Ift
'WE GO WHERE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES POINT THE WAY; WHEN THEY CEASE TO LEAD, V CEASE TO FOLLOW.
BY JOHN G. GIVEN.
EBENSBURG, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1849.
r VOL. 5. NO. 52.
Ihaumtr
117 1 II II II
- - - - - t . i : - ;
3 : ; : : : . : - : -r :v r -" - . ' ' i "m
Wary McCree.
r mi$8 rNitr malons ratmono.
Tho' joun Ger&Idino
Hath the step of a queen
And Allea be fur as the da.
The beauty may lie
la the bright laughing eye
Of Nora the handsome and gay;
The maiden I lore
Hath the eye of a dove.
And her glancci beam only tot me;
With the s'.ep of a fawn,
0i the mountain at dawn
Trips Mary, my Mary McCree.
Tho rivals appear
I have nothing to fear,'
For my colleen is an angle of truth;
In her smile you may trace
All her soul's gentlo grace,
No guile clouds her innocent youth .
Tho the knows I am poor,
Yet she says she'll endure
Sorrow, rather than wealth without me;
Thus I'll gladly toil on,
'Till a home 1 have won
For my Mary, my Mary McCree.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Spy.
An Incident of the Revolutionary War.
Near Peeksville, not far from the main
road, stands a clump of forest trees, among
which an aged tree is conspicuous. It
bore lbr a long time, and still bears, I be
lieve, the name of 'OldTut's gallows,' from
the fact that many a tory spy, skinner and
thieving cowboy hid swung from its
branches when Putnam commanded on
the lines.
In the early part ot August, 1777, Gen.
Tyron was at the British out posts near
Kingsbridge. It will be recollected that
he was Royal Governor of New York, at
the commencement of the Revolution, and
a full Colonel of British Regulars. After
the war broke out he was placed on active
service and raised to a General's .rank,
with power to recruit and equip a tory
corps or brigade from the Americans who
, yet remained loyal to the crown and gov
ernment of Great Britain.
For a long time it had been a favorite
project with Putnam, that an attempt
should be made to re-capture the city of
New York. From all accounts it appears
that Washington did not dislike the plan,
but with prudent caution did not wish to
hazard at that time the risk of a defeat.
Putnam, however, made several feints and
false movements at his out posts to. alarm
Sir Henry Clinton, in which he succeeded
and thus kept the British troops within the
city for its protection, that otherwise, aided
by the fleet, would have been ravaging the
adjacent shores of other states. It be
came necessary to Sir Henry Clinton that
he should know the position and condi
tion of Putnam's troops, more accurately,
and also endeavor if possible, what parties
in the city gave Putnam such accurate
-knowledge of all his, Clinton's plans.
Tyron was busy raising his new 'levies
and for him Sir Henry sent.
General Tyron' said he, I must know
the position of Putnam's troops, and their
number, including his fresh battallions of
militia. You ought to find some one a
native, who has enlisted in your corps
that will go into the highlands and obtain
it for us. The reward shall be liberal,
and if successful, the person shall be ad
vanced to a grade.
I think I hava such a man, Sir Henry,
a sergeant in De Lancy's regiment. He
enlisted only a week ago and is intelli
gent and ambitious, lie has friends on
the other side that do not know that he has
joined us as yet.
The very man, go and send him.'
Gen. Tyron was absentabout two hours
for he had to send to Harlem, where the
sergeant was stationed, undergoing a drill
with others of the new levies, under their
officers.
I have seen the man, and had a long
conversation with him,' said Tyron as he
entered, 4he is willing to undertake it on
one condition, and that is only a condition
of pride.' '-."'
What is it?'
That he shall receive a Lieutenant's
commission at once. He will then depart
the instant you require, and is confident of
success.
Do you know him to be worthy of reli
ance.' From all that 1 can learn, and from my
own judgement,! should not doubt it in
the least.
.Then let his commission be made out,
and send him with it to me. If I have
the same opinion of him I will sign it.'
