The independent. [volume], December 26, 1860, Image 1

About The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874

Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS

                
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J, ttr. ROBERTS, Editor and: Proprietor.
1
OSKALOOSA, KANSAS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1860. iff w-
VOLUME lr N0.45.'
r
THE INDEPENDENT.
rCBUSBID XTSRT WKDNXSDAT, IN
ikila( JtffenoB County, Kansas.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
Saile copy one year, in advance $2.00.
Ten copies one year to one addrew 15.00.
Twenty -- 25.oo.
fifty " " " " " 50.00.
TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
0 square, IS lines or less, first insertion $1 00
each additional " 50
two months, 2 50
- " three " 4 00
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m eaartsT of a eoluasn three asontha, 10 00
" atx 15 00
" twelve - 55 00
Changeable quarterly . SO 00
Oe half of a colaaw three " 15 00
itx " 25 00
" twalra " 40 00
Changeable quarterly 50 00
One column thrte months, 30 00
- six " 45 00
twelve CO 00
Cbtnffrable quarterly 75 00
Editorial notices 30 conts per line; Local 15
eeaaj. For announcing the name of candidate
for office, one dollar and a halt each, to be paid
in advance. Yearly advertisers will be required
to pay quarterly. Transient advertisement? muat
be pail in advance. Communications of a per
gonal character will be charged one dollar per
taan, to be act in nonpareil.
firfro d ift.
the Buiurara imp.
mvnm (fetfe
HENRY BUCKMASTEB, M. D.,
Physician and Surgeon,
SKA LOOS A, KAS8A5,
Office South side of Public Square, adjoininf
Crawford'i Store.
Residence in the (tea dwelling kooee, Nortk
Liberty street. 12-tf
E. B. JOHNSON, M. D.,
ranciAi aid susQioi,
Ofica am west aids of Samara, ia tha ofSce for
anarlv oeaacird br Dr. A. J. Picrc. Residence
corner of Liberty and Hetkiaaer eta.. Ckaloesa
Jetseaec, Caejaty, K. T. -tf
W. X. ALLEN,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
OSKALOOSA, KANSAS.
Will practice in the Courts of Jefleraon County.
HfPanicular attention paid to the payment
af taxes in Jefferson County .H tf
a
J. L. SPEER,
1TOI1XET AND COUNSELLOR AT LAW
ROCK CREEK TOWNSHIP,
(Fire m::es weft of Osawkcc.)
Wlli ettend promptly to ill business entrus
to hit rare. -3n'pl
JAKES L. CARTER,
VKALLK IS
Hy friend Harry is the happiest of
men. He has the most romantic cot
tage in the vicinity of Philadelphia. It
is but nine miles from the city.and near
a fine old turnpike, so that a span of
blood horses will take yoa there in forty
minutes. His wife is beautiful, sweet
tempered, and loves him devotedly.
"Did I ever tell you of my aarrow
escape from being blown up in a burn
ing vessel?" said he. one evening.look
ing at his wife.
I shook my head in the negative.
"Well then," snid he. "draw your
chair closer to the lire, aud I trill tell
jou:
"It was a night in the tropics.during
the Isst war. We had been in pursuit
of a heavy merchantman, but a fog
coming up, she was shut in from our
sight, and for more than au hour re
mained invisible. Suddenly, however,
th moon broke forth, aad we saw the
chase close-hauled, and on the very
point of escaping us. We instantly
made all sail, but the wind was so un
certain that the stranger kept his ad
vantage, the air being comparatively
still with us, while he had a respecta
ble breeze. At length it fell a dead
ealm, the chase being by this tint sev
eral miles off.
"She could now ba seen, rising and
falling lazily upon her swells, her white
sails scarcely moving from her masts.
AU at once, a cloud of thick black
aaoke aaddenly puffed ap ber fort
hatchway, followed by a long, vivid
stream of fire, that shot up higher into
the midnight sky.
"We saw immediately that the flames
must bare been raging some time in
the hold, and that they had attaiatd'aa
intensity which would defy every ef
fort to subdue them. It was a fearful
sight. The eager element shot along
the rigging, ran swiftly up the foremast,
and wrapping the hamper in a sheet of
fire, streamed almost perpendicularly
upwards of a fathom or two above the
tuck. There wa3 no breeze; but the
undulations of the atmosphere swept
the dens smoke to one side, forming as
it nere a gloomy curtain against which
die lurid flames sltunc in terrible relief.
