Decatur Eagle, Volume 2, Number 8, Decatur, Adams County, 2 April 1858 — Page 1

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VOL. 2.

THE EAGLE. I PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY MORNING, BY PHILLIPS & SPENCER, Office, on Mun Street, in the old School House, one Square North of J. & P Crabs' Store Terms of Subscription : For one year, $ 1 50, in advance; $1 75, within the year, and $2 00 after the year has expiled. iLyNo paper will be discontinued until all arrerages are paid, except at the option of the Publishers. Terms of Advertising: One square, (ten lines) three insertions, $1 00 Each subsequent insertion, 25 IEFNo advertisement will be considered less than one square: over one square will be counted and charged as two; over two, as three, etc. , JOB PRINTING: We are prepared to do all kinds of job work, in a neat and work manlike manner, on the roost reasonable terms. Our material for the comple- ; tion of Job-Work, being new and of the latest! styles, aTid we feel confident that satisfaction can be given. «e> ■ «lj ■*- ass • ■ BY MRS. M. !■'. TUCKER. In the early days we knew, Mine and me were only two; Now how doubly blest are we. Me and mine are numbered three, Heaven looked on us and smiled, God hath given us a child She is faultless—she is fair, Soft and blown her silken hair. And her eyes are violets, hid Hid undert.e.tli a snowy lid; Rosy lip’ and tenth of pearl, Hath our little baby girl. From Imr cradle now I see, Chubby hands are reached to me. With the sweet b- seeching air Os adv-p unuttered prayer; And 1 Ibid her to my breast, Site caressing and caress, d. I am lookine—'ooking far. When- the mist-wreathed islands are, Os our darling’s destiny, Where the groves of spice and palm, Yield her blessing—yield her balm. I am listening, and 1 hear Whispers for her maiden ear; Words inaudible and low, That their import none may know , Yet the still interpreter Mak es them beautiful for her. I am thinking of the tide Whereupon her boat must glide; And I shudder, for 1 know Where the purest waters flow, Where the smoothest current rolls, There are quicksands—there are shoals. Could a love, all unexpressed. Render the beloved blest. Could we gaurd Fate’s secret spring, Future years would only bring Cloudless skies, and thoruless flowers. To this little one of ours. A Fool for a Wife.—Dr. Johnson said: Some cunning men choose fools for their wives, thinking to manage them; but they always fail. There is a spaniel and a mule fool, a spaniel fool may be made <o do by beating, the mule fool will neither do by words nor blows and the spaniel fool often turns mule at last. And suppose a fool to do pretty well, you niustha”e the continued trouble of making her do — Depend upon it, no woman is the worse for sense and knowledge. Marriage Maxims. There is no greater plague to * married woman than when her husband dischargeth on her back all his jars, quarrels, passions, and reserved) his pleasures joys, and company for another. Let men obey the laws, and women their husbands. Unhappy is that man who marrieth, being in poverty. Old age and marriage are alike; for we desire them both, and once possessed, then we repent. Give thy wife no power over thee; for if thou suffer her to-day to tread upon thy foot, she will not slick to-morrow to tread upon thy head. No man suffereth his wife much, but he is bound to suffer more. A good wife must be grave abroad, wise at home, patient to sulfer, constant to love, friendly to her neighbors, provident for her husband. Marriage with pence is this word’s Paradise; with strife this life’s Purgatory. Silence and patience cause concord between married couples. A chaste matron, by obeying her husband’s will hath rule over him. The first conjunction of man’s society is man and wife. It is better to marry a quiet fool than a witty scold. Il is through inward health that we enjoy all outward things.

