Newspaper Page Text
LITERARY
temperance (^nniader.
PENEIELD, GEORGIA.
L. LINCOLN VEAZEY Editor.
THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 28,1858.
men think in sentences, others in
chapters. One might write a startlingly brilliant
paragraph, and yet be the dullest of book-makers.
thanks to Mrs. Dennard for her nice
present of bridal cakes. May life press to her
lips its purest draughts of peace, health and hap
piness.
jQp-The February number of Godey’s Lady-
Book has made its appearance promptly. Its nu
merous and well arraned fashionged plates under
it a useful manuel to the ladies. Price $2,00.
fjgHftad books are dangerous companions, but
not so bad as bad men. The former corrupt the
heart and vitiate the principles; the latter lead
their victim on to the performance of deeds’ of
wickedness.
requires clouds, rain, wind and sunshine
to make the varied seasons of the year, and to
produce in perfection its fruits. So do all the
changes of fortune to which man is subjected on
earth, tend to elevate his faculties and fit him for
Heaven.
g®*Peterson's Magazine is deservedly one of
the most popular of American Monthlies. The
February number, now before us, is gotten up in
handsome style, in every particular. Price $2,00
a year. 3 copies $5,00.
HaT'Harper’s Magazine for February is a most
interesting number of that nonpareil of month
lies. The articles on “Constantinople,” “Cen
tral Africa” and “the Marriage Tragedy” are pa
pers well worth the perusal. The Harper Litera
ture is the very best now published in our coun
try.
■
f®“Some friend has favored us with a prospec
tus of the Bowden Collegiate Institute. This
school seems to be enjoying a high degree of pub
lic favor in western Georgia and the adjoining
counties of Alabama. Messrs. Richardson & Mc-
Daniel have established for themselves the repu
tation of thoroughly efficient teachers.
Ex-President Anson Jones committed suicide at
Houston, Texas, on the morning of the 13th inst.
The causes which led to this fatal result are un
known. This is the second great man4hat Texas
has lost within the last twelve months. The a
larmingly increasing frequency of suicide would
seem to falsify our claim to the title of a happy
people.
Giving Advice & a matter of extreme delicacy
and importance, requiring the exercise both of
the judgment and the best feelings of the heart.
The power of individual opinion is thus brought
directly to bear, and its immediate results may
be easily seen and calculated. Perhaps an ex
pression of opinion in this manner carries with it
more influence than under any other circumstance.
In a multitude of cases we know this is so. The
exhortations of the Pulpit are advice often deliv
ered in the most solemn manner; yet, in the
great majority of instances it is not taken as such.
All may listen, admit the truth of every remark,
but each will kindly pass it to his next neighbor.
When, however, it is brought down to individ
uals and the words of counsel fall directly on the
ears of the one for whom they were especially in
tended, it is different. They then possess a force
and significancy which never do under any
other circumstances.
“ Advice unsought is always unwelcome.” The
age and truth of this remark has made it an aph
orism. It is more especially true of that which
is contrary to the recipient’s previous inclinations.
Many have not the discrimination to distinguish
it from rebuke or criminations. It is like-telling
a man of his faults; no friendship, however sin
cere or long continued, can ever assure your safe
ty. It is far better for both parties that such
counsel should be withheld.
Some persons seem possessed with such a spirit
of giving advice, that they bestow the benefit of
their wisdom indiscriminately on all whom they
meet, be they friends or strangers. They appear
to think their notions of what is prudent or cor
rect far superior to all others, and are surprised
if any should be so self-willed as to disobey their
dictates. Their mission is to rule the world—
not by war, diplomacy or the arts of intrigue.
Such methods are left for more ambitious and
ingenious spirits. They seek empire by the more
unassuming method of inducing people to adopt
their views and opinions of things by an appear
ance of lofty wisdom—sometimes of superior sanc
tity. If such men have good sense (they seldom
have) they are hated; if they have not, they are
simply despised.
Among our erring, fallable race, we often see
individuals to whom we would think it a bless
ing to give our counsel. But we must be careful
in the manifestation of oxir benevolent intentions.
With the very best motives, we may, in an at
tempt to do an act of kindness, make an enemy
for life.
“He is out at night” is one of the very
worst remarks that can be made in regard to a
young man’s character. It is all the worse from
its vagueness. Every folly and vice to which the
young are addicted, or the old confirmed, seem
to be summed up in that one expression, “ out at
night.” Peering forth into the darkness from a
chamber window, where the lamp or cheerful
blaze on the hearthstone throws a light, the im
agination peoples the midnight gloom with ten
thousand goblin forms. So do unnumbered sus
picions of unnamed vices cling around the char
acter of the youth, who evening after evening is
away from home.
This is not unreasonable. No good purpose
can produce, or no good result follow, from such
a habit. Occasionally, the claims of benevo
lence may call the young man out at niglM. He
may go with the purest motives of charity to watch
beside the couch of suffering, amid the haunts
of misery. Such persons, however, are not those
whose reputations are ruined by their nocturnal
excursions. They are oftenest found amid scenes
where they take their initiative steps down the
road of ruin.
No young man can offer a valid excuse for be
ing habitually abroad at night. Many may plead
the dulness of their homes during the long even
ings of winter, without any interesting compan
ions to solace their loneliness. In these cases,
books, or at least newspapers (which almost any
may afford) will prove a valuable substitute for
company. But in any cape, it is far better to set
by one’s own fireside, fold the hands and do no
thing, than to frequent the haunts of idleness and
vice.
