Newspaper Page Text
jl 2 seel hi neons,
THE LAST BELL.
“Proc,m'ina'.ion h the thief of lime,”
[twit a baautiful niorniag in the
moth of -liy, 1835, I was sitting by
the side jf Helen Harris, the o-dy
I ever loved, and I believe the
only girl that ever loved me; any
how, she is the only one that ever
t )id in ;s >. We were sitting i i the
piazza ch her lai tier's house, about a
quarter of a mile from the landing
niace, waiting for the bell ol the
steamb hit to warn me of the mo
ment that was to part ‘niv love and
me.’ It came to pass in the course
of my history, that in order to accu
mulate a little of this world’s ‘gear,’
that 1 might be the better prepare 1
to encounter the dema ids or matri
mony, I was destined to cross the
blue Chesapeake, and seek io the
metropolitan city, the wherewithal
so much desired. How many swains
have been compelled, like me, to j
leave the home and the girl th *v
love io wander in search of go! ’!
And —good gracious!—how many
have been disappointed! Most of
them, perhaps; for though they may
have obtained the gold, like me,
maybe, they did not get as much
as they wanted. But to the piazza.
Well, we were sitting in the pi
azza, and as may be supposed, were
talking of our love and separation,
and all the etceteras of our situation.
We were waiting for the most un
welcome sound that ever saluted our
cars, namely the steamboat bell, it
is known to all who know anv thing
of steamboats, that their bells give
two warnings to those who have en
gaged for a vo\ age the second is
the signal for starting. You may
rely on it we talked fast; we thought
fast: and abbieviatud our words i do
such ragged sentences that nobody
but ours. Ives could understand
them. The first bell rang! tie* sound
rolled over Air. Harris’corn-field &
water-melon patch to the piazza,
like the knell of hope, and 1 sprang
upon mj feet ami trembled like an
aspen. ‘O George, wait till the last
bull rings,’said llellen, as the ‘big
tears came over her eyes of blue.’
Do nr such thing,’ answered the
hoarse voice ol Air. Harris, as he
rose like a spectre from the cellar
where he had been packing away
his cider. —“Do no such thing,” lie
repeated, ‘and George,’he cimtiim-’
ed, ‘cart) mg this advice with yo i to
your grave, and it may be of service
to \ ou, never wait for the last bell!''
I was oil like a chased deer the
last bell rung as I approached the
steamboat and I had srarscly time
to get on board before she was pti>h-
ed from the wharf. On my passage
I had timv'jiM reflection, and alter a
few ilutterings at my heart, occa
sioned by the separation from its
idol, I composed myself to cool rea
soning, and the conclusion of the
whole matter was that it was danger
ous to wait tor the last Heli. Mv ca
reer in search of pelf has in a degree
been successful; but 1 verily believe,!
had not the old farmer told me ‘n v-'
er to wait lor the last bell,’ that 1
should now have been as poor as 1
was the morning the tarn ell .shivered
from my lips upon the heait oi mx
lovely Helen.
I came to the big city, took lodg
ings ata hotel, and any person who
has lived at a hotel but tor a single,
dax, can rehearse the dangers of'
waiting for the last bell. I did it
once—it was the day 1 entered—and
1 lost mv dinner. I have always
been ready for the* dinner bell, since
then, and the first stroke has always
found me at the table. I mangled
with mankind, and I saw thousands
who were waiting for the last bell.
In business they were slow, aid
bargains slipped by them. In th
pax ment of their liabilities thex were
backward, an 1 their credit stiff< red.
For six months 1 was clerk, it xva*
a short apprenticeship, but nix nev
er xvaiting lor the last bell that is
to sav, mv doing every thing i ha!
Io do in the right ti nc—wo.i a p’ i
tor mt' in the atieelioiK of mv » . i
plox tr, which induced him to o.n r
me a partnership. I accepted, and
ineverx instance when the bell r . ig,
it found me rcadv. I I ive b. nhi
business and m cried id »e yea r s, St
1 have yet to be c eight napping
wvhen the last bell rings.
' I would just say a few words to
[young men about this thing of wai
ting ferine last bell. When I arriv
ed at Baltimo •<.*, i waited on some
gentlemen to whom I had introduc
tory letters, and they recommended
ime for a situation. One was olFer
;eJ which I was tol 1 had been refus
ed by four yo rag men, to whom it
[h id been ofiered before [ came to
t!ie city. The salary was low, but
[sail I, th y are waiting for the last
ibe'd,’and 1 was not slow in accen
ting it; k glad am I for it, for it was
the making of me.
i Shortly after 5 became a partner
pa my pre sent business, our custom
Shaving increased considerably, we
I advertised for an additional clerk,
.! the salary at the begining was the
J same that I had received; many call-
ed who were out of employment, but
they seemed as if they hid rather
wait for the Lisi bell, and refused—
I '. vow them ad, and th * v> mg
gentlemen who aceepte ’, is worth
lour times as.much as anv one of
them. Haste for the first bell, a
- the first offer, and keep it until
vou get a better—remember the
co nmon ad g , hah’a loaf is better
than none’—and be assured that if;
vou are worthy, be your first offer
what it may, if it be respe. table, it
will lead you onward—upward.
I once knew a young man of first
rate business abiliti s, but he formed
tiie disgusting habit of 'topping at
the tavern, waeaeverhe could in ike
the opportunity; here he always wai
ted for the last bell; reluctant to
leave while he could spare a mo
ment; he is now an habitual drunk-
[ord, and if he is not careful the last
fit'll of life wtil find him in a bad
jcoii litioii—,t iVili be hart! v h t to
i oid a lothjj I'ar ‘ •veil t ) his last <d tss
Life is s.iort htmrs 11/ wilh the
wind’s rapidit} —and he who hafiiui
aliv puts oil until the last bell, the
i affairs winch claim his immediate at
tention, will come out, according to
f armer Harris’ prediction, ‘at the
little end of the horn.’
Saak speare says, ‘there is a tide
in the aifiirs of men, which, if taken
jatihe tl io 1, L'ad i on to fortune.’
My you ig m ud, he who wails for
i the last bell, can nevi r take this ti
ial the flood f .u.* man only who is i
[ wat' hi.ig to emb’ a/e the first o >p »r
--j tU'iitx, can have the 1 ast hope ol 1
I
success.
Young ladies, I have a word for
you. la thr street I live in. there [
is a 1 adv w io has been seven \ ears
in choosing a partner for life >h»‘
is handsome, and pretty well off. A'
she had several respectable oilers,
but she was waiting for th-* last bell;
and she is likely to remain to the'
last a belle, for she is turned of tflirtv,
.'and says she will agree to take the
first proposal that is made to her;
but its perhaps too late, & she must
hide her blcssedne .s forever.
j\oxv I beseech you, mv dear
x oung Iri? nd > an of you who max
i read tins little skei -h, put not off for
to-morrow, what son can do to dax;
I this is the true injunction which has
been of so mu-h service to me.
W henever xon hel a disposition to
postpone any thi <g. no matter how
trilling, remember the \x ords of Far
mer Harris, ‘nevri xvait tor the last
bell.’
( IlbilliridAl SS.
BY MBS. SIGLRNEY.
Endeavour to preserve cheerful
ness of <leno: i iient, under tile pres
t ure of disapp.>i;it'H‘ ut or calamnitx.
‘Kecpa'oof from sadness,’ sax s an
Icelaudickxx liter o; the 12th century,
Hors nines* is a si.- . t ‘-.s <d the s >u
I hat principle i . xvt ak at the root;
iis unab to resist obst
I lie ve ■< mU i - but iil-c-onstru te I I I it
cannot retain its mtegrii v aga’st r >ugh
wind* tide. Lift- has nianv
ills, but the mind that xjews every
object in it- most eh* ering as »e< t,
every doubtfd dispensation as re
plete with latent g »od. b a: - within
it 11 a powerit.i and
ft t•. I'he gloomy soul aggravates
misHartuiie, while a cheerful sink ■
mien dispels those mists that portend
a storm. 1 nun a habit of beam
< het r‘ul under adverse circumstan-
ces. ‘Our happiness,’ says a fine
writer, ‘is a sacred deposite, for
which we must give account.’ A se
rene and aimable temper is among
its most efficient preservatives.
Ad niral Collingwood, m his letters
to his daughters, says, ‘I never knew
your mother to utter a harsh or has
ty thing to any person in my life.’
Os Archbishop Leighton, it is rela
ted, by one qualified to ju Ige, that
‘during a strict inti nacy of many
years, he I.ever saw him for one mo
ment in aiv other temper tha 1 that
in which he would wish to live and
to die.’ Though so ne mav, with
ni we ease than others, attain equan
imity of character, yet the cheerful
ness that surmounts care, disappoint
ment and sorrow, must be the result
of cultivated principle, of preserving
effort, and the solicited succour of
grace of God.
A good concience is essential to
consistent cheerfulness. ‘Were thy
coacience pure,’ says the excellent
Thomas A Kern >is, ‘thou wonkiest
be undisturbed by the opinions and
report' of m m cone. «' sing thee: —
for their com mm Unions can add
Holm g to th' gordie-st, nor their
censures take away from it; — ii'h t
thou art, thou art: nor can we
the praise of the whole world make
'thee happi r or greater in the sight
jol God. Thou uilt enjov tranquili
ty, it thy heart condemns thee not.
Therefore, do no: hope to rejoice,
but when thou hast done well.’ \
’ decided presence of the right,
thro igh the wrong may be render
ed most alluring, and the conviction
of having intended io do well, are
necessary to self-approval. Suc
cess, and the applause of others, may
not alwai s beai proponion to the
motives that actuate us. We may
b<‘ sometimes blamed when our de-
■ signs are pure, or praised xvhen xve
I are not co icions of deserving it.
result m rst indeed often hap
pen, since this is a sta e ofpr >!*atio i
and not ol reward, i tie true r scord
nni't be kept xvithin. Its appeal is
1 to a tribu.i d that ea i io’ err. The
waiting and trusting spirit may sure
ly be cheerful. It is a xveak faith,
that cannot I >ok ab >ve mistake and
misconstruction, up to the clear shi
ning ol the nmol righteousness. It
iis but a dec i.iit cheerful -i ■.-•»» that
ca.. xvalk abroad, only when the
i breeze is soft and th ■ p d i verdant.
\V ‘ are in drm ted to relieve, th t
p*'ais •is the spirit ol h• u n. Checr
j-ul e-s, and givi ig of thanks, ought
■ttieref ire to he c litivated bx T ail who
have a hope oi daelii ghee. I \xe
xvere to take up oar r/si ience with
distant friends, we would xvish to
acquire some knowledge of their
tastes, that we might so accommo
date our oxvn, as to beeo ne a co.i
igrnid inmate. If xve xvere to so
fjourn in a foreign country we would
! not neglect the study of its language,.
or the means of intercourse xvith its 1
inhabitants. If the spirit of a (dime,'
\x here xve hope tod,veil eternally, is
revealed to us, let us not be imlif
icrent to its requisitions. Let u*
fashion the lineaments oi our char
acter, a ter that bright an! gloious
pattern —that if xve are so happy as
to obtain entrance th *rein, its bliss
ful inhabitant may not be too as
strangers, nor their xvork ol burden;
—but we be fitted by the seremtx
learned on earth, to become ‘fellow
citizens xx ith the saints, and of the
household oi God.’
Women —A woman’' hea lis usu
'al’vovcr ears in her heart. .\luti
>eein' s to h.i\ e lx ell destined or th«-
superior beidii of the two; but a*
timin'* a>’e, i th :k wo >.c.i are gener
alv better creatures tha i men.
I’liev have, take u 'i. ivi i>a ly, wea
ker appetites a < ’. iteHecis, but they
have much st r ‘f alite* ion*. \
man itli a bad u. art has !>(■<*;) some
time'- saved b\ a 'lrmin re ad, but a
corrupt woman is lost lot ever.
Coleridge..
X P'l\ SK’I XX.
The fol owimx beautiful extract is
taken from i a;e> of a i J n * .'detail,’ a
work recent]', re-published in this
country. .
