The Wyandot pioneer., July 07, 1853, Image 1

About The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868

Image provided by: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

                
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" VOL: I, NO. 11.
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,HV THOMAS BVJCJIAXXAN' READ.
Within n Vrood, nj summer's cli'T,
And in a hollowaricieut trunk,
F I flvut te from the world awar,
.To live, juf lin-s it hermit mouk. .
. My coll wiw aliostly sycamore, -
... ., The riaud limbs wenrdead with age;
Decay had carved the gotliio dor -. :
" Which looked into my hermitage.
My library was large and full, ,r . ,
1 r Where, ever as a hermit plods,
; I rend until my eyes were dull ,'
'''Willi tours'; for all those tomes wero Gods
The vine that at my doorway swung
' Hud 'verses' writ on every leaf,
- The very ttonga the bright bees sung s
, Iu honey seeking visits brief
Not brief though each stayed never long
So rapidly .they came and went
, No pause was left iu all their song,
, For while they borrowed still they lent.
All day the woodland minstrels sang
Small feet were in the leaves astir
, And oflen o'er my doorway rangv
' The tap of a blue winged visiter. -
Afar the stately river swayed,
-' And poured itself in giant swells,
While here the brooklet danced and played,
; And gayly rung its liquid bells.
The springs gave me their crystal flood,
f.1 And my contentment made it wing
. And oft I found what kindly food
- Grew on Ihc world-forgotten vine.
The moss, or weeds, or running flower,
Too humble in their hope to climb,
Had in themselves the lovely power
" To riiake mc happier for the time.
f Aud. when the starry night came by,
And stooping looked into my cell,
Then all between the earth and sky
. Was circled in a holier spell.
'A height, and depth, and breadth sublime
- O'erspread the scene, and reached the stars
Until Eternity aud,Timo ' .
; Seemed drowning their dividing bors. .
. And voice which the day ne'er liears,
t. And visions which the sun ne'er sees,
From earth and from the distant spheres.
' ' Come on, the moonlight and the breeze.
Thus day and night my spirit grew
In love with that which round me shone.
Until my calm heart fully knew
The joy it is to be alone.
' ' 1 The time went by till one fair dawn
. I saw against the eastern fires '-' " '
,; ; A Tisionary city drawn,
.. ... With dusky lines of domes and spires. '
, r The wind in sad and fitful spells' : - ;
, : Flew o'er it from the gates of morn,.
Till I could clearly hear the bells
That rung above a world forlorn.
And well X listened to their voice, .-. -.
And deeply pondered what they said
'ill I arose; there was no choice
' I J-ent while yet tlie east washed.
, My wakened heart for utterance yearned -The
clamorous wind had broke the spell
I needs must teach what I had learned
Withia my simple woadland cell.
A GOOD LIFT:
THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE.
:t ; - --:' - .
Br GEORGE VT. BUNGAY. . . -.
-""HV " "CHAPTER X. '
" ;" ' THE MAGXAXIMOfS MERCHANT. ' ' . ; '
. ; ' ? Boston Common is classical .ground
; : i; and its thrillmg history is not theonly
' . '- 1 reason vhy-foreigners as well as our fel-
. . ( 'low citizens make it a place of frequent
resort. It is , handsomely located, just
; 'where the lungs of the city ought to be,
. ' . a and it has been laid out with exquisite
, ' taste. .The, gravel, walks the green
' . patches of sod the umbrasoons trees
, -;v ... ' me magnificent fountain the , variety of
Vale and hill all contribute to make it the
pleasantest promenade ground in this com
monwealth, or country. ' Well, one May
t ' morning, while dilitarians and dyspeptics
were out' health-hunting, and. domestics
.were drawing willow wagon loads of
, young patricians , m pinafores over the
.!' smoothe paths, an incident occurred which
ought not to be forgotten like a dream, nor
: who witnessed it. : .
, Vk. ' usual, here and there "jpre groups
Vpf men cngagc4 in carpets, ' Carpets are
like mortols; they are first admired, then
''t , put down then trodden upon then beat-
eri until their dust goes to dust. That
bright and blessed morning, everything
' r.-r seemed to be full of instruction even the
. . n roe were silent teachers, for their fran-
jchc pointed upward to the land of.living
t spirits, and their roots pointed downward
.to the world of dead hodies., , On. their
. .'boughs, here end there might have seende-
seated birds' jests'," emblems of forsaken
- hearts. These castles in the air were filled
with faded leaves. Life, beauty an'd the
.'' stirring voice . of sopg had departed, as
joy and .'hope quit the hearts, when the
..unrelenting Avinter of adversity sweeps
;away ,our; promising prospects.
