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the 33>::en' box a.
JlnJreL o:' our youth who haro .read
Wiri’ji graph c i fe of Patrick Henry, have ac
tu Uly suppo ;eJ the effects ascribed by the in
imitable d.o rrapher to the powers of that self
taug.it orator’s eloquence, in tue parson cause,
tlie beef cause, a:i 1 the storm scene in the hou-e
of B irgcsses of Virginia, o i the adoption of
the Federal C institution. to be mere fuitasics
*oft!ic writer’s brain, and out o! the question in
tile practice o: real i.te. io t lose vv no have
never witnessed the force of eloquence upon
t'le in .1 Is 01 a I. j.erung multitude, sueu i**ior
e ice 111 tv certain! v apuctr natural and iciv
excusable 5 especially 11 tiicy .iad not the p.eas
mre of knowing the exalte 1 character and pure
purpose of Mr. \\ irt; but for otners to doubt
the veracitv of his pea, seems very iiiucn like
questioning one’s own existence.
Patrick Henry, however, is not the only
orator of oar infant republic, who, by the force
of eloquence, has cleared the courts of justice
and the halls of legislation. And to back this
assertion, we here oner the simple story of the
events connected with the “Broken Bond,”
referred to at the head of this article.
Jusit before the war of the revolution, Dea
con Dudley C. of New Hampshire, accompa
nied Zobina C. his neighboring merchant, to
the town of Boston. There they called on
Mr. Frazer, a large importer of foreign fab
rics; with whom Mr. Z. C. was in the habit
of dealing. The deacon, thoughtful and en
terprising, proposed trade also; but the wary
citizen decline I the purchase of his butternut
and hickory pitts, his kegs of picketed trout,
and bales of peltry ; but finally expressed his
'wish to purchase a drove of cats, fora ship
which lie was about to send ia a quarter of the
world where the animal was unknown. But
said the crafty purchaser, ‘.hey must lie trained
to the whip, and to regular marches across the
country to ship board, and then to a market
in foreign trade. Trie Deacon thought of the
offer, and concluded that as horses, mules horn
ed cattle, sheep, hogs and turkies had been
trained aad driven by thousands across the
country t© a market, he could not see why the
cat also might not be trained for the same pur
pose. At all events if he could not drive them,
he was sure he could train them to follow him,
for his old Tab often followed him to the fields
and woods. lie therefore concluded to fur
nish the drove of cats. A bond was drawn
and executed, and a large sum of money was
advanced, in order to enable him to prosecute
his arrangement On reaching his home, the
Deacon immediately prepared a room n his
garret, and began to collect his drove, exercis
ing them every morning under the crack and
lash of his long whip, to regular marches round
the room.
The plan operated favorably while the num
ber of cats were small, and the space sufficient
for free movement; but when he had assem- j
bled a large number, opposition arose ; and i
when the whip was applied to force obedience,
the whole mass, as by common consent and ,
simultaneous movement, pounced upon the ;
poor Deacon, and would have torn him piece
meal, but for the timely aid ofthe family, who
roused by the noi e, burst the door ofthe cham
ber, and allowed the cats to escape. The Dea
con fortunately survived his wounds, returned 1
the money advanced him by Frazier through j
the agency of his neighbor C., and relinquished
the contract.
The war which ensued called the whole
strength ofthe country into the battle field, and
both the high contracting parties to the cat
contract, did their country some little service.
Some ten years after the piece of 1783, j
Frazier, on closing his business, journeyed j
through the interior to collect his balances ; and !
Among the rest called on the Deacon for the j
fulfilment of his bond, demanding the amount
of advance (which the country merchant had
never returned.) with interest, and a heavy
sum a.s smart money, for neglecting to perform
his covenant.