A NIGHT WITH THE WOLVES. BY EMERSON BENNETT. A number of years ago,’ said an old settler, whom I met on my western trav-1 els, 'I took mv family to Wisconsin, and located myself in the woods, about ten miles from the nearest settlement, and at , least five from the nearest neighbor.— The country round was mostly forest; and wild beasts and Indians were so numer- [ ous in that quarter, that my friends at the east, to whom 1 gave a description of mv locality, expressed great fears for our safety, und said they should be less sur- I prised to learn of our having all been cut off, than to hear of our still being alive i out there at the end of a couple of years. •However, I did not feel much alarmed on mv own account, and my wife was as brave as a hunter; but then we had three ; children, the oldest only ten, and some--1 times, when I was away from home, the i sudden growl of a bare, the howl of a : [ wolf, or the scream of a panther, would [ [ make me think of them, and feel quite I : uneasy. ‘For a while, at first, the night-screech-ing and howling of these wild animals ‘ alarmed the children a good deal, ’and ’ sometimes my wife and me—especially when we mistook the Cry of the panther for an Indian yell; but we soon got used [ to the different sounds, and then did not mind them so much; and after I had got [a few acres cleared around the dwelling, i they generally kept more distant at night, i just ns if they comprehended that the ! place, now in the possession of their enemies, was no longer to be an abode for ; them. Besides, I nowand then shot one, [ which thinned them a little, and probably I frightened the others, for they gradually I became less bold and annoying.

•During the first year, I had two rathI er narrow escapes, once from a bear, and j once from a panther; but the most remarl;I able ad venture of all was the one which ; happened during the second winter, and ’ which I have always designated as a ■ ‘Night with the Wolves. : ‘One bitter cold morning, the ground ed and frozen that no feet could sink into it, I brought out the horse for my wife to ride to C***,the nearest settlement, where she had some purchases to make, which she wished to attend to herself.— Besides being well muffled up in hei own clothing, 1 wrapped a large buffalo robe around her; and admonishing her that ' the woods were full of danger after dark, I urged lier lobe sure and get back before sunset, which she promised to do. ‘All div long, after hei departure, , from some cause for which I could not I account, 1 felt very much depressed and uneasy, as if something evil were going I to happen; and when i saw the sun about half an hour high, and no signs I of my wife returning 1 got out mv pistols, rifle, ammunition, and hunting-knife, saddled a young and rather skittish colt, and bidding the children keep within doors, and the house safely locked, 1 mounted and rode off to meet her, which I expected to do at every turn of the horse-path. But at every turn I was doomed to disappointment; and when I had put mde after mile behind me, without seeing any signs of her, I became more and more alarmed, and dashed on still faster. ‘lt was just abmit dark when I saw the lights of C*** gleaming in the distance; j but before I leached the town I met my ; wife hastening homeward—she having ; been unexpectedly detained bv meeting an old acquaintance, who had recently 'come on from the eastward, and with whom she had remained to gather the news and take supper, the time passing away so quickly as to render her belated before she was aware of it. ‘I was greatly rejoiced to find her safe and unharmed—but not a little puzzeled !to account for my presentiment of evil, which it appeared to me had taken place without cause, though in this respect I was greatly mistaken, as the sequel will show. ‘We now set off at a brisk trot homeward, through a dense, dark, gloomy wood, which lined our way on either side, and had safely proceeded about five miles, when we were somewhat startled by a series of long, plaintive bowls, at a considerable distance, and in different di reclions, and which our experience told us were wolves, seemingly calling and answering euch other through the great forest. ‘The wolves of this region were of the larger and fiercer species; and though ordinarily and singly they might not attack a human being, yet in numbers and press'ed by hunger, as they generally were at ! this season of the year. 1 bv no means felt certain tnal we should not be molested. ‘Accordingly we quickened the pace of our horses and as we hurried on I grew every moment more uneasy and alarmed, as I noticed that many of the sounds gradually approached us. We had just entered a deep hollow, where a few large

“Our Country’s Good shall ever be our Aim V» illing to Praise and not a.raid to Blame.

DECATUR, ADAMS COUNTY, INDIANA, APRIL 2, 1858.