. Among the busy, - bustling multitude,
' "iriovlng like a living v river through'-' the
. i common at the time of which 1 write, was
.'- fair-haired , boy, with dark, dreamy eyes
and cherry cheeks. The poor boy was
probably fourteen years of - age. "J1 His
patched garments were gcrupulously .clean
showing positive proof that he had a ti
dy, mother at home, who spared neither
goap nor "Chochituate to keep clean the
clothes. of her brave and, beautiful boy.
, Although he wore an old chip hat, his hair
was brushed smoothe as the wing of a rob
in, and his complexion was so .clear you
might almost "have seen the blood eircu-
' lating through the, delicateljr pencilled
Veins.
... The boy was, evidently, industrious, for
he was then staggering under a bundle of
goods; which' he was carrying tothe Prov
ince depot for some countryman who
had made a purchase of a few articles for
family use, and who had employed this
young express-man to deliver them to the
baggage-master. Being tired, he re
moved the bundle from his shoulder, and
placed it carefully on a bench near a group
of frollicking boys, who were amusing
themselves bv rollinar marbles. When the
lad had wiped the perspiration from his
glowing face, he modestly and politely re
quested one of the boys to lend him a
helping hand in raising the bundle from
the bench to his shoulder. The boy to
whom he spoke was the only son of one
of the wcalthies families in the Pil "rim
city, and he spoke to him because he re
cognized him as a school-mate and class
mate. At first the young patrician paid no at
tention whatever to the lad, but when he
earnestly repeated his request, he said,
sneeringly :
'I I am engaged. Who was your
waiter last year?'
'Just give mc a lift; it will take but a
moment.'
Who arc you?' replied the little aristo
crat. I am James Conner.'
'Well, your father is a laboring man,
let him help you.'
Just at that moment a Beacon street
lady, plainly but richly dressed, ap
proached like a good angel, and after
folding her parasol, cheerfully assisted
him, and then with a bouyant step, a light
heart, and a pleasant face, went on her
way rejoicing. :
It is impossible to perform a good deed
with a good design, without reaping a
reward in this life even ; and it often is a
Greater act of charity to' aid a' child with
his bundle, than to make great donations
to be trumpeted through the world. The
act of purchasing an orange or a paper of
a poor child, is, in the estimation of some
great and good men, ."under certain cir
cumstances, a deed of more consequence
than contributing largely enough to en
dow a university. Good deeds, like good
seeds, may be out of sight and buried in
the soil but, as the gentle shower and
the genial sun will quicken the latter to
life, and cause them to rise in vernal love
liness and beauty, so will kind Providence
bring out the disinterested and noble
deeds of the great hearted, who love to
do good. ' ' "
A few months after the occurrence
which I have stated, it was announced
through the medium of the press, that
there would be a public examination, at
one of the common schools, and the par
ents and other interested parties were
most respectfully invited to attend. ,
A gold medal was to be given to the
best scholar, a silver medal to the second
best, and a handsome book to the third
best. The teachers and the taughtspared
neither pains nor time to make the requis
ite preparations, so as to appear to the best
advantage' at the exhibition. The boys
(some of them at all events) got up early
and sat up late, so as to thoroughly mas
ter their lessons.
At the appointed time the largest room
in the building was filled with scholars
and spectators. Most critically- and
searchingly were the scholars examined in
all the common branches, and as usual,
in Boston, there was no favoritism dis
played in the examination.
It is worthy here to remark, that the
principal competitors for the most valua
ble prize were two boys of nearly the
same ae and size, although dissimilar in
every other respect. One was a patri
cian, the other was a plebeian one was
elegantly dressed in superfine cloth, de
corated with shining buttons, the other
wore garments that were patched and
threadbare. - One lived in a splendid man
sion; that commanded a view of the Com
mon the other lived in a rickety old
crow's-nest of a house in a dirty lane, in
an obscure part of the city. The -father
of the former was a millionaire the fath
er of, the latter - was one of the million :
One had had nothing to do but study his
lessons the other employed a portion of
his time when out of school, in doing er
rands to earn something to help- in sup
porting his brother and sisters. . 1 ..
