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About Weekly constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 185?-1877 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 1871)
®lje tUcchlii Constitutionalist BY STOCKTON & CO.- Another Jiew Poet. (Caiifornia la proliße of authors. Anew wh ° ? Dder O'® name of Joaquin Miller, and halls from the Golden State, has jost made his debut In literature through a publishing house In London. “ Songs of the Sierras ’* is the title of his book, which has at tracted much attention In literary elreles, and the following extracts from two poems in the volume Show the style of the writer:J wiitnu. “ Behold the clouds,” Winnema said, “ All purple withtheblood Os day : The night has conquered in the fray. The shadows Uyeutid is dead.” She turned to Shasta gracefully, Around whose hoar and mighty head Still roll’d a sea of golden red, While troops of clouds a space below Were drifting wearily and slow, As seeking shelter for the night, * Idke weary sea-birds in their flight; Then curved her white arm gracefully Above her brow, and bow’d her knee, And chanted in an unknown tOugue Words sweeter than were ever snng. “And what means this?” I geHtly said; “I spoke to God, the YopHome, The King, on yonder snowy throne,” She soitly said, with drooping bead; “ I bow’d to God. Be heard me speak; - I felt Bis firm breath on my cheek ; He heard me my desires tell, . And He is good, and all is well.” The dappled and the dimple skies, The sweet stars and the tinted moon, All smiled as sweet as the sun at noon. Her eyes were like the rabbit’s eyes, Her mien, her manner, just as mild. And though a savagawar-ehiel’s child, She would not harm the lowliest worm ; And thongh her beaded foot was firm, And thongh her airy foot was true. She would not crush a drop of dew. Her love was deeper than the sea, And stronger than the tidal rise, And clnng In all Us strength to me. A face like hers is never seen This side the gates of Paradise, Save In some oriental dream. And then none ever sees ittwiee— Is seen bat ooce, and seen no more, Seen bnt to tempt the sceptic son], And show a sample of the whole That heaven has in store, A RIDE THROUGH A TROPICAL FOREST. The trees shook high overhead, And bow’d and intertwined across. The narrow way, while leaves and nioss And luscious fruit, gold-hned and red, Through the coo! canopy of green, Let not one snnabatt shoot between. Birds hung and swung, green-robed and red, Or drooped in curved lines dreamily, Rainbows reversed, from tree to tree, Or sang low-hanging overhead— Sang low, as if they sang and slept, Sang taint, like some far waterfall, And took no notes of ns at all, • ' Though ripe nuts crushed at every Etep. How ran the monkeys through the leaves 1 How rush’d they through, brown-clad and bine, Like shuttles hurried through and through The threads a hasty weaver weaves ! How quick they cast uj fruits of gold, Then loosened hand and all foo: hold, And bong limp, limber, 4s If dead, Hung low and listless overhead; And all the time, with half-opened eyes Bent full on ns in mate surprise, Look’d wisely too, as wise hens do. That watch you with the head askew. The long days through from blossomed trees There came the sweet sODg of sweet bees, : With chorus-tones of cockatoo, That slid his beak along the bow, And walk’d and talk’d and hung and swnng, In crown of gold and coat of bine, The wisest fool that ever snng, Or hud a crown or held a tongue. I Shall Not Forget. 1 shall not forget you. The years may he ten der, But vain are their efforts to soften my smart; And the strong hands of Time are too feeble and slender To garland the grave that is made in my heart. Your image is ever about me—before me, Yonr voiee floats abroad on the voice of the wind; And the spell of your presence, in absence, is o’er me, And the dead of the past, in the present I And. I cannot forget yon. The one boon ungiven, The boon of yonr love, is the cross that 1 bear. In Ihe mid night of sorrow I vainly have striven To crush in my, heart the sweet image hid there; To banish the beautiful dreams that are throng ing The hails apt lay marnory— dreams worse ...gr '1 tosh ghln-plqopq 9i4 jo t vii.ojfd bi« i For the one drop withheld; I am thirsting and loiglng, . <• -Jv . y... • 71- -J, For the one joy denied me, I am weeping in : . upPain -1 wqtffd tot forget you. -F liyc-to remember The beautiful hopes that bloomed bnt to ! .' v Uw#fT' -’so .aoltou cm ejnvtsr' And brighter than June glow* the bleakest t'muß ftofriiriiwi -<mq s'uxat s.’idw e ior, , When peopled with ghosts of the dreams * flßsaed ew.tv. .