The weekly Minnesotian. [volume], November 27, 1852, Image 1

About The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
THE WEEKLY MINNESOTIAN.
OWENS Sc MOORE,
VOLUME 2.
THE MINNESOTIAN,
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY,
BYJ.P. O WEAS S> • G. W. MOORE,
Saint Paul, Minnesota Tcrritpry.
Dollars per annum
in advance. Three Dollars it' not in ad
vance.
KATES OF ADVERTISING,
OR ITI EQUIVALENT.!
Transient Advertisements, $1 00 per square of
twelve lines, for the tlrst Insertion, and fifty ceuts per
square for each subsequent Insertion.
YEARLY ADVERTISEMENTS.
One column, • • • • SSO 00
Half a column, - 30 00
One-fourth of a column, - - • 20 00
Business Cards not over six lines, - 6 00
'Orer six Hues and under ten lines, - 760
Over sen lines and under fifteen lines, 10 00
Pot all changes ordered In advertlsemants, a charge will
be made of thirty cents per 1,000 era* composition.
We agree to charge the above prices, uniformly for ad
vert lalng.
James M. Goodhue, Pioneer,
* D. A. Robertson, Democrat,
Owens & Moore, Minnesotlan.
St. Paul March 24th, 1852.
E. AMES* R. R. NELSON.
AMES & NELSON,
ATTORNEYS ASD COUNSELLORS AT LAW,
AND SOLICITORS IN CHANCERY.
St. Paul, Minn.
WILL Attend with promptness and fidelity to »11 law
business intrusted to their care lu Minnesota, anti
the adjoining counties of Wlsconslu.
Particular aucntlon will be given to the collection
of debts, and the location of land warrants. y
W. P. ItRRAY,
ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW,
St. Paul, Minn. Terr.
WILL attend promptly and diligently to all business
Intrusted to him. Haivng made himself acquaint
ed with the quality and situation of the surveyed lands
In the territory, he Is prepared to locate land warrants
to the best advantage, persons at a distance may send
th«lr warrants here and their Interests will be attended
to as If they were present. on Third sreet.
September 17, 1861.
Ch s W. Borup. Ch’a H. Oakes.
BORUP A OAKES,
HAVING formed a Co-Partnership
for transacting an Exchange and Banking Business
in all Its various branches, will la- prepared to furnish
sight and time exchange on the Hast, ami principal cities
of the West- Remittances to Great Britain, Ireland ami
Continent of Europe made In sums to suit purchasers.
Sight amt home hills and European Exchanges pur
chased. Collections made ami proceeds remitted at usual
rates of Exchange. All other business committed lo our
care punctually attended to.
BORUP & OAKES.
St. Paul, Minnesota Territory, Jline 'lt,, 1852.
Ofilce at the Minnesota Outfit building. 40v.
11. L. MOSS,
A TTOIINEY &. COUNSELLOR AT
A Law, Stillwater, .Min. Ter., will attend to pro
fessional business iu ail the courts of the Territory j will
attend to the location of Warrants,
XjT laiul Warrant* for sale.
A. VAN VORHES,
A TTORNEY &. COUNSELLOR AT
X\_ j.aw and Solicitor in Chancery, will attend to all
professional business intrusted to his care, in the different
courts of the Territory. [Stillwater, 1852.
Isaac Atwater,
A TTORNEY & COUNSELLOR AT
tx. I<aw and Solicitor in Chancery. Will give prompt
attention to any business intrusted him in the line of his
profession, in any part of the Territory. Particular at
tention paid to hicating l«and Warrants, Payment of Tax
es, sale of Patents when Issued, and Real Estate in gen
eral. Office at St. Anthony, on Main street, opposite the
Falls.
W. Richardson,
TYTOTARY PUBLIC, Conveyancer,anil
In Land Anon. OflKc. opposite the St. Charles
Ilouac* St. Anthony Falls.
WILKIN & VAN ETTEN.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW,
Office over Farrlnston’s Brick Store, St Paul.
Ur. Ut BABBITT.
HAS hl« onice In the rear of LcvlSloan’s store, where
he will be realty to attend to professional calls.
Saint Paul, Nov 29—lum y
Dr. €. I*. Vicchers,
PHYSICIAN, SURGEON AND AC
COUCITKit —Will practice his profession in Saint
Paul an<l vicln ty. Ofilce, corner of Fourth and Roberts
Streets, over Ca»heart & Tyson's Store. 40y
John Bradley,
Carpenter and Builder, Point Prescott and Willow
River, Wisconaiu.
NTI7ILL attend promptly to all business
VV Intrusted to his charxe.
Beifres.es The houses hehas built during thepa-t
year iu the towns above named. 43y
W. H. Semitics,
Attorney at Law, and Solicitor in
Chancery, Willow River,Wis.
Will practice In the counties of St. Croix and I.a Crosse,
Wisconsin, and In the District Court of Washington coun
ty, Mlnn-sota. JUJ” Valuable town lots in the village of
Willow River for sale. 38y
W. H. €. Folsom,
Taylor'. Falla, Min. Ter.
TYEALER in Dry Goods, Groceries,
U Provisions, Hardware. Cutlery, Crockery, Queens
ware, Ready-Made Clothing, Boota and Shoes, Ac. 43y
DR. J. H. DAY,
WILL practice his profession In Saint Paul and vi
cinity. Offlce on Bench street,
nov 29 mm y
L. A. BABCOCK, M. S. WILKINSON.
LAW FIRM,
BABCOCK a WILKINSON Attornlcs and Counsellors
at LAW, Solicitor* In Chancery, Ac.
Office near tiie comer of Third and Roberts streets, St#
Para 31 In. Ter.
Will attend to business of their profession In all the
Courts of the Territory.
bov. 22,1851.
C* >• KEI.I.L'M. M. B. MASSON, JR#
KELLUM A MASSON,
LARD OIL AND CANDLE MANUFACTURERS,
—ALSO—
Produce and Commission Merchants,
No. 21 South Levee, St. Louie.
REFERENCES!