-- After a severe, yet fair examination,
the gold medal was awarded to the poor
boy. 'l :V-"-' ''"'' '
'Who is that lad?' inquired the Hon.
George Burton, the father of the unsuc
cessful competitor for the prize. : ,
'His name is James Conner, replied the
teacher.
Conner, Conner? Why, that is an Ir
ish name.' -
Yes, the boy's parents came from Ire
land, but he was born in this country.'
'Well, I declare, he has the true grit in
him.'":--'" "' '"...,..' ' ; ' - - -
'Yes, indeed; he is punctual as a clock,
and quite industrious; besides, he is bless
ed with extraordinary intelllectuar pow
ers.' '". " .'" V' .
'Wfiat is his father's occupation, pray?'
'He Carries a hod, sir, and I am sorry
to imform you that he -sometimes puts the
bricks into his hat instead of putting them
into Jiis hod but the boy's mother is a
remarkable womanshe is an honest,
hard-working, and tidy creature, and very
anxious to give her son a good education.'
That boy oughC-td go into one of our
higher schools.' - ' ' ''
He could have gone , there some .tiine
ago, but his parents were too poor to pur
chase the' books and apparatus that he
needed,' saidthc teacher. : ;
UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO, THURSDAY, JULY 7. 185
. ThoIIon. Mr. Burton tore a scrap from
his memorandum, on which he wrote a
check for fifty dollars.
'Give that to the boy's . mother,' said
the magnanimous merchant; and tell her
to send her son to high school, and when
ever funds arp. needed to defray the ex
penses of his education, tell her to call
on me.
CHATTER II.
' A MAGNIFICKKT tADV.
'Why, ma, where have you been all the
forenoon, pray?' inquired a sweet little
rosebud of a girl ten or twelve years of
age. '
'I went to the common school, my dear
child, to witness the examination, and
when the exercises were concluded. 1
T
waited to speak a word of congratulation
and encouragement to the lad whom ob
tained the gold medal.'
'Are you acquainted with him, ma.' U,
JNo, daughter; but I saw him on the
Common a few weeks ago, and helped him
to raise a package of goods to his should
er. You may remember, for I think I
told you at the time, that proud little fcl
Ioav who was playing on the path near by
curled his lip with scorn, when the burden
bearer asked him to assist in raising the
bundle.'
'O, yes, I recollect the circumstance
perfectly well.'
'These lads attend the same school, and
are classmates, and were the principal
competitors for the chief prize, and the
handsome Irish boy won the prize.'
'I am glad he was so fortunate,' ex
claimed the young beauty.
'It was indeed a singular coincidence,
and the best of the story remains to be
told. The father of the unsuccessful can
didate for medal, and the golden honors,
gave the winner of the piize a cheek for
fifty dollars, to bq. expended in educating
him, and a promise of more funds when
needed.'
.- 'It is nearly two o'clock; surely, the
school did not remain in session so long?'
observed the girl. .
'No, Agnes; the meeting was dismissed
at twelve, but I made a call, and was de
tained at the house I visited much longer
than I expected to have been. I called
to see poor Mrs. Brown,-the widow wo
man, who calls here so frequently. I un
derstood she was ill, and availed myself
of that opportunity to render her some
assistance.'
: 'Where docs she live ma? Will you
tell me all about your visit?'
'Mrs. Brown, vou know, j:gnes, lias
seen better days. The time was when her
husband lived next door to us on Beacon
street," but his ships foundered at sea, and
his stores were burnt Avith fire. He be
came so immersed in debt, and hio cred
itors were so clamorous, and his pride so
mortified, his embarrassment put a speedy
termination to his life. For a long time
his ' amiable and accomplished widow
struggled against the ever-advancing and j
never-retiring tide of poverty. " In order
to feed, and clothe, and educate her child
ren, she sold every article of furniture she
co'd possibly epare, and moved into a plain
neat cottage, where the exercised the
most rigid economy.
Her eldest daughter was but nine years of
age at that time, yet the child was so
thoughtful she urged her mother to allow
her to take music -lessions. so that at some
future day she might become' a teacher of
music herself. Sickness, and unforeseen
misfortunes, have hovered like vultures
over her path, from the time of her hus
band's death until now. She has grown
poorer and poorer, and but feAV of her
former friends have manifested the least
pity, or rendered the least assistance.