Young man, you who stay out until the small
hours of the morning, and then steal into your
r home like a thief, quit that practice. You are
•beginning blindly one end of a road, but think
not whither it will lead. It may now seem pleas
ant to the eye, and its sounds may charm the
ear; yet, will it end In a nroxen
shame and ruin.
XDVCATIOM.
¥e propose at present to consider some of those
evils in our educational system which have
resulted from the practice of teachers. For all oi
these they are not to be held solely responsible.
Many of them have had their origin in a desire
on their part to please the public or cater to the
prejudices of their patrons; some in the failure
of parents to co-operate with teachers in oarrying
out a wholesome discipline; and many in the
indolence or inefficiency of the teachers them
sleves. It is notoriously the fact, however, that
most persons attribute all the wrong which they
acknowledge to exist to teachers, without assign
ing other parties any portion.
The multitude of Text-books used in our schools
has long been felt to be a great and growing evil.
There is no branch of study pursued by youth
which has not half a dozen books by as many
different authors. Os these every teacher has his
preferences, and if left to his own free will, he
permits no other to be used. This might do well
enough, if the pupil never had but one teacher;
but when a change is made every year, it is a
drawback on his advancement. He commences,
for instance, with English Grammar, and in the
course o’* eight or ten months has made what he
considers very fair progress in an acquaintance
with the science. But the next year another in
cumbent occupies the scholastic chair. He grave
ly informs the student that his time has been
thrown away in attempting to master Murray’s
Grammar; that Smith’s, or Kirkham’s, or Green
leaf’s, or some other grammar is the only one
worthy of his attention. Thus, between the
teachers and the book-maker, a year, or perhaps
two, is literally lost to the pupil. The fault lies
between them, and it is difficult to any which is
the more to blame.
There is another evil about these books. The
authors of works for the use of schools, of course,
feel interested in making books which will sell,
and it is unfortunately the case that youth have
too much voice in deciding what work they will
use. Those will be most popular with them that
cost them the least labor to master. The book
makers are fully apprised of this fact and turn it
to practical account in their business. Every
branch of study has been simplified to its extreme
limit; some to such an extent that they have lost
all their utility in disciplining and strengthening
the mind. The path of science has Become so
plain and easy that the veriest dunce over whom
the genius of dulness ever held sway need not err
therein. Fools no longer stick at the 44 Pons Aa
inoruih” ; a causeway is provided for [ their pas
sage; and if they cannot pass that, sonae friendly
hand is ready to lift them over. With such a
list of Text-books, need we be astonished that we
have college graduates who are grossly ignorant
of the sciences with which they claim am intimate
acquaintance?
Teachers, as a general thing, pay toa little re
gard to the individual talents of those whom they
instruct. Few of them ever devote muoh of their
attention to analysing the characters of their pu
pils, with a view to ascertain their respective
powers ot mind. All are subjected to the same
regimen and carried through a prescribed course
of study, without reference to their taste or abili
ties. In fact, care is taken to impress upon the
minds that it is especially their duty to pursue
those studies for which they have no natural
fondness. This, it is said, will strengthen the in
tellect and develope all its faculties in due pro
portion. This, however, is not the case. Nature
has given some bent to the mind of every one, and
all efforts made against that, must be, to a great
extent, in vain. A skilful teacher who makes a
study of the character of those whom he Instructs,
can do more good in a year than one of these
blunderers could in a dozen. They will not be
turned out upon the world at the age of maturity
without the slightest idea as to the occupation for
which they are best fitted. Multitudes of young
men have their prospects for a life of unefulness
blasted at this very point. They have not stud
ied their own characters, and their education has
not imparted to them a knowledge of th eir pow
ers. They feel the necessity of doing something
without any definite notion of what they are best
able to do. In this extremity, they take up what
ever comes to hand, (as the expression goes,) and
in the great majority of cases, this neither brings
them honor or profit, or makes them useful to
society.
We are aware that the plan of classifying has
many able advocates and that many plausible ar
guments may be advanced in its favor. It light
ens the burden of the teacher, exebes emulation
and incites many to a far higher degree of energy
and perseverence than could be accomplished by
any other means. All these advantages ar® cheer
fully admitted. Yet, there are a multitude of
instances in which it is far more injurious than
beneficial, and the teacher should endeavor to
ascertain which these are. Two pupils may be
in the same state of advancement and no great
disparity exist in point of talent, yet both be in
jured by being classed together. A teacher who
is in every way qualified for his business will not
commit such blunders as this, though the amount
of his leisure might be doubled or trebled there
by-
One of the greatest errors which teachers com
mit arises from the manner in which the rates of
tuition have been fixed. An old custom has es
tablished low charges for the primary and ele
mentary branches, and an increase as thn schol
ars become more advanced. Hence, the teacher
is pecuniarily interested in the rapid advance
ment of his pupils. Under the influence of this
stimulus, he urges them forward with a much
greater rapidity than their abilities would author
ize, or a regard for their real interest would per
mit. Long before they have become good spel
lers or readers they are thumbing the pages of a
Latin or Greek Grammar. When they should be
practising the parsing exercises in English Gram
mar, they are employed in making a nonsensical
jargon of some of Cicero’s oration# or the Iliad of
Homer. They may, themselves, become eventu
ally conscious of their deficiences in these ele
mentary and more important branches; but then
a feeling of pride prevents an effort to supply
them. As the result of all this, many of those
who are termed accomplished scholars oannot
write a dozen sentences without as many errors
in orthography, and perhaps as many in gram
matical construction. Some even advance the
foolish notion that it is a mark of ignorence to
know how to spell well.