K. M. Ryland A Co., 1
F. B. Chamberlain, ) St. Louts.
R. M. Withers, )
St. Louis, 3fay 22. 35-y
_ JACOB J. NOAH,
A TTORNEY AT LAW and Justice
./jL of lire Peace — Commissioner foT Ihe Slates of Maine,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania,
Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama and Louisiana.
Office ou Third St., SL Paul.
DR. T. R. POTTS,
Comic* loncmi* mo Sixth street*, St. Paul,
WILL attend to the duties of his profession In St. Paul
and vicinity. September 17.
IULLS OF EX.CIIAMJE,
AND drafts on all parts of the United States, at the
office of the Minnesota, outfit, by
CHAS. W. BORLP.
~ J. QUJJVN,
BOOT AND SHOEMAKER—Corner
of Third and Minnesota Sta.—Gentlemen’s boots
and shoes; also Ladles’ and Children’s shoes, made to
- aide' In the and most durable manner, and of the
t>eat materials.
J. R. BF.EWBTER,
HouM) Sign) and Ornamental Painter.
St. l'aul, Minnesota Territory.
C entral House, St. Paul.
CAVE & BURTON have taken this old and well known
house. They have fitted it up anew, and are now
prepared to accommodate boarders and travellers with
comfortable quarters. No pains will be spared to make
the Central House one of ths best Hotels In the West.
November, 1851.
MMOIS lEC'JSS.
RODNEY PARKER, late of the American House Low
ell, Mass., having a lease of the large hotel at the
upper end of St. Paul, with everything in proper order
for the convenience of travelers, boarders, or families de
siring furnished apartments, respectfully Invites his
friends and the public to give him a call, believing that
he can do as much for their comfort as can be expected
In a new country) not yet supplied with regular markets.
m
St. Charles Hotel.
J. C. CLARK, Proprietor,
SI. Anthony Falls, Minnesota.
This nouse has been thoroughly repaired and renovated,
and will be kept In a manner equal to the best Hotels in the
West. The Palls of St. Anthony, with the fine fishing and
hunting grounds adjacent, together with a climate unsur
passed on the American continent for health and loveli
ness, render this the place of all others to enjoy the hot
season. 44tf
Temperance House,
T OT MOFFET, Proprietor,—Corner
-A-J of Fourth and Jackson St*., Saint Paul. Perma
nent an 1 transient boarders furnished with good and com
fortable apartments. Charges Moderate*
Hair-Way House.
TOIIN MORGAN, (mid-way between
St. Paul and Stillwater,) begs leave to say to stran
gers visiting Minnesota, and the public generally, that
having made his arrangements complete for the accom
modation of the public, and being situated in the midst
of the most delightful scenery, surrounded by lakes that
abound with fish, and in an atmosphere of unsurpassed
purity, he hopes to see company from abroad, as well as
from the neighboring villages. They will find the charges
moderate.
Emmett Sc Moss,
Attorneys and Solicitors.
WILL attend to professional business
In the various Courts of the Territory. Particu
lar attention given to the location of Land Warrants,
buying and selling of lands, &c. Land warrants for sale
for cash or on time, office on the corner of Wabasha w
and Third streets, St. Paul Minnesota.
L. EMMETT,
July 1, 1852. HENRY L. MOSS.
OAK HILL CEMETERY.
A LL persons desiring burial lots can
IX. obtain Information by calling upon the Secretary,
J. W. Selby, or the President, C. W. Borup. 29yl
r. CHOUTEAU, JE. JAS. HARRISON, FELIX VALLE.
CHOUTEAU, HARRISON & VALLE.
CommUftion Merchants and Proprietors of the St.
Louis Kolliug Mill.
AND manufactures of bar iron in all its
il various shapes, Sheet Iron and Boiler Plate, Nails
and Spikes from the ore of the Iron Mountain. Iron Store,
No. 129 North Second street, St. Louis.
September 1,1551.
Nathan Spicer,
TEWELER AND WATCHMAKER,
J at the elyn of the Bin Watch, Third street,
next door to the St. Paul Drug Store, is prepared \
to make gold and silver watches, rings, spoons, i
Ac., on short notice. Also to repair the same, a-OSMBk
well as music books, shell combs, or linger rings, brace- !
lets and eat drops* He also keeps for sale a great variety j
of rings, perfumery, and whatever goods are usually en- j
qulred for at a Jeweler’s.
W. 11. FORBES,
T?UR COMPANY—St. Paul Outfit— j
X Also Dry Good*and Groceries, corner of Third and j
Jackson streets.
jTwTbabcock, !
T7ORWARDING and Commission Mer- ,
I chant, Upper latni*ig, Saint Paul, Minnesota Ter
ritory.
SPENCER, KIRKPATRICK it MARKLEY,
Forwarding and Commission Merchants,
LEVEE, LOWER LANDING, ST. PAUL.
fob II
S. P. FOLSOM,
County Surveyor.
May be found at office of of Register of Deeds, on Third
street, one door below Minnesota Outfit. IT—y
E. M’LAG AN,
STORAGE AND COMMISSION MERCHANT,
Jackson street, Lower Landing, St Paul, Minnesota.
IjROMPT attention given to allconsignments, and char
ges moderate.
St Paul, October 19, 1851
THEODORE E. PARKER,
Attorney and Counsellor at Law,
STILLWATER, MINNESOTA TERRITOP-Y.
To my old friends,
And the “rest ok mankind,” i would say,
that I can be found during the winter, at the old
stand of Charley Cave, on Third Street, where I will al
wavs be happy to wait upon them. Bar and house fur
nished with the best of every thing,
uov. 22. tt. WM. HARTSUORXE.
painting.
SHERMAN & MOREY,on Fourth street,St. Paul,near
the middle of town, In the building of Mr. Knox, up
stairs, may be foufld, ready to attend to Painting in all its
departments. House painting, sigh {tainting, carriage
and ornamental painting, all done up promptly, ond .with
paints of the best quality. If we do our work In a slov
enly, unworkmau like mannner we do not expect to get
business in the enlightened town of St. Paul.
Dec. 13, 1851. SIIERMAN fc MOREY.
~ BOOKBINDING.
