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BY 11. STYLES BELL.
Terms of Subsrriiiiioii,
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No subscription received foe* less term than
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itj- Advf htisem’ published at the usual
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tiY authokity.
“*"*[ EDUCATION.
AN ACT to p||ppsh a general system of Educa
tionFny common Schools.
Sec, 1, Beit enacted by the. Senate and House of
Repr* si ntatives of the State of Georgia in General
Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the autho
rity of the same, That from and after the first day of
January, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine, the funds
of this^ Stale heretofore known as the Academic and
Poor School Funds, be, and the same are hereby con
solidated, and to get Iter with the interest on one third
part of the surplus revenne, derived to this State i
from the Unitea States, and heretofore set apart for
that purpose, shall compose and constitute a general
fund for common Schools, for the State of Georgia.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, That within ten days after the reception i
of such notice, the School Commissioners shall as- j
semble together, and elect from their number a Presi
dent of the Board, and a Secretary, and shall also
appoint a Treasurer, who shall give bond and secu
rity to the Commissioners for the time being, and I
their successors^ n office, in such sums as they may i
fix upon, conditioned faithfully to discharge his duty i
ns Treasurev, and should any vacancies happen in |
such board of Commissioners, by death, resignation
or otherwise, the same shall be.filled by the board
itself.
Sec. 6. And lie it further enacted by the authority I
aforesaid, That it shall be the duty of the School |
Commissioners in each division, or a majority of j
them, to lay off their respective counties into school j
districts, conforming, as nearly as practicable, to the i
present Militia districts; in the same, in a manner |
most smtable and convenient for the purpose content- \
plated in this act.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted by the authority I
aforesaid, That they shall apply for, and receive j
■from the state, their pronprtionabfe share of the gen- \
eral fund for Common Education, and shall appor- j
lion und divide the same among the several School
districts in their divisions, in proportion to the num- ;
her of children in each, between the ages of five and j
fifteen years, and shall make an annual report to the j
Governor, of the number of School districts in their
respective divisions, the districts from which reports
have been made to them, and the defaulting districts,
the length of time a school has been kept in each, and
also the amount of funds received by themselves or
treasurer from the State; and from taxes raised, and
in what manner the same has been expended, and
the number of children taught in each district, which
report the said Commissioners shall cause to be re
corded by the Secretary, in a book kept for that pur
pose.
See. 7. And be it further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, That the Commissioners of each School
division, shall, by this act be, and they are hereby
constituted a body corporate, under the name and
style of the Commissioners of the Common School,
and are made capable of suing and being sued, and
the T rustees of the several school districts of each di
vision shall also be a body corporate, under the name
and style of the Trustees of the district schools, with i
like powers as above, both of which said Corpora
tions, shall be allowed and entitled to own real es
tate and other projierty, upon which to erect School
houses, and for other purposes connected with the
jp* bools..
See. 9. And be. it further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, That the Trustees shall within 15 days
after their appointment, proceed to ascertain the j
number of free white persons in their respective dis
tricts, between the ages of five and fifteen years, and
return the same to the Commissioners of the School !
division to which they belong. They shall also re
ceive from the school Commissioners, or their Trea
surer the funds to which they arc entitled under the
law, and on the first Monday of November in each
year, make a report to the said Commissioners, show
ing the. amount received, the manner of its expendi
ture, the number of children taught in their district,
the length of time which a school has been taught,
and the compensation paid to teachers and their
names. They shall locate and superintend the erec
tion of suitable School houses in their respective dis
tricts, at the most convenient and suitable places for
the inhabitants and scholars residing in the same,
shall employ and pay teachers and visit the schools,
at least twice in the year.
Sec. 10. And be it further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, That the Commissioners and Trustees
under this act. shall hold their office for twelve
months, or until their successors erre elected, and re
ceive no compensation for their services.
Sec. 11. And be it further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, That it shall be the duty of the Governor;
annually to distribute to the Commissioners of each
School division in the State, their proportionable
part of the Common School fund, which apportion
ment shall be made (by the last, census, until the next j
census be taken, and the* by that) according to the
number of free white persons, between the ages of
five and fifteen years, of which he shall to said
commissioners, in each division, immediate notice.
Sec. 12. And be it further enacted by the authori
ty aforesaid, That no moneys received from the State
by the Commissioners for School purposes, shall be
expended for any other purposes, than for paying
teachers and purchasing books and stationary for
children whose parents are unable to furnish the
same.
