r.
BIM-Jt J... l L '!Jf ., I I li I . iijxik. ...M
TER1LS OF TUB " AMERICAN."
" i lain i a mwi
i . j
1
BUMBTOT AMBBICAN.
riHCKW OF ADTrilTILCI.
1 iquar 1 insertion, fO 60
I do 8 do 0 75
1 do 3 do ' 1 09
Every subsequent insertion, . 0 2S
Yearly Advertisement: one column, $25 ; half
column, $18, three squares, $12; two squares, $9 )
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Advertisements left without direction a to the
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ingly.
rjj'Sixteen line or les make a square.
win prodigious creature, who looked like a
. ... ii ii-
H. B. MA8SER,
JOSEPH EI8ELY.
7 PcaLisaia knm
) PftOmilTOM.
JT. B. JMSSEH, Editor.
Offia rn Centrelilley, in therearof H. B. Mat
ter't Store.
THE14 AMERICA "TiTubliaed every 8atur
lay at TWO DOLLARS per annum to be
paid half yearly in advance. No paper discontin
ued til ill arrearages are paid.
.No subscriptions received for lens period than
atx mouths. All communication! or lettera on
business relating to the office, to insure attention,
must be POST PAID.
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
SUITBTJHY, FA.
Business attended to in the Counties of Nor
thumberland, Union. Lycoming and Columbia.
Refer tot
AND SHAMOKIN JOURNAL:
Absolute acquiescence in the deciaiona of the majority, the vital principle of Republics, fiora which there is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism. Jiffiriok.
By Master &. Elscly.
Sunbury, Northumberland Co. Pa. Saturday, Jan. 31, 1846.
Vol. G--.o. 19TThole Xo, 379.
P. & A. PdTOPIlT,
Low in it BAitnoff,
SoMtns tt Shoiiobass, I'Mlatl.
Rktsolks, McKirl!d & Co,
Srv.aisn, 'toon ft Co.,
ALEXANDEU L. II1CKEY.
TRUNK MAKER,
Xo. 10 CHcNiiut Street,
FHII.ADELPHIA,
WHERE all kinds of leather trunks valise and
carpet-hags, of every style and pattern are
manufactured, in the best manner and from the best
materials, and sold at the lowest rate.
Philsdelphia, July 19th. 1845. ly.
II c m ova
DR. JOHN W. PEAL.
RESPECTFULLY inform vhe ci
tizens of Sunbury ud il icinity, irml
he has removed hi the Uru k House, in
Mmket strciet, for Airily (k copied by
Benjamin Hendricks, cart of the store formerly oc
cupied by Miller & Mnrtr, and now by Ira T. Cle
ment, where he will be happy to receive calls in
the line of hi profession.
Sunbury, March 9ih 181 S.
ITEVtT CA??ETX1TGS.
riHE subscribers have received, and are now
I opening a splendid assortment of the following
Wilton and Velvet Carpeting'
Brussels and Imperil 3 ply do CAR
Extr superfine and fine Ingrain do PET
Englinh shaded fe Damask Venetian do I.NG.
American twilled and tig'd ilo
English Druageits and Woolen Floor Cloths
Stair and Passage Dockings
Embossed Piano and Table Covers
London Cheuille and Tufted Rugs
Door Malts of eveiy description.
ALSO
A large and extensive essortment of Floor Oil
Cloth, from one to eight yard wide, cut to fit eve
ry description of rooms or pnssaces.
Also, low priced Ingrain Carpeting from 31J to
62 J cents per yard, together with a Urge and exten
sive assortment of goods usually kept by carpet
merchants.
The sbove good will be sold wholesale or retail
at the lowest, market prices. Country merchants
and others are particularly invited to call and exa
mine our slock before making theii selections.
CLARKSON. RICH & MUI.LlON,
Successors to Joseph Hlackwood, No. 1 1 1 Chesnut,
corner of Franklin Place.
Philadelphia, Feb. 22,1. ISIS.
"uTlimGLLAS & PARASOLS,
CHEAP FOR CASH.
J. V-. SVAX1T'S
Umbrella and l'arasol Manufactory.
.Vo. 37 ."Vo-fA Tfrt'l tlre't, lien doors lelaw the
CITY HOTEL,
1 li 1 1 a (1 e 1 Ii I a .
