped from the stem, and the smile had
hardly left the pale lip and cheek. Oscar bent
anxiously over tho marble face, and rubbed
the cold hands with hia trembling fingers, while
Esther kissed the lovely brow and put back the
wet hair, calling on her to awake. At last a
faint color came to the lips, the long lashes
trembled upon the check, and then the brown
eyes looked up with a bewildered gaze ; but
when they fell upon the eloquent pale face of
the stranger youth, she sprang to her feet,
while a crimson glow flushed the cheek and
brow, and a cry of fear trembled on her tongue.
It was only momentary ; for when she turned
her eyes to the beautiful face of Esther Dun
ham, a smile full of satisfaction and loveliness
broke over her features, and she knelt down
by her side, clasping her hands in both hers,
and gazed fondly into her face.
"Was it you who took me from thoso dark
waters ?" she asked ; "was it you who saved
the Young Fawn to her mother's arms 7"
"Not me, dear one, but he, my brother," re
plied the smiling girl. "We were passing this
way and saw your danger. It was Oscar who
brought you to my arms.''
"Then he has my gratitude, and I know my
dear mother would bless him, for I am her
all," and she extended her hand timidly to
the admiring youth, blushing and hanging her
head in embarrassment. It was then quickly
withdrawn.
"I know I was careless," she continued,
turning to Esther; "but I wanted the grapes
I so much, and besides I have often gathered
them in the same way before without injury or
accident. But I shall be more wise in future,
for my mother's sake as well as my own."
"And where do you live ?" asked her lis
tener, looking about her; "I see no signs of
cultivation, no house anywhere in this region."
"Oh, no, you cannot see it here." replied
the smiling girl, "we livo in the dim, deep
forest, yonder over the stream, and our cottage
is just behind that ledge of rocks. Mother and
I dwell in those woods alone ; but we are very
happy at least I am, only sometimes when I
hear my mother sigh or see a tear in her eye.
She is very good, and I love her very much.
I wish you could see her, you would "love her
too."
"And is your father dead ?" Inquired Es
ther, gazing delightedly over her animated
face, and still holding the little hand which
had been given her.
"Oh, yes. My lather was a great chief a
mighty king of a powerful tribe ; but he was
long ago slain in battle, and since then my
mother and I have lived alone, though she of
ten sighs for the dear friends of her childhood,
who she says are iar away, or perhaps dwell in
the spirit land."
A look of sadness crossed the eloquent young
face, and she brushed a tear from her cheek ;
bot it was quickly followed by a smile as she
added, "My father used to call me the Young
Fawn, but mother prefers the name of Nora,
because she says it has been in ber heart from
childhood, though she cannot remember from
whence it came."
"Nora 1" whispered Esther to her brother,
"our mother's name."
"If it were not asking too much of yon,"
continued the Young Fawn, "I would take
you to our humble home and show you this
sweet mother of mine. She is fair as you, for
I tak not this dark brow and these jetty tres
ses from ber."
"We will go," said Oscar, quickly. "It
will not take long, and we can tie our hprses to
one of the trees. The sun is still high in the
heavens, and if we should be ont after night
fall, we shall have the full moon to gnide us
on our way."
The horses were accordingly fastened to a
tree near by, and left to nibble the fresh grass,
while the dark maiden and her companions
proceeded to the little skiff which was moored
beneath the bank, and were soon floating over
the smooth surface of the stream. They land
ed just where a huge dark rock threw its shad.
ow over the rich velvety turf, which stretched
back from the river's brink, and stepping forth
from the fairy bark, the graceful girl bounded
around the projecting cliff, followed by the
young strangers. The scene waa lovely, as
they emerged from the heavy shade and look'
ed around. Giant trees that bad for centuries
pointed with their intertwining boughs to
Heaven, threw t-heir clustering foliage protec
ting ly over the waving crass and nestling
flowrets; and strange beautiful .birds, with
golden wng and lute-like voices,' wer a-every-
where looking out from the thick leaves, while
away through the brown trunks, its humble
root bending beneath the weight of axlamber
ing woodbine, peeped forth the solitary cabin
wi me xoung rawn. A winding footpath
with its soft
and down in a little shady glen near by came
sparkling and dimpling the pure limpid waters
vi a iiny rivulet, creeping like a beam of sil
ver light through the fragrant blossoms which
covered its mossy banks.
