Newspaper Page Text
JOHN II. OBEKLY, PROPRIETOR. ofu Imllettn. o Advertisement. 0yFICB- BtTLLBTIlT BtJII.DICa-, COB. 12TH SXKEEJT A.3STD "VBrCr-rOaST CAIRO. ILLINOIS, SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 23. 1813. A, ELECTED STORY. Vtll't,MltilH(),la,IHlH(tfiVMViMtM PETER UOLDTHWAJTlVH TKEAS- uju:. "Ami 'J( IVter, you won't oven consid er of tlio butlnu.s'" tub) .Mr. .loli ii llruwu, buttoning hUsurtolll oyer thu snug loltin Uity of In person, Mini dinwiug on Ills gloves." You positively rfiun lo let lnu liuvo till utaY.y oil house, mill tliu land miiltT and adjoining,' tlio pricij numed V ' "Noitlier tt that, n'or treble- tliu mm, " responded thu gaunt, griza'ed, urnl thread lttu Peter Ooldthwaiio, "Tlio fact In, Air. Ilrown, yon muat tl nd uriothcr iltu lor your brick liini'k, arid Iks contuiit to lonvii" my i stale with tliu present owner. Next sum iner, 1 intend to put it aptcndld new muii Hon over tlio cellar of llii olil house " "I'lio, IVtur '' cried .Mr llrnwn, ns In opened tho kitchen d'.nr; " content our mi 1 with build. rig castle In the Hlr, wlim l;c.r,. t aru 1'lii-npi-r than on iirth, to my riclhilig of tho cvst of brick nnd nmr tur. S jrli foundation uru tolid enough (or your cdlhVes; while tins iiuduriiuuth nit It jut the tlilni; lor mine; mid so wo rimy both bo s.iited, What suy you, again?" ' I'ri' luly what I n:d before, .M r. , Ilrown, answer. i IVter Ootdlhtviiilu. ' And, nr. f r castle In tin' 11 1 r, minn uinv not lu 11 iiiHgnill tit in that sort of nrei lecture, lot peilmpa insubstantial, .Mr. lln.wii, n tin; very respectable brick block wild tlio dry goods stores, tailors' shop, uri 1 li. liking roiim o'i tin; lower lljor,nnd lawyers ulll.'c In the ecnrid "lory, which o.i art to ansiiKK totub'lilnt". ' 'A 11 1 tlio 1 mi. IWr.i'li" "li Mr. Ilrown. m l:u withdrew, in something of 11 pel "'1 1 1 11 1, I uppoc, will l'i! provided lor, olf liiinil bv drawing u check on Hubble Itxrit.' .1 1I111 llrnitn and IVt r Ooldthwnifii had 1;oon I jiuMy known in tlio comiuertinl w rM b twetn luulity ntid thirty ear iM.foro, unlc tli Una OoMlhw'niio V Hriiwn, which vjpartrn:rhip, however, win speedily J 1 jived, l.y tlio !:iiturnl In congruity of IU eon'lluicnt pnrtt. Since that event, J Im Rruwri with exactly llin qualities of u thotititml oilier John Hrowhi, mid by juitsudi j lcddlnf' mutliod ut they ucJ, Imd priHpured wonderfully, nrid bo i'juiu ona of tliu weatllik-m .lolln Ilrown on urth. l'eti-r lioMtli'.vuiU', on tliu con trary, hfli-r In rnitiiiimrhlile sohome. which r-uglit lo liKVii collected nil tliu coin mid paper currency of tbo country Into I la cUeM, wiii ui tifii'y h gi.tilli.-uiiin u over woru h puich t pon 1111 i;IU)v. Tliu contrutt bulwccn him una Im lormcr piirlntr rimy bo brirtly marked ; for Ilrown necrrcck orielupou luck, yet ulwuyn bad il; while 1'iiler in ml 'i luck tlioinnln condition oflin prijjcli,nnd alway inlsnd It. WhUutho Uieaiu held out, hit Ipicillutiulif bud brtn nanitl lit, but weru cliitfly tonilned, of lalu ,Vear, to tucli 111111II biirlnci its nd vuiiluro in n loitory. Uncc, h li nd jjotiu on h uld-giilhuriiiexp(dlllon,oincwl;ure to tliu iuutli, ntid ln;ouiouily contrived lo umpty hn ioi.kcl inoro tliorouyhly than nVer. W11II11 oilier.', doubllt", w To llllini; tlieln with nuiivu bullion by tbo hnlidrull. Jl jru rvmiilly, lio hud expended 11 Ic(;ucy ol u tlioiiiaiitl or two of dullart in pnrcl.m iri(; iltfiK.in icrlp, nnd iherebj'becnrno thu jiropriulor of provincu ; which, how. vur, to Imr K1 1'cliT could And out, wm mtiiutcd wheru lie might Ijlvo Imd mi em p.ro fur thr funiu monuy, in lh! clouds, i-'roin m Dturch iifti-r till- Vnluabhi renl 1'ilute, i'l'tur returned 10 Kaurit nnd threHd bale, U1.1t, on reactiiriK Now .ni;lniid, the rcirucrow in tliu cornhVldt beckpnid to nun, u he u.-ed by. "Tliey did in t llul ter in tint wind,' quo'. IVter (ioldth wultu. No, 1'eler, they beckoned, for they know their brolhtr' At ibu porl A of our ilory, bis wbolo vit iblo incotiio would not liuo puid the Ikx of tliw bid nininion in wl.Kli wu llnd l.un. I. t wut onu of thotn tutty, inoi-(jrown, nmiiy-puakeJ wooden l.outc, which uru tcillerid about tho treei of our elder towm, Willi n beetle-browed locond itory pn Jelling oer tho foundation, m il it irowuclut the noveHy uround it. TLisoid paternal edifice, needy M hu wni, arid umi'li, It would huvi) brought him it batiUtouie turn, tliu lug&ciuui 1'eter had bi out! rcatous fur iiuver purling; with tuber by auction or private tulo. '1'bero heeined, llldei.'d, to lm u tatullty that con liecleil him "ilh bn birth-place; for, ol ton ni hn had flood on thu verge of rum, and uiidini; llnjru oven now, no had not yet taken thu step boyond ii, which would lutvu compelled him to surrender tho iioiiao to hli creditor!. Ho hero hu dwelt with bid luck till good rhonl 1 come. Here, then, In hit kitchen, the only'room wheru it (purl, of llru took oil' tliu chill of it November evening, I'oor IVter (Jold tliwuito hud jiitt been vi-ittii by hu rich old partner. At thu cloru or their inter view, l'utur, with 11 ruh'-r nurtitled look, i;luucd downwnrdu ut bw drc, purls o( whicii iippuiirid ai iinclnnt 11 thu days of (ioldlhwuitu ' ilrown. lli tipper garment mixed kiirtout, wolully (uded, and patched with newer no if on each ulbow, bcuculh t tat A hu wora it threadbare