(Every object on Loard could now be
open book; but no other traces of hu
man beings were diseernable around.
"The danger meanwhile grew more
imminent. 1 was standing as it were,
above a mine that had been sprung, for
should the flames reacli the inagaziuo,
inevitable destruction must ensue. Nor
could that catastrophe bo much longer
postponed. The devouring element
i
broadsides bad been discharged at onct.
For a moment the burning fragments
sailed aloft, falling on every hand about;
while the boat rolled to and fro upon
the agitated swell, we held our breaths
in momentary expectation of death.
"But we were raostf miraculously
preserved. The offing we had gained,
though not sufficient to ensure safety.
had already gained possession of all proved great enoagh to relieve us from
DBO&S- BOOKS- & iwtinctly seen, and wo noticed that the
Ci m J mr A Hr P T) V I wno' crew rushed aft. A signal of
O J-il VX! JCJ XV J. .
PEBFUMERV.PAtTStOlL$,
DYF-STUFF &c, dc, c,
C.iir.rn rcinl Street, between Pcccnd 4 Third
ATCfflSOX JTAXSAS.
'om m. rates, T. A. STZVXISOir
Atchison. Oakaloosa.
PRICE STEVENSON,
ATTORSEYS-AT'LA W
OSKALOOSA, KANSAS.
o
Will practice Law in Jefferson and adjoininf
Cooaties. Pay taxes for nonresidents. Especial
attention given to Collections. A retainer of
atUtar awatber of the firm trill swan tba services
beta.
DAMEL W. ADAMS,
AND
FORWARDING MERCHANT,
.mciisox, imis.
, ."Particular attention paid to receiving, a n
-orwardiog goods to the interior.
JAMES M'CAHON,
: ATTTORNEY-AT-LAW,
Leireiwtrtfc, Itiiti.
0
'.' Will practice in the District Courts
;f Jefferson and Jackson Counties, Stf
STINSON HAVENS,
Attanwj aai ftuMUan at law,
.-0 " Mak aad Delaware 81a. J
;.' w.rri ccrr, at lists.
DR. F. T. SPEES,
I OSKAL008A. KANSAS.
f oLkaw" J""081 the eitiaens
distress the next instant was shown on
that quarter.
"The boats were immediately lower
ed and the men hurried to their sta-
tions and ware soon on their way to
ward the burning ship. But swift as
was our progress, that of the destroy
ing element was still more no. The fire
had spread with such fearful rapidity
as to wrap the whole fort part of the
ship in flames, and threatened to con
sume her before we could arrive. Since
Jiad found vent, it had raged with
redoubled fury, until now the shrouds,
the-foremast, the bowsprit, the yards,
everything was sheeted with fire,
which, whirling round and round, as
cended spirally to the mast-head shoot
ing its forky tongues out on every hand.
"Meanwhile the flames had broken
out from the after-hatch, and catchiag
at once to the ratlins, leaped from rope
to rope, ran wildly up the rigging
spreading almost instantly to the huge
lower sails, hissing, flashing, and roar
ing as they went, until at length the
whole ship seemed a mass of lurid fire,
and nothing was left untouched but the
narrow quarter-deck.on which the now
despairing crew had gathered ia crowds
some eagerly endeavoring to lower the
oaly boat that had escaped the flames,
some frantically orying out for aercy.
A soon as we were near enough the
crew jumped overboard, and were all
picked np by the boats. As we turned
to go back to our vessel, oat, of them
remarked that there were two persons
oa board aa old aaa and bis daughter,
who wert passeagtrs. I gave the or
der, aad our boat was qaickly at the
side of tiit burning ship. I atoaated
her side by a rope that huaf over her
qnarter, rapidly traversed tht deck in
the midst of tremendous heat, and
darted down the companion way, leav
ing (he flames not five feet frtts its
entrance.
