A
t
lWE CO WHERE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES POINT THE WAV; WHEN THEY CEASE TO LEAD, WE CEASE TO FOLLOW.'
BY JOHN G. GIVEN.
EBENSBURG, THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1850.
VOL. G. NO. 15.
HP
II j i li ii ii i i i i
fi hi hi hi hi
John Anderson to bis Jean.
BY MRS. J. WE BE.
Air John Anderson my Jo.
Oh Jean! it seems but yesterday,
Since, light as ony fawn,
Ye tripped in virgin bashfulness
Across the flowery lawn;
Atad bright your golden hair waved.
That Time has strewn wi' snaw;
Yet still ye wear youth's winning smile,
Though youth's bright morn's aiva.
Though your eye be no sae clear, J can ,
As when in youthful prime,
Sae sweetly, sae confidingly.
Its melting glance met mine;
Though pasuion'k hour hath Bed, Jean,
And cauld our pulses be;
Your mellowed look o' kindly love
Stil! geotly beams oti inc.
And though the grave's white 11 ononis , Jean,
Are scattered on your brow,
And in life's glass tho ebbing sand
Are waited thin and low;
.o change our hearts can know, Jean,
But, lang us life hall last,
Wu'll gild our hopes o future bliHi
Wi' memories o the past.'
I.I I S C E L L A N S O U S.
The Quccbi Scmirasriis.
By Massenius, a German Jesuit, IG37.
"Of all my wives," said King Ninus to
Semiramis, "it is you I love best. None
have charms and graces like you, and for
vou I would willingly relinquish them
all."
"Let the King consider well what he
says,'' replied Semiramis. "Wli3t if we
were to take him at his word."
"Do so," returned the monarch; "while
beloved by you, I am indifferent to all
others ."
"So, then, if I asked it," said Semira
inis, "you would banish all other wives
and love me alone? I should be alone
your consort, the partaker of your power,
and Queen of Assyria?"
"Queen of Assyria! Are you not so
already," said Ninus, "since you reign by
your beauty over its King?"
"No no," answered his lovely mis
tress; "I am at present only a slave whom
you love. I reign not: I merely charm.
When I give an order, you are consulted
before I am obeyed?'
"And lo reign, then, you think so great
a pleasure?"
"Yes, to one who has never experienced
it."
"And do you wish then to experience
it! Would you like to reign a few daj-s
in my place?"
"Take care, O King! no not offer to
much."
"No, I repeat," said the captivated
monarch.
"Would you like, for one whole day,
to be sovereign mistress of Assyria? If
you would, I consent to it."
"And all which I command then, be
executed?"
"Yes, I will resign to you, for one en
tire day, my power and my golden scep
tre." And when shall this be?"
"To-morrow, if you like."
"I do," said Semiramis; and let her
head fall upon the shoulder of the king,
like a beautiful woman asking pardon for
otne caprice which has been yielded to.
The next morning Semiramis called her
women, and commanded them to dress
her magnificently. On her head 6he
wore a crown of precious stones, and ap
peared thus before Ninus, who enchanted
with her beauty, ordered all the officers
of the police to assemble in the state
chamber, and his golden sceptre to be
brought Irom the treasury. He then en
tered the chamber, leading Semiramis by
the hand. All prostrated themselves be
fore the aspect of the king, who conducted
Semiramis to the throne, and seated her
upon it. Then ordering the whole assem
bly to rise, he announced to the court that
they were to obey during the whole day,
Semiramis as himself. So saying, he took
up the golden sceptre, and placed k in the
hands of Semiramis.
"Queen,'' said he, "I commit to you
the emblem of sacred power; take it and
command with sovereign authority. All
here are your slaves and I myself am
nothing more than your servant for the
whole of this day. Whoever shall be
remiss in executing your orders, let him
be punished as if he had disobeyed the
commands of the king."
Having thus spoken, the king knelt
down before Semiramis, who jrave him,
with a smile, her hand to kiss. The
courtiers then passed in succession, each
making oath to execute blindly the orders
of Semiramis. When the ceremony was
finished, the King made her his compli
ments, and asked her how she had man
aged to go through with it with so grave
and majestical an air.
"While kthey were promising to obey
me," said Semiramis, "I was thinking
what I should command each of them to
do. I have but one day of power and I
will employ it well."
