Harpers-Ferry free press. [volume], January 22, 1822, Image 4

About Harpers-Ferry free press. [volume] (Harper's Ferry, Va. [i.e. Harpers Ferry, W. Va.]) 1821-1824

Image provided by: West Virginia University

                
"'POETRY.
THE VIRTUOUS MAN.
I love the man whose noble soul
Would scorn to bow beneath
The winter storms that wildly roll
Along- the vale of death.
Who—as he looks along the sky,
And sees the clouds come on,
A-waits their fury patiently,
And say, u Thy will be done.”
I love the heart that never knew
Malice, or pride, or scorn,
But on the world’s rank bosom grew
Mild as a summer morn.
Who w7hen offences vile come o’er
- <His tranquil little heaven,
Forgave them all—and only ask’d
In turn “ to be forgiven.”
I love the man who never spurn’d
The needy from his door,
Whose heart with generous pity burn’d,
Who loved to feed the poor;
And gave whate’er he had to give
Nor asked return again,
But pointed to the heavens and said—
“ Thank not the clouds for rain.”
For oh ! to such an one there is
A nameless something given-,
That melts the heart to tenderness
And turns the soul to heaven.
And then his end-—with eye serene,
He meets the grisly king;
‘ For hope sits smiling o’er the scene,
The grave illumining.
MISCELLANY.
i'llCm THE INDEPENDENT STATESMAN.
MICHAEL BURN.
Among the numerous Islands in Casco
Day, there are few indeed which at pre
sent contain more than a single dwelling;
fet a century ago the traveller would
ta e been cheered with the mingled hum
f business and of pleasure, and could
lave rested beneath many a hospitable
■oof, the ruins of which are now scarcely
visible. They were formerly inhabited
by fishermen, but on account of the fre
quent attacks of Indians, these were aban
doned, and being of slight materials soon
sunk into decay. Near one of these ruins,
and not far from Diamond Cove, is the
rave of Michael Burn—an occurrence
pile he lived there should rescue his
rom oblivion.
evening as he sat at the door of his
stening to the waves which broke
rocks which surrounded him, his
ho was lying at his feet, suddenly
up, and darting towards a project
id ff plunged into the water. The
fisherman presuming from his earnest
manner that something had attracted his
attention, hastened to the spot from which
his animal had leaped, but the night was
too dark to discover either the dog or the
object of his pursuit, and the murmur of
the waves prevented ascertaining even his
direction. Having for some time awaited
his return in vain, and supposing at last
he was in the fruitless chase of some
seals which frequently made their ap
pearance, he retired. Scarcely, however,
had he sought his pillow, when the well
known bark and scratching at the door
announced not only his return, but anxie
ty for his master’s presence. He opened
the door; the dog whined, pulled him
gently, as if wishing him to follow, and
suddenly left him.
Having lighted his lantern he left the
hut, the dog by his barking directing the
path ; but on approaching the shore, judge
his surprise to find his faithful animal
and a human being to all appearance a
corpse. It was evident that the dog had
just drawn him from the water, but there
were no marks of violence on his person.
He opened his waistcoat-—the body was
yet warm ; and filled with the hope of re
storing animation, he bore it to his hut.
In a short time the stranger gave signs of
returning life, and by the next morning
he was able to converse with his generous
preserver.
You probably recollect, said the stran
ger, of seeing a vessel near your harbor.
In that vessel it was my misfortune to
have been a passenger; heaven grant that
the beloved being 1 have left there has
not fallen a victim to perfidy and ingrati
tude. I am a native of America, but have
resided in France where I acquired a con
siderable fortune. Desirous of spending
my last days in the land of my fathers, I
converted my property into specie, and
with a young and adored wife embarked
in this vessel. The master and crew I
loaded with presents, but this only served
to increase their rapacity. I had no fears
cither for my life or property. Last night
their diabolical plans for the destruction
of both were put into execution. I was
alone on the quarter deck when a deep
groan causing me tof-turn, I beheld one of
the passengers struck down with an axe
as he was approaching to join me. The
ruffians with horrid yells rushed forward
to secure a second victim; but though
nearly overpowered by my sensations, I
was enabled to reach the taffel and drop
ped into the sea.
The darkness of the night, the pre
sumption that I could not reach land, and
above all, the work of death which w as
still unfinished, prevented pursuit, and I
made an effort to float; trusting in Previ
dence For my guide. But what was life ?