-.a.,| Once loving you truly, I love you forpyer; I mourn not m weak ldle grfel fdr the past! But the love In tty bosomfeau hgver.bb, nevdr, Pass out, or another pass In, first or last. •: - s» y'Mi'> .At HU i HW j Shut the haer Softly. Shut the door softly, mother 1 * asleep. Her fever la broken, her slumber is deep. Look In her pate fees an* see there no pain— Darling, be thankful, we’ve mother again. Shut the door softly, andepme to,her side, What should we do If our mother had died! She who has loved ns our weary live- through j Shut t’ S door softly, and do na 1 do. Shut the door softly, and kneel »tt me here. To Him who has spared ns Opr’edm mother dear; Who is given her back to our arms ones again. Borne her through danger and softregad her pain. ,* 0 \ , ,v' ;i sk ; Waking to life like the budding of flowert ? Let na lose all tirtin* fh*t flying lift, , Sister aadhrotlut*, and husband and wife, Now we shall love yon a thousand times more, Welcome dear heart from the shadowy land-; Shut the door softly, and Uaa her dear band. [COMMUNICATED. ] Augusta, Ga., August 10,1871. Editor s Constitutionalist: Gentlemen: Borne weeks ago, moved by a glowing description of the scenery in Upper Georgia, a party" of twelve ladles and gentlemen, myself among the numtthr,, resolved to try a regular camping expedi tion to the falls. After the usual bustle of preparation— packing away cooking utensils, filling camp-chests, &c.—our party took the train on the Georgia Railroad for Athens, at which point we arrived about 4 o’clock, p. m., finding our vehicles awaiting us at the ‘ depot. We traveled fourteen miles, via Harmony Grove, on the On—svllle road, thlsevenlng. Continuing our ridp for two days, passing throngh Clarksville, the county seat of Habersham, averaging some thirty miles per day, we arrived In some four miles of Tallulah Falls on Satur day evening, when we pitched our second camp convenient to a stream, which afford ed us a bountiful supply of what we most needed.’ Traveling in open hacks over these dfisty, rocky roads for a whole day at a time gave us a more thorough appre ciation of our water privileges than we had ever known before. Early on Sunday morning we moved on in the direction of the falls, and arrived there after a three hoars’ ride over a most fearfully rough and worn-out road, in that-break-neck, shaky nondescript which they oall up here a “ hack.” The country tn this portion of Georgia seems.to be so thinly and poorly settled, on account of Its great distance frotn the rail road, that the roads are rarely if ever mended, and we noted It down as one of the Idiosyncrasies of the inhabitants that they always preferred going crat of the way a hundred yards to cutting trough or re moving a log, however small, which may hayg fallen across the road. The nearest dwelling is two miles from the falls, and but two or three on the road after arriving within six miles of them. Formerly there stood a house on the brow of the hill, about a quarter of a mile from the falls, but it was bnrned down some time ago, and has never been rebuilt. We pitched orir tents at Camp Tallulah, but a few steps from the precipice, under the shadow of tall chestnuts. After hastily arranging our camp, we left It in charge o's the drivers, and, scattering about in twos and threes, proceeded to explore the paths leading in several ways toward the sound which we heard arising from the immense chasm, whieh we could not see, because of the thick growth of trees and underbrush on its verge. Following the path which seemed to lead toward the muffled roar which I heard, I soon found myself rap idly descending by a precipitous path way. and was In constant danger 'Of being brought up standing by some unexpected collision. After a descent of about three hundred feet in thte manner, I found two of our party sitting upon a large boulder of granite, enjoying the graad scene spread before them. Just here the chasm de scends almost perpendicularly to the brow of the third fall, called “Oceana.” From this point we had a fine view of the chasm Itself and many of the most promi nent points of Interest. We were Just half of the distance from the top of the preci pice to the brow of the third fall. To our left, but a short distance up the stream, we saw the “Tempesta” like a column of froth dashing its waters into fine spray in lis grand leap of eighty feet clear. Above, partially hidden by the jutting cliff on the side opposite to that on which we stood, cOuld be seen the fall of “ Ladore”—height sixty feet—and by catching firm hold of a little tree we could see “ Oceana,” in all Its beauty, at our feet. This last is of the same height as “ Ladore,” but is broader and, I think, far more beautiful. To the right the chasm broadens out into a large semi-ctrcle, and looking across this, bnt on onr side of the chasm, we saw the " Devil’s Pulpit,” a huge mass of rock