The King laughed at this reply. Sem
iramis appeared more yiquante and amia
ble than ever.
"Let us see," said Ninus, "how will
you continue your part. By what orders
will you begin?"
"Let the secretary of the King approach
my throne," said Semiramis, m a loud
voice.
The secretary approached, two slaves
placed a little table betore him.
Write," said Semiramis: "Under pen
alty of deatii, the governor of the citadel
of Babylon, is ordered to yield up the
command of the citadel to him who shall
bear him this order.' Fold this order,
seal it with the King's seal, and deliver to
ine this decree. Write now, 'Under pen
alty of death, the governor of the slaves
of the palace is ordered to resign the I
command of the slaves into the hands of j
the person who shall present to him this !
order.' Fold it, seal it with the King's J
seal, and deliver to me this decree. Write !
again, 'Under penalty of death, the gene
ral of the army encamped under the walls
of Babylon, is ordered to resign the com- j
niand of the arm- to him who shall be
the bearer of this order.' Fold, seal and j
deliver this decree to me." j
She took the three orders thus dictated, j
and put them in her bosom. The whole j
court was truck with consternation; the
king himself was surprised.
"Listen," said Semiramis. "In two
hours hence let all the officers of State
come and offer me presents, as it is the
custom on the occasion of a new princess, I
and let festival be prepared lor this even- j
ing. Now let all depart. Let my faith- !
ful servant Ninus alone remain. I have
to consult with him on affairs of State."
When all the rest was gone out "You
see," said Semiramis, "I know how to play
the queen."
Ninus laughed.
".My beautiful queen," said he, "you
play your part to astonishment, But if
your servant may dare to question you,
what would you with the orders you have
dictated?"
"I should be no longer queen, were I
obliged to give account of my actions.
Nevertheless this was my motive. I have
a vengeance to execute against tne three
officers, whom these orders menace."
"Vengeance, and wherefore?"
"The first, governor of the citdael, is
one eyed, and frightens me every time 1
see him; the second, the chief of the slaves
I hate because he threatens me with rivals
the third, the general of the army, deprives
me too often of your company; you are
constantly in the camp."
The reply, in which caprice and flattery
were mingled, enchanted Ninus.
"Good" said he laughing. "Here are
the three first officers of the empire dis
missed for very sufficient reasons."
The gentlemen of the court now came
to present their gifts to the queen. Some
gave precious stones, others of a lower
rank, flowers and fruits, and the slaves
having nothing to give, gave nothing.
Among these last were three young broth
ers, who had come from the Caucasus
with Semiramis and had rescued the car
avan, in which the women were, from an
enormous tiger. When they passed the
thtone.
"And you," said she to the three broth
ers, "have you no present to make to your
queen?"
"No other," replied the first, Zophire,
"than my life to defend you."
"No other," replied the second, Arta
ban, "than my sabre against your ene
mics." "No other," replied the third, Asstr,
"than the respect and admiration which
her presence inspires."
"Slaves," said Semiramis, "it is you
who have made me the most valuable
present of the whole court, and I will not
be ungrateful. You who have offered me
your sword against my enemies, take
this order, and carry it to the gen
eral of the army encamped under the
wats of Babylon, give it to him, and see
what he will do for you. You who have
offered me your life for my defence, take
this order to the governor of the citadel,
and see what he will do for you. And
you, who offered me the respect and ad
miration which my presence inspires,
take this order to the commandant of
the palace, and see what will be the re
sult." Never had Semiraniis displayed so much
gaiety, so much folly and so much grace,
and never was Ninus so captivated. Nor
were her charms lessened in his eyes,
when a slave not having executed properly
an insignificant order, she commanded his
head to be cut off, which was immediately
done.
Without bestowing a thought on this
trivial matter, Ninus continued to converse
with Semiramis till the evening and the
fete arrived. When she entered the sa
loon which had been prepared lor the
occasion, a slave brought her a plate in
which was the head of the decapitated eu
nich. "'Tis well," said she, after having ex
amined it. "Place it on a stake in the
court of the palace that all may see it, and
be you there to proclaim to every one,
that the man to whom this head belonged,
lived three hours ago, bi t that, having dis
obeyed my will", his head was separated
from his bod'."
