Burke's weekly for boys and girls. (Macon, Ga.) 1867-1870, September 14, 1867, Page 87, Image 7

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abundance of water, and where we would have had the protection of the timber, in cage of an attack. Some of his officers remonstrated with him upon the impro priety of halting in the open prairie, when he knew that a large force of Mexi cans was somewhere in the vicinity; but Col. Fannin was not to be turned from his purpose. I suppose ho thought, that two hundred and fifty Americans, under any circumstances and in any situ ation, had nothing to apprehend from any force the Mexicans could bring against us. But as the sequel will show, this delay proved to be a most fatal one to us. Up to this time, we had seen no Mexi cans, with the exception of two upon horseback, who had made their appear ance from some timber a long ways to our right, and who seemed to be intently watching our movements. At length, after a halt of several hours in the prairie, and just as we were about to resume our march for the Coletto, a long dark line was seen to detach itself from the woods we had left behind us, and another at the same moment from the timber to our left. Every one ex claimed, “Here come the Mexicans!” and in fact, in a few moments more we were able to perceive that these dark lines were men upon horseback, moving down upon us with great rapidity. As they continued to approach, they length ened out their columns, apparently with the intention of surrounding us, and in doing so, displayed their numbers to the greatest advantage. I thought there Avere at least ten thousand of them, though in reality their whole force consisted of not more than a thousand men, mostly cavalry, and some two or three hundred Indians. In the mean time, we had formed ourselves into a hollow square, three deep, to repel the charge we expected would be made upon us, with our artillery at the angles, and the wagons and oxen in the centre. Our vanguard, under bapt. Ilorton, had ridden on ahead, and the first intimation they had of the ap proach of the enemy was from the firing ol our artillery upon the foe. They gal loped back as rapidly as possible, and endeavored to regain our lines, but find ing the Mexicans already occupying the U) ad 1° large force, they gave tip the attempt, and retreated towards Victoria, she Mexicans pursued them beyond the folctto, but they finally made good their escape to the settlements on the Guada loupc river. How sharp your toe nails is!” said addy, when ho caught a hornet and J eld it in his hand. BURKE’S WEEKLY. Written for Burke’s Weekly, Little “ Pearly.” FOR YOUNGEST READERS. I know a pretty little girl, With hair so soft and curly, Her real name I cannot tell, But her pet name is “ Pearly.” She throws her dimpled arms around The yard dog big and burly, But though he growls at other folks, He’ll li«k the hand of “Pearly.” The cow that comes up to be milked Is sometimes cross and surly, And tosses up her crumpled horns, But never troubles “Pearly.” She goes to bed with the bright sun, And in the morning early She wakens full of life and fun— God bless our little “ Pearly.” Clarkesville, Qa. E. P. M. +«+. A Delightful Legend. is a charming tradition jffil connected with the site on which the temple of Solomon was erect fed. It is said to have been owned in common two brothers, one of whom had a family; the other had none. On the spot was sown a field of wheat. On the evening succeeding the harvest, the wheat having been gath ered in separate shocks, the elder brother said unto his wife : “My younger brother is unable to bear the heat and burden of the day; I will arise, take of my shocks, and place them with his, without his knowledge.” The younger brother, being actuated by the same benevolent motives, said within himself: “My elder brother has a family, and I have none; I will Contribute to their support; I will arise, take of my shocks, and place them with his, without his knowledge.” Judge of their mutual astonishment, when, on the following morning, they found their shocks undiminished. This course of events transpired for several nights, when each resolved, in his mind, to stand guard and solve this mystery. They did so, when, on the following night, they met each other, half-way between their re spective shocks, with arms full. Upon ground hallowed by such associations as these was the temple of Solomon erect ed — s0 spacious and magnificent, the ad miration of the world. Alas! in these days how many would sooner steal their brother’s whole shock than add to it a single sheaf! A fellow was told at a tailor's shop that three yards of cloth, by being wet, would shrink one quarter of a yard. “Well, then,” ho inquired, “if you wet a quarter of a yard, would there be any left?” He who writes what is wrong, wrongs what is right. Sowing Little Seed. SI I 1 LE BESSIE had got a present of anew book, and she eagerly opened it to look at the first pic lure. It was the picture of a boy qY) sitting by the side of a stream, and throwing seeds into the water. “I wonder what this picture is about,” said she ; “why does the boy throw seeds into the water?” “Oh ! I know,” said her brother Ed ward, who had been looking at the book ; “he is sowing the seeds of water lilies.” “But how small the seed look?” said Bessie. “It seems strange that such large plants should grow from such little things.” “ You are just sowing such tiny seeds every day, Bessie, and they will come up large strong plants after a while,” said her father. “ Oh, no, father, I have not planted any seeds for a long while.” “I have seen my daughter sow a num ber of seeds to-day.” Bessie looked puzzled, and her father smiled and said, “l"es, I have watched you planting flowers, and seeds, and weeds to-day.” “ Now I know that you are joking, for I would not plant ugly weeds.” “I will tell you what I mean. When you laid aside that interesting book, and attended to what your mother wished done, you were sowing seeds of kindness and love. When you broke that dish that you knew your mother valued, and came instantly and told her, you were sowing seeds of truth. When you took the cup of cold water to the poor woman at the gate, you ivcre sowing seeds of mercy. These are all beautiful flowers, Bessie. But I hojm my little girl has been planting the great tree of Hove to God,’ and that she will tend and watch it, until its branches reach the skies and meet before His throne.” “And the weeds, father ?” “When you were impatient with baby you sowed the seeds of ill-temper. When you waited some time after your mother called you, you sowed disobedience and selfishness. These are all noxious weeds. Pull them up. Do not let them grow in your garden.” ♦♦♦ Our passions are strong coursers that must be bitted and bridled, otherwise they may at any moment bear us to swift destruction. — God’s light, which, itself unseen, makes all things visible and hides itself in clouds. Thine eyes find not the rays, hut the heart is warmed by them. 87