VOLUME 1.
My First Attempt.
It lias been the great ambition of my
life to be an authoress; not that I have
dared to think of being a famous one—l
may tome to that point some time—but
thus far I hare felt that I should be sat
isfied if I could but sec something of
mine in print. From my childhood, vis
ions of uiyself as a writer have danced
before luv eyes, and 1 have thrilled with
delight as I have imagined some one
pointing me out as the talented authoress
■ of "those delightful sketches in the
Magazine."
Hitherto, however, notwithstanding all
my devotion to the art of composition, 1
' have never before summoned courage
enou"h to attempt an entrance into the
areua of literary ftime ; indeou, to tell the
truth, l have had vevy little encourage
ment. I dou't think people have appre
ciated me sufficiently. At school, though
my compositions were undoubtedly re
markable, my teacher never took any par
ticular notice of them, and made no at
tempt to accelerate the growth of my bud
ding genius, and so, through her neglect,
my ideas upon "Friendship, ' "Spring,
and various other subjects, are lost for
ever to the world. At the moment, 1
was fil ed with indignation at her treat
ment, but as time has somewhat healed
my wounds, and as I am naturally amia
ble, I have forgiven her, and hope that
her neglect was owing rather to want of
ability to appreciate than envy of my
superior talents. Then I have heard, too,
some of the most heart-rending stories of
blood-thirsty editors, who have refused to
print thrilling stories and lovely poetry,
merely for the sake of tormenting their
luckless authors, aud 1 have naturally
been afraid of falling into the hands of
one of these "roaring lions." But true
genius always overcomes sooner or later,
the greatest obstacles, and so I have de
termined to make one more attempt to
reach the coveted goal.
If I should be rejected—but I will not
think of that; I wound rather dwell upon
the idea that my article will be accepted,
and imagine myself waiting anxiously for
the magazine in which it is to appear.
How eagerly I shall turn over the pages
until my eye rests upon the familiar yet
unfamiliar words ! Howl shall torment
my friends by repeatedly inquiring if
they have read that article in the maga
zine, and what they think of it! The
mere thought exliilcrates me so now,
when it is only fancy, that I hardly know
what will become of me should the idea
resolve itself into reality.
Pshaw! there conies the dark side of
the picture thrusting itself before me!
Well 1 will meet it bravely. Suppose my
poor little attempt ii ignominiously re
jected ! Ah, 1 am afraid I should be.
come from that instant a cynic, and a
firm believer in the doctrine of total de
pravity. I know I should be an editor
hater for life. Hut thero is consolation,
even in that view of the question. Have
not many of our very first writers been
• unsuccessful at first? And then no one
need ever know that I tried for the prize
and failed, for 1 intend to keep it a pro
found secret.
Well, I have decided to write. Now
comes the momentous question, whatslmll
1 write about? L have no disposition to
make inroads upon the domains of poe
try, and even if 1 had tho disposition, 1
fear I should lack tho ability. I never
did attempt anything in the rhyming
Hue but once, and that was several years
ago, wheu 1 did perpetrate a poetical de
scription of one of my schoolmate*, which
was contained in three verses of four
lines each; aud, as 1 availed myself of
poetical liconse to a considerable extent,
I hardly think the description was very
striking. I know it abounded in allu
sions to pearly teeth, vermillion lips,
marble necks, and jetty curls. 1 believe
the subject was rather deficient in every
one of these particulars, but 1 presume it
was as near eh* truth as most newspaper
poetry. It decided mo, however, that my
mission does not lie in* tho region of poe
try, and so I am not obliged to decide
whether 1 shall astonish the world with
an epic poem or merely minister to its
taste by a sonnet. But if I don't hurry
■ and choose my subject, I won't have any
ooiu to make my observations about it,
or I have determined that my "first at
tempt" shall not be a long one. Perhaps,
way down in the bottom of my heart, I
may consider myself competent to han
dle any subject, from a political'leader on
the state of the country down to a disser
tation on a coat-button; but I want to
choos* one that will meet with general
approbation.
