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Dcotci> to literature. Science, ant> 3.d, tljc Sons of temperance, ©ii jTellou)sl)ip, ittasonrn, anh (General intelligence.
VOLUME I
GSlflSAt SAStI,
“THE”WIFE’S REWARD.
BY .
“Oh ! woman ! evrr seek,
\ victory like this : with heavenly warmth,
Q n U the icy purpose, anrl preserve
f roin error’s path, Mie heart that thou dost fold
Close in tliy own pure love.”
The clock had struck twelve! Not a sound was
heard indie (lark street, save the heavy tread of
watchman, as he passed and repassed the
front nf a handsome building, from which shone
. I]f , o nlv light that glimmered through the almost
j-'trvptian darkness of that murky night. In the
~ al f r om which that light come, sat aladv, who,
not beautiful, possessed ihe delicate com
n|eXjon, expressive eye, and sweet month, which
ivo’jhl redeem her face from the charge of home
j; nes? , even in the opinion of the most critical
Serose as if under some strong excitement, and
commenced walking rapidly up and down the
chamber.
“Who could have believed,” murmured she,
“thatbefore two short years should have passed,
that I should be thus left alone in solitude, to pass
liourafter hour in wearying anxious solitude. And
in mv happy, thoughtless, girlish days, when.l
have laughed so merrily at seeing Charles’ excite
ment o’er a game of whist, I never thought for a
moment of any danger coming to me through
pieces of paste board, or the agony of soul
they would cause me. But I must not spend mv
time watching his downward course, weeping will
not save him, would to God it would : and were
they drops of blood from mv own heart, mostfree
lv would I shed them. But what to do ! He once
listened kindly to my admonitions, and now ! one
word frmn me causes such a tempest of anger,
that I tremble before him.” She stopped, as if a
thought had come into her mind, and then resum
ing her walk, said, “Yes, I will do that if I possi
blv can accomplish it.”
At this moment her husband’s well known step
fell on her expectant ear, and springing to the
door she opened it quickly for his admittance.—
Without one kind word, he passed her, and seat
ing himself sullenly and silently near the fire,
covered his face with his hands. Approaching
him, and placing her hand with loving kindness
on his, she said, —“Dearest Charles, are von ill.
vour hand Dels so hot and fevered ; what must I
do for you ? ”
“How is it possible for you still to core for, and
be kind to me? I, who have caused all vour un
happiness ; Maria, vou will, you must, hate me,
when I tell vou all. Every dollar of your for
tune has been staked and lost! And yet, bad as
that is the worst must yet be told. Maria, vou
cannot love a dishonest man, and vet I, your hus
band, yes lam one. I forged a heavy draft on
the firm of mv late father, and that inn is gone! !
Blame me, upbraid me, I can bear it better than
your kind and loving words.” “I do not blame
you, Charles, for what use would it be to do so?
No! I must think what we can do to pay the draft
before it is presented, so as to save vou from dis
grace. I will entreat, I will pray, uncle Harris to
ffuetnme unconditionally mv ten thousand dol
ors still left in his hands bv mv father’s will;
surely, surelv, he will do it, to save his brother’s
child from misery and disgrace! ”
“He will not, Maria ; and by withholding it he
“ill do rightly. Let me pay the penalty of my
crime. When once in prison, you will be free.
aru l no longer be annoyed either with my crimes
or my presence.”
‘‘ffi! Charles, talk not so. To-morrow we
W f)J act ’g° now to bed. To-morrow you and l
“’ill agree to act differently for the future.”
al l >t persuaded him to retire. But she could
nat seep. Hour after hour passed, and wearied
Z nnrefreshed she stole from her bed at day
it of’ \ s^ tnut f°r her uncle’s, know ing his hab
if j ear y risi ng, and that she must be there early
le ex P ec ted to see him ere he left for his busi
ness.
door Wa lk brought her to her uncle’s
t u ‘ . , L ° has not left for his counting house,”
° n . ,S^e ri servant replied who opened the
,)r n°r. She walked into the parlour, and
corn ° a C? ? nie ’ w rih a hearty, hut rather rough wel
-1 e J to the trembling and distressed wife.
to^ l \ S0 ’ child > you’re come. Well! lam glad
C O^V VOII always thought you would have to
*Uht\ to y° ur( >id uncle, and not stay forever
dith. T g °° and f( ! r nothing scamp, Charles Mere
seJg.L rik of Ids love for yon ! yes, great love,
I) J o ln( ; ss entirely say I. Well! let by-gones be
an/ ‘**• Come pull off your bonnet and shawl,
Me hA OUr place at the head of the table, old
t fa Dl r <lS Jrou Srit up breakfast, and put on an ex
see J! e i nuw stands grinning with delight to
}ou back again.”