A partial remedy may be found for this evil in
the custom which many communities have adop
ted of paying their teacher a stated salary. There
would then seem to be no motive for an impru
dent advancement of pupils. But many are de
sirous that their employers shall lose nothing, and
will make efforts to increase the amount of tui
tion to accomplish that end. In such cases, of
course, the blame lies wholly with the teacher.
Undue ambition is just as surely productive of
evil in a school teacher ns in a statesman or war
rior. This is a failing which prevails to a very,
great extent in almost all our schools of any note.
Teachers are entirely too anxious to achieve rep
utations. For this they will waste two or three
months of every year in order to get up a fine ex
amination or exhibition, which can only give
eclat to themselves without any possible advan
tage to the scholars. These are gotten up affairs
—their oft repeated assertion to the contrary,
notwithstanding; and it requires no inconsidera
ble Aw—* of time and labor to jsa*-* 1 -—
so far from this, they are, in a multitude of in
stances, positively deleterious.
Had we time and space, we might point out
several other evils that have arisen entirely, or in
part, from the practices of teachers. But enough
for the present. Despite its many defects, our
school system has produced, does and will pro
duce many able men and accomplished scholars.
This reflection, however, should not influence
any one tA refrain from an attempt at a reforma
tion. It ought rather to have the contrary effect.
If our system has been able to accomplish thus
much under circumstances of great disadvantage,
it could certainly do more when relieved of these
defects. It is only by one long and united effort
of all classes that our educational system can be
raised to a degree of perfection worthy of the
progressive tendencies of the age.
The Lond n Times is out in a long article which
shows quite a change of sentiment in that jour
nal, in regard to the Slave Trade. The fatal re
sults of emancipation in the West Indies haye
opened the eyes of British political economists,
and are likely to stop the cries of false philan’
thropista. If we may judge from their leading
periodicals, the revival of the slave trade is a
much more popular measure in Great Britain
than in the United States. A writer in Black
wood advocates the enslavement of the revolted
Sepoys of India. The French are desirous of re
plenishing the s’ave population of their West In
dia colonies, by fresh importations from Africa,
and are now mediating with the British Govern
ment to connive at the undertaking, it will be
a great blessing to the world when men become
convinced by practical experience that slavery
is a necessary condition to the well being of soci
ety.
10* It is impossible to estimate the amount of
falsehood that is put forth in the world in the
form of obituaries. Persons whose moral charac
ters while*living had assumed the most degraded
stamp, are panegyrized when dead as exemplars
of all that is good and noble in human nature.
So notorious has this practice become, that these
notices have a set phraseology, and one form may
very well do for all, the changes of time and
name being the only necessary alterations.
There are few forma of falsehood that can be
more deleterious. If posthumous fame is worth
anything, it is as an incentive to virtuous action
on the part of the living. But when praise is be
stowed so universally, it loses all force. Let a
man know that his conduct will be applauded,
be it what it may, and he will have few induce
ments to behave well.
We have no doubt that many who thus eulo
gise the dead, do so from the best of motives,
without designing injury to any one. We all
have a natural repugnance to drawing the frail
ties of the dead from their dread abode. We
must do this, however, if we would have the his
tory of the past to be useful to fut ure general ions.
The faults of the departed should be pointed out,
not in a spirit that seems to rejoice over the
errors of human nature; but in language of warn
ing that others may avoid the shoals upon which
these have been wrecked.
CLIPPED ITEMS.
A line may be remembered when a chapter i* forgotten,
Hon. Leander W. Crook, of Whitfield county, has
been elected Judge of the Superior Court of the Chero
kee Circuit; and Hon. Nathan L. Hutchins, Judge of
the Superior Court of the Western Circuit.
Signor Ronconi, agent of one of the opera companies
performing in Havana, drew the capital prize of $30,000,
in the Lottery of the 15th ult., in that city. The num
ber of his ticket was 11,794.
Col. Williams, of Tennessee, who was appointed Min
ister to Constantinople, has refused to accept the posi
tion, and withdrawn his application.
Lord Bacon is said to have frequently told the follow
ing anecdote : “ A proud, lazy young fellow, once came
to an old man who sold broom besoms at Buxton, and
asked to; have one on credit, to whom the old man said,
* Friend, haßt thou no money ? Borrow of thy back
and borrow of thy belly—they’ll ne’er B9k thee again;
I shall be dunning thee every day.’ ”
A Chinese woman, surprised by her husband, had just
time to hide her gallant in a sack, and set it up against
a wall. The good man, coming in, asked, “ what is
there in that sack?” The woman was eonfused, and
hesitated a moment for an answer. The gallant, afraid
she would blunder, called out from the inside of the
sack, “ Nothing but rice.”
“ ’Tis strange,” muttered a young man, as he stag
gered home from a supper party, “ how evil communi
cations corrupt good manners : I’ve been surrounded
by tumblers all tne evening, and now I’m a tumbler my
self.”
It is stated that upwards of seventy-five thousand dol
lars have already been raised, and put out on interest,
of the sum required for the purchase of Mount Vernon.