black eout, tjiiin if thusilk biitiDim of whicli liad lieen re placed with otburiofu ill tie rent pattern; mid lately, though ho lacked not a pair of giay pantaloon, they wuro very habby unci1, fctid l.nd been partially turned drown, by thu frcijuunt toiiftliii' of lVtcr's tliln Veforo a f canty !lro. I'utor' pemm w in k(i6pliiK with bi goojlv apparel, (iray-beiidid, bollow-eyrj, piilc-cliccked, und leiin-l'odlcd, lio " wu tho por foct picture of it man who had foil on windy chenic and empty hopes, till ho eould neither livo on nub unwlioletomo trash, nor tloinneli moro mibjtantlul food. Jlul, withal, thii l'eterOoldthwaitc, orack lirained itiiplolon , perhupt, lm , inigbt hnvo cut a very brilliant llyuro in tlio world, bud hu employed Id iu.ngir a tion in thu niry buiincst of pootry, in Moad of making it ft demon of mUcbiof In iiiurcatilihi pur.uits. After all, hu waa no bad lollow, Iiitt lis harmiesi u u child, anil in honet and honoraiile, and 11s much of thu f;"'tlai,,Kn w''lcl1 nlro meant for him, as in irregulur llfu and ileprcweil cir ctimntancos will pornilt any man to bo. A l'oter rdood on tho unoven liricks of bis harth, looking round at tho diconolati old kilchen, hi oyc began to klndlo with thu illumination of an cntliu'liiftn tlntt nuvor long ilcmrtod him. Ho raUcd hit lutnd, clinched it, und smoto itoncrRelicuUy agaltut tlio emoliy nannl of tbo II replace. "Tnntinu U cotnul" said lm. "With ftich ft trcasuro at commiind, It wore folly to bu a pour man any longer. To-morrow mornlm: J will begin with tliu garret, nor deUt till I hvu torn tlio homo II. lWII " Diicp in tlio clilmripy-cnrner, liko it witch in it dark cavern, ratu llttlu old wo man, mtndlng.ono of tbo two pairs of itncklngi whurowith 1'etor Ooldthwalto kept his toai from boing (10 it-bitten, At thu fost worn ragged past all darning, tlio had cut piecos out of n cust-otl' llunnnl petticoat, to moko now sole?. Tuhltlm I'ortor w n old iniild, upward of sixty j oar j of ape, flfty-flve of which ho had ni In that inmo chlniny.cornr, OFFICIAL PAPER OF CITY AND C0UNrl uch btlrii tbo length of Umo nice IVter grsndfatlicr had taken hur from lliu nltii'.houie. .SI10 lind no frloml but IVter, nor IVter any frlnd but Tiildtha ' e,i lon; ai IVtur riil'ht jmvo u i-belter for hl own head, Tabitlm-would know wbtro to ibeltcr borsi or, .Lcii;g liiimeltM el.ewhere, ilia would tako inr niHtter by thu limid, find bring him tohor natlvu Iioiih', thu iilind.oii!n, Should it uvur bo iiecciTiry, flic loved him well enough to feed him with berlust inoriol,niid clolhi) him with her under-petticoat. Jiut TnbllliH w4 it iueor old woman, nnd, though never infected with 1'etur't lllghti n:. hinl tCfninij o iiecuitorned to hi freak" and follle", that thn viewed them all as ruiittcri of courn. Wearing liiiu threaten to tear tho homo down, ho look ed (piielly up from her work. "lint lea'-n the kitchen till tlio la.t, Mr. IVter," laid rhe. ''i'hn oonfr wn have it all down tho tai lor," fnld IVter (loldlbwaltn. "1 am tired to death of living in thin cold, dark, windy, Miioky, creakin", LTimnliiL'. diurnal obi bouie. I (hall feet llku u younger man, I when wo uet into my iplondid brick min- tlon, n, pleato Heaven, wo abnll, by tbU ' tlnio next niittimn. Voti (luiU'hrive a room on the'unny lde, old Tabby, Uni'hed and fiirnllii-d iti Leu rnsv mit'vour own no tion." " , 'I Hioul 1 liko pretty much uch 11 ) loom m thin kitchen,'' replied Tabitba. 'It will iitwr bo liku home to me, till thu . chimney-corner gtt us black witbimokiij an lbi ; ntid that won l bu tla"i litinKrod j tear". How much do you mean to lav I out on thu I.ou-e, .Mr. lVt-r '.' ' "What i Ihitt to thu pUOfe'' ex clfdined lVler, lellily. "IJitt not my grvnl-griiinluuvli', IVter (loldtli'.vaitc,wbo died .evenly yean ago, and wbotu liame- 1 uko I urn, leiiTo trea.uie enough to build twenty ueh .' "I ciin't my but he did, Mr. Peter, ' kxid 'i'nbltl.H, thleHiling her needle. Tabitb.t wu.l tinduratood that IVter bad relerencc to r.n immelnio board of thu prcciout ingulf, which wui laid to exiil onicv. hero in the cellar widlJ, Or under the doorf. or in -oine concealed closet, or other out-of-the-way nook of the home. 1 hi wealth, according lo tradition, hud been accumulated by it former IVter (ioldthwuile, whoso character teem to hnvo borne a remarkable timllitudu to that of the IVter of our ftory. Idke him, be wa a wild projector, tuekirig to heap up gold by thu burbel and thu cartload, in kead Jf icrapin;; it together, coin by coin. J.lko IVter the vuconO, loo, hin projects had altno't invurinbly failed, and, but for thu rnugiiltlcenl tucccis of the final one, would have left him with hardly a coal and pair of breeches to hi gaunt and grir.zled perton. l!porl wero variou, h lo thu nature of hi fortunate ipecula tion ; one Intimating thai tbo ancient IVter hud mado the gold by alchemy; another, that he tind conjured it out of the people pocket by the black art; and it tliird, ilill more unaccountable, tbut tbn lie v II had giV'ii him free uccef 10 the provincial treaiury. It wai alllrmeJ, now over, that tomu lelret impediment Imd de burred him from thu enjoyment of hit ricbet, und that he had tt niotlvo for con cealing the in from in belr.or, at any rale, hud ctli-d without disclosing tbo daco of dcpotit Thu present IVier'n lutber had faith enough in