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TUB HLESSIXG3 OP GOVEIIN'MENT, LIKE TUB DEWS OF HKAVEX, SHOULD B3 lrtJTBI"-"tTBD ALIKE UPON TIIB HIGH AXD T1IH LOW, TUB BJCU AND POt)K.
iirSRRIES. ' EBEASBURG, FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 185-h VOL 1 SO. 25.
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fne DEMOCRAT & SENTINEL ia published every
Friday morning, in Kbcnsburg, Cambria comity.
Pa.", lit $1 50 per annum, if paid in atlvance, if
not &2 will be charged. . ,
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Letters must bo post paid to secure attention
EXILE OF ERIN.
There came to the beach a poor exile of Erin,
Tho dew on his thiu'robe wa3 "heavy and dill ;
For .his country he sigh'd, when tit twilight rc-
... pairing,
TO wander alone on the. wind beaten hill :
But the day star attracted hia ej-e's sad devotion
For.it.rose on hia own native isle of the ocean, ,
Where once in the How of hid youthful emotion,
11$ sung the bold anthem of Er-i-S" go Bjiagii !
Oh Bad is my fate; (said the heart broken sirnn
"' ' err-) ";" ''"'."
The wild deer and wolf to a covert can fly ;
Bat I have no refuge from famine and danger,
A heme and a country remain net for me !
Ah ! never again in the green shady bowers, i
Where my fore-fathers liv'd shall I spend the
'sweet hours;'
Or cover my harp with the- wild woven flowers,
And strike to the numbers of Erin go Bragh !
Erin my country, though sad and forsaken.
In dreams I revisit thy sea-bcaten shore,
But alas ! in a far foreign land I awaken.
And EJgh for the friends who can meet me no
more.
Oh cruel fate ! will thou never replace me
In tho mansion of peace whero no peril can chnse
- me, -
Ah never again will my brothers embrace me,
They died to defc-nd me or live to deplore ! ,
Where is my cabin that stood by the wild wood !
Slaters and Eire did you weep for its fall ?
Where ia the mother that watch'd o'er my child-
' hOOd
And where Is the bosom friend dearer than all ?
Ah, my sad Pout, long abandon 'd by pleasure) !
Why did it doat cn a fast fading treasure ?
Tears like the rain drop, may fall without mc-aa-tire,
But raptnro and beauty they cannot recall !
Yet all its fond recollections suppressing,
Ono dying wish my lone bosom shall draw ; .
Krin, an exile bequeaths thee Lis blessings.
Land of my forefathers, Erin go bragh !
Burled and cold when my heart stills its mo
tion ; -.'.
Green bo tby fields, sweetest islo cf the ocean ;
And . thy harp stringing bards eing aloud with
devotion,
Jrh BM yorneen Erin go bragh !
THE EARP OF T ABA.
;.. Tune. " Grainochree."
The harp that once through Tara's halls
Thp soul of music shed,
Kow hongs as mute on Tara's walls,
Aa if that soul were Ctd.
tx dleepa tho pride of former days.
So "glory's thrill is o'er,
And hearts that once beat high for preiso.
Now feel that pulse no mere.
Ho more to chicfa and ladie lriLt,
Tho harp cf Tara sv""iiJ
Tho chord a!ot. t' breathes at night,
Its t- v I"mn klis.
"hen freedom now ao seldom wakes,
The only throb she- give3,
Is-whcn soma heart indignant breaks,
To know that still she lives. .
JFVofn the Knickerbocker for February.
TRANSCRIPTS
TBOH THE DOCKET CF A LATE SHERIFF,
i-',;w - "' BT- FREDKRTCK L. VTETH.
y, Mr.' Shcn-iff," inquired '.Old Thison' of
tno; Vbe you good at figge'rs ?'''' '
? jood at figures " I ' asked, responiveiy
"wbftt.doyou neanbythat question ?" and 1
looked at the old man with astonishment.
lie seemed lost at the apparent harshness ob
servable in mjm-nncr of fjddrcsinj him j, amj
apprehensive that I was ofiended; aVked my for-giveness.-end
desiarod thedid p't -mean no of
fcflce." ; '"Oh"! aa for that, Tise," I replied, 'I am sal
Iffied you meant nothing wrong. But . why do
you K)k if I am good at figures ?" n
" Because," and he primped up his mouth, and
swelled out his cheeks, looking for all the world,
like n antiquated Cupid, (as he is,) and with a
canningand gay twinkle of his eyes, drawing
his "hands from'out of his side-pockets, and cov
ering ono with the other, so a to make a hollow
Of them; he raised tbcra, up, gently at first, and
Uicn quickly, gaylj, raying them to and fro be
fore lay" eyes and ears ; a jingling, chinking sound
was heard, ''Because if you be, how "much is
Uric ftvo !" . ." . y'.'J
- "Twico five is ten." . , ...
