1 H
VJU1
hi 1 1 in i
THE BLESSINGS OF GOVEBXBENT, LIKE THE DEWS OP" HEAVES, SHOULD BB DISTRIBUTED ALIKE CPOJf THS HIOU AND THE LOW, THE MCH ASD TBS FOOil.
NEW SERIES.
EBENSBUfiG, PI, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1859.
VOL. 6 NO. 7.
CARRIER'S ADDRESS,
TO THE
Matrons or the dem. & sentinel.
v,For holiday merriment these are the limes for
iti
ptrdon us, then, for so triflftajg a lay ;
thu stanza begins it ifjve can find rhymes fer itj
May you, dear readers', be happy to-day
though life is so fleeting, and pleasure so cheat
ting, "Jkat we ara oft meeting with accidents here,
fcaoUil Fate sec to dish you, oh then may the
issuo
5. what wa now wish you, A Happy New
Year !" Home Journal.
To-day the Carrier-boy Lis greeting brings
To each kind friend; the New Year's charms he
sings.
Come goddess Hope, my humble muse inspire,
tyrant me one spark of true poetic fire;
Visions of dimes inspire my humble verse.
And quarters too, enough to fill my purse;
flo may my song be worthy of the theme,
Acd my bright vision prove to be no dream.
Us;!, New Year's morn the happiest of the
year
Thuus'n Winter reigns, an J Nature's face to
drear,
To-uay our hear is are happy, and as light
.As lovers fond sparking on Sunday l.ight;
Ji-y gladdens hearts oppressed by grief and care,
Aui brows where twdve-inonth long sat "rim
despair ; j
KVn sorrow's child forgets his grief awhile, j
And round his lip pUys sweet contentment's
smile.
To-day will meet around the festive board
Lug severed friends in many a home is heard
Aa old familiar voice, though absent years,
Whooe tones are welcomed by a mother's tears;
The young and old come forth a happy throng,
Aud join in cheerful converse, dance, or song;
And happiest there amid the joyous scene,
oft eyes look love' you all know what I mean.
'Ti New Year's morn dear friends, drive grief
away;
I1 all Care's a suaugcr, then let's all be gay;
HVP7 coine forth, men, maids, wives, matrons,
all ;
A iid elatcbiucs gravo who spout in Congress'
Ull ;
"AnJs'en tho wietch whose wand'rings never
ksew
The World's regard that soothes, though half
untrue ;"
Old maids and bachelors be young once more,
Aud loving, and gallant a in dajs of yore.
At twelve o'clock last night old Fifty-eight
.Drew his last breath, and yielded to his fate
Without a sigh, and on the northern blast
Was Lvinc away iutc the silent pat.
To blumber with its buried hopes and fears
Its griefs, its smiles, its laughter, and its tears.
Tie brought us joys which often made us blest;
The griefs he brought were doubtless for the best.
Of "honors lust forever" say no more ;
Aai "brokan hopes," dear friends, at once
Ignore ;
TLe world is all before you a bright land
Strewed with choice gifts of iicaven on ev'ry
hand ;
Gifta which are oulv for the cratcful heart
Pur to such only Heaven its gifts impart;
And thus the grateful man, though poor and old,
Ti'tcs joys denied the miser 'mid his gold.
The pat is past ; the future's in the van,
Aud Hope comes forth, the constant friend of
man,
And thus she whispers : "sigh not nor repine
Yvt earthly honors ; know if they were thine
Thou would'st not than be happy ; know that
bliss
Makes not her home in such a world as this ;
Though drear this world, the promise still is
given
Tor grjf Lelow eternal LIhs in Heaven :"
iUisccllmuOno.