THE subscriber would respectfully lufotm the citizens
ot St. Paul and Its vicinity, that he is now carrying on
the above business lit the 2d story of Spencer’s new build
ing, on the corner of Kith and Roberts street.
try- Particular attention paid to rebinding old books and
periodicals. JaMES MACKINTOSH,
feb 7 21—tf
J C Burbank St co. SLPaul] [W L Fawcette Jtco. St.Louls
NORTH-WESTERN EXPRESS COMPANY,
CONNECTING AT GALENA AND ST. LOUIS WITH TIIE
American and other Express Companies.
TO and from all the principal cities in the United States,
California and Europe, for the speedy transportation
of money and valuable packages, eol ection of drafts notes,
bills, accounts, Ac., purchase and sale of all kinds ol
merchandize.
AGENTS.
C. R. Rice tc Co., St. Paul, Otis West, St. Louis,
J. Brookes, Galena.
N. R.—Particular attention paid to forwarding and
commission business generally,
may 1. 33-tf
AMERICAN SALOON.
I.7RED. nARDY now keeps this well-known establlsh
’ ment “on Ills owu hook.” He hopes by a continued
attention to the wants of bis customers, to merit their
patronage as heretofore. l®y
SADDLE, HARNESS AND TRUNK MANUFACTORY.
YIAHE subscribei solicits the patronage of the public,
A and assures all purchasers In his line, that he will
e 11 for cash, saddles, harness ot all kinds, aud trunks, of
a better quality, and cheaper than any other establish
ment lu Minnesota. Fur hasers will do well to call at
his shop, 011 Third street, St- Paul, next door cast of S.
11. Sergent’s and Judge for themselves.
A. R. FRENCH.
OF MINNESOTA, the
O New Knglaud of the West, by E. S. Seymour. For
sale by I.EDUC A ROIIREK.
FIRE tc MARINE INSURANCE,
DV the undersigned agent for the Protection Insurance
13 Company ot Hartford, Conn. Policies Issued upon the
most favorable terms by
W. p. Murray, Agent, Minnesota.
St. Paul, February 28 1862 24-lm
1 NORTH-WESTERN BOOK STORE^
Joseph N. Waggoner,
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL BOOKSELLER AND
STATIONER,
No. 93 Main Street , four ttory Brick Corner ,
Galena, 111.
: 53" Agency for the sale of superior Printing
Galena, May 22. 36-y
, T EFFEL’S Double Oven, the neatest
‘ -Li of the Cincinnati castings with extra oval caat Iron
1 boilers* can be seen at F. S. NEWELL’S.
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA TERRITORY, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1852.
THE MINNESOTIAN.
Those who have lived in a woody country
can more fully appreciate the following thril
ling sketch:
BURNING THE FALLOW.
BY MRS. MOODIE.
The winter and spring of 1834 had passed
away. The latter was uncommonly cold and
backward; so much so that we had a very
heavy fall of snow upon the 14th and 13th of
May, and several gentlemen drove down to Co
burg in a sleigh, the snow lying upon the
ground to the depth of several inches.
A late, cold spring in Canada is generally suc
ceeded by a burning, hot summer; and the sum
mer of ’34 was the hottest 1 ever remember.—
No rain fell upon the earth for many weeks, till
nature drooped and withered beneath oue bright
blaze of sunlight; and the ague and fever in the
woods, and the cholera in the large towns and
cities, spread death and sickness through the
countrv.
Moodie had made, during the winter, a large
clearing of twenty acres around the house. The
progress of the workmen had been watched by
me with the keenest interest. Every tree that
reached the ground opened a wider gap in the
dark wood, giving us a broader ray of light and
a clearer glimpse of the blue sky. Hut when
the dark cedar swamp fronting the house fell
beneath the strokes of the axe. and we got a first
view of the lake, my joy was complete; a new
aud beautiful object was now constantly before
me, which gave me the greatest pleasure. By
night and day. in sunshine or in storm, water is
always the most sublime feature in a landscape,
and no view can be truly grand in which it is
wanting. From a child, it always had the most
powerful effect upon iny mind, from the great
ocean, rolling in majesty, to the tinkling forest
rill, hidden by the flowers and rushes along its
banks. Half the solitude of my forest home
vanished when the lake unveiled’its bright face
to the blue heavens, and I saw sun, moon and
stars and waving trees reflected there. I would
sit for hours at the window, as the shades of ev
ening deepened round me, watching the massy
foliage of the forests pictured in the waters, till
fancy transported me back to England, aud the
songs of birds and the lowing of cattle were
sounding in my ears. It was long, very long,
before I could discipline my mind to learn and
practice all the menial employments which are
necessary in a good settler's wife.
The total absence of trees about the doors in
all new settlements had always puzzled tne, in
a country where the intense' heat of summer
seems to demand all the shade that can he pro
cured. My husband had left several beautiful
rock-elms (the most picturesque tree iu the
country) near our dwelling, but, alas! the tirst
high gale prostrated all my fine trees, and left
our log cottage entirely exposed to the fierce
rays of the sun. The confusion of an unclear
fallow spread around us on every side ; huge
trunks of trees and piles of brush gave a littered
and uncomfortable appearance to the locality,
and as the weather had been very dry for some
weeks, I heard my husband daily talking with
his choppers as to the expediency of firing the
fallow. They still urged him to wait a little
longer till he could get a breeze to carry the
tire well through the brush.
Business called him suddenly to Toronto, but
he left a strict charge with old Thomas and his
sons, who wore engaged in the job, by no means
to attempt to burn it off till he returned, as he
wished to be upon the premises himself, in case
of any danger. He had previously burned all
the heaps immediately about the doors. While
he was absent, old Thomas and his second son
fell sick with the ague, and went home to their
own township, leaving John, a surly obstinate
young man, in charge of the shanty where they
slept and kept their tools and provisions. Mon
aghan I had sent to fetch up my three cows, as
tlie children were languishing for milk, and
Mary and I remained alone in the house with
the little ones. The day was sultry, and to
wards noon a strong wind sprang up, that roar
ed in the pinetops like the dashing of distant
billows, but without in the least degree abating
the heat. The children were lying listlessly
upon the floor for coolness, and the girl and I
were finishing sun-bonnets, when Mary sudden
ly exclaimed:
“Bless us, mistress, what a smoke!’’