The being for whom I wished to live was
deserted the moment she most needed my
assistance.
The shrieks of the dying broke upon
my ear, and I fancied I could hear the
voice of my wife imploring mercy. The
thought was agony. Three times I at
tempted to gain the ship, but in vain, she
was fast receding. At last, regardless of
my fate, I murmured at the Being that
upheld me. I desired death, and ceased
my exertions in order to hasten its ap
proach. From that moment till I revived
at your dwelling, reason left me. The
humane fisherman did all he could to com
fort the hapless sufferer. The consola
tions of religion were freely offered, and
he taught him submission to the divine
will, to Him from whom he had already
received such manifold mercies. I have
no doubt, he continued, but they will soon
land in the vicinity to divide their plun
der, and let us indulge in the hope that
these outcasts of society will be brought
to justice, and you restored to the part
ner of your bosom.
Animated with this idea, the fisherman
rose and approached the window, and, as
he anticipated, the vessel was seen stand
ing in for the shore. Not a moment was
to be lost. Raising- the stranger in his
arms he carried him to his skiff, and row
ing round a steep bluff which screened
them from observation, he placed him in
a cave retired and secure. He then has
tened to some huts a few miles distant,
informed the inhabitants of the bloody
transaction of the past night, and conju
red them, if they were not destitute of
courage and humanity, to aid him in
boarding the vessel which was now at an
chor. A small but determined hand was
immediately collected, and under the di
| rection of the fisherman they advanced
: with caution towards his humble dwell
ing. Providence smiled upon their en
j deavors. They crept to the brow of a
| crag, beneath which the pirates were
seated dividing the money of the stran
ger, and, watching their opportunity,
sprang upon them. The confusion of
guilt, and above all, the intoxicating
draught, rendered them an easy conquest,
and they were carefully secured to await
the punishment due to their crimes. The
fisherman and his comrades then rowed
for the vessel, and tears of joy bedewed
his weather-beaten face on finding that
the wife of his guest had escaped unin
jured. When he descended into the ca
bin, she at first seemed unconscious of his
approach, so much had her senses been
overpowered by the late.scenes of horror.
When at length she aroused from the
stupor in which he had found her, she in
formed him that she remained the only
survivo^^l those who had taken passage
in thcP^^gl; and O ! she exclaimed, that
I could share their fate To me far more
welcome the watery grave of my husband
than what I hourly fear, the embrace of
his murderer. For some moments, the
tears of the fair and disconsolate mourner
unmanned our generous fisherman ; but
at length collecting himself, he bid her
not despair ; that the objects of her terror
were beyond the power of injury, and
though separated from the one whom she
loved, she should never want a protector
while he had a single arm to raise in her
defence. But, he continued, perhaps your
husband is still alive. Some of the pas
sengers have been picked up severely
wounded indeed, but not beyond recove
ry. At last he unfolded to her the happi
ness that was in store. But with all his
caution, nature sunk under excess of emo
tion ; and he trembled lest all his labors
should have been bestowed in vain. Their
joy at meeting no pen can adequately
describe. Suffice it to say, that after
kneeling to that Being who had restored
them as it were to life, their first care
, was the welfare of the fisherman. A sum
sufficient to render him independent was
immediately bestowed, and the only re
turn they requested was, that they might
retain the dog who had been so instru
mental in producing this joyous meeting.
But here the fisherman pleaded in turn.
He said his reward had been greater than
his labors deserved or his heart desired.
He hoped that they would not charge him
with ingratitude; hut the dog, he said,
patting him on the face, had been his only
companion during the long and dreary
winters he had passed among those rocks
—that there was no other living creature
whom he could call friend—and in fine,
rather than to part with one so faithful,
he would return their bounty ; preferring
his hut, his poverty, and his dog, to wealth
and solitude. You shall not part, says the
stranger, and sorry I arn to have given a
moment’s pain to a heart so feeling. Take
this, said he, presenting a large addition
to his former donation ; and if it be more
than sufficient for your own wants, I know
it will be employed as all wealth ought to
be—in alleviating the distresses of your
fellow beings.
| In all societies it is advisable to associ
| ate if possible with the highest; not that
' the highest are always the best, but, be
cause if disgusted there, we can at any.
time descend; but if we begin with the
lowest, to ascend is impossible. In the
grand theatre of human life, a box ticket
< takes us through the ho ire.