THE ISLE OE THE BLESTi
OR,
MADEIRA TO AMERICAN EYES.
fit H. C. VICTOE.
improvised. Wy should not its people catch Ceorral," looking fearfully grand donw in it8
At a distance ono is disappointed in the
first view of Madeira; where the most luxu
riant vegetation was looked for, nothing is
seen but apparent sterility. A nearer view,
however, undeceives the visitor. The sup
posed bleak hillsides are cut into terraces,
which "are covered -with luxurious ' verdure;
every available spot and many that are not
is cultivated and made to bring forth its
quota of delicious fruits, vegetables, etc.
This terrace cultivation is, upon a near view,
a fine feature in the many hucd landscape of
the "Wooded Isle," though it contributes
very much to the illusion, at a distance, of
the savage sterility of the island.
To paint in the mind a proper picture of
Madeira, as seen from a point near its prin
cipal town of FuLchal, wo would have to
imagine a huge pile made up of lofty moun
tains, cat up here and there by deep cavern
ous ravines, the mountain-tops in the clouds,
the ravines terraced step on step of dark
gren until they are lost in the mist above
the white mingling with the green, substance
wita tne snadow, until lost in tne vapory
world above ; mountain-sides terraced off,
wooded to their very summits, the dark gray
of the rocks contrasting finely with :hc flow
ery foliage which springs from every possible
foothold, and in the midst of which often is
seen a beautiful villa, or neat cottage, peer
ing from its lovely surroundings like some
shy beauty, afraid, in its modesty and con
sciousnesa of loveliness, of being seen.
A nearer view of the island I mean such
a one as may be had from the inland itself
would reveal numerous cascades and water
falls, sparkling, flashing, and trembling in
the pleasant sunshine, leaping from rock to
rock on their way down to the sea. During
and after the rainy season many of these may
be seen afar out at sea; which, whether seen
from soa or shore, form one of the finest
pictures in the romantic scenery of the is
land The . waterfall is detected sometimes
afar off, girding some gray, huee rock, and
-WW W ' W
then lying beside it as though holding con
verse with the hoary-headed, taciturn sage;
then its brightness is hid from visw by a
clump of foliage; again it goes bounding over
some huge precipice, ' givibg utterance to an
ever-varying song all the time now one of
deep bass, grand as the mountains towering
around, orgau-uke and sweet, a "deep song
of joy;" agxiu the strain changes, after some
mad leap; mayhap it hath hurt itself, for
now it siDgs sadly, breathing forth deep
tremulous music bass still, but sad; now
the breeze wafts its notes loud and deep on
the ear; anon it sounds away off, its gushes
of melody are borne past you, winging their
way to the mystic spirit-land of music, so low
and sweet that it seems the faint echo of the
voices cf those whose 6ong is "like unto tha
sound of the voice of many waters." Again
its voice is borne to you loud, noisy, and
laughing sacrilegious laughter, too, as it
quits its mountain recesses and hastens on to
its mother-sea. As you follow its windings
aloft, peering into the recesses of the rocks to
catch a glimpse of the ones which strike the
notes of the harp so full of melody, you may
see. peering out 3of some nook, a little cot,
half hidden by tho foliage of the orange,
magnolia, banana, or a mass of flowering
shrubs the spirit of peace seeming there to
keep company with that of melody.
Madeira is literally a land of fruits and
flowers blessed with a genial clime (the
temperature of which scarcely varies ten de
grees the year round, averaging, at the sea,
about 70 degrees, and lees at a higher eleva
tion,) it produces in the greatest perfection,
most of the tropical, and many of the fruits,
flowers and vegetables of the temperate re
gions. Oranges, lemons, citrons, guavas,
pomegranates, pine-apples, melons, apples,
pears, peaches and many others, are pro
duced in abundance; also almonds, chest
nuts,. Brazilian nuts, etc. Fine qualities of
coffee are also raised Of flowers there is an
endless and ever-blooming variety. Gerani
ums grow wild on the mountain-sides; the
air is laden with the fragrance of roses, of j
which there is a wilderness. Ihe habitations
of the people are buried in fruit and shade
trees, or embowered in flowering shrubs. It
is another attractive feature to Madeira
landscapes the lovely villas, and pictur
esque little little cots, planted here and there
over the niountaiu-sides and cliffs, sometimes
away up to be reached only by inctined
planes. Peering out from amid a wilderness
of sweets, you may see portions of columns,
or a lattice, or a section of a white wall j
the white contrasting beautifully with the
evergreen foliage. I know of no place and
I have visited many lovely spots - where the
recluse who loved lovely solitude, could so
effectually seclude him or herself from the
busy hauuts of life, amid scenes of true lovli
ness and repose, as at Madeira. I wonder it
has not been made the home of poetic souls,
ere this. If tho hills of Greece could beget
inspiration in the souls of its gifted sons.
