The Georgia journal. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1809-1847, May 28, 1844, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text% im-i ■ ^-Tjtsjlpjul vbi,. xxxv- l&gSTg lywVlIm u.lll < MkM*C>M*>raS l M * a * 41 ** 10 ,k *“' ,keU ««l >Ulw |M IT MAIL—"AS»*USMlsr«Mnr »i!mi m«>| ^MISCELLANEOUS. A lAD lfOlT. I VMim» SC, Um How tmm Ffcysioiaa. Ltmit 1 '! ot m*l life,—tar mm, ldptk. wills. AU tost tbs *f tala! snaisssds ?s Ast tha Iwart« saw Imsttsta crsvsc, A atjtto* , F.M .trtluUWr wUk sartblj toasts. Asoxtsoos. •A moot incongruous title” motbink* torn* arro- I fcvorito of forlorn eiclaim*. with a scornful 'lbslip. “A physician,engaged each day ^performance of his quiet duties, can surely i Iktle exposed to the allurements of ambition. r> ■itrtiodted so ? Is thora nothing in the pur- _i of medical science to arouse the energies of • soblsst minds ? Surely it is something to ex. jn tbs bidden riches of nature, and the research i of icienoe and bend them all to the benificant ■of alls fitting human sufferings—something to ribs clouds of gloomy despondency from a Joind, prostrated to the dual from sympathy j| a diseased body—something to arrest the fleet- ^spirit when just ready to depart from iu earth, ftaasmeot, and give the loved one to the embrace I friends—to receive the blessing of those who i ready to perish, and to cause "the widow’s I to ting for joy" when the daughter who was isuaboemof her home,or the son who wu the yaod staff of her declining years, is restored to ■her after bops had taken its last lingering look, allbuttbeskil'l^ jdoaedthe sufferer in utter despair. So thought Edward Ralston as he folded in his arms his youn r who had just been rescued from death by tit perseveriog skill of her medical attendant. Ed ward was a tall, awkward looking boy of fifteen. He was the youngest of four brothers, who had all, pt himself, left the paternal home to seek '.heir ines in the far west. His father, a small far- jmar in Coooeciiout, had set his heart upon this son i\heone who should guide his tottering steps tbs bill of life. For some years every tree =r«= Mil,LEDGEVlLI,E, TUESDAY. MAY 28, 1844. NO 35- lather, with spectacles on his nose, wae seated at a little round table, with the Bible,a volume of Fox’s Bouk of Martyrs, a treatise on Freedom of the Will, and the last newspaper before him. Each waa triad in turn, and thrown aside with an exprea- alon of Impatience till at last with a reverend air, he opened that bniy book, which had been hit guide 4a be toiled up the bill of file, and whose hopes and promisee were hiasolace now that he waa Maeend. ing the vale of years. For soma moments he •eemed to be reading, but perhaps an acuta obser ver would have seen that his thoughts ware far away, even from the sacred " closing the book, and said in a hoarse the sacred pages. At length, he pushed hack bis spectacles, • voice, which showed lhathe wu ruggliug to subdue strong emotion. "Ned, my fa i bad dented or pruned, had been for hia favorite y. The neat stone walls with wbieh his farm lets enclosed, had been built for him—and as he llsoksd around on the fruits of his iodusiry be ■would say to himself, these things will remind Ned lof me when my gtey head is laid in the grave iHitberto Edward had silently acquieeced in hie de« |button. The capacities of his soul were yet un- ssksosd; and secluded ae be waa from the worl j, I hardly suspected there could be a nobler occu- K than digging the earth for a subsistence, yet i thoughtful, and observing of the operations lof nature to a degree, which exposed him often to like ridicule of his rough and boisterous school- Imtas. Where it Ned ? would be the inquiry on like play ground: for the kindness and gentlenesa Icf bis name made him a universal favorite. “Oh,” ■mid a brawny, red headed fellow, “the Inst time I Imw him he wu counting the colors on a butter I fly’s wing, and bottling up a handful of baight look Ijag bug. that he had been more than an hour col llseting in the garden—and he tried to make me be lam they were beautiful, forsooth, the simpleton. II believe he expects to get a living by birds and but- I tsrfliss, and bits of curious colored stone, and I Mmigs outlandish herba and flowers; for I heard Ikiaela father fretting about hia filling the kitchen I garden full of them.” A loud laugh sod clapping 1 uf bands from the merry group, bore teetimony |Uw truth of their pley fellow’s portraiture. I 8uch bad been the pursuits of Edward’s leiaure I hour* hitherto. His father sometimes ridiculed I Um; but as he war obedient and industrious he | (aurally suffered him to pursue his own course in I quietness. But the time had now come which was I to give coloring to his future destiny; end when I £ wid 10 *’I will be a physician,” he fixed I l * J* °P on 'l* 6 star which waa to guide his course I Jr 011 *!? •' capacities and aspirations of I Us soul which had bean a sealed fountain now burst I forth, and tbs stream flowed sparkling on, in equal | purity and increasing brightness, to the end of his snort brilliant career. From this moment the em- pjoyment of the farm became a galling slavery. He procured, 1 know not how, some elementary works on natural philosophy, and the structure of tbs human frame, and over these hs pored day and night, He soon began to make experiments in the profession he bad chosen. Not a bruised foot or wounded finger could be bound up without his help •—the lame old horse who wns a faithful servant of tbs