"Dear mother!" cried the maiden, as she
bounded through the open door, and threw
ner arms about the bending neck of a pale, in
teresting looking woman, who had arisen from
ner seat at the first sound of her foot "dear
mother, I am here though sadly wet, and here
are some friends who saved me from drowning;
for I carelessly climbed on the tree for a bunch
of grapes, and fell into the dark waters. This
young gentleman generously brought me to
shore, and his sweet sister kissed me back to
life, , for I believe I was insensible till her
soft breath passed over my cheek, and I tho't
ner gentle voice, as she called on me to awake,
was the whisper of the kind angels who you
say watch over us.". .
And she drew the smiling Esther , towards
her trembling mother, looking from the pale,
anxious iace oi me one into the tender eyes
of the other till her heart gushed out in grati
tude, and she laughed that soft, musical laugh
again till the shade passed from the white
brow of her parent, and her usual calmness re
turned. She bowed gracefully to the manly
youth and returned his f riendly grasp, and pas
sing her arm kindly about the waist of Esther,
drew her to her bosom, and looked with a sad
earnest look into her fair face, put back the
brown hair from her checks and kissed the
pure forehead. Her. voice trembled slightly
as she spoke, but it was low and musical.
"You are welcome, sweet girl, to our hum
ble home, and I feel I never can repay you
and your noble brother for the kindness you
have 6hown us. If the gratitude of afuJl heart
anonls yon any compensation, it is yours. No
ra is all I have to love.and if she were to leave
me lite would be cheerless indeed." ,
Tears sparkled in her sad, blue eye, and she
looked upon the beautiful child who approach
ed them from the little bed-rodm, where she
nan exenangea ner arippmg garments for dry
ones in a twinkling. A slight blush stole
over her face whenever she chanced to meet
the dark eyes of Oscar Dunham, and a strange
thrill passed through her frame when his mel
low voice sounded in her ear; but to Esther
she clung with extravagant fondness, twined
me sou, crown ringlets about ber slender fin
gers, and kissed the little white bands. She
told her of the pleasant haunts about her wild-
wood home, of her daily sails upon the river,
and her occasional walks to the distant settle
ment. And in return Esther told her of the
dear, bright home she had lately lett, of the
many friends she had bidden adieu, and how
with her dear father and mother, her brother
ana little sister, she dwelt in the bosom of the
forest but a few miles distant. The wild crea
ture clapped her hands for joy and danced a-
pout mo little room till the voices of her vis.
itors mingled with her own merry laugh, and
a smile of gladness dimpled the pale cheek of
ner pensive mother, she was rejoiced that a
companion so gentle and kind had been found
for her idol child; for since her young heart
nrst mrooueu witn its gushing tenderness, she
had had none but her mother to love, though
her yearning pure spirit went out toward all
that was bright and glad in nature.
The birds were ber friends and she had lis
tened hours together to their merry carols till
her own tones had caught the echo and she
sang as gaily as they. She loved too to lis.
ten to the rustling of the forest leaves when
the evening winds whispered among them and
they breathed forth their pensive sounds ; and
then a strange sadness would creep into her
spirit, and she would gaze with her large, ear
nest eyes up into the starry heavens and won
der why the sparkling tiny gems could be scat
tered so lavishly (over the blue expanse. It
was at such times that the low tones of her
gentle mother had fallen soothingly upon her
heart as she told of the spirit land and of the
angel guardians who hover about the pathway
of mortals to guide them in the way to Heaven.