Now,~"Our Country" would bo a grand
theme, but I don't think the "other sex"
exactly like, the ladies to meddle with
that, except to bow acquiescence to all
that they do, and as a'lady and an author
ess I feel bound to conciliate the lords of |
AMERICAN CITIZEN.
creation. I must say, though, that 1 think
that some of the women could have done
quite as well in the field as some of our
generals; indeed, I will venture to say
that I think they might have surpassed
them, ami without trying very hard,
either. The other day, after reading the
newspaper, I fell into a reverie, and be
gan to imagine myself a modern Joau of
Are, aud to build castles in the air, hav
ing for foundation my exploits in. that ca
pacity Just at the instant when my cas
tles had reached a goodly altitude, my
brother happened to fire off' his pistol out
side tin; window. The start I made threw
my airy buildings to the ground, and con
vinecd me that if my mission was not a
poetical, neither was it a warlike one. I
I'ave made a stern resolution to learn to
shoot within (he next six mouths, if only
for the sake of overcoming my nervous
ness. It has always been one of mv doc
trines that women ought to cultivate self
possession and courage more thau they
do, and for the future 1 am resolved to
be less afraid of spiders, caterpillars, aud
pistols (three of my weakuesscs) than I
have hitherto been. I have perfect an
tipathy to spiders; they have destroyed a
great deal of pleasure to mo; half of my
enjoyment in the country is spoiled by
intrusion of these unwelcome insects.
I have decided not to have any sub
ject this time, but will close this short
effusion by hoping that ;he editor will
read it after dinuer, wheu he is in a good
humor; and if I am allowed to come upou
the stage again, 1 will begin with my
subject at once, and I will also inform
him that I have some very good stories
(in my estimation) tucked away in my
•brain. — Godey.
Army < 'orreapomlcnce.
ENCAMPED IN THE FIELD, IN FWNT or RICHMOND, VA.,
190 TH KEOT. P. V., NOV. 15th, lßtti.
MESSRS. EDITORS :—L'lease publish
these few lines scribbled by a soldier of
the Army of the James.
Gentlemen of Butler County: —ln for
mer days you have had my opinion of
this Rebellion before you. I advocated
in my opinion then, to be an unyielding,
au unflinching and unconditional Union
man. I hold tho same principle still.
You and I, gentlemen, have long looked
to see the day when this Rebellion will
be crushed. Thank God, that time is
near at hand. We have been defending
the flag of the free with bayonet and bul
let. We have, a few days ago, been call
ed uponto ballot down this bloody lte
bellion, which has torn us from our homes
and entailed upon the whole country war
aud desolation. It will, no doubt, re
joice your hearts, to see the returns from
the October, as well as the November
election, that the whole army, with but
few exceptions, vote as they fight. We
cannot understand how any man who has
to lace rebel bullets, can vote for a party
which proposes to let the rebels go, and
divide the countrv, and thus, instead of
jicace, have a pcr|ietual border war. You
at home want peace, aud we in the field
want - to return to out loving wives, dar
ling children and happy homes; but
want and will have the peace of victory,
the peace which crushes ltebellion; the
peace that declares the Stars and Stripes
shall wave over all the land, from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Canada
to the Gulf. The flag represents all. We
understand this Constitution, laws, Gov
ernment, liberty, country —all these—aud
our wives, friends, firesides and homes,
are symbolized by the starry banner of
the l T nion. This flag of Washington, rieh
with the treasured memories of all that we
hold dear, has been for four years openly
and defiantly insulted, torn and trampled
upon, by traitor hands in arms against
right, justice and freedom ; this is enough;
we take no mor*. For this tho woes of
desolation and retribution will visit thom
with the unrevealed agonies of eternal
shame. Push all other questions aside,
the honor and glory of the flag is the one
only question; it covers all. Traitors'
hands tore down our S'.ar-Spaugled ban
ner from Sumter's walls, and from then
till now, black-hearted and hell-deserv
ing traitors have vanntingly swore
"That the haroc of war and the battle's roafiuion,
A homo an«l a country would leave us no mor*;''
but their blood shall wash out their trai
tor footsteps pollution. No refuge at home
or abroad, can save the rebel horde from
the terror of flight and the eternal gloom
of despair. But to the soldiers of the
Union flag, belongs honor and everlast
ing fame. We shall stand enshrined in
Liberty's sacred temple, as our beloved
Washington stauds peerless in the first.