" "Dat's 5t, and derc dey be and ho ceased
the movement of his 'hands at tho instant he
ehowed me two half-eagles wliich he held between
the fore-finger and thumb of each hand. "They
are a pair ;of spectacles, ain't they. Mr. Sheriff?"
an3 he eontinued holding them as before ; 'and
I aimed tlieia with a pair of Bpectables ; and
gold ones they be, and gold ones they was. Yes !
yes I twice five is ten," said he chuckling ; "and
half-eogles do n't roost on every tree, if whole
ones docs fly above my head. Y'ain't 'fended,
be you ?"
"Heaven bless you, Tise, no ! But how about
this affair ? I can't comprehend j'on ; what
means this about the half-eagles and specta
cles '"
"Well, yen see, Mr. : Sheriff,", replied he, "I
was a-poiii' down town yesterday and got as far
as Wall-street by old Trmty, when I see Mr.
Wilton, the lawyer ; and he bowed very purlite
ly to me ; and he comes up to me and says :
' "Good morning. Mr. Thison.'
And I says : '
'Pooty well, I thank you.' .-
'And then he says again :
' 'Mr. Thison, I'm we-rry glad to see you : I
want you to serve a paper for mo on a man who
lives not f;ir from here, but who I've been trying
to servo for tlie last year ; all of ruy clerks, from
errand-boy to the confidential man, have tried it ;
even I myselfjiave tried it ; 1 have also employ
ed men and boys, who are familiar with that bu
siness ; have lodged it in the sheriffs ofliee ; and
I believe the paper has been in the hands of e ve
ry one engaged in theofficel' I have also given
it to a sooro or more cf constables ; all, all of
them hare failed to serve it ; and I almost now,
in looking at it. scarcely recognize it as a thing
of the present age, it looks so greasy and dirty.
Iiave you a mind to try it ?"
'Try it,' raid I looked at him in wonder ;
'try it ? I never failed in nothing I go at right
earnestly. . Try it ? guess T will. Who is the
party, Mr. Wilton ?" said I.
" 'The plaintiff is a woman.'
"A woman ! and. you know, Mr. Sheriff, how
willin' I am to serve the women."
"Yes ! but, Tise, Mr. Wilton did n't want you
to jrte a woman."
"Now, why will 3 0U bother rcc, Mr. Sheriff ?
Why won't - you let. me tell my story .without
stepping me ?"
"Well, ; well, go On ! I only interrupted you
when I Supposed j ou were off the track."
"I was n't off do track ; I was going on at a
good rate. Let me fee ; let mo see ; where was
I ? yes, I w&s always willing to oblige the wo
men." ' .
"Well, Mr, Wilton says to me, says he :
'Do you think, Mr. Thison, you can serve
th man ? The suit grows up this way : lutty
Doolittle, my client, was house-keeper for Mr.
Greenhope. and old gentleman, a retired grocer
and widower, who, becoming old, was" subject to
rheumatics, or gout, or some other similar ail
ment 1 aud Kitty was in his service llr two or
three years at small wages ; and all went on very
nicely when, one day, the coek, an Irish girl,
told Kitty, my client, to go ! that 8he did n't
want her any more, about the house ; that she
had married Mr. Greenhope, nnd had becc-me, by
the law of tbc land, the mistress of the house
herself ; that Mr. Greenhope told Kitty it was as
the cook said ; lie had married her, and Legged
Kitty to come again, and hfl would settle with
hr. Well, Kitty left the house at once ; and,
after a few days, went to see Mr. Greenhope to
get a settlement with him, hut she was denied
admittance. She went again, and agrJn. and al
ways was refused pJimssiou into tho house; and
she never could sec the old gentleman ; his wife
would not rrmit her to come in and see him.