"The fete was magnificent; a sumptuous
banquet was prepared in the gardens, and
Semiramis received the homage of all with
a grace and majesty, perfectly regal; she
continually turned to and conversed with
Ninus, rendering him the mostdistinguish
ed honor. "You are," said she, "a foreign
king come to visit me in my palace. I must
make your visit agreeable to you."
Shortly after the banquet was served,
Semiraniis confounded and reversed ail
ranks. Ninus was placed at the bottom of
the table, lie was first to laugh at this
caprice; and the court following his exam
ple allowed themselves to be placed with
out murmuring according to the will of the
queen. She seated near herself the three
brothers from Caucasus.
"Are my orders executed" she deman
ded of them.
"Yes, they replied.
The fete was very gay. A slave hav
ing by the force of habit, served the king
first, Semiramis had him beaten with
rods. His cries mingled with the laugh
ter of all tho guests. Every one was in
clined to merriment. It was a comedy,
in which each played his part. Toward
the end of the repast, when wine had ad
ded to the general gaiety, Semiramis rose
from her elevated vseat, and said: "My
lords, the treasurer cf the empire has read
me a list of those who this morning have
brought me their gifts i( congratulation
on my joy ful accession to the throne.
One grandee alone of the court has failed
to bring his gift."
"Who is it?" cried Ninus. lie must
be punished severely.'
"It is yourself, my lord-you who speak.
What have you given to the queen this
morning?"
Ninus rose, and came with a smiling
countenance to whisper something in the
ear of the queen.
"The queen is insulted by her servant,"
exclaimed Semiramis.
"J embrace your knees to obtain my
pardon. Pardon me, beautiful queen,"
said he, "pardon me." And he added in
a lower tone, "I would that this fete were
finished."
"You wish, then, that I should abdi
cate?" said Semiramis. "Bat no I nave
still two hours to reign;" and at the same
lime she withdrew her hand, which the
king was covering with kisses. "I par
don not," said she in a loud voice, such
an insult on the part of a slave. Slave,
prepare thyself to die."
"Silly child that thou art," saidNinus,
still on his knees, lyet I give way to thy
folly: but patience, thy reign will soon be
over."
"You will not then be angry," said she
in a whisper, "at somthing I am going to
order at this moment?"
"No," said he.
"Slaves," said she aloud, "seize this
man that Ninus."
"Take him out of the saloon, lead hiin
into the court of the seraglio, prepare
everything for his death, and wait my
orders-"
The slaves obeyed, and Ninus followed
them, laughing, into the court ofthe sera
glio. They passed by the head of the
disobeying eunuch. Then Semiramis
placed herself on a balcony. Ninus had
suffered his hands to be tied.
"Hasten to the fortress, Zophire; you
to the camp, Artalan; Assar, do you se
cure ail the gates in the palace."
These orders were given in a whisper
and executed immediately.
'Beautiful queen,"'said Ninus, laugh
ing, "this comedy only wants its dawite
ment; pray let it be a prompt one."
"1 will," taid Semiramis. "Slaves,
recollect the eunuch strike!"
They struck. Ninus had hardly time
to utter a cry when his head fell upon
the pavement, the smile was still upon
his lips.
"Now I am Queen of Assyria," ex
clamed Semiramis; "and perish every
one, like the eunuch and like Ninus who
dare disobey my orders.
".Ma. that nice young man, Mr
Snuff
"Mimi tungisvery loud of kissin."
your searn, Julia; who tcld you such non
sense: "Ma; I had it lro;u hit own hps."
MONEY versus IVIERIT.
UXDUE IIOjIAGE TO WEALTH.
"It lures the pirate, and corrupts the friend."