‘Th re is scarseiv a profession in i
which toe sympathies of its profes
sors arc more painfully excited than t
i that of the medical practitioner. How
often is he called to the bed of sick
ness; and that too, in a family, the
members of whn h are dra vn togeth
er by the closets bon Is of love. How
pai iful is it to mM the enquiring
gaze of atta died friends, or relatives)
direecte i towards him in quest of
that consolation, that assurance of
safety, which he is not to give. And
how melancholy is it to behold the (
last ray of hope, which had lingered!
upon the face of alTecti >n, giving!
place to the dark cloud of despair. !
And when all is over—when the bit
terne ;s of death hath passed from
the dead to the living, from the de
partedtothe bereave I—hark to that
shriek ol agony, : that convulsive
sob, that bitter groan,—wrung from
the heart’s core, which bespeaks the
utter prostration of the spirit beneath
the bion!
1 I here, cold in the embrace of
death, lies the honored husband of a
heart-broken wife,—hr r first her on
ly love! Or, it may be the young
wife of a distracted husl and, the
b ide of a year, the mother of an
hour, and by her perhaps, the blight-
• ed fruit of her love—the bud Ln the
! blossom, and both are withered.
CONGRESSIONAL.
IN SENATE,
. J muarv, 2S.
, As soon as the Journal had been retd
, 1 Mr. Van Buren rose and to k leave of
, the Senate m he bilhuving address :
Senators— The period is at hand which is io
I teimma e the «»fli sal lelations has existed
s be ween us. and I have probably never l.>
reiurn to it —a body with w iici) I have been
long connect'd, wh re sum* rem iin whom I
I'nund hero sis een years ago, ami where m ttie!
progress «»i puidic d Hies, person d a-’sneiat ons I
h ve auseu never t<> tie ferao ten. From silcii
scmies I eaiiiioi reme wninm; cm >tmn.
iN'.ir > in 1 aiv*’ to ttie Senate tin 1 us ial op- ,
p -r HMiy vl cito >s 04 another i<> preside tor
. 1 time over their dr Imera'ions, without refer- j
ig o (..r m-itiiu rtn which I have e d avor' d
I dr-ch t.rg -a L'fautvitig and honorable trust
. o d with the .dn eto which tny conn ry (
< al rd me.
’ lan'erino upon p with onafT’cled diflidence, )
“ e I knowing how little rny studies have been ■
. directed to iis peculiar duties, I was yet
I s rength.-ned by the determination then ex-I
pr> ssed, so to discharge the authority with
w Inch 1W is 111 res;cd, as “best I•» protect lhe |
Hghis, io resprci the feelings, and to i»unrd !
ihr rrimimiou of al who would tie uff'clr'd l>y !
rs exric.sr.” I wis sure that, if su'-'-r A-.fid in
this, | should be pardoned for errors which I |
would hardlv expect to avoid. ;
1 In th- interval that has since elapsed it has
, been our lot m tins assembly to pass thi .iuan i
, la.enes of unusual excitement, the intense |
.n eiesi m ab» u bine lupu s which has perva-;
id<‘d our whole co.'tim mitv «u, ild not be unt<d j
41 Inn Uiese walls I'he warm'ti of political j
p ones, natural in such times; .in* unjoarded I
ardor of sodden debate ; and the collisions j
-eldo nK> be sep ir ited frorw th 1 * mesiim 'ble [
IpriVtl.-ue of free discussion, had not been on
I treq lent|y minple<| w ith the mote tracqinl i
icnor <>f ordin ity legisl ition. I cannot hope I
'tiai m em< 1 geiimcs h|« these, I hive always)
1 been so foriuti.rte as to satisfy every one around (
me. Yet I permit myself io think that the!
xtent to which my decisions hnve been ap- ,
1 proved by the Senate, is sam? evidence that j
, my efforts justly to administer 'heir r des have !
not been vain ; and 1 const lentimr-ly cher.sh
the cnnviction toat on no occasion have I de-i
:> iricd from mv eijrlv resolution, or become I
ji <r II ss <>f ah i was d ie to the i ij»hts or the
I «mi’s of the in* mb rs <>f Uns body.