trees stretched their huge branches over : a dense thicket, when suddenly there 1 arose several loud, harsh, baying, and snarling sounds close at hand. The next moment there was a quick reading and 1 thrashing among the bushes; and then some six or eight large wolves—lean, gaunt, and maddened with hunger—sprung into the path close beside us. ‘This happened so suddenly and unexpectedly, that my wife gave a slight I scream and dropped her rein; and the horse, rearing nnd plunging at the same! moment, unseated her; and she fell to the ground, right in the very midst of the savage beasts, whose glaring eyes shone in the darkness like so many coals of fire. [ ‘Fortunately, her sudded fall startled, I the wild animals a little; and as they | momentarily drew back she, with rare presence of mind, at once gathered her buffalo robe, which she had dragged with her, in such a manner about her person as to protect herself from the first onset of their fangs. The next moment the fe- ' rocious animals, with the most savage growis, sprung at her, at me, and at the two horses simultaneously. Hers at once [ shook himself clear of his foes and fled; and mine began to rear and plunge in [ such a manner that ,1 could not make use | of a single weapon, and only by main ; strength keep him from running away with me. ‘lt was a terrible moment of exciting agony; and the instant that I could release mv feet from the stirrups, I leaped to the ground with a yell—-my rifle slipping from [my hands, nnd discharging itself by the concussion, and my steed rushing like I lightning after his flying companion over : the frozen snow. ‘Luckily, I had my loaded pistols and ! jmy knife convenient to my grasp; and; scarcely conscious of what I was doing, I J but thinking only that the dear mother ' of my little ones lay fairly beneath some; I three or ■ four of the furiously fighting[ I and snarling wild beasts I grasped the! (weapons, one in each hand, cocked them 1 i at the same instant, and, fairly jumping I into the midst of my enemies, placed the ' , muzzles against the heads of two jhat ’ J . *•' v/ir» I nip unrl £- '* > both together. > ‘Both shots, thank God! took effect — • it could not. be otherwise, and as the two > wolves rolled howlingly back in their • death agonies, their starving companions, 1 smelling and getting a taste of their blood ' j and instinctively comprehending that they L I were now fairly in their power, fell upon • them with the most ravenous fury, nnd ’ literally tore them to pieces, and devoured them before my very eyes, almost ■ over the body of mv wife, and in less, I - should say, than a minute of time. ' ‘Ascertaining, by a few anxious inquiries, that mv wife was still alive and un-. - harmed, 1 bade her remain quiet; and ! picking up my rifle, I proceeded to load . all my weapons with the greatest dispatch. ' As soon as I had rammed the first ball; I home, I felt tempted to shoot another of • the animals; but at that momet I heard ' : a distant howling; and fearing we should ! ■ soon be beset by another pack, I reserv-j ■ ed mv fire the next extreme danger, and hurriedly loaded the others. ‘By the time I had fairly completed ’ this operation, our first assailants, having ■ nearly gorged themselves upon their more unfortunate companions, began to 1 ; slink awav; but the cries of the others at - the same time growing nearer, warned ; me to be upon my guard. ‘I had just succeeded in getting my ! ! wife more securely rolled in her protecting robe, as the safest thing I could do in that extremity—and mvself, pistols in hand, in a defensive attitude over her prostrate body, when some eight or ten more of the savage and desperate creatures made their appearance upon the scene. ‘There was a momentary pause as they ’ came into view and discovered me, during which their eyes glared and shone like living coals, and then, with terrific , growls and snarls, they began to circle ; round me, each moment narrowing the space between us. •Suddenly one, more daring or hungry than the others, bounded forward, and received a shot from one of my pistols directly between his eyes; and, as he rolled back upon the snow, a part of the others sprung upon him, as in the case of the first. ‘But I had no time tocongratulate myself that I had disposed of him: for almost at the same instant I felt the lacerating fangs of another in my thigh, which caused me to shriek with pain; and my poor wife, with an answering shtieke, believeingit was all over with me, was about to get up and face the worst, when, shouting I to her not to stir, that I was still safe, I ; placed my pistol against the head of my assilant, and streached him quivering upon the snow also. ; ‘I still had my rifle in reserve; and ' pointing that at the fighting pack. I pour- 1 ed its contents among them. How many were wounded I do not know; but almost immediately the space around us became j 1 once more cleared of our howling eremies, !