tlio tnry to cause the eel lar to bo dug over. IVter biniMdf clime lu consider the legend sit nr. indijpu'.ublu truth, and, amid bis many troubles, bhl this one consolation, that, .hould all other rcource fail, ho might build up li fortune by tearing hu house down. Yet. unles he felt a lurking distrust of tbo golden tale, it ! difiiculi to account for bit permitting thu puleriinl roof to itand so long, tinco ho nad never yet seen the moment when bis predecessor' trcusuro would not have found plenty of room in his own strong box. itut, now wai the crisi. rihotild hu delay lliu icurch a little longer, the house would past from the lineal heir, and with it the vm1 heap of gold, to remain in it burial-place, till lliu ruin of the aged walls houll iliicovur it to jlrungurs of a future generation. 'Ye 1 ' cried IVter (Joldlbwaite, again; "Ic-morrow I will set ibout it.' Tho deeper ho looked at the matter, tho moro certain of .ucces grow IVter. His spirit wero naturul.y 10 elastic, that tver. now, in the blatcd autumn of his nge, ho could often competo with the spring timo gayeiy of other people. Knlivennd by hi b'rightening jirospcc'.", ho began to cuper about tbo kitchen like a hobgoblin, with thn querest antics of his lean limbs, and gesticulations of bis starved feature". May, In tho rxuheranco of his feelings, bo seized both of Tnliitha'i hand", nnd danced tlio old Indy r.cros tho tioor, till tbo oddi ty of her rheumatic motions) set him into a roar of laughter, which was echoed back from tlio room nnd chambers, n if IVter (ioldthwnitu wero luihing in every one. Finu.ll lio bounded upward, nlmot out of sight, into tho smoko that clouded the roof of tbo kitchen, nnd alighting safely on tho floor again, ondeavorod to resume his customary gravity. "To-morrow, ut sunrise,' ho repeated, taking hi lamp, to retire to bed, "I'll see whether this treasure bo hid in tlio wall of tbo garrctt.' "And, as wo rn outof wood,Ir. JVtor," said Tnbltha, pulling nnd panting with her late gyninnilic, hs fast ut you teartho house down, I'll make a llru with the piecos.'' (iorgeons, lliat night, wero tlio dreamt of IVter Goldthwaitu I At onu time, ho wax turning n ponderous key in nn iron door, not unlike tho door ot a sepulchre, but which, being oponcd, disclosed 11 vault, heaped up with gold coin, as plentifully as golden corn in a grannry Tliuro worochns od goblets, also, and turuons, tulvur, din ner dishes, and disli covers', of gold, or sllyer gilt, besidt-i chains and other juwols, incalculably rich, though tarnUhed with tbo dump of lliu vault; for, of all tho woulth that wai irrevocably lost to man, whether, buried in tho eaatl', or sunk in tbn sea, IVtor Ooldlluvaito had found it in nil's ono trciiiiirc-placo. Anon, ho had re turned to tho old house, as poor as over and was roceivd at lliu door, by tho gaunt and grizzled figurn of a man, "whom he might Imvo inlktakeii for lilniflf, only that his garments wero of a'liiuch'oldor fashion. iiui the houso, without losing Its former aspect, find bron changed into a palaco of precious mutals. Thn floor, wall, and coll ings, worn of burnished (diver, tho doow, wlndow-friiines, tbo cornice, tho balus trade, and tho Flepa of tliu staircase, ot pure gold; and silvor, with gold bottoms, worn tbn chair?, and gold, standing on aUvor Jogs, tbo high chests of drnworsj and .I've. Ik, bdUudij with blanket of wo ven gold, and sheets of silver tissue. Tlio nouso, had evidently boon trans muted by a single touch: for It retained all the marks Hint l'oter romomborod, but In gold or silvor, instead of wood; and tho initials of his nano, whlah, wlnvn n, boy, ho hud cut in tho wooden doorpost, remainod as deep In thn pillar of gold. A liHppy man would havo leon Peter Qoldthwsito, ex cept for . cortnln ocular dccoptlon, which, whenover ho glanced backward, caused tho houtu lo darken fronf Its glittering mag niaVenca into tbo sordid gloom of cler turdny. Up, bnline, roso iVtur, seized nn ux, liiininer, and saw, which 110 liail placed by his bedside, nnd'hlcd him to thu garrclt. 'it was but sintitlly lighted up, at yet, by lliu frosty fragments of u sunbeam, which began to'gliininur through tho al most opuiiuu bull a eyes of tho window. A moralize' might find abundant . themes for his speculative and impractlc- I nblo wisdom In a garrclt. There is thu 1 limbo ofdepnrted fashions, aged trillcs of I a Hay, nun wliatevur ws vuliulilo only to one generation of men, nnd which passed to tbo gnrretl when Unit generation passed In tho gravo, not for safe keeping, but to l.n out of ibo wur. IVter saw pile of yel low and musty "account booKS, in parch ment covers, wherein creditors, long dead and buried, had writttr. the names of dead nnd buriud debtors, in ink so faded-, that thoir moss-grown lonibslonoi worn morn Ic.ltili. 