At lengUi, after repeated efforts to sec him, she
came o me, and told me of her affairs. I
wrote to him, and no aivjwer was sent to me. . I
finally determined to sue him ; and you know of
the diiiicultus 1 am larjonng under to procure a
service of the process upon him. His wife, who
is fearful of an influence detrimental to her in
terests, whiok might be exlrcised in tbc making
of his last will and testament, prevents the ad-
j
mission of any one into the house, and keeps
tho oldman a prisoner, in fact. There, you have
the whole story ; and my client, Kitty, although
I might commence proceedings ogamst him nndcr
attachment as a 'concealed del-'or,' will not al
low me to do so, as she says it would give too
much publicity, to the matter ; and beside, it
would be exposing the old gentleman to too much
pain, in case he should see his name in print as
as concealed debtor. And yet again, Kitty knows
that the inoineut Mr. Greenhope is made aware
of the claim, he will pay her to the last fraction.
But the ehfilculty.'Mr. Thison, is to sec him;
and yet I believe.' although so many, have tried
it. if any one can accomplish a service, you are
the gentleman.' ::
"Well, I could li't help, Mr. Sheriff, whon he
said I was the-gentleman, taking my bat. off:
aTid I gin hirr the lowest bow I could make.
"Well, wlmtdoyou eay, Mr. Thison,Tsaid
he, 'will you try it 1'
"Tryit? to be sure I will," said I.
' ;IIe do n't live far from here ; only around
the corner ; arid if you succeed in serving him,
I will give you ten dollars.' " ' " '' "
Ten. dollars !" said I. . i !
"Massy me ! that's a round sura fbr a small
job like that; I thought. But j ou did't' catch
me expressing my thoughts to him less ho might
haul in, and offer mc less." - ' .
'"Yes ! ten dollars. You 've got to bo cautious
and cunning.' said he, 'and look out that Mrs.
Greenhope, do n't come the chain on you. Let
me hear from you, Thison, to-day or to-morrow.
Good-bye.'"
.' "And he left me. -"Owe dc chain on me!'
what did ho mean, said I : and I was dumb-
foundered ; I was in a fogfY.'and I could n't. tell
what be did mean ; but I found out afterward,
when I tried the service ; and I '11 tell you, Lime
by, about de chain. , . , V ' ' . ,
"See, Mr. Sheriff, I never failed to serve a pa
per in my life but once, and I '11 tell you of that
another time. TJu I H' tell-you once I had a
'declaration,' agin' a man by the name of Bur
rows, who bothered me a good deal ; he shyed
me every where and every place ; he liad his dod
gers always 'bout him ; and I never seed hirn
without he rid a horse, a black horse. When I
went to the deor of his house to see him, I 'm
blamed if heelid n't go through to the stable in
de rear of his house, and git on, and ride pass
me in de front of his place, so I could see him.
And when I went do next day, thinking dat I
would git him sure at the stable, blamed if he
did n't come right past mc on dat old black horse
ag'in ; he got on at the front of the house this
time ; he was too wide awako fer me ; I tried
this a good many times ; fust at de front door,
at dc basement, at de stable, in de rear, and at
every p'intl thought I could make somnthimr, at.
But I was deceived ; he was always burrowing
jist like a rabbit, out of one hole into another.
I could n't catch him ; I seed him, through,
goewl many times on that black horse of his'n
he knowed mc jist as well as I knowed him;
and sometimes I thought it was werry aggerwa
tin' in him ; he used to stop wid his horse by 'de
corner of de streets, (I think he must a knowed
I was about ;) and den, when I kim up. thinkiug
I had it all right, and was jist a going to r-bla-
med if he did n't pull oil his hat, and 'wish me
a worry goekl mornin' ;' and olf went de old black-
horse at a good trot.