Two hundred thousand dollars is the sum demanded
for the land and buildings.
At the present term of the Supreme Court, the fol
lowing gentlemen were admitted members of the bar :
WhitsonG. Johnson, of Augusta; S. P. Hamilton, and
James Ganahl, Esqs., of Savannah.
Alexander Dumas receives twenty cents a line for“his
romances. One of his constant readers estimates that
he has received twenty-five thousand francs for the sin
gle line : “ A cold perspiration stood upon the fore
head of the countess,” which occurs in most of his
stories.
A young gentleman, the other day, asked of a yourg
lady, “what she thought of the married state in gen
eral ?” “ Not knowing, I cannot tell,” was the reply;
“ but if you and I would put our hands together, I
could soon give you a definite answer.”
In a street fight which occurred in Tampa, Fla., on
Monday last, a man by the name of Langford was shot
by one Hayward. The wound is not dangerous.
A young miss in Manchester, while skating the other
day, broke through the ice into twelve feet of water.—
Her hooped skirt made a wide ring on the ice, and buoy
ed her up until she was rescued.
The total ’salaries received by the British Cabinet
Ministers, is $289,000 per annum ; the amount received
by the President, Vice President and Cabinet Minis
ters of the'United States, is $89,000 —difference, $200,-
000 per annum.
Cherokee Baptist College, at Cassville, commenced
its exercises on the 11th inst., with quite a respectable
number of students in attendance. The Faculty is now
complete, and all at their posts.;
Gov. Johnson sojourns for the present, at his planta
tion in Jefferson county. His post office is *• Spier's
Tuns Out.”
Man may err, and be forgiven; but poor woman with
all his temptation, and but half hie strength, is placed
beyond the hope of earthly salvation, if she but once
be tempted into.crime.
A worthy magistrate, having to write the word, “us
age,” spelled it without using a single letter of the
original word ; his much improved orthography, was
yowzitch.
All reports as to character, deal largely in exaggera
tion. “I never knew,” says a wise man* “one either
as good or as bad as ho was represented.”
Somebody says that a wife should be like roast ed
lamb, tender ana nicely dressed. Somebody else wick
edly adds, “ and without sauce.”
Nothing can be so kind as a woman’s heart, and less
likely to inflict a blow ; and yet, Btrange to say, it is
never so happy as when it is beating.
An editor out in lowa, says that they don’t brag of
the sise of their babies, but they are a most uncommon
Bure crop.
Great and rare heart offerinas are found almost exclu
sively among women; nearly all the happiness and
most blessed moments in love, are of their creating,
and so also is friendship, especially when it follows
love.
Crime is progressive, and its insidious approaches
should be carefully watched and resisted at the very
threshhold. There are no compromises to be made with
it. There is no safety save in entire and complete non
intercourse with it, in all ita alluring phases.
A Horse-dealer, describing a used-up horse, said he
looked “ as if he had been editing a daily nowßpaper !”
That was a wise nigger who, in speaking of the hap-
Einess of married people, aaid, “ dat ar ‘pend pltogedder
ow de enjoy themselves.”
“ Nat, what are you leaning over that empty cask
for f” “ I’m’ mourning over departed spirits /, was
the answer.
Never confide in a young man; new pails leak.
Never tell your secrets to the aged; old doors seldom
shut closely.
To prevent a kitchen dootire— mnfifc’TTT ,
CH<
CHOICE SELECTIONS.
R9"The following extract is taken from the
charming work lately published by Mrs. LeVert,
entitled “ Souvenirs of travel.” No one can fail
to admire its touching simplicity and the kind*
benevolent heart it betrays:
A pleasant little incident attended our depart
ure, which I must tell you. Last night, until
after two, we were on the mountain, and as we
came doWn, it was very dark. A little boy about
ten years old, clothed in rags, ran before the
horses to light up the road. After passing the
‘Witches’ Cave,’ there was no more danger of
‘toppling o’er the prieipice,’ and we directed the
courier to take the child in the barouche, and
stow him away under the feet of the coachman ;
whereupon the courier and coachman declared it
was needless to do so, as a lazaroni boy was accus
tomed to all kinds of fatigue and hardship. By
the expiring flame of the torch, I saw the wear
ied face and appealing eyes of the little creature
and commanded them to take him un, They re
luctantly did so, muttering at the mistaken kind
nes of the Signora, which they deemed sadly
wasted upon such an atom of creation.
When We reached the hotel the child was asleep
and the coachmen threw him out as one would
do a littld puppy, while he shook his rags and pre
pared to run on. M. D. called him, and gave him
a five franc piece, when he turned to me saying:
‘Please, good Signora, tell me what this is ; I nev
er saw so much money before.* There was such
a look of intelligence in his countenance, that af
ter he was gone, I questioned the coachman about
him, who looked incredulously at me, that it was
possible to feel an interest in a vagrant like him.
However as I asked, he told me that many years
ago he had discovered this child was in the habit
of creeping into his stable and sleeping upon the
hay every night. Catching him there one morn
ing, he inquired where he came from and the
boy answered that he had never known a father
or mother, and his first remembrance was crawl
ing about the streets near our coachman’s stable,
and after dark stealing in there. His only food
had been bones thrown him by the other beggars
who passed from successful forays upon the
neighboring kitchens. As he had no name, he
gave him that of Rafaello , and permission to sleep
with the horses ; and when the child grew larger,
he permitted him to rub the horses, and to hold
torches for the carriage, when he drove up the
mountain at night.