1 f n frtu ml nlit nintft...itfin Lirmnnli ull In rags and tuttcri, or IVtur would have put tliom on. Here wu n nukcxl nnd rusty sword, not u sword of service, but n gen tleman's small French rapier, which had never left il M-ublmrd till it lost ft. Hero wero oanej of twenty diQerent "( Ms, I. it no gold headed ones," umi shoe- ! bue,e'cf vunotn pitteni and mntcria), f but not silver, rior set with predion stories, f Here wns it lage box full of shoes, with high beel and peaked tnc. Here, on n shelf, were 11 multitude of phiali, half .filled I with old iipi'tbccarie' sttilf, which, when '.he other half had dono its Unities' on ; IVters hncestorf, hud taeti brought hither I Irom the death chamber. Here, not to givo j a longer inventory of arliclos that will ' Hover bo put up at uuctlon, was tliu frag- ' merit of a full length looking-glass, which, by thu dust nod dimncsn of itn surface, ! mado thu picture of them old ibing look I older than tho leality. When IVter. not knowing that Iberu was a mirror there, caught thu taint t'raccs of his own flutire, bo partly imagined that tho former IVter ' (foldlhwuitu bad come back, either to as- I il or Impede, in hi search for tho hidden j wealth. And 11 1 that moment a strange no- , lion glimmered through bis brain, thai be j wa the idcnticul IVter who had con- 1 coaled the gold, and ought to know where- ubnul it lay. Thl, however, he lind unac- 1 countahly lorgottcn "Well, Mr. l'oter!' cried Tabitba.ori tho , garret stairs, "Havo you torn ihe houso down enough tohcut tho teakettle?'" "'otyot, old Tniibo" answered IVtur, "but tba't's soon donc,M youshallsee.'' With tlio word in his tnouth, ho uplifted tho ux, and laid about him so vigorously that thedutt fluw, tho boards crabed,nncl, in tbo twinkling, tho old woman bad an apron full of broken rubbish. "Wu slnll get our winter's wood cheap," quoth Tabitha. The good work being thus commence 1, IVter buutdowuull before him, smiting and hewing at the join and Umbel, unclincb Ing spiku nail-, ripping arid tearing away board', with a tremendous racket, from morning t'.II uigbt. lie took care, however, to lenvu tho oulsido shelf of thu houso un touched, so that thu neighbors might not suspect what was going on. Meter, in any of hi vugnries, though each bad mado liim happy while It lasted, had IVter been happier than now. IVrbaps, after all, there was something In IVter (ioldiiiwaite's turn of mind, which brought bun an inward recompcri'u for all the external evil that it cauted. Ifhu were tioor, ill clnd, even hungry j and exposed, t- it wero, to 00 uttorly mini filiated by a prccipicuot in, pending ruin, yet only his body remained in tbesu mis erable eircumstutices, while hi aspiring soul enjoyed tho sunshine of a bright fu turity. It was his natuo to bo always young, and tbo tendency of bis mode of iifu to keep him so. Gray hairf were noth ing, no, nor wrinkles, nor infirmity; ho might look old, indeed, nnd bb somewhat disagreeably connected with a gaunt old Ugure, much the worio for wear; but tho true, tho essential IVter. wn a young man of high hopes, just entering on tbo world, j At thu kindling of each now lire, hi 1 burnt-out youth roo afretb from the old embers anil ases. It rose exulting now. Having lived thus long, not too long, but I just to thu right age, a suscepllolo imclie lor, with warm and tender dream-, bo re solved, so soon ns tbo hidden gold should flash to light, to go a-woo!ng, and win tho lovoof thu fairest maid in town. What heart could resist him? Happy 1'eter (loldth waito. Every evening, as IVter hod long ab sented "himself from bis former lounging plnce, at Insurance"-olllces, riew.-rooms, and book-stores, and as tho honor of bis compnny was seldom requested in private circle", ho nnd Tabithit used to sit down sociably by tho kitchen hearth. This wa altvavi heaped plentifully with thu rubbish of his day,, labor. As the foundation of tlio fire," ihcro would ba a goodly sized backlog of red 01k, which, after' being sheltered from rain or damp nbovo a cen tury, still hissed with tho heat, and dis tillod streams of wator from each end, as if the trco had rocn dut down within a week or two. Next, tlicro were largo sticks, dnuoj black nnd heavy, which had lost thu principal of docay, end wero IndeUructiblo oxcept by fire, wherein tbcv glowed like red-hot burs of iron. On tiiis solid basis Tabitha would roar a lighter structure, composed of tho splinters of door panels, ornamented mouldings, nnd such quick combustible5, wiiiclt caught liko straw, and threw a brilliant blazo high up tho spacious fltto making its sooty sides visi ble almost to tho chimney lop. Mcnntlme, tho gleam of tho old kitchen would bo chased out of tho cobwobbod ear ners, nnd always from Ibo dusky cross beams overhead, nnd driven nobody could tell whither, while l'elor milled liko a gladsoino man, and Tabitha seemed a pic ture of comfurt&bloago. All this, of course, was but an emblem of tbo bright future, which tbo destruction of the home wculd shed upon its occupants. While tho dry pino was flaming and crackling, liko an irregular discharge of fairy musketry, l'etor sat looking and li.t enin?;, in a pl'camnt statu of excitement. Hut, when tlio brief bluzo nnd uproar wore succeeded by tho dark-red glow, tho substantial heat, und tho deep singing sound, which were to lust throughout thu overling, his humor bocamu talkative. Ono night, the hundredth time, hotcaed Tabitlia to loll him about bis tjroU-grniid-undo, ' You liavolicotl fitting in Hint chimney corner fifty-lire yjuars old Tabby, and must hnvo heard many a tradition ot him" said IVter. "Hid you not toll mo, that, when you tlrst came to the house, thoro was an iild woman slttlni; where you nit now, to hgd boon liouiekecper to thu famous l'oter (Joldthtvalte'f "So theru was, Mr. IVter," answered Tabitha; ''and shu was near about a hun dred years