"Tht cabin was a large one, and fit
ted up with taste. A lady's glove lay
on sa Ottoman, and beside it was an
around, and even now might be eating
its way ravenously toward it. Besides,
if I paused a moment longer, tht fire
would roach the companion-way, and
all hope of escape from the cabin be
cut off.
"Had it been my own lift that was
endangered, I would not have hesitated
in periling it to tho utmost; but when
I remembered that a dozen gallant fel
lows from my crew, as well as a score
of others from the rescued sufferers.
would be involved in my owa fate, I
could not doubt as to my duty.
"These reflections, however, had not
occupied more than the instant in which
I had been throwing open successively
the doors of the state-rooms. Alas.all
were empty 1 With a heavy heart 1
was about to mount the eompanionway,
when I noticed that a massave curtain
at the further end seemod to divide off
a smaller cabin aft of the oat 1 was in.
Without a moment's delay I rushed to
ward it, hastily lifted it aside, and there
I beheld a sight I never shall forget.
'This after cabin waa much smaller,
but far more luxurious than the other.
But after the first hasty survey, I stv
noiuing out, two uutnan oeings. une
of them was a gray haired man, appa
rently about sixty five, dratted ia tht
gentlemanly costume of a former day.
He was beading wildly over tht almost
inanimate form of a fair girl, reclining
on the cushions. Never bad I seen a
being who looked more beautiful than
that pale creature Jaacme J al that mo
ment. At tiit noise made by my en
trance she started aad raised ber head,
and then fainted. It was no time to
hesitate. Hastily raising the stranger
in ay arms, I called upon the old man
to follow, dashed into the front cabin.
up the eompanionway, and to my utter
horror found the flames had crossed
tht entrance ! For a second I paused.
Death was behind, destruction perhaps
before. Laying my hand on tho old
man's shoulder, I urged him ahead,
hurriedly threw the shawl of the fair
girl around her face and form, made a
bold, desperate push for life, and in
another instant had gained the quarter
deck. The boat shut to the sido, and
a dozen arms were extended to receive
my burden. I carefully gave it in
charge of the nearest, almost slumj the
old man after, and springing with a
brand into tht stern sheets, waved my
arm aad shouted, 'Shove off board
give way and if tver you pulled be
fore, pall bow, for your lives, my men!'
"I waa obeyed. With one soul they
bent their brawny arms to the task and
made tht boat whril from tht quarter.
and thea sent her with the velocity of
a sea-gull over tht deep. Not a word
was spoken. The old man sat bstida
e in the bewilderment of gralitudo,
and astonishment, and only half-dissi
paled fright while the form of his still
inanimated ehild was extended, unaid
ed for the moment, by his side. It su
indeed no time fofdelay. Every man
knew he was pulling for life or death.
"The other boat was nearly a mile
ahead, skimming swiftly along from the
deserted ship. Far on the moonlight
horizun lay our schooner.
"Down to tht right was the burning
ship, presenting a vast body of lurid
fire, that roared along her sides, blazed
from htr ports, eddied spirally up the
masta, and leaped in huge masses up
iato tht sky. Now and thin, as her
guns became heated, they went off with
a rtar like thunder. Meantime, the
dense tmokt gathering in a thick cloud
above, hang like a pall over the coaautn
ing ship. For some moments the flames
appeared to die ia part away; bat all at
once a atrtaas of intense firt, that al
most blinded tht eyes, leaped perpen
ditularly ap from tht decks; tht uori
aoa for miles around was illuminated
with a light mora vivid than that of
tht brightest aooaday; a part of the
foremast, lifted bodily out, shot like an
arrow almost a oablt'a length on high;
a concussion ensued that made tho boat
shiver like a rttd, and rock a moment
frightfully about aad then u. stunning
roar followed, sounding as if a thousand
inevitable destractioa. Had any of
the tailing timber struck us, we should
have all gono down togother. As it
was, it was one of tho narrowest es
capes I ever had made.
"Tht deafening uproar recalled tht
senstt of tht fair girl at my side. But
I will not describe her gratitude, and
that of her parent, to myself, whom
they persisted in considering the pre
server of their livos.
"Suffice it to say, we were soon ou
board; tht captain resigned Lis own
cabin to tht strangers, and then I had
leisure to learn some particulars con
cerning their history from the rescued
crew. They wert easily told. Mr.