"To whom can riches give repute or trust,
Content or ploasere, but the good and jusl. '
The homage that is so generally paid
to wealth, and often without regard to
merit, appears to us the consequence of a
great weakness, if not worse. The in
quiry with the thousands is not as to the
virtue and purity of a man not as to his
integrity, disposition and principles, but
his icorldly means ! They seem to ima
gine that money "covers a multitude of
sins," and they are quite willing to be on
terms of intimacy with individuals who
are affluent, no matter what their errors
of omission or commission, and utterly
regardless of the mode by wiiich they
acquired fortune. Nay, if "these individ
uals" were poor, they would be shunned,
contemned and despised, but being rich,
they are courted and flattered. Is not this
a sad error and is it not calculated to j
teach the young that money is preferable
to merit, that virtue may be sacrificed '
with impunity, provided thereby a fortune J
can be acquired! Is it not calculated to
exalt vice and depress virtue to corrupt j
the very sources and springs of integrity
and principle? The evil to which we
refer, is forcibly illustrated at this season
of the vear. and esnecinllv nt ihe imne
summer resorts and fashionable watering i
places. Let a thoughtful observer mingle !
in the crowd at such "localities," inquire
into histories, analyse character, and re
view conduct, lie will discover that in
far too many cases, those who are regarded !
no tlin rtecnt'rt nf lnMn. ... !
who expend the most money and make
the greatest display, are the flattered, the
envied and courted; and this too, no mat
ter how soiled they may be in fame, how
darkened by misdeeds, how unfeeling or
unprincipled m the affairs of ordinan
ce. The idea of associating with the kich,
appears to delude and fascinate weak
minds. They indulge in an absurd error,
that such an association excites the envy
of the lookers on, and that thus "the poor
parasites" are elevated in the scale of so
ciety. And this too, although the money
worshippers may be utterly stainless in
character may have lived lives of integ
rity and well doing may, in fact, possess
merit, talent and good name, far above
and beyond the mere possession of wealth
and wealth too, acquired by improper
means. The sad delusion prevails to a
fearful extent. Parents inculcate it by
example. They indirectly teach their
children to seek out the wealthy for asso
ciates, even when the reputation of sucli
associates will not bear the test of exami
nation; while they turn away with coldness
and indifference from the comparatively
poor, however meritorious or unsullied.
Only a few days since we heard a mother
finish a portrait of a very dissolute young
man, with the apologetic and unprincipled
remark "but, but he is very rich!" The
spirit and meaning of her language and
manner were "true, he is worthless and
profligate but then he possesses abun
dant means, and money is the Cod of our
idolatry."
Let us not be misunderstood. It is de
sirable, very desirable to acquire a pecu
niary independence, to live with comfort,
not to say luxury. Nevertheless, charac
ter is far better than money, is "above and
beyond all price," while principle is
deathless, and influences and affects not
only the thoughts, feelings and emotions
of this life, but the complexion, the lights
and shadows of that which is to come. A
departure from the path of rectitude in
early life, even with the object and the
prospect of thereby securing a pecuniary
advantage, is sure in the end to lead to fa
tal consequences. Let the young be taught
that they may with imputiity violate truth,
outrage morality, and trample upon virtue,
and their downward career will be rapid
and ruinous. Success at first, worldly
success, will only induce them to venture
still further in the wrong path, and thus
hasten their fall. Is he upright is he
honest is he true? These are the proper
questions. Enterprise, activity, energy,
are every way commendable. They are,
indeed, essential to success in every pur
suit of life. But with these, integrity and
truth should invariably be associated. And
thus, after having toiled on for years, and
accumulated "enough and to spare," the
conscience will be calm and tranquil, the
mind satisfied, and the heart at case. The
past will have no terror, and the future
will be contemplated ' with hope, promise
and confidence. Let another course be
pursued, let money be the only object, re
gardless of truth, integrity, benevolence i
and sympathy, and no fortune, however j
large, will soothe and satisfy "will calm I
the spirit and trauquilize the soul." The
still, small voice" within will whisper j
words of adrronitioii, and in quiet hours.
when thought is restless, a thousand pain
ful memories will come back, and with
them a thousand pangs of sorrow, of re
gret and of remorse. The penalty too, is
sure. Even in this world, the punishment
in most cases will be fearful. The indi
vidual who deliberately wrongs a neigh
bor, who cunningly darkens a reputation,
who stealthily defrauds or wantonly in
jures, will find that "sooner or later" ret
ribution, cool, bitter, but just, will be
awarded. The only true policy for the
erring is to make prompt and ample atone
ment. The task may be hard and hence
the urgent necessity for its execution.