Sec. 13. And be it further enacted by the authori
t y aforesaid, That after these schools shall have gone
into operation, no Trustees for districts shall be al
lowed to receive any funds from the Commissioners,
unless they shall have made a return signed by a
majority of their number, showing the amount re
ceived by them, and how the same has been expend
ed, and that a school has been kept in their districts,
at least three months in the year preceding, or then
ending.
Sec. 14. And be il further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, That all moneys not drawn by any such
defaulting district shall be added to the amount to lie
distributed the next year, and api>ortioned among all
the districts in such divisions.
Sec. 15. And licit further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, That should the Commissioners, in any
division, fail to apply for, nnd distribute the fund re
ceived as directed by this law, that shall lie subject
to a suit for damages, at the instance of the trustees
of anv district in such division, in any court of law
in this State having jurisdiction, and the amount of
dama-es so recovered, sliall be collected out of the
private property of such commissioners, and not
from the funds of the School.
Sec. 17. And be it further enacted by the authority i
aforesaid. That all white persons between the ages
of five and fifteen years, shall be allowed to be. taught i
as scholars in the respective districts in which they j
reside, or in case their location may make it ineonve- j
mem in the adjoining district, by making applica
tion to the Trustees thereof, who may prescribe
though no one over the age of fifteen years and under ]
twenty-one, shall be excluded from said Schools.
See! 18. And be it farther enacted by the authority |
aforesaid. That in those counties where the inhabi
tants aie thinly settled, the commissioners may, if
they thixk it bejt refuse to lay off the same into
school districts, but they shall employ a suitable
number of Teachers who shall under their directions,
■ teach school tot longer than three months in any one
district or neigrborhood. sothatevery section of snqh
, county shall receive, as nearly as can he, equal ad
,• vwntag £ front Mil fund; and it shall be the duty of
;hc Commissiohers if any sitch county in which the
■ iterating system mac be thought best, to mention
the same m their annua, report , and so far as relates
to the county of tlcConunissionersshall oou-
fine themselves to the three Military districts of said
county.
Sec. 10. And be it further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, That the Commissioners and Trustees
elected as aforesaid, in the foregoing act, before they
enter upon the duties of their offices, shall take tin*
following oath before any Judge of the Superior
Court, Justice of the Inferior Court, a Justice of the
Peace, in the county where they reside, viz ; 1 A. 8.,
do solemnly swear, that 1 will faithfully perform ull
the duties required of me by law, as Commissioner
of Common Schools, or Trustee of Common Schools,
as the case may be.
’ JOSEPH DAY
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
ROBERT M. ECHOLS,
President of the Senate.
Assented to, 96th December, 1837
GEORGE R. GILMER, Governor.
AN ACT,
To amend an act, to establish a general system of
education by common schools—assented to 20th
December, 1837.
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the State of Georgia in General
: Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the autho
j rity of the same. That the second and third sections
j of the above recited act, be, and the same are hereby
repealed; and in lieu thereof, that each county in this
state, shall be considered and known as a common
school division; and that on the first Monday in
March, in the year eighteen hundred and thirty-nine,
| and on the first Monday in January, of every year
thereafter, or so soon after the above mentioned days,
as the same can l>e conveniently done, the justices o
the inferior court of each county in this state, shall
by order, entered upon the minutes of the court, ap
point five fit and proper persons as commissioners of
j common schools, in the division wherein such justi
; cea may reside, and shall within ten days, thereafter,
cause a certified copy of such appointment, to be de-
I livered to them, which shall be sufficient notice of the
i same. And such commissioners shall continue in
| office one year, or until their successors shall lie uj>-
I pointed.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted by the authority
| aforesaid, That if the said commissioners, or any of
I them, shall lie unable at any time to procure the ser
| vices of a treasurer, as contemplated in the fourth
| section of the above recited act, it shall, und may be
lawful, for the president of such Iwmrd of commis
sioners, to act as treasurer, who shall give bond and
security to his excellency the governor, and his suc
cessor for the faithful discharge of his duty, as trea
surer. Ami the said commissioners, within ten days
after their appointment, shall by order entered in the
minutes of their board appoint for each school dis
trict to be laid out agreeably to the fifth section of the
above recited act, three trustees, all of whom shall re