An hour had passed by. The strangers had
partaken of the simple meal spread by the
hands of their new friends, and the sun was
neanng the distant horizon ; but still tbey lin
gered. The wild .light of Nora's dark eyes
had softened to an expression of calm and tran
quil enjoyment, and her voice was low and
tremulous; but a deeper feeling seemed to
pervade the bosom .of her gentle mother.
Strange, pleasant thoughts had taken posses
sion of her soul ; and as she gazed into the
sweet face of Esther Dunham and listened to
her voice, the dreams of early childhood seem
ed haunting her again, and a dim, shadowy,
picturo of happiness and misery flitted before
her. She had said but little, and her eyes
rarely left the fascinating face of her visitor;
sometimes, when her low, mellow laugh min
gled with the glad strains from Nora's full
bosom, she would start to her feet and look a.
bout her; then a rush of tumultuous emotions
almost stilled the heavy beating of her heart,
and she would bury her face in her bands and
try to collect the dim fancies which wandered
through her. brain, and join the broken chain
of memory.
It was evening and the sun was quite down,
though" his golden light flooded the deep re
cesses of the surrounding forest, when Oscar
Dunham arose and turned from the soft glance
of Nora's eyes. He walked to the door, look
ed a monfhnt abroad, then returning, said re.
lnctantly, ."Come, Esther, we must start, for
it will be very late before we reach home, and
mother will be so anxious. You know she is
always thinking of lurking red men, and fears
that you may yet be taken captive.'?
"Yes, brother," replied the lair girl, turn
ing from the entwining arms of her friend ;
"but you know the reason of mother's anxiety
on that ground. She can never forget the
dear little sister they tore from her side long
ago, but I am sure we need not fear now, and
I do want to stay longer with Nora."
None noticed the deathly pallor that over
spread the features of the silent woman ; for
the dimness of twilight was in the little room;
but when a stifled sob broke from her bosom
as she grasped Esther's arm and bent wildly
over her, they all looked up in wonder.
Nora screamed in terror, and clung about
her form but she heoded her not. The white
lips at first moved without a sound, and the
eyes glanced wildly into the face of the terri
fied girl ; bat the unearthly expression passed
away, a beautiful smile beamed forth in its
atead, and she whispered,, as she bent her head
down to the shoulder of the sweet child and
pot her arms about ber : v
"Did yon say the Indians tore hear away
that the young sister of yonr blessed mother
was borne from her side a captive ? I have
been dreaming ever since I looked upon your
aear. iace aye, for many long years I have
dreamed and slumbered on ; but I am awake
now, I see it all remember all. We were
down in that charming valley at play she had
twined a wreath of wild roses amid the curls
of my hair, and as she left me to go around by
me snore of the running stream for a white
lily, they came and took me away." u-1
"You!" exclaimed Oscar and Esther, at a
breath ; "Yoa ! and are you indeed the dear
sister or our mother T and is Nora our own
cousin ? Oh, how glad, how happy !"
It was indeed a happy moment. Tears were
in the eyes of all, and Nora sobbed like an
infant upon her mother's bosom. The glad
woman sat down in the rude door way and
brushed the moisture from her smiling eyes ;
and as the little group gathered about her
and raised their happy faces to ber's, and the
heart of each seemed too full , for utterance,
she bowed her head again to her hands, and
the big, bright drops fresh , from .her spirit's
shrine, trickled through them, while ber whole
frame shook with the .weight of pleaaant and
bitter thoughts that came gushing up from
memory's disturbed fountain.
She found words at last to tell them all bow
she dwelt from the time of ber .captivity be
neath the roof of the great chief ; how be
loved her as his own child and how the young
chief smiled upon her. She told them of the
bitter tears she shed when thinking of the
dear friends she tad left, of her sleepless
nights and cheerless days, and how, as years
rolled on,sbe learned to love the old chiet',who
was ever kind and good', and to regard the
young prince as a brother.