Madeira ehou'd doubly be the home of the
Muses, for the hills of Greece in its palmiest
days, never shone with that spirit of beauty
which now makes radiant the very mountain
tops of the "Blest Isle." But alas! the
Epirit of poesy dwells not in the breasts of a
people which could boast of a Camoens. If
the spirit of Art loves to dwell where tho
beautiful in Nature predominates, then ought
the creations of a Phidias to start from every
rock in Madeira. But the inspiration of art
: dwells not with an effeminate people who can
The Senate of the Mississippi Legisla- but boast of a glorious Fatherland. Madeira
tore has passed a bill prohibiting, after the 1st should be an isle of song ; should have a
of January next, the circulate of bank note mnsio all its own ; its hills should be reso
rt $29 and under nant with melody sweeter than Italia ever
Eternal bliss! what rapture thrills the soul,
K'en it the thought she yet shall reach the goal
Wher sorrow never enteis; where no care
Kinds dwelling place and sorrows never daro
To cross the threshold ; joy there reigns supreme
Fulfilling thus our fondest, brightest dream :
A soothing hope, our sorrows to beguile,
Eternal bliss in God's eternal smile.
Then welcome New Year's morn ! farewell the
past;
Tho year to come will soon excel the last ;
Glowing with youth, be just has made his bow :
iee Fortune' garland bound around his brow;
Then bid him welcome he will not depart
Without bestowing on the grateful heart
His choicest bletsings blessings which will be
Only disclosed when death the soul seta free.
My scng is ended now and so adieu ;
Of course my luck, dear friends, remains with
you.
I've faithful been, and brought you news in time
tetter I know than all this jingling rhyme;
The cold and selfish heart can never know
The bliss that springs from rendering others so;
Then, would you taste true bliss without alloy,
At once reward the faithful
CARRIER-BOY.
Ebensburg, January 1, 1859.
Roeebt Hall was once asked what he
thought of an elegant sermon, which bad
created a great sensation. "Very fine, air,"
he replied, 'but a man cannot eat flowers."
thi inspiration from the sighing winds and
sweet echoes of its waterfalls ? Portugal's
mongrel race have yet got to produce a Moz
art or a Beethoven, When the song of lib
erty is heard amidst the mountains of Es
trclla, then may its notes be caught up bj
the people of the "Blest Isle," and they too
become inspired with the true spirit of song.
I do not mean to say that there is no song in
the land, for there is much of it ; but none
which is their own, such as their majestic
mountains should echo. How grand the
Switzers Song of Liberty, compared to the
soft love song and saintly madrigal of the
degenerate PoTtagtt"' . ,
Madeira's hills are, or nave been, vine-clad.