I ran immediately to the door, but was not
able to distinguish ten yards before me. Tlie
swamp immediately below us was on lire, and
the heavy wind was driving a dense, black
cloud of smoke directly towards us.
“ What can this mean ?” 1 cried ; “ Who can
have set tire to tlie fallow ?”
As I ceased speaking, John Thomas stood
pale and trembling before me.
“John, what is the meaning of this fire?”
“O, ma'am, 1 hope you will forgive me ; it
was I set fire to it, and I would give all I have
in the world if I had not done it.”
•‘What is the danger?”
“O. I'm terribly nfeard that we shall all lie
burnt up,’’ said the fellow, beginning to whim
per.
“Why did you run such a risk, and your mas
ter from home, and no one on the place to ren
der the least assistance?”
“I did it for the best,” blubbered the lad,
“what shall we do?”
“ Why. we must get out of it as fast as «e
can. and leave the house to its fate.”
“We can't get out,” said the man. in a low,
hollow tone,“which seemed the concentration of
fear ; “I would have got out of it if I could ;
but just step to the back-door, ma’am, and
see.”
I had not felt the least alarm up to this min
ute ; I had never seen a fallow burnt, but I had
heard of it as a thing of such common occur
rence that I had never connected with it any
idea of danger. Judge then, my surprise, my
horror, when, on going to the back-door. 1 saw
that the fellow, to make sure of his work, had
fired it in fifty different places. Behind, lie
fore, on every side, we were surrounded by a
wall of fire, burning furiously within a hundred
yards of us, and cutting off all possibility of
retreat: for, could we have found an opening
through the burning heaps, we could not have
scon our way through the dense canopy of
smoke ; and buried as we were in the heart of
the forest, no one could discover onr situation
till we were beyond the reach of help. I closed
the door and went back to the parlor. Fear
was knocking loudly at my heart, for our utter
helplessness annihilated all hope of being able
to effect our escape—l felt stupefied. The girl
sat upon the floor by the children, who uncon
scious of the peril that hung over them, had
both fallen asleep. She was silently weeping ;
while the fool who had caused the mischief was
crying aloud.
A strange calm succeeded my first alarm ;
tears and lamentations were useless; a horrible
death was impending over us. and yet I could
not believe that we were to die. 1 sat down
upon the step of the door, and watched the aw
ful scene in silence. The fire was raging in the
cedar swamp, immediately below the ridge on
which the house stood, and presented a specta
cle truly appalling.
From out the dense folds of a canopy of black
smoke, the blackest I ever saw, leaped up con
tinually, red forks of lurid flame as high as the
tree tops, igniting the branches of a group of
tall pines that had lieen left standing for sun
logs. A deep gloom blotted out the heavens
from onr sight. The air was filled with fiery
particles, which floated even to the door-step—
while the crackling and roaring of the flames
i might have been heard at a great distance.
[Could we have reached the lake shore, where
I several canoes were moored at the landing, by
launching out into the water we should have
Office—Corner of Jackson and Fifth .Streets.
been in perfect safety ; but, to attain this object
it was necessary to pass through this sea of fire ;
ami not a bird could have flown over it with
unscorched wing. There was no hope in that
quarter, for, could we have escaped the flames,
we should have been blinded and choked by
tbe thick, black, resinous smoke. The fierce
wind drove the flames at the sides and back of
the house up the clearing, and our passage to
the road or to the forest, on the right and left,
was entirely obstructed by * sea of flames.
Our only ark of safety was the house, so long
as it remained untouched by the consuming ele
ment. I turned to young Thomas, and asked
him how long he thought that would be.
“When the fire clears this little ridge in front,
ma’am. The Lord have mercy upon us, then,
or we must all go!”
“Cannot you, John, try and make your es
cape, and see what can he done for us'and the
children ?”
My eye fell upon the sleeping angels locked
peacefully in each other’s arms, and my tears
flowed for the first time. Mary, the servant
girl looked piteously up in my face. The good,
faithful creature had not altered one word of
complaint, but now she faltered forth :
“The dear, precious lambs! Oh! such a
death!”
I threw myself down upon the floor lieside
them, and pressed them alternately to my
heart, while invariably I thanked God that they
were asleep, unconscious of danger, and unable
by their childish cries to dirtract our attention
from adopting any plan which might offer to
effect their escape.
The heat soon became suffocating. We were
parched with thirst, aud there was not a drop
of water in the house, and none to be procured
nearer than the lake. I turned once more to
the door,* hoping that a passage might have
burnt through to the water. I saw nothing but
a dense cloud of lire and smoke—could hear
nothing but the crackling and roaring of (lames,
which were gaining so fast upon us that I felt
their scorching breath in my face.
“Ah. thought I (aud it was a most bitter
thought), “what will my beloved husband say
when he returns and finds that poor Susy and
his dear girls have perished in this miserable
manner? But God can save us yet."’
The thought had scarcely found a voice in my
heart before the wind rose to a hurricane, scat
tering the flames on all sides into a tempest of
burning billows. I buried my head in my apron,
for 1 thought that our time was come, and that
all was lost, when a most terrific crash of thun
der burst over our heads, and like the breaking
of a water spout, down came the rushing tor
rent of rain which had been pent up for so many
weeks. In a few minutes the chipyard was ail
afloat, and the fire was effectually checked. The
storm which, unnoticed by us, had been gather
ing all day, and which was the only one of any
note we had that summer, continued to rage ail
night, and, before morning, had quite sultdued
the cruel enemy, w hose approach we had viewed
with such dread.
The imminent danger in which we had been
placed struck me more forcibly after it was past
than at the time, and both the girl and myself
lifted up our hearts in humble thanksgiving to
the God who had saved ns by an act of his prov
idence, from an aw ful and sudden death. When
all hope from human assistance was lost, his
hand was mercifully stretched forth, making
his strength more perfectly manifest in our weak
ness :
“ He Is their stay when earthly help !« lost.
The litfbt and anchor of the tempest tool’d.”