some limping as they fled, and appearing ‘ to be harrassed by the other. ‘Again it appeared to me we had met with a wounderful deliverance; and thought the wound in my thigh was some- j what painful, a brief examination satisfied me that it would not prove serious; and I hastily proceeded to reload tny weapons, my wife meantime getting upon her feet, embracing me tenderly, and earnestly thanking God for our preser- , vatjon, Oh, the dear children! she exclaimed, with maternal tenderness; ‘little do they! know how near they have come to being made orphans, ano left alone in this solHilary wilderness! Let us hasten home to them! Oh, let us hasten home to them, while we have an opportunity!’ ‘We have no opportunity, I gloomily replied. ‘Hark! there are more of our foes in the distance, do you not hear 'them?’ ‘And are they coming this way, too? she tremblingly inquired. *1 fear so.’ ‘Oh, great God! ohatthen will become of us! she exclaimed; ‘for I nmalmostcer tain that we shall not both survive a third 1 attack ‘I see but one way of escape,’ said I, 'anxiously. ‘W e must climb a tree, and remain in the branches till morning. ‘We shall surely freeze to death there![ she replied. ■I trust not; but, at all events as our horses are gone, we have no alternative. I think your buffalo robe, well wrapped [ around, will protect you from the cold, as it has done from the wolves; and as for ! I myself, 1 will endeavor to keep warm by [climbing up and down, and stamping up-[ on the limbs. ‘But why not kindle a fire? she quick- | ly rejoined, her voice suddenly animated with a hope that I was obliged to disap- [ point ‘For two reasons-,’ I replied. ‘First, because we have not time, do you not hear another hungry pack howling?—and secondly, because we have not the materials, ; the loose brush and slicks being buried under the snow. •there seems noting Oh, mv poor, dear children! May the good God grant that they be not made orphans this night!’ ‘1 hade her take heart and not despair; and then selecting a large'tree, whose lower limbs were broad and thick, but above the reach of our enemies, I hastily assisted her to a good foothold, and immediately climbed up after her. ‘We were not there a moment too soon; for scarcely had we got ourselves settled in a comparatively comfortable position, when another hungry pack of our enemies appeared below us. howling, snarling, [and fighting, their up turned eyes occa- ' [sionally glowing fearfully in the darkness. ; ‘But we were safe from their reach; [and all that long, dismal night we re- [ mained there, listening to their discordant tone*, and thinking of the dear ones at : home. I ‘The night was intensely cold; and in spite of all tny efforts to keep my sluggish j blood in circnlation, 1 became so benumb- [ ed before morning, that 1 believe I should I have given up and perished, except for [ the pleading voice of my wife, who beg- | ged me, for God’s sake, to hold out, and [ not leave her a widow and my children i fatherless ‘Daylight came at last; and never was; I morn hailed with greater joy. Our foes [ I now slunk awav, one bv one, and left us | to ourselves; and a few minutes after their [ disappearance, I got down and exercised 1 myself violently; and having thus brought [ back a little warmth to my system. I as- ; 1 sisted my wife to alight, and we at once j started homeward. ‘I scarcely need add that we arrived 1 there in due time, to find our poor, nightlong terrified children almost frantic with joy at our safe retun. His Occupation.-A first-rate joke took [place quite lately, in the Court room. A woman was testifying in behalf of her son, and swore that he had worked on a farm ‘ever since he was born. The lawyer who cross-examined her ; said: ‘You assert that your son has worked on a farm ever since he was born? •Ido.’ •What did he do the first year?’ , 'He milked The lawver evaporated. Can you tell me Bill, how it is that a rooster always keeps his feathers so sleek and smooth? No, said Bill. Why he al ways carries his comb with him. To prevent vottr hair from conming ; out, never let your wife catch you kissing the servant girl. No pupil is so greatly to be pitied as the pupil of the eye, for that is continual- ' ly under the- lash

