The Texas State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 20, Ed. 1 Saturday, May 23, 1857 Page: 1 of 4
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STATE TIMES
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VOLUME IV,
CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1857.
NO. 20
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j&tafe fees,
T8 published it1bt 81tced1t, oh picai street,
(orrosm thomas fhiimak's stobk,)
BY JOHN S. FORD & CO.
TBBMS:
ThrM Dollars, payable, invariably, in advance.
BATffi"OFAD^iKmSraG.
\>ne square (ten lines) first insertion $1 00
lack subsequent insertion,..,... — 60
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',......$16 00; Six months^ 7 00
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" 31 00
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" 37 00
- 40 00
" ...43 00
" 46 00
" 12 00
" 16'00
" 19 00
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« 23 00
25 00
- 27 00
" 29 00
" 31 00
AiMncinm.—For State offices, $10; for
~ 15 " $6.
The Blind Boy at Play.
— by mi88 eliza cook.
The blind boy's been at play, mother,
And merry games we had!
'We ltd him an his way, mother,
And every step was glad;
And when we lb and a starry flower,
And. praised its varied hne,
A tear canie trembling down bis cheek,
Jnst like a drop of dew.
We took him to the mill, mother,
Where falling waters made
A rainbow o'er the rill, mother,
As golden sun-rays played;
Bat when we shouted at the scene,
And hail'd the clear blue sky,
He stood quite still upon the bank,
And breathed a long, long sigh. #
We asked him why he wept, mother,
Whene'er we found the spots
Where periwinkles crept, mother,
O'er wild forget-me-nots.
"Ah met" he said, while tears ran down
As fast as summer showers—
"It is because 1 cannot see
The sunshine and the flowers."
Oh t that poor sightless boy, mother,
Has taoghs me that Fm blest;
For I can look with joy, mother,
. On all 1 lore the best;
And when 1 see the dancing stream,
' And daises red and white, „
I kneel upon the meadow sod,
And thank my God for sight.
Face ttaat ever wears a smile.
by owen jones.
I lore the man whose open brow
Proclaims a noble mind;
, ~ I love the sympathetic soul
That feels for all mankind—
*"*"' That feels for hnmXa wrongs and woo,
And pities e'en their guile;
And, oh I I love the angel face
That ever wears a smile.
I love my little lisping cKild,
And her who gave it birth;
I love the memory of the dead,
Whose deeds illume our earth;
] love the frientef freedom's cause,
Whom gold eould ne'er defile;
And, oh I 1 love the angel face
That ever wears a smile.
CapL Britten and Col. Houser.
MST As there have been so many enqui-
ries in Austin in relation to Captain Forbes
Britten'* tetter to Col. Hooscr, we make no
apology for the publication of the whole cor-
respondence as it appeared in the New Or-
leans Picayune.
Correspondence of the New Orleans Picayune.
New Braunfels, Texas, )
April 5, 1857. j
Have you read the correspondence between
one Wm. Houser and our old friend Forbes
Brittou f If you have not, male room for it
at once, and give everybody a chance to read
it and laugh. The fun cuts fat—uncommonly
fat; but two men in the States can write such
letters—Derby and Britton. History makes
no mention as to what has become of Houser,
after Forbe's last brick-bat struck him, save
that there is a rumor he is in limbo at Mem-
phis. I will not keep you in suspense any
longer, but will give you the entire corres-
pondence aa it originally appeared in the Gal-
veston News, the editors of which know
> Houser, and know him to be a perfect scamp.
. The correspondence commences with the fol-
lowing note from Britton to my old friend
' Gen. Hugh MeLeod of Galveston, in which
' Homer's letter to the former is introduced:
Corpus Chbisti, Feb. 25, 1857.
Dear Hugh—I send yon, hoping it
aaayielieVba leisure moment from the fatigues
of earthly cares, a copy of a letter I received
from a man 1 do not know, nor have ever
seen yet, he, taking upon himself responsibil-
ities and e res, and expressing such warm
friendships and 6bligations, I feared he might
be uneasy in hi&mind about me, so I answered
ilia letter, and send you a copy of my
•nawer.
you must bear in mind that I know no more
about Houser than I know about the particular
spot where the remains of Sir John Franklin
pow repose
Houser's letter was directed to me thus:
KJoL Forbes Britton, Fort Inge, Texas."—
Ahd for fear there might be "something dead
{b a( spring," as the countryman said
when he firat tasted sulphur water, I have
directed my answer to Houser, under cover
to the "Hon. H. (Jatie, Brazoria." Houser's
letter to me is as follows:
Brazoria, Texas, Nov. 18, 1856.