Tho record, tho example, the spirit of
Washington, whispers iu every true
dier's heart in all the armies of the Union
to-day; as of oltf, "steady men," forward
from amid rebel ruins on old Virginia soil,
around "Montieelio," comes up the clas
sic voice of Jefferson. "Eternal vigi
lance is the price of liberty." Blest bo
your vigilance which guards the flag,
"Let us have Faith that Right makes Might) and in that Faith let us, to the end,dare to do our duty as we understand it"-- A - LINCOLN.
BUTLER, BUTLER COUNTY, PA., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 80, 1864.
and strikes the traitors low in death.
From the sainted dust of the "Hermi
tage," comes up the trumpet voico of
Jackson, sweeping through'all our ranks
like the battle sound to charge, saying,
"by the Eternal, the Union must and
shall be preserved ;" and iu all the homes
of a great people the voiee of their faith
shakes both tho earth and the heavens
with the music of its utterance : "iu
is our trust." We have seen a great
many tickets here which in voting them
represents the flag. It is the last nail iu
the iron coffin of ltebellion ; and we drove
them home. We ou this side of tho Po
tomac, have drove the nail through, and
we expect you ou the other side to rivet
it; we have used orr iufluoui'e to secure
every vote for Lincoln aud Johnson.
Why should we fight together for the
flag and not vote togethor for the same?
We have in fact but one army for
the Union and the flag. Then we are
bound to show to the world and genera
tions yet unborn, tho glory of au army,
that fights and votes the same way—for
the whole country and the starry banner
of the free. Can we, here, almost in sight
of the rebel capital, after hearing almost
hourly shouts going up in the rebel
for George B. McClellan? No, never;
never; but we have nailed them down,
ami well they know it iu the f»outh as
well as in the North ; for no longer
yesterday evening, some of the rebels nal
looed at us while ou picket, that we the
damned Yankees, had elected Old Abe
Lincoln again. These are facts that can
be proven, if northern copperheads aud
northern traitors will deny,
JKREMIAII A. MEIXINGIR,
Ist Lieut, of Co. 11, 199t1i Kegt.
P. V., Ist Brigade, Ist l>iv.,
10th Army Corps.
Brney's Sharpshooters.
A Model Composition-
To boys and girls, who are perplexed
to know what to writu about, a ail how to
write it, when required by their teacher
to bring a "composition," wo comuiond
tho following model:
WlNTEß. —Winter is tho coldest soa
son of the year, because it comes in the
winter. In some countries winter comes
in summer, aud then it is very pleasant.
1 wish winter came in summer iu this
country. Then 1 could go skating bare
foot, and slide down hill in linen trow
sers. Wo could snow ball without our
fingers getting cold—and wheu wo got
out sleigh riding wouldn't have to stop at
every tavern to warm, as they do now. It
snows more in winter than it does in any
other season of the year. This is be
cause so many cutters and sleighs arc
made at that time.
Ice grows much better in winter than
in summer, which was an inconvenience
before the discovery of ice houses. Water
that is left out of doors is apt to freaze at
this season. Some people take in their
wells and cisterns on a cold night, and
keep them by the fire, so they don't
freeze.
Skating is great fun in winter. The
boys get their skates on wheu the river
is frozen over, aud race, play tag, break
through the ice aud get wet all over .(they
get drowned sometimes), fall and break
the ; r heads, aud enjoy themselves iu
many other ways. A wicked boy once
borrowed my skates aud ran off with them,
and 1 couldn't catch him. Mother said
a judgment would overtake him one day.