A LWAYS on hand, a large stuck of L'M
JL IJRELLA and PAH ASOLS, including the
latest new style of Pinked Edged Parasols of the
best workmanship and materials, at prices that will
niuke i'. an object to Country Merchants and others
to call and examine his stork before purchasing ;
elsewhere. Feb. S3, 1845. ly
sTTlJtTKI.T'S PATENT
WASHIITG lfi-CEHTZ.
CTHIS Machine his now been tested by more
X than thirty families in this neighborhood, and
has given entire satisfaction. It is so simple in its
construction, that it cannot get nut of order. It
contains no iron to ru-t, and no springsor rollers to
get out of repair. It will do twice ss much wash
ing, with less than halt the wear and tear of am of
the lite inventions, and what is of greater in.por.
tance, it costs but lit i Ie over half us much as other
washing machine.
The subscribe! hss the exclusive right for Nor.
thuinberlatid, Union, Lvcomiiig, Columbia, Lu
zerne and Clinton counties. Price of single ma
chine $G. II. U. MASSE R.
The following certificate is from a few ol those
who have these machine in use.
Sunbury, Aug. 24, 1844.
We, the subscribers, certify that we have, now
in use, in our families, "Sbugert's Patent- Wash
ing Machine," and do not hetilatn siying that it is
s most excellent invention. That, in Wa-hing,
t will save more than one half the usual labor.
1'bat it dors not requye more than one third the
usual quantity of so.p and water ; and that there
is no rubbing, and consequently, 'little or no wear
ng or tearing. That it knocka off no buttons, and
:hat the finest clothes, such as collars, lace, tucks,
rills, eVc., may lie washed in a very short time
without the b ust injury, and in fact without any
ipparent wear and tear, whatever. We therefore
heerfully recommend it to our friends and to the
DUblic, a most useful and labor saving machine.
CHARLES W.IIEGINS,
A. JORDAN,
CHS. WEAVER.
CHS. PLEASANTS,
GIDEON MAHKLE,
Hon. CEO. C. WELKER,
BENJ. HENDRICKS,
GIDEON LEISENKING.
Hi.' IIoTl. (for merit Tremont House, No.
116 Chesnut street,) Philadelphia, September
l.r 1844.
I have used Shugert' Patent Washing Maehine
n my bou upward of eight month, and do not
hesitate to lay that I deem it one of the mo-t use
ful and valuable labor-saving macnine ever mven
ien I formerly kei.l two women continually or.
.nioH in washiuc. who now do much in two
days a they then tliJ in one week. There is no
wear or tear in washing, and it requires not more
than one-third the usual quantity ol soap. I have
hid numlsjr of other mchine in my family, but
litis is so decidedly superior to every thing els. nd
,j little liable to gel out of icpair, that 1 would not
lo without one if they should
ice they are a . Id for. DANIEL I ERR.
S-UPE KIOR Prt wine. Maderia and Lisbon
wme. Also iiperior Brndy end Gin, Lemon
yrup.
ALo few barrel ol ulok rin, mr
HENRY MASSE R.
fcuBbory, July 19th, J4.
From the N. Y. Commercial Advertuer.
LIVING nCRIAL ANDKSCAPK,
For the subjoined praphie account of the re
markable disaster at Carbondale, and the almost
miraculous escape of a man who was buried in
the crushed mines, we are indebted to the Rev.
Mr. Rowland, pastor of the Presbyterian Church
in this city. The narrative is equally interest
ing and extraordinary.
Correspondence of the Commercial Advertiser.
Hong'Dalb, Jan. 15, 1940.
On Monday morning last, about nine o'clock,
an accident occurcd in the coal mines of the
Delaware and Hudson canal company, at Car
bondale, which has produced considerable ex
citement in the community. A large portion of
the hill or mountain into which the mines ex
tend, followinir the law of gravity, suddenly
descended on the honey-comb cavities within
it? bosom, burying all the unfortunate indivi
duals within its reach. Very many acres des
cended in a mass; and to great was the pres
sure of the atmosphere, occasioned by this de
cent, as to shoot out from the mouth of one of
the mines, at from a cannon, a train of cars
with a horse and boy, throwing them to a con
siderable distance. Think of a bellows moved
by mountain power, find you will form a very
correct idea of the blast Painful to relate,
fifteen individuals were beneath the decending
mast, only one of whom has hsd the good for
tune to escape; and his adventures exceed
every thing on record. The remaining four
teen are buried alive, if not crushed, and may
be now hopelessly wanderingn those gloomy
caverns, beyond the reach of human aid, and
shut out forever, in all probability, from the
light of day.