To cite the examples oi history, in order
to animate us to virtue, or to arm us with
fortitude, this it is to call up the illustri
ous dead, to inspire and to improve the
living. But the usage of those civilians
who cite vicious authorities for worse
purposes, and enforce the absurdest prac
tice by the oldest precedent, this it is to
bequeath to us, as an heir-loom, the errors
of our fore-fathers, to confer a kind of im
mortality on folly, making the dead more
powerful than time, and more sagacious
than experience, by subjecting those that
are upon the earth, to the perpetual mal
government ot those that are beneath it.
WAGER $ BECKHAM
I ITAVE on hand, a very general as
I- sortment of
WINTER GOODS,
Consisting of every necessary and use
ful article of Dry Goods, Groceries, Hard
ware, Queensware, and Liquors of the
very first quality.
Purchasers will do well to call and fur
nish themselves with goods on the most
reasonable terms.
December 25.
BOOT. W. BALDWIN
MOST respectfully tenders his medi
cal services to the residents of Har
pers-Ferry and also to those of the adjoin
ing- country. He has taken up his resi
; dence at Mr. William Graham’s Inn,
where, on application, he may be found.
FURTHER.
He has just received and opened a ge
neral and extensive assortment of fresh
DRUGS and MEDICINES, all of which
he will sell on terms highly accommodat
ing- to purchasers. Said drugs and medi
cines will be exhibited and sold in a part
of the store room, on the bank of the She
nandoah, lately in the occupancy of Mor
gan & Shutt, merchants.
Jan. 8.
E. C. BREEBIN,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
PRACTISES in the superior and in
ferior Courts of Jefferson and Lou
donn counties. He will also attend regu
larly the high court of chancery for the
Winchester district.
Harpers-Ferry, Dec. 18.
NOTICE.
WE are under the necessity of re
questing a final settlement with all
those who stand indebted to us in any
way, and in order to save costs do advise
delinquents to call and close their ac
counts, and pay their notes to E. C. Bree
! din, Esq.
HUMPHREYS St WARK.
Harpers-Ferry, Dec. 18.
NOTICE.
HAVING been constituted agent for
the firm of Humphreys isf Wark, I
must request all persons indebted to them,
either by note or account, to make pay
ment without delay; otherwise I shall be
constrained to institute suits.
Dec. 18. E. C. BREEDIN.
TO TAILORS.
THE subscriber wishes to employ two
or three Journeymen Tailors. None
i but steady men and excellent workmen
will be received. To such, constant em
: ployment and the highest wages will be
: given. URIAH A. NORRIS.
Flarpers-Ferry, Va. Jan. 8, 1822.
gCT® The editors of the National Intel
ligencer will please insert the above three
; times, and forward their account to this
office for settlement.
SALE OF NEGROES.
THE subscribers will sell, at private
sale, to good masters,
Thirty or forty Valuable Slaves,
a part of the estate of Adam S. Dandridge,
deceased. A liberal credit will be given.
PHIL. C. PENDLETON,
H. St. G. TUCKER,
JOHN R. COOKE.
Jan. 8,
NEGROES FOR SALE.
WILL be sold, on Thursday the 31st
inst. at Robert Fulton’s Hotel in
Charlestown,
Four Negro Men, one Woman,
and two children, belonging to the estate
of the late George Washington. One of
the men is a first rate blacksmith, and the
others are well acquainted with farming.
The terms will be made known on the day
of sale.
JAMES STUBBLEFIELD,
Agent for Thomas Todd, Esq,
Jan. 8.
AN ESTRAY.
C1AME to the subscriber’s, on Tues
) day the 1st inst. trespassing as an
estray, a BARROW SHOAT, with an
under-bit and a slit in his left ear, and a
crop off the right. The owner can haAre
him again, by proving property, and pay
ing charges. J. HARDING,
< Jan. 8.
NEW YORE CASH. SYOUA.
y|ANIEL A. WEED, having taken
§ jP into co-partnership JACOB WAR
ING, who Avill stay in New York for the
purpose of purchasing- goods by auction
or otherwise, solely for cash, the business
will in future be conducted under the
firm of
WEED &; WARING,
who offer for sale, a complete assortment
of Dry Goods, Hardware, Crockery, Gro
ceries, and Medicines, which they engage
to sell low for CASH only. Also, just re
ceived an additional assortment of
READY MADE CLOTHING,
a quantity of Sugar, Coffee, Molasses^
Raisins, Tobacco, Mustard, 8cc. &e.