“Poor little being ! no human creature to care
for him !” I involuntariedly cried. The coach
man shrugged his shoulders as he said, “Bah !
Signora ! why should you care ? it is the fate of
these lazaroni. They are born in the streets, they
live in the streets, (never sleeping under the roof
of a house during all their lives) and they die in
the street—then are thrown into a deep hole, like
a dog.”
The lustrous eyes of Bafaello really haunted
me all night, and his pitiable story was often in
my mind. Immediately after breakfast we enter
ed our vettura, and drove away from the hotel. As
we turned the corner, we heard a voice calling
out, “Stop ! Stop !” Supposing we had left some
of our property in the apartments, we stopped ;
when little Rafaello ran up to the side of the car
riage, exclaiming, “Pray, Signora, make them
open the door.” This was done, when the child
sprang upon the steps and said, “Please let me
kiss your hand; you are the first and only person
who ever spoke one kind word to little Rafaello.”
Then seizing my hand, he kissed it several times,
and pressed it to his little throbbing heart, then
jumped down, and disappeared from our sight in
an instant.
You may well imagine how this affected me,
and how the tears poured from my eyes, as I vain
ly called him back. Never to have heard but one
kind word ! and that only the common expres
sion of sympathy, that I would give to a cat or
dog I saw trampled upon and abused. And the
child, too, Mamma, was beautiful, as I looked at
him standing on the steps of the carriage. His
features were classically regular, his moutn exqui
site, and his jet black hair matted in close curls
around his head. The glowing and radiant ex
pression of soul and feeling which lighted up his
face can never be forgotten. lam sure this child
is of noble blood, possibly the offspring of an un
hallowed love, too fervid and daring for the con
ventionalities of the world, and whom the fear of
shame and disgrace has actuated to this cruel act
of inhumanity, in yielding up the creature of their
passion to a living death.
Aim IE LATJBIE.
“If you want to hear Annie sing, come to my
house,” said a man to his friend. “We have a
love-lorn fellow in the village who was sadly
wrecked by the refusal of a girl from whom he
had been paying attention to for a year or more.
It is seldom he will attempt the song, but when
he does, I tell you, it draws tears from eyes unused
to weeping.”
A small selected company had assembled in a
small pleasant parlor, and were gaily chatting
and laughing when a tall young man entered,
whose peculiar face and air instantly arrested the
attention. He was very pale, with that clear viv
id complexion, which dark haired consumptives
so often have. His locks were as black as jet,
and hung profusely upon a square white collar.—
His eyes were very large and spiritual, and his
brow such an one as a poet should have. But for
a certain wandering look, a casual observer would
have pronounced him a man of uncommon intel
lectual powers. The words “poor fellow and “how
sad he looks,” went the rounds as he came for
ward, bowqd to the company and took his seat.—
One or two thoughtless girls laughed as they whis
pered he was “love cracked”—but ,the rest treat
ed him with a respectful deference.
It was late in the evening when singing was
proposed, and to ask him to sing ‘Annie Laurie’
was a task of uncommon delicacy. One song af
ter another was sung, and at last that one was
named. At its mention the young man turned
deadly pale, but did not speak; he seemed in
stantly to be lost in reverie. “The name of the
girl who treated him so badly was Annie,” said a
lady whispering to the new guest—but oh ! I wish
he would sing it; nobody else can do it justice.”
“No one dares .sing Annie Laurie before you
Charles” said an elderly lady ; “would it be too
much to ask you to favor the company with it ?”
she added timidly.
He did not reply for a moment, his lips quiver
ed a little, and then looking up as if he saw a
spiritual presence he began. Every sound was
hushed—it seemed as if his voice were the voice
of an angel. The tones vibrated through nerve,
and pulse, and heart, and made one shiver with
the pathos of his feelings ; never was heard mel
ody in a human voice like that —so plaintive, so
soulful—so tender and earnest!
He sat With his head thrown back, his eyes half
closed—the locks of hair glistening against his
pale temples, his fine throat swelling with the
rich tones, his hands lightly folded before him ;
and ashesung—
“And ’twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true —’ ’
it seemed as if he shook from head to foot with
emotion. Many a lip trembled —and there was
no jesting, no laughing ; but instead, tears in
more than one eye.
And on he sang, and on, holding every one in
rapt attention, till he came to the last verse.
“Like dew on the gowan lying
la the fa’ of theiairy feet—
And like winds in summer sighing,
Her voice ia low and sweet,
Her voice ia low and sweet
And aha’a a’ the world to me—”
He paused before he added
“And for bonnie Annie Laurie.
I’d lay me down and die.”
There was a long solemn pause. The black
locks seemed to grow blacker —the white temples
winter almost imperceptibly the head falling back
the eyes were close shut. One glanced at anoth
er all seemed awe struck* till the same person
who urged him to sing:
Charles, Charles!
Then came a hush—a thrill of horror crept
through every frame— the poor tired heart had
ceased to beat—Charles the love betrayed was
dead.
Why not gently chide the erring heart,
and speak words of peace, hope and comfort, as
you point to the beaming Star of Bethlehem, and
a haven of rest far beyond : instead of crushing
the already stricken spirit with sneers and re
proaches, as you gather up your dainty robes
and say, “stand aside, I am holier than thou?” Re
member, that form now bowed before you with a
wail of misery, was once erect and full of glad
life as thine The heart you now crush may have
t-Wnenn and rung as joyous a
And chide
woe, by your cold un-
LAPIES’ OLIO.
