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VOL. I. PROSPECTUS OF THE Rural Cabinet, . Published in TVarrenton , Georgia , By P. L. Robinson. ” f Are not these woods More free from peril than the envious Court 8 And this our life, exempt from public hauntij. Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brook 9, Sermons in stones, aud good in every thing. Shakespeare. The Rural Cabinet, as its title irHiporta, W ill be tie voted more espe cially to the collection ami diffusion of s -ch matters an l things as may tend to edify and entertain those who •* Along the cool se<;ue*lered vale of life, “ Pursue the noiseless tenor of their way.’’ Rut even the Cit, who has not be come too mawkish from a surfeit f politics or the thousand whim whams a Cit is heir to, if lie should find noth ing to “ surprise or astonish,” per chance he may be refreshed with some of the old things whi U were wont t; amuse, delight or solace him in days gone-by. As * variety is the very spice f life,” the Cabinet will con tain a miscellany (Sfck&nlated to join boil: profit and in one, and present a condenseuricw of the im provements in Agriculture, Com merce and the Arts, together with an epitome of the signs and tidings ol the times, religions and political —and though in regard to the latter we pro fess not to be neutrals, “ In all our strictures, placid we shall be, “ As Halcyons brooding on a summer sea.” The orginal department of the Ca binet will be enriched with the con tributions of several literary gentle. who contributed to the la to C-o ----tnuibian Centinel , and others who have given assurances of ‘heir friendly countenance and support. The Rural Cabinet will be pub lished, weekly, on a medium sheer, of good quality, in the folio fr n, s > ns to make a neat volume at the cn.ii of each year. The papers of sub scribcrs in the county will be forward ed by such conveyance ns they may direct, or remain in the office until called for. The papers of distant subscribers will be forwarded, by mail, without delay, (as there arc twelve mails which arrive and depu* fro n tliis place every week,) anti-eve ry attention will be paid to render their transmission speedy and regu lar. Although the Cabinet will be issued on a sheet smaller than idle pa pers published in our cities, yet when the crowd of advertisements they, c :otain, together with the low price of the Cabinet, are taken into view, It will be cheaper than any now printed in the state. The annual subscription will be three dollars, which may he dis charg'd by two dollars and fifty cents if paid on the receipt of the first num ber. No subseriplion taken for less; th n twelve months Select Tales. I The Legend of Kxocksheogowna. (From ‘Fairy of the South of Ireland,’just published by H.C. Carey & I. Lea,) In Tipperary is one of the most singu larly shaped hills in the world. It has a peak at the top like a conical nightcap thrown carelessly over your head as you awake in the morning. On the very point is built a sort oflodge, where in the summer the lady who built it and her friends used to go on parties of pleasure; but that was long after the days of the fairies, and it is 1 believe, now deserted, j But before lodge was built, or acre sown, there was close to the head of Rtiral Cabinet. this uili a large jMstur.iga, where ■ herdsman spent his days and nights a* mong the herd. The s,iot had been an old fairy ground, and the £<> >d people were angry that the scene of their light and airy gambols should be trampled by the rude hoofs f hulls ;nd ooag. The lowing of the cattle sound and sad io their ears, and the chief of the fairies of the hill determined in person to drive away the new corners, and the wav she though’ of was this; When the harvest nigbt cameon, and !hc moon shone bright a id brilliant over thehill, and the cattle were lying down hush and and qui’t, and the herdsman, wrapt in his mantle, Was musrn? with his heart gl id denned by the glorrim company of the ‘.tar-’ twinkling to ive h>m. she would come and dance ecf >re him, — now in one shape—-now in mother, — but all ugly and fightful to behold. One time -lie would be a g -ea! hor-e, with tlm wings af an eagle, and a tail like .1 drag >n, Arising loud ml spiting (ire. flu* s to a moment she wool i chauge into a Iri tla man, lame of a log, with a bull’.