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386 THE PERRYSBURG JOURNAL.
.:' Your mother,? Tried-.the dwarf, " what
can she do for you and Nigal'.' ' '
" She taught me to be honest, and trust in
God," said Peter. . :
At the last word, he felt he heavy bag of
rubles thrown on his feet. The red fire
light sank, and with it the old dwarf van
ished, and a long moan sounded through the
ruins. Peter knelt down in the darkness,
;md said his prayers; before he finished, the
rising moon was scattering the mist, and by
its light he saw what the fire did not show
liiin a traveller lying at no great distance,
as if he had fallen from the sledge. Peter
thii to him; he was sound asleep, and cov
ered with a good fur mantle. So carefully
replacing the monpy-bag under the. cushion,
he ran for help to the nearest cottage. Five
strong peasants assisted Peter to cany the
traveler home; his sledge with all it con
fined, also found room in the. log-cabin, for
The poor horse had broken his neck, by fall
ing on the slippery snow. Old Eoskin said
she never heard such snoring as the stranger
practiced that night ; but the next morning,
he awoke, well, and much astonished.
Peter explained how their acquaintance had
commenced, presented him with all his
traveling chattels safe and entire, even to
the empty flask which had contained three
pints of Livonian brandy.
The traveler's own story set forth that he
was a Lithurian merchant, on Ms journey
tiy collect debts and purchass woolen yarn
in the province; that the mistof the brandy
had bewildered him ; and that of the ragged
dwarf he knew nothing. No hospitable in
vitation of its lord, however, could induce
hm to take rest and refreshment at the hof:
hut he presented forty rubles to Peter, half
tnat sum to the parish church, purchased a
peasant's horse and took his departure. It
mUst have been through that Lithurnian
merchant that the tale of Peter's adventures
'toaed out, even before the arrival of Father
Michael; but, far from being warned, the
Woyar swore that Peter had slandered his no
ble house, refused all offers iot his cottage
vound, and vowed to take a great re.veng?
lv marrying him to Ralinka the day after
Christmas.
Old Roskin had made up her mind to rc
ire unincumb3red, with her forty rubles, for
Father Michael's pleadings on their part had
failed; but on Christmas-night, festivities
ran so high, that the hof was set on fire, and
btitrted to the ground. Very little of goods'
'A' legacy was saved; bun stumping steps
Pre heard to go in before thefainily, to the
hunting-lodge on the edge of the forest,!
ftere they took refuge. Theodore Nicklewitz
dld to the Letskis their cottage-ground, for
ht'was in want of rubles ; and a pitch-gath-vfc'rV.who
came to help at the fire, and was
stranger, having consented to marry Ratin
k, Peter and Niga did dance at her wedding,
which preceded their own a whole week, to
eschew the boyar's displeasure.
The peasants, of course, rebuilt their lord's
house, but the wealth and dignity of it was,
i-vervafld Count Ratschoff was seen there no
rhoref -It was believed, however, that the
Stest " Wftd;ame in Peter's sledge, was hap
pVry ' fta'nsferred, with a quantity of old
fclilhP8 and utensils, in which the boyar paid
Ivitinka's promised portion, to the cottage
'if 'the pitch-gatherer, where the paasantry
asserted, peace was uever afterwards known.
Regarding its precise nature, neither Peter
nor his neighbors could ever be certain ; but
"yhen abundant harvest or profits of any
kind are gathered in, the good people of Li
vonia still hope that none of the sledges
yy bring home Trouble-the-house. '
The First and Last Duel in Illinois.
, The year 1820 was signalized by the' first
and last duel which was ever fought' in Illi
nois. This took place in Belleville, St. Clair
rjounty, between Alphonsobte wart and YviN
Ham Bennett, two .obscurs men. : The sec-
kinds' had made it up to ba a sham duel, to
throw ridicule upon Bennett, the challeng
es Pary Stewart was in the secret, but
!fl3iinett, his adversary, was left to believe
it u real it v. They were to fight with rifles
tli? gnris were loaded with blank cartridges,
,a.vd;:1I$nnett, 6omewhat suspecting a trick,
iscdbd a.' ball in to his gun, without thelmowl
ivigp.j9fi;the seconds, or o( the other party.
"i'na word to fire wap giyle.n,aifSteiTivayt feljl
r,mUUy wunaeo. Bennett made iris es
cape, but two years afterwards he was ar
rested in Arkansas, brought back to the
State, indicted, tried and convicted of mur
der.
A great effort was made to procure his
pardon, but Governor 3ond would yield to
no entreaties in his favor, and Bennett suf
fered the penalty of the law by hanging, in
til;; presence of a great multitude of people.
This was the first and last duel ever ibucht
in Illinois by any of its citizens. The hang
ing of Bennett made dueling discreditable
and unpopular, and laid the foundation for
that abhorrence of the practice which ha?
ever since been felt, and expressed by the
people ot Illinois. 1 he present Jinlgc Lock
wood was then the attorney-general of the
Slate, and prosecuted in this case. To his
talent and success as a prosecutor the people
are indebted for this early precedent and ex
ample, which did more than is generally
known to pre mi t the barbarous practice of
duelling iioiii being introduced into this
State. f Ford's History of Illinois.