Thornton, the father of Isabel, was a
wealthy West Indiawan, and was just
returning from Great Britian with his
daughter, who bad been there for sev
eral years obtaining btr education. Be
fore hit vessel tailed, she had been fit
ted up by Mr. Thoratoa in a style
bordering on eastern luxury, with fui
niture intended principally for his mau-1
aion house at Jamaica.
"Early next morning I received an
invitation from Mr. Thornton to call on
him. As I entered tht cabin.be frxnL-
ly extended bis hand, and presented
at to bis daughter. I have bad many
mosnaata of pleasure, bat I nevtr felt
as I thea felt, when Isabel Thornton,
extending her delicate hand to ma with
her sweetest smile, ottered her thanks.
"Many, many yearn hart passed, but
I shall never forget tht scene of that
eventful night.'
"But what became of Mr. Thornton
and daughter?' I asked, as he conclud
ed his stoiy.
"Isabel is now my bride said he.
turning to his wife with a smile, 'and
often, whea I speak of the sacrifices
she hns made ia leaving her aative land
for me, she reminds me with a grateful
heart that I saved her life on that event
ful night."
Tht wife looked up as he spoke, and
sworn baehelor as I am I envied
Harry the gaze of those confiding eyes.
Recollections of the last War.
ISJisfrlniis.
TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS.
Having made up my mind near a
month ago to resign the Office of Gov
ernor of Kansas, and that decision be
ing only interrupted by the most unfor
tunate disturbances in Linn and Bour
bon Counties, 1 bow renew the deter
mination. I woald withhold the resig
nation a few weeks longer if I could be
of any use in restoring order, allaying
public excitement, or in protecting the
citizen, in the peaceful possession of his
home, but the Government of the Uni
ted States has aeon fit to entrust thin to
General Harnuy, that whom no ouo is
moro capable of accomplishing all that
his restricted instrauions permit.
I can therefore be of no more servico
to you than tae able and faithful Secre
tary of the Territory, Mr. Bebee, on
whom the responsibility of my office
will temporarily fall.
Since my arrival amongst you two
years ago, I think you will, bear me
witness, that I have labored with an
eye single to your welfare. I know
this has been my desire, though I may
have frequently come short of what was
expected. Not believing in the doc
trine, that he who fills a public station
has performed his mission when he has
filled his own coffers Jaud played the
petty politiciaa, instead of acting tht
Statesman, and j honoring his. offico by
the strictest probity, and the most unsel
fish, perfomauco of duty ia his inter
course with every citizen who comes
within the influence of his position. I
adopted the model I considered bawd
upon honesty, sound reason, and in ac
cordance with the true theory of oar
Democratic institutions.
Officers wert not made for legal plun
der, aor our Government for official pe
cuniary gain. They were made by the
ptoplt for their own benefit aad batter
preservation of life and property, and
when converted into a scourge of the
makers, it is treason against the origin
al purpose, and dissatisfaction and dis
order must be the aad eoaseqaeuces..
There are few instances in history where
a people, threw off a good government.
out raucu oitensr suoauiea even to
disgrace and long oppression, in pref
erence to trusting to an .effort com
mensurate with relief.
All good men, therefore, in public
position,listen to the people's complaints
aud if in accordance with law and ius-
ic mitigate the evils complained of.and
thus restore harmony in the body politic
and confidence in the administrators of
the law.
If in adopting such maxims as my
guide, it has lead to missappreheasion
in any quarter, especially where it was
my desire to please, it is my misfortune,
and as unpleasant as this may-be, it is
less so.tuan tbe reflection would have
been, to leave you forever.over whom I
have presided.coascious that I had done
you a wrong or failed to do all in my
k e r ior your, peace ana general pros
perity. Though differing with a ma
jority of you in politics, I am most baa-
yjjii my reuremtai to testily ,tbal on all
and every occasion, I have received
nothing at your hands, personally, bat
kindness and a friendly intercourse.
I feel happy too, in saying, that outside
of my official duties, I have never lost
sight of the great interests of your Ter
ritory.or tho happiness and weifare.both
present aud future, of every citizen.