To present a distinct idea of his occurrence,
I must first give a brief description of the mines,
and the manner of working them. There are
several openings to the coal, which are number
ed as 1, 2, 3, 4, &c ; two of them are above the
bed of the Lack a wa na, and the others are below
it. These openings are holes in the side of the
hill, about six feet by eight, and are the mnin
entrunces to the mines. From these motttha
are roads leading into the interior of the moun
tain, following the clip of the coal, sometimes
descending. The extent of the mining opera
tions will be perceived from the fact that there
are thirty-five miles of railroad laid under
ground, in the bosom of the mountain including
the main roads with all thei. ramifications.
The coal lies in a horizontal stratum of from
four to six feet in thickness, between strata of
slate. The method of mining is, to cut out and
remove the cosl, leaving only piers of it to sup
port the hill above, aided by wooden props made
of sections of trees, cut of a suitable length.
As fast as the coal is removed, the lateral
branches of the road are abandoned, and the
ninin avenues pushed on the coal beyond
In
this way the coal lias been removed for a mile
and a half under the mountain, and the roads
extend that distance. About a mile from the
mouth of mine Na I an air-hole was cut to the
surface, up an inclined plane, by which access
could be had to the surface of the earth, and
down which props were taken. The excava
tion for coal extends half a mile or more beyond
this opening. It was in this vicinity that the
necident occurred, and by closing the month of
his pnssage cut off all hope of escape to those
within, in this direction.
As fast aa the coal is removed, no particular
care is taken to support the mass above, in the
chambers which are abandoned; the props are
left to decay that the rock and earth may gradu
ally settle down and fill up these cavities, as
it has done in former instances; but care is
taken to guard the main avenues to the coal
from beins thus obstructed.
The coal lies beneath a mass of slate, above
the slate is the sand stone rock, and above this
are gravel and soil. I have olten notice-!, in
passing through the mines, that many of the
ends of the props, which support the slate above,
were shivered like a broom, from the vast pres
sure on them , and I never paw this indication
without thinking what might happen, should
the mass from above take a notion suddenly to
descend, and always breathed easier when 1 had
passed through the mines and emerged to the
light of day.
Symptoms of the working of the mass above
had been for tome time observed and these
symptoms had greatly increased for a few days
previous to the catastrophe. Every thing wa
done which could be done in theso circum
stances to avert danger. No one supposed it
possible that thn rock above would prove so firm,
or that it would settle suddenly or in a mass.
Only a few of the workmen, of whom there
are nearly four hundred employed in the mines,
had gone in on Monday morning, when Mr.
Clarkson, the superintendent, discovered the
ominou appearances, and immediately act some
hands to work in propping up the slate. On
costing out of the rr.tnes, about 6J o'clock, ho
met Mr. John llosie, (who is well known on the
Croton water works a one of the ablest masons,
and who has been in the Hudson and Delaware
Canal Co' employment for about ytar, pre
paring himself to take charge of the new mines
to be opened below Carbondale,) and told him
that he had better wait till he could go with him,
and they would examine the mines together.
Mr. Hosie went on, however, into No. 2, in
tending to join Mr. Clarkson presently, and had
proceeded about a mile when instantly the
mountain over his head descended with an aw
ful crush of every thing which opposed its pro
gress, and shot down over him filling up the
road with crushed coal and bending him double,
leaving not a foot of space between the solid
mass above and the crushed coal below. The
distance descended was the height of the mine,
or from six to eight feet. Sogrent was the
pressure oflheair that it produced a painful
sensation aa if some sharp instrument had been
thrust into his ears. All was total darkness,
every light in the mine being instantly extin
guished. Ever and anon the thunilcr of the fal
ling masses roared through the caverns. After
waiting a suitable length of time for the rocks
to cease fulling, Mr. Ilnsie began to remove the
loose material around him and to creep. lie
tried one way and it was closed. He then pro
ceeded in the other direction; and after nine
hours incessant toil, creeping, removing loose
coal and slate, and squeezing himself past ob
stacles, he made his way into the open mine.