There was one person, unknown to us, who
had watched the progress of that rash blaze,
and had even brought the canoe to the landing,
in the hope of getting us off. This was an Irish
pensioner named Dunn, who had cleared a fen
acres on his government grant, and had built
a shanty on the opposite shore of the lake.
“Faith, madam! an’l thought the captain
was stark, staring mad to fire his fallow on sueli
a windy day. and that blowing right from the
lake to the house. When old Wittals came in
and towld us that the master w as not to the fore,
but only one lad an’ the wife an’ the chilthcr at
home ; think’s I there is no time to be lost, or
the cratlmr will be burnt up intirely. We star
ted instanther, but. by Jove! we were to late.
The swamp was all in a blaze when we got to
the landing, and you might as well have tried
to get to heaven by passing through the other
place.”
This was the eloquent harrange with which
the honest creature informed me the next morn
ing of tlie efforts he had made to save us, and
tlie interest lie had felt in our critical situation.
1 felt comforted for my past anxiety, by know
ing that one human lieing, however 'humlde, had
sympathised in our probable fate; while tlie
providential manner in which we had been res
cued. will ever remain a theme of wonder and
gratitude.
The next evening brought the return of my
husband, who listened to the tale of our escape
with a pale and disturbed countenance, not a
little thankful to find his wife and children still
in the land of the living. For a longtime after
the burning of that fallow, it haunted me in my
dreams. I would awake with a start, imagin
ing myself fighting with the flames, and endeav
oring to carry my little children through them
to the top ol the clearing, when invariably their
garments and my own took fire just as I was
within reach of a place of safety ßoushine
it in the Bush .”
Grace Greenwood, in one of her recent letters,
gives the following sketch of Dickens :
“ On Thursday evening I dined with Mr. and
Mrs. Dickens, and a small hut brilliant party,
at the pleasant house of the novelist, in Tavis
tock square. Mr. Dickens is all I looked to sec,
in manner and conversation. He is rather
slight, with a fine symetrieal head, spiritedly
borne, and eyes beaming alike with genius anil
humor. Yet for all the power and beauty of
those eyes, their changes seemed to me to be
from light to light. I saw in them no profound,
pathetic depths, and there was around them no
tragic shadowing. But I was foolish to look for
these on such an occasion, when they were very
properly left in the author’s study, with pens,
ink and blotting paper, and the' last written
pages of 1 Bleak House.’ Mrs. Dickens is a very
charming person—in character and manner tru
ly a gentlewoman: and such of the children as
I saw, seemed worthy to hand down to coming
years the beauty of the mother and the name
of the father. Mr. Dickeus looks in admirable
health and spirits, and good for at least twenty
more charming serials. But should he furnish
to the world yet more than that number of his
inimitable romances, they would be as fresh
and attractive as those which had gone before.
1 have no doubt, from the confirmed impression
I have of the exhanstlessness of his genius, and
of the infiniteness of variety in English charac
ter, of phases iu English life.
“ Mr. Dickens’ style of living is elegant and
tasteful, but in no respect ostentations, or out
of character with his profession or principles. I
ivas glad to see that bis servents wore no live
ry.
“ Next me, at table, sat Walter Savage Lan
dor—a glorious old man, full of fine poetic
thought and generous enthusiasm for liberty.
Opposite, sat Charles Kemble, and his daugh
ter Adelaide. Madam Sartoris. At the other
end of the table were Herr Dcvrient, the great
German actor, Barry Cornwall and his wife,
a daughter of Mrs. Basil Montagne.”
Everything has a ludicrous point of view,
and funny incidents occur even ou such grave
occasions as funerals. A certain cocknev blue
beard, overcome by bis sensibilities, fainted at
the grave of his fourth spouse. “ What shall
we do with him?” asked a perplexed friend of
his. “ Let him alone,” cried a waggish bystand
er. “he will soon rewire.
The London Times makes the following strik
ing statements relative to the British House of
Lords:
The British House of Lords is the creation of
near a thousand years, and represents not one,
but many elements of stability and power. It
represents property, social rank, hereditary aud
historical prestige, the hierarchy, the immediate
influences of the crown and the dominant par
ty, military and diplomatic talents, the highest
legal wisdom and probity of the age. It varies
even from one day to another. Enter the House
iu the morning, and you xvill see a legal tribu
nal ; in the evening, and you will see a svnod
of di vines. On .Monday you will find our great
territorial nobles discussing the rights aud du
ties of property ; on Tuesday you will hear
field marshals, ex-governors, and Indian Coin
mauders-in chief, discussing colonies and wars.
Perhaps, however, tlie most remarkable feature
of this body is not the variety, but the general
paucity of attendance. On almost anv evening
you can mention, according to the written pro
ceedings of the House, it has been very busy,
and you might imagine five hundred senators
had been busily at work. In fact, however, the
attendance lias never exceeded a dozen, and has
sometimes been much less. There have been
long and important sitting of only three or four
peers. \\ hat is the meaning of this spare at
tendance ? It is that the House of Lords works j
more hv its veto than by its initiation. It has '
been compared to the College of Augurs, w hich
every now and then interfered, and on some
ulle pretence, hut possibly some good reason,
forbade further proceedings. The House ol
Lords is, in fact, the lmllast of tlie ship of state.
But it is the ballast because it is independent *.
because it is ancient, hereditary, rich and ven
erated: because it is the object of an almost
superstitious regard; because it can throw out
half a dozen bills sent up from the Commons
in one week,and addressa strong remonstrance
to the Crown the week after : because a peer
age cannot be taken away or conferred without
weighty reasons.
A\ here rmv Animal. —A New Orleans report
er says, in a paper published about a w-eek
since, that on a certain evening, two draymen,
who had a great affection for their respective
horses, got drunk, and in their obliviousness each
drove home the other's dray. Now, the drays
happened to be very much alike, but of the lo
comotive agents, one was a horse and the other
a mule. The next morning the owner of the
horse, finding a mule instead of his own true
Rosiuante, immediately pronounced his fellow
dravman a thief, and started forthwith to tlie
Recorder’s office to make an affidavit. There,
to Ills surprise, he discovered that his associate
in the previous night’s “drunk” was before
him. and that thq clerk w as already engaged in
writing out an affidavit, in which, lie, the own
er ot tlie horse, was charged by him. the owner
of tlie mule, w ith havingstolen a most valuable
animal, leaving in its stead nothing but the
miserable skeleton of a spavined horse. The
draymen mutually explained tlie matter, where
upon the clerk ceased writing, and the mule
and horse case was forever set at rest.
