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BY JAMES W. JONES
The Southern Whig,
PUBLISHED EV URY SATURDAY MORNING.
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PROSPECTUS “
OF THE
THIo paper formerly edited by Wm. E.
Jones, is now under the direction of the
undersigned. The growing importance of Ath
ens, the state of parties in Georgia, and the
agitation of certain questions having a direct
influence on southern interests; fender it neces
sary that the northwestern part of Georgia
should have sorrie vigilant, faithful
always on the watch tower, devoted
construction of the true spirit ofthc c ,
the maintainance of the rightsand
of the States, the retrenchment of executive*
patronage, reform, and a strict accountability
of ail public officers; moderate, yet firm and
decided in his censures, “ nothing extenuate or
setdown ought in malice,” —to expose prompt
ly abuses and corruption when and whereevr
discovered— ; such an one the undersigned pro
doses to make the Whig; while it will contain
the most authentic and important information
connected with our foreign and domestic rela
pons. the latest commercial intelligence, ori
tiinal articles, and selections from the mos
gopular works of the day in the various depart!
meats of Agriculture. Literature and the Arts.
To Georgians the undersigned is conscious
he appeals not in vain for an increase of patron
age—and he respectfully asks the friends of
Constitutional liberty to make an effort, to ob
tain subscribers.
The Southern Whig is published weekly in
Athens Georgia, at Three Dollars per annum !
payable in advance, Three Dollars and fifty (
cents if not paid within six months, or Four
if not paid until the end of the vean
J. W. JONES.
PROSPECTUS?
AT the late meeting of the Alumni of Frank
lin College, it was unanimously resolved to
be expedient to make arrangements to issue a
Monthly Literary Magazine, to be called
THE ATHENIAN.
The undersigned were appointed by the So
ciety a committee of publication and joint Edi
tors of the work, until the next meeting of tue
Society. We have no interest in the work, ex
cept that which we take in the welfare of the
country and honor of the State. We, of the
South, have too long depended upon foreign
parts forour Literature, and neglected our own
talents. We shall be weak so long as we think
we are weak: and dependent until we make ef
forts to be independent. We hope all the friends
of Literature in the State, and especially the
Alumni of Franklin College, will patronize the
enterprise both by word and deed. State pride
the love of Literal are, our interest in the cause
of general Education, all call upon us to sustain
an enterprise so necessary to our improvement,
and the honor of the State.
A. S. CLAYTON,
JAMES JACKSON,
R. D. MOORE,
WM. L. MITCHELL,
C. F. McCAY,
SAMUEL P. PRESSLEI',
11. HULL.
Tmb Athenian shall issue monthly, on fine
paper, Stitched and covered in pamphlet form,
and shall contain sixty-four pages royal octavo.
Nothing derogatory to religion, offensive to any
denomination of Christians, or of any political
party, shall appear in the Athenian. ' Its pages
shall be honestly devoted to general Literature,
the cause of Education, the Review of new
works, and notices of improvements in Science,
Arts and Agriculture. Price Five Dollars per
annum, payable on the delivery of the first num
ber.
FOUR months after dale, application will
lie made to the Honorable Inferior Court
of Clark county, when sitting for Ordinary
purposes, for leave to sell all the real estate of
Robert R. Billups, late of Stewart county de
ceased.
ELIZABETH W. BILLUPS, Ex’r.
Nov. 26— 30—4 m.
S’© "
s’raas©-
YM/'E feel it a duty we owe to ourselves, to in
** form our friends of certain reports which
are “on the tongues of every one” that some
teachers in Scottsboro’ are Abolitionists. We
are not the only teachers in Scottsboro,’ and
those who know us would be the last to Charge
us with such hateful principles—they know us
to be Southern men (natives of Virginia, but
Georgians by adoption) by birth education and
in feeling. L. LATASTE,
January 28—39—4 t V. LATASTE.
Editors who have published a previous ad
vertisement of ours, will please discontinue that
and insert the above once a week for four weeks.
So'ut i)cvu
From the Aew London Gazette.
THE SPIRIT OF LIGHT.
Lines suggested by the Phenomenon on the night
of the 27th inst.
Look I look to the north !—wh at a glorioUs
cloud !
See see ! how it mantles on high !
Wrapping darkness and night in a blooil-red
shroud—
And sweeping far over the sky !
What art thou I 0 wonderful spirit of light!
Array’d in thy fearful attire—
And mocking the snowy-capped earth, with the
sight
Os thy broad-speading banner of fire !
Art thou come—magnificent pilgrim of night!
Art thou come t’ outvie our pale queen 1
Outpouring thy splendor aloft on the height,
And drowning the stars in thy'sheen 11
Now, hiding the light-blue curtain of lieaven,
W ith thy proud vaulted pageant show’rs ;
Now, gracefully twining the mild brow of ev’n
A g arland of exquisite ilow’rs ?
Oh ! speak to me ! solemn mysterious guest!
Thy name, and thy nature I crave ;
Say wherefore that smile on the face of the
west—
The blush—on the white-crested wave !