I'linuji I in iv ti ’tirefnr'h be separated from
the Sh at> , I ran never I'fn-e to revert with
>ari rular interest '<> mv long connection w. b
>i . In every siiu ition mmv fu'ure lift I shall
; i*-m- inber w> h a j is! pride <he evidences of
j.probation and confidence which I ha e
received, dr f|s un \mcrnan Citizen devotedly;
t inched to the in- u iii'-n, of my coim iy, I
will alw iy« regard with becoming and sun ere
respect a brail' h ol our government invrsied
with such extensive poweis and de-igmd t»v
om loud irthers to accomplish such important
re,u|ts W
Indulging an ardent wi-li that ev> rv succe-s
mtv iwatl you in pi-i I •rinn» tu exaled and
■t■ >c<irable diiics of your public 'rust, and
uff.-t n ’ mv warmest priyers ilia! prosperity
and happiness may be cons an! attendants:
upon each of mu along the future paths of life,
I respectively bid you farewell.
Mr Van Buren then retir’d, and the
Senate precede,] o, b-dlot lor a Bres.di nt pm.
em 1 he '• ill"'* •> i, g deposited there ap
.Ti lled to tie 3S v . s a,veil —l9 neces-nry
to a < lion e. oI v inch NJ . king of \ lab ima.
ii .d 27. M 1 So i r 7 and the others w- re
- aiienng. Mr. Ki »g of \ »bima, w>- her
'• r d*< ! ired to he elected B e-ideni pro Inn.
•nd h»- was conducted to the Clia r bv M .
B •moo.
I bp President pry tern then addressed tin
Sen te.
_ I
Fi out the Sorannah G
By o i Express Slips tr > n the B •himors* I
p> p» rs. wi-n ive re dved inn prece,dm r s ol
Congr ss o'i I i irsday las', 2d inst.
1 tie S ••! i e was principally engaged with
the consideration of the bill to prohibit the
sales of public lands, except to actual set
tlers.
Mi. Nicholas presented the credentials of
the Hon. Alexander Mouton, elected a Sen
ator from the State of Louisiana, to fill Hie va
cancy occasianed by the r» sigmin or- of the
Hon. Alexander Porter. Mr. Mouton was
then quai tied and look ins scat.
In the II iuse, the ’* Bill m ikmg appropria
tions for the current expenses of the Indian
Department, and for fulfilling treaty stipula
tions with various Indian tribes, fur the year
1837;
And the “bill making appropriations for th«
support of the Army of the (J. S. for the ywar
1837,” were severally read a third tune, and
passed.
The Home then went into Committee on
the “lull m.iking appropriations for the Naval
Service, for the year 1837.”
Mr. J <rvis moved to strike out the sum of
1'150,000'-muraced m the estimates for the
Sou:n Sea Exploring Expedition, and after
some rem irks from M ssrs. Jarvis, Cambre
leng Philips, Adams, and Vmo>n, the com
midee rose without lakmg the question, and
(hen
'l’he House adjourned
doings in Washington.
Some interesting p irticnlars *»f what is go.
mg on hi W ishmgton, are contained m the
[f. Ilowiug extracts from the letters of the cor
re«q>i nd< nt o ttie Charleston C »mier.
I A requt st was presented tn tile S p ite to
i day, rum tie Secretary of the Treasur* , on
the subject of t tie claims of the U.S agatnsl
the Bmk of U S. which without being read,
was ordered to be referied to the Committee
on Finance, and printed.
I’he only part of the morning busmess of
the .slight'st interest, was a brief description
"f tire report >f'he Committee mi claims, on
the neti’imi ol Joseph Notirse, formerly Regis
ter of the I'rea-mry, for an allowance of com
pens itton for extraordinary services perform
»d by him wh'le tie held the di eof Regi-ter.