My Dear Sir—I arrived here yesterday,
much improved in health and spirits. My
wife joined me at Matagorda, having come
over on the last steamer. She will most
probably go to New York this winter, on
visit to her relatives, and join me in the
spring. I will remain here, as there is some
prospect of my being able to do something at
my profession.
I have not yet had time to inquire about
your lands, but I can assure you in advance
that they are very fine, and I have never
seen a larger body of land susceptible of a
higher atote of cultivation. In fact, the por-
tion of the country through which the road
passes in coming from Matagorda is richer
than any soil I have ever seen. You >may
rest assured, my dear sir, that your interests
will not be neglected, after all your kindness
to me. I regret that it has so turned out
that I could not remain near you; here I
think I will be safe until spring, when I will,
according to our agreement, go to Mexico for
you.
In the event of my wife's going to New
York, I should like lor you to send me 8200.
Traveling is expensive through Texas, as you
know, and I have not saved any money; so
please pay me in advance for two months,
instead of one. A draft on Galveston will
do. Make it payable to W. S. Howell.—
Please send it by next mail. I will write
you regularly every week. Your affectionate
friend, WM. HOUSER.
P. S.—Direct your letter to Wm. S.
Howell, Brazoria, Texas.
Every man acquainted with Britton—and
there are several—can se^ his chin perform-
ing its usual eccentric workings while peru-
sing this epistle from Houser. In a para-
graph at the bottom the wag, says, still ad-
dressing Gen. MeLeod:
This, Hugh, from a total stranger, is evi-
dently kind and considerate, and, Howell,
Houser and Mrs. Houser all being unknown
to me, I directed to Cohe's care the following
answer.
Now comes the cream—the richest part of
the fun. If you happen accidentally to
stumble upon-anything which contains more
dry humor than the following, please forward
by earliest mail. Whether Houser left Texas
by the Berwick's Bay or old line, via the
Balize, on receiving his particular friend's
answer, is not known; he doubtless took the
first boat. Here *is the letter, and it is Brit-
ton all the way through:
Corpus Chbisti, Feb. 13, 1857.
To Mr. Wm. Houser-^
Dear Sir: I have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your kind letter,
dated Brazoria, Texas, November 18, 1856,
and directed to me at Fort Inge, Texas.
This letter from the postmarks, appears to
have gone to Fort Inge thence to New
Orleans; thence here, which accounts for its
delay.
I am glad to hear that your health has
improved, and, being a married man myself,
(my business and profession often separating
me from my family,) I sincerely congratulate
you on your domestic felicity, in the arrival
of Mrs. Houser. This would have been
received by me without alloy had you not
announced that you were so soon to be de-
prived of her society by her contemplated
departure for New York to visit her relations.
This, too, after she had but so recently joined
you. Life is too short, Houser, ttf be sepa-
rated long from those we love.
I regret that you should have been so much
occupied that you had not yet inquired about
my lands; but this is greatly mollified by
your assurance in advance, that they are very
fine, and you have never seen a larger body
of lands susceptible of a higher state of cul-
tivation. This-is the more gratifying, be-
cause, those who know me, better, perhaps,
than you do, Houser, know that I never
invest in any other kind of lands; you may
imagine with what pride I received your in-
telligence (when all the lands I thought I
owned, I had seen,) that those I did not
know I owned, or if I did purchase, " went
it blind," that they, too, were of the same
quality.
For your assurances that my interests
should not be neglected, I can only express
my profound gratitude; and will add, that
all I. have as yet done for you, is but an
earnest of what I will do in the future, and
your regrets that it has so turned out that
you did not remain near me, should be neu-
tralized by the recollection that what was
probably my loss, was your gain.
Houser, I fear that your constitution is
not yet sufficiently strong to indulge in use-
less regrets at the inexorable decrees of fate.
So, as the poet expresses it,
" Weep no more for mc."
My attention to you in sickness is amply
remunerated by your recovery to health, and
restoration to the bosom of your family; but
as the sources of my enjoyment in relieving
the afflictions of my fellow-men, are derived
from silent communion with my God and my
conscience, did I suppose for a moment you
felt under any obligations to me, it would
greatly detract, from the pleasure I receive
from those sources; so if you love me, Wil-
liam, no more of that.
You request me, "in case your wife goes
to New York, to send you 8200, as you have
not any money, and traveling in Texas is
expensive." This request, however, fouuded
on facts, is subject to several objections.
First Objection—I don't think "the agree-
ment between us" reads that way; because I
don't know you—have no recollection of ever
seeing you—have no knowledge of ever
making any contract or agreement with you,
directly or indirectly, personally or by agent,
or otherwise, to attend to any matters; espe-
cially relating to lands, I never knew (until
the receipt of your letter) that I had any
claim to. However, if you have "the agree-
ment," legally authenticated, this objection
mjght be removed.