This was 1 ike a thunderbolt to the ears of
the poor Deacon, who had not once doubted
but that the merchant’s money had been
promptly returned, and the bond cancelled.—
Presuming there must be some mistake in the
matter, he resisted payment; and an action
was instituted to enforce the demand. The
cause was brought to an issue at the village of
Keene, where the good people had just finish
ed anew and tasteful church, and had turned
the old one elevated some eight or ten feet up
on a granite foundation over to the purpose of
justice. Tiic Deacon, when lie found himself
drawn into the law, employed the slick-headed,
eagle-eyed, and eloquent Ben. West to defend
his cause; and against him had been pitted
the young and brilliant J. Mason. From the
singular character ofthe case, the parties liti
gant, and the high standing of the counsel em
ployed, a general interest had been excited;
and women and children thronged the house
to literal stuffing, to hear the story of the Bro
ken Bond.
The pleadings were opened by young Ma
son, wit’.ia IpM flourish of anticipated triumph
frequently mingled with a lurking sneer at any
serious attempt at defence—and ho was re
plied to by the grave and stubborn charge of
a direct and premeditated attempt, upon the life
ot the venerable Deacon—an officer, who in
those days and among that people, stood in
sacred re’at.o 1 to the church, next to the min
ist *r.
To su t in this charge, the wity counsel
first hell the pr y clad and full powdered
merchant up the gaze o! the court and crowd,
is an old notorious and experienced cut <fo.il
l-CPj •familiar with uil f R;r liah ts, nr.fi so long
iiumured to their society, as to have imbided
most of their nature*—ulledgiag that if shut up
alone in the jury’s lobby, lie would instantly
mew for his old companions. Tuis brought a
tremendous hurst of irrepressible laughter fiom
the whole crowd, and set the bench in a percep
tible titter. When the lit had fairly subsided,
he adro.tly changed his key, and presented the
unoffending, giev headed Deacon, cast help
less upon tne floor, beset by a hundred furious
animals, made desperate by hunger and long
confinement —some fastened upon his throat,
sucking out his life blue 1, others upon his body
tearing away the llesh, and others at his lace,
gashing his cheeks and tearing out his eyes
with their claws. Ills peculiar picture brought
the whole scene before tlie eyes of the court,
the jury and the people, whose sympathy was
excited to a shower of tears, commingled With
audible implication on the heads of the wretch
who had plotted the mischief.
Os this general excitement, tiie adroit coun
sel took instant advantage, and bearing with
irresistible force upon the feelings and con
sc mice of the discomfited merchant, as a’gned
him in tones of language that went to iiis heart
and harrowed up all his sensibilities, iiis posi
tion with cats in this life, and in the hie to
come —with an escort of cats as lie made his
journey thither. This denunciation was served
withered and overwhelming, and Was instantly
followed by a continued chorus of cat squalls,
proceeding from among the very feet ofthe
spectators, as though the assigned escort had
actually arrived to accompany the affrightened
merchant on his untili ig journey. The chil
dren began to cry, the women scream, and the
men to stare, and all to move in a mass toward
the door way, seeking immediate egress. The
panic was universal, the jam fearful, and to
many nearly fatal. Some fell and were tram
pled upon, others pitched he idlong do wn the
granite steps, bruising their flesh, and breaking
tlieir bones, while others leaped from windows
twenty feet from the ground. The house was
soon cleared, and neither judge nor jury would
return to it that day ; the cause went for the
1 )eacoti by general acclamation —and a com
mittee was appointed to investigate the matter
the following day.
Some time after the death of Mr. West,
which happened immediately after the adjourn
ment of the celebrated Hartford Convention,
of which lie was a member, and which was the
only public trust he was ever prevailed upon
to accept, it was discovered that lie, finding
the Deacon’s defence desperate, added strata
gem to his-eloquence, and placed the night
previous a number of boys under the floor of
the court-room with cats, who, upon a con
certed signal, were to make their squall.
They were admitted through the rear wall,
and after night secretly dismissed.
XVASRINGTON AN T D THE HUCKSTER.