“I aim king of the meteors, ign’rarit child,
And Fire is my nature and name !
I reign over ocean and forest wild—
And regen’rate earth with my flame,-
I flow in bright streams from the dark thunder
cloud—
In sparks from thy diamond ring,—
From the heaving volcano I call aloud—
When away from its depths I spring !
lam Nature’s Great Agent,her light and Life »
Creative love is my power;—
And the meanest thing in existence is rife.
With the gifts of my fathomless dowT!
I have come a bright emblemof Truth Divine!
Over all my mantle is casi—
My office on earth is to cleanse and refine—
Till all through my furnace have pass’d !
The day-star is up ! I depart—l depart—
We mingle our glory in one; —
Life love from on high, shed abroad in the heart
From the Father and Gospel-Son !”
Farewell! O thou beautiful spirit of light!
AUrad’ant with wisdom tiion art.—
When, when wilt thou Inger again on the
height,
Another great truth to iunart'!
•$?. Andreus Standard.
The Forest Foundling*.
Averse, as we are, to the practice of seizing
on any little local incident, and rendering it the
subject of embellished detail, yet we occasion
ally hear of occurrences so touching and pa
thetic in their nature, as to awaken our sym
pathies, and interest us in their narration.—
Os such a nature is that which we now present
to rhe readers
Mr. Charles Berrghan left the north east
part ofthis province a shorttime ago, and took
what is called the tipper ro?d from Frederic
ton to St. Stephens, on his way to the United
States. On the sth Aug. he passed the thriv
ing village at Hurt’s Mills on the Rtishagonis
very early in the morning, and expected to
reach Trew’s tavern, at the Piskahagan, by
night. Properly equipped for the woods, fur
nished with suitable provisions, his blanket,
his axe slung behind, and his gun on his shoul
der, he trudged gaily along until he arrived at
Shin creek, which is unbridged; and was at
that time much swollen with late rains. A
woodman seldom hesitates at such obstacles ;
he proceeded up the bank of the stream and
set about falling a tree across it, to serve as a
temporary bridge ; it swung aside m falling,
and launching into deep water, it moved away
majestically down the stream. Our traveller
‘* looked and looked, and wist not what to do.”
He was not inclined to resume the axe, and
therefore resolved to proceed up stream, in hope
of finding a favorable place for crossings At
length he arrived at one of those placid look
ing pools which form deep stretches in our ri
vers and are generally termed still water pla
ces. Here he made it kind of raft sufficient to
bear up his clothes and gtin; and keep them
dry, while he swam over and drew- them after
him. He was soon busily engaged in re-habit
ing his limbs, and refreshing himself with a
bit of biscuit, seated on the flowery magin of a
natural meadow which extended along the
banks of the stream, when his ear Was startled
by a whining noise resembling the sounds fre
quently uttered by yoiing bears. He instantly
seized his gun, examined the touchhole and re
printed ; then clapping a ball into the barrel;
“ with look intent;
And eye and ear attentive bent,”
he cautiously stole towards the spot whence the
sounds issued. They were no longer Uttered,
but he now and then heard a crackling noise
among the underbrush and perceived a twitch
ing motion ofthc twigs and spray, but could
not discover what caused them. Convinced,
however, that he had some animal to encoun
ter, his gun was at his shoulder and his finger
to the trigger. He then silently reasoned witL
himself whether or not he should fire -irJ*
dtmi, but experience cautioned him iigaiK 5 ’ ,
rash an action, for more
than a wounded bee mused,
eyes became Jdieart throb,
bed violently, Triet, and let
the but of his g • • ' • ithe ground!
Behold! among'v. k’.'Aes,-and seen
through the intefA ' m>y twinkling
leaves of dewy , Jy/a beautiful in
fantile arm fitfully and little taper
fingers plucking the nch, ripe, crimson fruit.
After he had experienced the first flush of
the mingled etn'otions of surprise at the extra
ordinarysight—of horror at the bare idea of
his gun and his intended aet —and of pleasure
in the expectation of meeting society in these
deep and solemn solitudes, our ti aveller advanc
ed and beheld a little girl, about seven years
old, sedulously engaged in pulling and eating
of the abundant wild berries which were spread
in great variety over that naturally rich and
verdant spot. She appeared to be an interest
ing child ; her clothes had a respectable look,
albeit they were most woefully rent and worn,
her fair hair played in disordered ringlets over
her check, which was begrimed and pale, am!
"WHERE POWERS ARE ASSUMED WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN DELEGATED, A NULLIFICATION OF THE ACT IS THE RIGHTFUL REMEDY.”— JefferSOII.
her soft blue eyes were red with weeping;—
She burst out. into wild hysteric wailings itliich
sunk suddenly into convulsive sobs.