Second Obj.—As I have not "8200" now
in my pocket, and the Internal Improvement
bill absorbing all the funds now here, were I
to comply with your request, under these
circumstances, it might be open to the ob-
jection of diverting capital from its legiti-
mate channel.
Third Obj.—As the prospects are fair,
"for your doing something at your profes-
sion," would it not be prudent to defer fu-
ture investigations relating to "my lauds"
until something should be realized from
"your profession ?" Whenever ~you run
aground from low funds, Houser, always lie
up for a rise.
Fourth Obj.—The feelings of the South
are rapidly undergoing a change as to the
policy, or even propriety, of our families
spending money in travel to the North—you
will find some able articles on this subject in
the New Orleans Delta—and unless there is
some imperative necessity (such as proving
up an inneritance, for instance,) for Mrs.
Houser going to the North, why not affection-
ately appeal to her family interests, tempora-
ry pecuniary embarrassments, &c. ? These
should for the present, suggest to her the
propriety of remaining with you, at least for
"the next season," at Brazoria. I beg you
would not construe this into a disposition on
my part to interfere, in the least degree, with
your private affairs; but, as you say, I took
care of you in sickness, (of which I have not
the least recollection,) suppose, Houser you
was taken bad again.
Fifth Obj.—I have very little confidence
in the trip to "Mexico for me" paying any-
thing "according to our agreement," for the
reasons mentioned in my first objection, fcnd
in addition, have no confidence in the stability
or action of that government, (they treated
Sloo & Co. shabily,) upon clear and well es-
tablished claims, and our chances in present-
ing one of an opposite character, is to say
the least, precarious. But if you desire to,
"go it alone" to Mexico, and prosecute the
claims—of the nature of wljjch I have no
idea—I, of course, shall interpose no objec-
tion. Do you know Ilargows of Mexico.
If, therefore, my dear sir, I have any
claims on you for facilities furnished for
traveling expenses, or by my kindness and
attention to you in sickness (which I most
modestly protest I have not,) vindicate the
same by abandoning the project, and so long
as Brazoria offers inducements in your profes-
sion, remain there; get you a comfortable
home; keep your family with you and enjoy,
the remainder of your days, all the fruits of
those social ties which a wife sheds • around
the family fire-side, and which, from your im-
paired health, you so much need. By this
method, if you are both prudent, you will be
able to save some money.
I don't know how it is with you, William,
never having seen you, but as to myself, I
have lived long enough to see the folly of
man's wasting his sweetness on the desert air,
and my mind now seeks the enjoyment of
quiet domestic repose.
You say you will write me regularly every
week; I should, of course, from our former
intimacy, be pleased at all times to hear of
your prosperity; but if your professional en-
gagements are at all pressing, one letter a
month would keep me pasted up as regards
my land, for in your last weekly you stated j
the only important fact—"that they were
fine,^ and susceptible of the highest state of
cultivation."
Say to my peasantry on the Llano, that it
is not my intention to oppress them, and that
I direct that all future proceedings against
them shall cease, (unless you have gone so
far as to commit yourself under the agree-!
ment,) until 1 visit them in person.
Present me, a stranger to her also, in kind-
ness, -to Mrs. Houser, if she is still with you
d not gone to the North. Yours, &c.,
COL FORBES BRITTON.,
P. S.—If there is any man living on my
lands, by the name of Sumner, Seward, Hale,
Greely, Wilson or Garrison, issue writs of
ejectment immediately, as it is in contraven-
tion of the law, for free negroes to remain in
the State.
— Since the first commencement of dry wea-
ther I have had little leisure to peruse any-
thing more than once; but I must admit that
after perusing the above once I stole the time
to sit down and read it a second time; there's
deal of philosophy ;-s well as dry wit in it.—
The correspondence closes—(I wish it could
be re-opened) with the following note from
Britton to MeLeod :
Dear Mac.—Since writing the above let-
ter, Chapman, (Quartermaster) in comparing
the handwriting, says he thinks this IIous£r
is the same uUUi now passing himself off as
Gov. Yell's son, of Arkansas. But who the
devil he is, I don't know; I thiuk I saw,
some yme since in Richardson's Weekly
News a notice of a jail bird going under the
name of Col: Houser. Can you remit Houser
a draft on Galveston? Yours, God and
Liberty. BRITTON.
I have nothing in the way of news to com-
municate. There is a tolerably stand of corn
in this vicinity, a shower which fell some
five days ago helping it much. But we waut
some rain, especially for stock, although my
sheep were never looking better.
Yours, &c., G. W. K.
From the Galveston News.
Caution to tiie Ladles.
The Empress Eugenie, has, I believe, the
credit of introducing hoops to the fashionable
world, but not in rural life, which the follow-
ing incident will show:
In the evening of a summer's day in 1847,
as I was passing the old Church at Castletou,
Vermont, I heard the deep tones of the old
Organ quietly stealing out through the ease-
ment, upon the evening air. Curiosity (being
a Yankee, it is of course one of my cardinal
principles) induced me to enter. A merry
laugh greeted me from the gallery. At the
same time was extended an invitation from a
smiling girl with apple blossom cheeks to
"come up and pump the Organ," as her
little sister was tired. Of course I obeyed.
Her laughing eyes, sweet smiles, and pretty
dimples had long before hung garlands of
love around my heart and played the "Gollev
Wallakins" with its circulation. Right man-
fully I set to my task until the flexors and
extensors refused from sheer exhaustation to
do further duty. Seeking relaxation -from
niy labors I went to a window ostensibly for
] the purpose of looking out upon the cemetery
] adjoining the church, but in reality to gaze
I upon ray charming Molly L. Being bashful
| in my wooing and modest in my lore, furtive
; glances at her matchless form were sweeter to
me than all else the world contained. My
attention was withdrawn from her by a sup-
! pressed "oh ! oh !! dear me what shall I do."
i I looked out through the blinds and saw a tall
Miss, in form like a May Pole inserted in an
inverted Leach tub, standing beside a shaft
or fluted column of marble, about twelve feet
high, broken off at the top, I presume to sig-
nify that he whose resting place it marked
had been cut off in his prime, (mere presump-
tion on my part however.) Again came a
"Lor me, sich a fix—botheration take it, what
shall I do," at the same time pushing back
with her hands from the monument with all
her strength. ' Eagerly and thoughtfully I
gazed upon the tall maiden wondering what
she was endeavoring to do. It could not be
her intention to overset the monument, for
that was impossible. It could not be grief for
him whose remains rested there for she was
setting back with all her might. I said to
myself what in the name of goodness can she
be trying to do; when, in her evolutions and
contortions she worked around on the side
opposite to me—lo 1 the cause was revealed.
She was a Miss from the seminary, who, doubt-
less filled with romance and probably love for
some wild medical student at the College, had
strayed into the Cemetery. Being dressed in
hoops and flounces—her hoop had been broken,
pierced the dress, and in leaning against the
monument it had encircled it, re-entered her
dress, and held her prisoner, thereby "grap-
pling to her soul, with hooks of steel," a shaft
of marble. All efforts at disengaging herself
proved" fruitless. 1 was deep!
well as amused, not so much at the turn of the
ajfair, as the turn of the hoops. In my mind
was a war of conflicting thoughts. At one
moment benevolence would prompt me to go
to her assistance. Cautiousness would say,
"Your modesty will prevent any active inter-
ference. on your put," while mirthfulness
would come i:: andsayj "dont, enjoy the fun."
At last she struck a thoughtful attitude,
her head gently droopiug on her breast, her
forefinger upraised to the root of her nose,
while the wheel of thought busily rolled!
through her mind. Necessity, at hist, struck
the right key: in a trice off came her bonnet,
and her mantilla slid as gracefully' from her
swelling form as would a little boy from a
hay-stack. A sort of pantomime was going
on with her feet, when whiz went her slipper
from under her skirts, quickly followed by its
fellow, lighting side by side on an adjoining
grave. Gently she unclasped' a bracelet from
her arm, and pulling a kerchief from her
pocket wrapt the bracelet in it and tossed it
into the bonnet. Breathless astonishment
seized me. Great God'. thought I, she surely
can't be going to undress ! My heart quaked
with fear as the thought flitted across my
b ain, I would have give worlds to have been
away—from that window. My fears were but
momentary; for like the embrace of "Box and
Yankee Homespun.
"When I lived in Maine," said Uncle Ez-
ra, "I helped to break up a new piece of
ground. We got the wdod off in the winter, j
and early in the spring we begun ploughing *
ou't. It was so consarned rocky that we had
to get forty yoke of oxen to one plough; we
did faith, and I held that plough more'n a
week. I thought I should die. It e'enamost
killed me, I vow. Why, one day I was hold-
in', and the plough hit a stump which mea-
sured just nine feet and a half through it—
hard and sound white oak. The plough split
it and I was going straight through the stump,
when I happened to think it might snap to-
gether again; so I threw my feet out, and
had no sooner done so than it snapped togeth-
er, taking a smart hold of the seat of my
pantaloons. Of course I was tight, but I
held on to the plough handles, and though
the teamsters did all they could, that team of
eighty oxen couldn't tear my pantaloons,
nor cause me to let go my grip. At last,
though, after letting the cattle breathe, they
gave another strong pull all together, and the
old stump came out about the quickest. It
had monstrous long roots too, let uie tell you!
My wife made the cloth for them pantaloons,
and I haint worn any other kind since." .
The only reply made to this was, "I should
have thought it would have come hard upon
your suspenders."
"Powerful hard!"
Not at Home.—Lossing, the German
philosopher, being absent-minded, knocking
at his own door one evening, when the ser-
vant, looking out of the window and not
recognizing him, said : ' The Professor is not
at home.' 'Oh, very well,' said Lossing,
composedly, walking away, 'I shall call another
time.'
A schoolboy being asked by the teacher
how he should flog him, repliel:
" If you please, sir, I should like to have
it on the Italian system the heavy strokes up-
wards and the down strokes light."
his long, long lost brother," she threw her
arms around the shaft, at the same moment,
short convulsive movements took possession of
her hoops, as they convulsed their way towards
the top of the monument. Astonishment
again sat upon my countenance, as I wondered
how she was to accomplish her object. Dark
thoughts crowded in upon mc of the possibili-
ties of her hanging upon the top. Remorse
filled my soul, and I was again about to rush
to the rescue, when she gained the top of the
monument, seized the delinquent hoop, with
a graceful sweep brought it over the monu-
ment, and gently slid to the ground solilo-
quizing, as she descended, "I didn't learn to
climb birch trees for nothing." My risibles
now got the better of me—out came a tremen-
dous burst of laughter, simultaneous with one
at my elbow from my charming Molly L.,
who seeing my attention riveted upon some-
thing outside, had gained my side unobserved,
and, mischief that she was, equally with
myself enjoyed the fun. The tall maiden,
hearing the laughter, turned her head quickly,
but seeing no one, quickly drew on her slip-
pers re-adjusted the delinquent hoop, reclasped
her bracelet, tied on her bonnet, gracefully
gathered the hoops in her hand, took the
centre of the walk, gained the street, dropped
her hoops, and sailed along, the "observed of
all observers."
That scene ruined all my hopes and changed
the current of my life; for every time I tried
to pop the question, tiie tall maiden aud the
monument, spectre like, appeared before me.
Aud I can truthfully say, it was a " Dimity
that shaped my end, rough hew it as 1 will.
Another chap, who had never seen a Yankee]
girl climb a monument, won the prize. My j
charming Molly L. now rocks the cradle in
Stockton, California; while I, poor devil,!
have laughed at that scene in the crater ol ]
Vesuvius; have told it to my comradcs on the
Nile, while the tall peaks of the Andes have
re-echoed the laugh of a dozen good fellows
as I have told them how near I came to ma-
trimony. Respectfully,
HEZEKIAH GAWKINS.
Do Unto Others as you would liave
Others Do Unto 1'ou.
A correspondent of the Blair county (Pa.,)
Whig, furnishes that paper the particulars of
the following interesting incident of which he
was an eye witness. It occurred a few years
ago on the line of the great internal improve-
ments of that State. It was one of those acts
of genuine kind heartedncss which fill the
mind with involuntary consciousness that
there is something of the angel still in our
common nature.
At the point, this side of the mountain
where occurred the transhipment of passen-
gers from the West, was moored a canal boat,
awaiting the arrival of the train ^'ere starting
ou its way through the East. The captain of
the boat, a tall, rough embrowned man, stood
by his craft superintending the labors of his
men, when the cars rolled up, and a few
moments after a party of about half a dozen
gentlemen came out and deliberately walked
up to the captain, addressed him something
alter this wise:
"Sir we wish to go on East, but our fur-
ther progress depends on you. In the cars
we have just left is a sick man whose pre-
sence is disagreeable. We have been ap-
pointed a committee by the passengers to ask
that you will deny this man a passage in your
boat. If he goes we remain, what say you?"
"Gentlemen," replied the captain, "I have
heard the passengers through their committee.
Has the sick man a representative here ?"
To this unexpected interrogatory there was
no answer, when without a moment's pause
the captain passed over to the car, and enter-
ing behind, in one corner found a poor,
emaciated, woru-out creature, whose life was
nearly eaten up by that cankerworm con-
sumption. The man's head was bowed in
his hands, and he was weeping; the captain
advanced and spoke to him kindly.
"0, sir," said the shivering invalid, look-
ing up, his face now lit with trembling ex-
pectation, "are you the captain, and will you
take me 1 The passengers look upon me as
a breathing pestilence, and are so unkind 1
You see, sir, I am dying; but oh, if I am
spared to reach my mother, I shall die happy.
She lives in Burlington, sir, and my journey
is more than half performed. I am a poor
painter, and the only child of her in whose
arms I wish to die !"
"You shall go," said the captain, "if I
lose every passenger for the trip."
By this time the whole crowd of passengers
were grouped around the boat, with their
baggage piled on the path, and they them-
selves awaiting the decision of the captain
before engaging their passage.
A moment- more and the decision was
made known, as they beheld him coming
from the cars with the sick man cradled in
his arms. Pushing directly through the
crowd with his dying burden, he ordered a
ajvva^in the choicest part of a.°S!
the boat, wherehek 3"*lTie~ lfivalia Tnttr an
the care of a parent. That done, the captain
directed the boat for starting.
But a new feeling seemed to possess the
astonished passengers. With one impulse
they walked aboard the boat, and in a few
hours after, auother committee was sent to
the captain entreating his presence among
the? passengers in the cabin. He went and
from their midst there rose a white haired
man, who with tear-drops in his eyes told
that rough, sunbrowncd man, that they felt
humbled before him, and they asked his for-
giveness. It was a touching scene. The
fountain of true sympathy was broken, the
heart of nature, and its waters swelled up,
checked the utterance of all present. On the
instant, a purse was made up for the sick
man, with a "God speed" on his way home
to die in the arms of his parents.
The maiden's Prayer.
BY J. G. WHITTIER.
She rose from her delicinns sleep
And put away her soft brown hair,
And in a tone as low and deep
As love's first whisper, breathed a prayer,
llpr snow white hands together pressed,
Her olue eyes sheltered in the lid,
The folded linen on her breast.
Just swelling with the charms it hid,
And from her long and flowing dress,
Escaped a bare and snowy foot,
Whose steps upon the earth did press
Like a new snow-flake, white and mute;
And then from slumbers soft and warm.
Like a young spirit fresh from heaven,
She bowed that light and matchless form
And humbly prayed to be forgiven.
Oh, God! if souls unsoiled as these
Need daily mercy from thj throne;
If she upon ber bended knees,
Our holiest and purest ono;
She with a face so clear and bright,
We deem her some stray child of light;
If she with those soft eyes in tears,
Day after day in her young years,
Must kneel and pray for grace from Thee,
What far, far deeper need have we 1
How hardly, if she win not Heaven,
Will our wild errors be forgiven!
The Poor Man to his Bride.
by warren m. haigiit.
No gems have I, dear girl, to offer;
No pearls to deck thy silken hair;
No stores of gold in secret coffer;
No lordly halls for thee to share;
Bnt yet I do not fear to woo thee,
Dear Mary, lovely as 'thou art,
Though 1 have nought with which to sue thee,
Exccpt a fond and doting heart.
What though the world may frown npon us,
And earthly comforts pass away?
Affection's lamp is shining on ns,
To guide our steps and cheer our way.
Then do not, dearest, longer tarry,
In penury and woe;
We cannot be too poor to marry,
While health and love within us flow.
Throwing the Caucassian Bear.
A comical story is going the rounds of the
Parisian salons, in which one of the most re-
nowned of the French sculptors is the hero.
This gentleman, who is possessed «of great
physical strength, and, moreover, is very
proud of the same, was sauntering, dressed iu
a blouse, a week or twj ago, along the Barrier
de Fontainebleau—a portion of the outskirts
of this lively town, famous for all manner of
shows, mountebanks, and other cheap and
popular marvels. The attention of the sculp-
tor was soon arrested by a tent, over the door
of which was a rude picture of a Caucassian
bear, struggling with a gentleman wearing the
Polish costume. Entering the tent, M
saw a great white bear sustaining the com-
bined attack of three or four scrubby-looking
dogs, of whom he disdained to take an espe-
" notice.
"Gentlemen," cried the master of the booth,
when the dogs seemed to think they had done
their duty and paused for a reply to their in-
offensive demonstrations, "gentlemen, if any
amateur present would like to enter the arena
and try his strength with the White Caucas-
sian Bear, he will find that the noble animal
understands the art of wrestling like any
Christian."
Upon the invitation M , taking off his
blouse, climbed over the palingthatsurrounded
the arena, and seized the formidable animal
with both arras. The latter got on his hind
legs, growled, and closed with his new adver-
sary ; when the sculptor, who had thought
that the creature felt v^ry thin under his thick
fur, was astounded at hearing the bear whis-
per in his car the following words, in perfectly
Phcenixiana.—The redoubtable John
Phoenix in a late letter, gives the following
account of a meeting between a man and
his better half at the St Charles in New
Orleans. Comment is useless :
Accompanied bv my old freud Butterfleld,
who had joined us at Memphis, I landed at
New Orleans, and proceeded forthwith to the
St. Charles Hotel. At this great tavern,
Amos expected to meet his wife, who had
arrived from California, to rejoin him after a
three months' separation. I never have seen
a man so nervons. He rode on the outside
of the coach with the driver, that he might
obtain the earliest view of the building that
contained his adored one. It was with great
difficulty that I kept pacc with him as he
tumultously rushed up the steps leading to
the Rotunda. In an instant he was at the
office and grasping " Mrs. Butterfield." " In t
the parlor, sir," replied Dan, and he was off. {
I followed, and saw him stop with surprise as
he came to the door. In the centre of the
parlor stood Mrs. Butterfield. That admi-
rable woman had adopted the very latest and
most voluminous style; and having on a rich
silk, of greenish hue, looked like a lovely
bust on the summit of a new mown hay stack.
Butterfield was appalled f.ir a moment, but
hearing her cry " Amos," he answered hys-
terically " My Amander!" and rushed on.—.
He ran three times around Mrs. Butterfield,
but it was of no use, he couldn't get in. He
tried to climb her, but the hoops gave way
and frustrated the attempt, lie extended
his arms to her; she held out her's to him;
tears were in thdr eyes. It was the most
affecting thing I ever witnessed. Finally,
Mrs. Butterfield sat down, and Anios got
behind the chair and kissed her, until their
offspring, by howling and biting the calf of
his leg, created a diversion. They were very-
happy, so were the people, in the parlor.
Everybody appeared delighted; aud a small
boy, a year or two older than little Amos,
jumped up and down like a whip-saw, and
halloo'd " Hoop-ee" with all his might.
"Butterfield," said I, an hour or two later,
" I suspeet Mrs. Butter i eld has adopted
hoops."
"Oh,'yes," answered he, "I saw that
sticking out. Perhaps it will obviate the
little tendency she had to ' blow up.' I'm
glad of it."
O
intelligible French:
"You can't manage it, mon bourgeois. I'm
too strong for you. It's ten sous to throw the
Caucassian Bear—my little perquisite."
It is almost superfluous to add that M-
Taken at his Word.—The minister at a
certain church one Sunday gave out the hymn,
"I love to steal awhile away," and the deacon
who led the singing, commenced, "I love to
steal—" but found that he had pitched it too
high. Again he commenced, "I love to
steal," but this time it was too low; once
more he tried, "I love to steal*—" and it was
again wrong. After the third failure the
minister rose and said :
"Seeing our brother's propensities let u3
pray."
This is about equal to the story of a certain
doctor, who was choir-leader in a town in
New York. One Sabbath the hymn gave
out by the minister commenced with the fol-
lowing line, "With hyssop purge thy servant;
Lord." The doctor pitched the tune and
led off, but broke down before finishing the
line. Ho tried a second and third time with
the same result, when a wag on the ground
floor rose in his pew, and, turning his facc
upward to the choir, exclaimed: "Tiy some
other herb, doctor."
Tiie Isthmus Troubles—The Washing^
toil xjowejpondent of the Philadelphia Ameri-
can, writesim--tte^22d inst: I understand on
reliable authority,~Tte t.the action of our
Government in increasing ottribrce in the
Isthmus waters, meets the approval of Lord
Napier, the British Minister, who was
officially informed of the fact by^a note from
the State Department, as was also the Count
de Sartiges, Minister from France. The latter;
however, so far as I can ascertain, has not
signified his assent or dissent to the movement.
The total number of vessels ordered to the
Isthmus is ten, seven of which is to be
stationed at Aspinwall and three at Panama.
With so imposing a force, our government is
confident of effecting an early arrangement of
the dispute.
X m • - — ■
Is it Free or Slate ?—The Cheraw (S.
C.) Gazette moots a singular question. Mr.
J. P. Smith arrived at Cheraw a few weeks
ago from Scotland, with African twins, of
whom some little talk has been made. Dur-
ing her stay in Scotland, their mother gave
birth to another child, whom she brought,
home with her. Now the question arises, if
that child, born on the soil of Scotland, is
bond or free 1 If born free, how can it be held
in slavery here ? And was not its introduction
in this country a violation of law prohibiting
the foreign slave trade ? The mother became
free when she entered Scotland, but returning
here, she returns to her owners. The remain-
ing question is, can she enslave her child by
her own return to servitude ?
Logical.—" Caesar," said a negro te
colored friend of his," what do you tink is od
most useful ob de ccrtnete—de sun or de
moon ?"
"Well, Clem, I don't know dat I shall be
able to answer dat question,, soon, as how I
ncber had much book Iarniir"'.
" Well, Caesar, I spect de moon shine orter
take de ftist rank in dat partiklar."
" Why so, nigger ?"
"Because de moon shine in de night when
we need de light, a#d de sun shine in de day
time, when de light am ob no konsoqnence."
" Well Clem, you is de most larned darkey
I eber seed. I guess you used to sweep out a
school house for a libin."
Foretelling a Norther.—A Mexican
guitar maker has invented an instrument to
foretell the coming of a norther twenty-four
hours ahead. It is as follows and has been
introduced into a new Mexican Steamer:
" A strip of cedar very thin, about two-and
a-half feet in length, about one inch wide,
cut with the grain, and set in a block or foot,
backcd or lined with one of white pine, cut
across the giain, and the two tightly glued
together. On the approach of bad We ther
the cedar curls over until the top at times
XI supL.ruuous u. auu tuat x-i- ^ d ^ • ,e instrument
threw the bear, amidst the frenzied applause ^ the invenfion of a Mexcan cuitar-maker.
of the spectators, and that he now professes
an inveterate skepticism with regard to the
fcrocity of the animals so often shown off to
the terror and admiration of the Parisians.
The most dangerous kind of bat that flies
at night is the brick bat.
By the adoption of the south line of
Minnesota, as proposed by Congress, the
new State will measure as follows: Length,
340 miles; width, 280 miles; area,
000 square miles.
The Sailor Boy.
A sailor boy purloined two or three pies at
different times. He was overheard in his
whimsical method of repeating the marriage
ceremony thus:
"I now propose a marriage between Jack
Browning and this pie; if any objections can
be made to this union let it now be known or
forever keep the peace."
On this freak being whispered to the cap-
tain, he prepared a good rope's end, and hold-
I ing it in one hand and the boy in the other,
' said:
"A union is now proposed to take place
between this rope and sailor boy; jf any ob-
jections can be made to this ticklish match,
let them now be known or forever keep the
peace."
"Captain," said the boy, "the bans are for-
bidden; the parties have not the least regard
for each other. To take it right, both with
one voice should be reconciled to be spliced."
"Well," said the captain, laughing, "you
may go this time, sirrah, but lookout next
time how you make love to or mariy any of
my pies, for it is. clearly pi-rat-ical."
Wno Wouldn't be a Babt Again ?—
We have seen, says the Harftord (Conn.)
Times, a magnificent cradle, made under the
immediate direction of the Hon. T. W.
Stuart, for the infant son of Colonel Sam
Colt, and on Saturday evening last presented
to Mrs. Colt by the " Proprietor of the Old
Charter Oak." It swings between two
elaborately-earved columns, about five feet in
height, and is in the form of a canoe, in
commemoration of Colonel Colt's^ noted an-
swer to a committee of the British Parlia-
ment, in reply to a question as to the causes
of his success, viz :" I paddle my own canoe.
The base of each column rests upon carved
work of acorns, leaves, &c., and the heads of
four aorses. The cap of each is surmounted
by a horse, rampant. The Bides represent
the limbs of the old tree, the Colt coat of
arms, &c.
This beautiful piece of workmanship con-
7o,- i tains four brilliants of large size.— The
I ( Washington) Stales.
guitar-maker,
and snch is its accuracy that it will indicate
a " norther" full twenty foUr-hours before any
other kind of barometer known on the coast."
Good Rules For all.—Profane swear-
ing is abominable. Vulgar language is
disgusting. Loud laughing is impolite.
Iuquisitiveness is offensive. Tattling is mean.
Telling lies is contemptible. Slandering i£
devlish. Ignorance is disgraceful, and lazi-
ness is shameful. Avoid all the above vices,
and aim at usefiifness. This is the road in
which to become respectable. Walk in it.
Never be ashamed of honest labor. Pride is
a curse—a hateful vice. Never act the hypo-
crite. Keep good company. Speak the truth
at all times. Never be discouraged, but
ersevere and mountains will become moie-
ills.—Brownsville Flag.
Through some mistake, a gentleman in the
south of Ireland led off the dance at a country
ball out of his turn. The person appointed
to the post of honor challenged the intruder,
and received the following reply : ' Sir, I
cannot under stand why, because I opened a
ball at night, a ball should open me in the
morning.
"Sambo, 'spose dereis six chickens in a
codp and de man sell three, how many is dert
left?"
" What titne of day was it t"
" What has dat to do Wid it ?
" A good deal; if it was arter dark dar
wonld be none left; dat is if you happened to
come along dat way." '
Horrible Accident.—The Liberty Ga-
zette says:
"An empty fiatboat, which was being tow-
ed to this place by the Betty Poweil, last
Friday, had her side perforated with a snag
and sunk a short distance below the landing.
The steamer had her larboard guard slightly
injured by the snag." ' ■, ■
A letter from a floater candidate says, the
passengers were all saved.
Some precious poet defines "beautiful ex-
tract" to be, helping a young lady out oi' a
mud puddle. This is almost bad ns the
wit of Hartley Coleridpe, who or.ee being
Hskwl which oi' Wordsworth's proi'.iiotjowr he
owiiiideieU tiie prettiest, very promptly replied^
1 "His Daughter Dora."
\
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Ford, John S. The Texas State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 20, Ed. 1 Saturday, May 23, 1857, newspaper, May 23, 1857; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth235839/m1/1/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.