Judgment will have to be pretty lively on
its legs if it docs, for he runs bully.
There ain't much sleigh riding except
iu the winter—folks don't seem to care
much about it in warm weather. The
grown boys aud girls like togo sleigh ri
ding. The boys generally drive with one
hand, and help the girls to hold their muffs
with the other. Brother Bob let uic go
along a little way once when ho took Ce
lia Crane out sleigh riding, and I thought
he paid more attention to holding the
muff than he did to holding the horses.
Snow balling is another sport. I have
snow-balled iu summer, but we used stones
and hard apples. It isn't so amusing as
it is in winter somehow.
But enough : I have dashed off these
little things about winter while sister is
getting ready for school. Good byo.
NEDDIE.
TIIE " BLUES." —Cheerfulncssand oc
cupation are closely allied . Idle men
are rarely happy. How should they be ?
The brain and muscles were made for ac
tion, and neither can be healthy without
vigorous exercise. Into tho hazy brain
erawLs ' fancies filling it with
cobwebs that shutout the light and make
it a fit abode for" loathed molancholy." In
vite the stout handmaiden, briskand busy
Thought, into the intellectual chambers,
and she will soon brush away such un
wholesoni tenants. B1 essodbe work,whether
it be for the head, or the hamper both;
SHERiDAN'S RIDE.
[Written by T. Buchanan Reed to \m recited by Mr.
Murdoch at the complimentary festival iu Cincinnati!,
Oet. 31st.]
Up from the South at break of "lay,
Bringing to Winchester ftwll ilium ay,
The affrighted atr with ft shudder bore.
Like a herald in hast* to tbe chieftau's door,
The terrible grumble and rumble and roar,
Telling that battle was on once more,
And Slieridau twenty miles away.
And wider still those billowsof war
Thundered along the horleon's bar,
Ami louder yet luto Winchester rolled
The mar of that red *ea uncontrolled,
Making the blood of the llstner cold
As he thought of the "take in that fiery fniy,
And Sheriduu twenty miles away.
But there is a Winchester town,
A good, br<*ul highway lending down:
And there, (hough the fliwh of the morning light,
A steed, as black as the steed* of uight.
Was seen to pot* as with eagle flight—
An if he knew the terrible need
He stretched away with hU Utmost speed;
Hill rose and fell—but bis heart was gay,
With Sheridan fifteen miles away.
Still sprung from those swift hooJk thundering south
The dust, like the smoke from the cannon's mouth,
Of the trail of a touiet sweeping faster and faster,
Foreboding to traitomand doom of disaster:
The heart of the steed uud the heart of the master.
WeraJieating like prisoners assaulting their walls,
Impatient to ho where the battle-field calls;
Kveiy nerve of the charger was strained to full play
With Sheridan only ten miles away.
Under his spurning feet, the road
Like an arrowy Alpine river'flowed.
And the landscape sped away behind
Like an ocean flying before the wind;
And the steed, like a hark fed with furnace ire,
Hwepton, with his wild eyes full of fire,
But to! he is Hearing Ills heart's desire—
He is puffing the smoke of the roaring fray,
With Sheridan only five miles away.
The first that the general saw were the groops
Of stragglers, aud then the retreating troops j
Whit wsrt done—what to do—a glance told him both
• Then ftrlkln# his spurs with a terrible oath,
He dashed down the line 'mid a storm of huzzns,
And the wave of retreat checked its course there
The sight of the master compelled it to pause,
With foam aud with dns? the black chnrg
11? the flush "112 Ids eye, and the r.-d ncwtrills play,
H" seemed to tiie wb Vo great army to say:
'•I h«*v< brought you Sheridan all the T»y
From Winchester down to save the day!"'
Hurrah, hurrah for Sheridan!
Hurrah, hnrrah, for horse mid man!
And when th"ir statu! s are placSQon 1 >
Under the doineof the Union sky.