The production of its famous wines has com
paratively ceased for the past four or five
years, owing to a disease of the vines,
which has, year after year, destroyed its
products, that have heretofore been the main
support of its people its great source of
wealth, that which made the island so valu
able to poor, impoverished Portugal. The
produce of the vine failing suddenly, the in
habitants of this, one of the finest if not the
most so islands in the world, were reduoed
to famine. It was robbed of its chief glory ;
it no longer produced the luscious vintages as
famous for delicacy and genial qualities, is
the place that produced them was celebrated
for its beauty. It is my opinion that the
hills will soou be vine-clad as of yore, and
that I the hope and opinion of tho people of
Madeira, who are as tenacious and jealous
of the wne-producing qualities of their island
as a people can well be lie it the case or
not, we need not expect to Eee or hear of
such absolute want of the necessaries of life
as the people of this prolific isle have been
subjected to. The cultivation of the real
necessaries of life have replaced, for the pre
sent, that of the luxurious grape. There is
enough and to spare, yet, of delicious wine on
the island I mean, to 6pare to actual visi
tors, aod not for exportation; for thj weal
thy inhabitants, who own alL.the wine on the
island, know full well what a treasure they
possess, and will rarely part with it. The
welcomed visitor will not want for a taste of
the pure juice of the grape very little like
the wretched stuff labelled and sold as "Pure
Madeira." Except in rare cases, that article
can only be had on the island, where, as I
have said, it is only to be found in the cellars
of the wealthy residents. It was the writer's
good fortune to fall into the hands of a rotund
and excellent old gentleman (peace to his
memory and that of his cellar !) who had an
abundance of various kinds of excellent
juices, in a capacious cellar, and in the
fullness of his heart at having an opportunity
of bhowiijg his hospitality to a stranger from
it ti . i
a strange lanu, ne wouia very irequenuy
insist upon entering the sanctuary of his cel
lar and to as Le expressed it in broken
English "takes shist a little vines." I was
not so lost to self-respect as to refuse ! be
sides, politeness, if not a love for the pure
juice, prompted me always to accept the old
man s invitation . l mention tuis to snow a
great characteristic of the people of the better
class their hospitality. But I shall not
speak of the people, only so far as to illus
trate the place; when we are dealing with
nature, it is best to leave man out, if pos
silAe.
Strangers visiting the island usually make
it a point to visit "the Church of Our Lady,"
situated hih up on the mountain, on the
declivity of which a portiou of the city of
b unchal is built. 1 roui a walled terrace in
front of this sacred edifice sacred it is from
the fact of its containing an image of the
tutelary divinity of the island, "Our Lady o
the Mount" 'tis said that the finest view in
the world is to be had, a fact I verily believe,
after having seen some of the chosen spots of
the earth. Here all the glories of a Madeira
landscape burst npon the vision, and one is
almost bewildered by what he sees.
Leaving the town of Funchal, oiounted
upon a fine horse and there are plenty of
them on the island accompanied by a groom
I took my way over a narrow, paved road,
profound depths. The walled rocks around
were turfed here and there - with green, the
the aides of the mountains were spotted with
forrests, with evergreen vendure, with gar
dens, out of which peered numberless cotta
ges and villas. - There was one away up in a
nook, better fitted for the nestling of an eagle,
one would think, but there it stood looking
down smilingly into the depths below ; one
was away off, far down, also nestling close to
some old fatherly gray rock. Around were
great trees and little ones, fruit and fllowers.
tht spirit of silence restug on all. Ihe
leaves of the trees rustled just a little, and no
ojore.w At my feet were the white walls of
the city, far away below . while between, on
the terraced mountain-sides, was the ever
blooming smiling wilderness through which
I had passed in coming up. The &ea lay
afar off, shining, waving, and trembling, in
the light of the sun, reflecting the shadow of
his smiles as he looked on this fair picture.
The spirit of Peace seemed to brood over all.
no sound, save the melody of falling wr ters.
gushing from the mountain-cliffs, threading
the mountain-sides with silver lines, lit with
sunshine, and flashing with gladness. Those
cascades gave out a melody not unlike what
John heard in Patmos.
This was a picture of what I saw
at Maderia. I can poorly describe it : fairer
than any ideal landscape ever put on canvas
by the spiritual Cole it was the realization
of my boyhood's dreams of Arcadia.
Have I colered the picture too highly ?