The traveller was lost in utter amazement,
and hemmed aloud; to attract the child’s at
tention. Alarmed, in her turn, at his appear
ance; half habited as he was, she screamed—
fled a few steps —fell, and covered her face
with her hands. He was quickly by her side,
and used the kindest and most soothing ex
pressions to gain her confidence and calm her
fears. She had fallen more from bodily weak
ness than from fear, although she had been
greatly alarmed at the unexpected appearance
of the stranger. At length sho ventured to
look up; and with a sweet but languid smile,
said slowly and fdintly, “Oh now—l am sure
you won’t hurt me—O, I am very sure you
will not kill me.” “ Kill you I God forbid,”
was the full-hearted reply. “(), I’am very
tired—l’ve been very, very hungry, but I got
plenty raspberries here—l only eat the goody
ones; I never take them as have the spiders
on ’em, mother bid me not to.”—“ Where is
your mother, thy dear child?” eagerly inquired
the traveller, and he was answered in great
simplicity,■ '• she’s at home, sir, I guess—but.
| mam don’t know where I be—l can’t find out
I the way home ever so long.” “What! my
I child, have you strayed and are lost? (lonic
■ to that flowery knoll with me—God has sent.
I me to preserve your life—come, I will give
you some nice biscuit and a bite of meat—you
are weak and worn, but I will take care of
you.” The poor innocent’s soul burst forth in
a flood of grateful tears, not attended with that
hysteric affection which she had lately suffer
ed. She derived great relief from weeping,
and prepared to follow her neW benefactor, but
the excitement she had just experienced, act
ing on her sensative. delicate and exhausted
frame, had shaken every nerve ar.d completely
prostrated her strength; She was unable to
| walk, but the kind and generous Bearghancar
j ried her to the bankof the river where he had
! left his little store, and judiciously regaled her
with spare and gradual portions offood.
As soon as she was moderately refreshed,
her artless answers to his enquiries informed (
him that her name was Lydia Harper, her 1
parents lived near Hart’s mills; she had been
sent with dinner to her father, who was making
shingles, a little way in the woods, but missed
the right track, got bewildered and wandered
astray. “ When I knew I was lost,” she said.
'“O I was very frightened—l screamed and
I rim about, and threw away fathers dinner.”
j It appears that she walked the first night until'
I she sank down nearly stupified with fatigue.
I The traveller asked if she was not afraid when i
I it grew dark and she was alone and lost in the
! woods, to which she replied, “I was a kind of
j frightened all the time, but when I lay down 1
| said my prayers that mam leart me, and then
I wa’nt frightened.” “Do you remember the
prayer?” “O, I do sir, it is :
“I will lay me down in peace, and take my
rest, for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest file
to dwell in safety; and into thy hands I com
mend my spirit, my soul and my body, for thou
hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth !”
I Amen.
■ Mr. Bearghan next began to consider how
the child was to be brought along. He was
sixteen miles past her father’s, and his business
would not allow him to return, he was about
12 milts ffom Trew’s and no house between.
The child was unable to walk ; he rigged out
a contrivance by means of his blanket, and car
ried her forward on his Hack. The delightful
consciousness of performing a good action
buoyed up his spirits and nerved his frame,
and he beguiled the rigor of his laborious task
by the prattle of his little foundling, who had
now become more sprightly and free.
As he journeyed along tie inquired if she had
seen wild beasts in the woods, and she answei 1 -
ed “No, I did’nt—only once—two black dogs
were comingto me—they were not Mr. Burpe’s
dogs—they stopt, and one stood on his hind
feet—-they diu’ul bark,but runned away again.’’
Our traveller Smiled at the child’s simplicity,
while she continued to say, “ O sir, last night
—O when I aWoke in the middle of the night,
O how glad I was! I thought I was close to
home, for 1 thought. 1 heard the cattle tramp
ling about me, 1 could’nt sea nothing, none of
them had bells—and when I called • Star and
Bright.,’ they lay still: O, I was glad and my
heart was beating—l lay very still too to lis
ten, and so I just dropt away asleep again:
I was i't it a pity—they were all gone in the
morning.” “ Providence seetris to have de
j fended you in an especial manner, my child,
against hidden dangers and death,” said the
traveller.
Having cart-led his helpless charge until day
light was gone, his fatigue was increased bv
the difficulty of walking on an almost trackless
road in the dark, and the moon did not rise
I until neat’ ten o’clock. At length he arrived at
a deserted log hut within two miles of Trew’s
j and being almost exhausted, he determined to
make a short stoppage to recruit. Here he
thought to leave the child; wrapped in Ins blan
ket, whilst he should hurry on and semi back
immediate relief; He struck it light, partook
of some refreshments with her; but found gi-eat
difficulty in getting her to consent to remain
behind. After he had prepared a pfetty com
fortable bed for her, and placed her snugly in
it, he sat down to tratcll until she should tall
asleep. The iiKton hud just risen,- and before
he started; he gently apptoaclied tile child to
| find if she Vt-et-c perfectly composed; lie held
the light towards her, she opened her blue eyes
full upon him; she averted her head; and sob
bed. “No !” exclaimed the travelh r, “By
all that’s sacred, I swear I Wili not leave you
behind !” He forthwith slung his ate and his
Lun, resumed Iris former equipment, raised
Wb.iJ.A diu from her lonely couch, and carried
aft 'safely to the long looked for hoiiSe of’en
tamtaimnent. Although it was quite lute, Cap.