family for fifteen years, was subjected to many * r °P® r **' on b y Ike young enthusiast in the j L *' ^* l k® cou 'd make him young again; g°o*e and an unlucky sheep who had snen a broken leg, afforded fine opportunities for the display of hia new powers. While hie expert- ■sett were confined to euch cases, his father on- T *8 ,r iet with the patience of a martyr ; Jaoogh hs had sometimes muttered between his teeth that he believed Ned was going crazy. But Wuckily au epidemic among the sheep gave the " e *otoe ■» opening for skill in the Materia ■•wca. Six of his patients scan rested from cares and sorrows, and the patience of his touch enduring father was buried In the same grave “There Ned,” he exclaimed in wrath Muey witnessed the dying struggle of the sev- Ifath, “tske your books and be a doctor, and then if ,r ® «>ul» enough to lake your drugs, the siaJs J~* r °*° i but for thaee poor innocent dumb "••to, ‘ will not lei them auflar for your learning. Ned • pale face grew yet paler, and his full ■*•* •?" looked m if they would start from their rackets at this mortifying rebuff. But he stole 10 Ws little chamber, and aoon loot ilia memo. »y of his defeat in speculations on the cause why so highly recommended for men I oat prove equally salutary for sheep. In the fT*to»ghe seated himself as usual by the blight T^kao fire. His mother whose face beamed the 11 y ?P* rlt °f kindoaaa. pursued bar knitting quiet- | V1 'bough N4d thought aha now and than cat •toueasnally aorrowful glance toward him. Hia ■fdtofa wheat delicate frame tod lovely, tetslligext conoiosinco, suited ill with the homely "«o, wm oestled oloao by her side, arranging Jba taata of a painter the various colors orhor W *•* bod-Quilt," and often lookioc frees bar wsd ea , His xed, my boy, I believe your heart is not here in your old father’s home, and our little form as it used-to lie.” Ned tried to answer, but hie tongue wns palsied, and refused to move. “Weil my boy, 1 tee how it is ; you want to bo puahiug your way upwards io the world.' God knows 1 have apeut many a weary day and night for my boya, and I hoped for one of you. to watch over me and your old mother, when we are chil dren again. But I never yet tied the hand of my boya. If you want to try your skill with the rest in swimming on the current of life, why then go. “■140111116 your mother and 1 can do for you, but that little you shall have, and our blessings loo.” He pauaed, and a slight twitching around the mouth of the stern seeming, but kind hearted old man, alone told wlial a struggle it cost him to give up the cherished hopes of years. The mother si. lently wiped a tear from her eye; and Ned af ter many attempts to speak, finally articulated t "Father you ahali never be ashamed of me,” and then retreated to his own room to give vent to hit full heart. And now the way was cleared before him, and he proudly threw back the black hair which hung in manes over his broad forehead, and said, I will be something or nothing—I will rise in tha world, or—I will not live to be taunted with my fall. Ha aoon placed himself under the care of the parish minister, a man of polished mind, though un pretending manners, who yet cherished a love for literature and classic lore. He possessed a well furnished library, to which the young soholar had free access, and while the noble, and the learned of aneient days passed before his mind's eye, he form ed that high standard of intellectual and moral ex cellence, which he ever afterward pursued with un abated action. Here, too, while poring over the •ongs of the olden bards, was awakened that deep enthusiastic love of the beautiful, and that intenae thirst for perfection in hi* pursuits, which is ever the concomitant of high genius. When his thoughts turned aside from the one purpose to which his high est energies were devoted, he luxuriated in the dreams of loveliness such as exist only in the fanoy of the poet. But all these imaginigs were buried in the recesaes of his own bosom, no kindred spir it had awakened the sympathiea of his soul. His books were his world, and he shrunk with the in stinctive delicacy of an imaginative and gifted mind from all communion with the uncongenial be ings by whom he was surrounded. The prepara tory college studies were mastered with a rapidity which astonished his teacher, and drew from him many a fond prediction of future eminence Alas! he knew not that ha was thus fanning the flame which waa to consume him. His college life wrought a wonderful change in the eileot reduce. He found there thoie who could undentand and aympathize with him; and from tha ahy, awkward hoy he became an intelli gent, noble looking young man. Yet their waa then a careworn look, which to a prnctiied eye, told of midnight vigils by the pale light—of hours •tolen from needful dumber to explore the exhaust, less mines of intellectual wealth, which were then opened to hia enraptured gaze. The day when he left his Alma Mater was a proud day for him. He left with the highest honors; and his father and young sister were to hear the rapturous plaudits which his performance called forth. The old cler. gyman, who was here, and the applause of others was unheard when the young student saw his face light up with an exulting smile, and then behold him brush the unbidden tear from his eye. "Were you satisfied with me,” he whispered to the delight ed old mao, aa they dispersed among the crowd. “Yes, i was proud of you ; but remember my boy, that earthly