"veii, 1 stood at riat corner, and 1 bcran lr
to think ; and I snid to myself, 'Tise ! old gen
tleman, this won't do ; dat air feller must be
come up to, if he does ride a horse. Now what
shall I do ? what shall I do ? I can't keep pace
wid this nag ; and bless me, iff think I can wid
his rider ; 't won't do to be nonplusheel this
'' And I was thinking some time, and won
dering what I should do next :' and I looked up,
and den I seen him ag'in, sti 1 on dat black nag ;
lie passed me, and he Raid 'lie wished me a werry
pleasant time of it.' I could nt help it, but I
cussed some, I tell you ; and I shuck my finger
at him ; and I hollered out to him that I'd git
him yet afore de Devil would, and he must make
a note of that. -
"Now you see, Mr. Sheriff, that last part was
the apgerwatinist of all, to wish me n werry plea
sant time ; and I wowed then, as my danger was
riz, ef I could get him by any' means, I would ;
my feelm's was hurt ; and I thought if he bur
rowed, I would burrow too. Well, I was deter
mined, after that, to catch him ; and I went to
work airncstly ; I went to his house, to his sta
ble, at day-break, at sun-set. lie had gone out ;
he had gone in ; I was never in time ; I was be
fore him ; I was after hirn ; he was in hi castle
aud I was denied admittance, as all ef hi-servants,
waiters, and all, knowed mc.
"Bimeby, a thought struck me ; if it could
oniy bo, thought I." . ' . '
"What was it, Tise V IV tJli' time, becom
ing fairly interested, I coi ":f't resist the incli
nation to check the oldman in his very particu
lar and close narrat "J" of every incident, and
yet I wanted him o close it up speedily, so gar
rulous had he occome. "What was it, Tise?"
"Well, I hegin to think," continue-d he, "after
going a good many times 'bout dc house where
de man Lvcd, dat if I could on' catch a boy, or
a man. or a woman, or any bndy, who went for
to carry something rcglar to tho hou.e, I might
succeed. I seed a butcher-boy, a good many
times, fO to de door in dc basement ; and I tried
to g't "im once to let me carry in the meat and
marketing, 60 as to git in the house i but he
tal'cod shy at me, at put his thumb and fingers
to his nose ; and as he moved them bnckurdd and
forwards, he said : '
' 'Gammon ain't what re deals in ; nothin'
but de best of beef comes from onr stall. V ' "
"And he shyed at mc ng'in. Well, I went
ag'in at night ; and after staying "bout an hour
or so, I seed a woman, a great big tall woman,
going up de EtoOp with a big clothes-basket.
'liallo !' said I to myself, 'here's my chance.'
And I waited for her to come out ; arid when she
did come, I fullered her a little way ; and when
I got out of the way cf bein' seen, I walked up
to her, and asked her if she did washing. She
said yes. . And I got from her the name and
number of .de street where the lived, and told
her I might call on her one of dese days. .And
den I asked her if she washed for 'de gentleman
in de house where she come out of; and she told
me she did ; dat she was in a great hurry and
could n't staying talking with me just then ; she
had some other places to call at ; and that she
would have to stop ag'in when she camo back at
the gentleman's for the dirty clothes; aud she
said 'good bye' to mc, and left me.
. "After she had left mc, Mr. Sheriff, I knowed
I. had to work sharp and quick, if I intended to
carry out" -my. plan, bekase the washer-woman
would be back afore long; so that, without wait
in' a minute, I run into a second-hand clothing
shop, in an avenue clus by$ and I bought a wo
man's hat; and then I run to a grocery-store
and got a big basket ; and I put some things in
the basket andkivered it up with a red handker
cher : and I put cn . the bonnet, and with my
old black cloak on, I think I made somewhat of
a figger ; and I. was then all ready to commence
Operations. . . . . .- . . .. .
"So I hobbled up the stoop ; and I ringed the
bell ; and I stopped a little, so as. not to apiear
too big for the washer-woman, though she was a
large woman ; aud I cursheyed to the gal who
opened the door and let me iu ; and widout my
sayin' a word nor nothm , slve told me to git ar
long up stairs as quick as I could ; she did n't
know me from dc woman ; an' I went up stairs ;
and I did n't know what to do,; and I was won
derm what I should do ; .and when I got to the
landing above, and was thiukin' what next, 1 'in
blamed if my customer hisself did. n't come out
of a room ; and soein' me, he called me Nancy ;
and ie begin for to complain' about his linen bc-
j in' not ko well done : aud then I ris up strut,
j beka.se my work was near done ; and dropped
my basket ; and I pulled out my paper and shook
myself, anJ then I handed it to him. But bless
you, Mr. Sheriff, you oughter seen him then. I
thought he 'd a cat me up, he was so put out ;
end he paid sumthin' about an eld man who
ought to be ashamed of hiself, gnir.g round dres
sin' hisself up as a' female, 1 imposin' on people.