:
Completion ok tut. Pennsylvania Rail
uoad Tunnel. The Pittsburgh Gazette ol
Saturday says :
The great tunnel through the Allegheny
Mountains was completed on Saturday the
21st. The excavation was finished, and in
three days a mile of track was laid. This
morning, (Thursday.) an engine and train,
loaded with the mechanics and laborers who
had baen employed upon the work, and ac
companied by Gen. Haupt, the Chief Engi
neer, his assistants, and a number of the con
tractors, started from the west end of the tun
nel for Altoona. Upon entering the tunnel,
the crowd commenced to cheer, and continu
ed to give vent to their feelings in this way
until they emerged from darkness at the
east end, when their shouts were deafening.
The engine proceeded with safety, and with
out detention from any cause evervthing
was in perfect order. On its return, it was
accompanied by another engine and a party
from the east. After passing through the
tunnel again, a dinner was given to about
500 of the workmen, who enjoyed the repasi
that had been prepared for them. The occa
sion was marked by an unusual degree of
noticed. Bv the completion of the tunnel
the inclined planes are all avoided, and on
the first Monday in February the trains will
commence to run regularly on the new road.
Major S. R. Ilobbie, First Assistant Post
master General, is lying hopelessly ill of
consumption, in Washington. It is said
there was on affecting scene in the sick
chamber of this gentleman, on the 19th inst.
Mis daughter Mary was there, in the presence
of her prostrate and almost dying father,
united in holy wedlock, by the. Rev. Mr.
Butler, to Nathan Reese, Esq., ot Newburg,
N. Y. The fond father, apprehending his
speedy dissolution, requested that the nup
tials should be celebrated before he had seen
the last of earth. Major Hobbie was atone
time a member of Congress from New York,
and a's an officer of the Government, it is
universally conceded that he ever faithfully
and assiduously discharged his responsible
duties. Baltimo.e Sun.
Education in Liberia. By the liberal
donation of $3,000 from John Beverige,
Esq., of Newburgh, and the valuable bequest
of ihe late J. Bioomfield, of Rome, of over
(1625,000, the New York Slate Colonization
Society are entrusted with certain annual
incomes of about jsU.UUU, to he expended in
the support of youth getting an education
for usefulness in Liberia. By letter from D.
A. Wilson, Principal of the Alexander High
School, it will b seen that already twelve
youths are enjoying the advantages of this
wise liberality.
A Female Soldier. There is now before
Congress a petition from Mrs. Elizabeth C.
Smith, of Missouri, who, in 1846, under the
assumed name of " Ben Newman," volun
teered in the Mexican War, where she served
faithfully for ten months, when her sex was
discovered and she was discharged from the
service. " Ben" has since married ."arid now
applies for her pay and bounty land. " As
the law applies to wiiicn nd not to men,
this female soldier vy be'gucNjssful. Bait.
Sun. '
PERRYSBURG JOURNAL.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1854.
New Railroad Project. By the Han
cock Courier we learu that a meeting was
held at Findlay on the 23d ult. to take the
initiatory steps towards the formation of u
company for the construction of a railroad
from Detroit via. Findlay toUrbana. John
Ewing, S. Howard, I). J. Corey, P. Carlin,
Win. Taylor, F. Henderson, Edson Goit. E.
Barud, II. Brown, J. II. Wilson, Wr.i. L.
Henderson, G. II. Crook and 11. Newell, vc re
nominated as corporators. Such a railroad
would certainly In; important, not only to
Michigan and the Mad River valley in Ohio,
but to the whole country through which ii
should pass. This county, and especially
this town, should, as we have no doubt they
will, give the movement a hearty response.
The location ought, raid if proper induce
ments are held out, should come through this
town and Maumce. City. A direct southerly
communication, through Hancock, Hardin,
and Logan counties to Urbana, would open
a direct trade to this place through a fine
agricultural region, second to but few in
Ohio. It is true that we have now two rail
roads constructing, the work upon which,
the Junction road particularly, has been rath
er slow; but in time they will both be fin
ished, and our town and township will be
abundantly repaid for their exertions and
sacrifices in securing their location.
Putnam's Magazine for February.
This is far the best of American monthlies,
and from the large amount of reading it con
tains, is perhaps also the cheapest. The con
tents of this number are rich and varied
Washington's Early Days, (illustrated) con
tinued; Modern Greek Customs; Places ot
Public Amusement in New York (illustra
ted) ; Memoirs of Dr. Vernon ; Boarding
Schools, h rench and other ; jNoios from my
Knapsack, No. 1; Austrian Salt Mines;
Annexation ; The Mayflower; lhc Latest
Historic Doubt The Problem of the Lost
Prince (This is a review of 'die Rev. Mr.
Hanson's book, entitled " The Lost Prince,"
designed to prove the identity of the Rev.
Eleazer Williams with the lost Dauphin of
France) ; Stage, Coach Stories, continued ;
Editorial Notes, ccc. Such is the table of
contents. Those who desire to take a mag
azine of the highest order, will scud for Put
nam's.