SAVANNAH, GA.. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1849.
“ Excuse me, dear nncle, 1 can’t stay long
enough to eat with you this morning, I have come
on pressing business, and if vou will send Jake
out a moment, I will try not to detain vou long.”
“Well! Jake, you can go till I call. Now for
your trouble, for I’ll be bound it’s something of
the kind : but let me warn you, it must be nothing
you will ask in favor of Charles, fori despise him
more than a rat does poison.”
“ But, dearest uncle, listen to me this once, I
must speak to you about Charles. He has done
wrong, oh ! very, very wrong. 1 seek not to hide
his fault, nay crime, frmn you, and yet uncle, I
beg you for mv sake, for my father’s, to save us
from disgrace and ruin. Oh ! uncle have pity and
listen to me, only this once.”
%/
II umph! the old tale I’ll be hound. Forged or
stolen and want money to pav it back. Ah ! yes,
Mr. Charles Meredith, [ understand, but vou can’t
come it over me so. You want the few thousands
left in my hands, in order to gamble it away to
night. Ah ! yes, but just tell my fine gentleman
if you please, that he shall not have them ! ” and
with a quick stride he paced up and down.
“ Don’t be so angrv, but listen tome dear uncle.”
“ Ancr/ ’ angry ! I w as ne\ er angry in my whole
life. ’Tis energy, only energy of character you
see. I always was energetic, and always sympa
thized with it. You 1d( emed so, but find myself
mistaken, you are meek spirited : and I verily be
lieve that did that hang-dog Charles whip you
every day, you would cling around his neck and
kiss him for it.” And the old uncle in his excess
of erlfergy struck the floor until the cups on the
wai te r ji n g led nga in.
Poor Maria had recourse to her tears, for she
found her entreaties useless. He continued walk
ing up and down slower and more slow, till he fi
nally slopped before the sofa on which she sat vain
ly endeavoring to hide and repress her tears,
whilst now and then a convulsive sob would break
forth. This was too much for uncle Harris’s af
fectionate but. rough heart. He seated himself by
her, and kindly taking her hand, said :
“Not to save Charles’ life would I do anything,
but for you I will. Drv your eves, and tell me
what you wish.”
“ Dear uncle, I wish vou to give me my money
to save Charles from prison. Delias been guilty
of forgery, and I came this morning to get you to
pay this note before presentation. The amount
is four thousand, will you save his name and him
self from disgrace for my sake ? ”
“I suppose I must say yes: and when all is
gone, then probably you will come back to your
old uncle again : and now, as it is all settled, come
kiss me and eat some breakfast, whilst I order the
0
carriage, for you cannot walk in the street.”
With smiles of hope did the poor wife seat her
self at the well filled table, and partake of the re
freshment which was now absolutely necessary.
She longed to be at home to throw herself into
her husband’s arms and tell him he was saved ;
and she, with new happiness in her heart thought,
surely his gratitude to me will prevent a recur
rence of his dissipated habits, such were her
thoughts as she rode home. What bad news a
waited her. She was met by her old nurse:
“ Oh ! miss Maria ! master is so ill, and wants
vou so.”
J
Maria found it ns the nurse said, her husband
was very ill, and the Doctor, who was immediate
ly sent for, pronounced him dangerous. Day by
day, %n:l night after nighi, did she watch by him
and lend on his hours of sickness and pain. Af
ter many weeks of severe illness, he slowly con
valesed. What was the wife’s joy to hear him
speak so kindly, so tenderly to her? Oh! you
who have felt as she did, can enter into her feel
ings. She informed him how she had succeeded
with her uncle.
“Thanks, ten thousand thanks, my beloved, for
your exertions-; and if God gives me strength J
will try and be worthy of vou. Now and hence
forth do I forswear cards, dice, and the intoxicat
ing wine cup, and devote myself entirely to my
profession. Now will 1 redeem my name and
character in your eyes, till under the weight of
renown and good deeds, my crime be for ever
buried from your sight. I have a dim recollec
tion of your suggesting some plan or other; tell
me my guardian angel, for so y 7 ou have proved,
and lain willing to follow where you may lead.”