But I was so happy I did n't say nothin' to him,
on'y dat do dignity of do office nuis' be kep' up,
and wo could n't afford to let sich rabbits as he
was, burrow as much he pleases, out-wit old
foxes; and den I left him, wisbin'. him, a! he
did income, 'a worry pleasant time.
"Now uo n't 3-Gu think, Mr. Sheriff, that was
werry good for me ? was u't it well done V
"Very good, Tise ! Better tlian good," said I.
"It was superlative ; nothing could be better.
But how did you feel when you where going up
stairs without any plan or excuse in j'our head ?
should yu be discovered, and your disguise pen
etrated, Khat would you hav done then, ch 1
Come, tdl me, Tise !"
"Public justice ! hem ! ! I do"n't know noth
ing bette nor public justice." And the old man
kept repeating public justice, rabbits, foxes, bur-
rowings, cunning, dignity, washer-woman, lon-j
net, foxes, baskets, gigling and laughing the
while, aid between the exclamations f-mooihing
and robbing," aud j 'aj ing, and feeling his cheeks
and mouth, evielently coaxing himself into the
luxury of fancying himself the chief e f spotters,
tlr. best at the game of burrowing. .
"Now, Tise, csycu 've got through this little
interrujtion of the incident of the half eagles
and spectacles, let me hear alxmt the service of
the paper yon had against eld Mr. .Greenhope ;
and let it be very short, for I waut 3ou to accom
pany me on an expedition of a ve-ry eliGcult char
acter, which is now in process of preparation by
the attorney, in wliich all your natural and ac
quired faculties of archness and perception will
be call eel into requisition. .. 1'ou will be ready to
go with, won't you ? .
"Go ! bless you, yes ! aay time, and all times;
you know, Mr. Sheriff. I cvtr refuse you. But
what is this business ? hat is de writ V
"Ne.exat !" T replied, solemnly.
"No exout 1" echoed he, sententiously and
gloomily.
"Now. alxmt Uic spectacles, Tise."
"Yes 'bout de spectacles. Well, Mr. Sheriff,
I took de writ fron Mr. Wilton ; and I on'y had
a little way to g, jist Ix-hind dj big stores on de
corner of Broadway and Rector-street ; and I
went along, and I come up to do house where Mr.
Gree'dipe lived ; and I got on de stoop ; and I
stood a bit ; and I fiecrdde Minds in dc win
dows of the second-story of his house go flippcr
flopptr, as i-vmo liody was looking out to see
who it was as had come on de stoop ; ar.d I look
ed tip, and it was an old man ; he was hniking
troo de blinds at me, right above my head ; and
I spect he got particular anxious ; and all at onst
I fee I something strike my hat und lounce off,
and den it fell on de pavement ; and I picked it
up, and it was a pair of goold spectacles ; and
elen I fi-H pood ; and I run up on de stcop ag'in ;
and I pulled de bell good and strong, fr dwn I
knowed I had it all right, and that the old man
was mine-'!. ...
"That was a capital hit, Tise."
"Well, it was, Mr. Sheriff; that i3, it was a
hit on my cajmt, as de lawyers say, and that
means a capit.il hit," And U10 old follow scream
ed out a ha ! ha ! ha ! at his capital hit.
"Well, den, dc door was opened on a little,
'lKut 6ix inches, or so ; and 1 heerd a clankin' of
chains ; and I m blessed if derc was n't a chain
fastened on de inside of de door-post and de in
side of de door ; and den I knowed about de
chain-game ; and de door ceuld n't be opened
any furder ; and a woman stuck her face troo de
openin' ; and she looked awful savage at me ;
and .she wanted to know any business ; and then
I put en the innoce-ntest look I could, and told
her I was passing by de house, and de old gentle
man up stairs dropt his spectacles out of de win
dow, aud dat it was fortunate I was so near to
pick them up ; and if she would on'y allow mc
to hand de specs to d'j old gentleman hisself I
would be so happy." -
"You old ," interrupted I, at which he
started ; and I hc-tdtated. . No ! I could not apply
any opprobrious or censorious epithet to my old
assistant ; and I lapsed down into a compli
mentary allusion to his j-oliteness. . "You arc
the soul and body of poliieutas. Vf ooure the
lady let you in at once ?",
"Not racily right away ; she look at mc pooty
tight, and werry particuler ; and den she asked
ru to gin her the Fpecs, nnd she would take
them to Mr.-Grcenhope.", .. .