And yet there are individuals who live on
lor years in splendor and in affluence,
who know and feel their indebtedness to
others (others, who from force of cir
cumstances, have become needy and in
want,) and who yet lack trie nerve, the
manliness., the justice, and the generosity,
to requite the obligation. They feel the
indebtedness, and they have the means;
but with a spirit utterly unworthy they
shrink away irom the subject, strive to
forget it, or deceive themselves by sosne
specious argument, into a shameful and
atrocious neglect of their duty. Are there
none such among our readers? Are there
none who are now prosperous, who were
once indigent, and who lor years have
been forgetful of their early benefactors?
Are there none who worship wealth so
thoroughly, as to have their perceptions
upon all other subjects blunted and blind
ed? Are there none who neglect friends
and neighbors, who are truly meritorious,
to run after the profligate," the heartless,
but the worldly and the wealthy? Are
there none who labor under the strange
delusion, that by moving in the society of
the rich, they likewise will be supposed
by the unsophisticated to be rich and will
be envied also? Are there none who mis
take money for merit, and in this mistake
render themselves objects of ridicule and
contempt and "pawn their souls for an
empty bauble?" Phila. Inquirer.
Amateur Fowl Breeder.
The editor of the Lynn "Bay State,"
has been buying fancv eggs from some
one m Boston at a big figure, which didn't
turn out what he expected; and so he con
cludes that the fever is a humbug! Serve
him right; he bought what were said to
be Cochin China eggs, and after waiting
patiently over four weeks, he found six
ducks hi his hatching coop one morning.
So much for his foresightcdness.
This is'nt half so bad as the case of one
of his neighbors, however, who paid a
round price for half a dozen choice eggs,
queer looking, spcckeled egg small round
"outlandish" eggs which he felt certain
would produce rare chicks, and which he
was very cautious in setting under his very
best hen.
At the end of a fortnight he was star
tled at the beakfast table, to hear his favor
ite hen screaming, "bloody murder" from
within the coop! he rushed to the rescne,
raised the box-lid, and found his hen on
the nest, but in a frightful perluberation
struggling, yelling and cackling most voeif
eroush'. He spoke to her kindly and softly; he
would fain appease and quiet her; for
there was great danger, lest in her excite
ment and struggles, she should destroy the
favorite eggs those rare eggs, which had
cost him so much money aud trouble. But
soft words were vain. His "best" hen
continued to scream, and he raised her
from the nest to look into the cause of her
trouble, more critically. His astonish
ment was instantaneous, but immense; and
his surprise found vent iu the brief but ex
pressive exclamation
"Turtles, by thunder!" m
Such was the fact. Tho poor innoccut
poultry "fancier" was the victim of mis
place confidence. The party who sold
him them eggs, had sold the buyer shock
ingly! And instead of a brood of pure
Cochin China, he found that his favorite
hen had hatched half a dozen pure mud
turtles, all of whom upon breaking from
the shells, seized on the flesh ofthe poor
fowl, and had well nigh destroyed her life
before they could be choked oil"!
He has'given up the chicken business,
and has since gone into ihc dwarf pear
business!
L1?T do think that 'ere Ally l)a is ought j
to be ashamed tf herself," exclaimed Mrs. i
Dusenberrv. "There ainta lawyer, now- j
a-days, that has the brains to get up a case,
but has that ere good-for-nothing Aily
Davis in it. Why, really the critter knows
something about everybody. I declare if
I was sittiu' on a cae, I wouldn't receive
her testimony no niore'n I would the pi- j
zenest sarpint in creation." I
Lovt. At three years of age we love I
our mothers; at six, our fathers; at ten,'
holiday; at bixtccn, dress; at twenty-five,
cur wive?; at forty, our children ui '-:x?y.
oum-hes. I
From the X. Y. SjiUit of the Times.
A Very Important Letter from airs. Parlinstoa.
Her Dangerous Illness Causes Rem
edy Convalesence Troubles in Con
gress CI eiy Webster Dissolution
of the Union Moses Sojourning in
the Ji'ilderness Cuba Dusiness'and
Rochester Knocking.
I'd writ afore, but was tuk sik, and like
ter died with the die-a-rear and disinteres-
tin complaint.
1 U bean out walk in with the Rev. Mr.
Stiggins, obsarvin the stars in the funda
ment, and the flagrant odor of the honey
suckers, sweet syringes, PoIIy'Anthuses
and Mary Goolds, with the shiny condi
shun of the moon, kep us up loo late;
necks day I went out in the hot sun's
rase, without my parashute, and like ter
perdused infermation in my brain.