Ana inougB present or distant, I shall
not forget hereafter that tbe Territorv
of Kansas, take it all in all, is ont of
tho most favored portions of tht earth
for grazing and agriculture. The cli
mate and toil are eminently calculated
to nourish, winter and summer.millions
of sheep and cattle. For these purpos
es it has no superior, and I feel as tho'
it would not bt extravagant to say, no
equal. Certainly not within my knowl
edge. But a community of farmers and
herdsmen, abova all other people, want
a civilization of order, of friendly inter
course, of quiet homes, and a govern
ment of the least possible interference.
Loafers, vagabonds, and idlers of nil
kinds, are most aggravating sores in
their midst. Most aafortaaatelv this
beautiful region of clear skiea and rich
verdure, has been christened by outlaw
ry and over-ran by murderers, thieves
and ou'easts from every region, attract
ed by the confusion of forced settle
ment, aad tht most aatoward iatermd
dling from abroad.
To restore that order now.thal should
have begun with your beainninflr. is the
bounden duty of every good citizen, of
whatever condition.of whatever politics
or religion. Editors, Politicians, Di
vines, should write, and speak, and pray
for the one great purpose perfect pence
and a strict observance to the laws, both
human and divine. Without this you
can have bo hope of either contentment
or prosperity happiness will be driven
from your health stones, and dispair
drive from your midst your noblest and
best citizens. Animosities encouraged
aud brooded over grow like the weeds of
the held und root out every good thing.
Threats of personal violence are the
weapons of cowards, and the instigation
of the assassins dagger in more stealthy
hands. Niirht. which was made for
rest and sleep, when converted into car-
lmial!l nml fl'.A ratlifritirr nf cifrAt lanu
with oaths and grips of the order, stim-
, ulated to robberies and murders, for
I some real or fancied wrung, can neither
. bo visited nor countenanced by any up
I right citizen by no professing Christian
' wiio is no', an abomination in the siirht
of that Being, whom lie hypocritically
professes to worship.
When the evil-doer is covered with
the mantle of parly politics, and wrest
ed from tho hands of justice ns a parti
zan measure, the axe is laid al tho root
of our free institutions, and tho crud
est of Despotisms, will rise up, a monu
ment of infamy, to mark their place.
Portent ous clouds already thieken
around tho horizon of this most .glori
ous Republic, whsoo brief path has been
trowed with so raauy deeds of re no it tt
und the nobleness of man until it has
become the hope and'beacon-light of all
nations struggling for freedom, and tht
envy and dread of Kings nnd Emperor.
In this hour of national gloom, let Kan
sas spurn disorder from within her bor
ders, and open her almost unlimited
prairies, rich and beautiful by the hand
of nature, to peaceful abodes, and a re
treat from impending strifo around the
once quiet and happy fireside of our
father), and kindred. Happv would I
be could I pursuade myself that there
was such a future for Kansas. After
her trial ef commotions and disorder
can she not step forward as an exem
plar, aad as tho battle-worn soldier,
show her past wounds as a warning to
others against so sad and frightful an
experiment?
Can I not point with same confidence
to the Thanksgiving sermon at Plym
outh Church, in the town of Lawrence,
on the SOth of November, as the day
and hour of tho. inauguration of this
prayed for era? Ealsehood baa done
ita work falsehoods spread broadcast
ia every coaotivable shape, until truth
as ashamed to appear ia pablie, lie
at tha foundation of our misfortunes.
Let tht truth, aad nothing but tht
truth, be plainly and emphatically spo
ken, for truth has a keen edge when
spoken from tht btart,and your ilb will
disappear.
Yoa are at present passing through a
wilderness of trials, but a patient cour
age will bring all right again, and like
the purification of precious metals, you
will shine the brightei aftvrthe separa
tion from the dross. If I can be of
any service 1 will not be slow in speak
ing in your behalf, and making your
.ijmin. tvuarem more uan
ger of the exaggerations of untrust
worthy individuals than flora a dispoj
sition in the merciful to give n here ne
cessities rea'ly exist, lie that gives
asks and deserves candor, and ih&plaiu
una simple train is ins only-reward.