"But you did n't do it 1"
'.'No ! no ! fchc luiht keep me and. other folks
out by the chain, but I knowed that I had that
in me that would loosen- de chain. Why, yon
know, Mr. Sheriff, I allers look like an innocent
child ; no. body, would think any wrong of me ;
and then I asked her ag'in if she would allow me
dc pleasure of presenting the specs to Mr Green
hope hisselfs". ... ,
". Well, she opened dc door at last, with a good
deal of reluctance, and down come dc chain, and
in I went ; and when I got ia, I seed do ole gen
tleman standin' on ue first laudin' of de stairs, on
de fust flight; and I went up and told him it
was werry lucky dat I happened to pick elem up;
and I give Jiitu the spectacles, and ; lie thanked
inc a good deal : and. then I took tho paperout of
my pocket and handed it to him ; and I told him
ag'in thad it was werry lucky I found hia specs,
as he could n't sec to read de paper widout 'em,
'onless,' and I said onlesa werry loud ; 'this here
lady,' and his wife, the woman t-f tho cliaiu
game, come up then, 'could read it for him.'
" What did she 'say to that hit you gave her,
Tise?" said 1. '
" Oh ! nothin' out cf de way werry hash ; the
said I was an old sinner, and de like : and she
didn't suspect my iunercciit looks, and so on ;
yet he looked more'n she said."
" That was a lucky iucident, Tise, of your fin
ding the spectacles ; it procured your admission
into the house," t.aid 1 to him.
" Yes .' yes .' ! it was luck-," replied he drawl
ingly ; " but dat didn't do it." .
" Well, what was it, then ?" I asked.
" My purliteness," s;vid he, gravely, and ma
king a very graceful bow, with his hand placed
across Ids breast. Ym ! yes ! iny purlitencss
done de business ;" and he smirked archly.
" She couldn't resist me ; I kne-w I was captiwa-
tin' then, werry captiwatin'."
" Yes, Tise," said I, "1 know you were on a
captivatirt expedition just then."
And then old Tise rumbled out a vigorous ha !
ah! ha ! he ! he ! he ! hi ! hi ! hi ! and ending with
a slight reference that, in that respect, I was fre
quently in the same boat with him.
" And dat's de way "lout tho spectacles and
the half-eagles ; but gracious me, Mr. Sheriff,
wasn't dat a lucky hit !'., ....
"Yes it was: and I suppose Mr. Wilton thought
it was very surprising, didn't he?"
"To be sure he did ; and more'n 'at, he told me
it wasu't more'n three or fur hours after he give
the paper to mc, his client had j:ot all her money:
and I got two half-eagles for that job, and plent
compliments, too."
" And you deserved all you got, my old friend;
and I am always rejoiced to set . audjluar that
aptness, such as yours, is well rew arded."
A PRAIRIE FiGHT.
BT Mns. n. K. SWIFT.
It was that most delicious Fcason of the year,
the " Indian summer," when w.atcd by some
travelling companions on the deck of tlx steam
er Otto, bound for the Upper Mississippi, wc per
ceived three Indians in earnest parley with the
captain of the boat. They were fine specimens
of their nation ; tall and straight, with propor
tions of exact symmetry. Their keen elark eyes
glittering with excitement, and, with their rifles
in their hands, and each one foot advanced, they
appeared as if preparing to spring overboard into
the deep and turbid waters of the river.
With furious gestures they pointed to the prai
rie, that lay stretched out before tlie view until
it seemed to meet the glowing sky. Covered with
rich grass and wild flowers lonely and wild
it looked like a vast extent of silence and 5e!itude.
But as we rf.-'cd through the skimmermg mist
that, like a transparent veil hung over the face of
beauty, enveloped its green luxurianco, we ob
served far in the distance a party of Indians,
moving in single file at a rapid rate.
They were Sioux, whose trU at that time
were in deadly feud with the Chippova) s. The
Indians on loard tin? Otto were chiefs of that na
tion returning to their homes. As soon as the
C'hippeways saw the Sioux, they knew from their
mode of travelling that the- had been on a war 1
expedition to some of their villages ; henco theii j
impassioned gestures and pleadings to the cap
tain to be set on shore. They said they would
take their scalps from their foes, and rejoin the
beiat some distance ahead.
