A Friend of the family. (Savannah, Ga.) 1849-1???, June 07, 1849, Image 2

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alarming fever attacked the young lover, who begged that Annie might not, in her anxiet}, be allowed t° come near him. He was. obeyed, an much against her will and entieaties, bhe not permitted to approach his bedside. “ To the dismay of the village, it was soon dis covered to be that then most dreadful scourge, the smalt pox. Many fled the village; Annie, among the number, was forced away by her terror-strick en guardian. “Dreary and painful weeks passed over, and his life was spared, but his features were much altered, though not disfigured. He hardly knew himself as he gazed for the first time in the glass upon his changed features. He would not see his betrothed until, by change ot air, he had re moved all fear of contagion. So that three months elapsed, from the feast week, before he stood in the road of the village, looking out for Annie’s return. “She came, she welcomed him with tears, but there was a strange chdl in her manner that pen etrated to his heart. Too soon the busy tongue of rumor whispered the fatal truth. Ihe London spark, who was staying close in the vicinity oi her friends, to whom she had gone upon her lover’s illness, had been constantly seeking her society and her regards. “The noble and upright heart of my uncle shuddered, lie sought her, and found that the gay manners and engaging air ot the more polish ed* lover had estranged her affections. Like a martyr he sacrificed himself for her happiness, or what she considered as such —he bade her be free. He felt that she turned from his altered features with little less than disgust, and it was only his former self that she had supposed she loved. “She left the village, as everybody knew, to be married to another; no blessings followed her —for all knew too well that she had spurned a true and affectionate heart. He never loved woman again. His yearning heart still sought to know her fate, and after-years were often sad dened by the knowledge that she had placed her fortunes in a rotten vessel, and that she was un happy in her choice. “ More than fifty years had passed away, and he had not forgotten her.” **#***##, The pecking of the social robin at the casement awoke me early the next morning, soon seconded by the cheerful voice of the old man exclaiming — “ Come, come, my lord ! none of your London ways—up and stirring—the toasted cake and eggs are crying ‘Come, eat me!’ You must be rapid in your movements, for I intend you to be my assistant this morning. It is my turn, I find, to see the coals given to the poor to-day, at the Crown stables—come, here’s 3'our hot water and vour boots,” # with that he popped them into the room and bustled away, humming with a merry chirping tone some old-fashioned ditty, of which he had stores, about ’T is sweet in the morn, When sounds the horn. And bucks a hunting go; For all my fancy , Dwells with my Nancy, For she can cry, Tally ho! ho ! ho ! We breakfasted like princes, and then bustled across the road to the “Crown” stables, where we found the men, women, and children assem bled, with wheelbarrows, baskets, bags, in fact an\ T thing that would hold anything, waiting for the charitable largess of coal, provided for them by the richer classes, so that they might not suffer during the inclement season. “ Haifa loaf and a whole fire is better than a whole loaf and no fire,” said my uncle. V He had a thousand kind greetings from them all. I could not help smiling, as I placed down their names and families, at the severe look with which he whispered to me that “ we must be very particular and not give an ounce more than the rulers allowed.” God bless the old man! he was continually popping some round-coal into some body’s basket, over and above the allowance ; and the little muffledup urchins were clustering around him in the most perplexing manner, interfering sadly with his dignity. Children are the best judges in the world. They believe in him, and well they might; he felt with them. Oppo site to his cottage there was a roughly fenced-in slip of an orchard, which had been a continual anno3’ance to him. Boys will rob or chards. Apples, it is well known, are gifted with a tremendous power of seduction. There is a positive wickedness about the tree ; it throws its) aims over its boundary wall or fence, right in the face of passers-by, waving a load of golden temp tation to their parched mouths quite irresistible. That orchard was not to be borne; it was the cause of more family squabbles, juvenile thrash ings, and heart-burnings, than all the rest of pro perly walled in, respectable orchards in the king dom. The surly proprietor, however, wanted a small angle ot ground, belonging to my uncle, to enlarge his stable. For once, my uncle finessed ; nothing but that straggling bit of cankered or chard would he take in exchange, and he got it. Happy day for the children ; for he took down the board of penalties, nearly obliterated by re vengeful throws from juvenile and with much humor replaced it with one of more amiable temper. On it was written—“ Don’t steal. Ask over the way.” Irom that day, puddings had more apples in them. That orchard became a valuable Mentor to infants; for my uncle took care that all de serving children should look forward to it as a positive reward of good behaviour in all instances, and a garden of Eden, from which all delinquents were excluded. It