- imml. and a lambent (lime playtug r*u:id and. Then into a great ape, with duck s fe t arid a turkey-cock 4 # tail But l should be all day about it were l to Ml you af the shapes she (oak. And then ?lie would roar, or neigh,or hri-*, or bellow, or howl, or hoot, as never yet M ’?.s ro tr iog, neighing, hissing, bellowing, howling, or hooting, heard in this woild b- tore o. ninci. The poor herdsman would cover his face, and call on all the saints for help, but it was no use. With o*.c puff of Imr ‘breath she would blow away the I Id u! this great coat, let him hold it never so I tightly over his eves, ami not a saint in heaven paid him the slightest atten tion. Ami to mike matters worse, he never could stir; rc\ nor even Hr. t hi j eye?, but there obliged to st y.j held by what power he knew not, go | xirig at those terrible sights U'.H ‘he hair of his Lead Would lift his hjit Mil a; ! f<o ov**r his.rowc, and his* tcvtb woh and | l*o ready to f,!! ou< from vhatt ‘ri *g. IT.d i the cattle would s campor about like mad, las if they were bitten by the fly; ‘ml thri j w ould last until the sun rose ever th’ 1 hill. | The poor cattle from want of rest wr c i pining away, and fund dal them no <*, ;od; besides, ihey met with aceiJiMifs witn ■ Cod- Never a oig!i’ pissed lhat son-? of the n did not fdi into a pit, aid get maimed, or myy be, killed. Some >v **!J turn ole into a nvr and i*e drowned; in i word, there seemed never to be an end of the acciden‘s. 11 it wT*t mule dr* matter worse, there could ret be a hords maa got to tend the cattle by n.g.u. One visit from the fury drove th stoutest hearted almost mal. The ow ner of the ground did not know whit t do. He offered loubl *, treble, quadru ple wage*, but not a mao could be found for die sake of money to go through the horror of facing the fa;ry. She rc- I priced at the successful issue of her ;r *- ject, and continued her pranks. Tb • henl gradually thinning, and no man dar mg to remain on the ground, th ■* fairies came hack in numbers, and gambolled os merrily ash’fore, quiffing dew-droo from acorns, a id spreading their teast on the heads mushrooms, Whit was to he done, the puzzled ; farmer thought in vain lie found that jhis substance was daily diminishing, iris people terrified, and his lent day coming round. It is no wonder that he (looked gloomy and walked mournfully down the road. Now in that part of the world dwelt a man of the name of Lar rv Moolahan, who played on the pipes better than any other player within fifteen parishes. \ roving dashing blade was Larry, and feared nothing. Give him plenty of lipoor and he would defy the dpvil. He wouhl face a mad bull, or fight single-handed against a fair. In one of his gloomy walks tttPfarmer met him, and on Larry‘s asking the cause of his looks, he told him misfor tunes. ‘lf that is all ails you,’said Lar ry, ‘make your mind easy. Were ther* as manv fairies on Knocksheogowna a* there are potatoe blossoms in Eliogurty, I would face them. It would be a queer Warren tori,’ May 31, 1828* , nmg, i uleed, if 1, who never was afraid of a proper man, should turn my back upon the brat of a fairy not the big ness of one's thumb.’ ‘Larry’ said the farmer,‘donot talk so bold, for you know not who is hearing you; bu‘ if you make your words good, and watch my herds i’or a week on the top of th * mountain, your hand shall be free ol my dish till the sun has burnt itself to the bigness of a farthing rushlight.’ The bargain was struck, and Larrv went to t&9 hill-top, when the moon be gan to peep over the brow. He had been regaled at the farmer’s house, and was nod with tho extract of barleycorn So ti - took bis seat on a big stone under a jjolhnv of the hill, with his back to the wind, anil pulled out his pipes. He iad not played long when the voice of th ■ flilies was heard upon the blast, like a low stieam of music. Presently they burst out into a loud laugh, and Larry Could plainly hear one say, ‘What! a n tli r man upon the fairies’ ring? Go to ’rim, queen and make him repent his rnsh ies ,’a <d they flew away* JLarry felt room pass by his face as th**y dew like .A sw nun of midges; and looking up ha-- uiy, he saw between the moon ind him a great bla* ic cat, standing on the veiy tip •f its claws, with its mouth up, and rve'ving with the voice of a water-mill Presently it swelled up towards the sky. md, turning round on its left hind-1 g, whirled till it fell to the ground, from which it started m the shape of a salmon, into a crevat round its neck, and a pair of new top boots, ‘(io on, jewel,’ said Larry,‘if you dance I’lT” p*pe;’ aud he stri k op. So she turned into this, and drat, and die other, but i-lril Larry play e<! o'*, as he wyli knew how. At la ts t e iust patience, as ladies will do whe mu do notmiod the.rscohhf g and ctmn | ;,* j d herself into a calf, milk white as th • o til Cut k, ml with eyes iii ould ias thi eof the gul l h>vc S!ic l ame ui if&riTy and fliworiig, in hopes to tltrow ; Mill • T his guard by qnictne s. nd site to w. k him some wrong. But Larr was not so deceived; for, when she can;* - i up, he, dropping Im pip**?, leaped upon !her back• Now from the top of Knockdlieogowna as von uirik wi'fjtvvard to the broad Allan && yi^Wd! see the Sharumn, queen o* a gentle course fi> mingle with th a*; wi tovviigb th • fait city of Limerick. fi this shonp under the moon, end looked beauliful from the .distant hi I Killed* .mi.