WEED £c WARING.
D. A. Weed requests all those indebt
ed to him to call and settle their accounts
immediately.
Harpers-f erry, Jan. 15.
“selling ofFaFcostT
1J?ETER CON LAN being desirous of
closing his business on account of
the state of his health, it being his inten
tion to leave this country, he will sell ins'
ENTIRE STOCK OF GOODS,
at cost for cash, consisting of the follow
ing articles :
Eighteen pieces of broad Cloths ; seve
ral pieces of double milled blue and drab
Cassimere; Cassinets arid Vestings, as
sorted ; Corduroy and Velvet ; l ea and
white Flannells; Whitney Blankets ; Cas
simere Shawls and Bombazets, assorted ;
3-4, 7-8, 4-4, 9-8, 5-4, and 6-4 brown and
bleached Sheetings and Shirtings; do
mestic Plaids; Stripes and Denhams;
superior Bed Ticking; German and Irish
Linen; lambs’wrool, worsted, and cotton
Stockings; Guernsey Frocks ; Sarsnetts;
Senshaws ; Italian Crape ; Canton ditto,
plain and figured; flag and' bandanna
j Handkerchiefs; silk and cotton Shawls;
! hinety-five pieces of Calicoes and Ging
nams, and a few pieces of most splendid
Furniture Calico; book, jaconet, mull,
I striped, cross-barred, and fancy Muslin
and Cravats ; ladies silk Hose and Gloves;
beaver and buckskin Gloves ; green Book
ing; tortoise shell and other Combs ; one
dozen of Leghorn Bonnets and Flats;
one dozen of very handsome Straw Bon
nets; also, a very elegant assortment of
bonnet and other Ribbons &: Trimmings ;
flowered Paper; leather and wool Hats,
superior Castor Flats, made by Jacob Ro
gers Sc son, of Baltimore; men’s, wo
men’s, misses’, boy’s and children Shoes ;
Queensware and Flardware; clothes and
sweeping Brushes; hair and tooth ditto;
Sugars, Coflee, Tea, Honey and Molasses;
Madeira, Port and Lisbon’ Wone ; Rye
Whiskey, Rum, and Jamaica Spirits;
Pepper, AJspice, Ginger, Cloves, Nut
megs, Indigo, Allum, Copperas, Saltpe
tre, Florence Oil, Window Glass, Cut
Nails, and an assortment of genuine Me*
dicine and patent Blacking..
N. B. All these goods will be found
worthy the attention of persons disposed
to buy for Cash, as they are fresh goods.
P. CONLAN feels much obliged to
such of his customers as were good
enough to call and settle their accounts;
he would likewise inform those who will
not settle their accounts, by note or other
wise, that it is very probable they will
shortly hear from his Law Agent.
Jan. 15.
Grand National Lottery,
FIFTH CLASS,
NOW DRAWING.
GRAND SCHEME.
j prize of
1 do.
2 do.
5 do.
100 do.
10 do.
105 do.
Besides an immense number
S 100,000
25.000
10.000
5.000
1.000
500
100
of smaller
to a prize.
prizes, and not two blanks
This is the most brilliant scheme ever
offered to public patronage, and the ob
jects for; which the funds are raised, are
no less interesting to an enlightened and
benevolent community, viz : the erection
of a City Hall to beautify the Metropolis
of the Nation, and a Penitentiary for the
melioration of convicts, and the building
of School Houses for the education of the
poor.
Whole Tickets
Halves
Quarters
Eighths
$15
7
3
r
00
50
75
87$
Tickets and Shares, in the greatest va-'
riety of numbers, in the above Lottery,
for sale at G. DAVIS’s
Truly Fortunate Lottery Qfficey
Bridge street, Georgetown :
Where has been sold more high prizes
than at any other office in the District of
Columbia.
December 4.
REMOVAL.
EC. BREEDIN, Attorney at Law, has
® removed his office to that which is
occupied by Mr. P. Ploffman, the Inspec- *
tor of Arms. Jan. 8. *
“ PRINTING
Neatly and expeditiously executed at this
office, and on reasonable, t«mn.