hanging over the chasm at a distance of 600 feet from the bottom. From our position we could see that the cliff leaned outward and over the stream in this place, and had at that point no vestige of growth, bnt was a gigantic wall of granite. Those of my party whom I had found here «aid that the path ended; so, after taking in eagerly the grandeur ahd magnificence of the scene, until we found that We could have no more time to spare, we turned our faces resolutely from it, and, after much toiling, saw, when half way to the top, a path lead ing in another direction. Hoping to find others of onr party; we followed It,’and discovered that it ended, after going ab ut fifty feet along the side of the precipice, in a beautiful little dell, and here we found a most fairy-tike scene. Secluded hi this little spot, and as if solely for the refreshment of weary tonrlsts, was a little -spring of clear, cold water. It had an opening about a foot In diameter whieh disclosed it to hs, but, stooping down, we f Saw quite a little cavity, with the water trickling down the roekft td kettle In a pool lost large and’deep enough to admit ofonr dipping it out With a cup, whence it pasfeed-off underground. Returning to the path, we met three of the Unites of dur party, sod were informed by them that the path ahi hot end wloreWe supposed 1f did, lor they-had been to the water’s edge. We returned to camp and.found the rest of th party- awaiting 6t£r arrival, they having gone bit a little w*y.' -After dinner, Mr BhlrieV, Who lives at the house we passed two miles from the fills, and who acts as guide, came to camp, and under his direc tion the whole party descended, passing the place wherfe we had stopped in the morning. We fousdtbat we had to clam ber down the face of the bare took. Cling ing to whatever presented itself ns to, roots, trees, or prominent portions of the troek. The path here s’ ruck off atT right angles, passing under a huge slab as b. rge as the side of a good Bleed cabin, which seemed to have fallen from the non ofthe cliff above at souse remote period, mod barely canght »y If# lower edge bn the little ledge along which it Mils. After creep ing through ’his narrow passage we again descended and Went bank in an op posite direction. In F this way, following the zig-zag path, we reached the bottom, aster rest logon, the broad ledge of rock bordering the stream,’ in the cooling shade Os- 'if fcavern we pat contemplating the scene. At this point the stream is nar rowed by the foffesrtfbn of its rockV bed, force toward the brow Os the fell. where it leaps off, and, dashing upon a table like formation of rock, 1a partially broken, and AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MINING, AUGUST 23. 1871. for the rest of the distance is a snowy cloud of spray and foam. ■ Lying out upon a large masss of rock, Overhanging the fall itself, one can spend hoars of pleasing reverie, watching the leaping waters form figures and shapes ever crowding, pushing and jostling each other onward tn the wild dance, until, hurrying ’downward, they are lost In the clond of spray. From this point, I think, is the best view to be had looking upward. The chasm Is about a hundred feet wide at the bottom, but the sides, rapidly di verging as they approach the top, attain a width of six or seven hundred feet. Above, on the summit of the opposite cliff, clearly defined against the sky, is the “ Student’s Rostrnm,” a grotesque pile of rock, com posed of several layers of flat pieces, stand ing out on the very verge of the cliff, where it is almost perpendicular. Being a little lower down than the fall, the base of the cliff is washed by the descending avalanche of Waters. I wished very much to have ob tained some views from the other side of the chasm, but there was’fcb way of doing so without making its entire circnit.— “Tempesta” cannot be reached from ihis point, as the path really comes to an end here, but it can bes. en in all Its beauty better from this point, I think, than any other. The only wav by which it can be approached leads to the brow of the fall, and no view can be had at all from the foot. The cool breeze Is most refresh ing here, and, after leaving our ther mometers np in the nineties at home, we were disposed to make the most of our opportunity and enjoy, not only the grandeur of the scenery, bnt also the luxury of the cold temperature. The guide admonished ns, however, that it was time to return, and we began again the lifting, clambering and pulling necessary to arrive at the point from which we started. While sitting at the fall we told our guide that three of our ladies had made the trip that morning! He seemed touch surprised and thought they “ must have real grit.” Before making onr afternoon descent, the party went to the “Devil’s Pulpit” for the purpose of getting a good view from above. We found this decidedly the most awe Inspiring, commanding andfextensive view. The mass of granite projecting out from the precipice which bears this name is not the highest point on this side, but from its situation jutting ont so far from the face of the cliff, It occupies a most prominent place. We had to descend about a hundred feet, down an almost perpendicular path, before arriving on the Pulpit, and there sat for some time in silent awe, gazing out on the views before os. Well might the Indians have called it “ Tallulah,” The Terrible.