at last was only known as “the children’s orchard.” We had just finished off our last claimant, when a bov came up to my uncle, saying that “Mastei Dover, the clerk of ‘the parish wished to speak with him,” who, being very old, had sentafieetei messenger, “ and that he was now waiting at my uncle’s door.” We soon reached the snow-covered porch, where stood the old man, who was parish-clerk, beadle, wheel-wright —in fact, a factotum. He was an old and respected friend of my uncle’s. As we approached, I saw that the old man wore a puzzled look and fidgety manner. He shook hands cordially with us, and entered the house. “ Well, Master Dover, what’s the world’s won der that has brought you down so early this morn ing!” exclaimed my uncle, placing a chair for his visitor, and opening bis little three-cornered cupboard, where he kept his unrivalled home made wines, and producing a bottle and glasses. “ Why, my dear sir, I be rather puzzled, but the}’ made me come about that poor creature you were so kind to last night, as old Black Will brought down. He wouldn't leave her anywhere except at his cousin’s, down at ‘ The Plough ;’ where, of course, she’s been well looked al’ther. But we want to know what to do, as we looks up to you, you know, and—” Here the old man rubbed bis hair down on his forehead, and turned his eyes with an embarrased look towards me, as if claiming my assistance in some way. I felt puzzled. “ Poor soul, poor soul/” replied my uncle, as he poured out the wine, “we must see about her, and find out who she is, and her right of settle ment, and all that; butPll pop down myself, and talk to them at ‘The Plough.’” “ The overseer has been down, and—and he thought, as I was one of your oldest friends, I had better to come down and talk a bit about it!” continued the old man, twitching and shuffling about in his seat, in the most extraordinary man ner. “Oh! right; very right! Here is your health, and as many more years as you wish yourself!” said my uncle, as he finished his glass, and looked upon his old contemporary with a benevolent smile. As my uncle turned to the cupboard to look for a piece of cake, the old clerk motioned.to me with a piteous look, holding up his hands and shaking his head towards my uncle, who, placing the looked-for cake upon the table, took his seat, and said: “ Pray, Master Dover, who is the poor blind soul ?” “Ah, master, that be it; I ain’t got courage to out with it; my heart gets into my throat! I a sent any soul else but me. But, dang it, Ibe an old fool!” Here he wiped, with the sleeve of his coat, the positive perspiration from his brow, cold as the day was. “Dang the thing! it must out, my dear old friend. That poor soul that 3’ou saved last night from death —after fifty 3 r ears’ absence—is—your Annie Leslie!” 1 started towards 1113- uncle, for I thought he would have fallen from his chair. A sudden paleness overspread his face, and his hands turn ed death-like, as he clasped them convulsively before him. His old pla3 7 -fellow and friend look ed upon him, in his violent shock, with the tears coursing each other down his rugged cheeks. “ To think,” said old Master Dover, “ that she, sirs, whom I remember 3 r oung, happy, and well to do, should have come to this ! it’s now gone fifty 3'ears, and more, sin’ m3’ dame went to school with her. She’s down along with her now, sir. A bad husband she got, when she choose to have that rakey ne’er-do-well! Ah poor dear soul ! after fifty 3 T ears, to come back a pauper to her parish ! Blind, too!—” “Dover! Dover!” said m3’ uncle, in a hurried and hysterical manner, rising suddenty, with an effort, from his chair. “No, no, no! Annie Leslie —for to me she will always be Annie Les lie—has not returned to the parish a pauper ! No, no, no ! poor Annie is not come to the parish ! Annie Leslie has returned to me !” We were soon bunying along the prett3 r lane leading to the church, where dwelt man3* of m3’ uncle’s tenants, Here an old couple were quick 13’ arranged with to receive the stricken wander er, and to afford her ever3’ comfort. The parish clerk was working like a horse, though surroun ded b3 r willing hands, between 1113’ uncle’s house and the asylum for poor Annie, all the day, carrying every thing for her comfort that could be thought of. Late in the day she was install ed in he r new habitation, under my superinten dance ; for m3’ uncle dared not venture within sight of the place. What must have been the feelings of that poor afflicted creature when she fuond that the reject ed ot her 3'outh was the shield and comforter of her age ! The sweet bells pealed out from the modest spire, and the sun shone, upon the next morning, which was sunda3'. My uncle took my arm to proceed to church, but not by his accustomed path. He took his course up the village ; far the old route lay by the door of the cottage where Annie Leslie was sheltered. “ My dear boy,” said he to me, “the imperfect light of last night, and my failing sight, have left no impression of the appearance, thank God ! of Annie Lessie. Jam too old now, to tear from my imagination the picture that it has long held* I wish, for the few remaining years ot my lite, that it should not be destroyed by the sad reality. Therefore, I never pass that way to church again. She is cast from a sea of trouble at my r leet, and lam spared to save her! \\ hat more could I ask ? The rejoicing that is in my heart is indefi nable.” His friends, as they stood clustered round the