It has frequently been said tHut Washing
ton was not only distant and reserved with
those of his own household, but more so with
his soldiery. This was not the case, but the
reverse, as many anecdotes will prove. The
General, when not absorbed in the more im
portant duties of his station, would familiarly
sport with the rank and file, and sometimes en
gage in diverting his troops with amusements;
particularly when the prospects of peace and a
happy termination of the contest wore an as
pect of gloom and dismay. All old corporal,
who had been attached to Washington’s ser
vice for many years, related several anecdotes
oft the General; among -them wc remember
the huckster of New Jersey : “ The army,
had been a long time 0:1 march; and when
encamped, were almost destitute of provisions,
and reduced to allowances, every one prepar
ed to receive his morsel, in the hopes of seeing
better days. During the encampment, there
appeared among the troops a huckster with a
cart load of nuts and fruit, which to the sol
diers offered great temptation. Washington,
who knew that his men were pennyless, and
would he grieved at not being able to pur
chase, ordered the hu 'Aster, forthwith to leave
the commons; but the man anxious to sell,
obstinately refused. The General sent for
the man, and explained the condition oft his
men, that it were useless for him to remain
longer on tiie ground, and in the mildest tone
requested him to be gone. The huckster still
remained unmoved, and persisted in staying
on the commons. —Washington was deter
mined not to be out-generali-d, and by this
time had lost all patience at the stubbornness
of the man ; lie therefore ordered a few sol
diers to upset the cart, and such sc raiding 1
. have never seen before nor since. In a few
moments not a vestige remained save the nut
shells. Tills is the only time tliat I had heard
Washington laugh out. —During the scene oft
I the eager contest, he seemed so diverted that
ift it was possible to crack his sides, he cer
j tainly did on that memorable day. Nothing
| was afterwards heard of that obstinate buck
! ster, who must have discovered that it was no
| small thing to t ide with the General. ”
Army and Navy Chronicle.
TIME.
There is no such thing as time. It is but
i space occupied by incident. It is flic same to
| eternity as matter is to infinite space—a por
i tioa out ofthe immense, occupied by something
| within the sphere oft mortal sense. We ought
I not to calculate our age by the passing of years
but by the passing oft feelings and events. It
is what we have done, and not what we have
suTevcd, makes us old.
-ton’t BJS irscarju AGED !
If,-ft the outset of life, tilings do nol ’go on
smoothly. It seldom happens that the hopes
which we cherish of the future are realized.
Tiie path of life, in prospect, appears smooth
and level enough ; but wuen we come to trav
el it, we find it all up-hill and generally rough
enough. The journey is a laborious one, and
wketner rich or poor, high or low, we shall
iind it so, to our disappointment, if wc have
built o;i any other calculation. To endure
wiiat is to he endured, w.th as much cheerful
nu.su as possible, and to c.bow our way as easi
iv as we can through tic great crowd—ho
ping for little, yet striving lor much—Ms per
haps the true plan.
Don't be discouraged, if occasionally you
slip down by the way, and others tread over
you a little. In other words don’t let a failure
or two dishearten you ; accidents happen, mis
calculations will sometimes be made, things
w:il turn out differently from our expectations, :
and wc may be sufferers. It is worthwhile to
remember that fortune is like the skies in the
month of April—sometimes cloudy and some
times clear and favorable; and, as it would be
folly to despair again seeing the sun, because
to-day is stormy, so is it unwise to sink into
despondency wnea fortune frowns, since, in
the common course of things, she may be
surely expected to smile again.
Don’t be discouraged, if you are deceived in
the people of the world. It often happens that
men wear borrowed characters as well as bor
rowed clothes ; and sometimes those who have
long stood fair before the world, are very rot
ten at the core. From sources such as these
you may be most unexpectedly deceived, and
you will naturally feel sore under such decep
tions ; but to these you may become used. If
you are as most people do, they will lose tlieir
novelty before you grow grey, and you will
learn to trust men cautiously, and examine
tlieir characters closely, before you allow them
great opportunities to injure you.
Don't be discouraged, under any circum
stances. Ho steadily forward. Rather con
sult your own conscience than the opinions
of men, though the last is not to he disregard
ed. Be industrious —he frugal—-be honest —
deal in perfect kindness with all who coine in
your way, exercising a neighborly and obli.
ging spirit in your whole intercourse ; and, if
you do nol prosper as rapidly as some of
your neighbors, depend upon it you will be as
ha ppy*
Female Conversation. —For readiness, tact,
and discrimination, elegance and address, for
the acquirement of all these good qualities
there is no school like that of female society.