— We were standing upon a point which seemed to overhang the gulf below so much that the stream appeared almost hidden by the precipice on which We stoid ; yet when one of the gentlemen of our party attempted to throw a stone so as to fall across the narrow little rivulet winding its way 600 feet below ns, it was with the greatest difficulty that, after repeated efforts, he succeeded in making it reach the water at all. The chasm here is over a thousand feet in width, yet It appears, by reason of its great depth, to be less than half that distance. Before us we saw the brownish, hued granite cliffs arising from the opposite side to an almost perpendicu lar height of 1,000 feet, and then receding with a more gradual rise, like that of the mountains surrounding them. The faces of these cliffs have but little growth upon them; bnt where the rise is more gradual the hill side is hidden with a heavy growth of trees. Hoticing a dark line of green distinctly marked on the tops of the trees covering the upper portion of the cliff opposite, we traced its course until it reached the preci pice, and there we saw a tiny streamlet glancing in and out among its projecting points like a thread of silver until it was lost in the great abyss below.— Here, also, we saw the “He-mit’s Cave,” a formation of. rock on the opposite side of the chasm, resembling, from a front point of view, one of those tombs in the rock, described by travelers in the East. A long perpendicular opening appears in the centre, and our guide said that it was capable of containing several persons at once. Out of a crevice in the Pulpit grows a smal pine sapling almost on the extreme verge. Catching hold of this and leaning cautiously over, we see the wildest of scenes spread before us. “ Oceana ” pre ssnts from here its best and fullest view, while farther up the chasm we see por tions of the oth r falls. Below us is this immense abyss, with huge mosses of rock lying in grand confusion, where the action of water or some great convulsion of nature has hurled them. The stream flows Into an immense pool, Its green depths seeming, from our great height, to be perfectly calm. Narrowing again, the strenm follows Its winding eourse- down the chasm, which gradually grows less in depth as the cliffs become lower and less abrupt, and we lose sight of it about a mile below, where the chasm makes a turn. Three or four miles below it joins the Chatnga, forming the Tngata, which is the headwater of the Sa vannah. Leaving the Devil’s Pulpit, we followed the path running along the verge of the' precipice until we reached a flat rock which projects over the chasm about a hundred yards from the Pulpit, and, grasping each other’s hands, we went down two at a time, took one look over and came away. This point is much more precarious than the Devil’s Pulpit, as It is perfectly bare and smooth- The chasm Jiere is between seven and eight hundred Tee* in depth. Retaining to the tents, we rested the balance ofthe svenlDg, enjoying our camp life highly. Next morning, under the guidance of Mr. Shirley, we again started off, this time taking the path leading np the chasm to “Tempesta,” which we reached after some tough scrambling. This is called the “Nee dle’s Eye” descent, because at one point the path lends through so harrow a pas sage that, one has to lie dowa and be shoved through, the operation somewhat resembling that of thread!n* a needle Those persons inclined to be norpnlsnt stop here. We,ail went throngh. As I mentioned before, “Tempesta.” can only be seen from abpve, and clambering along the face of the Cliff overlooking the fell.