porch to greet him, uttered not one word ot the returned one ; but every hand was held out lor a grasp —no one would be denied. That morning, few eyes could be turned from that venerable old man; thoughts mingled with every prayer. His heart was at peace —for he had forgiven ! A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY” SAVANNAH, THURSDAY JUNE 7, 1849. AGENTS. Mr. J. INI. Boardmajj is our Agent for Macon. Mr. S. S. Box for Rome. Mr. ItoBT. E. Skylk for the State of South Carolina. James O’Conner, Travelling Agent. TO clubs. Any person obtaining the names of five new Subscribers, and sending us Ten Dollars, shall receive a sixth copy gratis for one year. Upon all subscriptions over live, the person sending the names and money may retain fifty cents as hi? commission. Payments invariably in advance. UF 0 We understand a report was in circulation in the; interior on Monday that the steamship Tennessees’ births were all ta ken. We take this opportunity of cautioning the public against such reports, as these ships are capable ot accommo dating an}* number of passengers that will in all probability offer. CENTRAL RAIL ROAD. The earnings of the Road for the past six months are $375,361 16. As compared with last year, the increase has been $112,227 31. The Board of Directors have declared a dividend of $3 50 per share for the last six months. We learn that four new engines and two new passenger cars have been ordered, and that 30 new freight cars are about to bo constructed for the road, to meet the increasing demands of trade this fall. HP The Washington Light Infantry of Charleston will be the guests of our Volunteer Companies on the 4th July. They will meet a hearty welcome. EXCURSION . The Steamer Wm. Gaston, Capt. Hebbard, will make an excursion to Tybee and Warsaw on Friday. SdF 3 We call the attention of our readers to the communi cation of our tail* correspondent E., we cordially coincide with her in opinion of the merits of Mr. Voigt as an artist, and hope, now she has taken pen in hand, we may soon receive further favors. THE PEOPLE. A large, well edited, and beautifully printed sheet, devoted principally to European news,has been laid on our table by Mr. Clias. C. Jackson, the agent, who is soliciting subscribers in this city. THE THURSDAY SKETCHER. Is a neat paper, about our own size, edited, printed, and published by Wood & Furber, Somersville, N. H. Here’s our LIF* TEMPERANCE STOCK RISING. v Several of the Northern Rail Roads have come to the de termination not to employ any person who uses intoxicating liquors. FIP We are informed that a turtle weighing 257 lbs. was captured at Mr. Bainard’s place on Hilton Head. The nest was alsoTound which contained 230 eggs. Anew Division Sons of Temperance has been institu ted in Floyd County, named “Varn’s Valley Division, No. 185.” “ The remains of Gen. Worth,” says the N. Y. Home Journal, “are to be brought to this city for interment in the Greenwood Cemetary. CHOLERA IN NEW YORK. On Saturday thirteen new cases was reported and three deaths. On Sunday twenty-four new cases and thirteen deaths. Although from comparison it appears to be on the increase yet this may not be the case, as a gentleman from New York informs us that the Moyor has ordered the physicians to re port all cases occurring in private practice, which he is of the opinion has not been the case heretofore. FROM CALIFORNIA. The steamships California and Oregon have Hrived at Pa nama, by this arrival we learn that gold is as abundant as ever, and prices of provisions are exhorbitant. It is supposed that these steamers have over half million of dollars on freight, des tined for houses in New York. The weather had become mild : and under the impression 1 that winter was over, thousands were moving towards the gold regions. The arrival of a number of expeditions from this country is mentioned. There was a great abundance of the precious metals in cir culation, and gambling was carried on at an extensive rate. A letter from San Francisco says: “ It appears that in all the great extent of the placers,there is scarcely a point where gold is not found, and there are places where a bushel of earth yields a pound of gold. In this port the circulation of money is astonishing. All things are high, but principally transportation and manual labor.” NATIONAL DIVISION OFTHE SON S OF TEMPER ANce Correspondence of the Tribune. Cincinnati, May 19, 1849 The National Division of the United States closed its gj Annual Session in tliiscity yesterday afternoon. There 39 representatives present from 19 of the United States Ht J the British Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia ‘ By mistake, word had been sent out in all directions that r Session would not be held in consequeuce of the Choi,, panic. Misled by these reports, many who were on their y turned back. It is thought that Delegates would have b<V present from all the States of our Union, from Maine to Tex^ The business of the Session was important, and harmonic ly accomplished. Horace Greely, at a very large meeting held on Wednesday evening, suggested tlmt good might be accomplished by the publication of a series ci - National Temperonce Tracts, suited to the present stn^'! the Reform. Acting on this suggestion, the Committee ( - the state of the Order brought the subject before the Nation Division, where it met with unanimous approval. SamuelF Carey, of Ohio, Jobtj W. Oliver, of N. Y., and Philip s White, of Pa., were appointed