old, She used to say, that .ho and old IVter Onldthvaito hud often spent a sociable evening by tbo kitchen (Ire; pro 1 much as you mid I are doing now, Mr 1' tor." ''Tl.o old follow mint have resembled. TELBGRAPHI6 POLITICAL. Tim 111SAUILITIK.S or IKKJfJS OF .MISSOCHI .MOVKD. WJI. 111;. I VA.4HIN'n TON'S ItlKTHDAY AT Till: NATIONAL OAIMTOJ. SKNA.TOH YOKK'S SKVKN THOL' .SAND DOMiAKS AHIIIVE IN WASHINGTON. rue in moro points thin onp," said l'oter, 1 complacently, "or ho never would hnvo I grown so rich. Hut, inclhlnks, ho might have Invested tho money botur thin he uiu ,no interest, tioiuing but gooa security! and tho house to bi torn down lo como at il' what mado hlni hide It to snug, Tsibhy1 "lleeauso ho eould not spend it," said Tabitlia, "for, n often ns ho wont to unlock the chest, tho old .Scratch came behind und caught Ids arm. Tbo money, they sy, was paid IVler out of his pursu-" and ho wanted IVter to giro him n deed ol this homo and lnrid,'hlch l'etor sworo ho would not do." "dust as I sworo to John Ilrown, my old pnrtnrr" remarked l'ctnr. "Hut this Is til nonsense, Tabby' I don't believe tho story.' "Well It may not b Just the truth,' said Tabby, "for some folks snv that IVter did make over the houso to tho Old Scratch; and that's tho reason It has always boon so unlucky to them that lived In it. And sis soon as IVter had given him the deod, the , cneii now open, ana i'elur cnugbt up a ,, handful of gold. Hut, lo nnd behold, there W..111VT v. . .. , was nothing In his fist but n parcel'or old ! "'NuTe). reb. JZ.-lho prosldont rag.'1 4'-., j Iptday signed tho act relieving from diss- "Hold your tongue, ynu silly old J Wiltifs Wm. Hoggs of Missouri. Tahby'-crfed TMcr In great wrath, Theyi CAV C0MP,:TK. wero as good golden uuineas ns ever born , n., .... . . tho tliigles of the king of England; It 1,', ri!urr department direct that seems us If I could recollect tho whole j c'tkt in tho customs-office at Now circumstnnce, and how I, rtr old Voter, or York, may competo for the vacant stirvcy w hoover it was, thrust in mv hand, or his f orship !..., I ...1 .t.... t. -ft .! . II . liiui'j, mm uiuw II ou., nu 01 11 uiazo witu gold. Old rag, indeed!' Hut it wa no old womans legend that would discourage IVter (Joldlhwaltu. All nig lit long lie slept among pleasant dreams. and awoke at daylight with a Joyous throb 1 Te5(jny m.X .fl lif. tin rl ,uli!..li tu u ..f. ti i.lnnuli. , v....v -....,, .....w.. iiiMvi,uiiniu,iiuiiii to feel beyornl their bo hood. Day after day lie lubored bard, without waiting a moment, except nl mcul times, when Tabitba summoned him to tlio pork and cabbage, or such siistcnaiico as slio had picked up, or l'rovidenco had sunt them. Helng a truly piotu man, IVter never fulled to n"k a blessing if thu food wero none of tho bet, then tho moro earnestly, as it was tnoru needed: nor to rcturu thanks, ii tho dinner had been scanty, vet for too good appetite, which was bolter 1 man a siel: stomach at a feast. Then did he hurry back to his toll, and. In n moment, was lot to'lght in n cloud of dust from the old wall, though sufficiently perceptible to tho oar, by tho clnltur which lie raicd in the midst of it. How cr.viaUu is tbn cnnsciouine's of being usefully employed! Nothing troubled IVter; nor'notliing but thoo phantoms of tho mind, which seem like vague recollection, yet have also tbo aspect of presentiment. Ho often paused with his ax uplifted in the air, nnd said to himself, "IVter Gotdthwaitedid you nevor striko tills blow before'''' or "Peter, what need of tesrlng tlia whole house down? Think, h liltlo while, and you will remem ber where tho gold is hidden.'' Days nnd week passed on, however, without nny re markable discovery. Sometimes, indeed, a lean, gray rat peeped forth nt tho lean, gray man, wondering what devil had got into tho old houso, which had always been so peaceable till now. And, occasinally, IVter symphathlsed with tho sorrows of n femalo mouse, who hndjhrought flv or six pretty, soft, and dellcato young ones into tbo world Justin timo to seo them crushed by its ruin. Hut, n yet, no treasure. "lly this time, IVter. being us determined as Fate, nnd ns diligent at Timo, had mado an end with the uppermost region, and got down lo tho second story, whero ho was busy in ono of tho front chambers. It had formerly been tho state bedcham ber, and was honored by tradition ns the sleeping apirtmcnt of (iovenor Dudloy, and many other eminent, guests. Tho furni turo was gone. Thoro wero remnants of fa ded and tattered puper-hanginL's,butlorger spaces of bare wall, ornamented with char coal sketches, chiefly of people's heads in profile. These being specimens of IVter's youthful genius, it went more to his heart to obliterate them, than if they hnd-been pictures on a church wall,,by Michael An gclo. Ono sketch, liowover and that tho best one, nflected hirn dltferontly.lt rep resented a ragged man, partly supporting himself on a spnde, nnd bending his loan body over n holu In tho earth, with ono hand extended to grasp something that he hud found. Hut, clo?o behind him, with n flendith lnugh on his features, appeared a figure with horn, a tufted tall, and a clovpn hoof. "Avaunt. Satan!" cried IVter. "Tho man shall havo bis gold!" Uplifting Ids a x, lio hit tho horned gentleman such a blow cn tbo hoad, as not only