- each took a view in turn, clinging to a small tree eatwenieotiv growing just beyuud the Brow of the fell, and leaning outwardly over the gulf into which the fail descends,s j,:..1q lisAr wed Here we are, in the upper end of the chasm, and it is of much less depth than below. Lying n short distance from the foot of the fell is an immense fragment of rock. aSiNesriy as I could judge, measuring fifty by twenty-five feet, which has undoubt edly, fro® its position, been broken off and carried to its place by the action of the water alone. Our gnide told ns that In the winter, after arftfey season, the immense quantity of water flowing down from the surround ing mountains and hills, together with' the melting of the snow, swells the stream so much that where the cflasm narrows above each fell, the water rises in its narrow bed twenty and thirty feet above its present level, and the water carried over the falls is so greayhat the earth ■ trembles for a great distance around. Above J,he “Tempesta” fall, between it and the “ Katlore,” the stream forms deep pools, in one. djf which, I believe, a min ister was drawn under by the whirlpool while batlilrig, drowned and carried over the fail. ilEfore taking a look at the place; some of oup party had spoken of taking a swim after the rest had passed on; but, after throwing a branch or two from neigh boring trees into the upper pool, and watching them sink into the whirlpool as they entered the lower basin, we concluded that we woald’nt bathe. Ascending the cliff again for a short dis tance, we foatid the path led up the side of "Ladore," which descends, not like the other two, in a clear leap, but in a series of falls and rapids, until the pools below are reached- The entire chasm and bed of the stream is solid rock. Whether this immense gulf was caused by a disruption of nature, or by the incessant action oi the water, is a question for geologists. That the ac tion of the water has been a most powerful agent is self-evident, from the fact .thatjye could distinctly trace where the bed Cff tfie stream had once been ten or fifteen feet above Its present level. We fonod many points of interest and many beautiful scenes for the artist’s pencil, while following up the rapids. The homeward route was much shorter and less difficult than the pajh by which we made the de scent, and we reached onr tent in aboat fifteen mlnbtes after leaving the rapids.— This descent occupied three hours, and we could hardly credit the guide when he told ns that [the actual distance traveled was only three quarters of a mile. The only ac cident to our party of twelve was the dis turbance of a nest of hornets by the advance gnard while clambering along the side of the precipice between the falls, and the stinging sustained by some of them in con sequence of it. In the Afternoon we went back in the direction from which we had approach ed the Calls, and, ascending to the summit high hill, saw the “ Ocean View.” s*Antlf>>L ..stretch of country. From the on which we stood the hill tops for miles upon miles presented the regular appearance of the waves of the ocean when slightly disturbed by a breeze. Our party felt fully’rewarded for the efforts made in reaching the point whence this view is had. Far away in the distance, some fifteen miles, the “Kurrahee” moun tain stands out alone, separated entirely from the ridge to which it belongs. After standing lor some time enjoying this singnlaiiy beantifut view, the guide called our itnention to the “ Bridal Veil,” a mist rising ont of the valley in a pearly cloud, gradually increasing in volume and then gracefitoy floating along the top of the hills which form the “Ocean View,” still retaining its beautifnl appearance. Onr gnide informed us, to our surprise, that there was no stream or body of water in jjs vicinity. Returning to the camp, we had another fine view of the mountains back of Tallulah ; and to us low country folk it had special charms. Next morning we struck camp and left Tallulah, feeling not disappointed, as onr friends had prophesied, but that the half had not been told us. “ Sandy.” [Frcin the New York Herald, July 29. An India Rubber Raft. Capt. Mellcs’ Proposed Sail Across tlie Atlantic. In this age of wondrous discoveries and startling wonders we have each day some new announcement made which startles the world and Is soon forgotten. Yachts crossed the ocean In safety, then two di minutive Ltlipntian vessels—the Red, White and —Bine, and the City of Ragnsa mad? several trips from the Dew world to the old; and, finally, emulated by their dar ing, Capt. John Melks Sailed to Southamp ton from these shores, with a crew of two men, on a raft, in 1867, making the passage in forty-three days and some hours. The raft upon which the adventurous journey was made was known as the “ Mon itor Raft Nonpraeil,” It being devisd as a life-saving apparatus. It was composed of three inflated rubber tnbes, encased in heavy duck cylinders, of the strongest materials, connected together by heavy duck flanges. On top and across these cylinders were placed a series of “ thwarts or planks,” lashed at each end, and between each cylinder by means of ropes; these thwarts answering the double purpose of stretchers to keep the cylinders