honors will not purchase a seat in hea. ven. Don’t make fame your idol, and worship it, for you will find it but a faithless friend upon a deathbed'" “1 know it well my dear sir” here- lied—"I will remember your advice, and seek a icavenly treasure—but now—I must pressforward —I cannot pause now to think of eternity. When my profession I tha- JM, and then I will follow your kind counsel-” Oh, how many a young heart has thus silenced the whis pers of conscience, and lulled their aouls asleep with the vain hope that the time would come when they should be satisfied with wealth, or fame, or pleasure, and be ready to turn their thoughts to ward heaven. Did they but know that it is at Bethesda’s fountain alone that the heart can find rest, or the fevered longings of the deathless mind can be allayed, they would not turn scornfully and ungratefully from the voice of heavenly compas sion which says, If any man thirst, let him come to me end drink. * * * The traveller who is passing through Vermont is arrested in his course by the beautiful situation of a little village, on a high awell of land two miles from the Connecticut. In the aspect of the hamlet itself there ia nothing remarkable. A few nest, 3 uiet looking dwellings are dispersed around a ver- ant square ; while the ample church, which opens the unpolished exterior of many of his pariahlouare. and struggling for years to obtain. Tam like that Perhaps scenery by which they were surrounded child,” he continued, pointing to a little girl who was uot without influence upon their minds and waa forming a boquet of flower*, "see, she has hearts. just graspod a—-a”—he paused, and pressed lus They who habitually look upon nature in her loveliness and grandeur, especially if they have been taught to *e# in tha wonder* of ereatioo the tha hand unerring wisdom united with untiring love* and infinite power, can hardly become enslaved by tha base and degrading passions of our nature.— Tha Connecticut fluwed beneath them bordered by meadow* which rivalled in beauty and fertility tha vale of Tempo; the curtain of mist which hung over it in the morning, wav festooned in ten thou sand fantastic shapes along the side* of the lichty wooded hillf, now hiding, row revealing to view, some deep glen or some quiet cottage aoene, and lighted up by the rising tun, reflected the gorgeoua hue* of tne rainbow ; while far away into the dis tance, the While Mountains, rising high toward heaven, carried the thought* to Him, who dwelleth in light unapproachable. Here young Ralston commenced hi* profession al career. There was no rival to obstruct his path for his superior powers and profound knowledge in his vicinity. For a time his progress wm gradual, and while needful slumber was allowed, and the Sabbath could be to him a day of rest, he bore op against the anxiety which hi* sensitive mind en dured when he felt the live* of other* entrusted to hi* care. He was constant in the house of prayer, and there the overtasked brain, turned to yet high er and nobler themes, oould rest from the deprera- ing and exhausting toils of the week. Ob, tha 8abbath is indeed one of Heaven’s best gifts to man ; not less necessary is its holy rest to the cul tivated intellect and the polished mind, thsn to him who eats his bread in the sweat of his brow.— Then in the house of worship in the presence of the great benificent Parent, of all petty rivalries of literary strife are forgotten, the aspirations of ambi- lion are hushed, and the soul feels the nothingness of earthborn cares and hopes when placed in com petition with the interests of uternity. But soon with success came an increase of la bor end anxiety—labors more exhausting, anxie ties more depressing, because the best feelings of his mind were nil enlisted in the profession he had chosen. And now fame began to breathe its se ductive music ia his ear, Not in the coarse notes of flattery from which a delicate mind shrinks in stinctively ; but it came "Likeths perfumei on the wind Which none may may or bind”— in the half muttered "God bless you” of the mo ther who clasped again to her bosom her little one, that seemed to her a* one raised from, the dead—in the respectful look and kindly words of the uncul tivated tiller of the soil, a homage whose sincerity could not be questioned—in the eloquent though brief acknowledgements of the richly eudowed and polished mind from which he had lifted the pall of despondency and gloom, cast over the soul by a diseased body ; and in the soft though fervent tone* of woman’s gratitude which sounded sweet in bis ears as hi* gentle sister’s voice. Thus lured on ■ ward, he paused not in his career; pressing on and reaching forward to yet higher distinctions with out aonciousneas that he needed rest- His pro. fessional cases and duties absorbed his whole soul. He formed none of those kind and gentle ties which, by dividing the thoughts and awakening the affec. tions, tend to silence the clamors of ambition, which ever cries "give, give !” No wife welcomed hie return to the domestic fireside, no little ones clung fondly around him, a boarding houso was his home, and when rest and relaxation were in his power, books were his only resource. But the softening hand upon hiv brow—“oh, 1 cannot remember the name—what is that flower which is surrounded with thorns I” "A rots f” inquired hi* companion. "Yes, yes—a rose ; she ha* just grasped a beau, tiful rote, but the leaves have all fallen at her touch, and the thorns