Accident. On Friday last, as a wagon
load of laborers was passing down the rail
road track, near Grassy Creek, some 4 miles
below here, the wagon slipped down an icy
embankment and was overs?t, bruising some
of the menjseverely. One man had his col
lar bone broken, another had his head severe
ly cut, and a man named Burns had his arm
broken and his shoulder dislocated, so that
the surgeons are unable to replace the joint.
Walker, the fillibuster-president of Sonora,
turns out to be a nephew of the Hon. Rob
ert J. Walker, President Polk's secretary of
the treasury ; and Emory, the secretary of
the new republic, is a relation by marriage
to the same distinguished gentleman.
The latest news from the filibusters is,
that they were in quiet possession of the
country, having been considerably reinforced.
fX3T"The attention of country merchants
is requested to the advertisement of Mason
Brothers. Book and Stationery house, New
York. They sell for cash only, and promise
to sell at very low prices.
DIED Suddenly in Toledo on Friday
morning last, Mr. James Birdsall, of this
place, aged almost 53 years, i
The funeral will take place at the Univer
salis! Church, at 10 o'clock a. m. on Sunday,
Feb. 12th. Rev. A. W. Jewett will preach
the funeral sermon. !. i ': , ' ' ' '
Suddenly, on Friday lest, Mi. David Mer
cer, of Liberty town8hip,:'agfcd eb.aut 26.
The Tornado.
Last week we noticed briefly', the destruc
tive effect of a tornado in Knox: county; O..
which occurred on the. 20th nit. Since then
we have received accounts of the destruction
caused by it. in Tuscarawas and Carroll
counties, in Tuscarawas, a church, near
John Raltzly's, in Sugarcreck lp., was de
molished ; a son of Cnpt. Walter, returning
from school, was killed; house and barn tf
Mr. llyilt-r, near Shanes villo, destroyed ; the
house and barn, irar Sandy ville, mul Mr.
Kuoiz's hous hi-twecn Sandy ville and Mag
mdia, li.'inoli.-died. Timber, fence?, ccc,
prostrated. Mr. Knoiz had u leg broken.
The Wuvnesbnrg Register extra of the 25ih,
says its average width was from C00 yards
to half a mile. The sull'.-rers, in part, in
Carroll county, were Hibbei's house ami
barn, gone ; ('jni-roii's gri.-d mill unroof.d
and sial.i" g"ii.- ; Robert Dowiuig's house
and barns all destroyed : Darr's hous.: g'u:'-,
and his wife injured ; Griffin's tinih-r de
stroyed ; G. Way's barn unroofed; Phillip-
IMS nouses and nam destroyed; also Ijap-
pin's timber, R. K. Gray's house and barn.
Janus SiivJn's house and barn. Ilob'l Wood'
nouses, i. iM.a s. n.u.; aiui uarn; vvuuam
Muddins lions" mid nam, J. naniu s nous",
Win, Caldwell's hniise- and barn. Marklands
barn and stone house, A. Robertson's, Sprat",
and Rogers's bams and I. Younker's hous-i
unroofed. In iis line, f-nees were scattered,
and horses, cuttle, ?hecp and hogs were kill
ed or maiin.Ml. Canton Repository.
irThe Repository also states that the
great tornado of 1S'2S passed through ports
of Stark county. We had never before heard
that it extended beyond Co.-hocton. It arose
in Delaware county, and, from what wc caa
learn, was a more powerful tornado than tle
lato one. Its width was rather more thao
half a mile. Its ravages are still plainly to
be seen, through a large extent of tiruberrd
country, after a lapse of 25 years. So, als,
is the track of the later tornado of '34, which
we suppose was of about the same force an J
extent as the recent one.
Household Wouds. This is the nasne of
Dickens's popular paper, which is issued
weekly in London, and monthly in New
York, by M Elrath cc Barker.
jirWe notice by the Toledo papers thftf
a company has been organized in that city
for the construction of a Tailroad from thut
city to Indianapolis. From what we t-Hn
sec, it appears that the proposed route is by
way of Gilead, Kalida, Delphos, Muncir,
ccc. The Toledo papers talk as though tlw
road would bi speedily built. We hope it
may.
St. Valentine's Day. Tuesday (to-mor
row) will be celebrated far and near by mis
sives of all pjrts, sent to all sorts of jh-'ople,
in all sorts of ways. G. & J. Powers have
an assortment of them. See advertisement,
also the assortment serious, sentimental,
quizzical and comical.
The Ohio Journal or Education has reach-
. i t r .1
eu tne scconu numuer oi us inuu vuiumo.
It is a beautiful monthly magazine, the or
gan of the State Teachers Association of
Ohio, is well conducted, and should be in
the hands of every teacher and friend of our
common school system. Published at Co
lumbus, Ohio, at Sc?l a. year.
The Ladies' Keepsake, published monthly
by John S. Taylor, N. Y., at $1 a year, is
beautiful and elegantly illustrated magazin
of 32 pages. Its articles are of a pure , and
elevated tone of morals and religion, and it
influence Is calculated to be beneficial to tht
reader and to society. Such works desr
the patronage of tli3 virtuous and the good,
especially, ,,(. ,, .