Post office Printer.— Mr. P. Slater of this
citty. and a printer in this office has constructed
an apparatus whch he has named the Post Office
Printer. This apparatus consists of a neatly
finished box oflmrd wood,divided into compart
ments which contain respectively, a pallet, of
moist and pliable quality on which the ink is
distributed, —a can of ink—a distributor,
can of oil, another of alkali—a brush Ac. and
can be conveniently transported toanyrequired
distance. The Post Office Printer is' designed
to facilitate the labors of the Post Masters, as
also to make a clear inipressiou upon letters
with their official stamp. This is a desidera
tum which we think Post Masters will appreci
ate by purchasing one of these inventions. The
price is very low, considering the value of the
contrivance and first cost of the apparatus.
There are dflerent sizes of boxes, the smallest
costing $3,00. and the largest SIO.OO. Every
Post Master in the country aud every one else
who has use for such an article should obtain
the Post Office Printer. The inventor who is
a very worthy man has taken measure to secure
a patent. —Dubuque Herald-
The Power of Cheerfulness. —Give us tlie
man who siugs at his work ! Be his occupa
tion what it may, he is equal to any of those
who follow the same pursuit in silent sul
lenness. He will do more in the same time, lie
will do it better, he will preserve longer. One
is scarcely sensible to fatigue whilst he march
es to music. The very stars are said to make
harmony as they revolve in their spheres. W’on
derous is the strength of cheerfulness ; altogeth
er past calculation its powers of endurance-
Efforts to be permanently usefulness must be
uniformcly joyous, a spirit all sunshine, grace
ful from gladness, beautiful because light.
An Englishman and Frenchman were trav
eling by railroad. They were alone in the
same car. The Frenchman always polite asked
to smoke; his companion made no reply, drew
a cigar grom his pocket and smoked also. At
the first station:
‘Sir,’ said the Frenchman,’ your cravat is
awry.’
The Englishman silently arranges his cravat-
A litle farther:
‘Sir.’ said the Frenchman, ‘ your cap is fail
ing off.’
The Englishman, without even saying ‘thank
you.’secured his cap. A few minutes after:
‘Ah. sir,’ cried the Frenchman, ‘take care
the hot ashes have fallen on your collar, they
may burn your coat.’
‘ Well, sir, let me alone,’ replied the English
man. -you have been burning for this half hour,
and I didn't bother you about it-’— Carpetbag.
A New Quirk! — At the camp-meeting at Be
thel last week, it was noticed that some “New
Testaments, ” which were hawked about near
the cainp ground sold rapidly, especialy to the
unconverted; and it turned out that they were
“earthen vessels” in the form of books, filled
with liquor. Two persons who were engaged
in the business were arrested and fined $lO and
costs each. —[Portland .Ideertiecr.
The Boston Mail says that Tom Corwin chows
a pound of tobaco per day! He is a rare stout
man of G 4. It is related of him that hiß quids
arc so large that one of them once stopped the
mail coach on the National road!
A Preacher Surprised. — Last Sabbath there
occurred rather a curious scene in the parish
churchof Camsie. A reverend gentleman procee
ded to the pulpit to officiate for Rev. Thomas
Monro, the Minister ol the parish. Mr.
bad gone through the usual routine of singing,
prayer, Ac.,and had just given out the text, and
was' commencing his discourse, when a woman
got up and at the top of her voice exclaimed.
“Gae hame wi’ you sir, and learn your lesson,
(a slight pause) gae hame, I say, and learn your
sermon afore ye come here. We’re nac accus
tomed wi’ a man read in’ a sermon tae, us—wc
can read one at hame oursels. Gae hame(lou
der than before accompanied with a stamp of
her foot) gae hame, sir!” She went on in this
strain for some time, and it is said Mr.
looked unutterable things. —[Dumbarton Her
ald.
Mrs.Stowe. —The writer of “Uncle Tom's Cab
in" is thus descrilied in the Boston Herald:
Mrs. Stowe is about forty years of age, low Ln
staturc, having a brilliant'expressiveeye, short
features, hair tbiu and dark, with a occasional
tint of grey, and her whole contour as the French
would say. being expressive of a highly nervous
temperament, with quick perceptive powers of
reading the minds of all present at a glance.
All in all, however, she is not so good looking
as her writings had led ns to suppose.”
The Groves ol Blarney
Grace Greenwood in her last letter to the
National Era, describes her visit to this. deli
cious spot, renowned in song.
On the following morning, she says, amid
gorden sunshine and silvery showers, w e drove
to Blarney Castle, and wandered though those
umbrageous grounds, immortalized bv the poet
in the famous song of the “Groves of filar
ney.. The castle itself is a noble old ruin,
and its situation and surroundings are remark
ably picturesque and curious. There are nat
ural subterrnnean passages lending down to
the lake, and a black duugeon. wh”re. accord
ing to our guide. “Cromwell, the bloodv na
ger," confined his prisoner.-. The lake is small,
.but, according to the above-mentioned authori
ty, quite bottomless. He told us, with a grave
face, that tlie late “Lady Jeffers.” having u
whim into her head to draw it off, had a drain
dug full three feet below the surface, hut not u
drop would run out. A sturdy, conservative
old lake. IV e ascended the great tower, at the
top ot which we all kissed the new Blarney
stone—it being morally and physically impossi
ble for ladies to salute the real Simon Pure,
w hich i« outside the w all, some feet from the
summit. The gentlemen who accomplished
this teat must be held by the feet over the wall
one hundred and twenty feet from the ground,
by a stout guide, who'is liable to be seized
with a sudden weakness, and to call out that he
must stop “to spit on his hands”—that he can
howl(l on no longer unless his fee is doubled,
and the unhappy dog in suspense pledges him
self to a treat. Our guide assured me that the
new Blarney stone was quite as good as the
“rale"—that a certain “ widdy lady” made a
pilgrimage all the way from the North of Eng
land. kissed the spurious stone most rapternus
!y, and made a great match soon after. The
question arises, lay the virtue iu the stone or
in tlie pilgrim’s faith ?”