have wounded her hand. But how strange I could not remember a name so perfeotly familiar to my memory. The truth Is," he conlin- ued In a tone of deep and melancholy foreboding, "1 am not, 1 shall never again be what i hsvo been. I feel that I am prostrated. At times I think little of it—I suppose at such times all my mind revives, so that 1 feel the extent of my weak ness and decay, my anguiah is xuch that insensibil ity ia preferable.” ‘•Tliie conversation was reported to some of hi* frionds, and alarmed them. At that time Dr. Na than Smith, whose skill and knowledge gave him a power like intuition, was io the meridian or his fame. A messenger was despatched for him by Ralston’s friends, whu had no doubt his own Im- pressioif j were correct—and that he had been in jured by a blow upon the head. He camo and ques tioned, and examined the sufferer; and then beck oning the landlady out of the room, asked tier of his former habits—of hia application—his hours of repose ; and his appearance when perplexing cases were uuder his care. “I cannot tell you, Doctor," replied the old lady, "how he seemed in other places, but 1 tell you for I shall never forget how he looked and appeared when my dear boy was sick a fow week* since. He is my only child—the hope and stay of my heart since his poor father was laid in the grave. My own doctor was absent when he was taken of the violent fever which has laid so many young heads low. With a heavy iieart I sent for old Doctor K* but Robert grow worse every hour, and in three days his cure was pronounced hopeless—no more could be done for him. Alt, these.were sad tidings for mei prayed for submission, prayed that I might be willing to give up my last earthly treasure, and go down to my own grave alone, with no one to wipe the cold death damps from my brow. And 1 thought 1 was willing—thought I could say from my heart, "Not my will but thine, oh God, bo done.’ But when 1 sat down by my boy, and stroked back his curly hair from his pale forehead, and fell that all I could do was to moisten his parched lips, and liatthi to his low quick breathing, oh, doctor! my heact swelled and rose, and I thought I should suf focate. I had sat thus by him twelve hours; lie had not opened his eyes nor spoken, and Iliad no hope of again hearing that voice which had been my sweetest music. I was bending over him and listening to his faint breathing, when 1 heard a well known step. My heart bounded—it was my own dear physician. But when tie opened the door a death-like sickness come over me. "Oh Doctor,” said I, "you are too late. Had you como yester- day vou might have saved him, but he is dying now. I looked up at him ; and he looked so pale, and shrivelled, and weary I waa frighted." You are sick yourself,” said I. “No, no,’ he replied impatiently ; ‘what are you doing for Robert?" “Why, I am only welling his lips; they say he must die.” “Die,” he repliod, in a voice so deep and stern that I started, ‘any body would dio so. There, take these,’ handing me some bitter drugs, "put them in hot water and bring them to tne immediately.” “He then threw off his coat, and began rubbing Rmults o» Kxtkrprise.—The two principal psrtosrs in one of the greatest bsnking houses in tlto world, probably the largest discounters of bills, were both servants, in tlio outsat of thoir lives, and blacked their employers' boots. The paper which tltoy now discount, amounts to four hundred mil. lions a year. Almost all their decisions, are made by one of tlieso men, who is so fumiliar with his business men, that ho runs o handful of acceptances through Ilia hands, and pounces upon them in less lime than a bank teller pays his bank notos for a check.—The resources of the house are so vsst that the Bunk of England lias found itself quite un- able to dictate to them or to indulge in rivalry with them. One of the partners, it is suid on good au thority, is in the Imbit of giving away, from his ■hare of the profits, a hundred thousand dollars annually.—N. Y. Jour. Com. Hard Milkers—it is well known tlint sotno caws, milk so hard that the labor is so severe as to exceed the value of the milk when obtained. Wo have seen several notices of late, on this subject, in the papers, from different writers, and different methods recommended of obviating the evil. One lias proposed the introduction of a keon nurrow bla. ded knife, to enlarge the opening of ihe leal, ami •ays the practice lias been entirely successful. Another says he made some pine plugs and crowd ed into the teat holes, and let them remain about two weeks, except when milking, and afterwards had no troublo wiilitlio cow. Another recominonds the insertion of a small quill, for tlto double pur pose of enlarging the opening and drawing off tlto milk without using the hand ; the quill to bo with drawn at each milking. Now wo should fear tlto result of this tampering with the teat, the more so as a few years since we knew a valuable cow, not a hard milker, that iiad lost her hag from an inflnmation caused by the in- traduction of a quill for the purpose of drawing off the milk, to an ease-loving boy milker. The oper ation was repoated hut a fow limes, yet the result was fatal to the udder. Using a knife we should apprehend, would allow the milk in most cases to flow out ns fast as collected ; and should expect front the'pine plug’ either a similar result, or an inflammation.