Tiie lesser virtues, too, those of complaisance,
kindness, and good-will, with many others al
lied to them, are hardly to be got elsewhere.
But with those I have no business at present.
I am now 011 the talent of conversation, and
that too I may safely add to the catalogue
above enumerated. The mind of woman,
taken in the abstract, and without reference to
individuals, when we compare it with that of
man, is much what the graver or penknife is
to the axe. It is a thing of no great force, it
can achieve no stupendous work—scarcely
.any thing sublime was ever compassed by it;
but in matters of minute detail, of ready in
vention, of nice adjustment, of elegant though
superficial execution, it is your only instru
ment. To hear a woman talk politics is to tie
sickened of them for days, or weeks, or months
after, according to circumstances. This is an
unfailing rule. Then, to listen to her religion
is usually, though not so generally, to he re
minded of the hasty curiousness of Eve.—
Tiieir vivacity is too prompt and sparkling.
They fill tlieir measure with the first outbreak
of tlieir froth, and when we have waited long
enough lor it to subside, we look again, and
behold ! all is emptiness. Their range, then,
is a circumscribed one ; but in it they are like
fairies within tiieir ring— creatures of infinite
> grace and power. To be much conversant
; with them is a tiling of as much advantage
for the learned man as the lessons of the fenc
ing-master would be to the raw big-boned re
cruit. Tiicv would not, perhaps, add materi
ally to his strength, but, by teaching him its
full use, they would incomparably heighten its
Utility. s c if Formation.
Experience teaches Fish as well as Fools.
—lt is curious to witness the uproar that takes
place in the fish-pond at Logan, in Galloway,
tiie moment tiie fisherman makes his appear
ance with his daily store of limpets, and other
food for his finny charge. Tne whole surface
seems agitated by some vast internal commo
tion, as hundreds of fishes rush from all cor
oners to one common point where they know
they will receive their accustomed food, and
where they greadily contend with each other
for the delicious mouthful. They ft re intimate
ly acquainted with the person of their keeper
and will feed from his hand, distinguishing
him from the numerous visiters who frequent
the spot. One old cod, for the pond is a salt
water one and connected with the sea, allows
the fisherman to stroke his head and even to
lift him from the water. Thus it is seen that
these animals have at any rate acquired a con
sciousness of security which cannot he ascrib
ed to any modification of mere instinct, which
rather prompts them to shun the deceitful pro
tection of man, as it doubtless did when they
were first placed in the pond. But tiicy have
acquired knowledge from experience, mid such
is the result.
Biwhnan’s riiil-isapliy of Instinct and Roaron-
Toleration.—* Tnere shocid be a perfect tol
eration in matters of religion. In what relates
to tiie salvation of a man’s soul, lie is more
concerned than I can be; and to pretend to
dictate to him in this particular, is an infinite
piece of impertinence and presumption. But
if a man has no religion at all ? that does not
hinder me from having any. If he stoo lat
the church door and would not let me enter, 1
should have a right to push him aside; bet ii
he let me pass by without interruption, I have
no right to turn back and drag him in after me.
lie might as well force 111 c to have no religion
as I force him to have one, or burn me at a
stake for believing what lie does not. Opin
ion, “ like the wild goose, flies unclaimed of
any man ;” heaven is, like “the maible air, at.
ccssible to ah and therefore there is no oc
casion to trip up one another’s heels on tine
road, or to erect a turnpike gate to collect large
sums from tire passengers. How have 1 a
right to make another pay for tiie saving of
my soul, or to assist me in damning liis !
Tiiere should I*o no secular interference in sa
cred tilings; no laws to suppress or establish
any church or sect in religion ; no religious
persecut oris, tests, or disqualifications; the
different sects should lie left to inveigle and
hate each other as much as they please ; but
without the love of exclusive domination and
spiritual power, t lie re would he little temptation
to bigotry and intolerance.
Hazlit.