apart and seats for the men. Across these at each end, lengthwise of the raft,’were- fastened, by means of rope lashing, stringer pieces of timber, bolted at : either end to the thwarts, and answering tar gunwale, or for attach ing row-locks whea they desired to use oars. These stringer pieces were so arranged that they could be unlashed and swung around in cast they wished to. take the raft apart. At one end of each of the inflated tabes there was an air hole or nozzle into which air was pumped from a Hellows; when In flated the.raft measured twenty-five feet io length and thirteen feet ia width ; on tbs top they had a canvas tent pitched, and they treed two masts. When Capt.. Melks reached the other aide, his journey was tie universal topic of coo versa t ion, and from prominent yachting men over there he was the recipient of numerous attentions and dinners. A section in the Crystal PaHtce was obtained for Mm, and hisraft exhibit ed, and .’crowds flocked tb see It. The tnOeey obta!ned from the visitors, amount dog to son® £IOO or £SOO, was presented to the captain. Int io ie»y an Emboldened bjrtthe-suecess of his first :effort, the captain,-who is desertbWlAy'his friends S* a fine seaman «nd a pinch v, id domltablc man, is again aboat to undertake another trip across tbe tempestuous Atlaa tlc—this .time on a raft of three cylinders, 16 inches in diameter. When la the Water it will measure 16 feet In length, and feet In, width. He will have one mast and thtoUalls, a jib, log and gafftop sail; he will cary provisions for sixty days, and will be accompanied by one man, and will sail from here sometime daring the coming month. The Nonpareil made 180 miles in 24 hours during the - trip In 1867, and It Is believed this new one will make better time. It can be brought alongside a heavy sea without bilgiEg. When on the last trip, the raft anchored off the coast during a severe storm and remained stationary, although large vessels dragged their anchors. This new raft will carry a patent anchor or drag of the same pattern then used. It is simi lar in Its workings to a log bag. A canvas bag, to which along line is attached, is kept open by an Iron hoop to which it is sewed. This, being thrown from the raft, fills with water and holds the cralt perfectly steady. Some years ago a superintendent of one of the rubber factories in this city invented a rubber raft somewhat similar. It was quite extensively used on the vessels in the navy, but It possessed some radical defects which prevented its adoption. A nephew of theioventor remedied these defects and obtained a patent in 1864 from the Govern ment. A company was formed called the “ Life-Saving Raft Company,” who bought the patent from Mr. Perry, and It was for them Capt. John Melks made his seemingly perilous journey. The raft to be used on his coming trip, as was the first one, will be manufactured by the “Combination RnbberCompany” of this city, under the personal supervision of Mr. Edward L. Perry, the patentee. The success of the captain’s trip fully demostrated the seagoing qualities ofthe raft, and numerous experiments made by naval and merchant officers showed the facility with which it could be filled and launched (in from six to eight minutes) the weight it would sustain (in one Instance fifty-five men, weight 145 pounds each— -7,975 poundg„altogether—and with this weight bnt half the diameter was submerg ed ; also how readily a number of people conld be landed on the shore through the surf, none of the passengers getting wet. A Mississippi Romance. A Reminiscence of Aron Bnrr. Notaßbne (Col.Jno. F. H. Claiborne,) contributes to the Natchez Democrat tbe following romance ofthe early days of Mis sissippi, a romance in which the eloquent, accomplished and fascinating Aaron Burr played a conspicuous part: The arrest ot Aaron Bnrr, at the mouth of Cole’s creek, by order of Cowles Mead, ac ting Governor ot Mississippi Territory, and his arraignment in the old town of Wash ington on the charge of treason, the self possession, ability and tact he exhibited— and me favorable impression he made aa: the community—are all well remembered historical incidents. He was discharged on giving bond for his appearance, and his principal bondsman was Benijah Os mun, a native of New Jersey, and the comrade of Bnrr in the revolutionary war. He was an old bachelor, of handsome for tune, a high toned Federalist in politics, retained his military habits, and was held in great esteem. Col. Osmun was one of the most practical and successful planters in the Territory—was the first who com menced to improve onr breed of horses— and was renowned for his table and his wines. His beautifnl estate extended to the Half Way Hill. His lands on his death were purchased by