The young sergeant soon made his ap
pearance he was not more man twenty
three years of age, a good personal ap
pearance, end a cunning twinkle about his
.TiaH black eye denoted no want of confi
dence in his own good opinion. Sir Hen
ry was so well pleased with him that his
instructions were soon complete; and re
ceiving hiscommission the new lieutenant
bade the British commarder farewell, o
return in a few days with desired informa
tion. On reaching his qnarters, he chang
ed his militajy appearance to a plain coun
tryman's suit, ripped the lining of his
cocked hat, under which he placed his
commission, which he re-sewed, saying to
himself
I think when Miss Rosa Millford sees
my commission as an officer in his majes
ty's service, she will no longer refuse the
hand of Nathan Palmer.
The next morning he left the further
British out-posts at Kingsport, on horse
back, where Gen. Tyron had accompan
ied him, to pursue his expedition. It was
a beautiful morning, and he looked for
ward with all the anticipations of pleasure,
and hope gleamed warmly in his breast.
He passed the nuetail ground,' without
molestation, and advanced into what was
considered the American district without
being troubled by any of occasional travel
lers on the road, although almost every
one was armed and carried his musket.
Now and then he met an American yoe
man or farmer, with whom he was ac
quainted, that knew not yet of his defec
tion, for he was born in that section of the
country, and residents within a wide circle
were then considered as neighbors. Late
in the afternoon he came within sight of
the regular American out-posts, when he
turned olT the main road by a narrow one
that led to a mill and a dwelling on the
banks of a small but rapid stream. Let us
for a moment look into the dwelling and J
notice its inmates. One was girl about
eighteen, a fine rustic beauty, engaged in j
some trifling house-work, but mainly list
ening to the conversation of a lively look
ing brown complexioned younsr man in
half military garb. It was evident that
what he had said pleased her for she look
ec at him from lime to time, as she smiled
archly, with fondness. These two were
Rosa Milford the miller's daughter and
William Townly, a neighboring farmer's
son, and an ensign in the American army
lyin near.
Who is that William, coming towards
the mill, on horseback!'
As I live,' said the young man, it is
your old spark, that sly rascal, Nathan Pal
mer, the dominie's nephew, who dispises
him and has cut him ofT. The rogue, I
heard in private this morning, bad enlisted
in the refugee corps. If I knew certain,
he would swing for it. Depend upon it
Rosa, he is here for no good purpose, or
reason.'
Do not be seen William, leave me to
manage
him.'
,The A'oungman retired to a back door,
but not out of hearing, as the tory lieuten
ant entered by the front. He advanced
with a bold step.
Miss Rcsa, I have but little time to
spare, and 1 want you to answer at once.
Read that.'
He took the commission from the lining
of his hat and placed it before her.
'Some difference between holding a com
mission in the King George's service and a
ragged continental.
Nathan Palmer,' said Rosa sternly
'I always disliked you now I hate
you!' And she handed him his commis
sion. Do you refuse to be my wife now?'
Your wife! Leave this house immedi
ately or I shall be tempted to loose the
dog at the mill door upon you.'
Good bye Miss Rosa,' he said, grinding
his teeth in anger. Look to your father's
mill your house yourself. I will be
avenged.'
He mounted his horse and rode swiftly
away.
Rosa hastened to the back door to look
for her lover. He was just entering the
woods leading to the camp and the wave
of his hand indicated to Rosa that he knew
Palmer's errend. He hastened to the
camp, had an interview with Putnam,
and the latter issued his private ordeis.
Palmer came into camp that night with
the freedom of an old companion, and
having as he supposed accomplished his
errend, was about taking his departure,
when he was arrested, and the fatal com
mission was full proof of his guilt as a
tory. After a brief trial he was ordered
to be hung on Put's gallows the next af
ternoon. Before the hour of execution came, Ty
ron who had heard of the arrest of Palmer
sent in a flag, declaring it murder to hang
a mere civilian who happened to be a
loyalist, and threatening retaliation. He
was not aware that Palmer's commission
had been found upon his person Put
nam wrote back this brief and memorable
note:
Head-Quarters, Aug. 7, 1777.