PICTURES IH THI FIRE.
“It’s a shame, I declare!”
And little Mrs. Ray threw herself into a low
chair before the fire, with her pretty eyes full of
tears, as her better half banged tha door behind
him.
Such a beautiful silk dress ! such a bargain,
too 1 And only twenty-five dollars ! To think
that Henry should deny her such a trifle ! She
thought how bright its lustrous purple folds had
looked, as the sly shopman held it up in the sun
and how becoming it would be to her pale, clear
complexion ! Only twenty-five dollars !
Then as if in a dream the crowded rooms at
Stewart's seemed to pass away from her vision, and
another picture took its place amid the red glow
ing coals of the grate. It was a dark, gloomy coun
ting-house in a narrow business street, and she
saw her husband pallid, worn and weary, bending
with contracted brow above a massive ledger, and
sighing over long, unsatisfactory accounts.
The flames danced up with long purple shoots
of fire—and another scene gradually opened among
the white-hot embers. A woman struggling
through the streets, against fierce winds and blind
ing snow, pale, famished and despairing ; and
not one woman, but scores—all her sisters in the
family of humanity ! And they were perishing
for lack of a crust of bread— only a crust of bread!
Then followed a shadowy procession of flitting
images—gaunt and tattered wretches bending
over lonley death-beds, where want and poverty
wrestled at the threshold with the grim destroy
er himself—solitary graves where the flame of life
had gone out %r lack of comforts which a few
pence might suffice to buy, and weary figures toil
ing night and day to secure the merest pittance
that might keep soul and body together.
The little jeweled clock on the carved mantle
struck ten with a silvery echo, and at the same
instant a cheerful, manly voice roused little Mrs.
Ray from her revery.
_ “Why, Fanny, love, what is the matter ? Sit
ting all alone in the fire-light, and crying! Here
are your twehty-five dollars, my litle wife ; it’s a
mere trifle, and I was wrong not to indulge you
in the first place.”
Mrs Ray put her arms softly round her hus
band’s neck, and leaned her head on his shoul
der.
“I don’t want the silk dress any more Henry.
But I’ll take the money and lay it out for those
whose need is greater far than mine. May I ?’’
“May you ? What a question, my love ! But
what has put this idea into your little head Y*
“ I don’t know,” said the young wife, looking
into his face through a soft mist of tears, “but I
think it was the pictures in the fire !” Shirley.
t&* On a very pretty girl’s saying to Leigh
Hunt, “I am very sad you see,’ he replied, “Oh,
no ; you belong to the other Jewish sect ; you
are very fair I sec /”
Runaway Matches in Kentucky to be Preven
ted. -The following we copy from the Frankfort
correspondence of the Louisville Courier:
A bill to prevent runaway matches was repor
ted to the House this morning, by Mr. Houston,
of Clark. It commends itself to the prayerful
consideration of all young men ambitious for pay
ing for some young lady’s board and hooped skirt
acoats. Its main provisions are : Ist, fine and
imprisonment for running away with a young la
dy under 18 years of age and not marrying her;
2d, if he does marry her he cannot get any of her
property until she becomes of age, &c. It was
made the special order for Wednesday. Young
spooneys who cannot live without “dear Mary
Ann,” had better notify the “being” and hurry
up the cakes before Mr. Houston’s bill becomes
a law. It is the fashion now for the old folks to
refuse their consent to all would-be-sons-in-law.
This is not because they have any real objection
ty “Chawls,” but because they are too stingy to
give a wedding party.
A SISTER’S LOVE.
There is no purer flame kindled upon the altar
of human affection than a sister’B pure, uncon
taminated love for her brother. It is unlike all
other affection ; so disconnected with selfish sen
suality, so feminine in its development, so digni
fied, and yet, withal, so fond, so devoted. Noth
ing can alter it; nothing can suppress it. The
world may revolve, and its revolutiou effect
changes in the fortunes, in the character, and in
the disposition of her brother ; yet if he wants,
whose hand will so readily stretch out to supply
him as a sister’s. And if his character is malign
ed, whose voice will so readily swell in its advo
cacy ? Next to a mother’s unquenchable love, a
sister’s is pre-eminent. It rests so exclusively up
on the tie of consanguinity for its subsistence, it is
so wholly divested of passion, and springs from
such a deep recess in the human bosom, that
when a sister once fondly and deeply regards her
brother, that affection is blended with her exis
tence. In all the annals of crime it is considered
anomalous to find the hand of a sister raised in
revenge against her brother, or her heart nurtur
ing the seeds of hatred, envy or revenge, in re
gard to that brother.
The opinion of relatives as to a man’s pow
ers are very commonly of little value ; not mere
ly because they overrate their own flesh and blood
as some may suppose ; on the contrary, they are
quite as likely to underrate those whom they have
grown to the habit of considering like them
selves.
Spicy Correspondence—A True Wife.