Let us see. Since leaving Maderid, 1 have
visited that abomination of desolation. As
cention ; have stood on the heights of Table
Mountain and looked away into far South
Africa ; trod the groves of the lovely Isle of
France immorialized by St. Pierre ; have
been to tht cocoa groves and cinnamon gar
dens of eylon ; walked amid the 6pice groves
of Penang ; rambled at bmgaporc ; seen the
nngles of biam ; revelled in the horrible
iuiells of Hong-Kong, Canton within the
walls, Shanghae, and a multitude of Chinese
villages ; trod the hills of mystic Japan ; seen
many of the Isles of the fabled East ; looked
into St. Helena. After fA.s, I am prepared
to say that Madeira is the fairest spot on
God's footstool
BURS UNDER THE SADDLE.
A SKETCH OF THE REVOLUTION.
Daring the month of March, 1778, the
British army being at Philadelphia, and the
American forces at Valley Jforge, the Amer
ican commander-in-chief was desirous of ob
taining some information concerning the state
of affairs in the city, and desired Capt. Allen
M Lane to pick him out a few trusty men lor
the purpose. M Lane selected five of his own
men, with sergeant Jonn siarKs lor leader,
and Bent the latter to head-quarters to receive
instructions.
Marks was a very young man to bo en
trusted with important services, being only
twetty-two years of age; but M'Lane had
frequently marked his conduct in camp and
field, had made birnself well acquainted with
his character, and knew that he could be
thoroughly relied on. Marks was a lauk,
bony fellow, with high cheek bones, square
jaw, and rather large mouth; but he had a
fine expressive eye, his features were exceed
ingly noble, and his countenance entirely un
der his control. With this, he possessed
great powers of mimicry, which he used to
show off frequently for the amu3ementof his
com
a small patch of woods on the left, and chal
lenged the new comers. The answer was a
pistol-shot from Marks, which tumbled the
challenger from his horse. A general alarm
at the farm-house succeeded, and was an
swered by a bugle-call a short distance '
ahead. Marks found that he had come upon
a post of the enemy, and dashed on with his
force. At a turn of the road, a hundred
yards further, they found a small detachment
formed across their path. As the Americans
knew the road forked on the other 6ide of
this force, and their chances of escape were
good, if they could reach the left hand road,
which was a mere by-path, to be ridden by
only one horseman at a time, they charged
sword in hand
Three of the troop managed to break thro'
and escape, but Marks, and a stout trooper
named Gahl, from Bucks county, were in
tercepted, and obliged to cross sabres with
the enemy. It proved useless to contend with
such superior numbers, by this time reinfor
ced by others from the farm-house; and after
a short and severe contest, resulting in the
death of one of the British troops, the two
Americans were taken prisoners and carried
back to the house of M'llvaine.
Marks was filled with chagrin, partly at
his folly in taking the most dangerous path,
and partly at his inability to convey to the
Commander-in-chief the valuable information
he had picked up in the city. He veiled his
mortification, however, in a cool and careless
demeanor; and in reply to the lieutenant
commanding the British detachment, s?id
that he had been on a foraging party, had
lost his way, and managed to get almost in
sight of the city before he discovered his
blunder. Prircilla, who, with the rest of the
family, was now awake and dressed, saw,
but apparently did not recognize, Marks.
After some more questions, which were an
swered in what seemed to be an open man
ner, the lieutenant directed the Americans to
be placed, securely bound and guarded, in
an upper room of tho house, there to remain j
until morning. By way of comfort, he gave j
them the assurance that they would both be
hanged as spies. j
Marks passed a sleepless night; it was i
not alone the prospect of an ignominious
death which troubled him, but he had
learned enough in tho city to know that a
surprise movement, similar to that attempted
j on the previous 4th of December against the
j American forces, was set down for the fol
j lowing day, and he was awaro that it was
entirely unexpected, lie revolved various
plans of escape in his mind, none of which
appeared to be practicable, and finally con
cluded to dismiss any premeditation on the
matter, and be merely prepared to take ad
vantage of any unexpected circumstances.
As for GahJ, he took matters like a philoso
pher, and snored away all night in happy
unconsciousueas of his situation.