demolished' him, but the treaure-scfker al-o, nnd cans, cd tho wholo sceno to vanish liko magic Moreover, hU ax hroku qulto through ths plaster and laths, and discovered n cavity, "Mercy on us, Mr. IVter, nro you quar relling with the Old. Scratch'"' said Tabi tba ,who was seeking somo fuel to put un der tbo dinner-pots. Without answering the old woman. IVter broko down a further space oftho ! J'AntlAOUT TATt:f. j The committco on public buildings will j probably award tho contract for the Far- ragut statue, and decide as to its model, on I.WMTinATIO.V. . Tho committee on ways and means will commence the investigation concerning tbo I'aciQo Mull Steamship company using money to procure legislation, on Monday. -VOMt.VATEtl. Samuel Irrcckunstorf was nominated supervising inspector of steamboats for tie sixth district. Washington's iuutiiiiav Was very quietly observed. Thr depart- mcnts cloic-d nt noon, and fla-g wero di 1 played on muny buildings. ' MVKCH INTEMCM J On 10-10 will bu paid on tho 24th int. ( RAlLltOAl) Altl. j In tlio sonata today Mr. C'nsicrly re ported from tho committee on public j lands without amendment houso bill granting L'000 feet right of way through I public lands to Vortland, Dallas and Salt I hake. Tbo bill grant ull lands that mov bo necessary for depot and construction purposes. Mr. Porneroy from tho same committee reported without ninendtnent house bill granting right of way for iho Utah North ern ltallroad company to extend its lino via Hear Itiver valley, Soda Springs.Smoke liver valloy und through Montana, to connect at tho most reliable point with the Morthern Pacific. Tho presldnnt lias issued his proclamu tion convening tbesenate in extra session on tho 4th of .March. lORK'.l PKVKN TIIOVfANIl. Oucrlm, chairman of the Kansas legis laturu investigating committee, reported to thu sergeaiit-at-arm, with Senator York's alleged bribe money. Thcro aro at prcspnt four other witnesses for tho prosecution, and eight for the defence. ni'MKi.t.. The houso committco on judiciary to night took testimony in reletioii to tlio pro posed impenchmcnt of Judga Durell of Louisiana. Marshal Packard and United States Attorney Heckwitli wure examined. CONGRESSIONAL. SENATE. "WA9niNOTo.v, I). C, Full. 22. Senator Sott prosontcd tho roport of tbo centen nial commissioners. Tno subscriptions, public nnd private, in Pennsylvania alone, will amount to nbout four million dollars. This state would insuro the sticccu of tbo exposition, wnich would justify thu ap peal to other portions of tho country. Tho committee on judiciary reported ad versely house bill for distribution of the Geneva award. Senator .Morion gavo notice that lie would cull up the report of tho committed wall, and laid open a 'na11 eiosot, or cup- on elections in Caldwell's cuso noxt Mon- tioaru, on onosiuo 01 1110 nro-piaue, auoui 1 Jny breast h'gh from Ibo ground. It contained , ..--..... 1 .1.1 nothing but a brass lamp, covered with btnator Cnn'"'tr gavo notice lliat Im vrrdigri, arid a dusty piece of pnrchmonf . mediately after tliu Caldwoll case he would YVhllo l'oter inspected tho latter; '1011111111 call up tho roport nn tho Louisiana case, . 1 1 1 1 . ...l.u ...1,1. 1 ' ' . . soised tho lamp, and began to rub it with hor apron. "Thero is no use rubbing it, Tabitha," said IVter, "It is not Aladdin's lamp, though I tako ilto be ono of ns much luck, look hero Tabby!" Tnbltha took thu parchment, and bold It closo to hor nose, which was saddled with a pair of Iron hound spectacles. Hut no sooner hud sho begun to puzzlo ovor it, than iho lurst into n chuckling laugh, holding both her hands against bur sides. "You can't mnko a fool of thu old wo liinn!" cried sho. "This is your own hand writing, Mr. Peter! tho same ns in tho let tor you sent 1110 from Moxlco." Tliern is cor 1 11 luly 11 considerable cc:em bianco ," said Votur, again examining tlio parchment. "Hut you know yourself, Tnhbv. that this closet must havo been Plastered up lel'oro vou enmu to tho house, 1 1 . - ... .1. .'. ti -- .i.i. 1. ..1.1 1 or l Cnino into tliu wunu. u, una i urn lVte'r GoldthwaltoV writing; theso col u.'.ins of pounds, shillings, und penco, nro hi il.'iirej. dcnotlnt; tho amount of thu treasure, ami this, at Ilia bottom, is, doubtless, 11 reference, to thu plaeo of concealment- Hut tbo ink has either faded or peclod oil', eo that It is absolttioly illeglblo. What a pity!' "Well, this lamp is as cood as now. That's somo comfort," said Tubulin. "A lamp!" tbmiL'ht l'etor, "that Indi cates light on my researches." For tint present, IVter folt moro Inclin ed to ponder on tbU discovery, than to rosumo his labors. After Tnliitha imd gonu down stairs, ho stoc4 poring ovor tbo parchment, at ono (if thfl front wltdows, Wncb win so obsourod with tlio itut, that the sun could bandy throw nn uncertain shallow of tho casement across thn lloor. JVtcr forced It open, nnd looked out upon tho great street of thu town, the sun looked In at his old houso. Tho alr.though mild, nnd oven warm, thrilled IVter as wills a dash of water. To be Continued Nest Sunday, Thu post-olUcu appropriation bill came up in regular ordor. Senator Anthony nked members of tho committee on ap propriations to consent lu nn arrangement by which tho bill for tho publication of debates could h Ukon up. Senators Colo nnd "West having charge of tho