When I discoved her place of abode,
my heart sank within me. - She lived in a
poor old house in ' an obscure court, sur
rounded by hives of human beings in rags
and filth. A "pale girl, perhaps ten or
twelve years of age, answered the rap at
the door, and in a very lady-like manner
invited me to walk in.' ,
'Was it Mary, who used to play with
me when I was a little child?' . . '
'Yes, dear ;, she requested me to sit
down, at the same time giving me. a ricke
ty chair, the creaking of which seemed to
plead, poverty, The floor of the house
was clean as a platter and the curtains
at the windows white as snow. Where is
your mother?' I inquired.
'Mother is sick-a-bed," was the reply.
. 'Is she dangerously ill?'
'I fear; she is, for she has no desire
to eat, and speaks with great diffi
culty. I sat up with her last nignt, and
the night before, and this morning I call
ed on the doctor, just around the corner,
but he refused to come when I informed
him we had no money. , 'Step into the
next , room and see her,' continued the
child; "for, although she is unwell, she
will be pleased to see such a kind friend.'
. 'When I entered her humble apartment
I saw the poor invalid upon the bed. She
recognized me at a glance, and in feeble
whispers thanked me for visiting her in her
affliction. It was with the utmost difficul
ty she spoke, but she managed to make
me understand that she was deeply in
debted to one of her neighbors for many
acts of kindnesss. She informed me that
MrsConncr did her washing every -week
called to see her every day, and 'fre
quently made up for her little delicacies to
eat; and that -this kind neighbor of hers
was very poor, but invariably refused any
consideration whatever for her unsolicited
and untrumpeted deeds of charity. She
furthermore stated that her noble son,
James Conner, chopped, her-'fire-wood,
shovelled her coal into the cellar, and
performed other acts of kmdness too nu
merous to mention.'
What a good lad, I am pleased to
think that rich man made him such a
handsome present. I have no doubt he
will become a distinguished man by and
by. I do think, ma, that poor people
have as much feeling for each other as
the rich for each other.'
'O, yes, my dear, very often they have
more; for the wealth having all that heart
can desire, or at least all that money can
purchase, since they never suffer them
selves, do not sympathize with those who
do. I speak in general terms, there are
exceptions. Some of our merchant prin
ces here spend as much for the benefit of
others, as they do for their own personal
benefit. Not a few, like the magnanimous
merchant, who made the donation to
James Conner to-day, cheerfully avail
themselves of opportunities to aid others;
and they never fail to realize' the golden
promise vouchsafed to the cheerful giver.
CHAPTER III.
A MEETING IX THE STREET.
Nearly fourteen years after the occur
currence of the events recorded in the
foregoing chapters, a young man very
coarsely clad was seen pushing a hand
cart through Trcmont Street, when a care
less teamster, who was staring stupidly
at the panorama, of life moving before
him, ran his ponderous wheels against the
hand-cart, which Avas Avrecked instantly.
'What shall I do?' exclaimed the oAvn
er of the hand-cart.
'What is the matter, mv good man?'
inquired a gentleman, Avho was Avalking
on the pavement near by at the time of
the accident.
'Why, sir, my cart is broken, and a
cosily mirror, which I Avas directed to take
to ShaAvmut Avenue, is broken into a
thousand pieces. '
- 'You have been unfortunate, and I for
one, am AAollmg to give you a lift,'
'You are very kind, sir.'
'What will it cost to repair the cart?'
'At least five dollars,' replied the por
ter. Jr
'Here is a y ,' said the gentleman.
'Thank you sir. Your generosity will
be appreciated during a lifetime.'
'It strikes nc,' continued the generous
gentleman, 'that your conversation gives
evidence of educational adA-antages sel
dom possessed by men in your humble
sphere of life X i::
Yoxi aro right, sir.: -I Wfr le?n liber-
erally educated. My good father, Avho
is noAv in his graA-e, spared neither pains
nor expenses in his efforts to cultivate
my mind.'
'Strange, indeed, that you do not pur
sue an occupation less laborious, and more
profitable.' . . .. .
. 'Mine has been an eventful life, sir.
Although I am a young man, I have ex
hausted a fortune left to me by my father.
Myxoid acquaintances, when-they ascer
tained the real state of my pecuniary em
barrassments, cruelly cut me in the street.
When my cash and my credit were gone,
I saAV before me but tAvo alternatives. I
knew that I must AA-ork, or starve, so I
concluded to turn over a iicav leaf stop
gambling, Avhieh has been the cause of
my ruin, and begin life with, a hand-cart,
as my father did.' . -
'Pray, Avhatis your name? I think I
have seen you before.'
'I have assumed an alias, for obvious
reasons.'
'Your A'oice and face forcibly remind
me of one of my school companions,' re
marked the gentleman.
'I do not wish to be recognized,' ob
served the porter. ' . .
'Do not deem me impertinent, when I
ask if you did not attend the Common
School, on II Street, fourteen years
ago?' -
'I did,' Avas the reply.
: 'You attended Harvard College
wards?' -
'I did.' -
after-
Your name is George -Burton';' son of
the Hon. George Burton.'
'Say so in Avhispers, for I have forfeited
all claims to the name.- But, Avho are you
pray?'
I used to sit by your side in school.'
'So you did; and noAv I recollect you
won the gold medal on that memorable
day AAe were so roughly examined.' ,
'Your honorable father, blessed be his
memory, helped me to obtain a classical
education.' ...
'Often have. I heard him speak of
James Conner, but I have forgotten the
fact that he assisted you. Are you a pro
fessional man?'
'No,T am a merchant, and if you will
accept a situation in my establishment, I
shall be most happy to give you a lift.'
In the course of our conversation you
have use the word lift' twice, nnd each
time I have Deen reminded of the fact,
that when a boy at play on the. Boston
Common, notcmore than a stone's throAv
from this rery spot, I once refused to lift
a bundle to your shoulder; and I distinct
ly recollec t hoAV ' my - cheeks crimsoned
Avith shame ay hen that amiable lady, Mrs.
Curtis, gav0yo"u a helping hand.'
'Do you recollect that Mrs. Curtis had
a daughter named Agnes?' inquired Mr.
Conner. ' .-.-."'''"'"' -"'- '''''"'
' 'Yes, indeed, I recollect her quite well,'
replied Mr. Burton, as he brushed a tear
from his eye. 'I should like to see her
once more, but I dare not look her in the
face.'.;
Well, just make up your mind to shun
the society of such men as those who have
fleeced you, and my Avord for it, there is
a better future before you. , I will pay for
the mirror. FoIIoav me to my house, and
I will giAe you an introduction to Agnes,
who happens to be my Avife.'
They halted at a clothing Avare-house
long enough to procure a decent . suit for
the returning prodigal, and then directed
their steps to a beautiful and substantial
dwelling handsomely situated and tasteful
ly furnished.
At the door they met Miss Mary Brown
the only child of the sick Avidow, Avho
died several years before. She made Mr.
Conner's house her home until she became
the happy Avife of George Burton, Avho
received such a lift from his schoolmate
that he afterwards became a merchant
prince himself. Flag of our Union-
A Iloniautic Story.
A French paper relates that recently a
young milk-AA-oman of the emrirous of La
Baumettc newly married, was carrying
the produce of her work to the market of
Bugers, Avhen she found, on her way, a
black cow fastened to a tree, and at a
safe distance under another tree, lay a
large bundle. Her curiosity Avas first
attracted by the latter, AAhich she found to
contain- a beautiful little haby girl, wrap
ped in fine linnen and Avarm flannels.
On further examination, she discovered a
purse containing twenty-five golden Na
poleons, and an anonymous letter inti
mating that the mother of the child wras
driven by poAverful considerations to part'
with it for scA eral years, that the 5,000
francis Ave-re for the" person who Avould
humanly supply her place, and the black
coav Avas to afford the child milk; adding
that the foster mother should eA ery year
receive an ample sum for the maintan
ance and education of the child, until
circumstances permitted its natural par
ent to resume the charge. The young
milk-woman accepted the trust thus re
posed in her, and instead of proceeding
to the market, hastened home Avith the
young founding, the coav, the purse and
the letter.
Touching Delicacy.
There were many little occurrences
which suggested to me, Avith great con
solatoin, Iioav natural it is to gentle hearts
to be considerate and delicate toward any
inferioity. One of these particularly touch
ed me. I happened to stroll into thelitlle
church" Svhcn a marriage Avas just conclu
ded, and the young couple had to sign the
register.