We are assured by a friend who is personally
cognizant of what he states, that the following
piquant correspondence is genuine. A gentleman
whose business calls him a good deal from home,
is accustomed to give the custody of his corres
pondence to his wife, an intelligent lady, who, in
obedience to instructions, opens all letters that
come in her husband’s absence; answer such of
them as she can, like a confidential clerk, and
forwards the rest to her leige lord at such places
as he may have designated at his departure. Dur
ing a recent absence of her husband, the lady re
ceived a letter, of which the following (omitting
names, dates, and places,) is a true copy :
“My Dear Sir: I saw a fine picture of you yes
terday and fell in love w’lth it, as I did with the
original in W last winter, when I saw you
more than an hour, though I suppose you did
not see me among so many. I fear you will think
me forward in thus addressing you: but I trust
you are as noble and unsuspecting as you are
handsome and brilliant. Perhaps you would like
to know something about me—your ardent admi
rer ! Well, I am not very good at description,
but I will say I am not married, (though you are,
lam told.) My friends tell me I have not a pret
ty face, but only a good figure. lam rather petite,
have black eyes, black hair, and dark complex
tion—that is, lam a ‘brunette.’ lam stopping
for a few weeks with my brother-in-law and sister
in this town and I dearly wish you would meet
me there before I return to W . At any rate
do not fail to write me at least a few words to tell
me whether I shall ever see you again, and know
you more intimately. Forgive my boldness, and
believe me,
Your friend, - —.
To this letter the wife, who, by the by, has not
the least knowledge of the person to whom she
was writing, made the following answer:
“Mademoiselle : Your letter of the inst.,
addressed to Mr.—, was duly received. Mr.—,
who is my husband, directed me, when he left
home some days ago, to open all his letters, and
to answer any of them that I conveniently could.
As you sewned to be rather impatient, I will an
swer your letter myself. Ido not think your de
scription of yourself will please Mr.—. I hap
pen to know that he dislikes black eyes, and hates
brunettes most decidedly. It is quite true (asyou
seem to suppose) that he judges of women as he
does of horses; but 1 do not think you* inventory
of your ‘point’ is complete enough to be satisfac
tory to him. You omit to mention your height,
weight, wind, speed, and [here the word is illegi
ble. I Taking your charms at your own estimate,
I doubt whether they will prove sufficiently at
tractive to draw him so far as B merely for
the satisfaction of comparing them with the sched
ule. You say you trust ihy husband is ‘unsuspec
ting.’ I think that is his naturq,*but yet he is
used to drawing inferences, which Are sometimes
as unkind as suspicious. You say you are un
married. My advice to you is that you marry
somebody soon as possible. In most cases I would
not recommend haste; but in yours I’am convin
ced there is truth in the proverb which speaks of
the danger of delay. Should you be so fortunate
as to get a husband (which may God mercifuly
grant!) my Opinion is that you will consider any
woman, who would write him such a letter as
this of yours, impertinent, and perhaps, immodest.
“ I will deliver your note to Mr.— when he
returns, and also a copy of my reply, which I am
sure he will approve. I am, with much respect
as you permit, deMoT"’
FARMER’S COLUMI
CI?niERCIAL.
SAVANNAH, Jan. 26.— Cotton.—' The markH
to-day. Sales amounted to 698 bales, as
84 : lat 8£ ; 3at 9; 41 at 9* ; 38 at 93 ; 76 M
1-16 ; 47 at 101; 172 at log ; 504 at 104 c.
AUGUSTA, Jan.'i 27. — Cotton. —There wasH
active inquiry to-day, and prices well
quote for Good Middling to Middling Fair 93@H
lots of all fair and choice would command
lOfc.
Augusta Prices Curreut.
WHOLESALE PRICES.
BACON.—Hams, V > 13 M
Canvassed Haims, lb 16 (Wm
Shoulders, lb (H
Western Sides, lb 11
Clear Sides, Tenn., lb 00 (^1
Ribbed Sides, lb 14
Hog Round, new, -v lb 14 (<■
FLOUR.—Country bbl 525
Tennessee bbl 562 (cH
City Mills f* bbl 575 qM
Etowah 39 bbl 600
Den mead’s 39 bbl 600
Extra 39 bbl 700 (■
GRAIN.—Corn in sack 39 bush 55
Wheat, white 39 bush 1 15
Red 39 lb
Oats 3& busl^^l
Rye
Peas
Corn Meal
IRON.—Swedes
English, Coinnuu^M
(H
LARD.— qd tb li (S
MOLASSES.—Cuba 39 gal 28 (|H
St. Croix 39 gal 50
Sugar House Syrup 39 gal 45 (liH
Chinese Syrup ‘{9 gal 40 &H
SUGARS.—N. Orleans 39 tt>
Porto Rico 39 lb 8 (gH
Muscovado 39 lb 9 <gH
Refined C 11 11 *
Refined B 39 lb 11
Refined A tb 114 (all
Powdered 39 lb 12 (S)H
Crushed 39 lb 12
SALT.— 39 sack 100 (?■
COFFEE.—Rio 39 1b 114 ($1
Laguira 19 tb 13 @ I
Java 39 lb 16 (cy
A Remedy for Thumps in Hogs.
Dr. Cloud —Dear Sir: I see in the August ntH
her of the Planter and Soil, a communicatH
from W. Huddleston of Mobile, asking if thH
is any remedy for thumps'in hogs ; to which, wH
your permission, I would say that 1 think thH
is. I have been farming and raising Hogs oiH
small scale for a number of years, and have iH
quently had cases of thumps among my hogsH
My remedy is to tar the corn that they eat, whiH
I have never known fail to effect a cure if tH
en in time. My manner of preparing the foodH
simply to have a bucket of tar at my feediH
ground, taring each ear of corn as I throw it ■
them. If this plan is commenced soon after ChriH
mas and continued one or two months, my exyfl
rience is that few if any hogs would have thum w
If you think the above worthy of notice, you cH
insert it in your next number.