At daylight the prisoners were brought
furious, unseated trooper after trooper Tho
single exception was in Marks' own horse,
which Draper had mounted. He was quiot
enough ; but Draperhappening to dismount,
in order to examine into the cause of tba
trouble, the steed galloped off after his mas
ter, whom, he ultimately overtook.
After a considerable " time thus lost, i
occured to the Lieutenant that there waft
some trick in ihe matter. The horses wer
stripped, ard it was found that ths sharp
burs of the burdock had been placed under
every saddle, and had fretted aod galled tho
animals almost to madness. By this titn
the fugitives had too much start, and per
auit was abandoned.
About four mile further ou Marks and
Gahl fell in with three troopers of the emo
my. The Americans were without sabres,
but there were pistols in the bolstres, and
with these they settled two of their opponent!.
The third put spurs to his horse, and turning
dows a cross-road, escaped Marks and his
friend were in too much of a hurry to pur
sue him, and rode on towards the camp; where
they arrived that afternoon. The informa
tion that Marks brought was of essential ser
vice. The British arrived during the night,
but found such formidable prcperations made
to receive the attacking columns, that thty
quietly retreated by the road they came.
Lieutenant Draper suspected Priscilla, who
denied having a hand in the matter, and
wondered very much where the burs had been
obtained at that season of the year. Tho
truth is that the girl had got them from un
combed wool, which lay in an upper cham
ber, the sheep of the farm haviog gathered
them in their rambles. Thus two kinds t,f
non-combatants had played important parts
in the matter; but the Lieutenant never found
that out. He never ceased to lament tho
loss of his pistols, which were a handsome
Mlver-mountcd pair, nor his showy cloak,
which had been strapped behind his saddle,
both proving of great service to Marks.
Marks and Gahl were promoted. Tbe lat
ter was made a sergeant, and was killed af
terwards in a skirmish at Van Data's Mil'.
Mark's served through the wa1-, became ul
timately a captain, and distinguished him
self in several actions After tho war he
returned to Chester County, and Priscilla
became his wife. The latter was formally
disowned" by her sVct, for "mirryin out
of meeting." and for having aggravated her
offence by being married by "a hired pricit
The expulsion did not seem to afket "hsr
spirits much, for she became a jolly, conten
ted matron, and lived to a goad old age. sur
viving her husband two yearn. Tho defen
dants of the couple still live in Chester and
Montgomery Countirg, with the exception of
a grandson, George Marks, who 13, or w
recently, a thriving farmer, in Vinton Coun
ty. Ohio.
Mnsie by Electricity.
down and placed upon the porch, while Lieut, j A cuj kjus exp2riuier.t of waking musio by
Draper and the men under his command took j electricity, was recently tried at one of tha
breakfast in the hous. The horses cf the theatres at Pestb, by an Hungaiian named
troopers, with those of Marks aud Gahl also, Ilamel Five pianos were placed in view
were all saddled and hitched to the fences of the audience, and the electric battery be
under charge of a little Scotchman, named 1 ing duly disposed of in an adjoining room,
M'Pherson." Priscilla, accompanied by Lieift. j Mr.Hatnel seated himself at one of tbe nian-
Drap-.-r, came out. the former bearing some os, connecting the others with the one cu
. . . -. 5 1 . " w.w-.U .flfcU IUW 111
food After it was partauvu of, Prella ! which he was playing, thov were broucht in
to couimuuieauou wnh this ce. r.!?" l'lin-o-
Iaid the dishes, knives and torss uoon a
bunch iu the porch, aud listened with appa
rent interest to the questions put by the
lieutenant. The latter, by way of encour
agement, assured tbe two Americans that if
tuev cave true statements, their lives would
diately, to the great excitement of the spec
tator", the keys of the other four pianos wera
seen to move inexact unison with the one at
which the musician was seated, every not
being produced simultaneouly, audvrith per-
rades. and had a reputation for shrewd- be spared otherwise they would certainly be 1 fcCt clearness and precision, bv each iustru
hangc-d. lie then lett theni tor a suort time ment. It was as thongh a single instrument
winding along amidst a wilderness of trees,
shrubbery, and sweet-scented flowers, catch
ing at each turn of tbe road the most delight
ful views, passing on my way many beautiful
sequestered mansions of a people that I could
but believe were happy in their seclusion ;
their lines had fallen iu pleasant places, for.