The bridegroom, to Avhom the pen was
handed first, made a rude cross for his
mark; the bride, Avho came next, did the
same.
Now, I hadknoAvn the bride Avhen I Avas
last there, not only as the prettiest girl in
the place, but as having quite distinguish
ed herself in the school; and I could not
help looking at her with some surprise.
She came aside andAvhisperedto me, while
tears of honest 1oa"c and admiration stood
in her bright eye:
"He's a dear, good fellow, Miss; . but
can't Avrite vet; he's going to learn of me
and I wouldnt't shame him for the world!'
Why, ay hat had I to fear, I thought,
when there Avas this nobility in the sole of
a laboring man's daughter.
Tjove and Romance.
We publish a few days ago, says ' the
New Orleans Crescent, a short sketch
Avith the above title. It gave the details
of a romantic elopement and marriage,
the parties being a lady and genticment
from Texas.
A day or two after the happy pair had
tied the knot hymenial, the brother of the
young lady arrived in this city from Texas
and for the first time heard of the CA-ent.
He immediately went to the St. Charles
Hotel, Avhere' the young lady Avas stopp
ing in company with Mrs. H. and her
daughter, both from the "same State, in
Avhose charge the bride had been placed
on her department from home. Meeting
Mrs. H. in the parlor, of the Hotel, he
upbraided her with haA ing lent her coun
tenance to. the secret marriage of his sis
ter applying to her some A-ery harsh epi
thets not set down in the code of etiquette.
This aroused the ire of Miss II. a young
and blooming virgin of seventeen sum
mers, Avho immediately approached the
irate brother, and shaking against his
face her Avhite and tiny fist, "Avished she
Avas a man or even had a weapon that she
might kill him for his impertinence."
Nothing daunted by her threatening
attitude the irritated brother of the bride
drew from his bosom a boAvie knife, and
handing it to the juvenile Xantippe, said,
'Take this, Miss, and let me see if you
are a lady of your AAbrd." With all the
fire of a demon the young lady grasped
the shining blade, and drawing it back
with a movement as if to plunge it into
his breast, Avas about to deal the fatal
blow, Avhen she was prevented by a gen
tleman visitor Avho grasped her aim.
We mention this merelyas an instance
of ''true grit" on both sides, and as a
tale of reality, setting, off ..a ..very pretty
specimen of the romantic. . .
There have been six executions in this
city this year already; and eleven men are
now in prison accused of capital offences.
Of what is the Old Man Thinking i
BY T. UAYXES BATLT.
Of what is the old man thinking?
As he lep.na on his oaken staff; '
From the May day pastime shrinking,
He shares not the merry laugh. , '
But the tears of the old man flow,' ;
As he looks on the young and gay:
And his gray head moving tslow
Keepa time to the air they play. . '
The elder around arc driukin".
But not one cup will he quaff; ,
Oh, of what is the old man thinking,
As he leans on his oaken etaff.
'T is not Avith a vain repining
That the old man sheds a tear;
'Tis not for his strength docliniug,
lie ffighs not to linger here.
There's a epell in the air they play,
And the old man's eyes are dim,
For it calls up a past May-day,
And the dear friends lost to him.
From the scene before him shrinking
From the dance and the merry laugh;
Of their calm repose he is thinkiug,
As he leans on his oaken t-taff.
Fight Avith a Shark,
The Charleston (S. C.) Courier the
Other day contained an account of a spot
ted shark, killed in that harbor, which,
after being landed, wasdehYered oftAAren-ty-two
young ones, and after she Avas cut
open, Avas found to contain tAvcnty-one
more. The folloAving are the particulars
of the capture:
Some of the men Avere bathing AA'hcn a
large shark appeared and sprung forward
directly toAvards them. A person from
the ship called out to Avarnthem of their
danger; on which 'they all immediately
SAvam to the vessel and arriA'ed in safety,
except one poor felloAv Avho vras cut in two
by the shark almost in reach of our oars.
A comrade and most intimate friend of the
unfortunate A'ictim, Avhen he observed the
seA'ered trunk of his companion, was
seized Avith a degree of horror that words
cannot describe. The ; insatiable shark
Avas seen traversing the bloody surface in
search of the remainder of his prey,-when
the braA-e youth plunged into the AATatcr,
determined cither to mark disgorge, or be
buried in the same grave. He held in his
hand a long and sharp-pointed knife, and
the rapacious animal pushed furiously
towards him; she had turned on her side
and opened her enormous jaAvs, in order
to seize him, when the youth diving dex
terously under her, seized her Avith his
left hand someAvhere near the upper fins,
and stabbed her several times in the belly.