An Arkansas Wedding, | Arkansas! The state of all the southern confederacy worst ridden by demagogues and politicians. Rich in her soil and inincal wealth, and poorest in every- ! thing like internal improvements and commercial facilities of all kinds. Her public roads are quagmires, and her rivers innocent of any improvement save those afforded bj- nature. Jogging along [ over one of these self-same roads, I broke my buggy trying to drive round u suspiI cious spot, where some philanthropist had [ erected a hickery sapling bearing the ominous words, ‘‘No bottom hear.’’ Delayed and benighted. I at last reached a log house, whose blazing fire-light through the open door promised comfort; and if I guessed aright some half dozen horses hitched at the gate indicated that ‘something was going on.’ 1 hailed:— ‘Hallo, who lives here?’ ,Me, Bob Woods. What do ye want?’ ’Supper and lodging, if you can accommo fate me.’ ‘This brought out ‘Bob woods’ to the gate, where lie proceeded to inform me his ‘darter Melindy was ’bout getlin married, but he’d as leis make a dollar as not es I’d feed tny horse myself, and sleep, on a corn shuck shake-d wn afore the fire.’ I jumped at the offer aud out of my buggy, (ed ‘Lighting’ a better sapper ! than he ever had in his life before, washed tny hands, and went to see the fun. I was made at home in moment The idea of an ‘Orlcen feller’ currying and feeding his own horse, was something entirely new, and I was a favorite instanter, gurranteed by a prompt invitation to‘liquor.’ The parson imbibed, drew an enormous [ red bandana across his lips, and announced that ‘he was ready to talk when the rest was.’ This brought forth the happy couppie. The groom was a lanky speciin homespun, and led his bride by the hand. She was bouncing, rosy-cheeked damsel, following a step or two behind, feeling evidently in a novel position. — [ ‘You Melindy, take yer finger outer yer mouth!’ Melindy cast a defiant look at ! her maternal relative, withdrew the offending member, wiped ii on her apron * ‘ ’ * > •••-•- Tha vAiintr nurson, alter some little trouble, arranged them to his satisfaction and proceeded. ; ‘John Stribner, do you take Melinda Woods, in the presence of these, witnesses to be you lawful wedded wife?' ‘That's wet I’m here for," answered Mr. Stribner, cramming his hands into his breeches pockets. ‘You wnl please answer, Yes or no.' •Yes or no,’promply returned the gentleman. ‘No, no! say yes.' ‘» -a-a-s, then!’ casting a sheepish look around him. ‘Melindy Woods.’ ‘Y-a-a-s!’ ‘Wait a moment, please. Melindy Woods, do you take John Stribner, in the presence of these, witnesses to be joilr lawful wedded husband?’ ‘I reckin.’ ‘Then in the presence of these witnesses spoken of, 1 declare you man an’ wife, ’cordin to the laws of Arkansas an’ the Gospil; an’ wot’s thus jined let no man put in sunder.’ The parson turned away, flushed and excited, but was recalled by a querry from Mr Stribner. ‘Mus’ a’ kiss her now, George? ‘ ’ s you please, John; she’s yours now. ‘Hold up yer mouf Melindy.’ ‘Shan’t Jo it! Right afore folks.’ John didn’t argue the point, but sidled up to the grinning group where I was islanding, and proposed that “us boys [should take some ‘bust head’ (whiskey) Meanwhile, I heard Melindy’s triumphant voice among some of her companions. ‘Kiss! humph! Jawn’s turned fool, I believe.' 1 slept on my cornshuck shake- ; down afore the fire soundly that night, being separated froin the bridal apartment by a curtain extemporised for the ’occasion. From behind its folds I heard Jawn’s’ remonstrating voice, followed by a host of loving appologies from Melindy for the refused kiss. I’ll take mv ‘aflydavy’ that he received that one a hundred [ fold, with interest. A New Jersev justice of the peace was traveling with a friend in the western part jof Ohio, and finnaDy came into quite an I unsettled region. Late in the day the two travellers reached a cabin, where they asked for supper and lodging. The old man was away, and the old woman promply refused, but the grown up daughter put in a good word fur the good looking men, and her mother finally consented. After supper, as they were all sitting be- ! fore the fire, the old woman began to ‘alk: ‘I s’pose, stnngers, vou'r from Connecticut, oi some such Yankee place? •Oh, no, ma’am, said the justice, we I are not Yankees by any means. •Well, where did you come from then? ‘We are from New Jersey, madam. ‘Oh, good laudy!’ said the wotnsn. ‘worse yet ’