—Alb. Cul. Influence of domestic charities were not all his t m y boy with something—I forget the nume—but I its doors as a refuge appointed by heaven to point iroke the weary and the broken hearted to that home where sorrow and sighing shall floe away ; and the air of quiet and repose which hang a* a broad man tle over tha scene, tell that there, if any where on earth, every warring passion in the breast of man should be hushed. It was there that young Ral ston fixed his residence, among a people simple in deed in their manners, but possessed of sufficient intelligence to estimato and feel. "Tbs power of iboufht.tbe mefic if the mind." They possessed, too, that refinement and dolica cyof feeling which results from moral culture.— On the Sabbath, every hook, and hill, and valley ■ont out it* inhabitants, and all, from tho gray haired patriarch down to the unconscious intent, as sembled in tho house of prayer. Tho purifying and softening influences of public worships were not lost upon that unsophisticated |ieople. Their roll- gious teacher was a man of more than ordinary in tollectuai power. He was ardently and dovotedly pious, and possessed that singleness of mind and energy of purpoee which give* unlimited sway over the mind* of other*. His people had grown up under hit leaching—they loved and venerated him at a father. I knew him well, for that quiet ham let wm the residence of my maternal relatives.— Often in my childhood and eariyyouth did I listed to hit Instructions, and tho tones of mingled kindness aod severity with which ha would reprove the erring and recall tha wandering to thapathof duty, yat ring in my ear. I remember, too. the iatalligaoca. the scute diecrimfaaling mind, aod dolfoaey of per- eoption which would gloan. «»t llko sunbeam* through a mist, f«m bdndsth tho *«k|ue gnrb sod spirit needed. The hallowing influence, the cairn, ing as well as exalting hopes of the christain, were strangers to his hesrt- He drank only of earth’s troubled fountain’s, and though he had not yet found their gall and Utterness, for life’s cup still sparkled for him, he drank but to thirst again and again. Somoyears thus passed away in un. remitting labors on his part, rewarded by unrivall ed fame within his own circle, and it was not a narrow one. At this period a young man of brilliant talenta and fascinating manners, offered his sorvices aa physician in the vicinity of Ralston; and soon after, a severe end wide spreading epidemic called for renewed exertions, while at the same time it a. wakened fears that his more showy rival would have it in his power to supplant birr. He now knew no repose either of body or mind: The day was spent in administering to the sick—Ihe night in making prescriptions, and consultiug his books. He became emaciated, and looked pale nnd care worn. His step once firm and vigorous was now at times alternately hurried, or feeble and unsteady; and some, more observant than others, noticed that he often pressed his hand upon his brow, as if thought und recolloction cost him a painful effort. Those nppearances were, however,only momentary. On the contrary, there was never before a time when his efforts and success were so brilliant.— He seemed indeed like* being all soul, all spirit. There was a dazzling brightness in his eye, a quickness and vividness in his perceptions, which inspired both admiration and awe. After a time, a shadow of unutterable gloom would pass for a mo. ment over his countenance, and began to whisper to the very few friends whom he trusted, of strange fantasies; he hinted of plots formed against him ; and wild and groundless suspicions of his younger rival haunted his imagination. His friends knew not what to fear, but listened in silent wonder. At length, after a day of intense exertion, here- turned home at a late hour to his lodgings, and en tering with a pale and haggard look, sunk appar ently exhausted in a chair. "There, he has done it at last,” he muttered in a low tone, "I have re ceived a violent blow upon the top of my head which knocked me off my horse. How long I lay insensible I know not—Oh 1 there is such a weight here,” he whispered faintly, putting his hand to his head. His kind heartod hostess administered such sim ple remedies as her very limited knowledge could supply; but he seemud sinking, wasting—and the powers of his fine mind soemed rapidly declining. An incident, trifling in itself, first gave his friends to fear that the spirit which had been like a power ful and sweet toned harp, vibrating at the slight est touch, was now hopelessly unstrung and shatter ed. It was a lovely evening in June. Support ed on the arm of hit hostess" son, a young man whose life he had saved, and in whom he felt a deep interest, he was walking in the garden and enjoying tho bulmy freshness of the evening air.