Sir: Nathan Palmer a lieutenant in
yonr service, was taken in my camp
as a spy. He was tried as a spy
he was condemned as a spy -and you
may rest assured, sir, he shall be han ged
as a spy.
I have the honor to be &c,
ISRAEL PUTNAM.
His Excellency Gen. Tyron.
P. S. Afternoon. He is hanged.
Such was 'Old Put prompt to execute
and decide. The hickory tree still remains
standing near Peekskill.
iTIy First Love.
There are probably but few men among
us (to say nothing of the women!) who
have not some pleasing recollections of a
school-boy passion. For my part I frank
ly confess that I am not of that few.
With the memory of the time when I used
to study nights, that I might devote the
day, school hours and all, to innocent
amusements, such as playing 4fox and
geese,' and tick-tack-tow,' behind the
teacher's back, and sliding down hill, snap
ping the whip, and playing ball during the
intermission with the memory of that
happy time, I say is associated the remin
iscence of a boyish lover. I had my Mary,
and I was as devoted to her as ever Byron
was to his. I was her companion, her
servant, and her poet. We went together
to get Aground nuts,' to pick up beechnuts,
and to dig sassafras roots in the woods. I
used to go for water when she was thirsty,
and to hold her bonnet when she wishea
to crawl through holes in the fence. I
was with her continually, whether it was
her pleasure to see-saw, to jump the rope,
or to wander across the fields.
During the school hours I was not less
attentive to my Mary.' I was thinking
of her when I should have been thinking
of my lessons, when I should have been
writing copies,' I was sending billetsdoux
to her across the school house, or keeping
up a tender correspondence with heron
slates. Of course my first attempts at
poetry consisted of 'Verses to Mary.'
The teachers sometimes used to let us
go out doors and study, during the pleas
ant weather, either because they believed
us when we asserted that we could learn
our lessons quicker in' the open air, or,
what is more probable because they were
anixious to get as many of the noisy ones
as possible out of the way. At any rate,
they used to permit the girls, two or three
in number, to take their books and sit on
the grass on one side of the school-house
and the boys to enjoy the same privilege
on the other. It is needless to say that the
girls andboys had an unaccountable yearn
ing to disobey the teachers, and get togeth
er; and that on such occasions I was al
ways to be found on the wrong side of the
school house, chatting 'pretty sentiments'
to my Mary.
That I loved my Mary with all the
strength and purity of which the young
and untanght heart is capable, is my sin
cere belief; and I have not a doubt but
that she reciprocated my tenderness. But
she was fond of mischief, and delighted to
torment me with jealousy. This she was
well able to do, for I had a rival who was
almost as assiduous in his attentions as my
self. Fred B was a gay, young spark,
and I was horrible jealous of him the more
so, when Mary would leave my society
for his.
One night there was aspelling school.'
Mary had promised me that she would be
at the school-house early, and of course I
went to meet her, and enjoy a short season
of tenderness before the evening exercises
began. But I was destined to suffer some
chagrin. Fred B- -was there before me,
and when I arrived, I found him and Mary
on quite too intimate terms to suit my jeal
ous nature.
The candles were lighted. Mary sat
on one of the front seats, with a broad ta
ble directly before her, and Fred was at
the extremity of the table, by which he
was prevented from making any very near
approach to the object of our joint attach
ment. While the few scholars who had arrived
were enjoying themselves exceedingly be
fore the evening exercises commenced, I
sat apart, gloomy and sullen, watching
with a jealous, angry eye, the movements
of my rival. At length, to my infiuite
relief, Fred ran to join the sports of his
fellow pupils, and Mary was left alone.
She beconed to me to come and sit with
her, but I meant to make her feel my re
sentment; and much as I wished to speak
to her, I scrupulously turned my eyes to
another quarter of the house.
Soon the candles were blown out by
some mischievious scholars, and the room
was involved in total darkness.
Now,' thought I, forgetting my resent
ment, 'now is the time to make up with
Mary.'
