Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

of licks. That was all the eddication I had. I don't think it was much.” While this conversation was in progress near the stern, (for Simpson was next to the stroke-oar,) there was kept up a quiet side-talk among the others, which was concluded by the appointing of Wheeler to say to Dr. Gordon that his proposition met the approval of all, unless it might be of Simpson. “ And I’d be mighty proud to jine in it too,” he quickly responded, “ sept that it oneases me so to think how little I’ve got to say.” “ Why, my good fellow,” said Dr. Gor don, “you have interested the whole boat’s crew already in trying to prove that you have nothing to say. I’ll war rant there is not a person aboard but wishes to hear more.” “Well, sir,” said Simpson, half pleased, half reluctant. “ es that’s what you want, I’ve got plenty more behind and will give it, sich as it is.” “ Since it is settled that each shall give some account of himself,” continued the Doctor, “there is one thing more to be agreed upon, and that is, the order in which the persons shall be called for.— Shall it be alphabetically, or by age ?” “ I move it be by ago, beginning at the youngest,” said Thompson, looking mis chievously at Wildcat, who, during the past few minutes had appeared much ex cited, and who had uttered some implor ing words to Jones about having him ex cused, and who now nervously ejaculated, “ Wildcat can’t talk white man’s talk.” “But he can talk through a linkster,”* argued Thompson, “and there is no bet ter sense-carrier for Muscogee than the Sergeant there, or than Simpson. I should like, above all things, to hear a real Injin story.” “I hope Wildcat will be excused, un less he chooses to unite,” said Tomkins. The poor hoy turned towards his unex pected advocate a look of immistakcable gratitude, and with an almost laugh of pleasure, said, in his own language, “Enk-li-tum-ma-hitz-cliay !”f “Now,” said Jones, looking malicious ly at Thompson, “ I, too, vote that the order go by age. But I think that the first person in this order to be called up on is Thompson; for, although Wildcat came here from ’tother world about thir teen or fourteen years ago, Thompson came here from Ireland only last year. He may be old as a man —he looks as if * Linkster, though not found in our dictionaries, is a word in common use in many parts, being a corruption ; of Unguis ter, (probably from the.ltalian (inguista, if not the English linguist,) and means interpreter, t Good, good as it can be. BURKE’S W EEKLY. he were—but, as a countryman, he is the youngest of the crowd. I hope he will be called upon first.” “ I am ready to obey orders when they come from the right mouth,” Thompson retorted ; “ but I think it is only fair that Simpson, who began his story first, should end it first.” “Simpson! Simpson!” was called by several voices. “You hear the call, Simpson,” said Dr. Gordon. “I hope you will answer as the Turks do, £ To hear is to obey.’ If I were called upon for a vote, I should give it as these have done, for I have no doubt that whatever your schooling may have been, you have seen some rare sights.” “ And so I have,” he answered, while his brow relaxed from its usual half scowl as he listened to the call, which implied a flattering interest already in his life; “and I’ll be proud to tell of’em, too, as well as I kin.” “That is bravely spoken,” said Dr. Gordon. “And now, the only rule I would suggest to govern what is to be related is, that each one shall aim in what he tells to give us something useful as well as entertaining.” “I haven’t much in that line,” Simp son modestly replied ; “ but sich as I have I’ll try to give.” With that he began and narrated a story, in which he committed horrible outrages upon all the rules of language and of elocution, but in which he gave some new and interesting sketches of rough life. This story, improved some what in style, and retaining only a few of its barbarous peculiarities, will be found recorded in the following chapter. ♦*«. — i Extraordinary Answers. A pupil of Abbe Sicord gave the follow ing extraordinary answers: “ What is gratitude ?” “ Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” “What is hope?” “Hope is the blossom of happiness.” “What is the difference between hope and desire ?” “ Desire is a tree in leaf, hope is a tree in flower, enjoyment is a tree in fruit.” “ What is eternity?” “A day without yesterday or to-mor row —a line that has no end.” “ What is God ?” “The necessary being, the sun of eter nity, the merchant of nature, the eyes of justice, the watchmaker of the universe, and the soul of the world.” “Does God reason ?” “ Man reasons because he doubts; he deliberates; he decides. God is omnis cient. He never doubts; He therefore never reasons.” REAL COURAGE. / OYS and girls, as well as men and women, are apt sometimes to mistake prudence for cowardice, yet no two qualities can be more unlike. JfaSSjg “ Pooh !” said a rough boy once ‘ to a more gentle cousin, “ I do ** believe, John, you’re afraid to go near to that horse just because lie isn’t tied.” “ There is no need of me going near him, Stephen,” was the reply, “ and there is danger of his kicking any one who teases him.” “Ha! ha!” shouted Stephen, “you’re a bravey, now ain’t you? The idea of being afraid of a horse!” and with a taunt ing look at John, the foolish boy walked up to the grazing animal and poked him with a stick. The horse gave an uneasy start, but continued pulling at the grass. “See here!” exclaimed Stephen, grow ing more bold, “if you’ll promise not to faint, I’ll present you with a lock of his tail in a minute.” John didn’t faint, but Stephen did; for as he stealthily approached the horse in the rear, the animal bounded away, per forming* a flourish with his hoofs that laid his tormentor senseless in the dust. John tried hard to restore Stephen to conscious ness. He loosened his clothing, rubbed his hands and feet, and bringing water in his cap from the pool near by, dashed it on the boys white face, but all in vain —there was no sign of life. The nearest house was their own home, and a quarter of a mile distant. John felt that not a moment was to be lost. He approached the now quiet horse and leaping upon his back, rode swiftly, without saddle or bri dle, to his uncle’s house for help. When, after a long illness, Stephen re covered, he was a wiser boy, and told his cousin that he really believed that the horse had managed to kick a little com mon sense into him. “ And what a dunce I must have been, John,” he added, “to fancy you were afraid of that horse.” ♦♦♦ jjgy 1 * Beauty and wit will die; learning will vanish, and all the acts ot lite be for gotten. But virtue and piety will remain forever. They are the foundations of honor and esteem. A pert little girl boasted to one ot her friends that her “ father kept a carri age.” “Ah, but,” was the triumphant reply, “my father drives an omnibus.” ‘ Good manners and good behavior cost nothing, but are worth millions. 59