The American soldier's Temple of Fame,
There with the glorious Oeirerol's name
Be it said in letters hotb bato and bright:
'Hereis the steed that saved the d.»y
By carrying Sheridan into the tight.
From Winchester —twenty wiles away I"
Bound to he ail old Maid.
"Well, liorc I am, forty-fire voavs old
to-day, and no nearer being a Mrs.—than
1 was ten years ago. It seems .as if ev
erybody bad some fault to Snd with me.
"Before I tried to tix myself up, so I
might look young and pass for twenty-five
-—and. surely, I look more that age tban
any other—Lcould not blame people for
thinking me old. Mr. Quin didn't like
any wotuan without teeth, and Mr. White
despised a woman with talse ones. Squire
Ifobbs objected much to having a wile
with a bald head, ai'd Peaoon Kay hud a
horror of wigs. There are lour nice bach
elors. two of whom I like and two I dis
like. I have a decided preference for
White or Kay
"Then came along the rich old bachel
or, Mr. Thurber. He told of his adora
tion, (before me) of our sex, and%ow be
admired to see good taste displayed in our
dress j modest colors, neat collars and
cuffs, sweeping skirts and small hoops.—
Immediately I sot about taking in crino
line—cutting down my wide linens. ],
! doffed my gay dress for one of Quaker
grey, and let it trail upon the floor a quar
ter of a yard. I .walked before roy mir
ror one whole aftoruoou, admiring mysell
—I mean my taste—l mean his taste. I
had the pleasure, though, of wearing it
for the first time in company, at bis wed
ding ; for he went and married the butch
er's daughter.
"Next came along Eben Sykes. I
didn't like the name very well, but he
was a pretty good-looking fellow, and so
I said to myself, " What's in a name ?"
lie was at the house one evening—my
niece, Rebecca Dana, was visiting there—
and wo had a game at cards with him.
He told how lie would nevermarry a slut
tish woman, who let her dress wipe upthe
streets, dragging through tobacco juice
and mud, pulling along shavings and
sticks after her, uud tripping every gen
tleman who came aloug aud happened to
be looking up to see which way the wind
was. The first thing they knew they
were sprawled out on the sidewalk, while
the would-be lady snarled out for passers
by to hear, —
"' Can't you see where you are going ?
I wish you would keep your great, muddy
boots off my dress!'
'"No!' Eben said. 'Such a woman I
will never wed.'
"I hastened to make a change again,
cat three eights of a yard from my grace
ful trail, aud in a week he offered him
self to my niece.
"Justa year ago to-day, I became ac
quainted with Reuben Rosen from way
up country; he smiled on me, and said I
was young-looking, and took me to the
thoatre, and bought me candies. After a
month or two of this, he said, onoevening,
that in a week he should call again,
for he had something particular to say to
me.
" I was certain he was going to a»k me
to marry him. I made up my mind I
would, and had my answer ail mado up,
and studied it till I loarned it by
heart.
" The came, and in my pretti
est I entered my best room and awaited
tis arrivul I heard the clock strike nine
and ten. Then I began to grow sleopy,
and took a short nap in nay chair—or I
thought it was a short one, but, when I
awoke, tho clock struck twelve. I begun
to undress, and provoked enough, too. I
took off' my wig—laid my tooth away for
tho night, rubbed the chalk from my face
—it felt so sticky—and began to uuhook
my dress, when there came a knock ut the
door.
" Quickly as possible I arranged my
toilet again, and admitted the late caller
—Mr. Itosen; had it been any other per
sons, I'd never have done it; but was ve
ry anxious to hear him ask that impor
tant question.
" lie sat beside me aud began :
" 'I wanted to see you," ho said, ' for
something particular.'
" ' Yes, yes !' I said, impatiently.
I wanted to see if you would kuit
me two or three pair of nice wolen socks,
for my .wife has got a bile on her finger,
and can't do it; she wrote me so in her
last letter.'
" You can imagine ray disappointment.