the mantle of Nature's loveliness was spread
over their homes like a garment of many
colors As I mounted higher aud higher, I
realized more and more of the deliciousness
and purity of the air; 1 felt it was a luxury
to live, to breath. Pure and bracing, redo
lent with the perfume of orrange. rose,, and
geranium, the atmosphere seemed at that
time exhileratiog oven to intoxication.-
This, by the way, in one of the great charms
of Maderia life i. e. the great purity of its
air a fact which causes it to be a great re
sort for invalids, especially consum ptives.
Many persons are now there, foreigners, who
have been for many years ou the Island in
tha eniovment of good health, who, were
they to leave, would go to that bourne whence
no traveller returns.
A ride of an hour throngh 6uch scenes as
I have described' brought me to the church,
i was forcibly reminded of the fact that, on
this poor earth, it seems as if it were decreed
that nothing should bo perfect ; God'a glori.
ous works were marred by man, and by
man's folly ; those scenes of grandeur and
beauty were marred (to my mind) by wit
nessing disgusting scenes in which man play
ed a part.
The terrace! I stood between two moun
tains, sections of which rose far above, on the
right, as I faced the sea. the mountains be
ing distant several miles. The rocks on tho
left were near at hand, reared up precipitous
ly hundreds of feet above. Behind they
gradually ascended until lost in tho clouds
oenarating me from those perpendicular walls
va a horrible chasm, or ratine, calle4 "tbe
ness. His muscular system uau not yei re
ceived its full development; but his habits
had made him almost as active as a panther.
He was fully instructed by General Wash
ington as to the information desired, and lift
0 ... .?
camp at aarK, arriving in a snore uuie at,
Port Kennedy, on the fccduylKiu. At mat
point he struck across the country, and by
aieans of by-ways, with which he was well
acquainted, having been raised in the neigh
borhood, evaded the scouting parties 01 tne
, 1 ftf A I C J 1
enemy, ana arrivea ai .uantua, Deiorc uara.
Here he posted his little troop iu a cedar
hollow, overlooking the river; while he, in
the disguise of a countryman, with a sac of
vegetables which be had stolen Irom a gar
den in the neighborhood, rode iuto the city, j
He not only escaped detection, but managed
to sell his vegetables to a member of Howe's
staff, was taken to the general's presence.and
in return for false information in regard to
Washington's movements, managed to learn
some facts of importance. Promising to re
turn in a few days with more vegetables, he
was enabled to leave the town leisurely, with
a passport in his pocket, and some sugar,
coffee, and other articles of like nature in his
6ack. He joined his men without suspicion
about night-fall, and after dark the little
party set out on its return.
Now, had Marks kept in the course 'by
which he came, it is possible he could have
reached the American lines in good time, and
safely. But it happened that about a mile
from the river, at a point nearly opposite
Spring Mill, there lived a farmer by the
name of M'llvaine, who, although a Quaker
and non-combatant, was well disposed toward
the American cause. M'llvaine had a daugh
ter, named Priscilla, a young and nanasome
girl, to whom Marks was strongly attached.
but who bad Dever betrayed any symptoms
of affection in return. The house was half
a tuile or more out of tbe former route, but
lover-like, tbe trooper took his men in that
direction. It was late in the night when he
a eared the place the moon was down yet
it was probably some satisfaction to the young
man to look upon the building where he sup
posed his lady-love to be buried in repose.