side in the dwtrictfor which they shall he appointed,
and shall be notified of their appointment within ten
days after it shall be made.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That if the jus
tices of the inferior court of any county, shall not
within one month after the time herein before fixed
for that purpose, select and appoint five commission
ers, as aforesaid, who shall accept their appoint
ments, the said justices of the inferior court shall
themselves discharge the duties of commissioners in
their division; and unless said commissioners shall,
within one month after their appointment, select and
appoint three trustees in each district or division,
who shall accept such appointments, the justices of
the peace, and such other person as the justices of
the peace may appoint, shull discharge the duties of
trustees, in any district in which such nppointmer.t
shall have been omitted; and the commissioners’ ap
pointment by the court, may fill by election any va
cancy which may occur in their board, during the
year; and a majority of commissioners, and of the
trustees, shall be competent to perform the duties re
quired of them respectively.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That it shall be
the duty of the trustees of the school district, to col
lect by subscription, such sums as the citizens of the
district may be willing to subscribe, which shall lie
applied to supply an amount of money, in addition
to what may be allowed by the state, so as to enable
them to employ a suitable number of teachers in the
district, provided there shall be no liability on the
trustees for said subscription money, further than to
transfer the said list of subscription to the teachers
where such school may be taught.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the justi
ces of the inferior court, in the several counties, in
this state, I*>, and they are hereby authorized, at
their discretion, to levy an extra tax in their respec
tive counties, not exceeding fifty percent, on the gen
eral tax, which shall he added to the common school
fund of saic county, and paid over to the commis
sioners aforesaid, by the tax collector, who shall give
bond und security for the same, as in case of other
bonds, for extra taxes.
Sec. 0. And be it further enacted, That the trus
tees of any county academy, be, and they are hereby
authorized, to pay over to the commissioners of com
mon schools, any funds in their hands.
Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That his excel
lency the governor, within the month of January
next, be required to cause so much of the above re
cited act, as this act does not repeal, together with
this act to Ik*, published in the newspapers of this
state, and also, to cause the same to be published
with the. acts of the present session.
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, That the eighth, twentieth, twenty first,
and twenty-second sections, and so much of the ninth
■ section as refers to the notice to be given by a justice
of the peace and free holder to the trustees of then
election, and so much of the sixteenth section, as re
fers to the balances in the hands of trustees of acade
mies and their treasurers be, and the same is hereby
repealed.
JOSEPH DATj-
Speaker of the House
CHARLES DOUGHERTY,
President of the Senate.
Assented to 29th December, 1838.
GEORGE It. GILMER, Governor.
Hay, Bricks and Pork.
TONS prime Northern Hay,
20 M. Bricks,
10 Bbls. Mess Pork,
For sale by
jan22 2w WOODBURY &. STACKPOLU.
GEORGIA IsUMBEbTcOM’P.
FMHIE subscribers, agents of said company,
offer to contract for delivery at Darien, or
elsewhere, of bard Pine lumber of the best
quality, sawed to any dimensions that may be
required, and at low prices. They will have
on band at their depot in this city, a good sup
ply of lumber of various sizes.
WOODBURY & STACKPOLE.
Darien, Jan. 22,18119. 11 \v
.Justices Court for I 8110.
A COURT, for the 271st District, will Ire holden
at the Court House in the city of Darien, on the
4th Monday of each month—to wit
Monday 28th January, 1839.
Monday 25th February, “
Monday 25th March, “
Monday 22d April, “
Monday 27th May,
Monday 24th June, “
Monday SHd July,
Monday 2bih August, “
Monday 23d September, “
Monday 28th October, “
Monday 25th November, 11
Monday 23d December, “
l A panne! of 7 Jurors, will be drawn at each term
1 after the first.
NELSON W. CARPENTER,
Justice of the Peace for27lst, District.
Darien, January 29st, 1839.
sttob asaratasrr
OF everv description executed at the of
fice of THE DARIEN HERALD.
DAIIIEN, GEORGIA, TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY *2O, 18.39.
4?om-i>.
THE BRIDE.
Youth, love, atul beauty beaming in her face
Beside her own heart’s choice, 1 saw her aland,
So fair, so pure she seemed,
So little semblance bore to aught that e'er
Could pain inflict, or sorrow feel, that one
Might almost think her of celestial mould,
To earth, on kindly errand sent, to bless
And beautify man's dwelling—else, so lone
And dreary.
What on earth can ever
Fill the heart with such emotions, deep and
Overpowering, strong, unutterable,
As such asceno 1 Her earthly happiness—
Her all, and more than all—her self—without
One dubious thought, without one anxious fear,
Resigning to another’s care ; engaging.