I cleared him out, and now I'll go with
out teeth or with them ; without a wig or
with it; wear dresses long or short, just
as I please, and whose business is it?—
I'll never try to please another man, for
I am bound now to be an old maid.—
Waverlry Magazine.
Gen. Sherman's March,
On Thursday last, we, iu common with
other journals of thia city, received a' dis"
patch from Cincinnati containing news
from Sherman's army, which had that
morning been printed iu The. Cincinnati
Tim s. Shortly after came a telegraphic
request from the War Office to suppress
that dispatch. We complied with that
request, albeit unable to comprehend how
news that had been all day iu priut iu
Cincinnati would be deemed contraband
the following morning in New l'ork. In
deed, with that effort of vigilauce the
War Department seems to have been quite
exhitusted, for the papers here and else
where have since abounded; tinrebuked,
with all sorts of statements abiffit Sher
man. The amount of Gen. Sherman's
forces, the immediate direction of his
march, the quantity of his supplies, and
his ultimate destination, arc differently
stated in different papers, but it is unne
cessary at present to settle details. What
the public tares to know in a general way
is littcrally clear. Gen. Shormau with a
poworful army has cut loose from Atlanta,
aud is makiug his way to tho seaboard.
That he marches iu two columns is prob
able enough, and that whether by oue
route or another lie will finally arrive in
the neighborhood of Savannah, we have
little doubt. Nor in a military of
view do wo consider the dissemination of
this intelligence in tho least important.
Tho enemy are undoubtedly informed
long before we are of every step iu Gen.
Sherman's progress.
Against this tremeudous demonstra
tion, the Confederacy, we need scarcely
explain once more, is powerless. There
are but two armies within its limits able
to confront or delay Gen. Sherman. One
of these armies was a hundred and fifty
miles to the north-west of Atlauta when
Sherman started. The other lines in the
defences of llichuiond, and can neither
go as a whole nor spare any considerable
part of its force without surrendering that
for which it had struggled all Summer.
And siuco there are neither natural nor
artificial lines of defense which might
with a small number of troops arrest or
ielay the advance of either of Shermau's
columns, the march of each to Augusta
must be unopposed.
Sherman is said to have sixty day's
rations with him, but that is very unlike
ly. A train which could transport three
million rations would be too unwieldy for
such a march as this, and is unnecessary.
II the country has half the resources it is
Represented to possess, there is no need of ]
a great supply train, Tho cavalry will
keep the army in comuiisssry stores. But
as a measure of*prudence a cousid«rable
amount of supplies has doubtless been tak
en—perhaps for twenty or even for thirty
days. Were the Rebels in Central Geor
gia disposed to abandon their country and
homes at the approach of this invader,
and destroy their stores of food, Shetman
would find it necessary to bo able to rely
to some extent on his own resources. But
that is a very improbable contingency. In
North-Western Georgia, when Johnson
forced tho people to fly, they left their
homes most willingly, and it is not likely
that where they arc under no compulsion
from a general with power to enforce his
demands, this people will resort to a
measure of absolute despair. Sherman,
therefore, whatovor bo his own supplies,
may reckon confidently on abundaut food
snd forage from the country which he tra
verses. West of tho Savannah River his
advance will be through a country which
is of great fertility, aud which is inhabi
ted by a population possessing more thaa<
average iutelligcuce, industry and wealth.
Such a country always can be made to
sup])ort an army in motion; the difficulty
of foraging beginning only when a large
forco comes to a lengthened halt.
Tho location of tho prisoners, whom it
is hoped Shcrinau may release, is uncer
tain. If Rebel statements cau be trusted
at all, they were weeks since removed
from Andersonvillo to points nearer the
seaboard, probably toward both the At
lantic and Gulf coasts. Gon: Sherman's
letter to Mr. Ycatman has been misappre
hended. He says that lie "may have to
go himself" to carry tho supplies of the
Commission; but he clearly intimates
that Andersonville is not his destination.