I sent for Dockter Squills, and he sed
my elementary canawl was outen fix, aud
my abominable canawl was in abominatle
bad order, and so he gin me comomile till
it perdused salvation, then Bring Death's
Pills and Grave 'umbng's Company's
medsins, and wound up -Huh aii-kiilin
mixtcrs and sodgcr water, until he pro
nounced me effervescent, fJQuerv conva
lescent? Ed.j and this is my appoplexy
fer not writin afore.
Oh, my! I'm in such a fidget about
Congress; the U::ion will be dissolute, 1
no. Ther's thai Absolom man Benton,
bent on having his own weigh, wich Mr.
Stiggins ses is nigh onto two hundred and
fifty, they call him Old Bullion, cause he's
oilers bully in some one.
And then that lie of Cubcbs bisnis, and
Fine a fie are d the fctripes and stars our
sweet fl:)g is in a calamus condishun.
I smell gunpowder in every blow and
breeze, and we shall have disorderly sar
geants lealin' drums and trumpets about
the streets agin'.
I don't like litin', and new-fashioned
Piseotarian Parsons, that wear cossscks,
and has orbicular confessions-may preach
about Moses sodgeriu' forty years in the
wilderness, but I don't believe it's cordiu'
to Christianity to have
"Whiskey'd I'andcra and their loud iluziars."
rampagin' up and down the country,- and
cuttin' up rustics.
Moses didn't do no fitin' arter all, un
less he lit the tigers in the wilderness, for
the Red Sea made a rise on Phuro, and
swept him clean.
Mr. Stiggins ses, Clay aud Webster is
the two piilers of Libbety; but I always
thought the piilers of Libbety was stuffed
with tiie fethcrs of the Egle of Freedom;
that Mr. Clayton sent to Cubcbs to per
tect the Woman's Island prisners. Them
lie of Cubcbs fellers had best let Woman's
Island alone.
I want to come down and see Mr.
Grizzle's pair of Rochester knockers, a
soon as I am efficiently effervescent. They
say they're flushes, and has got a fish
beau, and an old she fox for a champe
ron. Respectfully yours,
Sallk An Partington,
Au Lloqnent Extract.
The following is extrcted from an o4
lion deli vered by Hon. Caleb Cuah.'ii'f
at Newburvport, (Massachusetts.) July
1830.
"The letter of the constitution is the
material body, changeable, perishable,
corruptible; the spirit cf the immaterial
soul, which breathes into tho inanimate,
elements the oreath of life, and makes it
a sublime and beautiful creation of im
mutability and of heaven.
"This the spirit of the constitution,
the sentiment of nationality , the feeling
and emotion of Americanism isthetruo
Union, the only Union worth having, the
only Uiiicyi possible to keep.
When the American wanders into
other regious tf the earth, then it is tie
feels and appreciates the true vital spirit
of the constitution. Whether borne -along
by wind and waves, he walks the deck of
his gallant ship, cis her keel cleaves the
pathless washes i f the illimitable ocean,
or lingers amid the pa! ices of r 1,'giou.
and art, nud pow-.-r, in iv fined aid pa
pulous Europe, cr explores th se oiiontnl
solitudes whose hallowed ass x.ations are
eluquct.t, us it were, with vo'cei from o )
high, or inspects I he auiioue ci v ii;za.i
ofthe thronging miilious of .r:a, or par
takes of the daily march or ilu ii i lit! -bi
vouac u:i lb." lv(:y plateau o" the Nt v
World, then u i- he feels that he has ,
country a c. uniry to love, to b-j prjud
of, to defend and to upr.o d a;a:nst ah
euemiet; and that country is the Uuoa.
I have tried it, and I kwow it. Nt ithei
the pine ol Massachusetts ncrthe palmet
to ol Carol na synito!i2es to htui all there
is cf dear in th memories cf hcue, aud
cfgiotiojs in the na.r.e- cr country.
Nc; the inspiration of hope, which no
reverses tan extinguish--the impale rf
courage, which no ddgars can ia-ar.t
thee at1? inder.t.fv.-d c-: b:c oaly
;th .!.'. i-iai; -A n --i c: :iu Union.