Through life’s toilsome road, his joys to brighten,
All his pains to sooth; und, with devoted
Heart, in sorrow and in joy, to be the
Friend and partner of his future life.
Fancy, ever on the wing, looks into
Deep futurity’s most distant recess :
There, in the dim obscurity, she secs
First one, and then u dis ’rent prospect rise ;
But most she loves to dwell where visions bright,
And prospects fair und happy meet her eyes ;
Where peace, prosperity, and every good
Thatearth can furnish, seem on her to wait;
And, in its fairest form, connubial love
Appears, of all, the glory and the crown.
Sometimes, a cloud before this prospect seems
To flit, obscuring fancy’s vision bright,
And, in the distance dim, revealing to
Her ken, less pleasing pictures.
Shall sorrow’s blight e’er change the glow that rests
Upon that cheek, to paleness! Or ever
Dim the lustre of that blue eye t whose beaming
Ray now tells of love and hope and joy!
No ! Palsied be the hand and froz’n the heart
That e’er could aught originate
To cause unhappiness.
May all her brightest dreams of bliss be less
Than the reality : May fortune’s smile
And heaven's richest blessings on her wait.
ALFRED.
[From the Illinois Backwoodsman ]
THE FORGED PATENT.
Remember you no case like this? Or if
Your memory none records, is such a one
So much at odds with probability
Your fancy cannot imagine it 1
The changes which the last twenty years
have wrought in Illinois, would be incredible
to one who has not witnessed them. At that
period our settlements were few, and the spi
rit of enterprise that now pervade every cor
nerof the State, had not been awakened. The
bluff of our own beautiful river had never sent
back the echo of the steam engine. Without
a market for their produce, the farmers eon fin
ed their labors to the wants of their own fami
lies. Corn was nearly the only crop raised,
and from the time it was Halil by,’ the end of
June, till ‘pulling time,’ in November, was a
holiday, and the intervening period was passed
in idleness, except on Saturdays. On that day
duly as it arrived, the settlers, far and Heart
collected at the distillery, and amused them
selves with shooting at a mark, ‘trading nags,
and too often when the tin cup had passed
freely around, in fighting.
This, sir, is by no means a picture of all the
settlements of that early period, but that it is
graphically true of many, none of our oldest
settlers need deny. But to my narrative.
One Saturday afternoon in the year 1819, a
young man was seen approaching with slow
and weary steps, the house, or rather distillery,
of squire Crosby, of Brent’s Prairie, an ob
scure settlement on the Military Tract. As
usual on that day, a large collection of people
were amusing themselves at Crosby’s, who
owned the only distillery in that region,—was
a magistrate and regarded by the settlers as a
rich, and great man.
The youth who came up to the groupe was
apparently about twenty one years of age, of
slender form, fair and delicate complexion,
with the air of one accustomed to good socie
ty. It was evident at a glance that he was not
inured to the hardships of a frontier life, or
labor of any kind. But his dress bore a strange
contrast with his appearance and manners.—
He wore a hunting shirt, of the coarsest linsey
woolsey, a common straw hat, and a pair of
deerskin moccasins. A large pack completed
his equipment.
Every one gazed with curiosity upon the
new corner. In their eagerness to learn who
he was, whence lie came, and what was his
business, the horse-swap was left unfinished,
the rifle was laid aside, and even the busy tin
cup had a temporary respite.
The young man approached Squire Crosby,
whom even a stranger could distinguish as the
principal personage arnongthem, and anxious
| iy enquired for a house where he eould be ac
commodated ; saying that he was extremely
til and felt all the symptomsof an approaching
| fever.
Crosby eyed him keenly and suspiciously
for a moment without uttering a word. Knaves
and swindlers had been recently abroad, and
the language of the youth betrayed that he
was n mikee,’ a name at that time associated
in the minds of the ignorant with every thing
that is base. Mistaking the silence and hesi
tation of Crosby, for fear of inability to pay,
the stranger smiled and said, ‘I am not without
money,’ and putting his baud to his pocket to
give omilnr proof of the assertion, ho was
horror struck to find that his pocket book was
gone. It contained every cent of his money,
besides papers of great value to him.