Treachery. ‘How do you learn ail this? asked one person of another, who had been detailing a long history of a third individual’s imperfections. id, ‘Oh! you know we two e intijnate frit nds. She tells me all hertfeffairs, and asks me to advise heron all occasions.— It wouldn’t do to let her know what I've told you. Y ou, of course, understand this; but you seemed to have such an exulted opinion of her, that I thought it would be only fair to let you know that she’s no nearer pet lection than you and I are ’ •I believe you profess to be attached to her, don’t you?’ ‘Oil, yes; why, she believes that I love her better than almost anybody in the world. She can’t ke..p anything secret from me. Why, don’t you think 1 got her to own up upon the whole of that asI fair just by a little extra show of affectionate interest in her. Edwards, whose interest it was to have her in Lis power, requested me to try and discover the truth of the matter, and I did so without the least difficulty. ‘Then, in reality, you dislike Mrs.———, do you?’ I ‘Why, bless you! no, not at •all. Indeed, I rather like her. She is so unaffectedly kind and generous-hearted, and then she is so delightfully easy to man* age. I should be quite lost without her. ‘And yet you betrayed her into the ! hands of one whois at heart, as vorr well know, her enemy, and have just now hem revealing many of her faults to me. May [ the Lord deliver me from si- h a friend. ) Who does not echo that wish? AVlial ; a detestable spirit is that which !e . Is man or woman to worm into the secret heart . i of another, only to betray the confidence , of which they become possessed Yet how many are the creatures in human shape wlio make it a constant prnc- ; [ lice thus toplay Judas. Taking Notes. A great many years ago there wm a J clergyman in a town in massachusetts, whom wc may call Rev. Mr. Cogswell, i who had an old and favorite servant, by the name of Cuffee. As was often the j 1 CrtSi . v/uijvc emit we tuic'ii >»'»«.. a he pleased ns anybody in the house, and t he probably|en ertaiu d a high r sped of , himself. On the Sabbath, l.e might have fieen seen in the ministers pew, looking i round with a gran 1 air, nnd. so far as ap- . pearance indicated, profiting quite as much by his master's preaching as many others about him. Cutlee noticed, one .[Sunday morning, that several gentlemen were taking notes of the sermon, and i>e determined to do the same thing. So, in ; the afternoon, lie brought a sheet of pa- ; per and pen and ink. The minister happening to look down into Lis pew, could hardly maintain bis gravity, as he saw the . negro ‘spread out’ to his task, with one . side of his face nearly touching his paper and his tougue thrust out of his mouth. Cuffee kept at his notes, however, until the sermon was concluded, knowing noth* . ! ing and caring as little about the wonderment of bis r.aster. When the minister , reached home, he sent for Cuffee to cemo j into his study. •Wei), Cuffee,’ said he, ‘what were you doing in meeting this as- ’ ternoon?’ 'Doing, mass.n? Taking notes! , was the reply. ‘low, taking notes? exclaimed the master, ‘Sartin, massa; all the gentleman take notes.’ ‘Well, then, let me see them,’ said Mr. Cogswell.— Gull’ee thereupon produced his sheet of paper; and his master found it scrawled all over with all sorts of marks and lines . as though a dozen spiders, dipped in ink, had marched over it. ‘Why, this is all I nonsense,* said the minister, ns lie looked at the ‘notes.’ ‘Well, massa,’ Cuffee replied, ‘I thought so all the time you was preaching.’ Benefit of a Steam Choir.—A writer . in the Religious Telescope approves the , recent introduction of steam in ‘propelling’ I church organs, because ‘steam never winks . at some one across the room just before tb.e piece is started; never titters and laughs at each turn of the music; never i blushes or slicks up its fan before its face I nor hangs its head; never whispers during i the sermon; never turns over the note book to find the time during prayer, nor 1 gazes over the congregation to see who is *1 kneeling: never writes notes and passes 1 them wliile the minister is preaching. For these reasons,’ says the writer, ‘if singing is to be done by proxy, let us employ ■ steam.’ A Yankee lady pictures a good ninn as ■ ‘one who is keerful of his clothes, don’t drink spirits, kin read a Bible ’thout spillin’ the words, kin eat a cold dinnor on ■ wash days to save the wimmim folks from co. kin" and takes and pays for his county paper.’ This is a good picture of a good man. ’ The Chicago Press has an advertisement of five pages of eight columns each of lands delinquent for city texes. Good f&r the Cbirsgo Preu, but ba I Chicago.

NO. 8.