pain Josiah Trew Was easily aroused to admit
the toil-worn traveller and his little companion,
who now stood beside him at the thrcshhold •’
for something told him that it was more seem
ly that she should walk th'aH be carried iu the
[ hutrse. lie had also tied 1 a handkerchief un
j der her chin, in the fashion of the gVpSev head
. dress.-
. Tlrey were sooh- placed by a comfortable
| fire in a good house, well stored, and blessed
j with a hearty and hospitable landlord. The
i females, as is the custom of lire Con'ntry, were
I speedily afoot and busy preparing the inquired
| repast.- We fancy we Can see the mirthful
coUutcn'ance of the facetious Josiah, beaming
with down right exultation as he issued his
multifarious orders for every viand : the house
could afford to Comfort the wearied travellers.
We can also fancy that vie sfee his feature?
overclouded and his eye glistening with genu
inc feelingas he related that the whole colmtrv
' side had been up and in search of a child lost
I m the woods; that pafli'es had gone in all di-
I rections, but mihaypily without success, and
ATBIEYS, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1837.
I that one of the people deeply distressed on the
; occasion was now (n the house. Our travel
ler immediately exclaimed that Providence had
made Awn the happy instrument of recovering
that lost child who now sat before them. Eve
ry one flew arodnd the little girl, examined and
fondled her; and Vented exclamations of amaze
ment and sdttsfaction. During this sudden
bustle a person from the adjoining chamber
rushed Wildly in among the company, snatch
ed the hand of little Lydia, gazed on fier for a
moment, then clasped her to his boaoifi. jt
was Iler father!
W hat a scene was here ! what an overflow
ing of the finest, feelings which adorn humani.
ty ! what a giddying interchange of those pure
affections which spring from sincerity find
truth! But what tongue can tell, wliat pen
portray the varied emotions which fleeted in
rapid succession through the minds of that pain
s fully happy group? The half frantic joy and
| gratitude of the parent—the wandering fits of
I delight of the enfeebled li'tlc sufferer—the
conscious self-satisfaction of the deliverer—
; the officious but sincere gratulatlons of theex-
I cited inmates—must all bo estimated by the
i susceptibility ofthe reader.
! The beautiful train of circumstances which
| Providence employed in this affecting story is
[ worthy of serious consideration. If the tra-
I veller had passed Hart’s mills when the people
[ were stirring abroad ; if Shin’s creek had been
I bridged; if the tree had fallen across, if he
had had no gun when he thought a bear was
by— if these facts had happened, the child might
have perished.
He who sustains the mighty planets in their
courses and controls the motion of a particle of
dust—He who rules the awful storm and sends
forth the smiling sunbeam, works his wise pur
poses in mystery to us—
“ Come then expressive silence and muse His
praise.”
SONG.
BY MRS. HSMANS.
“Oh cast thou not
Affection from thee! in this bitter world
I Hold to thy heart, that only treasure fast,
Watch—guard it—-suffer not a breath to dim
The bright gem’s purity I”
If thou hast crushed a flower,
The root may not bit blighted ;
If thou hast quenched a lamp,
OnCe more it may be lighted ;
' But on thy harp or on thy lute,
The string which tliou hast broken
1 Shall never in sweet sound again
Give to thy touch a token.
I
; Ifthou hast loosed a bird,
TVhose voice of song would cheer thee,
I Still, still he may be won
From the skies to warble near thee ;
i But. if upon the troubled sea
Thou hast thrown a gem unheeded,
Hope not that wind or wave shall bring
The treasure back when needed.
If thou hast bruised a vine.
The summer’s breath is healing,
And its cluster yet may glow
Thro’ the leaves their bloom revealing ;
j But if thou hast a cup o’er thrown
With a bright draft filled—oh! never
Shall earth give back the lavished wealth
To cool thy parched lip’s fever.
The heart is like that cup,
It thou waste the love it bore thee,
) And like that jewel gone,
M hich the deep will not restore thee ;
Arid like that string of harp or lute
Whence the sweet, sound is scattered ;
Gently, oh ! gently touch the chords
( So soon for ever shattered.
| From Scientific Tracts.
OewSog-y,
Order of Creation.
The general order of time in which the
earth, with its furniture and its inhabitants,
I came to its present form; is sufficiently mani-
I fest from the only authentic history we have
| of its creation, from reason, and from obser
vation. 'I he first step which was taken to
change the original chaos into a convenient
: dwelling place, tor living, acting, and intelli
i get.’t beings, was the formation of drv land.
I 1 nat was necessary to provide for the accom
modation of animal and vegetable life. When
j provision was made tor tho existence and sup.
i port ot the vegetable kingdom, ‘‘the earth
biouglit forth grass and herb yielding seed af
j tyr their kmd, and th<> tree yielding fruit after
I his kind, whose seed was iu itself after his
‘ kind,”
- Ihe creation, and continued production of
the vegetable kingdom, made provision for the
j animal.— I hen the earth brought fb'i'th cattie
that walk upon tho earth, fowls that flv in the
i firmament ot heaveti; reptiles that creep in the
dust, and fishes that move in the waters; and
; each after his kind.