In a moment I was by her. side. The
table prevented me from approaching too
closely, but I whispered her name, and,
reaching over, succeeded in getting hold of
her hand. I heard a shuffling I felt that
she was removing my hand from the one
I held of hers to the other; and then I felt
a gentle squeeze. My heart leaped to my
throat with pleasurable emotion. I returned
the pressure, and was delighted to feel her
fair hand squeeze mine with greater ardor
than before. I forgot Fred B in a
I moment ; : , . .. .
Do you love me I whispered, passion
ately. ;- " ' . . '
Dearly.! was the replyv
Oh!?am but too happy!' I sighed.
Butyou do not love me I heard.
n
another whisper. "
You know I do! I exclaimed, almost
speaking aloua 'you know I do!'
The fair hand which held my own,
squeezed it harder than ever. I returned
the pressure more ardently than before.
Indeed I was about pushing the table aside,
that I might approach my Mary more
nearly, and embrace her, when a candle
was lighted!
Ha! ha! ha!' laughed a light, ringing
voice directly behind me.
I started in surprise for that was Ma
ry's voice! I looked for her in the seat
she had occupied a moment before, but she
was not there; and the hand I had been
squeezing so ardently that hand, reader,
was the hand of my rival!
Like myself, he had flown to Mary's
side the moment the lights were extin
guished; and she had managed, after pla
cing my hand within that of my rival, to
glide out of her seat unobserved. And
thus she had left us, whispering love to
each other, and squeezing each other's
hand across the table!
From the New Orleans Crescent City.
AN EDITOR DKIXG OCT.
Quite a distinguished citizen of our city,
and one of the members of the corps edito
rial, made a short excursion into the coun
try, where they revelled some hours
among the breezes and treeses, and finally
returned at four o'clock, with appetites, it
may easily be imagined, nicely sharpened
for the enjoyment of a good dinner. After
imbibing a glass of wine bitters, at the
St. Charles, our friend of the scissors and
quills was invited by his companion to join
him in a quiet dinner at his own doniicil.
I have nothing nice,' said he, 'for I
didn't think we should reach home in time
to dine, but I reckon I can make up some
thing that will answer the demands of hun
ger for the once.
Oh, I'm not particular, replied the edi
tor, 'anything will answer my purpose.
I'm one of those, you know, whose wants
are very easily supplied.'
Shortening the way, by easy and fa
miliar chat, thoy at last reached the gentle
man's dwelling, and at the summons of a
bell, a favorite female servant came to the
door, with her shining ebony face wreath
ed gaily in smiles. Whispering a few
words in her master's ear, almost as soon
as he had crossed the threshold, he ex
claimed 'You don't say so! What are they!'
Now, the editor, though by no means
hard of hearing, did not quite distinctly
understand tfie reply, for the reason that
he did not wish to listen to what appeared
to be a private coloquy. He thought, how
ever, that the remainder of the conversa
tion was about as follows:
A fine pair of ducks,' said the servant.
You don't say so,' said his host. 'Well,
now I am satisfied. Who would have
thought that.' 'Go into the parlor,' said
he to his guest, 'I'll join you there in about
five minutes.'
The editorial gentleman quietly wended
his way alone to the parlor, wondering in
his own mind why such unusual distur
bance about the dinner should be made, in
a house where everything was generally
conducted in the most simple and unosten
tatious manner possible; but nevertheless,
secredy felicitating himself upon the fact
that the dinner he was to enjoy was far
more inviting than it had been represented.
Five, ten, fifteen minutes had elapsed, and
his host did not present himself; he fum
bled over the pictures and books on the ta
ble, playing awhile with the poodle dog,
which was taking a nap on the sofa, half
whistled a tune or two, hummed the frac
tion of a psalm, and was finally found ga
zing on a painting of Mary Magdalene, to
discover new beauties, when his entertain
er made his appearance, just exactly the
happiest looking man the editor everstum
bled upon,
Excuse my detaining you,' said he,
but you heard what Betty said in the
door!'
Oh yes,' replied the editor.
A pair of, 'em, by Jove!'