Tht really unfortunate and suffering
should have no hesitation in makin"
their wants known, bat those who are
able tt supply themselves, even at some
sacrifice, should not take from the fund
of tht widow aad orphan, or tht truly
unfortunate. I regret to say. thai nu
merous complaints of this aature have
reached my eara.kaaTwell as of the
wasteful misapplication of gift funds.
Hoping that these .reports want confirm
ation, and that the complaints will bo
closely watched, 1 pass them with this
remark only.
True charily has nothing to do- with
tht opinions, politics, or religion of the
sufferer. It is a higher aad nobler work
than attains to partizanship of any .kind,
or the selfish ambition of demago"ues
who rush to do good, only far themselves.
Be careful, be of good courage, be eco
nomical, for you have mauy mouths
yet to reach another crop. Trust not
too much to repetitions of cliarity.
February, March and April will be your
trying time, when not only food for
yourselves, but seed for new crops will
at wanted, and something also for your
work animal in the spring. Lessons
of etonomy, if now rightly learned,
will be of service through life.
If, in the madness of tht hour, when
man seems to have lost confidence in his
fellow-man, there should be a dissolu
tion of these States, you will appreciate
the advice I gave at the sitting of the
Wyandott Convention, nnd on which I
enlarged in several ipeecb.es I made in
tha fall following, that the boundaries
of tht State of Kansas "should include
all the present Territory and extend, if
possible, to ibt r'lattt river north.
From what appeared, to bt the reckless
count of polititians and' the widening
oreacn oi sectional and geographical
politics J havthadjjjoanyr foiebodings
lor t!ie last three years, that a crisis
was approaching that would require all
the cool patriotism of the country to
pass in saiety. in tne possibility of a
separation, which it is aimost sacrilig-
ious to imagine. Kansas wauld herself,
with such boundaries, bo an Empire
lying in the geographical ceutre of tho
States, and midway between the Atlan
tic and Pacific, and peaceful herself.
would be virtually out of the regions
of trouble, and a neutral highway be
twixt the interests of the two oceans.
With large Territory, combining miner
al with agricultural treasures, she would
soon command a positon and influence
for the safety of her own ci.izens tha
no other State could occupy in tims of
strife and discord, such-as must fo'Iow
the dissolution of our nitiounl Govern
ment. Lightly as suoh reasoning m iv
have been received a rear l'o thev .ira
to-day of sorrowful itnporuiice.
Under all circumstances it behooves
you to put a stop to the tricked border
raids, rutninj your own people and dii-
turbing the peace and friendship of a
neighboring fatate. lhe frightful con
dition of society along the south eastern
border has no parallel in tho history of
mis country, minions wouiti no', re
store that region to its proper position
of prosperity and wealth, annihilated
by these monstrous forays, to say noth
ing of tho loss of life and tho desolated
hearts of mothers and children for
which there can bo no compensation.
Missouri, a large, powerful and well
disponed State, will not, cannot, always
submit to such a state of things. The
cries of distress and the appeals for
protection will be responded to era Ion"
. .i... is: . .i , . ..
from me ai'-sissippi to itu ooraer line.
In tho nature of things such must be
the result, and who desires to contem
plate the end, let alone instigate it by
wrongs. It is not now too late, but in
a very brief tiiuo it may bo, to avoid so
sad and terrible a consequence. Let
your acts and words prevent even its
contemplation. Frown down every sen
timent or act that would lead to such a
catastrophe.
It is a matter of public notoriety that
I have been connected with tho news
paper press for a great number of years
commencing in the summer of 1828
and ending in the summer of 1857, with
a few short intervals. Having taken
an active part in all the highly exciting
political discussions of so long a period,
I feel it a duty I owe my country and
myself, that I should not bo a silent
spectator of the most dangerous con
troversy that ever impended over the
American people. Like a ship at sea
foundering in a storm, tht sailors in
wild confusion, without compass or
commander.
In a brief period, I txpect to bt able
therefore to communicate with tat pto
plt, aad lay before them some ttcta
that cannot but interest them, whetner
exactly agreeable to every reader or not.
Our country just now is of more
value than party, nf higher interest than
aspiring mea, aad it will take tht com
bined efforts of the wise, tho good and
the patriotic, to wrest the Constitution
and the Union, given to us as our in
heritance, from the d-tn'jtrs whit-h
"V
threaten on every side. 1 ' - -x
With very great-respect,- l t
SfMARy.