! But the tenant for whom tho earth, with all
its productions ot animal and vegetable lite,
, and so richly provided with liirniturc of a thou
, sand kinds, was not yet created. His crea-
■ tion was to close this august, work of the Great
- Architect ot the universe. Atah was ntit for
! med and plated upon the earth, until the earth
was fitted tor his nc< ption, his convenience,
{ and his happiness—until two great lights were
formed, one to rule the day,- and the oth r to
rule the night, and the stars also—until the '
water; which were under the firmament were ;
divided from those above the tirmairient, and j
gathered together in one place, and drv land |
appeared—until grass, herbs, and trees yield- ‘
■ ed st;ed and frifit after their kind, and cattle. I
| the fbMs of the heaven, every creeping thing, j
i and eve:‘v lining Creature which moves in the i
waters, were forfiied, and ifnide produce oth- I
ers after their kind, and put in subjection to!
the lord of this lowur creation.
Sti'ch is the general order in the work of
creation, as learned from the Bible, from rea
son and froth observation ; and jfei we bkve
the strongest evidence, that this order was not
strictly and minutely pursued through the
whole process of bringing tin: earth into the
state in which it is now preaented to our view. !
1 he whole of the mineral kingdom, all rocks
and metals, soils and mountains, were not. com
pleted before the creation of tiie vegetable
i and 1 animal kingdoms vvere commenced. Sb
far from it, rocks, sot's, and niqtuls,' afe daily
fofhVmg at the present time. In many instan
ces. Vegetables and animals are deposited iu
solid rocks far below the surface ot' tii'e earth.
Nay, whole mouhtaiiis of a great height, and
| hundreds of mrl’cs in extent, are composed of
little else- Miii! the relics of animals. The]
; greater part of these animals were evidently
. different kinds of shell fish. But fishes, of
] the kind that swim, are also found inclosed in
r solid rocks. In one instance, the relicsot the
. one fish were found in the mouth of another,
i ! apparently in the act of struggling for his free
. ) dom, when both captive and captor were stid
i | denly arrested, and confined, where they clo
• sed their struggles and their lives together;
. and were afterwards converted into stone. In
L another instance, one hundred and sixteen dit
; ferent kinds of fish were found petrified with,
in a short distance. It has been remarked,
that these fishes had probably met in general
assembly, and were taken when in the act of
( legislating.
| In excavating the section ofthe Erie canal
[ at Lockport, after descending twent} r feet into
. solid rack, several rattlesnakes were found
. with their whole forms, though in a state of
| stone, almost precisely retained; At the same
’ place, and nearly thv same deupth. a toad U’as
. taken from the solid rock, which, when found,
. was in a torpid state, which he had retained,
perhaps, for thousands of years; but, when ex
posed to air and heat, soon gave indications of
life, aud after a short time gained strength
enough to hop, but after a few hops closed his
existence forever.
Not many years since, in the vicinity of Pa
ris, there Was found imbedded in solid rock,
and forty feet below its Surface; a board sev-
I oral feet long and eight or nine inches wide.
! At the sarrie place a hammer was found, the
handle of which, with the board, petrified ;
but the hammer being of iron, retained its na
tural state.
These are a few instances, among thousands
which might be mentioned, to prove that the
changes our earth has undergone, have been
gradual and constant, and that minerals, rocks
and soils; and even mountains have been form
ed since the creation both of the vegetable and
animal kingdoms commenced, and even after
man ivas formed, and had made some advances
in the arts of civilization. Indeed, no one can
doubt for a moment, who has paid the least at
tention to the subject, that our globe has been
subject to constant and important changes from
the time that the materials out of which it is
composed were formed out of nothing, until
the present time. And these changes which
come within oui knowledge are so great, as to
afford strong evidence that the earth could not
have existed for a much longer period than
that assigned by Moses.
Ages of Rocks.
From views and facts already presented, it
must be concluded that rocks dud mountains
have different ages. Some have existed for
I six thousand years, while others are at this
moment in a process of formation. And there
j is good reason to believe, that every moment
I during the whole of this petiod, these forma
| tions have been going on.
! We not only know that rocks have different
i ages, but we know which are oldest. All ge
j olbgists unite in the opinion, that granite was i
j the first solid substance formed frorri the great I
j chaotic ocean ; and thattfie coarsest masses of]
; this rock are older than those of a finer tex
i tore.
Next in age to granite, is gneiss, consisting
of the same ingredients, but of a finer tex’ure
and a more slaty character.
Mica slate is considered by most geologists
as the third rock in age.
Lime has been forming in all ages bf the
world. Some deposits of limestone are older
than the most recent granite, while others are
forming at the present moment. The oldest
specimens are coarse and of a crystaline struc
ture ; the most recent is fine or compact in its
texture, aud destitute of every appearance of
crystalization. A bed of the most ancient
limestone is found in Bolton, Massachusetts.
i In the western part of New York, deposits of
■ the same rock are constantly foririing at the
| present time.