— The hour and the scene softened hi* heart, and re- moved for a time the guard he habitually placed ovei the expression of his feelings. He spoke of his early home—of his father’s worth, of his mo. ther’s kindness, in tones of deep emotion; and when he named his sister, and dwelt on her deep lendernera and love for him his voice faltered. He then alludeded to his own history—to his brilliant succeM—to the fame he had acquired—but, he con- tinued t "I have been pursuing a shadow. There ha* been uo rest, no quiet at my heart. If 1 could but know thsl peace which beamed in my beloved mo ther's fsoe, when she returned to us from her sacred hour of secret oommuoion with her God, how glad, ly woqhj 1 lay down oil—alt 1 have been toiling know it is very powerful; this he continued till I brought the preparal ion he had ordered. When I returned to the room 1 was startled at the change in the doctor’s appearance. Ho looked no longer pule and shrunk as before—I cannot tell you pre ciseiy what I.thuught, but it seemed tho spirit with in changed to another man. There was no look of weariness, but he stood erect and firm ; his face flushed, and his eye so bright that I shrunk from his gaze. He now took his station by the bed-side, and with the fingers or one hand pressed upon the pulse of thesufferer he continued to give him, once in s fow moments wlaal I had prepared for him. For some time there was no change. I felt scarcely a gleam of hope ; and there was something so strange in the doctor’s appearance, he looked to me so, like alright spirit that I almost left caring for my boy in wonder and nuxiety for him. I at last ven tured to urge him to take refreshment; but he hade me desist in a manner so different from his usual kiadness and gentleness toward me, that I was rea dy to weep afresh. ‘My goi)d mother,’ said he, in atone which seemed to c rave forgiveness for his apparent harsh, ness,‘lean swallow nothing now. 1 have often he continued with a smile, ‘gone without food twen ty-faur hours, when our dear Robert’s life hangs by a single Isair’— "1 was *.t his bed side in a moment, and oh how my heart beat! But the doctor put his finger on my lip, and motioned me to be silent. Such a glad joy. ous smile its passed over his countenance for a mo ment as he looked at me—I shall never forget that look—and then turning his hoad from me l saw the tears fall drop by drop on the floor. My son is raised from, the dead ; ho is mine again—but he who savod 'nis life”— "He must die,” said Dr. Smith, in a suppressed voice. “I see plainly how It is,; there is no hope for his owi» spirit has consumed him. The brain has bean over.wrought—there was the only blow he received, and lie has been in truth his own destroy er.” And it wns so, the remainder of his sad story is swan told. He never recovered from that shock There wore indeed, occasional gleams of bright ntiM, which served only to render more dreary the mnntal darkness that which had settled down like m.idnight gloom over that brilliant intellect. There rvere times when he soemed struggling with the in cubus that weighed him down ; when he atrovo to arrest tlto thoughts which flitted like shadows across his mind, and when he made painful efforts to give expression to emotions that seemed for a moment to be struggling for utterance. But it wes all in vain; and ia a short time even these momen tary efforts censed. Mind and body wasted grad ually and almost imperceptibly away, and before the scene closed he was reduced to almost child like imbecility. A simple monument in the village burying ground now marks the spot where, at the early oge of tbirty-two, Edward Ralston was 'aid in hi* lung home. Portland, Maine. An Indian Duel.—Wingenund wailed until the peechof his antagonist had been translated to them, when he replied, with unmoved composure, "If the Crow warriors require bettor witness than words, it is not difficult to find. They have alrea dy been told that Kein-na stranger gave to Mahe- ga a present of a bow and arrows, which lie hid in the rocks. Wingenund took them out, ami hero they are.” As the youth spoke, lie dropped the blanket that had been thrown over his left arm and shoulder, holding up to the council the bow und arrows, which all present instantly recoguised as being made and ornamented by the Blackfeet. "Are the warriors yet convinced,” continued the youth, raising his voice, “or do they wish for more? If they do, let them seize the Waslmshc wolfe, they will find in his belt—” He was r,ol allowed to finish the sentence ; the storm that had long been brooding now burst in a!! its fury. Maltegu, driven to desperation by the damning evidence brought against him, nnd ruck, less of all save the gratification ofltis fierce re venge, whirled his iron-pointed mace around his head, and launched it with tremendous force at Wingenund. Nover had the latter, even for an instant, taken his falcon eye off tlto Osugo ; hut, so swift wns tho motion tvitli which the weapon was thrown that lie sprang lightly asido to avoid it, the spike head grazed and laid open his cheek, whenco it glanced off, and striking on unlucky crow who stood behind him, felled him with a broken arm to the ground. Even in tho act of stooping to escapo tlie mace, Wingenund fitted an arrow into the Black-foot bow which he held in his hand; nnd, rising quick as thought, let it fly at his gigantic adversary with so true an aim, tliat it pierced the windpipe, ana tho point came out at the back of his neck, close to tlto spine. While the Osnge, half strangled nnd para- lysed, lugged ineffectually at the fatal shaft, Winge nund leaped upon him with the bound of n tiger, and uttering aloud the war cry of tho Lcnnpc, bu ried his knife in the heart of his foe. With one convulsive groan the dying Osnge full heavily to the earth, and, ero the bystanders had recovered from their astonishment, his blood stained scalp hung at tile belt of the victorious Dolawaro. C. Murry's Praire Bird. Aoe of Animals.