"Things have changed," says Gen. Sher
man. We do not think it probable that
a column has been dispatched south of
Macon, for that would be to send it on too
wide a detour, and to delay the maiu col
umn too long after it shall have reached
Augusta, if Augusta be its
tion.
Tho vague hints of the Richmond pa
pers indicate that they aro iu possession
of information which they either will not
or are not permitted to publish. It is
their way to maku light of what they
most-dread; so the comments on the re
ports of Sherman's new campaign are a
measure of the alarm with which it is
viewed. Aside from its positive military
results, conceive the effect upon the Geor
gia aud Carolina troops of learning that
thoir Stales aud tltfcir houses arc invaded,
over-ruu, subjugated aud preyed upou, by
an unopposed United States army. Sher
man is reported to have said lie had pene
trated the shell of the Rebellion, and that
beyond it there was nothing to hinder
his marching where he pleased. When
the Southern people once realize this fact,
with what feelings will they view that
rebellious military power which has prom
ised thorn absolute protection ? Tho Re
bellion, like many another power, is strong
because it is believed to bo strong. 15 uj
when from this population of tho interior,
which had counted on immunity from
the desolation of war, their follies aro
rudely torn away, they, aud they who had
shared iu their delusion, must be of a far
different turn of mind respecting a recon
struction of that Union whose power they
thus learn to respect. It seems to us that
the results that may be hoped from this
expedition of Shorman cannot well bo.
estimated too highly.—JV. J'. Tribune.
Remarkable Discovery.
Ou the 27th of August, as some work
men were sinking a caisson, preparatory
to building a fridge across the Mersey,
an obsracle was met with which defied
the pressure exercised by the sinking ap
paratus. Divers were sent down, who in
removing a quantity of sand from about
the yaissoh, reported the obstacle to be a
log of wood. By help of a strong crane,
and after removing the pressure from the
caisson, we were enabled to draw it up to
the staging, and found it to bo not a log
of wood, as the divers misled by its gen
eral attrited state, had -tcporled, but a
large coffin-shaped box of great strength,
measuring about eight feet by three feet.
The wood had beeouio prcgnatcd with ox
ide of iron, from the red sandstone, which
had made it as hard as iron itself, so that
it was with the greatest difficulty that we
were enabled to prise open the lid. The
inside, which was roughly hewn to the
shape of a human body, but with a large
additional space at the head, was lined
with a grayish bituminous substance, and
contained the body of a man in a most
wonderful state of preservation. It is at
tired iu tho dress of a wealthy Roman
citizen, the tunic and toga both wliite
embroidered with purple and gold threads,
the toga fastened with a handsome golden
fibula. The straps of the arc
stndded with little golden bosses. At
tached to the girdle aro a tablet and a
goldon hiltcd stylus. The tout ensemble,
in fact, while not glaring, is rich and taste
ful. *
The body, though in civil dress, ap
pears to be that of a legionary officer, as
a large military cloak is swathed round
it, aud by its side are a short sword, (the
famous Roman "gladium") with its belt,
a javelin and a viuea such as centurions
used to preserve discipline among their
men. A fine gnyx signet ring bearing
the letters S: P. Q. R-> and the figure of
a wolf, is on the finger. This I conjec
ture to bo a symbol of authority delegated
by the Roman Senator, of the then reign
ing emperor, to the bearer. The sword
and_belt also bors the initials of S. P. Q.
R. The head of the vinea is shaped into
a rude reseinbiancc to a Roiuhn eagle.
The body has been embalmed in so
skillful a manner as to preserve, oven af
ter this lapse of time, the features toler
ably distinct; but, it is excessively fra
gile, crumbling at a touch; iu fact, it has
only been preserved from total^destruc-
NUMBKR 50
tion by the mantle and by a quantity of
a cryptogauiio plant allied to the com
mon equisetuin, which is paoked round
it, keeping it steady and immovable in
the coffin.