The shark, enraged Avith pain and
streaming with blood, plunged in all direc
tions, in order to disengage herself, from
her enemy. The creAvs of the surround
ing the vessels saAV that the combat Avas
decidt'drinit they Avere "ignorant which
Avas slain, still the shark; weakened by the
loss of blood, made toAvard the shore,
and along with herconquerer; who, flush
ed Avith victory, pushed his foe with redou
bled ardor, and AA'ith the aid of the tide
dragged her on shore. Here he ripped
up the bowels of the animal, obtained the
remainder of his friend's body, andburi
ed it with the trunk in the same grave.
' Abolition Fanaticism. "
Some of the ultra Abolitionists of the
North, finding that their political and
moral agitation On the subject of Slavery
for the last tAventy years has been barren
of results, noAv go in for another method
of attacking that institution, by ceasing
to use the products Of slaAe labor, such
as cotton goods and sugar and rice, arti
cles that are almost indispensible to eA'ery
person in the . country. This is a very
hafmeless fanaticism, as. the individuals
Avho are guilty of it only inflicts a punish
ment upon themsches, and do no harm
to - any body else as a few hundred
monomaniacs refusing to taste of sugar or
Avear cotton' shirts is not . very '" likely, to
bring a general ruin upon the producers
of those articles. We Avere much amus
ed recently in reading, in that organ of
the isms, the Ncav York Tribune, an ar
ticle from a correspondent upon this sub
ject, in Avhieh he anxiously inquires of
the editor whether the Free Produce As
sociation haAe turned their attention to
flax as a substitute for cotton, and wheth
er beet sugar can not be produced.
He says that the sugar, which is., the
production of slaA'e labor, 'sticks in his
throat, and tastes of blood," and that it
is his opinion no right minded person can
read the Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin with
out affecting his taste for sugar very ma
terially. He calls upon the matter par
ticularly, and give the result of their in
vestigations to the public. The editor of
the Tribune thinks that the beet sugar
manfacture is a practical idea, but as to
flax and linen, more cry than wool -has j
attended the recollected that Mrs. Stowe
and her husband, in Great Britain, have
very assidiously endeaA-ored' to impress
upon the people there that they must not
buy American Cotton, on account of the
support they thus give to slaA'ery. It is
astonishing to see the cxtraA-agance which
an indulgence in this one idea of aboli
tion will lead some otherwise sensible peo
ple, and what remarkably foolish things
they Avill say and do after they have given
themselves up to its influence. Nearly
all the advocates 'of the ridiculous isms of
the day, are ultra abolitionists aa ho, hav
ing become crazy upon that subject, em
brace with avidity all the strange notions
and mental absurdities in which the age
has been so prolific- Enq. . .
: i2T Coxatexiexce is the best rule of
etiquette.
WHOLE NO. 394,
, From the San Francisco Herald.
Important from China, if Trae-Great
iiattles at the Gates of Nanking -20,-POO
Rebels reported killed-. One Mile
of Houses Ulovn up at Nanking Proc
clamations of the Rebel King and the
llmperor, &c. -"
. The Hong Kong Gazette publishes a
letter from : Soochow, said to -have been
communicated by a liigh Imperial officer
named Tt;oAV-minghoAAr, and dated on the
3th day of the 2d moon, (M2rch ,13ih,)
which contains the folloAving highiy im
portant statements. The Gazette, how
CATer, does not vouch for the truih of
thorn: . .. . , . '
"The salt smugglers and local banditti
at Nanking having created a disturbance,
some rascals inside the city availed , them
selves of : the opportunity to set fire to the
poAvder magazine, which .resulted in the -destruction
of so street of houses about'a
mile in length. ...The alarm consequent
thereon Avas a great that the .whole city
had nearly been taken, AA'hen luckily the
Tartar General, F uh-choo.long-a, and the
Treasurer of the Province Lc-suh-tsau,
brought up some troups to the rescue,
and succeeded in putting out the fire.
They had afterwards a fight Avith the
banditti, in AA'hich they killed seA'en or
eight hundred and dispersed the remain
der, by which means the riot Avas quelled.