So I understood her to say.'
And a finer pair I never saw, though I
say it who should not; as plump as fair
and bright as any I ever laid my eyes on;
come join me in a drink.
Adjourning to the sideboard, they fiHd
their glasses; the editor gave,
'Here's to em,'
Good! said the host, here's to theml
The editor was slightly astonished, for
his friend's way of rejoicing over'the ducks
was quite singular he tossed off his wine
and commenced promenading the room,
rubbing his hands, chuckling, and occa
sionally giving vent to a guffaw.
, A pair who'd have thouglit it, and all
doing so nicely too! was his exclamation.
How are you "having them fixed?' in
quired his visitor. .
Oh, Heave that to the women of course;
I don't meddle with that business.'
But Its a pity, considering they are so
very fine, that you haven't another friend
to dine with you!
Pardon me, I forgot I am compelled to
ask you to go somewhere else for your
dinner.
To do what!
'To dine somewhere else! You see all
is in confusion, the servants are all as busy
as bees, it was so unexpected in fact, I
didn't think it would come off for a week.
Come off? what do you mean!
Why the affair up stairs.
And what the devil is the affair up
stairs!'
'Why, I thought you heard what the
girl said at the door!
So I did she said you had a fine pair
of ducks for dinner.'
Fine pair of what!
Of ducks!
Fine devils! She told me that while
we had been absent my wife had present
ed me with a fine pair of twins, both boys.
The list we heard of the poor editor, he
was partaking of soup 'solitary and
alone at a restaurant in Charles street.
Anecdote cf Stephen Girard.
The following capital anecdote, illus
trative of the late Stepen Girard of Phil
delphia, is from the New Bedford Mer
cury; Mr. Girard had a favorite clerk, one
who every way pleased him, and who at
the age of twenty-one years expected Mr.
Girard to say something of his future
prospets, and perhaps lend him a helping
hand in starting him in the world. But
Mr. Girard said nothing, carefully avoid
ing the subject of his escape from mi
nority. At length, after the lapse of some weeks
the clerk mustered courage enough to ad
dress Mr. G. upon the subject.
I suppose, sir,' said the clerk, I am
free, and I'thought I would say
to you as to mv future course.'
something
Yes, yes, I know you are, said Mr. G.
and my advice to you is that you go and
learn the cooper's trade.'
This announcement well nigh threw ihe
clerk off the track; but recovering his equi
librium, he said if Mr. G. was in earnest
he would do so.
I am in earnest,' was the reply.
The clerk rather hesitatingly sought
one of the best coopers, and argeed with
him upon the terms of apprenticeship,
and went at it in good earnest, and in 1he
course of time made as good a barrel as
any h)dy.
He went and told Mr. Girard he had
graduated with all the honors of the craft,
and was ready to set up his business, at
which the old man seemed gratified, and
told him to make him three of the best
barrels he could. The young cooper se
lected the best materials he could, and soon
put into shape and finished three of the
best barreis, and wheeled them up to the
old man's counting room. Mr. G. said the
barrels were first rate, and demanded the
price.
'One dollar,' said the clerk, 'it is as low
as I can live by.'
'Cheap enough!' said his employer
make out your bill and present it.'
And now comes the cream of the whole.
Mr. G. drew a check for $20,000, and
handed it to the clerk, closing with these
words:
'There, take that and invest it in the best
possible way, and if you ire unfortunate
and lose it, you have a good trade to fall
back upon, which will alTord you a living
at all times.'
Spuggles's youngest, Julia
SDuirele said the other day:
Augusta
'Poppy is walls around forts any rela
tion to the sheep!
No my love. Why do you ask!'
'Cause I heard uncle Bob talking
about the ram-parts of a fort the other
day.'
Be quiet child and go to your ma.'
But poppy, them are ramparts ajnt
like fish are they!
No my child. What on earth put that
in your head!'
Why cos uncle Bob said when he was
in Flanders one night he was obliged to
scalo the ramparts.'
Julia, stop hemming that table cloth,
and give this child tome panada.