Elements of Rocks.
J Notwithstanding the rich and endleSs varie
| ty in the appearance of rocks, their elements
I are few and simple; anil this apparent and
■ beautiful variety is owing more to the propor
’ tion and arrangement of the ingredients which
■ compose them, than to their number or va
riety.
Nine simple minerals have been supposed,
by many geologists; to be the elementary sub
stances of which al! rocks are compreed.
Aiid it is well known, that, four or five of
th ;se, constitute by far the greatest part of
rocky and mountain masses, Itnd that more
than half, both of rocks and soils, are formed
from tft’o of them.
The names of these simple minerals, shme- I
times called the geological alphabet; are quartz,
felspar, mica, hornblende, limie; argillite, (com- I
mon slate.) gypsum, tale, and chlofite. The I
two first are the most common and most ab'an- I
dant materials which compose the solid riiass !
of ourearth; Os the highest and most exten- !
sive ffinuntains upon our globe, they, are the j
principal, and; to some extent the only ingre- ]
dients. They are also the essential elements '
us soils, and upon the proper nrixturb of qttarlz !
I and felspar, or of silex and alumine, (sand (
and clay,) the ultimate principles fb’und in i
these tw 6 minerals, the fertility of s'oils de
pends.
These tivo abundant and important minerals, '
in many instances, nearly resemble each '
other, though a little experience will enable j
any one to distinguish theiil Quarts is harder I
than felspar, and much more various in its ap- I
pearance. It is of every shade of color from
nearly black to milk white. The White peb- I
bles so trimmon in the streets and by the way- [
side,' frequently known by the name of flint.!
! stone,' are a common species of quartz. Gun-;
j flint is another. —Sometimes it is transparent I
| and perfectly Crystulized, when it is improper- I
j)v called diamond. Diamond rocks and bills |
I are known in many towns in almost every sec- i
I tion of our country. The real diamond is
! found but in two or three places upon the
j eiiith;
I Crystalized quartz is srifnetimes of a putple
I color, when it is called' amethyst. Juspar,
I eoniblion, calcedony, opal, and other
pfectous stones, are frit)feed in the family of
qua rtz.
Felspar is generally white or of a light co-1
lor, sometimes yellowish'.' light red, or green,
seldom of a dark dolor. Its fracture differs
from that of quartz, as it breaks in small even
I surfaces or plates, somewhat resembling steps;
A strong light througn upon a recent fracture,
gives a peculiar indescribable lustre, fry wh'i'ch
it can always be distinguished from qxi irtz.
These two minerals are not only useful as
constituting the greater part of soils, rocks, j
and mountains, but frir an' important purpose I
to wh'ich each is applied in tbe arts. Quartz I
is the essential, and almost only ingredient used
in the manufactory of glass, whether for win
dows, decanters, tumblers, bottles, or any offi
cer purpose. Felspar is always used in the
manufactory of porcelain or china ware.
The substance known by the name of kaolin,
or porcelain clay, used both in China and 'his
country in the manufactory of porcelain, is de
composed felspar.
Mica, frequently but improperly called isin
glass, is extensively associated Writh the two
simple minerals, already described in the struc
ture of rocks. I his mineral is sometimes
found in plates two or three feet in diameter,
but much more commonly in fine scales but lit
tle larger than the head of a pin. it is com
monly white, but sometimes black, arid always
more or less transparent.
In some places, especially in Muscovy, mi
ca is used for the windows of houses, and is
hence called Mtiscovy glass. It is also used
for lanterns, and some purposes abord of ships,
where glass would be liable to break.
HOW ANO WHEN TO WOO.
BY WILLIAM C. BRYANT.
Dost thou idly ask to hear
At what gentle seasons
Nymphs relent, when lovers near
Press the tenderest reasons 1
Ah they give their faith too oft
To the careless wooer ;
Maidens’hearts are alway s soft,
Would that men’s were truer!
Woo the fair one when around,
Early birds are singing,
When o’er all the fragrant ground,
Early herbs are springing ;
W hen the brookside, bank and grove,
All with blossoms laden.
Shine with beauty, breathe oflove
Woo the timid maiden.
Woo her when, with rosy blush
Summer eve is sinking;
When on rills that softly gush, j
Stars are softly winking;
When through houghs that knit the bower, I
Moonlight gleams arc stealing ;
Woo her, ’till the gentle hour
Wakes a gentler feeling.
Woo her when autumnal dyes
Tinge the woody mountain;
When the drooping foliage lies
In the half choked fountain.
Let the scene that tells how fast
Youth is passing over,
Warn her, ere Ler bloom is past,
To secure her lover.
Woo her when the northwinds Call
At the lattice nightly ;
When within the cheerful hall,
Blaze the faggots brightly ;
While the wintry tempest round
Sweeps the landscape hoary
Sweeter in her ear shall sound
Love's delightful story,
Natural History.