Without a farthing—without even a single
letter or paper to attest that lie was honorable
—in a strange land and a fever rapidly coming
upon him—these feelings nearly drove him to
despair. The Squire who prided himself on
his sagacity in detecting villains, now found
the use of his tongue. With a loud and sneer
ing laugh he said, —‘Stranger, you are barking
up the wrong tree if you think to catch me
with that arc \ nnkee trick of yourn,’ lie
proceeded in that inhuman strain seconded by
nearly every one present, for the ‘ Squarr ’ was
powerful and few dared to displease him.—
The youth felt keenly his desolate situation,
and casting his eye around over the group, in
a tone of deep and despairful anxiety, enquired,
‘is there none who will receive me?’ ‘Yes, 1
will,’ cried a man among the crowd ; ‘yes, pom
sick stranger, I will shelter you. Then in a
lower tone he added, ‘I know not whclhcr you
are deserving, but I know you arc a fellow be
ing, and in sickness and want, and for the sake
of Him who died for the guilty, if not for your
own sake, will 1 he kind to you, poor young
stranger.’
The youth heard the offer of Mr. Davis, but
heard no more, for overcome by his feelings
and extreme illness, he fell insensible to the
earth. He was conveyed to the house of his
benefactor and a physician called. Long was
the struggle between life and death. Though
unconscious, lie called upon his mother and
sister to aid him. When the youth was laid
upon her bed, and she heard him calling for his
sister, Lucy Davis wept and said to him,—
‘—poor, sick young man, your sister is far dis
tant and cannot hear you, hut I will be to you
a sister.’ Well did this dark eyed maiden keep
her promise, Day and night did she watch
over him, except ut the short intervals when
she yielded her post at his bedside to her
father.
At length the crisis of his disorder arrived—
the duy at which was to decide the question of
life or death. Lucy bent over him witli intense
anxiety, watching every expression of his
features, hardly daring to breathe so fearful
was she of waking him from the only sound
sleep lie had enjoyed for nine long days and
nights. At length he awoke and gazed up into
the face of Lucy Davis, and faintly enquired,
‘where am /.’ There was intelligence in that
look. Youth and a good constitution had ob
tained the mastery. Lucy felt that he was
spared, and bursting into a Hood of irrepressi
ble, grateful tears, rushed out of the room.
It was two weeks more before lie could sit
up, even for a short time, lie had already ac
quainted them with his name and residence,
but they had no curiosity to learn any thing
further, and forbid liis giving liis story till lie
became stronger. His name was Charles Wil
son, and liis paternal home, Boston. A few
days afterwards, when Mr. Davis was absent
from home, and Lucy engaged about her house
hold ass airs, Wilson saw at the head of his bed,
liis pack, and recollecting something that he
wanted, opened it. The first thing he saw
was the identical pocket book whose loss had
excited so many bitter regrets. He recollected
having placed it there the morning before lie
reached Brent’s Prairie, but in the confusion
of the moment that circumstance was forgot
ten. He examined and found every thing as
he had left it.
This discovery nearly restored him to health,
but he resolved at present to confine the secret
to his own bosom. It wasgratifying to him to
witness the entire confidence they reposed in
the honor and integrity of a stranger, and the
pleasure with which they bestowed favors upon
one whom they supposed could make no re
turn but thanks.
Night came and Mr. Davis did not return.—
Lucy pttssed a sleepless night. In the morn
ing she watched hour after hour for his corn
ing, and when sunset approached and he was
still absent, terrified at his long and unusual
stay, she was setting out to procure a neighbor
to go in search of him, when her parent hove
in sight. She rail to meet him, and was be
stowing upon him a thousand endearing ex
pressions of affection, when his haggard, woe
begone countenance startled her.
He uttered not a word, and went into his
house nnd seated himself in silence. It was
in vain that Lucy attempted to cheer him.—
After a long pause, during which a powerful
struggle was going on in bis feelings, he arose,
took his daughter by the hand and led her into
the room, where Wilson was seated. ‘You
shall know all,’ said he. ‘I am ruined; lam a
beggar. In a few days I must leave this house;
this farm which I have so highly improvel and
thought my own.’ He proceeded to state that
a few days before, Crosby in a moment of un
governable malice, taunted him with being a
beggar, and told him he was now in his power,
that he would crush him under his feet. When
Mr. Davis smiled at what he regarded only as
art impotent threat, Crosby to convince him, j
told him that the patent of his farm was a
forged one, and that he Crosby knew the real
owner of the land—had written to purchase it
’ —and expected ?. deed in a few days. Davis
immediately Went home for his patent, and
during his long absence lmd visited the Land
Office. Crosby was right. The patent, beyond
ull doubt was a forged one, and the claims of
Davis to the farm, not worth a farthing.