Our return drive was most charming—the
rain was past, and sunlight and fresh breezes
poured beauty and gladness on our way. I
cannot rember to have seen anywhere, within
so short a distance, so many wild flowers.—
There were tlie rich purple heather, tlie yellow
broom, the foxglove, the “queen of the mead
ow,” the wild honey-suckle, the convolvulus,
and the golden rod. Tlie shrubbery w*as more
luxuriant, the trees liner and more abundant,
than we had before seen—every thing ou our
path was beautiful and gracious, save the hu
manity, which was wretched and poverty
stricken in the extreme.
Balloon Phenomena. —Mons. Petin ha? pub
lished an account of his recent aerial excursion
from Springfield. It contains, however nothing
of a novel character except tlie following:
-We passed over the broad Connecticut, which
stretched away in both directions into the hori
zon, and here a singular optical phenomenon
was observed by us. Looking dircctiv down
from the great height at which we were,' we saw
as distinctly ns though we had been an eagle
peering down from that lofty height for his prey,
the fish, iu great numbers, ’darting hither and
thither beneath the surface-”
Notwithstanding the acres of public buildings i
owned by the people, at Washington, Uncle j
Sam is one of the most extensive tenants in the 1
eitv. The rents which he pays for rooms and!
offices for the present year, amount to $32,000.
For the use of •• Winders building,” he pays sl9,1
000 per year, which is equal to about fifteen per
cent, on its value. The funds to build a similar
structure, cun be hail at four per cent, a year,
which shows that our esteemed relative is 'fool
ing away some 510.090 anuaily. without any
cause, except that Congress refused either to
purchase the rented building, build a new one
on public account, or hurry up the Patent Of
fice improvements.
—Who killed Tecumsch? Wc know not how
many individuals have claimed the honor of
this deed. But like many other mysteries the
cloud of applicants only increase the darkness.
Col. Skinner down in Texas has recently put in
a claim. Hear him :
Gentlemen,” said lie. “I was at that battle
where Tecumsey was killed —l was! I comman
ded a regiment there I'm not a gwine to say
who did kill Tecumsey—/ won’t; but this much
I will say: Tecumsy was killed with one of
my pistols; and gentlemen, a man wouldn’t be
very opt to lend out his pistol on a casion of
that sort!”
A Little Adventurer' —The St. John(N. B.)
Freeman says:—On the 25th of last month, Mr.
Bttrron, of Grand Lake, sent his three children
to search for his cows. When they were about
to return, the youngest, a imy scarcely five years
of age, remained behind. Some time after a
search was made for the child, but in vain. The
assistance of the neighbors was obtained, and
the search continued day after day in all direc
tions, but without success. The* weather was
very severe and stormy, and all hopes of the
child’s recovery were abandoned. He was acci
dentally found ou the ninth day,at the distance
of six miles, by a party who were not iu search
of him. A dog had found the scent, and led to
the spot. Tlie little fellow, when found, appear
ed unconcerned, and gave a very sensible ac
count of his adventures. When he tried to get
back he could not find his way. He cried the
first day, but not afterwards. The first night
lie slept on a tree, but he said he was afraid he
would fall when asleep, and on the other nights
he slept on the ground. He ate berries.
The City of Jfrusai.em. —Bayard Taylor,
who has very recently visited “The Holy City,’
thinks it is a dirty hole. Jerusalem,” he savs.
“internally, gives no impression but that'of
filth, ruin, poverty and degradation. There
are two or three streets in the Western or high
er portion of the city whieii are tolerably clean,
lint all the others, to the very grates of the Ho
ly Sepulchre are channels of pestilence. The
Jewish quarter, which is the largest, so sickened
and disgusted me, that 1 should rather go tlie
whole round of the city walls than passthrough
it a second time.”
Great Lonhiyitv. —On the 22d September
last, Mrs. Lois Peck, relict of Mr. Amos Peek,
departed this life, in Hamden, at the advanced
age of one humdred years eight months and six
days! She was the mother of six children,
grandmother of twenty-nine—great grandmo
ther of eighty-five— and great great-grandmo
ther of eighteen. The total descendants during
her life-time were 138!—-Veto Haven Palladi
um.
The Cincinnati Commercial says there are
two men in that city, born and reared iu the
West, who are firm believers in the Mahominc
dan l'aitb. They became convinced of the trutli
of the Mussulmanic faith by reading the life of
the Prophet and the Koran. This is singular
but true.
The War debts of the European nations a
mount to $100,000,000,000. It would require
the labor of four millions of men, at $l5O per
annum, to pay the interest of this sum at 6 per
cent. To pay the principal, it would be neces
sary to levy a tax of at least $lO on every in
habitant of the globe.
A couple of pedestrians, “gents from town,
passing through a toll-bar, attempted a joke at
the expense of a young woman who stood at the
door, by asking what the charge was for passing
•through the bar. “If you arc gentlemen, no.
thing; if you are donkeys, a penuy each,” re
plied the damsel, much to their discomfiture
One of our exchanges has discovered that
peaches are very hurtful at this season, if you
swallow the stones. Half a peck, eaten in the
morning before breakfast, have been known to
produce a sense of fbllness. Singular!
EDITORS AND PTBLISHERS*
Lazy Hoys.—A lazy boy niakfs a lazy man,
just as sure as a crooked twig makes a crooked
' tree. Who ever yet saw a hoy grow up in idle
-1 ness that did not make a shiftless vagabond
when he became a man. unless he had a fortune
, left him to keep up appearances? The great
j mass of thieves, paupers and criminals that fill
onr penitentiaries and alms-houses, hare come
up to what they are by being brought up in
idleness. Those who constitute the business
portion of the community, those who make our
great and useful men. were trained up in their
boyhood to be industrious.