Respectfully yours,
R. C. Murphy. I
New Hanover County, N. C„ 1857’
. ’—Cotton Planter and <S<H
Chinese Sheep. —A curious and very proliH
breed of sheep has recently been introduced H
this country. Mr. Smith, their late owner, sayl
Three years since, three ewes from NankiH
from which I obtained in 20 months, 72 sheep.B
One ewe in the flock, produced 12 lambs in ■
months—three, four, andfiveat a birth, and thH
commenced breeding at four-and-a-half montlß
old. This breed are perfectly hardy, having eil
dured the past severe winter, on my island, witfl
out any shelter, producing lambs constantly
which bore the cold as well as the old sheep, an!
matured rapidly. They will not jump fences el
ther stone or wood. The flock were separate!
last season from a rye-field, by a cobble stonl
wall, two-and-a-half feet high, over which the!
never attempt to pass, nor can they be drivel
over any description of fence. The fibre of theil
wool is exceedingly strong, and the fleece heavy
The mutton cannot possibly be surpassed, as it if
entirely free from the strong flavor usual to sheep
and is tender, juicy and delicious. The tails art
broad, and when properly prepared, much re
semble marrow, and form a delightful morsel foi
the epicure.
Eggs for Winter.— Bennet’s Poulterers’ Com
panion says: “Fowls require in winter comforta
ble lodgings, clean, plenty of food, pure water,
gravel, lime, fine sand, and ashes to roll in.—
There are two seasons of the year when hens lay,
early in the spring and afterward in the summer.
Spring hatched birds, if kept warm, and fed well,
will commence laying about Christmas, or earlier
perhaps, but in cold damp weather this may not
be expected, or the condition of the fowl may pre
vent her doing so. It is well known that from
November to February, the very time eggs are
most wanted, hens are a bill of expense, and with
no profit resulting. To promote the laying pro
pensity, the fecundity in the hen, she must be
fed with grain, warm boiled potatoes, and more
or less animal food. From August to November
is the moulting period, and a critical one for all
fowls; but little disposition is shown to lay, at
this season, with the majority of birds ; the nu
trition of the body is wasted and the egg cannot
grow. Pullets do not moult the first ytar, and
they commence laying before the older hens,
| and by attending to the period of hatching eggs
may be produced during the year. An early
brood of chickens, carefully secluded from cold
and wet, and fed once a day on warm boiled po
tatoes, with plenty of grain, and occasionally a
little animal food, may be expected to lay in the
fall, or early in the winter.
Coffee and Sugar.— The following statistics of the
production and consumption of coffee and sugar
are interesting: Brazil produces 320,000,000 pounds
of coffee annually, being more than one entire
half that is grown in the world. Java produces
120,000,000 pounds, Ceylon 50,000,000, San Do
mingo 35,000,000, Costa Rica 9,000,000, Monclia
5,000,000 ; and the British West Indies 5,000,000.
Os the 2,800,000,000 pounds of sugar produced in
1856, Brazil furnished 200,000,000 pounds, Cuba
800,000,000, British West Indies 350,000,000, and
Louisana and other Gulf States 250,000,000. 34,-
000,000 pounds of maple sugar are made in the
northern States in a year, and France, Belgium
Germany, Austria and Russia make about 340,-
000,000 of beet sugar in a year. In consumption,
Great Britain requires annually, for her coffee, tea
and sweetmeats, about 836,000,000 pounds, and
the United States demands some 760,000,000
pounds.
New Cotton Press. —On yesterday, Dr. Randall
of Burnsville, placed in our office the model of a
Cotton Press, which has been examined by a num
ber of cotton planters, all of whom pronounce it
the very thing. We are not sufficiently acquain
ted with mechanical technicalities to go into a
minute description, bat we believe we are a suffi
cient judge of the process of packing cotton to
know whether or not this process is right, and
we have no hesitancy in saying that it combines
cheapness, durability and simplicity, which are
sufficient to render it a press worthy of considera
tion. The proof of “a pudding,” we have always
heard it said, “was in chewing the bag.” Dr.
Randall has packed his last crop upon a press
constructed after this model, and the bales he has
sent to this market, we are informed, were the
heaviest received at any one of our cotton ware
houses this season. The doctor intends forward
ing the model to Washington for the purpose of
securing a patent. We have not a doubt, but in
ten years tune this press will be generally used
by the cotton planters.— Selma {Ala.) Sentinel.
To cure scratches on a horse, wash the legs
with warm soapuds, and then beef brine. Two
applications will cure in the worst case.
Care of Bees.—Bees should be examined once
a week all winter, to see if all is right. This is
much easier than to attend to pigs, sheep and
cattle three times a day, which no good former
complains of. What is termed luck with bees is
another name for careful and skilful manage
ment.
Have vou a choice Grape Cutting that you want
to Grow ?—Then go to the woods, dig some roots
of a wild grape vine, cut them into pieces of about
six inches long, cut your choice grape vine or cut
ting into pieces of only one, or at most, two buds;
insert the lower end by the common cleft graft
ing method, into the piece of the wild vine root;
plant it in the earth, leaving the budof the cut-