As they silently and swiftly passed along,
the watch-dog of the farm begun to bark, the
inmntoa nF the housa were alarmed, and a
light at one of the windows showed them to
ha Htirrinp. At the same moment, a horse
man rnrln unpz rteetedlv from the shadow of
x
to digest the information, Prisbilia remaining
behind.
Tbe Quaker girl, still appearing not to re
cognize Marks, s.-id to him. loud enough to
be heard by tbe soldiers who were passing to
and fro :
I would advise thee, friend, to tell all
thee knows. Friend Draper will keep his
word with thee, I am sure."
She then added, in a low voice :
"Keep still, John, and I will save thee.
Answer what I say, but pay no heed to vhat
I do."
Marks caught her intent in a moment, and
replied aloud :
"I won't turn scoundrel, miss, for fear of
death, even if I had any surety the captain
there would keep his word."
Other conversation followed, and Priscilla,
who had concealed a sharp-knife in her sleeve,
managed to cut the prisoner's bonds without
observation, cautiouing them at the same
tune not to move too soon, cue told tuem
that the lieutenant's horses, one of which was
ridden by his servant, and both standing I
nearest the gate, were the swiftest of all, and
then went out and exchauged some slight
observation with M'Phersou, patting and ad
miring the various horses, one by one. Marks
kept a close watch upon her. and noticed
that she passed something under the saddle
cloth of each horse ; but she did not lay her
hands upon the two horses of the lieutenant
Priscilla returned presently, and with a sig
nificant glance at the captives, entered the
house and engaged Lieut. Draper in conver
sation. M'Pherson, in the meanwhile, had noticed
that some manoeuvering was being made, aud
came to the porch to inspect the fastenings of J
tho prisoners. As he did so. (jahl. who was t
very powerful, struck him "between the two
eyes with his full force, and tbe Scotchman
fell backwards from the raised floor to the
ground, striking his head against a stone so
severely as to take away his senses for the
time. Before the alarm could be given,
Marks and Gahl wero mounted on tho offi
cer's horses, and galloping furiously up the
road. Draper rnshed out, and pistol-shot
being iueffeetual, he ordored pursuit. But
tbe party had not praccodeJ a dozen yards
before every horte grew reative, and at
length utterly unmanageable, All attempts
were in vain, aod the bom, gruaiog more
01 nvo 101a power were ocmg played npon,
and the audience were so enchanted with tho
success of this most remarkable experiment
that their shouts of applause almost drowned
the music. The possibility, therefoic. of a
performer being heard at once, at any and
every poiut of the earth's surface with which
ha can bring himself into electric rapport, is
ascertained to be no longer a drem, but is
demonstrated as perfectly feasible if tho re
port of Mr. JJamel's success be reliable.
Legal Tender.
The following coin alone can be legally of
fcred in payment for debts,
1. All gold coin of their respctive valuea
for debts of any amount.
2. The half dollar, quarter dollar, half
dimes and quarter dimes, at their respctive
values for debts of any amount under fiva
dollars.
3. Three cent pieces for debts of any a
mount under thirty cents; and
4. By the law passed at the last session
of Congress, we may add one cent pieces for
any amount under ten cents
By the law of Congress, passed sorse four
or five years ago, gold was mado the legal
tender lor large amounts.
Oct- " WhUling girls aud crowiug hem,
Alwa3's come to some bad end.
In one of the curious Chinese books re
cently translated and published in Paris, this
proveib occurs in substantially tho Same
words. It is also an injunction of the Chi
nese priesthood, and a carefully observed
household custom, to kill immediately every
hen that crows, as a preventative against tha
misfortune which the circutnstarca is sup
posed to indicate The same practice pre
vails throughout many portions of tho Uni
ted States
The regulation of the Post Office De
partment is such, that "a letter bearing a
stamp cut or separated from a stamped en
velope cannot bo sent through the mail as a
pre-paid letter. Stamps so out or soparated
from stamped envelopes lose their legal valua.
An observant citizen informs ua that
the muskrats have built their houses "high
up and thin," aa if contemplating a va'iM
time tomiog.
c