\\ hen a boy is old enough to to ploy ift
the street then lie is obi enough to l»e taught
ho\v to work. Ot course we -hould not deprive
1 children of h< althful, playful exercise, or the
time they should spend in study, but teach
hem to work little by little as a child is
taught at school. In this wav he acquires
habits ot industry that will n ot forsake him
n lion lie grows up.
Many persons who are poor let their children
grow up to fourteen or sixteen vearsofo-e or
till they can support them no longer, before
they put them to labor. Such children, not
having any idea of what work is, aud having
acquired habits of idleness, there is a repulsive-
I Nt’fs m all labor set before them, and to get it
i done, no matter how, is their oulv aim. Thev
j are ambitious at play, but dull at work. The
consequence is. they do not stick to oue thing
ibut a very short time; they rove about the
j world, get into mischief, and finally find their
j way to the prison or alms-house.
Great Suspension Rittrcir.—A New York pa
per states that the new wire suspension bridge
to be throw n across the Niagara for the purpose
of connecting the Canadian railroads with those
in New York, is to be 800 feet in length from
tno centre of the tower*.—These are to be (>0
feet high, 15 feet square at the base, and 8 feet
at the top, and of so compact materials as to he
enabled to bear a pressure of 500 tons upon ev
ery square foot. The weight of the materials
ot the structure is thus computed, viz : Weight
of timber, 910,139 lbs; Weight ofrails, 09.740 lbs;
» eight of cables between towers, 735,402 lbs;
’I he weight of a train reaching across the bridge
is estimated at -100 tons, und the superstructure
at 782 tons, making a total aggregate maxim
weight of 1,273 tons.
Presence of Mjnd.—A herdsman of a farm in
! List, had occasion one day to send his
daughter for the cattle under his charge.—
There were ahout eighty of them, and among
them two bulls, one of w hich was occasionally
ill the habit of assaulting people. On the day
in question, the damsel unwarily approached
the hull too closely, when he immediately gave
chase, fin a level field, without dikes, hogs, or
any other place of refuge to resort, what would
the reader have done—for to run home a dist
ance of three-quarters of a miles was out of the
question. The girl, with great presence of
mind, ran over to the other bull— a good-na
tured animal, and much stronger than her as
sailant. Standing close by his side, and kindly
tapping him on the hack, she drove him towards
her father s house, followed by her enraged ene
my, who kept roaring and fuming all the way,
but when he came to close, her protector turn
ed round, aud with a shake and toss of his
head, kept tlie assailant at bv. In this manner
the fugitive arrived safely at home.— lnverness
( Scotland) Courier.
Many persons imagine that no music can be
composed without the aid of an instrument.——
Beethoven was deaf, yet he w-as the author of
some ot the most divine harmonies that ever
w ere scored. A musical doctor of the present
day. a countryman of our own, has been long
bedridden. He lias a little table so eonstruct
i ed as to enable him to go on with his notation
lin bed. The doctor works with two pens, one
in his right hand, the other in his left, with one
he notes his bass, with tlie other his tenor, Ac.
It is very laughable to to see him, when the
bass pen is dry. dip unconsciously the tenor
pen already full, into the inkttand, or vice ver
sa. Another musical genius of the present
time, when compossing. has been known to
leave his table, and deliberately dip his pen in
the wash-hand basin. Both of these gentlemen
compose “ most eloquent music” without the
help of any instrument. —Musical Times.
Passing through the quiet village of Sahnc in
this State a few days ago, a fellow passenger in
a lumbering stage coach pointed out to ns a
“weather beaten house of worship,” as the place
where he once heard, on a rainy occasion, the
following prayer from the staid preacher:”—*.
M o thank thee, Lord, for the goodly number
here to night, and that Thou also art here n *•
withstanding the inclemency of the Ux-'hej
A New Sect.—“ Sir,” said a litle blustering,
man to Ids religious opponent, “I say, sir, to’
what sect do you belong?”
“Well, 1 don't exactly know,”replied the other;
“but to judge from your make, size, and appear
ance, I should say you belonged to a class cal
led the insect.
The wife of a sexton in a country village was
haranguing her neighbors on the hardness of
the times, when annul came up and offered some
ducks for sale. “Ducks!” said the wife; “how
can you suppose I can purchase duck, when my
husband has not buried a living soul these last
three months?”
A poor emaciated Irishman having called a
physician in a forlorn hope, the latter spread a
large mustard plaster,and immediately clapped
it on the poor fellow’s lean breast. Pat, who
with a tearful eye, looked down on it, said
“Dochter. it strikes me it's a dale of mustard
for so little mate.”
Mr. Emerson, in one of his lectures, observed
tliat in New England a man might one day be a
tavern keeper and the next a judge. “A very
natural transition,” whispered a wag, “ from
the bar to the bench.”
The question why printers do not succeed in
business as well as brewers, was thus answered:
“ Because printers work for the head, and
brewers for the stomach, and where twenty
men have stomachs, but one has a head.”
Early one cold morning, a traveling profile
cotter called at the house of a wag, and inquir
ed if he wanted a profile taken?” “ Yes,” was
the reply, “ I want yours taken from my
door.”
“If you can’t keep awake,” said a preacher
to one of his hearers, “ when you feel drowsy,
whv don’t vou take a pinch of snuff'?”
The shrewd reply was—“ The snuff should 1 ?
put in the sermon.”
Papers of the Day.— There is a paper in
Boston called “To-day.” Another has been
commenced called “To-Morrow.” The “Day
After To-Morrow” is expected to appear short
ly, and some anti-progressive people are medi
tating one to be called “ Yesterday.”
Machinery has reached a great state of per
fection. Wc saw some burnt peas put into a
hopper of a coffee mill the other day, and In
less than two minutes it was occupying a placo
in a grocery window, labelled, “Old Govern
ment Java.”
The following verse contains every letter in
the English alphabt except E. It is a question
whether any other English rhyme can be pro
duced in print, without the letter E., which is a
letter employed more than any other:
A Jovial twain may rack kla brain
And tax tin fancy’a might,
To quiz in vain, for ’tls muat plain,
That what I »ay la right.
The London Times says, that neither the
time or place of the birth of the Duke of Wel
lington are known.
NUMBER 11.