appropriation bill, objected. Simntor Anthony then moved to lay thu ponding LIU on tho table. Lost : Yeas in, nays ill. Tho pot-olllcu appropriation bill was then proceeded with, thu question being on tho motion of Senator Sherman to strlku out thu clause providing for In creased compensation for rullroad service Sjtiatoi Sherman withdrew his amend ment. Tbo amendment for tho issuu of two cent btampod sheet envelopes was laid on tlio table. Senator llnmsuy oll'urcd 1111 niuendmont authorizing tlio post-mnstor general lo appoint it superintendent of free delivery, ut a salary of 3,500. Agreed to. HOUSE. Wasiunuton, Fob. U2. Mr. E. 11. Itobcrts from tho committco on ways and means, reported thu evidence taken In matters pending before It. He stated tho oridouco implicated no incmbor of eitljer branch, and exonerated soinu individuals. Thu committeesof both homos ofl'urod 11 resolution referring to thu Judiciary com mittee tho evidence taken, with Instruc tions to oxamlno mid seo how much of that relates to Judge Charles Sherman of Ohio, and to deUrmino whether further Invoitigatlon should not bo had, with n view ol presenting articles cf Impeach mont if such Investigation shall Juitlfy such action. The resolution was adopted. Tbo house tlion took up tho sundry civil appropriation bill, tho pending amendment boing that ofl'ured by Mr. Hanks providing for the publication ef books or documents by tho government for gratuitous distribution, and iho amend ment by Mr. Iluller of Massachusetts, for bidding uny payment of salary or expen ses of oflicers of tbo so-called competitive ciril-scrvlco examination. Mr. Hoar opposed Mr. Hank's amend ment, saying that the proposition for the abolition of ths franking privilege was part of a system which fought to deliver tuo public sentiment of the country and legislation of congress into tbo hands of a few newspapers In great cities. In viow of tho annual meeting of congrcs In Washington, senators and representatives might as well stay homo in their libraries ; Iho' dispatches of tome associated pres', on leading articles of editors would regliler their decroes. His collcaguo was seeking to enact this amendment to break down one of thu greatest educational Influences oftho country. Mr. McKee advo:nted Mr. Holler's nmendment, und denounced lliu civil-jer-vicu reform as a fraud und humbug. He rolatcd nn instance of a most Intelligent man, who is now 11 cabicr in one oftho great banks of tbo Pacific slope, who lind been rejected in a competitive examina tion because he faiiod ill some few ques tions, wbilo Iho placo was given to a Yan kee from Maine, who was not lit to bo n book-kutipcr to a boot-black. LiughterO Mr. Hurchurd also opposed Hank's ammendment, nnd arguod that It did not follow that tacuusothc franking privilege was abollshol, documents and books would not circulate by members who would pay tho poitagu on them. Ho didn't bulievu that such postage would averagu moro than one hundred or two hundred dollar a year. Aftur further discussion the amend ment oflcrcd by .Mr. Hanks was rejected without division. Thu yea and n.tya b. ing called for, but refused. Tbo amendment by Mr. Hutlpr was al so rejected : Yets 8 j, nays 103. Amendments agreed lo in tho commit too of tho wholo were then read. Thu firt vole by yea and nays was on tbo amendment requiring the secretary of thu treasury to report to congress how hu dis burses tho secret-scrvicu fund; tbo appro priation for preventing and detecting counterfeiting. Tho amendment was opposed hy Uar- Hold, und sustained by Huck. llejected 71 to 10(. Tho amendment appropriating 5100,000 for a government building at Kuluigh, Nerlh Carolina, was adopted. Tho amendment appropriating 600,000 for nn addition lo inu silo tur tnu Huston post-oliice, on condition of the streets being widened, was adopted. Thu amendment requiring contracts for public building be L-.ado with tho lowest responsible bidder afier advertisement, wa rejected without tho ayes and nays. Thoamondmcnt incroaing itutn for na val station at Now London, Connecticut, from ?D,000 lo ri0,000 was rejected; yeas PI, nays '.'3. Tho bill then passed. Mr. Cbapman callod for the report of the committee of twelvo appointed to con fer with oflicers of tho Washington na tional monuments, on tbo practicability of completing tho Washington monument by the approaching centennial anniver sary. Mr. Sawyer, who wished to tako up tho river and harbor appropriation bi.l, movod to postpone tbo Washington mon ument matter till Wednesday. Mr. Kerr rose to a question of privilege, and o tie rod a resolution reciting the test imony taken buforu thu sonnto committee on elections to thu etl'cct that J. II, Syphon inembur from Louisiana, before thu gen eral election, -while bo was a candidate lor oluction to congress, had unlawfully and corruptly procured to be made, fatso registration und falso and fraudulent votes to bu cast for himsolf, and other gross frauds which had beon committed in connection with such election, reforing tho matter to tho committco on elections with power to take testimony, Tho resolution' was adopted. . . .. 1 - - CRIME. A IIOUUI.K SUICIDE. Ciur.ino, Fob. '21.'