Fact nU generally Inown. —Although the
hare idea of drowning a fish may appear to
the mass an ut'er absurdity, the thing is not
only possible but easy, It is true fishes arc
perfectly helpless when out of their element,
and will not drown when afloat if left to the
guidance of their own instinct; but if a grilse,
salmon, or trout, or in short any other species
of fish, when newly taken from the net, is held
with its tail up and its snout down the stream,
it drowns, we understand, almost immediately.
Tiie experiment lias often been tried, and, hut
that a thump on the head is easier, would he
resorted to by pisCalofs, for tiie purpose of put
ing finny captives to death.
Extraordinary Mode of Resuscitation. — -A
youth named Henry llice having fallen into
the basin, City Ro id, London, a quarter of an
hour elapsed before he could be got out.
Tiie boy was conveyed to the Wenlock Arms,
arid two surgeons immediately attended, who
after an hour’s exertion were unsuccessful in
their attempts to restore the youth to life. A
drunken man in the tap-room, waking from
his sleep, and hearing that the medical men
had failed in their attemps, staggered into the
room and said he could restore the boy, and
applying liis mouth to that of the youth (at
the same time including the nostrils,) and by
strong suction, as if drawing the breath from
the patient, actually renovated the lad i:i a few
minutes, to the astonishment of all present.
This was the ninth person whom this individ
ual had restored to life in a similar manner.
This extraordinary case has excited much
speculation, and has led to the conjecture that
an instrument might be made to answer the
means adopted in these instances of resuscita
tion, which would Ire highly beneficial in every
point of view.
A Cautious Widower. —ln a Village of Pi
cardy, after a long sickness, a farmer’s wife
fell into a lethargy. Her husband was willing,
good man, to believe her out of pain, and so.
according to the custom of that country, she
was wrapped in a sheet, and carried out to be
buried. But, as ill-luck would have it, the
bearers carried her so near a hedge, that the
thorns pierced the sheet, and waked the woman
from her trance. Some years after she died,
in reality; and, as the funeral passed along,
the husband would every now and then call out
—“ Not too near the hedge, not too near the
hedge, neighbours! ”
Soiling at Half Price. —A witty Hiberni
an just arrived in London, and wandering
about, perceived a blanket at a shop door with
this inscription—“ This superior blanket for
half price.” Pat waffied in and demanded the
price; “just five shillings sir,” replied the
shop-keeper. ‘By my sowlc, and that’s chapel’
And so, folding the blanket up, and putting it
under his arm, he laid down 2s. Oil. and was
walking off. The shop-keeper intercepted
him and demanded the 2s. Oil. “Didn’t you
say, you spalpeen, that the price of the blank
et was 55.! And sure hav’nt I given you the
half of it! And by the same token, I won’t
give up my bargain.” A scutlle ensued, and
Pat was taken to Bow street: but when there
he pleaded his case so ably, that the Magistrate
dismissed the complaint, anil ailvi edthe shop,
keeper never again to ticket his goods at ‘ half'
pricin’
The following was written in a diary, at the
Falls of Niagara, on a visit in July, 1830:
“ Origin of the Falls of Kiagara. —Once
upon a time, (the date of which is not record
ed.) the three rival gods, Jupiter, Pluto and
Neptune, desirous of evincing their superiori
ty overeach other, resolved to prove their pow
er by the magnitude of their operations—
when Jupiter built Olympus, to frighten the
world with his thunder. Pluto fOt fire to
1 Mount Etna; and Neptune, with a dash of
I his trident, made the Cataract of Niagara.”
MGRfi JIODEO IjEFIXITIOr^S.
From Fowler's Cast-iron Dictionary.
Affectionate— Kissing a young lady wit!
your mouth full oft tobacco". *" ®
Coward —Oi.e who refuses to fire a r.'sfoLt
you at your special tit: die.
Dews — Piio tears of 1 leaven over the £
part ure oft day. e "
Discontent- —That movbid state of dissa*;,
jfaction, which renders one incapable of '**
oying the goo i things in liis possession. ’
Disinterestedness —Accepting a lucrafi
offi.loe at the particular and urgent request of
t.ie people.
Drunkard One who is possessed of an evil
spirit which has destroyed his free-agenev.