—A bear rarely exceeds 20 years ; a dog lives twenty years ; a wolf twenty ; n fox fourteen or sixteen ; lions are long-lived— Pompey lived to the age of seventy years ; n squir rel or hu re seven or eight years; rnbbitsscvcn. Ele phants Itnvo been known to live to the grout ngo of 400 years. When Alexander tho Greullind con quered one Porus, King of India, he look a great ele phant which had fought valiantly for the king, and named him Ajax, dedicated hitn to the Sun, and let him go with this inscription, “Alexander, the son of Jupiter, hath dedicated Ajax to tlto Sun." This ele phant was found with this inscription 850 years af terward. Pigs have been known to live to the ngo of thirty years ; the rhinoceros to twenty. A horse has been known to live to the ngo of sixty- two, but overages twenty to thirty. Camels some times live to the nge of one hundred. Sings urc long-lived. Sheep seldom exceed the age of ten. Cows live about fifteen years. Cuvier considers it probable that whales sometimes live one thous and years. Mr. Mnllarlon has the skeleton of a swan that attained tho oge of two hundred years. Policans are long-lived. A tortoise lias been known to live to the nge of one hundred and seven. An old clergyman, and rather an eccentric one withal, whose field of labor was a town in the in terior of Massachusetts one Sunday, at the close of his Mrvices gave notice to the congregation that in Ike course of the week, he expeclod to go on s mis sion to the healltea. Tlto members of the church were struck with alarm aod aorrow at tha sudden aod unexpected announce meat of the loss of their beloved pastor, and one of tha deacons, in great ^Ration exclaim," Why, my dear air, you have ne- vjr told us one word of this before I What shall we dot” "Oh, brother C,” said the parson witk the greatest sang froid,"! don't expect to go out ol town!’’ , - Ghosts.—Thera is n curious case related in an old dedicul work, of a man who was a well known character, and a man of senso, where it was snid he used to see s number ol'pcrsons in the room tvith hitn. Now lie himself has described lliu wliolo phenomenon, and all tho adjuct to it. lie hns said, after taking a cup of coffee, or tea, they dime into his room in great unmhers; and as he got belter, and less nervous, ho has only seen the arms and legs of them. This is all an irregular action of the eyes. A gentleman sittiog in his library ono day, rending or writing, on turning round his head, saw, sitting in a chair a woman in n red clonk.— He said to her,“How came you here, good woman ? The woninn suid nothing. “What is the menuing of your boing horn, woman ?" No answer was mude. “You have no right to bo here—go out of the room." She look no notice of him. lie got up and rang the bell for his servunt. Tho seivant came in. “Turn this woman out.” Wlial womnn, air?” “Why the woman in a red cloak.” Tlmre’s no woman, nor any red cloak, sir.” "Well, go and fetch the doctor for me; tell him I am ill, and wish to speak to him.” The man, however, wus not to he frightened by this, because lie knew it was a delusion of Ids sight. A person wns remarking tbe other day. "How very cheap every thing lias got I” “Not evory thing,” said his friend. “Why, wlial is not ?” “Woman I" "Oh, aye, i forgot—women are always dear »*ueo the case of sound an der proper morel influence. The wide diffiistun ' of learning under a proper rell|ioue supervision, and the increase of the fucilitles fof acquiring use. ful knowledge, aro vital to our syalem of sell'-gov* ernment, It is knowo to many of your readers dial ao eff ort has been in progress for several years to endow liberally a literary institution called Oglethorpe University, at Midway, a pleasant settlement, situ, sled on sn elevated ridge, 2} miles south of Mill— cdgevijle, the Seat of Government of Georgia, The site was selected from its long dewrvea re- potation for health, end its centrality and access). bleness from all parts of the Southern and South Western States. The institution is under the gen eral supervision of the Presbyterian Church, but is designed to be liberal in it* administration. Itia modeled very much on the plan of Princeton Col lege, and to be endowed in tho same way. It em. bracos a very comprehensive couree, including an Academy with an English and Classical department, an I a thorough College courts.(There is also be tween the College and Milledgeville a thriving Fe- malo Academy of high order under admirable reg ulations.) The College 1ms been in successful op. oration on a limited scale for several years, and has secured the confidence of the enlightened men of the state. It is now proposed to enlarge Its board of instruction by the addition of a Carolina Professorship and also of an Alabama Professorship. In the loiter State a spirited effort is in progress to endow a Professorship, nnd Rev. T. S. Wither spoon is Professor elect, who is expected toon to take his Chair in the Faculty. W. P. Findly, Esq ; a omive uf this City, has been appointed Carolina Professor, and his uppointment meets with univer sal satisfaction. The Board of Trustees are de. pendent on the liberality of the publio to secure the endowment. Considerable progress has been made within a fow weeks towards its completion. It on. ly needs a few benevolent men to set a liberal part, and the success of tho project will be beyond the hazard of a failure. To the enlightened of the community and to tho liberal friends of ed. uculion the Trustees are looking for coun tenance and patronage,and they are fullycon- lident that their appeal will not be made in vain. The South has been munificent in past times in aiding to endow Northern Colleges, and especially Princeton, and will she be backward in building a Southern Princeton within our own borders? A friendly and an honorable rivalry between liberal institutions will only tend to increase the number of well educated men, and to stimulate the differ, ent institutions to those improvments which will elovuto the slnndurd—whilst it will tend to promote tlto great object of training the rising generation of our land for the responsible parts they aro soon to occupy in wielding the destinies of this mighty na tion—and prepare them to be instrumental in trnns- nitting our glorious heritage to future ages and distant nations. _ PHILANTHROPOS. Curious Relics.