Boa Constrictor.— The Nantucket Enquirer
says:—“The Ohio of this port, just returned
from the Pacific Ocean, visited in the course
of her voyage, the Three Maria Islands, off'
the coast of California; and sent a party of
men on shore for some supplies While thus
engaged, the men discovered in a clump of
trees at a short distance, an enormous snake
writhing about among the branches, with great
activity, and were at length alarmed on seeing
the reptile dart to the earth, and make towards
them. The first officer immediately seized a
musket, and despatched the assailant by a shot
in the head. It was taken on board, evisce
rated, and its stuffed hide brought home by
Captain Coffin. It measures nearly twelve
feet iu length; and in girth about fifteen inches ;
and very much resembles the Boa Constrictor. I
Tho island whence it was brought, lies in i
about the 21st degree of north latitude—the
same parallel in which serpehts of this spe
cies are so abundant on the opposite side of
the globe.
i j The King Snake.— There is a Iritge species
• 1 of speckled snake commonly called in the
I southern States, the King Shake, perhaps be
' cause he is the riiost formidable enemy of the
I rattlesnake. It seems to lie the chief ob ect
i of his existence, to seek, to pursue, and to de
' stroy the latter, whose retreats and presence
i is by the ehiission of a peculiar
1 sniell resembling that ol the cucumber vine.
The King Snake to all, other than reptiles, is
the most gentle and harmless of Creatures;
I you may strike him, he shows no resentment,
( he hisses not, he turns not; nor does he exhib.
it any terror or sluggishness. Drawn bv the
' Smell of the cucumber, he frequently enters
■ gardens, but his appearance excites no alarm
in any human being, that knows he is the King
! Snake ; on the contrary, women and children
I will approach him; turn him about with a stick,
j and playfully annoy him, with impunity; he
! is only a relentless enemy of the rattlesnake,
I whose strength and venom avail nothing
! against the activity and mode of attack of the j
! King Snake, who is always victor in every i
! combat.
Yet the rattlesnake is a terrible reptile.—
The I'6 is a peculiarity truly appalling in the
sound of his rattles, being Unlike the noise of
any other creature ; and when yod hear it the
first time,' the true instinct of nature impt esses
mu your quailing heart that, danger and death
are near. Nevershall I forget one horrid event
of my life! I was fishing in a southern lake,
one summer day, when an unusua. disposition
to sleep affected me. I stuck the end of my
fishing rod in the bank cf the lake, and sought
a beautiful place of shade, formed bv the 'in.
terlacing boughs of gigantic live-oaks, and
towering magnolias, peffumed by the delicate
odour of a beautiful wild orange, then tn
bl noth', which had sprung up in luxuriant gran
deur u >der the leafy canopy, the seed of which
had probably been dropped in this lotielv spot
by the Indian hunter or the Wandering wi d
bird. At its base, upon a carpet of green moss
sprinkled over with its fallen and snowy bloom.
I stretched myself in luxurious fangour for an
hour’s repose. I slept. When 1 awoke I
turned bn my side, and perceived at some dis
taiice fro n me, two brilliant orbs—and instant
ly a tremulous, mingled sensation of an indefi.
nablb nature came upbn my faculties. Some
thing of an instinctive dictate or impulse
counselled me to avert my looks; but then
there was such an absorbing, wishful delight
in gasi g into eyes, that intently and melting,
ly gated into mine, that eVen the tremulous pul
sation of fear fixed my frame, and I remained
so fascinated that I could see nothing but the
most beautiful colors. In short, I was totally
lost, so completely bewildered with commin
gled emotions, that I could not withdraw mv
gaze, nor even move.
Suddenly, the melting eyeballs glared with
Vo!. IV-No. 44.
: sparks of fire—there vis a movement — I was
! still in a dreamy state — but yet distinctly saw
an enormous Rattlesnake— lying in his coil,
his tail quivering with a vibrating motion, his
head erect and drawn back, with the jaws dis
tended and the fangs barred— within three feet
|of -where. I lay ! Its gaze had been disturbed ;
I and when I heard the hateful rattle sing, the
| full consciousness of my dangerous situation
aroused me, and through all tny frame I felt
the extremity of terror ; and just as I was on
the point of obeying a frenzied impulse to rise
and fly—God of heaven! 1 felt the deadly
reptil. as 1 thought, coiling arourid niy neck ;
I saw part of his body—l felt the cold rind sli
my skin upon my neck, and the shiver of hor-.
[ ror went through every joint and member of
my frame. Such a feeling of agdny! my
eyeballs were filled with scorching fire; my
veins Were frozen; all things Became of a
blood-red hue—and then of a sickly and loathe,
some yellowish green. There are moment’s
of existence, which involve the sensations ot
years, and when the w-hole detail of a thou
sand feeli 'gs scarcely occupy the brief space
of a leisure thought. Nature could endure nd
more, and I lost al! sense.