Then she spoke of her unwilling marriage,
and told how tears had drenched her bridal
garb, how they bore ber insensible from ber
husband's arms, and took the crushed jewels
from her hair ; of weeks and months of wretch
edncss and pining for her early home, and
then of returning calmness alter the last
glimmering of hope had died away in her
heart. Years rolled on, and her husband, the
powerful king of a warlike and bold tribe, was
killed in battle, his men taken captives, and
their vast possessions fell into the hands of
the white men ; but the Young Fawn her
darling Nora bad never been molested ; they
had lived, in their wild home alone and almost
unknown, though she had never ceased to
mourn for the friends of early life, nor to re
member the low, sweet tones that fell upon
her ear, and the gentle loving glance that had
so often met ber gaze. . True, .these remem
brances bad the shadowy dimness of a half
forgotten dream ; but still their light bad ever
kbeenwith her.brightening her pathway through
life, and filling her. lone heart with sad and
delicious emotions. Not till that day when
the sweet face of Esther, came up before her
had ber fond imaginings taken to themselves
a form and distinctness, with the vividness of
reality ; but the fond Tones of the dear child
and the glance of her deep eyes had touched
string in her inmost soul, which vibrated
like the chords of a long neglected harp, and
sent forth pleasant melody.
It was late that evening, when Oscar Dun
ham rode up to the door of his father's house,
and he was alone. He found anxious, fearful
hearts and tearful faces awaiting him,' and
when his mother loooked in vain for the form
of her durling, a smothered cry escaped her
lips ; but ber wild eyes feu upon the smiling,
happy face of her son, and wonder and aston
ishment kept her silent. It was not long be
fore they knew all and were weeping for joy at
the grateful intelligence. Morning dawned
fair and beautiful, and ere the sun reached its
height, the lone widow of the Indian chieftain
and her lovely gitl had pressed to their throb
bing bosoms the forms of those about whom
they had dreamed and communed with painful
interest through long years of loneliness and
suspense, it was a nappy group mat assem
bled that day beneath the low log cabin in that
deep wilderness ; and the very birds that lin
gered amid the thick leaves of the blossoming
honeysuckle seemed oppressed with gladness,
for their little throats swelled with the wild
strains that mingled with the low voices with
in ; and when Anna and 'Edgar clapped their
tiny hands, and gazed with their laughing
eyes up to the leafy reticat, the sweet song
sters only answered their many shouts with
a louder and gladder strain, and twittered and
tremhled upon their blooming throne. Oscar
and Esther, with the happy Nora,walked down
to the river's brink, and unmoored the little
canoe beneath the great rock, and as they
sailed gently over the bright waters and bent
their laughing faces to the smooth mirror,
they blessed the fate that brought them to
gether, and looked with a kind of fondness
upon the old tree with its dangling limb,which
bad been the instrument of so much fear and
pleasure. And Mrs. Dunham and her restored
sister they had everything to say, and their
hearts mingled lovingly together as they told
of their past its joys and its sorrows, and
looked fondly to the future with trembling,
eager hope. l''
It is many years since these events occur
red ; and the great wilderness, with the log
house of the dark, bright maiden and her fair
mother, have disappeared together i but in
the flourishing village which is built upon the
spot and on the shore of the river Ohio, near
where the cabin stood, is a large, beautiful
mansion. Its owner, Mr. Dunham, with his
gentle wife and dark eyed cbildren,remembers
with pride bis noble grandfather, over whose
grave the grass is still fresh and green, and
the meek and loving partner, who sleeps
sweetly by his side even the Indian chief
tain's daughter Nora, the graceful Fawn.
A Rich and Pkettt Heiress Elopes Twice.
Col. Eaton Bond, a wealthy planter at Den
mark, Tenn., sent his daughter to some friends
in Mississippi to get ber out of the reach of
troublesome suitors. While there she eloped
with a Dr. Simmons and was married to him.
But on the evening of the wedding she eloped
a second time with an old lover named Bloom,
and was mysteriously absent for two nights,!
wnen she returned and confessed her rault ana
was forgiven by her husband. All that re
mains is to go home to the old gentleman and
get his forgiveness and blessing.