After urging their request for some time, the
captain of the Otto complied with it, and they
were landed, and soon in quick pursuit of their
enemies. At the solicitations e.f many of the
passengers, backed by the potent influence of
sundry odd dollars, which found their way into
the rough hands of the cuptain, he H-.mtntcd to
the boat's slackening her speed, that we might
view the result.
The Chipptwnys crept stealthy but swifily
along tho shore concealing themselves in the
brushwood that lined the banks of the river until
they came near enough to the Sioux, and then
with a spring like a panther's cud a whoop that
filled the air with its murderous echo, in an in
stant each rifle brought down a fe. Three of the
Sioux fell dead upon tlie prairie. In return the
Sioux though taken by surprise and thrown oil
their guard turned in pursuit of the Chippe-ways,
who fled for their lives, determined to avenge the
death of their fallen companions.
The intense excitement on loard the steamor
was beyond description. . Ladies were borne half
fainting with terror to the cabin ; mothers were
screaming for their children ; children crying
and nurse scolding all dreading instant massa
cre from their near .proximity to the Indians.
Men gathered in groups on the deck ; some bet
ting high on the result of the fight; some blaming
the captain for " permitting murder," others
watching with breathless cngernes3 the flying
fewi, ci.prcv.ing -nnust desire for their victory
er defeat. It was a perfect Babel of languages ;
the steerage passengers crowded the lower deck.
women and children, all talking at ouce' in their
dilli-rent dialects, all intent upon seeing the novel
fight. - . .- . " . " ' -
The three Chippcways ran swiftl' : their foet
scarce seemed to touch the sward, so rapid was
their motion. But 6ce ! one- stops something
impedes his stepa ; 'tis for a second's ?paoe he-
throws away his moccasinH, and as he dots so,
casts a quick glance behind hiin, id in ilm act of
levelling his rillo a llaah and a rctiort. The
excited ripectators on board the Otto give a simul
taneous shriek and the words " He is fcLot ! he
shot !" are. heard on every side. But no, ho
bounds forward with increased velocity . A mo
ment more, aud he staggers, reyhj and fulls pro
tratc, shot through the heart.
. Then commenced a sceucc in Indian warfare
so . fi.end.isb, and blood-thirsty that iny ien can
scarcely record it. While the body was still
heaving . with the last struggle of life, with
scrwaia wild and unearthly, the Sioux be nt over
it with Lia glittering knitci : .
looked again, I saw the gory scalp of the Cluppc
way dripping w:th the still warm blood, fiistcr.ad
to tlie girdle of tlie Sioux. F.ai.-ii-g the war
whoop, that cchoid from shore to shore, like tho
yell of tome demon, Itc hurried on afur tho oth
ers. The two remaining Chippfways wtiv fast dis
tancing i he ir pursuers ; end we could sec tliTn
fur miles alur.g the prairie, running in a lino from
the hliore, the Sioux mill in. hot pursuit, ik
welves after their prey. The captain commandoe!
that added Mectn f-honld Le'put toHLe Lot:"thery
was a bluff where the river made a l-end, a short
distance ahead ami he thought he might save the
fugitives by getting them on board the Otto.
And steam was put";on."2 The rugir.g and
cracking cf the fire, as it roared amidst its fra.1
barriers, the surging and mad t-peed t f lh W.t
as she churned the waters into foam, tho groans
and dissonant noise of the va-tt machinery,
sounding liky the cries of a soul ia agony UL
were unheard of forgotten incur breathlesti in
teiiMty cf vision. The chase was for human htc
tha't a few moments before had lived and breathed,
amongst us. '
In a shurt f-pace we'camc f ;.f tho lnd of the
river ; here the .shore was thickly covered with
scrub pine and wild creepers, and our view inter
cepted. As we rounded the point, however, w
could see far across the prairie and iu tho dis
tance could trace one Chippeway, like a deer fly-.
ing from the huntsman, mill pursued by the mad
dened Sioux. A crash ws heard among th
branches, and Lm companion came leaping from
the high Huff that overhung the river. TLepoor
fellow had outrun his implacable foes, and se-eing
the loat had made an attempt to reach it as hid
only chance cf life. But inatcad of falling into
the water, he cume heavily ur.on the ground and
broke his leg. Before his enemieo found hU Had
lie was safely landed on board the bteamer. A
physician being on loaid, his.liinb v set, aiul
he finally reached his village.