HaA'ing shut the gates, a strict inquiry
Avas made after the . rioters, Avhen sixty
or seA'enty men Avere apprehended and
put to death. The shutting of the city1
gates was merely with a A'ieAv to discover
the conspirators, and not because, of the .
anticipated attack of the rebels.
'On the 31st and 22d of he 1st mocn,"
(February 28th and. March 1st,) the Gene
rals ChoAv-t-heentscon and Iicng-yunT
had a battle Avith the. rebels at T'hae
ping. (Situated . on the bants of the
Yung-tskeag, about 40 miles S..S. Y. of
Nanking.) . The fighting lasted from 6
o'clock in the morning of the 2 Id, to
10 o'clock in the morning of the 23d,
when the Irnperiallisls sustained a con
siderable defeat, losing three or four thou
sand men and twentv'-seA-en officers from
- - - ?
the rank of "General doAvnwards. Just in
the nick of 'time,' however, a famous Pek
ing General named Chin-kin-show, who
had formerly been under command of
Yang-y u-chum, and was recently ap-
pointed Imperial Commissioner, at the
head of 4,000 Tartar troops, frost for the
conflict, came into the field, and turned
the defeat into a victory,, killing upwards
of 9,000 of the rebels, and Avounding tAvo
commanders of their advanced guard, one
named Chin and the other Le.
"On the 25th and 26th of the 1st moon
(March the 4th and 5lh) Seu-kAvahg-tam
at tli.ej head -of 3,000 Canton volunteers
and 2,000 Hoo-kawang soldiers,' - in con
junction with the Imperial Commissioner
from Honan, Ke-shen, at the heod of 300
Tartar troops, had -another engagement
with the enemy and. killed. 'upwards of
10,000 of them. It is . said also-; that
Hung-sew-tsnen, the rebel chief -was
wounded and fled, but was; afterwards
taken and beheaded.". .-; . .; ;r- - , '""?
Another letter contains the fullowiiJg:
"On the' 11th" day of the 2d moon,
(March 20,) the Provincial Treasurer re-ceiA-eda
report from Nanking, thatKeshen
Heang-yung, andSnukAvangtsin had made
a united attack on the rebels at Guan-k'h-ing,
when they obtained a victory; .the
rebels retreated in a north Avestorly direc
tion, leaving their boats and baggage in
the hands of the' Imperialists. Thus
Nanking is for the present preserA"ed."
From ike China 11 ruil April!.
A decree dated Peking, the 12th of
March, was receiA-cd at Shanghae by the
Taoute in which' the Emperor says that
according to the latest accounts received
by him from the south, the rebel fleet and
forces had arrived at Nanking and Chin
keand Fu. He had therefore put. in v, mo
tion the grand army for their . extermina
tion; and seeing that the Avhole bagae
of the rebel force Avas on board the boats
he commands the officials throughout the -country
to issue proclamations, inform
ing the, people that whosoever can seize
the rebel fleet shall have the whole, of
AA'hat they take, Avith the exception of
poAvder and military stores," AvLieh must
be handed OA er to , the GoA crnmcnt.
Farther, if any persons burn . any of the
rebel fieetand capture and kill- any of
the long-haired chiefs, on reporting the
same, they shall be hands ornery .-.rewarded.
" ' , - ,. .
Patixg Like. a Sixxer. Several years
ago, in North Carolina, where it is-' not
customary for the taA ern-koepcrs to charge
the ministers and thing for lodging' and re
freshments, a preacher presumingly stop
ped at a tavern one evening, made himself
comfortable during the night, and in the
morning entered the stare without1' offer
ing to pay for his accommodations. The
landlord soon came running up to the
stage, and said, "there AAas sonic one who
had not settled his LiM." , The passengers
all said they had but the preacher,' who
said he understood that he never charged
ministers any thing. " ' '"" ;
"What, you a minister of the Gospel .
a man of God!" cried the inn-keeper; "you
came to my house last night and sat "down
to the table Avithont a blessing-;-1 lit you up
to your room, and you '.went to, bed with
out praying to your Maker;- (for -1 stood
there until JWtedred: ) you ro?e and wash
ed without praying, ate your breakfast
without saying grace, and as you came to
my hous like a sinner, and ate and drank
like a sinner, you have got to pay like a
sinner I
I
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