"What a fine head your boy has," aaid an
admiring friend. "Yea," said the fond fath
er, "he's a chip of the old block, ain't yon
sonny?" "I guess so daddy, cause -teacher
said yesterday I waa a young blockhead."
KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE.
lne organization of the "J., G. U., or
Knights of the Golden Circle, is attracting
considerable attention, and a variety of ru
mors in regard to it are in circulation. We
have little doubt that its strength and real im
portance are much exaggerated by the descrip
tions, which, in many cases, have their origin
simply in a desire to excite curiosity and to
win for it new recruits. The current reports
allege that the K. G. U. number 40,000 men,
scattered throughout the Southern States, who
are well drilled and capable of furnishing, at
short notice, an army twenty thousand strong;
and their pecuniary resources are represented
as being on a scale proportionate to the nam
ber of members. It is said the order was in
stituted in Mississippi during the year 1854.
Its original design was to cultivate a martial
spirit among the voung men of that State, and
for a long time the number of its members
was quite limited. Within the last year or
two its leaders have adopted new plans, and
these have given it an impetus by which it has
rapidly spread through all the Southern States,
but more especially in Tennessee, Mississippi,
Louisiana and Texas. .Its object now is to
get a foothold in Mexico, crush the Miramon
faction by co-operating with the Juarez Gov
ernment, and then, as far as possible, Ameri
canize the country, make it an outlet for sla
very, and prepare it for the establishment of
that institution to give to its policy a pro
slavery cast, without any aid from the United
States Government, and, indeed, in despite of
it, on the theory that it is necessarily, as at
present constituted, hostile to the extension of
the "peculiar institution." From all of which
we infer that it is a sort of fill i blistering con
cern, though they disclaim the character, and
declare that they will march down to the levee
and embark in broad daylight, whenever the
time tor their departure arrives.. It remains
to be seen whether they will have any better
success than the ill-fated expedition of Lopez,
or the last raid of Y alkcr upon Nicaragua.
A California Philosopher. In the town
of Sonora, California (according to tbe San
Jose Reporter,) resides a venerable philosopher
named Dr. . Although he is now about 70
years of age, yet he retains his faculties in full
force and vigor, and is as buoyant as a man of
40 years. I or 30 years the doctor practiced
physic and surgery in Louisiana.- But having
tbe misfortune to lose every member of his
family by sickness, thus being left to pass the
remnant of his days in loneliness and sorrow,
he concluded to quit bis practice and repair to
me goicen shores ot the Pacific. He arrived
in California shortly after the first gold excite
ment, since which time be has devoted his at
tcntion to scientific research and philosophi
cal renection. llis nnaided labors have resul
ted in the collection of the very finest cabinet
ot minerals, geological specimens and anti
quanan curiosities to be found on this coast.
In addition to this he has gathered up a very
creditable library of well selected volumes, all
of which the citizens are permitted to read
free of charge. . In fact tbii man is building
up what he calls a "scientific institute," for
the sole benefit of the community in which he
resides. As he has good health and a compe
tency, is temperate, and lives alone or nearly
so, his expenses are very light, and even this
he manages to defray by his skill in mechan
ism. He is not only a ripe scbolar.a practi
cal chemist, botanist, mineralogist, geologist,
and a prohcient in every branch of science,
but he is a finished mechanic. He maufac-
tures guns, clocks, watches, steam engines,
edge tools and a variety of other things. Re
cently the doctor has been engaged in invent
ing a machine for the purpose of making bil
liard balls of cast steel. The balls are to "be
hollow spheres, and are about tho size of the
common ivory balls now in use. The balls are
first made and nicely turned into the shape of
half spheres, and are then soldered or brazed
together with gold. The doctor claims for his
invention that he can give steel a greater elas
ticity than ivory has; that a more perfect
sphere can be made of it ; and, above all, that
it is a much cheaper material. The machine
for turning and fitting the balls is a most in
genious contrivance.
One of the most, singular wagers we ever
heard of, says The Buffalo Courier, was made
in Chicago on the day before the municipal
election in that city. The bet was between a
Water-street merchant and Ned Osborn of the
Tremont House, the largest cigar and tobacco
dealer in the city, and was to the effect that
if Wentworth was not elected, Osborne should
have the privilege of kicking the Water-street
merchant aforesaid from the Tremont House
to Springer street. The day after the election,
the merchant, having lost, came to Osborne's
store, and presented his person to him for the
contemplated kicks, and demanded that Os
borne should take the stakes. Osborne had
been training hia right leg all the previous
day, and had armed his foot' with a heavy
cowhide boot, with soles as thick as two clap
boards. The merchant started up by tbe
Tremont, Osborne delivering a heavy kick as
he started, but drew back his foot with a spas
modic action and paroxysm of countenance
absolutely pitiful. He tried another one, but
the loser flinched not, and kept on his way
undisturbed by the volley he bad received.
The result of this was worse than tbe first,
and he fairly curled up on the ground and
howled with pain. The merchant stooped
and calmly inquired : "Why don't you take
the stakes ?" " What have you got in the base
ment of your pants ?" cried Ned. "fliilwan-
kee bricks," shouted the merchant, "and we
arn't within a mile of Springer street yet."
Osborne subsided, paid the cbampaigne, and
has been wearing a list slipper ever since.
Philosophical. "First class in oriental
philosophy stand up ; Thibits, what is life ?"
Life consists ot money, a horse and a fash-
onablewife." "Next: what is death I" "A
paymaster who settles everybody's debts and
gives .the tombstones as receipts in full of all
demands." "What is poverty?" "The re
ward of merit genius generally receives from
adiscriminating public" "What is religion?"
"Doing unto others as yon please, without al-
owmg a return of the compliment..", "What
is fame?" . "A six line puff in a newspaper
while yon are living, and your fortune among
your. enemies when yon are dead."
"Speaking of shaving," said a pretty girl
to an obdurate old bachelor, "I should think
that a pair of handsome eyes would be the
best mirror to shave by." "Yes, many a poor
fellow has been thated by them," the wretch
replied. " -
A FEBPLEXED BE1DEGE00M.
Some days since a Tery rustic and inartistic
couple, residents of Kentucky, near the Ten
nessee line, concluded marriage to be their
destiny, and with this idea came to the West
ern Athens, desirous of sacrificing themselves
to Hymen at the earliest opportunity.
In due time the pair arrived in Cincinnati,
and repairing to the Spencer House, informed
clerk Andrew Blum that they were extremely
intent on perpetrating matrimony, and that
nothing could thwart their purpose. Mr.Blum,
so far from wishing to prevent tbeir amiable
immolation, made every effort to facilitate
their design, and so well did he succeed that
in less than an hour James and Jemitne'jwere
wedded as firmly as lay in the capacity of a
clergyman to bind them.
The clerk, after tbe ceremony had been per
formed, believing that all new-married people
ought to be as well accommodated as possible,
gave them a parlor and bedroom on the third
floor, and bade them "good evening" about
ten o'clock, not neglecting to wish them every
possible bliss.
The twain meekly followed the servant to
the rooms, and were left alone there for the
night ; the clerk thinking no more of them un- '
til about two o'clock; when, sitting dozing in
any easy chair behind the counter in the of
fice, he was aroused by a voice saying :
"Look here, Mr. Clerk, oh, Mr. Clerk, I'd
like to speak to you jist a minnit, do now."
Mr. Blum opened his eyes, and beheld hia :
rustic friend, hatless and coatless, with a flush- ,
ed face and disheveled hair, and such general
ly disarranged attire as indicated tht he had
been undergoing some violent exercise.
" Well, sir, of what benefit can I be to you ?"
"Why, why, I didn't line to trouble you,
and I don't know how you fellers does things
in this big town , but, but, but "
"But what ? my good fiiend," questioned
tbe clerk, anxious to free the ruralist from
confusion, each moment on the increase.
"Why, why, you know we're married Je
mime and me."
"Ob, yes, and I wish you all manner of good
fortune, my fine fellow."
"Wall, I 'spose you do; but confound it if
I can get the hang of things in this darned
place. May be I'm green ; I guess I am sort
o that way; but, by jingoes, you do funny
things here."
"Explain, if you please, my man. What do
you wish to say 1"
"Well, we don't care, Jemime and me, for a
little while ; but to roll round on tbe floor all '
night is d-vilish hard, stranger, I'll swear it is."
"Roll round on the floor! what do you
mean ?" '
"Well, I s'pose it isn't what you call fashion- ,
able in a big town ; bnt, by gumbo, where wo
come from married people allers go lo bed."
'Haven't you been in bed ?" asked the clerk
in great surprise.
Why, how the d-1 could we go to bed when
there weren't no bed to go to That's what
we want the worst sort o' way."
."My good fellow, there's a bed in yonr
room. Did you not see it in the chamber in
the rear of the parlor?"
"Did you give us moro'n one room, stran
ger 1 By jingoes, I didn't know it. It's all I
want all right, old feller," and so saying he
ran up stairs, and before the clerk could ascend
to the chamber, the now delighted bridegroom
was in bed, and replied to the knock on the
door : "All right now ; I've found it Jemime
and me's satisfied. We donH want you ; all
right, all right. God bless you, old feller. All
right fus-rate. God bless you ; good night."
silr. Ulum went chuckling down to the office
at the idea that the unfortunate ruralist had
passed four hours in his parlor without even
supposing there was a bed-chamber attached. .
Poor fellow; no wonder he was embarrassed
and troubled under the circumstances.
A Mr. Sanburn who refused to obey the
summons of the Harper's Ferry Investiga
ting Committee, was arrested in Concord, N.
II., by United States officers acting under au
thority of the Senate Committee. The arrest
caused the greatest excitement. The town '
bells were rung, and a large crowd immedia
tely gathered and took Sanburn from the offi
cers and retained him until a writ of habeas
corpus was obtained from Jndgo Hood, of the
Supreme Court. ?Ln unsuccessful attempt
was made in the Legislature to employ tho
State Attorney General for the defence. San
burn was discharged on the hearing of the
writ of habeas, corpus, on the ground that the
sergeant-at-arms of the United States Senata
could not depute bis authority to another.
The strongest creature, the lion, and the
wisest creature, the serpent, it they be dor
mant,' are as easily surprised as tbe weakest
worms. So the strongest and wisest saints, if
their graces be asleep, if they be only in the
habit and not in the exercise, may be as easi
ly surprised and vanquished as the weakest
christians in all the world; witness David,
Solomon, Samson and Peter. Every enemy
exults over him that has lost the use of his
weapons.
Columbus is the name proposed for anew.
Territory, to be formed in what is known as
Carson Valley, and sometimes called the Great
Basin. It is a vast region of Territory, lying
partly, in California and Utah. It is stated
that it is now inhabited by three thousand
whites and one hundred thousand Indians.'
The principal town is singularly enough called
Genoa. J ;
We see by the Pittsburgh papers that a few
days since no less than one hundred barrels or
pure Cincinnati strychnine whisky were ship
ped, post haste, from that city to Pbiladel-,
phia, in order to be in time for tbe vessel sail
ing for Charleston- The Democracy must be
calculating on having a spirited time at their
National convention.
"Say, Csesar Augustus, why am your legs
ike an organ grinder's ?" "Don't know, Mr.
Sugarloaf ; why is they?? "'Cause they car
ry a monkey about the streets." a crick
grazed the head of Mr. Sugarloaf just as hia
ears disappeared around the corner. ,
A schoolmaster asked a fair pupil. "Can
you decline a kiss ?" She replied, dropping a..
perplexed courtesy, "Yes, sir, I can, but I.
hate too plaguily." -
New discoveries of oil are being almost dal
made In the oil regions of Western Penn
sylvania.' The excitement is increasing. '
T.Wfla Arrrm nf !a!n Vvrtfrlfon fhn TllPnBI.
and. little acts of kindness brighten th world,
1
If