It was afterwards discovered that, according
to the assertion made by the Chippi-waya, their
village had lten attacked by this Sioux party.
A boy stationed ujou the bluff- thiit surrounded
their dwellings, seeing their a; rwaeh, had given
iusti.nt alarm, so that by the time tho Sioux had
reach d the village, it was' deserted aud Iwt.
They set fire to it, and were returning when
men by the three L-.diaau on liird theyrUAm,
tr. The Chippeway that fhd acrix the prairie wm
sorely l.set by his tiicUiivi ; f r day aud uij-hta
he had neither retit rr r Met p. Ouce only Le
atopped to breathe among-1 soiuo Lushes ; but
they hud tracked his course-, and he found Lixu
tsc'.f surrounded by a Lu ruing circle tf fire. But
his courage and pe rseverance did not forsake Lim
even amid such deadly peril. With a bound hit
cleared the flaming brushwood, and though
thrice wounded by chiuce shoU, ho had eluded,
their direful vengeance, and while his body wad
weakened aud emaciated by such severe hard
ships and fatigue, his resolute spirit sustained
his exertions until retreat was practicable, and
lie also returned to hia people in safety.
This sketch is no vision cf faaicy ; there are
persons still living who witnesjed "The Prairio
Fieht."
Cant Phrases,
There- is no greater mark of ill-breeding and
vulgarity than the use cf slang phrases. Thewo
forms of speech have heretofore been regarded aa
the distinctive characteristics tif bar-room loafers,
sporting rowdies, thieves and pickpockets,
Of late, however, the unseemly hul.it of inter
larding the discourse with cant phrasm has exten
ded among young men and women, too, 0 r
pectability and good standing in the community,
and lias Income a crying evil. Low i.Ieaj arc al
ways attached to emit phrases which it.unt inevi
tably exercise a degrading j-uiueut upon tho
mind. Low conception- are as dctnmuital to
improvement as w et ami heavy plumage to a Lui
that would take a lofty flight.
To show the extent to which the Lai it ef uiu
cant phrases is t-omctimis carried, lie fallowing
conversation which traiisi irtd hi tLe Sunt fiiu-
ly is reported ;
"I decl-in- to goodness ! I nahy thitk Mr.
Bustle is n.-.kiiig up to e ur Jusephiiie .'" isaid
Mrs. Stout after the k'uillvman rt ferrod to La.1
as.-etl the prolong t-veninj; at their Lousu ittay-
ng to a later hour than u.-.ual.
Yo'ud better believe- it," njoined the ywung
lady plaj fall v.
" You may Ut high on that," added Xapcloon,
oho was in the act cf lighting a reul Havana.
llow d you like the cut if his jib, Timothy V
resumed Mrs. Steut, turning to her husband.
" I don't greatly like Lis rig, hut Jooe-phino
tl.inlco 'some.' " wa. tb rinli-
" Whether you like Lim or uot, it's my epuv-
ion he'll make a 'tip-top' husband," continued
the mother.
" But Ur through mother," iaii Josephina.
biUiliiu''.
" Go in lemons !" tuzjested Naih-on. m-ia-
king through his nose ; a remark. Lr the wav.
so ambiguous, that it certaiuly must have puz-
ried other parties to guess at its meaning ; hut in
the present case it Bcemed to be invoice! with
perfect lucidity.
"Nopoleon, I advise you toshutjMur hopper!"
elegantly retorted the young lady,
.Mr. istout proceeded to inquire if Mr. Rustle
was a man ct rrott rty, and was assured ir hia
better-half that he had a " pocket full of rocks.'1
The father and husbauii then remarked to the
effect that he had been more favorably impressed
with Mr. Goodwin, a young farmer m the neigh
borhood, thin with the gentleman under coiuid
e rat ion. Mrs. Stout manifested a dirk-rent opin
ion, on tho kuljtct emphatically declaring that x
" couldn't come iu." .
" He is over that way." sai l his brother, ria
ki:ir a gesture, over his shoulder wiihhis thuu.b.
The above, we are inclined to l!ieve, is mt a
fancy -sketch. It shows the ixter.t to -which the
practu e of uring cant J hiB-?rs, wLtn fur? aVi'-u-id,
may ' v tan :d.