“Dear Charles, 1 wish you to leave the city.—
To leave the companions who have tempted, the
haunts of vice which have misled you, and in
some quiet village in the far west make for your
self a name, much easier than building on the
ruins of your ch trader as a lawyer and a man of
business. Pardon me, speaking to you as I do.
I will speak to our kind uncle, 1 know he will .
help.”
Maria readily obtained his acquiescence: and
uncle Harris seeing the sunshine peeping from the
dark clouds most readily set about making enqui
ries for a suitable location.
Some months afterwards, Maria found herself
settled plainly, but comfortably, in the quiet but
thriving village ofß , in Ohio: where Charles
soon became known and respected from his intro
ductory letters, and own honorable exertions.—
How happy were now the letters which Maria
most joyfully penned to her uncle. How gladly
and proudly now, did she speak of her husband,
her home, and of her bright eyed boy 7, who had
been sent as a blessing unto her: and whom in
gratitude and affection she had named Harris.
Uncle Harris now paid them a visit to see his
niece, and that visit entirely blotted out his preju
dice against Charles. When lie first came in
sight of his vine-clad home, uncle Harris was
heard to exclaim, almost poetically for him,
“ Why, the half lias not been told me.”
What beaming happy faces met the old man as
he stepped out of his buggy and was cordially
welcomed by the now noble looking Charles Mer
edith, and the brightly smiling Maria, who ran to
meet him with her babe. Yes, so happy w 7 as he
during his visit, that lie came wisely to the con
clusion that here he would live, and here die. In
pursuance of this resolution, the old man sold out
liis interest in the firm, vested his large capital in
bank stock, and settled down quietly and merrily
to spend the remainder of his days on earth with
his sole relative, and darling niece, Maria.
Charles Meredith, afterwards Judge Meredith,
grew wealthy and prosperous, the happy husband,
arid father of a goodly family 7 of noble sons, and
fair daughters : and Maria, when she looked a
round on them, and let her eyes rest on his affec
tionate face, when reminded by him, as he often
did, of his crime and her exertions, would press
bis hand and say, “ Look around, and behold my
reward, the greatest and purest a wife can claim.”
CLOCK PEDDLING.
We have all read more or less of the inimita
ble sketches purporting to be of Yankee charac
ter, written by Judge Haliburton of Nova Sco
tia, under the tide of “ Slam Slick.” His honor
had evidently cut his eye teeth and aimed to im
part Ins cuteness to his countrymen ; but our
good neighbors of the provinces have not shaken
all the hay seed out of their hair, as the follow
ing story r , recounted to us by a gentleman of
Nova Scotia a few 7 day r s since, w r ill show.
Nova Scotia and New 7 Brunswick, said our in
formant, used to be a fine field for the enterpri
sing Yankee pedlars, before the advent of Sam
Slick —particularly of clock pedlars, but the rev
elation of that shrewd desciple of “ soft sawder
and human natur ” broke up the market entirely,
and clocks became rather scarce articles in those
parts, till about two years ago, w hen a couple of
knowing wights in Connecticut ventured to try
their luck in the hive, in that quarter again. They 7
were at first looked upon suspiciously, but their
appearance w 7 as in their favor certainly—they
wore the habiliments of native born citizens, and
demeaned themselves with the unsophisticated
candor, honesty and frankness, observable in ma
ny of the interior bred Nova Scotians. Then,
their clocks w 7 ere not the four-and-sixpenny af
fairs, ground out by the cart load per day in
steam-driving, labor-saving Yankeedom. The
round price of thirty, thirty-five and forty dollars
apiece, was asked for them —and to “ cap the cli
max,” on opening them the labels showed that
they were of real provincial manufacture—made
by Messrs. Old & Nephew, Anapolis.
This w 7 as enough—patronize home manufac
tures w 7 as the w 7 ord—the conceit took, the clocks
were the article of all time-pieces known in the
provinces.
Money was scarce, it was true, blit this was not
an insurmountable bar, as the venders, although
apparently by 7 no means over anxious to crowd
the market, w ere so well satisfied of the superior
qualities of their clocks, that they were willing to
leave them with responsible persons on trial for a
year, with a warrant to receive them back, if they
did not prove satisfactory —meanwhile taking a
negotiable note payable with interest in one year
for each one so left.
* The clock merchants, w r e may further add, had
none of the over-persuading rhetoric of the Yan
kee pedlar ; their words were few, but delivered
with such an appearance of simple candor that
none could doubt..