. Tho most horriblo caso of premeditated murder and suicide occtircd nt Watsuka, Minnesota, on Mon day last. It apponrs that two Gorman?, Alexander lliuor and John 1 1 u IV, tho form er married, tho latter unmarried, owned and worked a farm togethor; that llnally Husor was driven away and Hud' took full possession of tho farm and the Husor family. Itecontly the grand jury found nu Indictment against 1'utf nnd tho woman, fur ndultory, which groatly alarmed them. On Tuesday morning last, tho neighbors, on going to Husor's house, found It shut, and upon entering it found Mrs, Husor and tho youngest child lying 011 tho bed bathed in blood, with their throats cut from oar to oar. On tho floor bcsldu tho bod, lay Iho lifeless body of Hull', his throat also cut. From lottcra left by both man and womnn, It is evident thoy agreed upon this tragic method of escape Irom tho clutcUes 01 1110 law. MIIllIIKIIKl). IIktiilkiikm, P., Eob. 2'.-Monrs) Svnder was murdered last night, and his body thrown into tho rlvor, whorco it was recovered. Ho is thought to havo been followed from Newark, whero ho has been collecting money, MISCELLANEOUS. j:xtknsivk pukpaha HOH MA HDL (tit AS A M KM PHIS. I'NITKD ORDER OF AMKKKJAN ' MKC'IIANrCS' PARADE IN NKW VOItK. PHOOHESS OK THE MEMPHIS, CAUTHAIIOE AND NOIITH WESTERN KAILHOAD. ETC., ETC., ETC MAIIDI OKAS. MuMriii.i, Feb. 112. The city Is rapidly rilling with strangers to attend tho carni val. Telegrams from all quartors are pouring in for rooms at hotels. Ovor lo, 000 maskers will bo in thn line of procession Tue'dayinight. Arrangements have been mado to recelvo the governors and legisla tures of Arkansas and Tennessee. n.ULROAii. Cakthahe, Misouri, Feb. 52. The Memphis, Carthage and. Northwestern railroad wn opened to-day for regular businoss, to Minorsvlllo. This town is but six and a half miles from tho celebra ted Joplin lead mines, and Minersrllle itsolf is noted for being in the cntre of a groat load producing region. Ten miles moro of track will reach the great coal fields of Southern Kansas, and In a few day tho iron will down. mechanics' tabatje. .NkwYokk, Fob. 22. The United Or dur of American Mechanics paraded the principal streets to-day in honor of Washington's birthday. Nearly five thousand wore in procession, which was witnessed by rast throngs who had gathered tn the streets for that purpose. Tbo mayor reviewed them at the hall. Flags are flying from the principal buildings the wholo length of. 11 road way. Tho weather has been very fine. SAN DOMINOO. Nlw Yokk, Feb. 22. San Domingo udvices report the dissemination through the island of a pronunciamento in behalf of a nutnbor of revolutionary leaders. which aim at tho overthrow of President Hacz, and thu establishment of an inde pendent government. SVMPATHT. PiTTKiiURO, Fob. 22. A great deal of sympathy is expressed hero for the firm of James Wood, Sons & Co., extensive iron manufactures of this city, whoso failure was announced a few days ago. At a meeting of tholr employes this afternoon nt their works in Wheatland, Pa., tha fol lowing resolutions were passed by accla mation : Whereas, We, the employes of James Wood, Sons & Co , at Wheatland, realizing the financial difficulty of our employers, for whom wo entertain the kindest feel ings, they always having shown them solves to be the laboring men's friend, Resolved, That we heroby tender thorn our sympathy by offering them our ser vices, to the nutnbor of nearly a thousand rnen,for two or three nioiith, asking from them a sum only sufficient, out of their store, to sustain "ourselves and families till such time as thoy feel able to further com pensate us. FOREIGN. Timns ILL. Pahis, Feb. 21'. Thiers is slightly in disposed, and is compelled to be absent from tho dinner glvon by Washburne to day to tho diplomatic corps. WEATHER." REPORT. Washington, Feb. 22. Northwest winds and cold woather in New England nnd over to lake regions winds backing to southwest, with milder tomperaturesj from Missouri valley to Upper Lakes. An area of low pressure mora northwestward over tho Middlu Atlantic coast by Sunday morning, with a slight increaso of north erly winds in Now Jersey and Connecticut. RIVERNEWS. ltlst and Fall ol the Rivers For 21 hour ending U p. ni., Feb. 22, ItCI. MTATIOXiS. lAbuvel Change I low I water ! ltlsr.1 Fall. M. Paul Fori Hcntju.. Omaha Davenport . .. Leavenworth. .. Keokuk Cairo St. Loulu Pittsburg Cincinnati , Louitlle Memphis Vlckbbmir ... . Slnuvepoit NnIi tilt' Mew Orleali". . . Little Hock.... Foil Smith i 1 0.0 T'orjrcd. TUOS.l WATSON, v.bkcrvcr as, Sur. V. s. X. Sr. Louiis, Fob. 23, Arrived: Jasper from New Orleans; Mountaineer, Missouri rivor; Andy Johnson, Cairo. Departed: Fannie Lewis, Ouachita river; City of Helena, Vicksburg; Durfee, Shreveport Elliott and St, Joe, Memphis. The river; falling and a good deal of ice running. Weather cloar and Tory cold. Morcury down to il9 above zero this morning, and did not rlso above 30s all day. Nash vim.:, Fob. 23. River falling slowly. Weather cold, and partially cloudy. Arrived: Ada llellman, Evans villa. Departed: F. P. Gracey, Cairo; Kddyville, Upper Cumberland. Cincinnati. Fob. 22. River 3U feet nineties and falling. Arrived: J W Garrett Irom "Wheeling; Juniata from Pittsburg. Departed. Bella Vernon for Nashville; Alaska and Potomac for Memphis; John Kilgour for New Orleans. Weather clear and cold. Little Rock, Feb. 22. Clear and pleasant. River falling with 9 feet 6. inches. Departed: Anna, Cincinnati,