Mr. Crittenden moved to reverse the decis
ion of ifie (J.iinmiitee, wh'ch wis against iho
pr ivet of the pe'ioner. M . Preston deem
ed ilh, sit' itton »f the p>-i'n >u r as wor by of
[ puiilic commisei ali.in. On the v < rge of life,
ijost dropping into the grave, supeienuat' d &
reduced, he and iiis wdo are now entirely
I dependant on a s nail pension wince ue
receives (or Ins revolutumarv -e vu es. For-
I merly Mr. N > irse kept a carnage, and walk
'd through lite in comlbr', cmn> eteuce and
respectability. The report was laid on the
[table tor Hie ptescni. f ieir was conversation
a- to lhe measure wnteh .iiauld be taken up,
wtien he spe- i d ord r wis called up, but the
i mutton was negatived bv u vme of 20 to 16.
l iie bill to prohibit tun s des of public lands,
I except to a' tual se tiers w is ilt.m t (ken up &
the pending motion bemg on Mr. Clay’s mo
lion to strike out the pre-emption cl;<u«n of
section, Mt King, of Ga. m "ie a very cogent
speech ag ii'isi if.e lull, diogr ther, wl ich he
I design Hed as a inll to perpetuate a system of
pertid and ('and Ho estimated the dona*
ions io tile new stull sin I "ids o be a:,out
150 millions of dollars; and comr isltd the
) mipre'-ed ■ i ed growth of the new states, in
I''onsequence ol ibe bounty ol the government
with the melancl <>ly and piem s ure old age &,
, decay of some of tne old siaies lie said that
if he was sent here to plund<r Geoigi;, h«
siiould vole for 'hn bill, tint being here io io
lecl her, tie must vole agmusl h. Mr. King
went in o a series ol arguments to sm w to
wh o cans ' the increase "I the cun ncy and
the ace imnlauon of specie in the country were
atinbmeable i.'mses which could not occur
again. He anticipated ine must advantageous
results to speculators fiom the passage <H the
bill It would cause a r.iisa id mu lan is in iho
hm Is of sp o' 4 Hurs, of 300 pet cent in >he
course <it iweniv bur hums. Air. King <‘wn
iiiiued io spe ik in a siram of sarcasm until 3
o’clock, when he concluded with a deelarauon
ih it m* siio ild veto lor striking out the clause,
and fir si ik.ng out every pail and parcel of
fh< bill, wine i would only benefit those who
c.mid siren h 1 heir concieuce to thu utmost
exten Mi. Bayard then rose, .ir.uk f linked
'lr. King, !> i' 'lad not proceed 'd lar when
I'ri. b-tier a s c|os< d.
Tim statements winch have been vent
alnoad. and which lonuoue to be circuia’ed,
pr -tending to give accurate accounts of what
passes i., the Committee of he House, ap
pointed, mi motion of Nir. Garland, o inv«s
---j ligate the coudllmn, &.<•. of the exerU' vr |)e
p.nimen s, ne '<• tie received with cautien &
si|spi,:mii. How they get abroad, is a myste
ry. lhe Clerk of the Committee was sw<<rn,
•<n ( iking the fii e. to keep he proceedings
profoundly secret I*' ilseho d runs s<» fast,
tbit the livgud steps rd truth can seldom
ovm, ike it. 1 tie first impression which m
m id>- upo-.i i fie <>'jl|c mold, whatever its char
act'-r, is seldom eradicated uy any which can
1 -'Herwards be stamped there. The first U q.
Count published through these anonymous
channei.s of he treatment ol Mi. NN hitnet
was most u> jus ifi d>lj and outr geo sly treats
ed by Mr. Bi yton, who took advamaye of
the p >sitmn m which Mr Whitney was
placi d -iiiial le o defend htrns< Il— ■> .ssait
turn m language such as is sehlom used, even
in our sireei bra vis, and such as never should
be tolerated in a judicial assembly. I'llß
C mmii’ee, sitim.' in a judoid character
ou Hit i<> pr< serve decorum, and evince a pro
pei regard < » its aw.i dignity It ought to
urotrrtihe individu il undei examination, and
i’ might to puni-ii those who lay before the
public garbled statements of its se ret procee
dings. Filling to do bis. it fails to do itg
du y. ‘such conduct as that exhibited by
j Mr. Pr.YToN towards Mr. »Nhitnet, would
[discrcdn m» cause, tiow vc good, in which
the J >dge is the aggressor, and y cause,
11 >wevi*r bad, m wai h t ne crirnnal is the ag
grieved. Mr. Vimitsey has gamed in >r -by
the improper treutrn ni hu has received from
a member of the Committee, than he is lik»-