with power to carry out th ; enterprise. U. Greely has consented to write the first trar which is to be On the Nature of Alcohol and its effect on fa Human System. Rev. Henry Ward Beecher is to be invite,] to write the second —subject, Duty of Christians in relation to Temperance. Samuel C iipman the third—subject, Pecuniar, advan a ;cs of Temperance. The National Division also unanimously adopted resolutions recommending every Division to hold simultaneous Quartern Meetings to discuss the evils of the Liquor Traffic—to appoint Committees to collect tacts and statistics for the newspapers and to request all clergymen in each locality to preach, at leas: as often as once a quarter, - on the licensed and unlicensed Kuia Trade. The Delegates were highly intelligent men, and gnva most encouraging reports of the progress of Temperance in all sections. The increase of the Order during the last year has been 100,000. Opposition seems to be disappearing. next Session will be held in Boston on the second Tuesday of June, 1850. Rovilo. We cordially approve the design of publishing a series of ■ Temperance Tracts, but we suggest that no copyright be token . out for them, so that they may be printed in all parts of the a country and thereby generally diffused. Our paper is open for the publication offacts or statistics, m recommended by the National Division, we take the opportu nity of saying that all notices of celebrations, &c., are publish, ed free of charge. One hundred thousand is stated to be the increase duniD 3 the past year to the Order, it is a goodly number, but not ag large as it should be and as we hope it will the ensuing yea amount to, it is but in its infancy in this State and many others and judging by the past, we contemplate a greater accession of numbers the coming year. We are sorry to see that Bos ton is designated as the next place of meeting of the Grand Division, a more central poiut should have been chosen. If it was done as a compliment to New England, we are pleased to have it so, for they have been the pioneers in the cause, and have borne the heat and burthen of the day. THE FOREIGN NEWS. The news from the Old World is of the must exciting nature. A general war seems almost inevitable. Fiance and England have protested against the interference of Russia in the affair between Austria and Hungary. The House of Lords passed the bill to Repeal the N avigatiox Laws, which has given general satisfaction to the Free Tra ders. St. Johns, N. 8., May 25, P. M. The steamer Caledonia, Capt. Leitch, arrived at Halifax at 7£ olclock last evening, bringing one week’s later advices from all parts of Europe. The Caledonia brings ..£56,000 sterling specie and 40 pas sengers, 15 of whom stopped at Halifax. The commercial news presents no new feature. The money market continues easy, but in consequence of ths threatening aspect of affairs in France and Italy the public securities have been depressed. In the House, the Parliamentary oath bill, having for its object the removal of the Jewish disabilities has been reads second time by a larger majority than before. Mr. Roebuck is about to bring before Parliament his plan for the better government of the Colonies, and also to move for a committee to ascertain the amount due from foreign gov ernments to British subjects. The arguments on the writ of error brought by W.S. O’- Brien and McManus have been read before the Lords, and without hearing counsel for the Crown, the law Lords and Judges unanimously decided that the errors assigned by the Plaintiffs could not be maintained by the arguments, and that the jndgement of the Court of the Queen’s Bench in Ireland must stand affirmed. It is now expected that the sentence 6 transportation will be carried into effect befere the Ist prox imo. It is rumored that the prosecution of Duffy is aban doned. The whole of Continental Europe seems ready to bursting one general conflagration. The quarrel botween the Parlia ments throughout all the various divisions of Germany and their respective princes has reached the highest pitch, and U Saxony a frightful conflict has already taken place. At Dresden the people, or rather the Red Republican party fought with the troops during seven hours on the stli inst., and a great loss of life occurred. The railroads were dis placed in order to prevent troops from arriving, but a sufficient force of Prussians having come up, a momentary tranquility j was secured by sheer military’ force. The fight, however, was renewed on the 6th, and a fright j ful canonading lasted all day unt 1 night separated the con bat ants. On the 7th the battle was again renewed at 4 o’clock in tb* morning, and the most deadly warfare was going on in d# streets, by the latest advices up to 6 o’clock of that day. k ? telligence from Dresden to the Btli states that hostilities stiS j raged between the royalists and the insurgents, to the vantage of the latter, without any immediate prospect of tb e ‘ r termination. The members of the provincial government had been o llt lawed and rewards offered for their apprehension. At Leipsic, also, disturbances had broken out, but aft' 1 ‘ short struggle between the military and the populace, thO were suppressed. Several of the rioters were killed* J counts from Berlin of the Bth states that an insurrection broken out at Breslau on the 6th. On the 7th the troops the people were fightiDg in the city. It was also run>° rs that an insurrection had broken out at Coblentz.