I forbear giving a moro detailed ac
count, and will proceed to mention briefly
the contents of the space above the head
of the corpse. A quantity of the equise
tum-likc herb sustains uninjured an am
phora of course earthen ware with a ye'-
low vitreous glaze. The handles and neck
are broken off, and inside of it is placed
also with packing—a beautifully exe
cuted cinerary urn of rod Samian ware
containing ashes, and a small roll of vel
lum covered with characters which I am
unable to describe, but I believe to bo
Saxon, Sprinkled through the scroll I
however find the Roman nume "Q Sulpi
cius, I'iso," the initials "S. I'. Q. R." the
words '-legatus," '-crematio," "manes,"
"lares," and a few others. This scroll I
therefore imagine to hold the key to the
enigma presented by the many anomal
ous appearances I have described and am
about to describe.
in the amphora, beneath the urn, are
a numbor of ornaments of gold and silver,
such as were worn by Saxon females of
rank ; among them is a kind of rude lock
et containing a long tress of glossy yellow
hair. The ornaments appear to be a set,
as if they belonged to one person; and
this fact, coupled with the presence of the
hair, leads nie to suppose the ashes con
tained in the urn to be those of the owner
both of them and the hair. The amphora
also contains a small packet of coins, near
ly 100 in number, of which 43 are gold,
and of the reigns of tho Roman Kmperora
—Honorius A. D. 410, a few of Hadrian
Antonius and Severus, with earlier dates.
Tho remaiuing coins are silver, probably
Saxon, but owing to thoir mutilated and
defaced condition, I aui unable to say
positively. On one only is the date visi
ble, viz: 4G5.
From these dates as well as from tho
Saxon ornaments, I am inclined to refer
the remains to about the date of the first *
arrival of the Saxons in Britain. The
corpse may be that cf one of tho last em
issaries ol Homo to this island—or as his
tory speaks of no political intercourse be
tween Home and our Island at that period,
he may have been connected with a reli
gious not civil mission. The ashes I suv
luiso to be those of a Saxon female. J'ut
how shall we account for the presence of
the remains of a Roman and a Sason in
a common tomb ? Moro strange still is
the embalming of tho Roman and the'ere
mation of the Saxon. The position of tho
coffin in the bed of the river is also strange;
hut an overturned boot and the shifting
sands may account for this. Possibly
the scroll found in the uru may give an
explanation of this, and till this has becu
deciphered we must be content to remain
in the dark.— Liverpool Mercury.
GOOD.— u hi Time of Prate Prepare
for War." —A young lady of wealthy pa
rentage, a fledgling from one of our fash
ionable boarding schools, a type of mod
ern elegance, was recently united by tho
silken tie of matrimony to a gem of a
beau. The mammas and papas on both
sides being surrounded by all the concom
itants of luxury, and many an agreeable
little paraphernalia bespeaking the pos
session of the dust," determined to get
a fine •'establishment" for the young
couple, aud, accordingly, thoy were "fix
ed" in a mansion out Walnut street, on
"the West End."
A few days after this, a school compan
ion of our heroine called upon her, and
was surprised to find so many servants
about tho house.
"Why Mary." said she "what in tho
name of sense, have you so many people
about you tor?"
"Oh "'replied Madam, "we havn't any
more than we want. There is but one
cook, one chambermaid, two house girls,
one housekeeper, and—a— chilli's nurse.
I'm sure there are not too many !"
'•Ha! Ha!" said her friend, "what do
you want with a ohild's nurse ! Oh ! that
is too ftinny."
'•Well; we havn't any immediate use
for her, but then, when we were married,.
Charles said we would want one, and yon
know it* not always lent, to leave things
until the hist moment.
USf "Papa, didn't you whip rai>
once for biting little Tommy ?"
" Yes,my child: you hurt him much."
"Well, then, papa, you ought to whip
sister's music master, too. He bit
sister yesterday afternoon right on
the mouth ; and I know it hurt her,
because she put her arms around his
nock and tried to choke him/'
figs™ Eccentricity of manner is so
often allied to great genius, that sonio
very great fools have been thought to
possess talent, because they were un
! like the rest of the world in their ac
, tions»