Lecompton, KT. T.sXhc. 17, 1C60.
The FamlljSitting-Sooia
xs
Wo copy;the following artieie from
Tub Hoes asd Gardeh, a .monthly
magaaiae, published atCleveland, tO.
This is the pleasaatest roomria.tiiA
house. It is that to which the heart tf
the absent, or home-sick child, always
tarns; it is the Caaba of every domestic
Meeca. It ia tht room , that makes
home; there the family lives, and there
the family life Bows in its purest, sweet
est stream; and hence, w' call it the
fcatuly-Toom. There is tho fouatain &f
tht household life; hence, to many of us
it is known as the living-room. Though
these words are aot found in any diu
lionary, they are found in every heart.
Here the family ait together here,
those domestic accomplishments, wri
ting, sewing and reading, .art carried
on. Here the children play; here, even
the cat purrs, and tht family dog has
his place. This is the only room that
is found ia every hoase large or small.
There may be no parlor, no dining
room, no bedroom, bo kitchen, but a
family room there always is. It may
bt used for a drawing-room, or a dining
room, or ,a sleeping-room, or even a
kitchen, bat it alwaysf remains the fam
ily room. All other uses are temporary
and exigent, this is permanent aud per
petual. As this is the pleasanlest room intlis
hdart, it should bt made the nleasanteat
iu the house. It should bt large and
airy; ita iocatioa should invite the sun
shine and air. The furniture should
be plain eaough not to bt formal, and
aottoopIaiBtobteomferublt. If there
ia room, a few lower pots aheuld greet
one of tht windows. A book-cast "is
indispensible.jrad children's books to
fill one or mora of ita shelves. "Robin
son Crusoe," "Arabian Nights," and
"Pilgrim's Progress," should not ba
wanting iu any family that can afford
them. Engravings, now so cheap and
good, and particularly stereoscopic
views, ought to be the aim of every
household. And here let ua say, that
every one can afford to get wliat he
really wants. What we can't afford to
get, is what our envy or vanity craves.
Tho best things for us are those which
our heart desires which we cau appre
ciate which express our character,
and arc an extension of ourselves
Whether such things aro books, pic
tures, or flowers, we can get them; and
thee, us belonging ;tp the heart, belong
to the family room.
The window of this room should hav0
j a good outlook, for from ii come in many
thoughts and suggestions to stimulate
and adorn tho inner life. From tho
window of this room the children first
study N.tture. Hern, eagorly crowding
to the panes, they listen to the monoton
ous rain, or watch tht falling leaf, Here
they follow the snow aa it comes down
in exciting whirls; or dreamily, and
with distended eyes, gaze at the large
flakes sinking to tiit ground so pun
and noiselessly, as if shaken from the
wings of an angel. Here it is, that
each day 3tarts afresh the stream of
household life. Hero, after breakfast,
when tho larger children have gone to
school, and tho father to his business,
the mother, with the smaller children
playing about her, sits doing her more
quiet work; peacefully and evenly the
current flows on past noon till tea-time,
when the larger children, with stronger
voices and louder tread, have come
from school, and the fathor from his
business ; then the stream deepens and
widens, and tht family life is agaiu at
full tide. From this point it begins to
ebb. One after another of the tributa
ries dries up. Little hands grow still,
little voices are hushed. little eyes close;
the roar of tht grate is hushed, its eyes
of flame grow dim, and one by one the
red coals are quietly sinking to sle-p,
under the grey ashee; the candle is near
the socket, and the molhor thoughtfully
laying aside her work, gathers up the
loose things.putling asidt tht children's
toys, and little shoes and stockings,
quietly takes tht cnndle, aad like a
guardian angel passes out of tht family -room,
and tht day ia done. Who can
forget tht family room ? Itietbeatm
ily school room, aad ahoakl ba made
tha household shrine. Let tht, parlor,
with its finery aad formality, be forgot
ten; tho thought of tha bed-room may
never wake ia tht miad'ef tha aeteat
child, but let not tht aittiag-ieom, tht
living-room, tht family-room die ont
in the heart of your children,.for from
that sacred cell it' tho future house of
your child to ijrow