—Among the relics of the Histo rical Society at New Haven, Ct., there is a cuno manufactured from tho root of the tree on which tho Salem witches were hung; the old oak chest formerly in tlto possession of the family of Aaron Burr; tlto arm chuir of Roger Williams, the camp stool of the Ptuvorend Colonel Elisha Williams, once President of the Yale College General Put nam’s old tavern sign, with a portrait of Gen. Wolfe planted thereon ; a part of tbe keel of Capl. Cook’s old ship ‘Endeavor,’ that pased round the world, nnd finally onded lior days at Newport, R.I.; tho basket und glass found with Capt. Nathan Hale, who was hung by the British,on Long band, as a spy, during the revolution, as a retaliation for the death of Andre; and last,but not least, tbt:.order book of a British Adjutant, containing the “ardors” "f Ihe British army on the day of the memorahlo battle of Bunker Hill, ono sheet of which was stained and stamped, for eternal endurauce, with a drop—a single drop of human blood ! Prospects of the Wheat Crop.—If there be not n larger wheat crop in the United States this yeur, or in tho West at any rate, titan over before, wu shall hu disappointed. In our rambles through Illinois, Wisconsin, nnd Indiana, we have seen and been informed that more wheat was sown last full than usual; nnd almost without exception, so far us we have been ablo to loam, it has been uninjur ed by tho winter. The early opening of spring will hasten its growth so that there will be little danger from rust, und this living the chief cause of fear for wheat in this region, wo think tlto prospect is good for a large crop. Several of our correspondents, writers from Wisconsin, and southern and central Illinois, coincide with these views. From inquiry we do not think there was quite as much sown in control and southern Illinois us last year ; but probably more than any previous year whem tho crop hus not been cut off. The seasoti lias been so favourable that an unusual amouut of spring wheat has been got in. If no eulamity falls upon the crop, next harvest will be a busy season. —Prairie Former. Flowrrs anu Shrubs.—Why does not every lady who can afford it, have a geranium or some other flower in Iter window ? It is very cheap—its cheapness is next to nothing, if you raise it from seed; or from u slip ; und it is a beauty and n com. panion. It was remarked by Leigh Hunt, that it sweetens tlto air, rejoices the eye, links you with Nature, und is something to love. And if it can. not love you in return, it cannot Imic you ; it can not utter a hateful thing, even if you neglect it, for, though it is all beauty, it hath no vanity ; and such living the case, and living ns it does, purely to do you good nnd afford you pleasure, how will you he ahlo to neglect it? Wo receive in imagination the scent of these good-natured leaves, which allowed you to carry ofl'thoir perfume on your fingers ; for good-natured they are, in that respect, above all other plants, and fitted for the hospitality of our room. Tho very feel of the leaf hus a household warmth in it—something analogous to clothing and comfort. This is the season for transplanting trees. We ure aware that there are somo things to discourage Ihe farmer in relution to his orchards : but persc- vero. There is hardly an outlay that will pay bet ter ; und let it be remembered by the man who is looking forward to planting an orchard some day, lliul its postponement for a twelvemonth, is years, so lar as respects this part of Ilia plans, irrecovera bly lost.—Funner's Cabinet. Bad Air in Wells.—Never go down into a well wilicli has been any lime out of use; or if it ba deep, without trying tho nir in it. This may be done by lowering u lighted candle—if it burns, there is no danger; but if it goes out the air is bad, and death would be tbe consequence of venturing into it. It is said that the air may be speedily cor rected by putting into the well—say from a half bushel to u bushel of quick lime, which will absorb the acid gas—the agent alike deleterious to com fort and respiration. Ghosts.—Tom Hood, tho prince of English wits, talks about ghosts in the foilwing facetious and fu miliar munner: “Ghosts bo hanged ! No such things in nature; all laid long ago, before the wood pavement.— What should they come fur? for reform, and Joseph -Sturge may rise, an ! rising generation may rise, but lliut tho deud should rise, only to muke one’s hair riso is more than I can credit. Suppose your self s ghost. Well, if you como out of llie grave to serve a friend, how are you to help him T and if it’s sit enemy, what's the um of appearing to him if you can’t pilcli into him.” Pulse or the Elephant.—la a healthy animal die pulse boats 34 strikes in a minute.

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The Georgia journal. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1809-1847, May 28, 1844, Image 1