It may he proper to observe that counterfeit
ing soldiers patents was a regular business in
some of the eastern cities, and hundreds have
been duped.
It is not for myself, said the old man, that I
grieve ut this misfortune. I utn advanced in
life and it matters not how or where I pass the
few remaining days of my existence. 1 have
a home beyond the stars where your mother
has gone before me, and where I would have
long since joined her, had I not lived to protect
her child, my own, my affectionate Lucy.—
The weeping girl flung her arms around the
neck of her father, and poured her tears upon
his bosom. Wo can he happy still, said she,
for I am young andean easily support us both.
Anew scene followed in which another in
dividual was a principal actor. I shall leave
the reader to form his own opinion of it, and
barely remark that at the close, the old man,
took the hand of Lucy and young Wilson, and
joining them, said, my children, I cheerfully
consent id your union. Though poor, with a
good conscience you can be happy. I know,
Charles, that you will be kind to my daughter,
for a few nights ago, when you thought that
no human ear could hear you, 1 heard you fer
vently implore the blessing of heaven upon my
gray hairs, and that God would reward my
child for all her kindness to you. Taking
his family bible the venerable old man added,
it is a season of affliction, but we are not forsa
ken, let us look to Him who has promised to
sustain us.’ lie opened the book and read,
‘Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neith
er shall fruit be in (lie vine ; the labors of the
olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat:
the flocks shall be cut off from the fold and
there shall he no herd in the stall, yet will I re
joice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my
salvation.
Charles and Lucy knelt beside the venera
ble old man while he prayed they wept tears
of grateful emotion.
It was a sleepless but not an unhappy night
to the three inhabitants of the neut and cheer
ful dwelling they were about to leave, and go
they knew not where. It Was then that young
Wilson learnt the real value of money. By
means of it he could give a shelter to those
who had kindly received him when every other
door wus closed upon him. All night long lie
thought of the Forged Patent. There were a
few words dropped by Mr. Davis which lie
could not dismiss from his mind—that Crosby
had written to the real owner of the land and
obtained the promise of a deed.
It is now time for the reader to become more
fully acquainted with the history of the young
stranger.
llis father, Charles Wilson, (Senior, was a
merchant of Boston who had acquired an im
mense fortune. At the close of the late war
when the soldiers received front the govern
ment their bounty of 100 acres of land, many
of them offered their patents to Mr. Wilson for
sale. Finding that they were resolved to sell
them, lie concluded to save them from a sacri
fice of their hard earnings and purchase at a
fair price all that was offered. In three years
no small portion of the Military Tract came
into his possession. On the day Charles be
came of age he gave him a deed of a principal
part of liis land in Illinois, and insisted that he
should go out to set; to it, and if he liked the
country, settle there. Wishing him to become
identified with the people, he recommended
his son on his arrival in the .State tit lay aside
his broad cloth and dress like a backwoodsman.
On tlie morning of his son’s departure, Mr.
Wilson received a letter from a man in Illinois,
who had frequently written. He wished to
purchase a certain quarter section at govern
ment price, which Mr. Wilson promised he
should have on these terms, provided he for
warded a certificate from the judge of the Cir
cuit Coart that theland was worth no more.—
The letter just received enclosed the certifi
cate in question. Mr. Wilson had given this
tract to Charles and putting the letter and cer
tificate into his hand enjoined upon him todeed
it to the writer agreeable to promise, on his
arrival at Illinois.
The remarks of Mr. Davisformcrly remind
ed young Wilson of this ineidenl, and on the
next morning afterKebecame acquainted with
the design of Crosby, with a trembling hand
examined the certificate. It was written by
Crosby, nnd the land he wished to purchase,
the identical farm of Davis.
Astonished that his friend the judge should
certify that the hind was worth no more, Mr.
Davis asked to see ilie certificate, and after a
moment’s examination unhesitatingly pro
nounced the signature a forgery.
An explanation from the young man now
became necessary, and calling Lucy into the
room told them his history and laid before
them a pile of patents, and bank notes one af
ter another till the amount reached thousands.
It was a day of thankful happiness to old
Simon Davis and his daughter, and hot less *-•
young Wilson.