Kbat l flare foUcrd., -
I have noticed that all men Jspeak veil
of all men virtues' when they are dead,
and the tombstones are marked with epi
taphs of good and virtuous 1 Is there any
particular cemetery where tho bad.gnea
are buried!
I have noticed that the prayer of every
selfish man is 'forgive us ourdebtsT but he
makes everybody pay who owes him, to
the utmost farthing.
I have noticed that death is a merciless
judge though tiot partiaL Every man
owes a debt Death summons the debtor
to lay down his dust in the currency of
mortality.
I have noticed that he who tbinks every
man is a rogue is very certain to see one
when he shaves himself, and he ought in
mercy to his neighbors, to surrender tho
rascal to justice.
1 have noticed that money is the fool's
wisdom, the knave's reputation, the wiso
man's jewel, the rich man's trouble, ths
poor man s desire, the covetous man
ambition, and the idol of all:
I have noticed that whatever is, is
right, with few exceptions the left eye,
the left leg, and the left siJo of a plum
pudding.
I have noticed that merit is always
measured in the world by its success.
I have noticed that in order to be a rea
sonable creature, it necessary at times, to
be down right mad.
I have noticed that as we are always
wishing instead of working for fortunes,
we are disappointed, and call La:ne For
tune "blind" but it is the very best evi
dence that the old lady has the most cap
ital eye-sight, and is uo granny" with,
spectacles.
I have noticed that purses will hold
pennies as well as pounds.
1 have noticed that tomb-stones say
"Here he lies," which no doubt is cfien
the truth; and if men could seo the epi
taphs their friends sometimes write, they
would believe they had gotiutatha wrong
grave. iV. I". Spirit.
A Wife in Trouble. 'Pray tell ra
dear what is the cause of those tears!
Oh, such a disgrace!'
What what is it dear! Do net keep
me in suspense.'
Why, I have opened one of your let
ters, supposing it was addressed to myself.
Certainly it looked more like Airs, than
Mr.
Is that all! What harm can thera
be in a wife opening her husbands In
ters!' No harm in the thing itself. But tha
contents!
Such a disgrace!
wnat! nas any one
to me a letter unfit to
wife!
dared to writo
be read by my
Oh, no. It is couched in the most
gentlemanly and chaste language. But
the contents! the contents.
Here the wife buried her face in her
handkerchief and commenced sobbing
aloud, while the husband eagc-rly ca'.ight
up the letter and commenced reading tha
epistle that had been the means of nearly
breaking his wife's heart. It was a bill'
fi otn the pr Liter for nine year's subscrip
tion bandy lull Herald.
John's Sbarc
'Dad,' said a hopeful sprig, how many
fowls are there on the table!'
Why,' said the old gentleman, as ha
looked complacently on a pair of finely
roasted chicken's on the dinner table.
Why, my sen, there are two.
,T wo!' replied the smartness, there are
three sir, and I'll prove it.
Three! replied the old gentleman, who
was a p!a:n matter-of-fact man, and under
stood things as he saw them: 'I'd like to
see you prove that.
. 'Easily done, sir, easily done! Ain't
that one!' laying his knife on the first.
'Yes, that's certain,' said his dad.
And ain't that two!' pointing to the
second, 'and don't one and two make three!
Really said the father, turning to the
old lady, who was in amazement at the
immense learning of her son, 'really, wife,
this boy is a genius and deserves to be en
couraged for it. Here, old lady, do you
take one fowl, and 111 take the secondhand
John may have the third for his learning.
Button Holers. A biography! Ro
bespierre which appeaced in an Irish pa
per concluded in this manner:
This extraordinary man left no children
behind, except his brother, who was kill
ed at the same time.
This reminds us of a son of the Em
erald Isle, who in telling of his adven
tures in this country to a friend, said:
The first feathered bird I ever saw in
Ameriky was a forkentine. I treed hicx
under a haystack and shot him. with a
barn shovel; the first time 1 shot him I
missed him, and the second time ! hit him"
...i i . a v:.., k,
;e!ore.