Fashion —The voluntary slavery w-Ll
leads us to think, act and dress according
the judgement of fools and the caprice of c ot °
<Combs. x '
Felicity —The horizon of the heart, which
is always receding as we advance towards it
Ftshcry— The agriculture of the sea.
Fool What a fop sees in the looking
glass. 6 ’
Clenl-email —The filling of a coat.
Cold —Dead earth, for which men sacrifice
life, and I<jsc heaven.
Integrity — Wearing a large cloak to cover
all deformity.
Kindness —Loaning 1000 dollars at two
per cent a month, and paying the amount ia
current money at six percent discount.
Lady —An appendage to a bonnet.
Man of Decision —()nc who insists that his
wile shall kindle the lire on a cold morning.
Rascality —Being fool enough to get found
out in deeds of wickedness*
ShMed /iett-*AVhecdling a living out of otli.
ers, and living in idleness yoursbll*.
“ Tfl wore so unlucky, ” said an officer, “as*
to have a stupid son, I would certainly make
him a parson. ’ A clergyman, who was in
die company, calmly replied, “ You think dis.
ferently, sir, from your father. ”
uen Oliver Cromwell fir.->t coined money,
an old calavier, looking upon one of the new
pieces, read the inscription on one side, ‘God
uaii us, and on the other * The Common
weakli of England,’—“ 1 see,” said he, “that
God and the Commonwealth are on different
sides. ”
A celebrated thief, on being apprehended,'
declared that the constables of the city were a
perfect nuisance.
The musquitocs of Florida, (says the N. 0.
Picayune,) not only carry grindstones to whet
their bills on, but also take a little boy along to'
turn the crank!
“ Alack-a-day! ” cried an old sawyer, upon
hearing of the loss of a sloop load of grind:
stones ; “the times were dull before, but now
I suppose they will he duller than ever. ”
An exchange paper, in describing a small
man, says that he would appear to disadvan
tnge by the sale of a pint bottle. So would
any one, in these temperate times.
Ignorance. —lt is impossible to make pco
pic understand their ignorant, for it requires
knowledge to perceive it; and, therefore, he
that can perceive it hath it not.
If all the newspapers which are read were
piled in a l eap, they would make a mountain;
then if all the newspaper which are paid sos
were placed in another heap beside the former,
and a man were to stand on the top of each
heap, the one would be so far above the other,
that they could not converse together without
the aid of u speaking trumpet.
HOME*
Home! ’tis tHe rihrae of ail lhat sweetens life ;
Oil, ’tis a name of hiore than magic spell,
\V hose sacred power the wanderer best can tell!
He who, long distant from his native land,
Feels at her name his eager love expand ;
Whether as parent, husband, fuller, friend,
To that dear pom?, his thoughts, his wishes bond ,*
And still he owns, where’er his footsteps roam,
Life's choisest blessings centre all—at Home !
Color and Scent of Flowers. —lt appears
tnat white flowers more frequently have an
agreeable scent than colored ones; for in 100
white there are, on an average, 14.0 with an
agreeable smell, and only 1 disagreeable}
whereas, among the like humber bf colored
flowers, only (5.3 have an agreeable, and 1.4
a disagreeable odor.
The Law's Delay.- — Some few tveeks since
at the session of Warren Superior Court, a wiU
ness swore to an occurrence about 10 o’clock
in the morning was indicted for perjury, at*’
t-aignei!, tried, convicted and jfcntencfed to the
Penitentiary* by 4 o’clock of the same day/
He certainly* cannot complain ofthe tardy ad
ministration of justice.
Unknown wb reckon ufl
how many talented children wc find in country
towrts and schools, and twenty vears after, see
how few of tlietrt become heads of colleges/
general officers and the like, we shall be as-’
tonished. There is none of God’s demesne*
so slightly cultivated as that of genius. Heav*
en sows every year the seeds of a rich har
vest, but we care not to water or transplant
them. A country boy of talent, left to himsclb
reminds one of a pound of iron, which, in
rough state is worth one sous ; but when mads
up into watch springs, fetches sixteen millions
of sous. How many springs might be mads
out of these neglected geniuses ?