Here he tried to strike a light, but his matches
had become damp and would not ignite. He
then felt around him, and discovered by the di
rection of the railroad that, instead of making
hia way out, he had gone farther into the mine,
and was cut off from a return by thd mass which
had settled down upon the road. He then be
thought him of the air hole, and attempted to
reach it ; but that passage had been crushed in
and closed. Being in the vicinity of the mining
operations he found 6ome powder, and spreading
it on the floor, endeavored with a pick to ignite
it, hut could not. He found also a can of oil,
which he reserved in case of necessity to use
for food.
All was total darkness, and the part of moun
tain over him was also settling, throwing off
huge pieces of elate and exposing him to immi
nent danger at every step; for but a part of the
mass above had come at once, and the other
seemed likely to follow. Sensible of his danger
Mr. Hosie protected himself aa well as he could;
he wound up his watch, and felt the time by
the hands. Ho also; with a piece of chalk,
wrote in different places his name and the hour
when he was at certain points. Iking in total
darkness, however, he missed his way, but was
enabled through his acquaintance with the
mines to 6et himself right. He first tred to
reach No. 1, but after toiling to that road, found
that it was also crushed in. Hi only chance
seemed then lo proceed at right angles with the
main arteries of the mines and past over to No.
fl, and this he labored to do in accordance with
his best judgment.
At one time he passed through a narrow en
trance into a chamber, and in endeavoring to
creep out on the other side, he was caught in
a narrow place by the hill above snttlmj down
tionn him, and remained in this oosition an
hour, expecting to die there. Put another set
tlinj of the mass crushed out some of the mate
rials around him, and he was enabled to free
himself and draw back into the chamber of the
minp. In returning, however, to the hole by
which he had effected his entrance, he found to
his dismay that it was closed ; and he was com
pelled to hunt a new passage and finally to dig
his way out with hia hands.
Thus, afle working for more than thirty-six
hours, he at length reached No. 3, where he
rested, and then when the hill had partially cea
sed ita working, proceeded toward the mouth
of the mines. On his way he met Mr. Dryden
one of the superintendents, who, with his men,
was exploring the cavern with lights, in seach
of him; and at about five o'clock in the morn,
ing he emerged to the light of day, having been
given up as dead, and been corcerated in utter
darkness beneath a settling mountain for forty
eight hour. Mr. Hosie told me many of these
particulars, and the others 1 gleaned from the
principal officers of the company, to whom they
were narrated.
At one lime Mr. Hosie raw lights at a dis
tance, but they soon diminished. They were
the lights of men in No. 3, seeking for him.
These light however assured him that he was
pursuing the right course. Mr. Hosie' hands
were scratched and cut up by working, so as to
bo completely covered with sores. He never
for one moment lost hia self-possession, and to
this fact, added la hia tact and perseverance, is
to be ascribed hia deliverance.
There were about forty men in the mines
when the catastrophe occurred, and the twenty
ix who escaped owed their preservation, in a
great measure, to Mr. Rryden, one of the super
intendents, who conducted them out with great
coolness and sclf-poscsion, while portions of
the hill, other than those which fell first, were
settling down around them. Learning that one
poor Irish laborer, who had been atrurk down
by the slate, was let:, with hia leg broken, he
went back alone and brought him out. Some
times he was compelled to creep, and draw the
man attcr him, through crevice which were
soon after closed by the settling of the hill. In
two hours more the whole had shut down, so
that if he had been left hi death would have
been inevitable. Thanks to Mr. Brydenfor hia
coolness, intrepidity and humanity.
The greatest possible efforts are now made
by working night and day lo reach the place
where the fourteen were at work ; but fuint
hopes, however, are cherished respecting them.
The places cannot probably be reached before
the middle of next week, if then. The proba
bility is that Ihey have been crushed to death.
Most of them were men with families. One boy
only is known with certainty to be dead.
Except for the loss of life, this uuforscen oc
currence is not much to be regretted, nor will
it greatly impede the company's operatione since
it has occurred at about the time when it is usu
al to suspend labor for a couple of months, to re
pair for the Spring, and every thing will be
rectified before them. The immense strength
of the rock above prevented the hill from set
tling in the usual way; but now it is down, it
is tu be rejoiced at, as it frees from future dnn
ger, and the rouds when reopened will be per
fectly secure. It was an innovution for it to
come down suddenly in a mass, instead of the
quiet decent way it has adopted informer install
ces, and no human foresight could have predic
'ed the manner of its descent, nor could human
prudence, in the present state of knowledge,
have provided against it.
The quantity of the mountain fallen is vari
ously estimated. Mr. Bryden said that it was
about three quarters of a mile long, by half a
mile in width. Mr. Clarkson said that it was
about half a mile long and an eighth wide. In
the former case it would be about 210 acrea,
and in the latter 40 acres. Mr. Archibald, the
chief superintendent of the mines and rail road,
whose science and practical (kill are not ex
ceeded, estimates the amount full en at far less
than either of the assistants. Since the first
avalanch, it must be borne in mind, however,
many other portions have cone down. What
the extent of the whole ia no one can conjee
tore with any approximation to certainty ; ami
it is exceedingly difficult at present to get any
accurate information respecting it.
1 do not know that the company have any
interest either to magnify or conceal the mat
ler, inasmuch as it is more likely to prove a be
npfit than a damage to their future operations
The only expenso attending it will be to re
pair the rouds and remove the obstructions; but
these will then be safer; and the knowledge
acquired by this experience may prove of the
greatest utility hereafter.
The occurrence seemed to me so nn!ke ant'
thing I ever heard of, that I commenced wri
'ing the arrounl of it (o my friends; but it has
proved so lung, that to save the multiplication of
letters, I concluded to send it to vour paner
which most of theni are accustomed to rend
and they may, ll they choose, consider it as per
sonally addressed to each of them. There may
be others nt vour readers aUo to whom it mav
not he uninteresting. With tenements
respect, I am yours,
II. A. ROWL.VND.
ol
Improved Moile of Warming Dtvrlllnga.
The improvements in the method of warrnirg
dwelling-houses, which have been introduced into
the City of New-York within the last two years
have effected almost an entire revolution in th
department of our domestic arrangements. Mr
E. L. Miller, of Brooklyn, was the first to intro
duce among us tho present admirable system of
air-furnaces. He has recently, however, intro
duced into his own house, S3 Clark-st. an arraije
ment for warming by air radiattj from u-atrr-licatcj
turfuttt only ; in other words, a hot-vva
ter furnace of an entirely r.ew construction. The
apparatus is placed in the lower basement of the
house, occupies nt more space than an ordinary
hot-air f'irnace. and distributes the heat throu 'h i
tho house in the usual way of the common furnace;
but the quantity of fuel under ignition, and the
character of the heat, are truly astonishing and
delightful. The combustion of th. fuel is regu
lated with the greatest precision by means of a
self acting damper which he has introduced, and
which is worked by the expansion of water and
air combined, o as to consume any desirable
quantity of coal, from 50 to 100 lbs. in the twen
ty four hours, according to trie state of the weath
er. The space we saw wvrmed to the tempera
ture of 68 to "JO degree, comprise two very
large four tory houses, 51 feet front by 50 feet
deep, containing about thirty rooms. The heat
may be carried to any desirabla distance, say
from one to two hundred feet from the furnace
chamber, and it capacity for heating may be
proportioned to building of any sire, while the
peculiar purity and salubrity of the atmosphere,
produced by this mode of heating, renders it par
ticularly desirable for dwelling-houses, apart
ments for the sick, conservatories, &c. &c.
Mr. M. ha erected hi furnace, not only for
the purpose of warming hi house, but for exhi
biting its operation, which he will be most hap
py to do to any gentleman who may wish to ren.
der hi own house more than comfortable, in the
most efficient and economical manner JV. Y.
TribwM.
GirtL, iit'STiyjo.
A Half-length frmn t.lf.
fit MRS. C. M. KtDKtaD.
"A theme of perilous risk
Thou handiest, and hot fire beneath thy path
The treacherous ashes nurse."
Can't you let our folks have some egj V said
Daniel Webster Larkins, opening the door and
putting in a little straw-colored head and a pair
of very mild blue eyes just fur enough to recon
noitre ; 'can't you let our folk have some eggs !
Ourold hen don't lay nothing but chickens now,
ami mother can't eat pork, and she ain't had no
breakfas', and the baby ain't dreatnor nothing!'
'What is the matter, Websterl Where's
the girl V
'Oil! we ha'nt no pirl but father, end he's had
to go 'way to a raisin' and mother wants to
know if you can tell her where to get a girl!'
Poor Mrs Larkins I Her husband make but
very indifferent 'girl,' being a remarkable pub
lie spirited person. The good lady is in very
delicate health, and having an incredible nun
hor of little blue eves constant'' making fresh
demands upon her time and htrensjth the usual
ly keeps a girl when she can get one. When
she cannot, which is unfortunately the largest
part of the time, her husband dresses the chil
dren mixes stir-cakes for the eldest blue eyes
to bake on a griddle, which is never at rest
milks the cows--feeds the pigs and then goes
to his 'business' which we have supposed to con
sist principally in his helping at raisings, wood
bees, huskings, and such like important affairs
and 'girl' hunting tho moit important and ar
duous, and profitless otall.
Yet it must be owned that Mr. Larkins is
tolerable carpenter, and that ho buys as many
comforts fur his family as moat of his neighbors,
1 he mam dilliculty seems to be that 'help is
not often purchasable. The very small portion
of our damsels who will consent to enter anybo'
dy's doors for pay, makes the chase after them
quite interesting from its uncertainty ; and the
damsels themselves, subject to a well known foi
ble of their sex, become very coy from being
over couVted. Such racing and chasing, and
begging and praying, to get a girl for a month
They are often got for life with half the trouble,
iiut to return.
Having an esteem for Mrs. Ijirkins, and sin
cere experimental pity for the forlorn condition
of 'no girl but father,' I set out at once to try if
fetnele tact and perseverance might not prove
effectual in ferretttng out a 'help,' though mere
industry had not succeeded. For this purpose
I made a list in my mir.d of tho6a neighbors, in
tho first place, wlioe daughters sorr.etime con
descended to be girls ; and secondly, of the few
who were enabled by g iod luck, good manage
ment, and good pay, to keep them. If ! failed
in rnv attempts upon one class, I hopod for some
new lights from the otlier. When the object
isofsii'li importance it is well to string one's
bow double.
In the first category stood Mrs. Lowndes,
whose forlorn !.--g house had never known door
or window ; a blanket supplying the place of
the one, and the other heing represented by a
crevice between the logs. Lit'ing the sooty
curtain with some timidity, I found the dame
with a sort of rpel before her, trying to wind
some dirty, tangled yarn ; and ever and anon
kicking at a basket which hung suspended from
the beam overhead by means of a strip of hick
ory bark. This basket contained a nest of rags
and an indescribable baby ; and in the ashes on
ti.e rouoh hrartli played several dingy objects,
which suppose had once been babies.
'Is your ihnieliter at home, Mrs. Lowndes !,
'Well, yes ! M'randy'sto hum, but elio'a out
now. Did you want her.'1
'I c.iine to see it she could go to Mrs;. Larkins,
who is very unwell, and sadly in want of help.'
'Miss Larkins! why do you tell ! I want to
know! Is she sick again . and is her gal gone?
Why! 1 want to know! I thought she had
Lo i-sy Pud. Ion ! Is.lAi-i-sy PiidJon gone ?'
, 'I suip.ise so. You will let Miianda go to
Mrs. Larliiiis willvoii !"
'Wei', I iloono' Lot I w.iiilJ let her go for
a spell, jut to 'commodate Vtn. M randy may
go if he a mind ter. She's got a c iinfortalde
home, and n thanks to noho hly. What wage
do they give I
'A dollar a week.'
'Kat at the table !'
'Oh ! certainly.'
'I lave Sunday V
Why no I believe not the whole of Sunday
the children, you know'
Oh ho!' interrupted Mrs. Ijwndes, with a
most disdainful tos of her head, giving at the
same time a v'gorous impulse to the cradle, if
that's how it is, M'randy don't stir a step ! She
don't live nowhere if she can't come home on
Saturday night and stay till Monday morning.
I took my leave without farther parley, ha
ving often found this point lha tine qua non in
such negotiations.
My next effort was at a pretty look ing cot
tage, whose overhanging roof and neatouterar
rangemonl spoke of English ownership The
interior by no mean corresponded with the ex
terior aspect, being even more bare than the u
(oil, and far from neat. The presiding power
man in woman a domes, ana wnose mazing
face ornamented here and there by great hair
moles, spoko very intelligibly of the beer-barrel,
if of nothing more exciting. A daughter of this
virago had once lived in our family, and the)
mother met me with an air of defiance, as if
she thought I had come with an accusation.
When 1 unfolded my errand her ebord softened
a little, but she scornfully rejected the idea of
her Lucy living with any more Yankees.
You pretend to think everybody alike, said
she, 'but when it comes to tho pint, you're a
sight more uppish and sucay than the ra'al qual
ity at home ; and I'll see Yankee race to-
I made my exit without waiting for the con
clusion of this complimentary observation.
Unsuccessful thus far among the abitera of
our destiny, I thought I would stop at tho lions'!
of a friend and make some enquiries which
might spare me further rfbluffs. On making1
my way by the garden gale to the little library
where I usually saw Mrs. Stayner I was sur
prised to find it silent and uninhabited. Tho
windows were closed ; a half-finished cap laid
on the sofa, and a bunch of yesterday's wild
flowers up'in the tab'e. All of demolition, the
cradle not exactly an appropriate adjunct of a
library scene el-tewhere but quite so at the
west was gone, and the little rocking was
nowhere to be seen I went through the parlor
and hall, finding no sign of life, save the break
fast table still standing with crumbs undisturbed.
Where b;lls are not known ceremony ia out of
the question so I penetrated to the kitchen,
where at "length I caught sight of the fair fica
of my friend. She was bending over the bread
tray and at the same time telling nursery-stories
as fast as possible by way of coaxing her
little boy of four years old to rock the cradla
which contained hi baby sister.
'What does this mean V
'Oh ! nothing more than usual. My Poll
took herself off yesterday w ithout a moment's
warning, saying that aha had lived out long c
nough ; and poor Tom, our factotum, has the a
gue. Mr. Stayner has gone to some placo ix
teen miles off, where he was told he might hear
of a girl, and I am sale representative of the la
mily energies. Iiut you've no idea wnat capi
tal break 1 can make.
This looked rather discouraging for my guest f
but knowing that the main oiiit of table-com-paniouship
was the source of most of Mrs. Sny
der's difficulties, I still hoped Mrs. Larkins, who
loved the close intimacy with her 'help,, and al
ways took them vsiting with her. So 1 parsed
on for another effort at Mrs. Randall's whoso
three daughters had sometimes been known to
lay aside their dignity long enough to obtali
some much-coveted article of dress. Here th
mop was in fjll play ; and Mrs. Randall, with,
her gown turned up. was sulashing diluted noil
on the wol's and furniture, in thereceivpd mode
of these region, where Viaired glass windows'
are nide wi'.hout a putent. I did not vt n'urji
in, but asked from the door, with my best di
plomacy, whether Mr-. Randall hue w of a girl.
'A gal ! no ! who waul a gal!'
Mrs. Larkins.'
'She ! why rlont she get up and do her own
work V
She is too feeble.'
'Law sakes! too feeble!- she'd b able as ant
body to thrash round, if her old man didn't spile
her by wait in, on '
We think Mrs. Larkins deserves small blame
on thi score.
But, Mrs. Randall, the poor woman i really
ill and unable to do anything for her children.
Could'nt you spare Rachel tor a few days o
hfln her V
help fier '
Thi was said in a most guarded and depreca
tory tone, and in a manner carefully moulded
between indifference and undue solicitude.
'My gals has got enough to do. They arn't
able to do all their own work. Curline hasn't
been worth the fust red rent for hard work ever
iiice the went to school to A .'
'O! I did ret export lo get Caroline. 1 un
derstand the ;s going to get married.'
What '. to B ll Crecn ! She wouldn't let
him walk where she walk-"! last year !
Here I taw I had made a mistake. Resol
ving to be mere cautious in future, I loft thn se
lection to the old lady for one of her girl. But
my eloquence wa wasted. The Miss Randalls
had been a whole quarter at a se'ect school, an!
will not live out again until their present ttni k
of finery ia uuwear..ble. Mis Rachel who-s
company I had hope. 1 to secure w a even then
paying attention to a branch of the fine art.
Rachel Mundy !' cried Mrs. Randall at tint
foot of the ladder which gave access to the up
per region'fetch that thing down here ! It'
the prettiest thing you ever seen in your lite
turning to me. And the educated young lady
brought down a doleful compound of card board
and many colored waters, which had it seeine
occupied her mind and fingers for some dav.
There! said the mother proudly, 'a gal that'ej
learnt to make such baske'.g aa that, aiu com
to be nobody's help, I guess !'
I thought the boast likely to be terified a
prediction and went my way, crestfallen anl
weary. Girl-hunting , certainly amon? one
.u.nouau.rj -cnorf .' VA'es-'srn UJrtn.
A