the late Gera-d Bran don, and were given to his sons-ln-law. Col. Jas. Smith and Wm. Stanton, two of onr most valuable citizens, now deceased. Here Col. Burr resided some weeks after his discharge, receiving the visits of in fluential sympathizers, out passing his af ternoons in the woods. The Halt Way Hill, then clothed with majestic trees, was his favorite resort But- its refreshing shade and charming prospect were pot the only attraction. There lived, at that time, near the summit of tbe hill,-in a little vine : covered cottage, a widow lady from Vir ginia, whose small farm and two or three slaves were the only remains ot a large for tune. Her husband had converted his Droperty into money, and on his way to this Territory had been robbed and mur dered by the notorious Joseph Thompson Hare, a more blood-thirsty villain even than the celebrated Mason. She had but one child, Madeline, Who must still be re membered by a few of onr older citizens as anrracteof heanty Inform and feature, in,grace and modesty, she was all that the old masters have pictured of the divine Madonna, or that artist ever dreamed of human loveliness. Those that saw her loved her, yet she was never conscious of the sentiment nmll she listened to Aaron Burr. The family were Catholics, and there Col. Bnrr went to meet, by appoint ment, one of his numerous agents and cor respondents, the Abbe Viel, a Jesuit Priest of remarkable ability. He was born in New Orleans in- 1786, studied at Paris, and became a rmember of the Congregation of the Oratory. At tbe dissolution of that body by the French Government, he re turned to Louisiana, and exercised the priestly function In the parish of Attacka pas. He subsequently returned to France. It Is probable that 00l Bnrr, in his pro jected Invasion of Mexico, contemplated securing the influence of tbe religions or ders, and for this purpose bad opened a correspondence with the Abbe, and met him by-appointment at this secluded place. ft . 'ft. * «- •• * *• * At length after canvassing his situation with-CoU 1 Osmun *Rd six other cooflden tial friends, Col. Bnrr determined to for feit hte- bond and make Ms wav to Peo-a-- cola. One stormy night to February, 1807, he set forth, mounted on the favorite horse of his host, and attei ded by Jerry, a faith ful groom. who had orders to go as far as Pearl liver. Urgt ut as the necessity for expedition,' Goi. Barr halted'till daylight at the widow’s cottage, pleading With tbe beautiful Madeline to be the companion of his flight. He promised marriage, fortune, high position, and even hinted at imperial honors, T a*»t*e*!lxilng, even then, a fugitive , and branded traitor, the crashing dorm fell that impended over Him. The midden bad. glvenlhim her heart; she bad list ened to his wttofcery night after night, add lbvSd him with all toe fervor of her Southern nature: She would have followed him to the etid Os the earth, and to the scaffold, ahd her aged mother would freely have drived her to this most captivating man—-for they teok&B An, blni as a deurt-god—bnf as with- most of our Southern women, virtue and propriety were stronger than prepossession and psfo slon, and the entreaties of the accomplished libertine were firmly rejected. Baffled and disappointed he was compelled to proceed, VUE, 30—NO. 32 but promised to return, and carried with him the convenant and pledge of tbe beau tiful Madeline. She was wooed by many a lover. The yonngand gallant masters of the large plantations on Second creek and St. Catherine’s strove. In Vain for her hand. Fortunes and the homage of devoted hearts were laid at her feet; but the Maid of the Half Way Hill remained true to-her absent Ipver; the more so because of the rumors that reached her of his misfortunes and his gpilt. She lived on the' recollection of his manly beauty, and the shades he had most affected were her constant haunts. At length when he fled from the United States, pursued by Mr. Jefferson and the remorse less agents that swarm around power and authority—when he had been driven from England—and an ontcast in Paris, shiver ing with cold and starving for bread—he seems to have felt, for the first time, the utter hopelessness of his fortunes. And then he wrote to Madeline, and in a few formal words, released her from her promise.— Stating that he would never return to the United States, he advised her to enter a convent, should she survive her mother.