- were glirling up and down on fjy; swe r current, and song of the iWrcrmfn rose gaify from the shore. Lar •y; as l said b f re, leaped upon the back of the fairy, and she, lejoicel at the o, p •rtomtv, spring from ‘he hilltop, atid h >u; ded dear, at one ju op, over the Shannon, ll wing a- it Was just ten miles from tie mountain’* base. It was d>ne hi second, and when she alighted on the distant bank, kicking up her heels, she dung Larry on the soft turf- No sooner was he (bus planted, than lie looked h°r straight niyhe face, and scratching his Ik id, critm out, ‘By my word, well done! that was not a bid leap for a calj.’ >ha Io d;e i at him for a moment, and then iflsu oetl her own -hap**. ‘L urence,’. *aid-lia‘vu are a hold fellow; wdl you come back toe way vou went?’ And that’s what i will,’ suid he, ‘if you let me.’ So changing to a calf again, again Larry got on her back, & at another bound they were again on the top of Knocksheogowna.! The fairy once more resuming her figure, addressed himt ‘You have shown so much courage, Laurence,’ said she? ‘that wh'le you keep herds on this hill you never shall be molested by me or mine. ihe day dawns, go down to the farmer, and tell hin this; and if any thing I can do mav he of service to you, ask and you shall have it.’ She vanished accordingly; and kept her word in never visiting the hill during Larry‘s life but he never troubled her with requests. He piped and drank at the farmer’s expense, and roosted in his chimney corner, occasion ally casting an eye to the flock. He died ,t last, and is buried in a green valley of pleasant Tipperary: but whether the fairies returuned to the hill \/,<.>cka sheogowna after his death b re than 1 1 can say. THE FLITCH OF BA ( ON. Most of our readers have probably heard of the ancient custom maiutainid at Dun mow, in Essex, of awarding a ditch of bacon to any wedded couple who would satisfactorily and proforma testify, that alter having lived together a year and a day in holy matrimony, they did not re- pent, n<>r had once repented themselves, of their union. This custom was ins’itu ted in or about the year 11IV, by Robert, son of Richard Fitz-Gilbert, Earle of Cla re, and requires that if any married coup le would take the prescrded oath which follows, kneeling upon two bare stones within the church door, before the prior and brethren, they should have a gammon of bacon freely delivered to them, which is done with great ceremony. THE OATH. Vou shall swear by the custom of our confession, That you never made any nuptial trans* gression: Since you were married man and wife, By household brau Is or contentious strifef Or otherwise, in b*d or at board. Offended each other in deed or in word; Or since the parish clerk said Amen, Wished yourselves unmarried again; Or, in a twelvemonth and a day, Kepentcd not in thought any way, But continued true and in desire, As when you joined hands in holy quire; If to these conditions, without all fear. Os your own accord you will freely swear, A gammon of bacon you shad receive, And beat it hence with love and good leave, For thin is the custom at Dunraow well known, Though the sport ue ours, the bacon’i your own.” The happv pair are then taken upon men’s shoulders in a chair, ;kept f<*r the purpose.) and carried round die sciie “I the priory, from the church to the house, with minstrels of every descrip tion, ami the gammon of bacon borne high on a pole before them, attended by the steward, gentlemen, and officers of the manor, and the several inferior tenants, carrying wands, Stc. A jury of bachelors and maidens, (*ix of each sex.) following wo and two, with an immense multitude ol other people, young and old, from all the neigjdioui mg towns and villages there* about*, and several more, that came from very eat distances, (to the amount of many thousands in the whole,) rending the air with their shouts and acclama tions. The custom is still kept up at Dun mow, which was formerly a priory. Ihe last couple that claimed the bacon was Thomas Shakesliaft, at the pari-h of Wentersfield, in the county of Essex, weaver, and Ann his wife, who went to demand, and actuary did receive, a gam mon of bacon; fiaving first knelt down up on two h:ir<? slones, within the church door. and taken the oath pursuant to the ancient custom, in manner and form pre set ihed a- aforesaid, the 20 of June. 1751; in commemoration of which a picture nas ; painted, representing the procession, and containing the portrait# of the affection- ate anil happy couple. Before the dissolution of monasteries it does not appear, by searching the moat ancient records, to have be*n demanded above three times, and including this, just as often since; so rare are the instan** ces of perfect conjugal felicity in the mar ried state! The chair in which the worthy couple were wont to be seated on these occa sions, is still preserved in the church, and from the narrow accommodation which it must needs afford to an ordinary sized couple, seems well fitted to try their for bearance on the very spot, it not vtry loving indeed: it is substantially made of oak. and time, which antiqeatea every thiog that is durable, had given it a very venerable appaarance; but th* No. i: