Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 2, Number 5, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 29 July 1871 — Page 6

gen hut vill »t

K»i

LEONA.

BY JAXKT ». CLARK.

[Competent literary critics have pronounced the following poem unsurpassed by any other production of its class in our language. It is perfect in rhyme, beautiful in figure and expression, and we knot# our reader* will thank us for its re-production.]

Leona, the hour draws nigh. The hour we've awaited so long, For the angel to open a door through the sky. That my spirit may break from its prison and try

Its voice in an infinite sons.

\fust now as the slumbers of night Came o'er me with peae—giving breath, The curtain half lifted revenl*d to my sight Those windows which look or. the kingdom of light,

That LKrden» the river of death,

And a vision fell solemn and swo»t, Hringmg gleams of a morning-lit hind I saw the while shore which the pale waters bent, And 1 heard the low lull as they broke at their feet

Who waikrfl on the beautiful strand.

And I wondered why spirits shou'd cling To their clay with a struggle and sigh, When life's purple autumn is better than spring. And the soul flies away line a sparrow,..to sing

In a climate where leaves never die.

I/eona, come close to my bed, "a And lay your dear hand on my brow The same touch that thrilled nie in days that arc- fled, And raised the lost roses of youth from the dead,

Can brighten the brief moments now. We have loved froin the cold world apart And your trust was too generous and true For their hate to o'erthrow when the slanderer's dart Was rankllriE de«p in rny desolate heart, 1 was dearer than over to you

I thank tlie (Jreat Father for this, That our love is not lavished in vain Each germ in the future, will blossom to bliss. And the forms that we love, and the lips that we kiss.

Never shrink at the shadow of pain.

H.v the light of this faith am I taught That my labor Is only begun In the strength of this hope have I struggled and (ought With the legions of wrong, till my armor has caught &

The gleam ol Kternity's sun.

Leona, look forth and behold, I'Vom headland, from hillside, and dr-c-p. The day-king surrenders his banners of gold The twlluriit advances through woodland

(4 IK

wold,

And the dew* are beginning to weep.

The moon's silver hair lies uncurled, Down the broad-breasted mountains away lire sunset's red glories again shall be furled, On the walls 01 the west o'er the plains of the world,

I shall rise In a limitless day. O! come not In tears to my totnb, Nor plant with frail flowers the sod There Is rest among roses too sweet tor its gloom, And life where the lilies eternally bloom

In the balm-breathing gardens of Ood.

Yet deeply those memories burn Which bind ine to you and to earth And 1 sometimes have thought that my being would yearn In the bowers of its beautiful home, to return, 1

And visit the homo of Its birth.

'TA'nu'wai^c

lv,'$(Ri?^de*'o"t

bcHa^f

Hut the laiul-breeze of Heaven is beginning to play— ,, Life's shadows are meeting I-.ternity day,

And Its tumult Is hushed In the past. lieona, good-bve should the grief That Is gathering iunv-yJifVn'1 long for fllii-l- J!—,—

.7"

rt'T,!i!

',s,ffiVoun,,,y,,,,oi,*h

lou°-

i»vrimio and river, to nie.

A Strange Adventure,

"Good morning sir—a lovely day I started rather guiltily from the 'Stooping position in which tho voice of my unknown eolloquist had accosted jiio. In truth and in laet, I was engaged in oxamining tlio padlock mooring of a ^graceful littlo boat, whoso koel lay on "tho shore, and meditating to myself ^!how vory agreeable a row aeross the crystal lake would ho through tlio si4Mence of tho August daybreak. "Good-morning!" I responded, turn"~lng to moot tin* inquiring gaze of a tall .gentlomanly looking personage, appar--Stoutly about thirty-iivo years of age, swlio stood loaning against a littlo jjato. and handsome, with piere-

lie was dark ing eyes, a lbrohoad slightly hald, and .* Jot black moustache, twisted gently lway lroin a small, nervous mouth uid his dress was tasteful and faultless in ho last dogrilO. lie had taken oil' his light si raw n.U f-o greet nio.and now ,, stood apparently Awaiting some more ^-lefinito explanation 011 my part. "I beg your pardon, sir, I stammorj'd, rather confused, "I—I hope I am \.:iot tresp ssmg 011 private grounds?" "Why, sir, "you are undeniably on private grounds," returned the stranger, smiling "but I think wo won't •••vail it by any such harsh name as tresspassing. Vou aro slaying in the noighsjerhood

I am staying at the 'Lake House' i'or the summer," I explained "aiul I suppose my morning walk has led mo ••-further than 1 at first intended." 011 are about six miles from tho house, sir," returned my companion, ooviiieoiusly. "And judging by your occupation when I eame down to the gate, Vou would not object to crossing mback 1 water."

,ld

I laughed and acknowledged the fact. deep. "To tell the truth, sir, I was just "Let's hinkltlg how nieo and co row would be. In fact, if tho boat had not been a sstened, I should have most ussurftdiyVtve braved ail consequences and Uoldlt ul ventured in? experiment. 1 tMftkv can overcome tho objecHon," tjtv- stranger, quietly turn»K art old,Mined tree, whoso gnarl-

trunk owrhung the transparent tide, aud dmwfcig a key from its hollow depth. "Sapj ose wo get up an appetite for .trdaknust together? I am not an iue&perienfe'd oarsman myself, ind 1 s-appivse jou\iuierstand tlio art '•*'tPro|climg onUrtVator?" iV'i*1

Rivw

\i»portunitv. and

Pifl do»H iitdlcrtn\i\- (sluwuion in hnm,Vr°

U,:UUir?''"

tle^ Ik

tun

grwhopj^is otu »In Vermont Uw»f lab* thv JghouM' U* dtstea^i1* by 1x4. Town e*l i».

I a bl^h gHHi-

S,Vnloliowe,\

!M,n8 luirv-like

tiltlo shell, MLnv new ae.j.iain.anee. "UcHliy.^Lfs is an un-

ox peeled treat. 1

to thank yon MiffieieiViT tcsv." -v "Then do not attemm gentleman. Inclining hu dignified, M.:h-br«d unprv-xiHi ine ni tre ami nj, vor. I a ,u no you the mutual. vui to the right a ii «h*l| gvt entangled in vtuuipr floating water-allies, if\viure Tub I }H»n nu word this is f»et morniti. sor the water.'

now how ourcour-

id the it li a .vhtch fain

UlU

It vu. r,.ji .i! A c••«.(dut«r«i tiK. »f an Av

U, a::,

1 2 I

ji fc-'u-ine.jt, rtimojtt losing their^

TERKJS-HAUTE

outliuo in tho blue radiance of the cloudless heavens. I wish I were an artist!" broke almost involuntarily irom my lips.

My companion smiled. Need a man be an artist to enjoy tho beauties of such a scene as this?" he urmured, lazily. "I suppose there isn't a living soul within a mile of us, always excepting birds and fishes

I suppose not," I assented. But, nevertheless, the forms arid ceremonies of society cannot entirely be cast aside. May'l know whom I have had the pleasure of helping to an hour's pleasure?"

I drew my card from my waistcoat pocket, and handed it acroso with a smile.

Vernon Cheverly, eh A pretty name, sir. I congratulate myself on making your acquaintance. Will you allow me to reciprocate your frankness

He bowed low as he presented me with a bit of brown paper that he extracted lroni an old cigar-case. Upon it was inscribed the one word "Albert." "Albert—who?" I involuntarily questioned.

I.BEKT,

sir!" returned my com

panion, starting into a sitting posture, and regarding me with stern dignity. "Prince Albert, sir! Albert of England, Scotia, (1, and wales!"

I stared at him aghast. Was the man mad or dreaming? To your kneos, sir he said with a sharp and sudden imperiousness. "Have you 110 reverence for royalty?"

I oboyed his quick sign, almost before I know what I was doing. He smiled complaicontly, at the same time drawing a gaud j' tinsel star from his pocket, and gravely affixing it to the left breast of his coat." "Yes, my friend," he went on impressively, "You are now in the presence of the Prince-Consort of Great Britain Men have amused themselves by disseminating the idle talc that I was dead that's all they know about it. I am not dead and, what is more, I nevc-r shall die. I am privileged with the gift of everlasting existence. As long as I wear this jewelled star, death can never come near me!"

I felt the cold perspiration oozing from every pore in my body I could almost feci myself grow pale as I became fully convinced that I was upon the solitary bike with a madman! I had heard when I first came to this mountain retreat that there was a large asylum somewhere in the vicinity*, but I hail never given the affair a second thought. Now I was reaping tho consequences of my own folly ana recklessness.

His dark, piercing eyes roved restlessly fronrobject to object. Suddenly they" rested on my appalled countenance.

You don't believe what I am saying?" The remembrance of what I had often read and heard about tho expediency—nay, the positive nocessity—that existed for indulging ynonomaniacs to tho top of their bent," in-whatever whim might possess their minds, occurred to me, and I hastened to reply, "Of course I believo it! Why shouldn't I

Ah why slfbnldn't you, iijdoed Ilut people aro so goeptical now-tedaj's. Now, whon Victor Emmanuel was staying at my house, and Pope Pius vii..... vrjr ur tiio Mediterranean—Take caro where aro you going?"

I had thought to take advantage "of tho new path into which his troubled mind bad wandered, to divert our course a littlo moro shoreward but his cunning ioving eyo was upon me in an instant. "It—it is getting very hot here," I Hammered "I thought, perhaps,

should find it

1.TEE MO

Tut up the knife, your Royal High ness," I said counterfeiting an ofT-hand ease that I by no means felt. Where's the use of it between friends? Lot's talk about the (iuoen." 1 was tho moro anxious to seenre his attention, as I saw moving fitrures on the shore scarcely half a mile awav fYom us, the flutter of a white handkerchief, and then a total disappearance of the figures. Help was at hand, I felt quite sure, if I could only maneuver so as to roach it.

No, not about the Queen," said the poor maniac "that grieves and afflicts me." He closed his knife as lie spoke, "lint, do you know," ho continued, I am haunted?"

Haunted I said. "Yes—haunted bvn horrible,'ugly, old woman—a witch, or ogress, a female. fiend. Now, do 3-011 know," he said, moving close up to mo, and speaking in a hnv mysterious voice, "she won't let mo aloutf?"

".She won't. Sometimes she climbs u^ among the RIHIX nlglit, and pits there winking through.my. bodroottpall night. Sometimes sho wifues jumping down from the clouds among the raindrops, and sometimes—t hero she is noWj with three pair of Has, and a ftce like a fish's 1"

He uttered Ah olritch sere'finf, as he looked down into tho cleaiyalii.iihg

escape from lior!" W*«l«im-

ed, vigorously seining my oars. "Sho can't follow us on to dry land, that's certain. Pnll away."

No, she can't. Wo might hide among tho woods, only, if sho should turn into a squirrel, and jump up and down ambng the trees—she does sometime "Well, Jlien, we'll borrow a gun anddispose ofher," said pulling d«p»ratoly towards tho shore, while tho perspiration, cold and clammy as midnight dews, streamed down* tnv temples. "What aro you in such a devil of a hurry for?" demands! my companion, raiher nionwely. "Hold hard a little, can't you

I chocked my exertions. Evidently he was in no humor to be trifled witli. No hurry at all," I said as cat inly as possible "only, you see, the old witch is following you up pretty closely, and "We are too near the shore,' he interrupted, abruptly.

We were within a few rods of the clustering bushes that I knew contained help, oh, heaven, could I but have reai i,i«d their friendly shelter. JIow like a mass of lead my heart sank in my bosom, a* I m*w him catch up the .:~s, and strike out onc«more in a con•a rv direction.

But as he turned his head awav, I '•ght up the sheathed knife, "and r** d, turn-

.0 Wh Ml. it he deman.

*J- Ugei Uii- lt.. ,»UUin uxv uml.

I *»td

your witch,* as I rooid.

Ay 9

ctoso to mine as to glare tip in

to mv eves under tho very shadow of my "broad-brimmed hat "you're traitor and a traitor liko all the rest of ox! Hut I'm prepared for you. See!

And with a burst of laughter, so dissonant that the very tide seemed to tremble and quiver, he flashed a long, sharp knife in the air, describing a circle of gleaming light around his head. My blood seemed turned to ice in my veins.

we ought to go ashore, and1see Sxrkdft 'has become of her His eyes roved restlessly ialong the green bank.

I don't know what do y$u think?" Why, she is your enemy, ifo doubt it was she who spread the report o! your death. Yon onght to address her in a conciliatory manner and if you could once bring her to good terms, what would prevent you from assuming your proper station once moro in England "That's very true. Here, head her in towards the land. I wonder I never thought of that before."

Poor fever-brained lunatic! Even in the consciousness of my own mortal peril, my heart ached for the crazy llights of his sick fancy.

Wo were close to tho friendly land the long silver-green tresses of the willows almost touched my throbbing forehead, when my strange companion started to his feet, with a yell that aroused all the echoes floating"over the peaceful lake. "Traitor—spy! double dyed villain you have been deceiving mo. Your hirelings lurk among yonder bushes. But it is in vain !—the Royalty of England shall never fall a prey to base artifices like these."

He sprang toward me like an infuriated tiger. At the same instant the shore seemed to become alive with hurrying figures and with a last impulse I caught up the rope that lay coiled in tho bottom of the boat, with xne end affixed to an iron hook, and Threw it desperately shoreward. I could .gee a tall form plunging waist deep Into the water to grasp at it and t^ien the clinging arms of my terrible companion were wreathed around me, and I knew no more.

Are you better, sir Sii "Better? Yes—110—Ican'ttell. Vhere am I

Here, at the little inn, snug in bed but you've had a stormy time of it. What on earth possessed you to go out in a boat with that poor gentleman "Mad, isn't he?" I asked with all tho frightful occurrences of tho morning crowding back upon my mind, as one may remember the hideous phantasies of a troubled dream. "Mad as a March Hare, sir thinks he's Prince Albert. They say he's the worse case in all the asylum, sir—escaped last night, and has been wander-: ing about tlio shore all the morning."

Is I10 safe at last Yes sir they had a deuce of a time getting hold of him though. He throw you overboard as if you hid been a willow twig, and then swam liko a fish himself. Dick Dayton—that's his keeper, sir—says he's got tho strength of twenty Sampsons in those long arms of his."

So ended that long, frightful mom ing among the peaceful solitudes of Shadow Lake but I carry an everlast memorial ot it, in tho shape of a single lock of hair that gleams, white as silver, among tho chestnut luxuriance that curls over my. temples. While I live, and while that lock retains its ghastly whiteness,I shall never remember my peril and deliverence without a shudder. ••!-.

THE NEQRO AND THE BALLOT. A few years ago in this house a color-

igo

ed woman would not have been allowed a seat. Now the. negro is enfranchised and what- js th^result. We see the black man Walk thewreets proud as any man, sii^ply becase heiias -the ballot. Now blabk men are tnafrora ot citHes, legislators and office holdeVs. Nobody dares to vent his splepfl on ne£™os to-day. eTltrons,^but they'al ways liavo important business which keeps them from attending. The negro invites them and they come. Two yoars ago they did not.

Five years ago there was a negro preacher by tjie name Of Revels. He was known as "Revels the niggor preacher." Now lieuis in the United States Sonate. Last year the Republic cans had a ratification meeting in Leavenworth, and Senator Revels was to be thero, and thoy appointed a committee to wait on him, and that committee hired tho best room in the best hotel, and provided a sumptuous banquet. Why? Because he holds a ballot and represents a million of votes. Five years ago had he gone into that hotel as a guest ho would have been shown to the door in a summary mannor.

To-day tho conservative Republicans bid tho negrfl good morning and even the Democrats look wistfully at him.

I visited last year tho Legislature of Tennessee. I inquired, "Who is that negro member?" I was answored that it was the honorable' gentleman of Lynchburg and that is tlio liouorablo gentleman of Hampton county and that is the Honorable gentleman ot somewhere else. There were twenty ol them. They did not occupy tho black men's corner. They were seated with the white members. One black member was siltiugH«i tho samo cushion on which sat his master 'hroeor four years ago.

I thought It wouldibe nice to ask this Legislative body to attend my lecture And when 1 extendwl my invitation, a gentleman asked-that the courtesy be extended to me, and that I bo allowed the imo of tho Legislative Ilall. This callcd' forth derisive laughter. Tlio uspension ef vote of

c.iincu ionn uerisive laugn •Question

W'JIS

"ptiV on a susp

the rules," and Wii-s Iqsi liy a to 38. For the bdfleffC of tho

ATURDAY EVENING MAIL, JULY

Dauiocra-

oyt-twill state t^t the negroes voted since.

Sn.ii Frcutcixco tjrtvh.

-itf- favor of tho suspension. A man swore like an angel from heaven stood near, who, from his appearance tinnati Commcmal might IMVO been a, slave-driver, anc ho launched out iij^tt tirade of oaths, and endedwith, "ff" that had beet. a datnnedn iggor 'who wanted tlifi House, he conla havp hadt." [Laugh-* tor.] And so ho 64old. —Mi-is AnUto-i

A nora old deiiooft u.ifcd tt inspire.us

with so much »tfe tyy' the'sanctity of umuth of its dead sepulcher aiidse.ilhis manner, that we dared not say that *d It with everlasting silence. Among our s^ul was our own while In church, ft he things now hallowed bv her use Deacon wep^Xo California, andithcr© waft not loftasinglo relic which was tempted aftef "sinful gains. A fcould veal such secret. Not a picture friend and membefof tho same church toot a written line,

found him one nig^t "bucking at mon- Iflowcr, to *av she had loved or been l»ete." With holy horror he nudged the jlovod. And'so, knowing there was one absorbed player irtto knowledge of)jhauibcr in her heart kept by hOr aihis presence. t*av* as a safe and sacral sanctuary,

Two hours* afterward the deacon acknowledged, with a sigh, that the corrupt institution bad broken him, and said that it was tfee"work oftbedevil."

IJonKRT COI.I.YKR recently took occasion, in a public speech In Ixindon, to compliment the (jueen in right loyal fashion. The 4ulionee •railai, and people whispered That iff tha way the thing looks in Chicago." Royalty is at a discx)un! in England, and it is not impossible that Victoria will be the last of the racv of HritLsh sovereigns.—Gol~ den Age.

PLAGIARISM.

Poets, philosophers, and even divines, all seem to manifest a propensity to plagiarism. For over fifty years., Paley has stood at the very head of all original writers on Natural Theology, and his work on that subject will last as long as time lasts, in all probability. Where is the man of education who has not admired its wonderful luidcity, the simplicity and force of its argument the beauty of its illustration From the watch picked up on the heath, with which he concludes, all is seemingly perfect. But alas.the whole argument, the watch, wheels, works and crystal, were all stolen from a Dr. Nieuwentyl, a philosopher, who lived in Holland, ana published the entire substance of the book a hundred years before.

That work, too, had been translated into English, and published in London in 171S. There aro passages copied almost verbatim, and the whole work is seemingly a great and willful plagiarism. As if to bring the theft home to him, he even refers in one edition to the original work by Dr. N. as his authority for a particular statement,while making no acknowledgement of indebtedness.

A few years ago Dr. Keith brought out a treatise on fulfilled prophecy. Every one admired it until the London Quarterly Review showed that it was but a recast ot "Newton on the Prophecies."

The poets are equally guilty. One of the finest things Lord llyron ever wrote was 011 the death of lvirke White where I10 represents him by a struck eagle stretched upon tho plain, viewing its own feather on the arrow, the plumage that had warmed its nest, drinking the last life-drop of its blood. The whole of these lines are copied, not verbatim, but nearly so, including almost every rhyme, from an old Englich poet, who clearly got the idea of his figure from the Greek poet, two thousand j^ears before.

The "Hvmn of Life" is charged with the same want of originality, even in Liiat inimitable figure: "And our hearts though stout and bravo,

Still like muffled (minis are boating Funeral marches to the grave." Jefferson, who wished for no other epitaph than "Tlio Author of the Declaration of Independence," was not the author, but rather the editor of that document, from a pre-existing declaration drawn up tho yoar previously at Mecklenburg, North Carolina and containing tho same essential features,and, indeed many of tho same paragraphs.

The fable "so beautifully told by Dr. Franklin, to enforce charity—about the old man whom Abraham drove from his tent for idolatry, until it was shown him that since the Lord had borne with him seventy years, he might well afford to endure him for one bight—is all clearly taken from Jeremy Taylor, who avowedly got it from some Rabbinical work.

But it is by no means certain that these parties were morally guilty of any plagiarism whatever. On tho contrary, there is hardly anything about which a more false opinion reigns in the community. For any man to protend to write nothing but what is absolutely original in thought and expression, would be absurd. An idea is scarcely ever perfected by the man who first conoeived it.

Paley, for example did not compose his work on Natural Theology until thirty years after he had first declared the quostanoe of ,it in the form of lecVfirfts before the University. These lectures would, of course, be mere compilations, and it 1st easy to suppose ne may have forgotten the sources of his iedas. It is also perfectly certain that tlie^iUWiA^miiV&iiKtfiem "t real value to thousands.

DID WASHINOTON SWEAR? In the battle of Monmouth, wlicro Major general Charles Lee had very nearly lost the day by ordering a retreat, it is related by Irving, that Washington "galloped forward to stop the retreat, his indignation kindling as he rode,"- The commandor-in-chief soow encountered Lee approaching with the body of his command in full retreat. "By this time," says Irving, "he waslKoroughl}' exasperated. 'What is the moaning of all this.sir? demanded lie, in tho sternest and even fiercest tone, as Lee rode up to him. Lee, stum by tho mannor, moro than the words of tho domand, uiado ail angry reply, and provoked .still sharper expressions, which variously reported." Tho "variously reported" expressions are the swearing, concerning the quality of which all the great historians, including Irving, aro silent. But the Marquis de Lafayette, whim relating tho circumstance to Governor Thoinpkins in 1831, that "this was the only time I ever heard General Washington swoar. Ho called Lee 'a damned poltroon,'' and was in a towering rage." Another witness said that Washington cried out to L^o, "In tho devil's name, sir, go back to the front or go to hell." And the late General Charles Scott of Virginia, who had himself a most invetorant habit of swearing, bpiiig asked, after tho Revolutionary War, whether it was possible that the beloved and admired Washington ever swore? replied in his inimitable way, "Yes, sir, ho did swear once. It was at Monmouth and on a day that would have made any man swear. Yes, sir, ho swore that day iill the /eta e.s xhrnih on the tree#, chnrminfj delightful. Never have I enjoyed such swearing before or miorabl

Deacon, do 1 find you gambling?" nine is surely not the hand to lift froin With reidy wit to relieve him from now the solemn and eternal curtain

his embarrassment, he chuckled "No, no. friend S not gambling. You see this is a corrupt institution. and I'm doing my best to break it up."

Sir, on that memorable day he

4 the past.'

29, i87i.

-Cin-

•i

PnR:«K CART says, in a memoir of her sister Alice.published in the Ladies' Repository: "If in her niorti] life she felt any deeper and holier affection than that for her kindred, except in dreams of ]oesy, sho rolled the stone over tho

not

j-CorRTiNO.—Here in a specimen of tho |od old-ftihiooed mode of courtingas was dAne in Connecticut. Deacon Jarvin, a large land holder and most exemplary man, accomplished his is t|s business-like way:

Having one day mounted his horse, ifch a sheepskin for a saddle, he rode if font of the hoase where Betty Leo H*d. and, without discounting, reqfeited JJetty to come to him. On

Ing, told her that the Lord had him toiotfrt her. liettv replied will be done.'*"

prettiest noae in the world is ne that never pokes itself in o:her to's business.—Jfn/fcxm Journal.

THE BIBLE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. It is in the interest of religion, no less than of justice and the public welfare, that we insist on the removal ot the Bible, from the public schools. In a true reverence for the Bible, and a rational use of that great book, we yield to none. The question as to the worth of the Bible as a store-houseof invaluable truth and the text-book of character, is not under discussion, so far as the present controversy goes. We insist that tho reading of it in the public schools, without such explanations ot its text and applications of its principles as teachers are not allowed, even if they are qualified, to make, is not a specially religious exercise, nor calculated either to enlighten the mind, quicken the conscience, or improve the character. It has never done this. The reading is a piece of dry, unedifving formalism. It is rather tedious than interesting to pupils, who consider it less of a pleasure than a bore. In very many cases it raises questions which aro not answered even if answerable, excites a degree of skepticism, and begets a feeling of indifference toward the Bible, if not of utter unbelief. Wre know of nothing so admirably calculated to briug the Bible into contempt and dissipate all the natural reverence of children, as the prevalent method of using that book in the public schools, when the pnpil's minds are full of the fun and frolic which have lapped over from play-time into study hours making veneration and dovoutness impossible. Wo hare known instances almost without number in which the enforced and mechanical reading of the Bible has destroyed all interest in it, and nearly all faith in what it symbolizes to the Christian world. The interest of religion, 110 less than the claims of absolute justice to all parties and sects in our diverse and many-minded population, require that the Bible shall be taken out of the public schools, and iliat children shall receive their religious instruction elsewhere. •». $

Tho alternative loft to our peoplo is to make the schools secular by giving up all formal religious exercises in them, or breaking them up among tho various parties and sects. There is no justice, 110 defensible ground whatever, on which Protestants can use them in the exclusive int-i rest of their faith. This nation is not Protestant in any party or ecclesiastical sense. It is not a Christian nation, according to tho dogmatic and sectarian idea in which that term is often used. It is a nation of men and women a nation of human beings, each of whom is responsible to God, and to him alone,for the exorcise of his faculties and the use of his trusts. Because Catholics settled Maryland, is that state mortgaged forever to tho Church of Rome Does the fact that William Penn founded Pennsylvania bind that state henceforth to Quakerism? Must Now England bo pinned down to the Westminster Catechism for all timo because tho Pilgrims wore dovout believers in that sombre symbol The claim of some of our Protestants is preposterous. America belougs to Almighty God who hold it in reserve for thousands of years, until Ho had prepared a people for its occupancy and then,in tho fulnossof time, He threshed the nations for the seod with which to sow its vast fields that He might raise here the richest harvest of souls. And for any potty sect or party to lift its puny hands against the othors and claim this nation for its own, would bo impious wore it not ridiculous. And every child of America has an inaliena ble right to tho best education the nation can give and whoever barricades. ,,,-nnira ino humblest child, be it even with a Bible, is tho onomy of tho schools and tho Republic, but a still greater enemy of the Bible and what it represents.—Golden Age.

TIIK captain of 0110 of tho largest steamboats running on tho Potomac was astonished one day lately, as his boat touched the landing at one of the river-sido watering places not a great distance from Washington, to

HOC

all

the guests assembled with their baggage ready to take passage to the city. Inamaking inquiries as to the cause of this general exodus, ho soon discovered that thereby hung a tale. A cat's. It appoars the faro at tho hotel had disagreed with tho boarders, and, not satisfied with complaining, thoy took French leave. A batch of dough had been pro-

pared for the oven and^nlaced on a table. A playful kitten thought it would be nico to run over it, it looked so snowy, warm, and tempting. Kilty tried it, and soon found her delicate littlo feet sinking in the dough. She struggled to escape, and onlv struggled to sink deeper, until this youthful cat disappeared entirely, and so, like voting Lochinvar, Went into tho yeast. Sho never rose again, but the bread did. It closed over this utifortunate specimen, not leaving a hair apparent. Cooky, of course, was not aware that, instead of ii loaf of bread, sho had a kitten dumpling, and put tho mass into theoven and baked it. Whon tho bread was opened at breakfast next morning, the birds did not legin to sing, but tho boarders did. Thoy fairly howled with wrath. They knew that there had been a family of'kit tens, and, as hash had been servad for breakfast before this extraordinary loaf was opened, tho conclusion was natural that the other part of tho family had gone into the hash and down their throats. Thoy were first taken with sea sickness, next with homo-niekness, and theji ensued a general packing-up.

A Doo's CARB

even a withered'

FOR HIS MASTKU

—A

writer in Merry'* Mtueum, who was a soldier during our late war, tells the following story: "After the battle of Fredericksburg it fell to mv duty to search a given district jor anydenfl or wounded soldiers there might bo left, and to bring relief. Near an old brick dwelling I diseovered a soldier iu gray, who seemed to be dead. Lying by his side was a noblo dog, with his head upon his imister's neck. As 1 approached the dog rtti»od his eyes to 1111? good-na-turedly, and began wagging his tail but did riot change his position. The fact that tho animal did not growl, did not move, but, more than all, the intelligent, joyful expression of his face, convinced rne that the man was only wounded, which proved to be the ctse. A bullet had pierced his t1iro.it, and, faint from thelossof blood,behad fallen wherfe he lay. His dog had actually stopped the bleeding from the wound by laying his head across it Whether this was casual or not, I cannot say: but the shaggy ooat of the faitfefui creature was completely matted with his master's blood." 5 Mftt^

CASES of mistakes as to identity of individuals are becoming painfully fr»iquent. The other day, a merry, lighthearted damsel rushed into, a'oiored citizen's arms. «t .Savannah* exclaiming Oh, you are my long lost brother!*' 8he soon discovered her mistake, and rushed off ifi a nfusod manner, accompanied by her. I jag lost brother's pocket-book.

A BIO ATTENDANCE.

Some years since a man of small caliber but unlimited pretensions, hune out an attorney's sign in ono of th largest towns of Western New York It was about the time the soldiers 1812 were establishing claims for pensions. A rival firm across the street advertised that thoy would procure soldiers' pensions very cheap and our friend not to be outdone, put his card in tho papers to the effect that ho would obtain pensions gratis.

The effect was graphic. Upon reaching his office the next morning, he was surprised'and dismayed to fiud the sidewalk in front, the stair-way, and tho office itself crowded with tlio maimed heroes of the war—some on ono leg, some with none—all mutilated, but all jolly at the prospect of obtaining tlaeir rights with speed and without cost, aiitV all jabbering like jays. No sooner did tho Attorney appear upon the scene than they attacked him with a chorus of appeals, each wishing his case taken up first. The attorney sat down at liiif desk, seized a pen, and then gl a ring ii^ hopeless insanity at the crowd around him, he screanietl out:

Who tho devil are you all, anyway?" Why, we are'soldiers of 1SJ2, and we want our pensions," answered a dozen together.

No, you ain't!" shouted tho attorney, jumping up and jamming on his hat, "get out of this office at once, every one of you hobgoblins!"'

But Mr.

•41say get out!" tJio atlornov yellod, making a show of terror. 1*011 ain't old soldiers, you can'f come any of your ghost performances mi me, toll you, I know you t/oit'rc vanguard of the resurrection. I attended all your funerals years ago. Get out

The astonished veterans left in a body, and tho attorney at once abandoned tho pension business to his rivals. 1

A SENSIBLE RESOL VE. Did yon ever hear, sir, how it was that Edwards, the mason, gave up drinking?" said a workingnian one day to his employer, when lie was talking to him about the evils of intemperance. "No," said the latter "how was it "Well, one day, Edwards was drinking in a public house, when the landlord's wife came to call her husband to dinner. 'What's for dinner?' said the man. 'Roast- goose,' replied bis wife. 'Is there apples uico?' ho asked. 'No.' "'Well, go and make some 1 won't eat goose without applo-sauee.' "Edwards was so impressed with tho scene he had witnessed, when the woman had left the room to prepare tills delicacy, that for tho first time in his life, ho began to think what a fool ho had been. 'Here's this man,' said ho to lilmsolf, can't eat his dinner of roast goose without applo-sauee, while tnv poor wife and children at home are glad to got a herring for their dinners, and very often can't have even that. Whoso money, I should liko to know, goes to proviae this fellow with good things? Mine, and that of other poor fools like me. Well, what's done can't lie undone. It's of no use crying over spilled milk, but that fellow sha'n'tdlno off roast gooso at my evnensc.' "So'lie paid his reckoning, and walked out of that public house, never to enter it aga.11."

MANY yoars ago, in an Interior county in Illinois, there was an old lawyorwho had borno sway at tho bar so long and •4Hlu Wirrl'Tncl' jtiry aiThis prFva'tTprop^ erty, and by a sort of quiet acqiiiesonco such had come to be tho genoral idoa.

At length, however, a young lawyer moved into tho county, who at once dotorininod to contest tho supremacy ol the autocrat.

One day, in an important and hotlycontested case, I10 followed up tho old judge with such audacious vigor that at length the veteran's temper gavo way entirely, and ho proceeded to pour out upon the young counsellor's head such a torrent of furious denunciation that ovorybody expected a scene of violence, or else that tho youth would subside* into nonentity. But just as ho wasgetting on his legs to reply, what did tho court do "Mr. Smith," said his Honor, "if you don't stop making Judge Jones swoar so, this court will commit you for contempt, sir!"

A sirnKwn Scotchman, who has resided several yenrs in Washington, whore helms had tho best opportunity of observing our governmental machinery and the men who work it, says tho greater part of the incapacity and corruption is among thoso officials who were oleeted to theirofilcns while most of those who wero appointed to their places nre honest, able, and faithful.

Which is so unfortunately true that tho character of our Congressmen is a disgrace to our jteople. If the citizens of America are no better than thoir official representatives, tho men they choose to do their public, business anil act in their behalf, we should tremble for our country, (.'•innot tho commissioners who are preparing a civil service bill, devise sonio way by which able and honest men can be elected as well as appointed to office7—Golden Age.

CoNVEiiriNo Hebrews to Christianity is exceedingly costly business in England. Last year tho London Society engaged in the speculation seoured: four laduIts ami nine infants for the

^I'^tian

fold, at a

COST

of $200,000. The

J-mmh MeHHenger very sensibly advises the proselvters to abandon their profitless labors, and try to "improve the spiritual and temporal condition of tho lb« thousands of Christian souls iri fjondon. who suffer nil the accumulated horrors of poverty and ignorance. Let them feed thoir bodies and their souls.'?

endeavor to save f-.

said a ladv to a colored

chambermaid, "that's the third silk dress yon havo worn since yon came to me pra-v how m«ny do yoo own "Only seven,

IIUKM*

MKMJJER

but I's savin' rny

wages to buy anoder!" "Seven whuV use are seven silk dresses to you why, I don't own so many as that." 'Spect not, missis," said the smiling darkey, vou doesn't need 'cm so much as I does! You soe, you 'quality folks everybody^ knows Is 'quality but wo better-most^ kind of cullud pussons bus to dres smart to distinguish, ourselves froi common niggers.**

of tho Arkmsrt* Legl^

trure, who goes for economy in pu nrjonditure,in speskingon'in ext ga«|, appropriation, indignhntiy'^T claimed: "Gentlemen, talk fiout\ iuate compensation ofpubliceer^1 why, sir, dnring the late w«tr I

thirty-seven battles, was sW1" thirty times in tho cause of I and the entire pny I rocol vejl in Confederate money, evert' cent 01 which I gavo tot

one glass 1/ old

whiskey." V? '4

r-°