At length I had the painfill tingling sensa
tion of returning life through my veins, and
when in full consciousness I arose from the
earth, I saw near me. tranquilly and quietly, a
living King S lake, and farther off the lifeless
length of a tremendous Rattlesnake. I sat
upon a log aud refl cted; and I ani now satis
fied that the King S >ake hud crept over my
neck to my resem-—there being a live-oak at
mv feet, and the lake immediately back of the
orange tree on whose mossy foot niy head had
bee ■ pillowed—so that his-nearest route to the
enemy was over my body. But although my
life was providentially preserved, yet the effects
of that scene are the exhaustion of a great
portion of my excitability, and the introduction
of grey haits; and premature debility, in alt
my powers of mind and body.— Anecdotes of
the South.
From the Philadelphia Saturday Hfews.
A Slight Mistake.
During the late snow, three gentlemen, re
turning from the western part of the state;
arrived a little before tin at niglit, ata house
on one ofthe principal high roads leading to
Philadelphia, which hid for many years been
celebrated as an inn where excellent entertain
ment might be procured, both for man and horse
To their regret they found the house closed ;
bu*. as they had travelled far. and were nearly
starved with cold, they resolved to rouse the
landlord, and claim the privilege of thawing
their chilled limbs.—Accordingly, they alight,
ed from their sleigh, and began to beat an alarm
which might have startled the seven sleepers.
Presently the door was carefully opened, and
rushing tumultuously i,i—for after an hour’s
exposure to an atmosphere at zero, compliments
and ceremony are both dispensed with—they
found themselves in company wilh a young la
dy, of agreeable appearance, who stood as if
waiting to know the meaning of the uproar.
“Is Mr. at home?” inquired one of
the gentlemen, naming the landlord.
“He is,” was the reply ; “but he has retired
for the night.”
“Will you Be good eiiotigh to shoiv us to a
fire?” asked another of the party— “fcr we
are actually perishing with the co'd ”
•‘I am sorry you cannot be accommodated;
gentlemen,” answered the la ly, “but our fires
are all raked and covered.”
“Cannot we find some id the kitchen?” be-’
seechingly interposed the third member of the
party, shivering as if he had an ague-fit.
“No, sir,” was the brief response.
I To the travellers this was all inexplicable.
1 For nearly half a century “Old-—,” as
! the landlord of the was familiarly call-
j ed, had maintained a high reputation for abun
dance in his larder, and civility to HiS giiests.
and though he loved his ease, he not unfrequent
ly rose at midnight to give shelter to some
belated wanderer. Now. ho»v different? be
fore ten o’clock—an early hour at all Reasons
for a taverner on a main road to seek his b’ed;
and especially early in the sleighing times—
his establishment was entirely closed, and three
persons; having the appearance, dress, ami de
portment ofgentlemen, who had gained en-
> trance by a sort of violence, were permitted
I to stand in a cold passage, without so mluch as
a kind word in the way of welcome or greet
ing. To add to their amazement, just at the
moment they had been informed there was no
fife in the kitchen, the door of that apartment
opened, and discovered a capacious hearth'
hovered with hickory logs, blati ig and crack
ling in the merriest mood imaginable j and
’ surrounded by domestics. At the same time,
■ too. a spruce chambermaid d see id-.-d she stairs
; which communicated with the upper apart
; meats; and passed into a room which seemed
[ to be well.lighted,.and made comfortable by a
I cheerful grate. Presently she Returned, and
I our travellers, to whom the mystery Was any
thing but agreeable, civilly entered the mom'
she had quitted. Here they found all the fur
niture of a modern parlour— ottoma s—pier
tables— mirrors. &c., and a large centre-table,
on which an argand lamp was burning, and
strewed upon w hich were a variety of bijoux;
annuals, &c. Co gra u'atmg themselves upon'
having found such comtbrtable quarters, the
gentlemen drew themselves close to the fire,
threw off their cloaks, wrappers, and over
shoes; and one of them, more provident than
his companions, drew forth and placed upon 1
the table a black bottle, which he said contain
ed a specific for all t|ie ills that frosty nights
commonly lead to. V\ h tie he and his compan
ions were deliberating how to procure glasses.'
the door of the room was opened, and a beau
titul and graceful girl glided into the apartment
and, after dropping a slight and very fofm.il
courtesy to the gentlemen, seated herself be
side the ’.able, and immediately Commenced
reading, with apparent earnestness, a book
which she had brought in in her hand. The
gentlemen, restrained by her presence, ceased
their conversation, and two of them withdrew
to seek an explanation, leaving the third tete
a-tete with the lady. His position, as he de
scribed it to us, vas rather ludic ous. Direct
ly between him and the lady stood the black
bottle in all its unveiled proportions, and he
could eVery now and then perceive his fair
incognita glance suspiciously at it, as ifdoubt
ful of its contents. Plucking up heart of-grace
he addressed her one or two remarks on com
mon-place topics, but her answers, though not
uncivil, were so pointedly brief, that he was
obliged to desist from further efforts. Finally,
he was obliged to retreat ; and in the passage
they had first entered, he found his compan
ions, who had just learned that the house they
were in bad not been occupied as a tavern for
six months previously. The landlord, who’
had grown rich bad retired from business;