They had nothing to say against other time
pieces, not even Connecticut clocks, but they
knew what their own were, and hence were wil
ling to sell them on time —to deal like responsible
people with responsible people. The works
w r ere made under their own eyes, the brass being
of such refined quality that no verdigris would
accumulate upon them in the dampest places —
then each instrument had a fan wheel inside constant
ly in motion to fan away the dust , and w 7 as other
wise so adjusted that it would not require clean
ing for a long period, if ever, &c.
Here was the triumph of native manufacture
in which all could readily believe, unless they
doubted the evidence of their own senses—the
dust wheel in plain sight working away with ad
mirable industry—the lacquered brass bright as
newly minted sovereigns ; everything as stated,
nothin” exa^erated.
O O
In short, the clocks which cost but two dollars
a piece in Connecticut, were sold in immense
numbers at the prices already named ; or, in
other words, the people who got them were sold
by the Annapolis label and by the warrant, giving
them permission to return the article within a
year if not proving satisfactory ; the reader hear
ing in mind that vVherever this warrant was given
a negotiable note, payable in one year with inter
est was taken by the sellers.
Some, probably, with less regard to principle
than their own convenience, took the clocks with
the design of returning them as unsatisfactoi v
whether or no, supposing that the conditions of
the sale would enable them to retain them a year
without cost.
But now comes the after part of the story. —-
The notes were made over to other hands by
Old & Nephew, and neither member of that firm
were seen in those parts after the country was
fully supplied ; but during the past summer a col
lector has been on a tour through the provinces
with them. He found that the clock-holders gen
erally had discovered how dearly they were to
pay for the whistle, and that one and all were
ready to return the instruments for their notes.—
But no, the notes were bona fide evidence of in
debtedness not to be invalidated by their warrants ;
and paid they must be if the promisers had prop
erty enough to meet them. The law was ap
pealed to in many cases, but the law of course
sustained the validity of the notes, and the besn
of the matter is, that many of these c iscs, the
dust whee , lacquered brass, and all, came for
trial before Judge Haliburton, the renowned au
thor of sam Slick, himself, and he had to decide
against the clock holder, thus receiving further in
sight into the mysteries of “soft sawder and hu
man natur.”
As to the warrants, they would hold good
against the drawers if the drawers could be found
and if, on legal investigation, the clocks did prove
in accordance with their terms.
The whole transaction awakened, of course, a
bitter feeling against the note collector, and one
morning he discovered that, as a manifestation of
this ill will, his horses had been shaved to their
skins, mane, tail, and all; but the round profits
of the speculation reconciled him and his partners,
Messrs. Old & Nephew to the transaction.
This account, we believe is substantially true ;
but we have as good reason to believe that our
neighbors of the provinces who carry on a brisk
trade with our citv by means of the line of steam
ers, and by coasters, have discovered that all tra
ders on this side the line are not clock pedlers.
Portland Transcrijtt,
A LARGE AQUEDUCT.
The crowning glory of Marseiles is to be found
in the stupendous hydraulic work, which she has
just completed, surpassing in extent the aqueducts
of the Roman empire and all similar works of
modern days. It is not however an aqueduct hut
a small canal ; and its magnitude is derived
from its great length, the vast volume of water it
holds, and the difficulties encountered and over
come in the course of its construction. It is 51
miles in length and takes its water from the river
Durance at a place called Pcrtuis. The whole
tract of country through which it passes is moun
tainous, but not much of it broken by ridges and
ravines. It passes through three chains of moun
tains in its course, making in all a distance of 10
miles of tunneling through rock. It is carried
across the river Arc in the form of an aqueduct
on three rows of arches, and is continued in the
same form over the ravine through which that
small stream runs, in all at a distance of 2G2 feet
above the river. It is calculated that eleven tons
[of water per second pass through this canal ; and
it reaches the city at an elevation of 400 feet
-------- J
above the level of the sea, which is about the
same as 400 feet above the pavement of the
streets, which are hut a few feet above the tide
less water of the Mediteranean. A triple object
was to he gained in the con-truction of this work ;
water in abundance for the city, a water power
for certain branches of manufacturers ; and the
means ofirrigating the purlieus and region around
the city, where it that the value of
land will he enhanced three fold from copious ir
rigation. As tothe first object, that of watering
the city, it has been abundantly attained ; for
large streams of surplus water daily course along
the sides of many streets. The power that can
he spared for manufacturing is equal to that of
6,000 horses, and yet leaves a sufficient quantity
for the third object, that of watering an extensive
NUMBER 47.