Not long after this scene 4’
His air was that of a I”
| in his power and
i He scarce!'-
! of con
idi-
VOL. 1. NO. G.
he would give him nothing for the improve
ments he had made ? The answer was ‘.'not a
cent.” You certainly would not, said Wilson,
drive this old man and daughter peunylcss
into the world ?
W hat is that to you, replied Crosby, with a
look of malice and contempt. 1 will answer
you that question, said Wilson, and acquainted
him with that the reader already lias learnt.—
Crosby, at first wus stupified with astonish
ment, but whoa he saw that all his schemes of
villainy were defeated, and proof of his having
committed forgery could be established, his
assurance forsook him, and ho threw himself
upon his knees and begged, first the old man,
then Lucy and Wilson, to spare him.
Affected with his appeals, the latter agreed
to purchase the farm upon which Crosby lived
upon condition of his instantly leaving the
country. He accepted the terms and with his
family tied to Texas.
Why should l spin out the narrative. Lucy
and Charles were married, and tho’ a splendid
mansion soon rose upon the farm of Mr. Da
vis, both loved far better the little room where
site had so long and anxiously watched over
the sick bed of the homeless stranger. Mr.
Wilson was rich, but never forgot those who
were in want.
Cheered by the kind and affectionate atten
tion of his children, old Simon Duvis, almost
scorned to have renewed his existence. He
lived many years, and long enough to tell the
bright eyed story of the Forged Deed. And
when he told the listening boy how his father,
when poor and friendless, was taken home and
kindly treated und in turn became their bene
factor, he impressed upon the mind of his
grand child, that “even a cup of cold water
given from a pure motive shall not lose its re
ward.”
Village Lighted by Natuual Gas.
The Village of New York, presents this
singular phenomenon. The Village is 40
miles from Buffalo, and about two” from
Lake Erie; a small but rapid stream called
the Canadoway, passes through it and after
turning several miles discharges into the
lake below; near the mouth is a neat small
harbor with a light-house. While removing
an old mill, which stood partly over this
stream, in Fredonia, three years since,
some bubbles were observed to break fre
quently from the water, and on trial were
found to be inflammable.
A company was formed, and a hole an
inch and a half in diameter being bored
through the rock, a soft fuaid lime stone,
the gas left its natural channel and ascended
through this. A gasometer was construc
ted, witli a small house for its protection,
and pipes being laid, the gas is conveyed
through the whole village. One hundred
lights are fed from it, more or less, at an
expense of one dollar and a half yearly
for each. The streets and public churches
are lighted with it.
The flame is large, but not so strong or
brilliant as that from the gas in our cities; it
is however, in high favor with the inhab
tants. The gasometer, I found on mea
surement, collected eighry-eight cubic feet
in twelve hours during the day, but the
man who has charge of it told me that
more might be procured with a larger
apparatus.
About a mile from the Village, and in
the same stream, it comes up in quantities
four or five times as great. The contractor
for the light house, purchased the right to
it, and laid pipes to the lake, but found it
impossible to make it descend, the differ
ence in elevation being very great. It
preferred its own natural channels, and
bubbled up beyond the reach of his gasom
eter. The gas is carburetted hydrogen,
and is supposed to come from beds of bitu
minous coal; the only rock visible, howev
er, here, and to a great extent along the
southern shore of the lake, is fetid lime
stone. — Brewster's Journal.
Crows versiia alcohol. —Colonel B
has one of tbe best farms on the Illinois
river. About one hundred acres of it are
now covered with waving corn. When it
first came up in the spring, the crows
seemed determined on its entire destruc
tion. When one was killed, it seemed as
though a dozen came to his funeral; and,
though the sharp crack of the rifle often
drove them away, they always returned
with its echo.
The colonel at length became weary of
throwing grass, and resolved on trying the
virtue of “tones. He sent to the druggist
for a gallon of alcohol, in which lie soaked
a few- quarts of corn and scattered it over
the field. The black legs came, and par
took with their usual relish; and such a
cooing and cackling—such a strutting and
staggering ! The scene was like—but I
will make no invidious comparison—yet it
was very much like
When the boys attempted to catch then),
they were not a little amused at their stag
gering gait and their zigzag course through
the air. At length they gained the e- 1 -
the woods, and there being joiner
recruit, which happened to be
united at the top of their voices
hawing—shouting either th
curses of alcohol, it was tl>
which—as they rattled av
or reason.
But the cob"’
as th*"” ’