— A year or two after this, she went to Ha vana with Mrib. W., a highly respectable lady, who then owned the property where Mrs. St. John Elliott now resides. Her ex treme beauty, her grace and elegance, pro duced the greatest enthusiasm. The hotel where they put up was besieged. If she appeared on the balcony a dozen cavaliers were waiting to salute her. When her volant was si en on the Pasto or the Platade Armas it was escorted by the Grandees of the Island. She was feted by the Governor General, serenades and balls followed in rapid succession, and the dally homage to her beauty never ceased until the evening bells sounded the Angelas. Without surrendering her heart, or being carried away by this universal admiration, she returned to the cottage on the Half Way Hill. She was followed there by Mr. K., an English gentleman, the head ofthe largest commercial house in Havana, and to him, on his second visit, she gave her hand. The vine-covered cottage, Its trelllse and borders, have crumbled into dust. The courtly lover and the innocent maiden are long since dead. Bnt the old hill still lifts its aged brow, wrinkled all over with tra ditions. A favorite lookout of the Natchez in time of war—the scene of a daring con spiracy against the Spanish authority—the rendevyous of lovers—the hiding place of brigands, and a depot for their blood-stain ed treasure—mute, but faithful witness of the past! Nota Bene. Thing* in General. A naval -offleeee who left his command on the sea to take command of a small craft in Troy was shot on the wing by a jealous lover, Wednesday night. lie will recover. The London Standard says the French iron-clad war steamers Magenta, Magna mine, and Ravanche, have been got ready for sea at Tonlon, in view of a possible com plication at the East. When Gen. Butler was asked if he would reply to a letter from the Labor Reform party In Massachusetts, he replied that he should not answer It, and added: It makes no difference whet you do at your conven tion, or who you nominate, I take yonr platform.” This is what he said In reference to property of a peculiar kind in New Or leans, “ I take yonr spoons.” Commodore Ashbury’s new yacht Livo nia, not having answered the expectations of the owners in the contests in .which she has been engaged, will remain at home instead of going to the United States to compete for the Queen’s cup, won by ths America, with the vessels of the New York Yacht Club.* The Cambria is to be refitted, and will take the place of the Livonia. So large is the grape crop of the West this season that the price obtained for .grapes when put upon the market hardly pays the cost of picking, packing and trans portation. Consignments by rail sell as low as 3 cents per pound. The grapes from the local vineyards near St. Lonis are sold to hucksters for 4-35 cents uer pound, and are retailed for 6@7 cents to purchasers. A chap ont at North Prairie, Minn., re cently became involved in a difflcuHy with about 350 pounds of bear. His wife came np, and finding them so indistlngnishably snarled up in tbeir efforts to caress one an other, thought it was a good time to try a Jittle promiscuous carving, so she rushed to the house, procured a knife, and return ing, jabbed'it among the wrestlers, and to her inconsolable horror and disappoint ment she killed—the bear. Once there was a Roman Emperor named Pertinax. When he was raised to the throne he resigned to his relatives his whole private fortune. His reason for doing this was that they might have no pretence to solicit favors at the expense of the State. Useless 8. Grant has profited by this example in Roman history, only he has turned overall the offices of the Re public to his relatives, that they may have no exense to solicit favors at the expense o! himself! A few days ago the editor of a Richmond paper received a pojite note from a lady of respectability in that city, signed by her fall name, announcing that she would, at 8 .o'clock In the evening on that day, pro ceed to take her own life by the most avail able means, and respec’fntly soliciting the pleasure of the reporter's company to wit ness toe ceremony. Punctually at the ap*| pointed boor the reporter and several in vited guests presented themselves at the residence designated, bqt owing to the In terference of friends or some other cirenm- Stebtfei the attempt was indefinitely post poned. Hot the purpose of the writer came very near being carried out. A well dyessed swindler is going around to Newbury port houses demanding to know ofthe Inmates bow many df the family have been vaccinated within five years. He takes the names ha a book he carries, and Informs the .people that the city authorities have decided" that alt residents who have not bded vaccittated Within five years must either undergo that operation or supply themselves with a preventive powder, whieh he has with him, the price of which is Twenty-five eents for a supply for each pefson:' : *'* **-* fl ‘ f rs! ! 9• A California marksman, while shooting around to his native village, succeeded to bringing dowa “ a little daughter of T. Wildman.”
